James Cracknell

Very sorry to hear about this terrible accident as James was cycling across America. Various stories about how bad this might be and it is clearly a very serious injury perhaps saved by the cycling helmet. He doesn't appear to do anything the easy way - even his London to Paris cycle ride was 24 hours straight without a break! I hope the recovery is swift and look forward to the planned coast to coast with Ben Fogle from Canada to America on cycles maybe next year now - now that is a trip that sounds fun.

IT Services Newsletter #20

The degree ceremonies are finishing today and some of us have taken part in various capacities. They are a great reminder of why we are all here, and the one’s that I have attended have been really memorable occasions. Our Chancellor, Imran Khan, has attended all of them this year – no doubt the added encouragement of an international test match at Headingley has contributed to his enthusiasm. For those who are about to have a couple of weeks annual leave over the Summer – enjoy – it is well deserved after a very busy year. Hopefully you will already have seen the DRAFT annual report for the last session. Both this report and our preliminary submission to the investment planning process are available along with all the other papers for Information Systems Committee here.

IT Support and Telecoms Team

Preparations for Clearing and Enrolment
Work is ongoing to ensure that we are ready for this period in mid August. There is a working group that meets regularly to oversee this which we are involved with. We are anticipating an extremely busy clearing period even though the number of places available may be much reduced this year.
IT Services Monthly Customer Survey continues
We continue to provide a mechanism for the users of our services to provide feedback both as a result of specific “logged jobs” and also through the general feedback forms. In the last month we have had a bit of a sort out of jobs that needed clearing down – some of them from 2009 - which has had an impact on the stats in June. We are continuing to including customer comments on our services which fairly reflect the feedback we receive both good and not so good, in the monthly IT servicedesk reports which can be found here. I have personally followed up with a number of our customers who were less than satisfied to see what we could do differently next time.

Systems Team

eFile - the new name for ePository
eFile is the name of the University’s document management system. Previously known as ePository, it has had a major overhaul.
The basic service is available to all staff and students on-campus, with extended permissions you are also able to access further features. Key features are;
1) Students can access Past Exam papers
2) Staff can store documents electronically, such as Word/Excel direct from the PC. The documents are
checked-in, viewed but only changed under version-control. This allows sharing of documents, but also protecting them from unauthorised changes.
3) With extra software staff can scan paper documents into eFile.
4) With extra software staff can transfer emailed documents into eFile without opening or scanning the document.
The eFile system can be made to link directly into other software applications. For example, there is a link into SAINT which allows a student’s record to connect to the supporting documents. Over the coming months we’ll be rolling-out new features which will make use of this powerful software. We intend to set up a showcase event during the next academic session, allowing University staff to have a say in which features are developed next.
Reports for Boards of Examiners
We have completed a suite of 10 separate reports, each of which is available in two distinct formats and with multiple selection criteria. This provides a flexible structure for a wide range of awards to be viewed on-screen.
HESA universe
We have also been developing a Business Objects universe to allow reporting against HESA screens on SAINT. Vital for reporting on key information sets prior to our HESA return which impacts upon funding.
Marketing Products
We have also developed a Marketing Research Tool which allows staff making bid proposals to insert data into the document to support their case. The Microsoft Word document has a large XML datablock hidden behind it which can be queried and the results embedded in the document. A Marketing Tracker has also been developed which allows the MCC staff to log and monitor their work in a more efficient way using a Microsoft Access database.

Infrastructure Team

Electrical Service Interruption – an update
The Summer power down is to facilitate the new Combined Heat and Power facility for the University. This is a major project. The latest information is that the shutdown will only affect services to the Richmond Building, and the new date is the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Green Impact initiatives
Following on from our success in Green Impact, we have now completed an initial campus-wide energy audit for IT equipment. This audit and the subsequent action plan were needed for our application to join a consortium of Yorkshire and Humberside Universities in an EUAC project (The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges). We now have a better understanding of the CO2 and energy costs relating to IT at Bradford. The action plan has been posted on the “Green Notice Board” in the wide corridor in JBP Building (Level 01) if you are interested next time you pass that way.

Top L2P Tour Phrases

Most Frequent
Ross: Mange Tout, Mange Tout
Ross: Monsieur, you are spoiling us

World Cup related
G: I'd like to blow a whistle on that
Toph: Soufflez le Vuvu (Vuvuzela)

International travel perspectives
Ross on La Defense: The underground world where the buses have no brakes
woman from Alabama: Are you from Australia? Ross: Hi my name is Sidney

Cuisine
Ross: Lozenge anyone?
Ross: Jack du Flap
Garry: If I had known I had two flapjacks I would have shared them (from Dumb and Dumber: well, it is the Rocky's man)

Bikes
Ee Ee Ee Ee Ee Ee Ee Ee Ee (Great Blue Tit aka Garry bottom bracket)
Bike shop man to Garry: It's hard to tell because, to be honest, everything is loose

