compelling statement about software practices

When i read the following quote by Fred Brooks, I felt it is so true that i posted it immediately

"The gap between the best software engineering practice
and the average practice is very wide—perhaps wider than in
any other engineering discipline. A tool that disseminates
good practice would be important."

Fred Brooks

قرات لك

انتزع مني بطاقتي الشخصية
ليتأكد أني عربية
وبدأ يفتش حقيبتي وكأني أحمل
قنبلة ذرية
وقف يتأملني بصمت سمراء وملامحي ثورية
فتعجبت لمطلبه وسؤاله عن الهوية
كيف لم يعرف من عيوني أني عربيه
أم أنه فضل أن أكون أعجمية
لأدخل بلاده دون إبراز الهوية
وطال انتظاري وكأني لست في بلاد عربية
أخبرته أن عروبتي لا تحتاج لبطاقة شخصية
فلم انتظر على هذه الحدود الوهمية
وتذكرت مديح جدي لأيام الجاهلية
عندما كان العربي يجوب المدن العربية
لا يحمل معه سوى زاده ولغته العربية
وبدأ يسألني عن أسمي جنسيتي
وسر زيارتي الفجائية
فأجبته أن اسمي وحدة
جنسيتي عربية سر زيارتي تاريخية

سألني عن مهنتي وإن كان لي سوابق جنائية
فأجبته أني إنسانة عادية
لكني كنت شاهدا على اغتيال القومية
سأل عن يوم ميلادي وفي أي سنة هجرية
فأجبته أني ولدت يوم ولدت البشرية
سألني إن كنت أحمل أي أمراض وبائية
فأجبته أني أصبت بذبحة صدرية
عندما سألني ابني عن معنى الوحدة العربية

فسألني أي ديانة أتبع الإسلام أم المسيحية
فأجبته بأني أعبد ربي بكل الأديان السماوية

فأعاد لي أوراقي حقيبتي وبطاقتي الشخصية
وقال عودي من حيث أتيت
فبلادي لا تستقبل الحرية

الشاعرة الليبية ردينة الفيلالي

My Mom sent me this

It seems that my mon hangs out with a group who are deeply in love with emailing. I get emails from her consistently, the following is one that some of her friends sent her and i found it spectacular

ENLIGHTENED
I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made myday!' makes my day.
I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't havet he strength to help him in some other way.
I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you tobe, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I 've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned..... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned...... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender,because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain,but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Zaha Foundation

my Aunt Zaha Jardaneh Mango decided to establish a new non-profit organization called Zaha Foundation. Its main purpose is to serve childhood in Jordan. This effort commenced many years ago when she started the now-successful Zaha Cultural Center. I also happen to be its General Manager

Ammar Sajdi

www.realsoft-me.com

www.e-ammar.net

pursue vs peruse

look carefuly, it is not the difference is not only the second letter

P U R S U E
P E R U S E

To me Pursue is more common and i feel it is widely used, However, the other word PERUSE, that you can mistakenly read as pursue, mean to READ CAREFULY

Cloud Appreciation

clouds are the more subtle manifestations of the weather. There is usually an understated beauty, which is why it is so often overlooked. No wonder, then, they want to show off every once in a while with such explosive, heart-stopping fireworks

visit

http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/

Manifesto

WE BELIEVE that clouds are unjustly malignedand

hat life would be immeasurably poorer without them.

We think that they are Nature’s poetry,
and the most egalitarian of her displays, since

everyone can have a fantastic view of them.

We pledge to fight ‘blue-sky thinking’ wherever we find it.

Life would be dull if we had to look up at
cloudless monotony day after day.

We seek to remind people that clouds are expressions

of the atmosphere’s moods, and can be read like those of a person’s countenance.

Clouds are so commonplace that their beauty is often overlooked.

They are for dreamers and their contemplation benefits the soul.

Indeed, all who consider the shapes they see in them will save on

psychoanalysis bills.

And so we say to all who’ll listen:

Look up, marvel at the ephemeral beauty

and live life with your head in the clouds!

يا اوباما انت الامل

مِن أوباما..لِجَميعِ الأعرابِ شُعوباً أو حُكّاما / أحمد مطر
الرسالة
مِن أوباما..لِجَميعِ الأعرابِ شُعوباً أو حُكّاما

:قَرْعُ طَناجِرِكُمْ في بابي

أرهَقَني وَأطارَ صَوابي

افعَل هذا يا أوباما..اترُك هذا يا أوباما ..أمطِرْنا بَرْداً وسَلاما يا أوباما

وَفِّرْ للِعُريانِ حِزاما !!يا أوباما

خَصِّصْ للِطّاسَةِ حَمّاما

يا أوباما

..فَصِّلْ للِنَملَةِ بيجاما !!

