Countdown to ApacheConUS 2008 - 1 month

The ApacheCon US 2008 is getting closer, minus one month to go: November 3-7, New Orleans.
This year, OFBiz will be an important part of the Conference and there will be several training sessions and presentations about this amazing Open Source ERP software.
And the company I work for, HotWax Media, is a Platinum Sponsor of the event, and will play a big role in this.
From this page you will find the links to the sessions I am going to hold.

Fiorentina vs Genoa and first part of the season

Yesterday night Fiorentina won (1-0) an important match versus Genoa, the 5th match of 2008/2009 Serie A Season.
Again, thanks to a beautiful goal by Gilardino:

(Copyright by fiorentina.it)

This is an important result, after the difficult match won last week with Bologna (in the picture below, Jovetic in action):

(Copyright by fiorentina.it)

and the bad one (Lazio vs Fiorentina: 3-0) of Wednesday:

(Copyright fiorentina.it)

The match with Lazio was the 3rd of the Season, the 2nd one was Napoli vs Fiorentina (2-1):

(Copyright by fiorentina.it)

and the first one was Fiorentina vs Juventus (1-1, in the picture Gilardino after the beautyful goal in the last minute of the match):

(Copyright by fiorentina.it)

Fade to Black

Life it seems, will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free

Things are not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this Can't be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filling me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me, but now he 's gone

No one but me can save myself, but it's too late
Now, I can't think, think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though it never existed
Death Greets me warm, now I will just say goodbye

by Metallica

Summary of Main new features in OFBiz - August

Here is the summary of the most interesting features developed in August 2008 by the Apache OFBiz open source project's community:

Framework:

• Generics markup added to several Java classes.
• Refactored FlexibleStringExpander - less memory used.

MyPage, ProjectManager:

• It is now possible to create a customer request from an incoming email.
• Creation of a project task from a customer request.
• Allow the customer to login to the backend system in mypage using OFBiz security system and showing the status of the customer requests
• Allow the customer to login to the backend system in mypage using OFBiz security system and showing the status of the customer requests
• Customer can now add new requests and update the priority of exiting requests
• Customer can also see and download his own invoices in his currency in pdf format
• Many enhancements in receiving email into the system
• create an invoice from all hours reported per timesheet on not yet invoiced project tasks

Order Component:

• Miscellaneous enhancements to the order detail screen, mostly related to the action links for shipment related operations

POS:

• New virtual keyboards (alphanum and num) automatically accessed from fields needing them (usefull with touch screens, can be disabled with a property)

Fixed Asset Maintenance:

• Meter readings can be entered without creating a maintenance
• Automatic maintenance generation. If a product maintenance is based on meter readings, then maintenances will be created automatically when the meter reading crosses a threshold. If a product maintenance is based on time intervals, then maintenances will be created automatically when the time interval is passed
• New party roles for maintenance worker, maintenance manager, and maintenance supplier (outside service)
• Automatic assignment of parties to maintenance tasks
• Additional parties can be assigned to a maintenance task
• Improved user interface in the Asset Maintenance component

As usual, you can see the full list of new features here.

Meeting face to face with the OFBiz people - Part 2

This is a followup after my first post with the list of OFBiz committers that I've met face-to-face.
After my last trip to Indore, here is the updated list:

Olivier Heinz in Padova
Si Chen in New York
Andrew Zeneski in New York
David Welton in Padova
Yoav Shapira in Padova
David Jones in Salt Lake City
Tim Ruppert in Salt Lake City
Christian Geisert in Padova
Anil Patel in Indore
Ashish Vijaywargiya in Indore
Vikas Mayur in Indore

I am also sure that many of the guys I've met there, part the HWM crew, will be sooner or later committers, because they are doing a great job. Additionally I will meet many others at ApacheCon in New Orleans.
The above list will grow soon.

Goodbye, Rick

As you probably already know, Rick Wright, founder and keyboardist of the Pink Floyd, passed away on 15th September.
I still remember the day in the summer of '89 when I, a young fan of the Pink Floyd, had the unique chance to shake his hand in Venice, when he arrived at the hotel in Lido (Venice) the day before the World famous concert Pink Floyd played in Piazza San Marco.
David Gilmour, in his website www.davidgilmour.com, remembers his friend with the following beautiful words:

Like Rick, I don't find it easy to express my feelings in words, but I loved him and will miss him enormously.

Back home - Pics of Indore

I am finally back home after spending my last two weeks in Indore, India, working with my colleagues (and now very good friends too!) of the Indore offices of HotWax Media.
Even if I have to admit that life and customs in Indore are totally different, and somewhat shocking too, from what I am used to in Padova I can really say I had a great time because I have found there a lot of good friends that did all the possible (and more) to make me feel like I was home.
Here are some pictures about this great experience, including pictures of the Sayaji Hotel, the inauguration party for the new HWM offices, a birthday party in the office (Happy Birthday Jyotsna!), me having some pleasant moments (and drinks) in a pub with Ashish, Vikas, Mridul, Ratnesh, Pranay and Rishi, the street food, the chaotic traffic of the city, etc. etc.