random relativity http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog Where software, photography, and development process mix it up Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:44:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Space ship! http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=725 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=725#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:43:59 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=725 Today was a day dedicated to flying rockets. Taken with my cell phone

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]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=725 0 Play is serious http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=722 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=722#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:51:15 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=722 I love the summer/spring weather for a variety of reasons: not least of which is the fact I can take   decent photos with my cell phone.

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]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=722 0 Cupcakes make everything better http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=719 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=719#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:08:39 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=719 We’ve been looking at a lot of houses and sometimes our son needs a little help to make it thru the

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day. Cupcakes help.

Also backs can heal fast.

]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=719 0 Bones break http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=715 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=715#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:31:45 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=715 My wife fell on a stair. Just one. It’s edge caught her in the L4 transverse vertebra and broke it. A soon as it happened, she went into shock. I’ve never seen a person go into shock before. All I could do was cover her in blankets.

I called 911 and she went to the hospital. She is able to walk, but she is in intense pain. Turning her body, getting up, going up stairs, moving her hips causes her extreme pain. At least the break is clean and everything is oriented correctly. A brace won’t help. Only time.

She should heal. It will take 4 to 6 weeks. It’s funny that this I consider lucky.

Once again, in the past three months, I’m reminded to take nothing for granted. We are fragile humans. We can’t hide from that; we need to accept it, live life and move on.

]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=715 0 My Son is going to have an island lair http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=711 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=711#comments Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:44:03 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=711 Sometimes you use what you have – I didn’t have my main camera handy – just the S90. Not the best photo, but I love the look.

]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=711 0 More Weddings! http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=686 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=686#comments Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:27:03 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=686 I had the great pleasure to photograph two lovely people (who I’ve known for ages) the wedding was awesome. The best part, I can get friends to be a little more creative with formals. Click the first photo to go to the wedding portfolio and see more from this wedding (and older ones)

Zombie Attack the groom

The bride and groom were radiant

Post kiss

]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=686 0 I do not think that word means what you think it means http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=671 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=671#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:51:50 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=671 Today was a very interesting day, I gave a talk on software development and leadership at M.I.T. for a class in the SDM program. Due to a few external reasons playing in my head, my presentation started a little slow but as time wore on I began to hit my groove. In fact I was sad when time ran out for Q&A!

My talk focused on soft power, trust, change and agile. The four areas flowed quite well together and I enjoyed weaving in a few stories from my time in the trenches. One area I wanted to concentrate on was bringing about software development change in an existing organisation. In order to bring about change, you need the trust of your team, the ability to get buy in from your stakeholders and enough approval from those around you so that you aren’t thwarted before you even start.  These points from my Kobiayshi Maru slide sum up my thoughts on this situation quite well:

  • If you don’t see a way to change a situation: Think again, there is always a path – don’t Rush a Solution
  • Find a champion
  • Gain the trust of your team
  • Gain the trust of your Quality Dept
  • Be honest and open with your team
  • Ride the chaos and channel it as best you can
  • Find the level of change you can enact. Build from here
  • Set small victories to increase momentum
  • Never stop improving
]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=671 0 Kai and the dragon http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=670 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=670#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:16:44 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=670 image

My son loves dragons; and this lego dragon started it all. 

It’s been a long october. As I get ready for new programs to start, I find myself wanting to retool my modified agile management. I’ll write more as I begin to come across new ideas to incorporate.

]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=670 0 Another Awesome Wedding http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=664 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=664#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:30:18 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=664

http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/

Two of my close friends got married a few days ago – I was fortunate enough to photograph their wedding. I call this the “OMG we are really married! Holy Carp!” photo.

]]> http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=664 0 Another Beautiful Wedding http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=652 http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=652#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:47:32 +0000 Allison Perkel http://www.randomrelativity.com/blog/?p=652 I love photographing friend’s weddings. There is a certain magic to them; plus I get to spend many wonderful moments with the couple. A few weeks ago Sarah and John tied the not, and I was there to capture their day.

And a rare second – the little boy’s look makes this photo for me

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