يا أوباما

..قَرقَعَة نعلِكُ أحلاما

وتَقيء صَداها أوهَامَا

وَسُعارُ الضَّجّةِ مِن حَوْلي

لا يَخبو حتّى يتنامى

وَأنا رَجْلُ عِندي شُغْل

ٌأكثَرُ مِن وَقتِ بَطالَتكُم

ْأطوَلُ مِن حُكْمِ جَلالَتِكُم

ْفَدَعوني أُنذركُمْ بَدءاً

كَي أحظى بالعُذْر ختاما

لَستُ بِخادمِ مَن خَلَّفَكُمْ

لأُسِاطَ قُعوداً وَقياما

لَستُ أخاكُمْ حَتّى أُهْجى

إن أنَا لَمْ أصِلِ الأرحاما

لَستُ أباكُمْ حَتّى أُرجى

لأكِونَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَوّاما

وَعُروبَتُكُمْ لَمْ تَختَرني

وَأنا ما اختَرتُ الإسلاما !

فَدَعوا غَيري يَتَبَنّاكُمْ

أو ظَلُّو أبَداً أيتاما!

أنَا أُمثولَةُ شَعْبٍ يأبىأن يَحكُمَهُ أحَدّ غَصبْا

و نِظامٍ يَحتَرِمُ الشَّعب

اوَأنا لَهُما لا غَيرِهِما

سأُقَطِّرُ قَلبي أنغاما

حَتّى لَو نَزَلَتْ أنغامي

فَوقَ مَسامِعِكُمْ..ألغاما!

فامتَثِلوا.. نُظُماً وَشُعوباً

وَاتَّخِذوا مَثَلي إلهاما

أمّا إن شِئتُمْ أن تَبقوا

في هذي الدُّنيا أنعاما

تَتَسوَّلُ أمْنَاً وَطَعاما

فَأُصارِحُكُمْ ... أنّي رَجُلُ

في كُلِّ مَحَطّاتِ حَياتي

لَمْ أُدخِلْ ضِمْنَ حِساباتي

أن أرعى، يوماً، أغناما

لمطالعة المزيد تفضلوا بزيارة
مجلة رؤية http://www.royaah.net

You cannot have an IP Camera in Jordan

An IP camera is similar to WebCam, but it is not directly attached to your Desktop via USB. It is Assigned an IP address and therefore, can connect to any point in your LAN.

I found a nice IP Camera in Amazon.Com and I ordered it. This IP Camera turned out to hook to a wireless LAN. It arrived to the Airport with Aramex and Aramex told me that since it is wireless you need to get it approved from TRC (Telecom Regulatory Commission). So far so good, i am sure they want to make sure that it works on the standard IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g protocol that uses the 2,4 GHz Bank.

Well, it took a couple of days to get the approval. Aramex told me that you have to wait more since the Camera has to get the approval of Military Security (Al-Amen Al-3askari). That was sometime in January, and after that , there was no news about the Camera. After getting some people make a few calls to make the process faster. I received a call from the Airport last Wed asking me to come on Thursday. I went Thursday early in the morning (I arrived at about 8:15) only to find that the office they asked me to visit was closed. People told me that they can come any moment. It was at about 11 O’clock that somebody came and opened the door.

He invited me in and I told him about the Camera. He opened a folder and looked at some correspondence and told me that this Camera is not allowed to get into JORDAN.

I was really shocked! I could understand that they wanted to know what kind of a camera it is. But to end up banning its entry for security reasons is totally absurd. I am sorry, but how can a wireless camera that hooks to a standard wireless network that cannot send a signal for more that a few meters cause a risk to the national security.

Today wireless networks are everywhere; in fact our office is standardized on wireless! His Majesty the king and through several trips tried so hard to promote the IT industry outside Jordan, but trying to market local companies and try to bring in foreign companies to open offices in Jordan. Imagine what impression such companies would have when they realize that they cannot get their wireless camera in! And then how can we become an IT exporter country according to the Kings wish when we cannot get in some of the basic wireless components ?

I cannot understand why mobiles with cameras are allowed in Jordan!

