Vicky Harp
@vickyharp.com
Product person, recently ex-Microsoft. Dev experiences, Al, data. Helper of experts. She/Her. Black Lives Matter.
This meeting could have been a riot.
This meeting could have been a riot.
30 years ago I got a D on a paper in 10th grade because my teacher didn't know what some of the words meant and therefore decided I must have plagiarized it. I didn't even use a thesaurus. One of the words being disputed was "filial."
Yes, I am still mad about it.
Yes, I am still mad about it.
January 18, 2026 at 3:10 AM
30 years ago I got a D on a paper in 10th grade because my teacher didn't know what some of the words meant and therefore decided I must have plagiarized it. I didn't even use a thesaurus. One of the words being disputed was "filial."
Yes, I am still mad about it.
Yes, I am still mad about it.
Reposted by Vicky Harp
If you're looking for a sign to switch careers: this is the sign.
January 18, 2026 at 12:44 AM
If you're looking for a sign to switch careers: this is the sign.
Reposted by Vicky Harp
A group of young kestrels is startled by the presence of a butterfly. 🤣🤣🤣
January 9, 2026 at 5:36 PM
A group of young kestrels is startled by the presence of a butterfly. 🤣🤣🤣
Earlier non-red areas will become obsolete from a challenge level though, at 40 you are already there for some of them.
If you are at a "continue with story or nah?" point, if you DM me where you are in the story I can be more specific.
If you are at a "continue with story or nah?" point, if you DM me where you are in the story I can be more specific.
January 8, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Earlier non-red areas will become obsolete from a challenge level though, at 40 you are already there for some of them.
If you are at a "continue with story or nah?" point, if you DM me where you are in the story I can be more specific.
If you are at a "continue with story or nah?" point, if you DM me where you are in the story I can be more specific.
It can be worth it. Luminas never become obsolete. Pictos can actually level up. Early weapons become niche, same as most games.
I don't recommend backtracking until you finish the main story arc, but after that, go nuts.
I don't recommend backtracking until you finish the main story arc, but after that, go nuts.
January 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
It can be worth it. Luminas never become obsolete. Pictos can actually level up. Early weapons become niche, same as most games.
I don't recommend backtracking until you finish the main story arc, but after that, go nuts.
I don't recommend backtracking until you finish the main story arc, but after that, go nuts.
Meanwhile it feels like their search functionality has regressed 10 years. I was looking for my museum of flight membership information and it was like "Oh you mean your Costco membership? How about this flight confirmation your brother forwarded you? Here's a Seattle Times morning brief from 2019."
Google is taking over your Gmail inbox with AI. The new AI Inbox replaces the traditional list of emails with a personalized summary of what to do and what to catch up on. Details 👇 www.theverge.com/news/857883/...
Google is taking over your Gmail inbox with AI
AI Mode but for Gmail.
www.theverge.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:26 PM
Meanwhile it feels like their search functionality has regressed 10 years. I was looking for my museum of flight membership information and it was like "Oh you mean your Costco membership? How about this flight confirmation your brother forwarded you? Here's a Seattle Times morning brief from 2019."
Yeah, I would say broadly that this + weapon level comes more into play starting around Act 2.
(I could talk your ear off about this game, I am at level 97 and 98 in NG+ and learning some of the soundtrack on piano right now)
(I could talk your ear off about this game, I am at level 97 and 98 in NG+ and learning some of the soundtrack on piano right now)
January 8, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Yeah, I would say broadly that this + weapon level comes more into play starting around Act 2.
(I could talk your ear off about this game, I am at level 97 and 98 in NG+ and learning some of the soundtrack on piano right now)
(I could talk your ear off about this game, I am at level 97 and 98 in NG+ and learning some of the soundtrack on piano right now)
The only tip I do have that I took a little too long to commit to in my playthrough is that stat bonuses from higher level pictos (not lumina) are super effective and not to be missed. It can massively impact HP, turn frequency, damage, etc - more even than character level.