Boy Scouts
Ross: I've got something for that (first aid kit)
Chris: There's an app for that: Handle With Care = Wheelchair

and the winner for best comedy moment is

Ross: I think (pause) your room is ever so slightly (pause) more shit than our room: goodnight

and the runner up:
Monsieur Coco's bike

L2P day five

This was meant to be 40km today but we arrived at Notre Dame and the official Centrepoint of Paris at 1730 after leaving at 09:30 this morning. After a circular route around the marina we set out for the hills and managed to get lost visiting Chambourcy twice and then a diversion onto the N5 where several motorists were shouting at us. We thought this might be because of the Dutch Vuvuzela and comedy Vuvuzela hat which we had collected from the game last night and had strapped to the back of the bikes. In fact we realised that bikes were not allowed on the motorway and made an exit as soon as we could. Onto the outskirts of Paris and a coffee stop. We got lost several times with hindsight a map that was slightly bigger than a postcard would have helped. Onto the final stretch to the Champs Elysee the Arc de Triomphe and onto the Notre Dame. About 240 miles in 5 days and no serious incidents. We are staying in Montparnasse this evening about 4 miles from Centre and then flight back to Manchester tommorrow night. We are getting close to our fundraising target with money pledged in last few days and offline we have £75 from a Junior School talent evening £20 from a rail ticket donation and £50 pledge so still working in right direction for a great cause.

L2P day four

Just over 60 miles today Haucourt to Cergy-pointoise which is about 40 km outside of Paris. Once again the weather was stifling in excess of 30 degrees all day but cycling along you create your own breeze and we made excellent progress after leaving La Chataigneraie at 9:00. We could not find a lunchstop open anywhere so settled for a Jacobs lunch in the shadow of a village consisting of a strawberry energy shake a flap du jack two maple biscuits and a bag of energy beans. There was a cemetry further up the road where we filled up with water and recited "there is a greenhouse far away" ( one of the graves had a fitted glass greenhouse around it). We eventually found a patisserie about 3:30 for ice cold coke sanwiches and egg tart. Final stop Ibis hotel in the centre of large town for the World Cup Final tonight. Sports Bar here we come .....after a cold shower.

L2P day three

We got down to the ferry terminal just before 8 to find there would be a 2 hour delay to sailing time so we found a Sainsbury Cafe for breakfast and lunch (wine) for the crossing. Eventually left port at 12 so 3 hours behind schedule. Very foggy crossing and with losing hour left Dieppe at 5. The route to Avenue Verte on easy roads then 25 miles of fabulous cycle road before turning off to overnight stay about 40 miles total in 3 hours. Fantastic place to stay with dinner pre-arranged and 3 bottles (wine) for 11 euro. Four proper beds and a good nights sleep in a little oasis. Biggest day for miles tommorrow but passed 130 miles now. One puncture today and a sqeaky bottom bracket. Weather glorious.

L2P day two

Travelling from Redhill to Newhaven covering about 52 miles on sustrans route. Blistering sun so popped in to the Jolly Tanners for a bit of lunch (beer) and then steady afternoon just one puncture to Brighton. Excellent bike shop fettled two bikes for us plus new inner tube then seafront to the recommended Fortune of War (beer). Final leg to Newhaven for 7 along the seafront to the Premier Inn. Yesterdays highlights were people watching on the Brighton front with tapas of pickled egg and a tray of chips. Met 4 proper serious L2P cyclists who had a back up car. We are more relaxed however.

L2P day one

We set off in good time from Sowerby Bridge station. The owner of the Jubilee Refreshment rooms asked where we were going so was quite impressed by Paris. The old guy propping up the bar simply said "that's cheating if you're going by train". The train was late getting into London Kings Cross so we got to Centre Point at 7:00 for the official start photo. Some 40 odd miles later we arrived in Redhill at 11:20 in time for very last orders but no supper. Good job we had a Yorkshire curd tart on the way down. It has been a beauiful evening to meander through central London via Cutty Sark and Sustrans Route 21. Tommorrow it's Brighton and Newhaven.

Classic Footage

Worth a look - classic film footage of the University circa 1950s and 60s:

Newcastle Uni Open Day

Went with Jacob to look around on the Open Day. Over two days they were expecting between 4-5000 visitors. It was very busy when we arrived about11:00 and we saw the racing pigeons on the way in which we both liked to see. Plenty of black and white in evidence as you would expect. The building works are mainly completed and it is a much smarter environment than last visit a year ago when everything was in progress. We liked the facilities and the closeness to the City. Accommodation looked good and reasonably priced: show flats were newly painted! Came across the IT fix company in the student union and passed that on as it looked a good concept. Well worth a visit - great courses, great facilities, great social life and reasonable prices. It's good enough Princess Beatrice apparently (mentioned twice by students who took us on tours so they think that is important for visitors to know)