I’m also going to reduce my Diet Coke / Pepsi Max intake.

Au Revoir Facebook

Today I took the decision to stop wasting time on social networks so have logged out of Twitter and Facebook on my computer and have deleted them from my phone. I know this blog post will appear there but at least I’m not on it. I just wanted to take a break and make better use of my time. I’ve some work to do for September and could really do with getting stuck in. I also have to plan an evenings wedding entertainment for a none disco event; quizzes, games etc.

Hopefully I’ll be feeling better by Sunday and able to put a good effort in for a triathlon I’m doing at 1pm in Ballywalter.

The main plan I’d to get back to training next week, hopefully fully fit and able to breath without coughing. Meanwhile I’ve been enjoying watch people cycle in Le Tour.

I did stumble on a few of the sites I made before I started blogging and on one I had a load of phone pictures taken on a Nokia 7250i from 2004, here’s a selection.

Well I met a girl and we have been dating for about a month now….

Now that I’ve got you attention, unfortunately for that mythical girl, I made that bit up to grab your attention. I’ve been working hard lately and it’s kept me rather busy.

In the normal job I’ve moved the three content managed web sites over from our Windows, Apache, MySQL & PHP server to an externally hosted dedicated Linux, Apache, MySQL & PHP. This was hard enough with it being the first time I’ve done it and the databases deciding to change a load of symbols to goblegook but as of yesterday they were all moved and happily living in their new faster, safer environment and all that just in time before today ETI inspection. I’m still waiting to heard how that one went but for my part they were impresed at the speed of the VLE and the chat I had with the assessor was very pleasant.

This was my second ETI inspection in a fortnight as just 13 days ago I was teaching in UUJ on a new course that was having it’s ETI inspection that week. Thankfully it went well and the team got a very favourable report, here’s hoping today’s went as well.

Out side of work, when not preparing for the classes I was teaching in J’town or researching tips for the website moves, I’ve not done very much by my usual busy standards as I’ve been tired. I tend to spend a lot of time thinking and analysing before and after any events and this leads to poor sleep and periods of tiredness. Lately I’ve had the new praise rotas on my mind, which have been implemented and while not pleasing everyone I think are the best match of talent and attitude we’ve had. I”m just praying that people have room and time to grow in their abilities and more so spiritually. I’ve kinda had the worry of the carol service but Elia will be mostly heading this up as he is the musical one. I’m also doing my Post Grad Diploma in Further and Higher Education bu st to be honest it’s has been taking a back seat which has been playing heavily on my mind. All these combined with work and the teaching at UUJ have kept my mind very active. Thankfully I’ve had a few opportunities to get out on my bike or running and help blow away any worry and stress. If I could eat more healthily I’d be really very fit but as it is I’m just sustaining my summer’s weight lose with the balance of hard work and unhealthy eating.

I’m doing sound this weekend at a Christian Conference, which as a conference I’ll enjoy but I’m never that happy on sound as I’m very sure it’s not one of my gifts just something I can get by on. The weekend studies are on the book of Job, a book I quite like. I’m hoping my legs will have recovered from Tuesday night’s run/football so I can go for a run round the lake on Saturday morning with the super fit Dave.

Anyway that’s an update on my little life, hope you’re getting in the mood for Christmas as I currently am.

The original post is on the What’s best next blog but I know you’ll never follow the link so here it is reproduced for you enlightenment.

Can you add any questions from your experience as an interviewer/interviewee?

3 Questions to Ask in any Job Interview

In this down economy, a lot of people are looking for jobs. Part of the interviewing process is asking good questions of the interviewer.

Marcus Buckingham lists three questions you should always ask, and I think he’s right:

1. What are the three top priorities for the person in this position during the next ninety days?
2. What are the key strengths you’re looking for in the person you select for this position? How do these strengths relate to what this position is responsible for?
3. How would you describe the company culture? Would you give me some examples of the culture in action?

First, you ask about top priorities so you can know what’s expected, especially at the start, and so you can identify if the employer has sufficiently thought through the position. If they don’t know what to expect, you won’t know what to expect. (And one of the three priorities they list will hopefully be: learn the position well.)

Second, you ask about strengths because the purpose of any organization is to make strength productive and because you will be at your best when you are in a role that calls upon your strengths. If the organization does not have this mindset, it’s a yellow flag and it may not serve you to work there. So you want to know if they think in terms of maximizing strengths. Also, you want to know if the position matches your strengths and thus if you truly are a good fit.

Third, you ask about the culture because this is fundamental to knowing your “fit” and because you want to work for organizations with a healthy culture. One of the best answers a potential employer could give to this question is: “Trust.”

And one last thing: Present your true self. First, this is right. Second, the interview will go better. Third, it won’t serve you or the company if you get the job on the basis of an inaccurate understanding of your fit for the position.

My winning tweet:
“@artwiculate refreshing page to see if you can cheat at artwiculate really is a boondoggle“

So I’ve finally won the Twitter word game of the moment.

The winning tweet is on the right, it had to include the word of the Boondoggle:
(n) : a waste of time and/or money; a pointless activity
(v) : to waste time on a pointless activity

The rules: “To play, just use today’s word in context in one of your tweets. That’s it. Your tweet will appear here where people can tell you if they like it. You’ll get points if they like it or retweet it. Points mean kudos. Oh, and if you follow @artwiculate, we’ll tweet you with today’s word and store your profile here so you can see your vocabulary improve over time.”

My method of winning is pretty clear I cheated like I was a mix of Ben Johnson, Diego Maradona and Didier Drogba.

I won Artwiculate

Kiss it Stevie

March 14 2009 known among Maths geaks as Pi day 3.14 was the day when Liverpool beat Man U 4-1 at Old Trafford. this coming just a few days after beating Real Madrid 4-0. What an awesome week and hopefully marks the return of Liverpool’s dominance of football.

What's the score

I wont go on too much but we really did destroy them even when we were defending they looked rubbish. The biggest offender after Vidic was Rooney, after his big comments during the week he didn’t even turn up for the game.

Free St Patrick Background

Okay Okay so it’s not that great but I’m not an illustrator, it is however a free background to give your computer screen a little lift on St Patrick’s Day.

So if you would like to download a free screen desktop background for St Patrick’s days, click on the link below that best suits your screen resolution and then right click on the image that appears to set it as your desktop.

Download links for a free St Patrick’s Day screen background for your desktop.

Click on the link below that best suits your screen resolution:
St Patrick Background 800 x 600 pixels
St Patrick Background 1024 x 768 pixels
St Patrick Background 1280 x 800 pixels
St Patrick Background 1280 x 1024 pixels
St Patrick Background 1440 x 900 pixels
St Patrick Background 1400 x 1050 pixels
St Patrick Background 1600 x 1000 pixels
St Patrick Background 1680 x 1050 pixels