MikeFitz with overflow bit set…

Our neighbours over the ditch will do anything to beat us again.

Not only is Code Camp NZ starting one day before Code Camp Oz, it even sorts first alphabetically by just one letter!

But they deserve to do well.  They have the most fabulous logo.  Check it out at http://www.dot.net.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=87.  (Kiwi brand boot polish -> Boot Camp -> Code Camp!  Brilliant!)

ka-ching ka-ching?  That’s the sound of the cheap Qantas flights to Canberra filling up.  Better get in now.

Code Camp Oz is a .NET developer community driven event.  It allows Australian software developers to come together in one location to meet each other and hear from a range of speakers, many of whom are international experts in their fields.  Code Camp Oz offers a packed program over two solid days, 23-24 April. It is being held in Wagga Wagga at the Charles Sturt University campus.

I’ve registered!  See you there.

See the latest edition of the Queensland Developer Events page for upcoming events of interest to Brisbane & Queensland developers and IT professionals.

Please let me know if I have missed any important developer events.

Thanks,

– Mike

Scene from Tactical Iraqi Image Gallery

Interesting report from the BBC this morning: The game engine for Unreal Tournament has been used to develop Tactical Iraqi, a game designed to teach US troops how to use and decipher Iraqi body language. 

The game teaches troops to avoid using gestures such as pointing the finger which is considered offensive in arabic cultures and which could potentially escalate a tense situation. It also teaches simple arabic language.

Me: “Don’t waste your time with computer games. What do you expect to achieve with that?”

The kids: “World Peace”

Me: “D’Oh!  Oh well, aleykum as-salam!”

I liked this comment from Lieutenant Latimer, in an Air Force press release:

“The simple ability to walk up to somebody and say ‘hello’ appropriately means the world to making sure you’re safe. Ultimately, it’s the people around you and your relationship with the community that will make this mission succeed. Speaking to them in their own language shows that you care about them; you’re not there just to execute a mission. It shows that we value them as people.”

Valuing Iraqis as people!  Is there a version of this game for American political leaders?

This post is really about how useful the Australian .NET Developer mailing list is.

Last night, Saturday night, (OK, us old fogies should have been watching The Bill), I posted the following plea for help to the mailing list:

G’day All,

Has anyone had any experience with distributing a .NET application via the InstallShield Activation Service? Or is there a better alternative for .NET?

The background to my problem is this:

(more…)

Did I tell you I was proud of my geeky sons?  Peter (No 1 son) graduated from QUT last night.  Bachelor of Information Technology (Software Engineering) - with Distinction!

Here we are after the ceremony.

L to R, Andy Fitzsimon, Peter Fitzsimon and proud dad Mike.

Well done, Pete.

Greg Low’s tireless efforts building up Australia’s developer community have been recognised by Microsoft with his appointment yesterday as a Regional Director.  (Adam Cogan is Australia’s only other RD.)

Congratulations Greg!  (ThoroughlyDeserved**2)

I’m (brrreeeport)ing here because Frank told me to help out the Scobleizer.

In response to my earlier post “What’s going on?”, there has been some excellent news from Philip Beadle (Senior Consultant at Readify and founding member of the DotNetNuke Core Team): Things are happening in this area.

A “Super Calendar” where each user group can publish their events is planned. http://www.aususergroups.org is the space to watch for further developments.

To fill the gap in the meantime, I’ve created a Queensland Developer Events page, which I will attempt to keep up-to-date with events of interest to Brisbane and Queensland developers.

Each event listed will contain a link to the relevant user group.  Subscribe below to receive update notifications.

Cheers and see you at some user group meetings,

Mike

Mitch Denny has alerted everyone to the upcoming Waterfall 2006 Conference.

The registration process is brilliantly tuned to their subject and “all streams converge” program.  Read some of the tutorial and workshop topics first before clicking on “Register Now” and then you will see what I mean.

– Mike