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There's a saying in the Agile community — Agile is simple, but it's not easy. All too often Scrum teams cut corners or abuse the Scrum framework — they do the easy parts of Agile without doing the hard parts. These teams may see initial short term gains, but sooner or later, meet challenges, frustration, and in many instances, failure.
For example, one of the principles behind the Agile Manifesto is "Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project." This is usually a big cultural change and can be uncomfortable for developers and business people who often don't speak the same language. Daily collaboration between developers and business people creates the feedback loop and ability for course correction that ensures what's delivered at the end of the sprint is just what stakeholders want. This collaboration is critical to the Scrum process, and is sometimes one of the hardest practices to begin and maintain.
How often do you leave software documentation undone because it is seen as a low priority compared to moving on to the next coding assignment? Similarly, some Scrum teams forgo Sprint Retrospectives due to lack of time or perceived lack of value. Inspection and adaption are cornerstone principles to building high-performing Scrum teams. You can only achieve continual improvement when you pause to reflect on what's working well, what's not working well, and make a conscious decision to adjust your practices. Small tweaks can mean the difference between project success and failure. Done right, the Retrospective can be an interesting and even fun meeting that yields valuable results.
Agile development is very different from waterfall development. Sometimes a new or untrained Scrum Master or Tech Lead tries to manage the team instead of leading and guiding the team. Scrum Masters are not Project Managers. A command-and-control mentality is counter to the Agile/Scrum framework. A manager assigning tasks and dictating effort is an Agile anti-pattern. Great Scrum teams are self-organizing, the Scrum Master is a servant leader. Thus, teams learn to become better at working together and delivering greater value more efficiently by regular inspection and adapting to overcome challenges. Often the lesson is learned better by experience (good or bad) than by just being told what to do. Figure out solutions to problems yourself — don't rely on the Scrum Master to solve all your problems.
Good communication is essential to successful Scrum projects. Something I see quite regularly on newer Scrum teams is people using the Scrum Master to deliver their messages to others. For example, a Developer has a question about a User Story; instead of going directly to the Product Owner, he emails the Scrum Master to obtain the information. A key Agile principle is communicating face-to-face whenever possible. The time it took to compose the email would likely have been all that was needed to get the answer directly from the stakeholder. But, for many technical people, face-to-face communication is a scary thing when we're used to living in a safe cubicle world, without needing to talk to people. This is a cultural or personality issue that must be overcome. It wastes time and increases the risk of miscommunication.
As the beginning of a new sprint approaches, it is important that the Product Backlog be ready. An unready Product Backlog is one of the most common reasons for sprint failure and for demotivating a team. It is also a root cause of low delivery velocity and not delivering high value. New Product Owners need coaching and hand-holding the first few sprints as they learn to develop and maintain a Product Backlog that has enough valuable features, that have been estimated at a high level, and are prioritized by business value. While not the responsibility of developers to hold the hand of the Product Owner, the development team can be a valuable asset to the Product Owner while the backlog is created. High-level estimation is also needed during backlog grooming or refining, and those who will do the actual work are the best ones to provide estimates. Preparing the backlog far enough in advance of the next sprint is a must. Help the Product Owner keep the flow of value coming.
The Daily Stand-up is a key Scrum meeting that adds tremendous value from several points of view. It puts the core team face-to-face every day for 15 minutes, it forces communication and collaboration, and it provides visibility and transparency into the project. For such a key meeting, it needs to be taken seriously. Attendance at the Daily Stand-up is never optional for anyone who has a task due: The meeting starts on time, never goes beyond 15 minutes, and everyone answers three questions (What did I accomplish for the project yesterday? What will I work on today? What obstacles are blocking me from completing my work on time?). There should be no side conversations, discussions, or problem solving during the meeting. The Daily Stand-up also provides the opportunity every day to communicate impediments to getting work done. One of the primary functions of the Scrum Master is to remove obstacles so the team can focus on delivering software; but if obstacles are not raised, the Scrum Master can't help remove them. Waiting to raise an obstacle until it's too late to recover from it is unacceptable. Until the team is accustomed to communicating obstacles in a timely manner, team members need to constantly remind each other to bring up even potential obstacles, if there's any chance something might delay the work or cause the sprint commitment to be missed.
Agile is more about people, interactions, and culture than about processes, practices, and tools. While Scrum practices are important and provide practical guidelines that can help increase project success, the principles — the hard parts — are what make Agile sustainable in the long run and maximize the great benefits it has to offer.
Dwight Kingdon is a Principal Consultant/Agile Coach at the Mindtree US Delivery Center in Gainesville, Florida. He possesses over 25 years of project management experience leading complex information technology projects, and over nine years of Agile/Scrum experience coaching and leading high profile, mission critical projects.