In the end, the guy was so kind to me and told me that he is going to offer me an option to re-export it! Reporting it according to Aramex will cost me 120 JD just for the paper work and 42 JD as fees (which is more than the cost of the Camera itself)

Term of Art

Intrestingly, according to everything2.com the phrase Term of Art nicely truns out to be



A word or phrase used by practitioners in a field of endeavour which has a precise and typically quite technical meaning within the context of the field of endeavour. Terms of art allow practitioners in a field to communicate with each other concisely and unambiguously.
Inventing suitable yet totally new words to be used as terms of art is often quite difficult. Consequently, the words which become terms of art often also have non-field-specific meanings. This can create and/or reinforce communication barriers between a field's practitioners and non-practitioners. Unfortunately, inventing totally new words or borrowing words from other languages can also contribute to said communication barriers (see "de bene esse" below).
The extent to which a practitioner uses their field's terms of art correctly and routinely is a strong indicator of the depth and breadth of the practitioner's experience in the field. That said, the mark of a true adept in a field of endeavour is their ability to clearly communicate advanced field-specific concepts to non-practitioners.
It should be noted that "term of art" is essentially a synonym of jargon when the two are used in colloquial contexts. On the other hand, "term of art" is a term of art in the legal profession whereas "jargon" isn't!



Examples include:
back door:
In computer security, a hidden way into a system.
In architecture, a door on the back or rear side of a building.
In poker, (roughly speaking) a hand which improves dramatically after the exchange of multiple cards.
de bene esse: in law, formally sufficient for the time being. Somehow, I doubt that this term has much meaning outside of the context of the law.
party:
In law, the claimant or respondent in a lawsuit (there are other "term of art" definitions of "party" within the legal field of endeavour).
In university life, what often happens on Friday and/or Saturday night.
thread:
In sewing, a thin filament or fiber.
In computing, an independent entity executing with the context of a process.
In e-mail or usenet, a chain of messages or posting on, at least in theory, a single topic.

Cebit Computer Fair, what has changed

The last time REALSOFT exhibited in Cebit fair in Hannover, Germany was back in 2005!
The fair started last Tuesday, March 3rd, 09 and will end next Sunday (The day after tomorrow). There is an apparent down sizing in the no of companies participating. Probably affected by the not so favorable mood for extra spending. The number of attendees seems to have diminished since my last visit.
IBM Stand is big and impressive, and managed to attarct attention, especailly in the Clound Computing display area. Microsoft and SAP also have impressive presense, while Oracle presense is not that big.
The weather this year in fine so far, it is definitely warmer than the last time.
The Jordan Pavillion is very nice this time, it is funded by JEDCO and SIPPO. The available services of the Jordanian companies are better than any time before.

Starbucks loses again

more and more, we hear new floating around that Starbucks is somehow affiliated with the Zionist state. Even though the official response of Starbucks deny support to Israel (read below), but it seems whether they like it or not, they are going to stop financial support to anyone but Starbucks itself

1) Starbucks is closing an additional 300 stores, says the Seattle Times, and will eliminate 700 non-store and 6,000 store jobs. The store closings will save the company $500 million per year. Meanwhile, the company is trying to sell a fancy corporate jet it bought last month for $45 million

2) Consumer Reports, conducted a recent coffee study and ranked "Eight O'clock Coffee" as the best tasting coffee and noted that Starbucks, which costs considerably more did not even merit an honorable mention
It seems that the prosperous days of Starbucks are gone! What caught my attention two days back when i was in Oman is that although the campaign against Starbucks reached its peak during the Gaza invasion, Starbucks hang out locations in Muscat city center were packed. There is not execute "Eight Oclock coffee is not only better, but also cheaper"

January 5, 2009
Rumor Response: Starbucks Statement re: Support of Israel

Rumors that Starbucks Coffee Company and its management support Israel are unequivocally false.
Starbucks is a publicly traded company with stores in 49 countries. Though our thousands of partners (employees) and business associates around the globe have diverse views and share many beliefs about a wide range of topics, our primary focus remains to deliver the best customer experience possible. Starbucks is a non-political organization and does not support political causes. Further, the political preferences of a Starbucks partner at any level have absolutely no bearing on Starbucks company policies.

Contact Information:
Starbucks Customer Relations(800) 235-2883info@starbucks.com

read the original
http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=971

the above press release from Starbucks proves that the pressure is working


Ammar Sajdi