opinios

Taking A Break

Sorry folks, but I figure that if you aint got much to say, it's better to say nothing at all - opinios is going to take a break for a while.

This web site has been running since 2001, and on the web that's a helluva long time. Don't fret, I will definitely resume posting again at some point. It might be weeks, it might be months, it might be in a completely different format. I'm not sure. But in the mean time the weather is simply too good, the personal projects too exciting, the backlog of novels too tall and the 9-5 workload too draining for me to keep on plugging away for the sake of it.

Until then, the archives will remain in place. And if you are interested in catching up with what I am doing then 35 Degrees is always a good source of information and its author indefatigable.

See you on the flip side.

An Insight into Office Politics

Client: So what's the solution?
Project Manager: Well, what are your requirements?
Client: We need this to happen.
PM: Ok, well how about this?
Client: Well, you tell me, you're the experts.
PM: Ok, this is it. This is the solution that we propose.
Client: But that would be impossible. That part of the system is operated by the sub-sub-contractors that we have no contact with, so we can't do anything to it.
PM: Um, ok. Well let's move the customisation to this part of the system. It's a bit more inefficient but it will work.
Client: Hmmm.
PM: What?
Client: Well we don't know what format the files will be in that system, and that system is provided by the sub-sub-sub-contractors, so we definitely can't rely on them to change anything.
PM: Well, if that's the case, then you're stuffed.
Client: Hey, I'm the client. Give me a solution.
PM: Grrr. Well the sub-contractor for this part of the system can make custom changes, surely?
Client: Maybe. I'm meeting with them tomorrow.
PM: Well if so then I suppose you could do this. It's ugly and there is a lot of duplicated data, and we don't know how much that sub-contractor will quote you for it, but I think that's your only option.
Client: I think you might be right.
PM: Of course it is out of scope from the original contract and you'll have to raise a Change Request for it. It'll probably take a couple of weeks to write up.
Client: Hey, I'm the client. Give me a solution. If you think it's out of scope, you raise the change request for how many days you think it'll take, and we'll either approve it or reject it.
PM: Right.
Client: So you'll give us a spec for what is required, so we can send it to the sub-contractor?
PM: Sure. Matt will have it for you by COB tomorrow.
Me: *gulp* Um, yeah, tomorrow.

That's right folks. Consultants get paid to write down what they think a client wants, describing in detail how a system they have never seen works, without access to the system or anyone who built it, so they can give it to the vendors of the system who have already been selected for the job, to tell them what the system that they have already built should do. But doesn't.

And you thought consulting was about providing business advice. Shame on you!

Note: the characters and events depicted in this corporate colloquy are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

First Initial People

I was reading one of my favourite web design blogs, by a fellow named D. Keith Robinson, and I got to thinking how sometimes what it takes to really make it in this world has a lot to do with your name and how people relate to it. How it flows off the tongue, the imagery it evokes, the resonance it strikes with people.

The importance of one's name is all around us. Take Australian Idol as an example - surely the reason that Ngaiire ("nigh-ree") didn't poll enough votes is because her name was too damn hard for people to type into their phones when sending their votes through (the girl rocked the house and had an incredible voice!) Of course that was the reason, because we all know Australians aren't racist and it had nothing to do with the fact that she was black, now did it? (Note: can someone tell me why Angie, who had an even more awesome voice also got voted off then??)

Oops, there I go getting all political again. Back to my main point which is far from political, and that is that your name can make or break you.

Which is why I am contemplating doing what many famous people have done and going by my second name. Not dropping the first name entirely; just keeping the first initial. It is quite a phenomenon. You know, like:

• J. Edgar Hoover
• F. Scott Fitzgerald

You get the picture. A friend of mine has taken this approach. Although she doesn't personally remember the details of how it happened, her parents were happy to fill her in later in life - apparently Belinda, at the age of about 3, decided to throw a tantrum and refuse to respond to Belinda. Yes, on that day she announced to the world that she would from then on be known only by her middle name: Kate. She now signs forms as "B. Kate", and Kate has been Kate ever since. And she is doing really well in her career, so there must be a correlation.

The only problem is: my middle name is John.

Not that John is a bad name. My favourite uncle is a John. I love lots of Johns. John Coltrane, Johnny Cash, John Wayne. I will admit that the first CD I ever bought was a John Farnham album. Hell, I even liked Johnny Young when I was a kid. And I sure as hell hope John Kerry wins the election (but not John Howard!)

Unfortunately John just doesn't evoke the same mystery as M. Night Shyamalan for example, even when I stick an 'M' in front.

I guess it's back to good old Matthew.

Never mind. Perhaps you, dear reader, could help me compile a list of famous "First Initial People". Just because I haven't seen it done before.

I've started us off with a whole stack of (mostly) authors (with a little help from Google), but who else can you come up with? Or, if you are an FIP yourself then feel free to tell us how or why you chose to adopt your middle name!

The opinios list of well-known "First Initial People"

• A. Lou Vickery
• A. Whitney Brown
• C. Stacey Woods
• D. Keith Robinson
• F. Scott Fitzgerald
• H. Jackson Brown, Jr
• J. Danforth Quayle
• J. Donald Walters
• J. Edgar Hoover
• J. Paul Getty
• M. Scott Peck
• M. Night Shyamalan
• R. Emmett Tyell
• W. Clement Stone
• W. Somerset Maugham