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Several Anderson County leaders will participate in a symposium on advancing East Tennessee's regional competitiveness on Wednesday, Jan. 9, hosted by Plan East Tennessee, known as PlanET, in partnership with Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley.
Several Anderson County leaders will participate in a symposium on advancing East Tennessee's regional competitiveness on Wednesday, Jan. 9, hosted by Plan East Tennessee, known as PlanET, in partnership with Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley.
The symposium is titled "Advancing Regional Competitiveness."
"This event will draw together the wealth of expertise in the region from both the public and private sectors to uncover the critical issues of regional competitiveness for East Tennessee — including a look at where we are now and how to become a more competitive region 10, 20 or 30 years from now," said Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, chairman of PlanET's board of mayors, which includes mayoral leaders of all five PlanET counties — Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union.
"Competitiveness is not just about job creation and economic growth, although those aspects are cornerstones," Beehan said in a news release. "It's also about creating a place where people want to live because the quality-of-life drivers are strong."
The symposium intends to provide a platform for people — particularly professionals from diverse areas of the business community — to share the successes and challenges they've experienced, with the aim of advancing dialogue about East Tennessee's competitiveness for future generations.
Moderated by Ted Abernathy, executive director of the Southern Growth Policies Board, the symposium will feature panels focused on preparing the area's workforce and positioning the region for economic prosperity by capitalizing on the quality of life assets essential to keeping and attracting talent, recruiting industry and retaining businesses in a global marketplace.
In addition to Beehan and Abernathy, the event will include Thom Mason, Oak Ridge National Laboratory director; and Diane Davidson, director of the ORNL Center for Transportation Analysis. Other key leaders from the area include Robert Martineau, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; Jim Evans, vice president of air services for McGhee Tyson Airport; Doug Lawyer, vice president of economic development for Innovation Valley; David Mansouri, director of advocacy and communications for SCORE; Carol Evans, executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation; Cindy McConkey, senior vice president of Scripps Networks Interactive; and Matt Murray, director of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.
Doors will open for the symposium at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St., in downtown Knoxville at 12:30 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 9, 2013, with the event taking place from 1 to 4:30 p.m. A networking reception will follow. Seating is limited. Online registration is required and available at www.planeasttn.org/ETcompetes.
The public is encouraged to follow PlanET, as well as the upcoming symposium online at www.planeasttn.org, on Facebook and on Twitter via @PlanEastTN and #ETCompetes.
As PlanET, which began in late summer 2011, enters its third and final phase in 2013, the symposium will help focus the ideas generated in Phases One and Two to create a targeted, meaningful outcome.
Phase One (August 2011 to July 2012) brought East Tennesseans together to establish a shared identity and vision. Phase Two (April 2012 to March 2013) takes that vision and develops a shared direction with continued citizen input. Phase Three (January 2013 to December 2013) will produce and report the final product and, with continued citizen input, focus on implementation activities.
Plan East Tennessee (PlanET) is a regional partnership of communities building a shared direction for the future of Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union counties. PlanET seeks ideas about protecting valuable resources and addressing challenges regarding jobs, housing, transportation, a clean environment, and community health.
The goal: to create long-term solutions for investments in the region and to define the next chapter in the region's rich history, leaving a legacy of optimism and opportunity for future generations.

