CMI

Last night I attended the launch at Parliament of a new training initiative. It is based on and associated with an Australian development and has involved the cooperation of 8 ITOs.

The progamme is called the Competitive Manufacturing Initiative and is aimed at increasing efficiency and productivity In the manufacturing sector. It is a unit standards-based training programme offered at various levels.

I checked out the samples there of the training resources and trainers’ manuals. Very standard layout, but pretty comprehensive looking in terms of content, and featuring heaps of graphics and diagrams in colour.

There is a conference in Auckland next week to further the programme.

The various speakers, including Minister of Labour, Hon. Ruth Dyson, emphasised the importance of manufacturing to the New Zealand economy, and the importance of increasing productivity in that sector, while remaining conscious of resource management and the environment. The CM initiative is seen as a key factor in encouraging and promoting this.

I was there representing an ex colleague of mine from Southland Polytechnic (SIT). He now runs a sawmilling business in the deep South. I was relieved that no-one asked me any questions about the sawmilling industry, as any anwer would have required some invention on my part. But I did meet some erstwhile colleagues there, one of whom had been extensively involved in the programme’s development. All in all, it was a much more interesting event than I had forseen.

The CMI programme appears to have much to recommend it.

Undocumented 'feature'

I've discovered a major bug in this golfing lark. My first game on a sunny-ish day and I've got incipient golfer's tan! It features a tanned left arm and snow-white left hand.

I guess Tiger Woods doesn't have this worry.

The Roadshow

Worth struggling in to Wellington in (yet another) southerly storm for.

CS2 has some great features, but I think I'll still hang out for CS3 before upgrading. Depends how long it takes. . .

It was also good to meet up with some old colleagues & mates.

Cats 22

I wasn't going to write about cats here.

They are in Purrgatory. But what is it with cat-water that makes a cat reject it totally and make a beeline for the people-water in the glass on the bedside table?

Events

Well after a hectic game of golf in gale-force northerly winds (just for a change) yesterday, I'm looking forward to the long weekend.

Then off to the Adobe Creative Suite Roadshow in Wellington on Tuesday to catch up with the latest Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc news.

Cutie?!

They sell good fruit & veg too. On the main road north of Wellington.

Son of Webstock

The Webstock Conference this year was pretty good.

Kathy Sierra was worth the entry fee alone. (And the t-shirt & website are really cool.)

But wait — there's more. . .

"The Webstock team presents a day of edification and an evening of entertainment for your web-related pleasure and education.

Mark Wednesday 6 December in your diaries for Russ Weakley presenting an all-day CSS workshop and Natasha Hall, Russell Brown and Nat Torkington speaking on a range of wondrous topics."
Link

Eyes wide shut?

Garr Reynolds at Presentation Zen is right. Most people are not aware that design surrounds us all, and is pretty much everywhere. It may not necessarily be good design, but someone, somewhere has decided that that is what that particular thing should look like.

From the TV commercial to the road sign. From the t-shirt you wear to the car you drive. From the MacDonalds menu above their counter to the Tui billboard.

From the shop sign to the window display.

He says "By slowing down a bit we will be able to see all of the graphic design that fills our daily lives." (Might be scary!)

We need to open our eyes and become aware of our surroundings. Or does it matter? If people are unaware, do they, or we, care?

Stephen Downes, cont. . .

On "Stephen's Web" today, he says about his efest presentation:

". . . if you listen to nothing else from me this year, listen to this, because everything I write comes from the heart, and this is as close to it as anyone is ever likely to get."