May 2019 - The MrT Podcast Studio

Shortcuts Around the World (A)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:24 — 33.3MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 11 A – Shortcuts Around the World (A) – the Suez and Panama Canals

Please note: Shortcuts Around the World (A) is the first part of the talk by Bruce Oelman. Once you have listened to this part please scroll down to part B.

In Shortcuts Around the World (A) Bruce tells us about the building of the Suez Canal and then starts on the story of the Panama Canal.

Bruce talks about Napoleon’s interest in building a canal. The project didn’t proceed because the French engineers got their sums wrong! We also learn of the canal built by the ancient Egyptians.

He talks about the difficulty Ferdinand de Lesseps had in getting permission from Turkey to build the canal. Much of this was due to the attitude of the British who wanted to protect the Empire. He covers the fact that de Lesseps used innovative money raising techniques for both canals!

This part of the talk ends at the start of the project to build the Panama Canal.

The presentation used at the talk is too large to load here. I have converted it into a series of images shown in the gallery below. Please click on one of the images as you listen to the talk and it will open the gallery.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording which I cannot remove.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Shortcuts Around the World (B)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:06 — 32.1MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 11 B – Shortcuts Around the World (B) – the Suez and Panama Canals

Please note: Shortcuts Around the World (B) is the second part of the talk by Bruce Oelman.

In Shortcuts Around the World (B) Bruce tells us about the building of the Panama Canal.

He covers the difficulties encountered by the French in their efforts. He also talks about the corruption case that ruined the reputation of Ferdinand de Lesseps. It appears that de Lesseps used innovative money raising techniques for both canals!

The USA bought out the project following the failure of the French efforts. They then brought in people who were capable of delivering the project and preventing the endemic disease issues. The Canal was build by the US Corps of Engineers and opened in 1914.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording which I cannot remove.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Build – Your Big Project

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:44 — 6.2MB)

Your Big Project – Series 1 Episode 9 – Build

Welcome to Build, talk nine in the series ‘Your Big Project‘. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!

Many of you in the business may think that this is where IT takes over. This is incorrect! The IT team may take the lead for the build phase but you have to play a major role. If you don’t the project will have difficulties and might fail.

IT may write the programs but……
There may be questions so you (the business) must provide the required clarification.
You must ask questions because you must ensure that you understand what is being built!
Ask questions in order to ensure that the programs fulfill the agreed requirements

Involve yourself in every stage of testing because that is how you’ll learn how to use the system. You can then use that knowledge to create training material.

Arrange demonstrations to show future users the look and feel of the system when sections have been developed and tested because this increases ‘buy in’.

Please click on the link to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:

Presentation for Episode 9 – Build

The talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.

I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.

This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.

Join me in two weeks for episode ten of Talking Business – Your Big Project.

The theme music Lifestyles used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Christmas Leave (part 1)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:08 — 13.9MB)

Episode 16 – Life on the Watercress Line – Christmas Leave (1)

Welcome to Christmas Leave (part 1), where I have the opportunity to travel with servicemen and their families. With Christmas just over those who had leave for Christmas are travelling back to base. Those who were on duty over Christmas are going home for a few days.

The Home Guard are very active in Christmas Leave (1) checking the identity cards of all the passengers. In addition they’re on the lookout for suspicious people – spies, black marketeers and others. I’m a little worried that they are helping people fill out and stamp their ID cards!

I get the opportunity to talk to some of the passengers who are out for the day. In this episode all the action takes place on the train as it is mid-Winter.

If you’ve enjoyed this podcast why not visit the Watercress Line on the weekend of 15th/16th June 2019 for War on the Line. This year commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the D Day landings. There will be lots to see at the stations and a regular train service. Full details on the Watercress Line website – click here.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in two weeks.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher.

The theme and incidental music, Steam Railway, used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Data – Your Big Project

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:39 — 16.2MB)

Your Big Project – Series 1 Episode 8 – Data

Welcome to data, talk eight in the series ‘Your Big Project‘. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!

I talk about the need to take every opportunity to improve data quality. The improvement work should have started as part of the Best Practice programme. Improving quality at that stage means you will have a sound basis for your system!

Bad data:

Reduces the value of your organisation in the eyes of its customers
Disheartens your team
Is environmentally incorrect – think of the wasted mail shots!
Kills projects – dead
In some cases you may end up in court – think GDPR.

I talk about the importance of understanding data fields and improvement benefits.

Click here for the presentation on Data

The talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.

I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.

Please click on the link to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:

This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.

Join me in two weeks for episode eight of Talking Business – Your Big Project.

The theme music Lifestyles used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

The Sick Man of Europe (A)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:00 — 32.0MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 10 A – The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 (A)

Please note: this talk is in two parts. Please scroll down to the second part after listening to Part A.

Peter Duffy tells us about the fate of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire in The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878.

The conference led to changes in the countries allocated to the different European Empires in both the Balkans and Mediterranean. The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 describes the different policies driving the key attendees.

Britain was keen to protect the Suez Canal and India from Russian aspirations and so supported Turkey. In addition Britain gained Cyprus at the conference. Austro Hungary received states in the Balkans. Germany wanted to consolidate its position and alliances.

The ‘carve up’ described in The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 ultimately laid the foundations for the First World War.

Click here to open the presentation that accompanies this talk.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording and some disturbance from builders renovating the room next to the meeting room.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

The Sick Man of Europe (B)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:40 — 17.1MB)

Season 2018 / 2019 – Talk 10 B – The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 (B)

Peter Duffy tells us about the fate of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire in The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878.

The ‘carve up’ described in The Sick Man of Europe and the Berlin Conference of 1878 ultimately laid the foundations for the First World War.

Click here to open the presentation that accompanies this talk.

Please note: there is a slight echo on the recording and some disturbance from builders renovating the room next to the meeting room.

The Farnham U3A site is at Farnham U3A Home Page.

The music Media Magazine used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.