subset: commoncrawl


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Last month Sorella Stoute from Portland, Oregon, purchased a 1962 Austin-Healey Sprite on eBay. Now, this might not sound like much of a story, until you learn that Sorella is only 14 months old. Here's what happened. The tiny online shopper was playing with her father Paul Stoute's smartphone when she inadvertently opened the eBay app and purchased the rundown car for a little over $200 from a seller in nearby Tualatin, Oregon.
Sorella's dad first learned of the purchase of the car, nicknamed "Franken Sprite," via an eBay confirmation email. At first he was shocked and panicked but in the end decided to keep the car and fix it up, saying, "I've done a lot of bodywork in the past … but this is another realm altogether." Stoute added that he felt lucky Sorella picked a car on the cheaper end of the spectrum, saying he was glad she didn't click on the $38,000 Porsche he had also been looking at.
Paul Stoute set up a Smarty Pig crowdfunding page to raise money to restore the Franken Sprite, and he does not need to worry about Sorella's next purchase; he installed facial recognition technology and a new PIN code on his phone. He said he might give the fixed-up ride to Sorella for her 16th birthday or graduation.
Has your kid ever done something unexpected on your phone? Tell us on our Facebook page or by following us on Twitter: @YahooTrending


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Wednesday, September 12, 2018
GYPSY Wall Hanging - NSK DT Project Sept2018
Posted by Rosanne Carrillo at 1:43 PM
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A Moms Impressions Policy
A Moms Impressions, is not responsible for packages that are Lost, Stolen, or Damaged in Transit. I will do my best to ensure all kits are secured safely inside your package.
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The Baby Loft Ltd - Baby Equipment Hire
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Why hire ?
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At The Baby Loft we offer top brands including Phil & Teds, Maxi cosi, Bugaboo, iCandy, Quinny to name a few. We also offer a personal delivery and collection service to and from airports, families & friends and hotels.


text: Seller: jv.retros (3,129) 100%, Location: Talent, Oregon, Ships to: Worldwide, Item: 333171110058 5 Black Antique Railroad Spike Easy Screw Knobs Create the perfect look by buying the exact amount you need for your decorating project or a gift set! Easy screw back means fast installation practically anywhere for home remodels and DIYers.These are wonderful ebony knob handles designed from antique railroad spikes. These high carbon steel nails were originally made for the Southern Pacific Railroad in the late 1800s (circa 1880s) for the steam train tracks. A very unusual usage that makes the perfect gift for a Railroadiana collector or old train enthusiast, these are rustic and primitive antiques that look great in a hunting lodge, farm cabin, stable, garden, etc. These are our glossy black enamel finish, which looks like a great old wrought iron, and they are perfect for antique dresser restoration, reclaimed lumber projects, and other rustic applications where the irregular hammer marks and beautiful patina will enhance the primitive charm of the decor. Other colors, sizes, and matching railroad spike decor are available in our Ebay store here: Railroad Spike Racks, Hooks, Handles, Knobs, Art Knives, and More Knobs are individually hand-crafted by our metal artist right here in Southern Oregon, so some variation occurs, with a 1.25" - 1.5" projection and a .75" screw (.25" across) - perfect easily mounting almost anywhere without the need for extra hardware. Pre-drilling a small pilot hole is recommended. Around 1.5" tall, and each weighing about 5 ounces with hardware. Double coated with a glossy black enamel for extra protection and weather resistance. Hardware included- pre-installed screw mounting post, as pictured. Great when used for screen door knobs, yard and garden gate handles, sliding barn doors, tool sheds, quaint outhouses, attic loft hatches, pantry, wine cellar, storm, or root cellar entrances, and other similar architectural design elements. Also good for adding a special touch to vintage and antique style furnishings by using them as drawer knobs, dresser pulls, cupboard handles, ranch offices and rustic desks, etc. These are also ultra strong to hang just about anything on, from coats and coveralls, to tools and guns. Also work great for copper pots and cast iron kettles, mantle decor, fireplace accessories, tack rooms, horse arenas, stables, and ball cap or cowboy hat hangers. We ship items within 5 business days after we receive payment. If there will be a delay for any un-foreseen reason, we will immediately let you know, and do our best to get it to you A.S.A.P! We do our best to only charge enough S&H to safely and securely get your new treasures to your door. We re-use and recycle packaging materials whenever possible to help save not only the environment, but also save you money on shipping costs. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: We will do everything to insure that your items get to you quickly and safely. However, we are not responsible for additional customs fees and/or delays. We will NOT mark your item as a "gift", and we always clearly state the contents when shipping internationally. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. We require payment within 3 days of purchase. The sooner we get it, the sooner you get your items. All items are sold on an "as-is" basis. We try to provide a detailed description and good quality photos so that you can inspect your items carefully. Please ask if you have any questions, or need additional information or pictures. We are happy to help you have a rewarding experience with us. Please note: These get a double coat of clear enamel after the carbon coating to help seal the metal and prevent rust. However, they still have a rustic finish- these actually are antique metal, and have the patina to match their age. This may include spots of rusty color, rough surfaces, etc. Attention: All photos, custom item specifics, and text are copyrighted! Condition: Actual antique train track parts- have been smashed with spike driver hammer tools and left outside for over 120 years before being reclaimed and up-cycled into unique knobs with a double coat of clear enamel over a wonderful natural patina., Color: Rustic Glossy Black, Material: Steel, Uses: Door Knob, Gate Pull, Dresser, Cupboard, Desk etc, Great For: Farmhouse Restoration Ranch Cabin Remodel Decor, Original Date: late 1800s (circa 1880s), Railroad Company: Southern Pacific (SPRR), PLEASE NOTE:: Furniture in Images for Demonstration Only, DIY Friendly Easy Up Hardware: 3/4" long screw back mounts almost anywhere!, Beautiful with: Old Wrought Iron Decor


