September 16, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Databases for Change
Bill Nicolich: www.SQLFave.com.
Daily tweet of what's new and interesting: AppendNow
September 17, 2008 at 7:07 am
Bill - excellent editorial, and I like your thinking. I think that too many of us in the IT world become possesive with our knowledge and skills, and forget that the prime directive - especially among DBA's - is to share knowledge; to take "data" and turn it into information, in a way that is highly available, reliable and makes sense to the consumer. Data should certainly be protected, but only from those who would abuse it. We should all strive for the holy grail of data stewardship: available anytime, everywhere it's needed and right on point.
And I've met too many IT professionals who have a very smug attitude toward juniors in their field. Share what you know, eagerly and enthusiastically, and you do credit to yourself in the process. Remember that we all started out not knowing anything.
September 17, 2008 at 7:17 am
That is an excellent suggestion. Seeing as how we have specialized, valuable skills we could certainly help out organizations that we support. You've given me something to ponder for the day.
September 17, 2008 at 7:56 am
Bill,
I think you did a great job (and thanks for the break for today).
This is one of those places where you can make a difference in an organization. It would be great if there was some central place that helped match up organizations and people with time. I think a lot of these projects would take time and it can be hard for one person to keep going on it, but if a couple people shared the load, they might be able to sustain it well.
Maybe some "volunteerdbas.org" or "volunteercoders.org" is waiting for someone to set up.
September 17, 2008 at 7:58 am
Excellent call for involvement! We all need that "gentle reminder" occasionally.
September 17, 2008 at 8:26 am
Great editorial, Bill.
There are many opportunities for volunteerism today, and this is another one that deserves our support. We have to bring our government out from the shadows.
September 17, 2008 at 8:45 am
This is a great idea, and also one I've been thinking about. I've built a handful of small database applications for non-profits, as I'm sure alot of you have. I've also retained the rights to these applications, thinking that I might sell them at some point. But they just sit and collect dust. :Whistling:
So I'm going to make them available for free to the organizations that have asked for a copy. I'm not quite sure about how 'open' I should leave it and would welcome any of your thoughts on distribution and open source. Now, the only thing really slowing me down is that I'll need to create a small user manual. Ah, documentation...:w00t:
September 17, 2008 at 8:53 am
Great editorial! Corruption always relies on misrepresenting or hiding facts. Voters need good information. So does the marketplace.
September 17, 2008 at 9:04 am
Alan Vogan (9/17/2008)
This is a great idea, and also one I've been thinking about. I've built a handful of small database applications for non-profits, as I'm sure alot of you have. I've also retained the rights to these applications, thinking that I might sell them at some point. But they just sit and collect dust. :Whistling:So I'm going to make them available for free to the organizations that have asked for a copy. I'm not quite sure about how 'open' I should leave it and would welcome any of your thoughts on distribution and open source. Now, the only thing really slowing me down is that I'll need to create a small user manual. Ah, documentation...:w00t:
Excellent idea, you might consider Sourceforging them. I think there are sites devoted to software that supports charities (not that I have any URLs handy) which would be good for describing them to the community.
I want to put a database that I developed for work up on Sourceforge that makes it easy to report election results (for cities, got a kudo from the political reporter of the local paper that it was the best election reporting that he'd seen in his career!) on web sites or whatever, I've mentioned it to my boss and really should follow up on it.
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[font="Arial"]Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it. --Samuel Johnson[/font]
September 17, 2008 at 9:06 am
The idea of the federal government putting databases together gives me pause, but I do think it's a good idea. Not only could it potentially improve transparency and accountability in government, it could also provide the necessary impetus to put together some comprehensive laws on what information can be kept, about whom, for how long, etc.
I also think Bill's suggestion for the philanthropic appliaction of database skills is an excellent one. I work as a developer; the client i work for has a couple of layers of personnel between me and the end-users, so it's difficult to tell if my work is really making things better for anyone. A distinct, project-based outlet for the donation of skills/time would be a great way to make a difference for a good cause.
Cheers Bill!
September 17, 2008 at 9:07 am
Very good editorial, Bill. I particularly liked your "employed somewhere that satisfies the need for cosmic purpose". I've worked in government for about 15 years now, and though the pay and bonuses are much (MUCH!) better in private industry, there is definitely a satisfaction knowing that what you're doing helps to make a difference in people's lives.
As I'm fond of saying, I love what I do for a living, though I don't always like my job. 😀
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[font="Arial"]Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it. --Samuel Johnson[/font]
September 17, 2008 at 9:24 am
Such a well-written editorial with a great message. I was impressed with how you dealt with a potentially difficult subject (bringing in the presidential election) in such a neutral way that I have a hard time imagining that anyone could be offended.
September 17, 2008 at 9:25 am
When I wrote this editorial, I was hoping that people would share some ideas and I'm glad to see some ideas rolling in already.
If one was willing to do a little looking around for volunteer work locally, one might try looking at some of the essential service providers that always seem to have tight budget constraints like police offices, schools, parks and recreation - and perhaps help them automate some tasks, collect lists, etc.
On the national level, perhaps our senators and congressmen need to hear from the database community more often - hear ideas about how to tackle difficult issues from the perspective of reducing information costs and making critical information more available. On these forums I've seen some very smart, capable people with in-depth experience that no doubt could help things along.
There's an interesting book by Daniel Bell called The Coming of Post-industrial Society where Bell suggests that one of the major societal shifts is from a one that relies more on the "economics of information" rather than the "economics of goods." There seems to be a more central role to be played by the technocrat - people driven as Wikipedia suggests, by their "problem-solution mindsets."
I don't want to get carried away into a fictional future controlled by database professionals who silence their foes by deleting their identities from the central database - but just offer some food for thought.
Thanks for sharing,
Bill
Bill Nicolich: www.SQLFave.com.
Daily tweet of what's new and interesting: AppendNow
September 17, 2008 at 9:35 am
Bill Nicolich (9/17/2008)
... If one was willing to do a little looking around for volunteer work locally, one might try looking at some of the essential service providers that always seem to have tight budget constraints like police offices, schools, parks and recreation - and perhaps help them automate some tasks, collect lists, etc. ...
Police departments sometimes have an easier time getting money than the rest of the city because of the availability of Federal funding and grants. Also, if the police department is properly diligant, even volunteers have to go through the same screening process as civilian employees: background investigation and polygraph. (I worked for a big PD for nine years as a database developer/DBA/network admin).
That being said, there are always piddly little databases that they need. You might need to approach it not from the "what databases can I develop for you" so much as "what administrative tasks can I help you automate". They may not recognize that something could be put in a database that would help them. You can also approach them from the "do you have any databases that could use a tune-up or more features added" angle. Just expect to see some REALLY horrible designs! You don't want to know the horror stories that I could tell you.
And also be prepared to see some old equipment and really weird database systems (DataFlex, anyone?!) *shudders*
:hehe:
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[font="Arial"]Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it. --Samuel Johnson[/font]
September 17, 2008 at 9:46 am
As another "old hand" put it "The idea of the federal government putting databases together gives me pause". Instead of putting the bright light on contractors, the simple expedient of requiring all elected officials to make their contributors real names and amounts public within 24 hours of accepting the contribution would go a very long way to cleaning up the current situation.
If we want real reform, we should demand that all bills be made public 5 to 7 days before any vote can be taken. Congress critters don't read what they vote on, but some citizens might if given the opportunity. At least it would make harder for staffers to sneak in changes and then take nice jobs with whoever the changes benefit.
Bill J
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