MySQL import (or: How I found the LazyWeb)

December 13, 2005 work 7 Comments

O Lazyweb, o lazyweb…

This is the first time I have called on you, please don’t let me down.

I have a bunch of data files (dumped from an Oracle database) that look like this:

     17;    12,43;Data dump of integer and float fields
     18;    -4,10;The decimal separator is ,

I’d like to load the data into a MySQL database with 

mysqlimport -Lr --fields-terminated-by=';' --fields-optionally-enclosed-by='"' database input.txt

but those pesky floating point fields are getting truncated at the , and no amount of messing with LC_NUMERIC gets it to use the comma as a decimal separator.

Anyone know how to massage mysql to do this?

30 year’s service

December 9, 2005 work 1 Comment

Last night, I went to the retirement party for Mike Powell, an Englishman who has worked for Cegelec for the past 30 years. I knew mike mainly because of our shared language, and while our paths only crossed for a short while, he was a really nice guy, a pleasure to have a coffee with. We talked for a while, I met his wife, and he got a very nice going-away present, a proper telescope.

What was surprising, and shocking, about the going-away party was that none of the senior managers or vice presidents of the local organisation were there. Lots of colleagues turned up, but not one of “les patrons”. After 30 year’s service, none of the people in the upper hierarchy turned up to say thanks and goodbye.

Given that the company invests so little in its employees, it’s hardly surprising that the employees invest so little in return.

Blogging about work

September 21, 2005 work 8 Comments

OK, against my better judgement…

The new job has not turned out to be the opportunity I was hoping for. A number of factors have led to some conflict, and a total lack of passion or momentum.

I am currently considering my options – start a free software company (the problem is so many ideas on the one hand, and figuring out where the revenue stream is going to be on the other), re-entering the job market and just admitting that taking this job was a mistake, or try to make a silk purse out of the sow’s ear, buckle down, build character, and try to do the best I can in the circumstances.

I’m interested in hearing ideas people might have, by e-mail or in blog comments.

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