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Since we have children and official people (like from Hasbro), browsing our site, this forum is actively monitored for offensive, spoiling behaviour, to hopefully make it more fun for everyone. Basically, if you play nicely and fairly, you shouldn't have any problems. If you wanting to interact here, please read the Userguide located here.
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The world was introduced to Ruben Studdard more than 10 years ago, and the "American Idol" winner is ready to give the show's fans the album they've always wanted.
Unconditional Love, scheduled for release in February, is "the album that everybody expected from me when I won 'American Idol,'" Ruben told Sister 2 Sister.
The soulful singer said fans expected him to be a clone of the legendary Luther Vandross after winning season 2 of the hit singing competition show.
"Everybody just expected me to step into Luther Vandross' shoes after I won the show," he said. "For some reason, that disconnect came in the music and maybe it just wasn't what people expected."
Ruben suspects Unconditional Love will please any of his fans who've been disappointed in the past.
"I have definitely figured it out and came up with an album of classic love songs that people would be able to remember for the rest of their lives," he said.
It doesn't hurt that Ruben has teamed up with Eric Benet, Lalah Hathaway and Stevie Wonder (on harmonica). He also covered songs by Teddy Pendegrass, Billy Preston and Billy Ocean.
"This is really like a defining moment in my career," Ruben said.
Get more from Ruben in the February 2014 issue of Sister 2 Sister.


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Being based in Melbourne, when a client chose the talented Diana McLean from Sydney to voice their video we were going to suggest they select from the Melbourne pool of Artists only, but after speaking to Kathryn Scott a studio was sought! We Directed over the phone (Skype was available) with a friendly and professional sound recordist. The read from Diana was perfect and the record quality excellent!. Files were delivered within 30 minutes. It's a great service that we can recommend and it's opened up Sydney VO Artists to offer our clients.
Kathryn Scott at Scout Management is the only agent I approach when I am looking for first class talent. When booking talent internationally the process is always smooth and I feel completely at ease that I am going to receive the outcome my client requires.
The Scout Management team are an absolute pleasure to do business with. All of the VO talent are top notch and some of the best in the business at their craft, and the team in the office are always willing to go above and beyond to make it all "just work"!
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Working with Scout Voice Management was so easy and professional. We knew we wanted to use Aaron Cartwright – his voice is like rich melted chocolate and he is so amiable and amenable. From the initial inquiry to the actual recording was only a few days. We got exactly what we wanted and have the showreel for our website that we'd hoped for. Thanks to all involved.