January 8, 2026 at 2:56 PM
The only tip I do have that I took a little too long to commit to in my playthrough is that stat bonuses from higher level pictos (not lumina) are super effective and not to be missed. It can massively impact HP, turn frequency, damage, etc - more even than character level.
The lumina system is really fun. I know we have talked about XCOM before and it strikes me as similar in that element where there is plenty of stats administrivia there if you enjoy that and you want to go for OP builds, but you don't *have* to.
January 8, 2026 at 2:52 PM
The lumina system is really fun. I know we have talked about XCOM before and it strikes me as similar in that element where there is plenty of stats administrivia there if you enjoy that and you want to go for OP builds, but you don't *have* to.
I was mentally making a grocery list and offhandedly remarked to my spouse "you don't really care for yogurt, do you?"
We looked at each other for a beat with dawning realization before their response: "....it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth..."
We looked at each other for a beat with dawning realization before their response: "....it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth..."
January 6, 2026 at 5:29 PM
I was mentally making a grocery list and offhandedly remarked to my spouse "you don't really care for yogurt, do you?"
We looked at each other for a beat with dawning realization before their response: "....it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth..."
We looked at each other for a beat with dawning realization before their response: "....it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth..."
- No indication of ticket availability until you click 3 levels deep
- Want to send someone that event? Well too bad, no deep linking
-Rotated your phone? The pagination buttons have disappeared forever
- Scrolls to bottom of page when you click next, you have to scroll back up to read
- Want to send someone that event? Well too bad, no deep linking
-Rotated your phone? The pagination buttons have disappeared forever
- Scrolls to bottom of page when you click next, you have to scroll back up to read
January 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM
- No indication of ticket availability until you click 3 levels deep
- Want to send someone that event? Well too bad, no deep linking
-Rotated your phone? The pagination buttons have disappeared forever
- Scrolls to bottom of page when you click next, you have to scroll back up to read
- Want to send someone that event? Well too bad, no deep linking
-Rotated your phone? The pagination buttons have disappeared forever
- Scrolls to bottom of page when you click next, you have to scroll back up to read
Every local arts calendar:
- 10 events per page
- Takes 5 seconds to load next page
- Infinite page count because it includes recurring events
- Series events repeated on page (nightly for 14 nights? That's a page and a half right there)
- Pages include noise like rehearsals and donor galas
- 10 events per page
- Takes 5 seconds to load next page
- Infinite page count because it includes recurring events
- Series events repeated on page (nightly for 14 nights? That's a page and a half right there)
- Pages include noise like rehearsals and donor galas
January 6, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Every local arts calendar:
- 10 events per page
- Takes 5 seconds to load next page
- Infinite page count because it includes recurring events
- Series events repeated on page (nightly for 14 nights? That's a page and a half right there)
- Pages include noise like rehearsals and donor galas
- 10 events per page
- Takes 5 seconds to load next page
- Infinite page count because it includes recurring events
- Series events repeated on page (nightly for 14 nights? That's a page and a half right there)
- Pages include noise like rehearsals and donor galas
To connect it to my WiFi - not an optional step btw - I had to log into developer settings on my router and turn down the power settings on the 5G radio so it would appropriately use the 2.4Ghz band. 💀
January 3, 2026 at 12:53 AM
To connect it to my WiFi - not an optional step btw - I had to log into developer settings on my router and turn down the power settings on the 5G radio so it would appropriately use the 2.4Ghz band. 💀
IOT device makers need to get a grip.
This is a *meat thermometer.* Why would I need to log in?
This is a *meat thermometer.* Why would I need to log in?
January 3, 2026 at 12:52 AM
IOT device makers need to get a grip.
This is a *meat thermometer.* Why would I need to log in?
This is a *meat thermometer.* Why would I need to log in?
Of course I run into this on a website the same day I post about nullable types
December 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Of course I run into this on a website the same day I post about nullable types
Yeah we were using ? syntax then too, people just got fussy when they had to explicitly decide what to do when the value could not be boxed to (usually) an int. Often with charts - I wanted to see a break in the chart for null, not a drop to 0.
December 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Yeah we were using ? syntax then too, people just got fussy when they had to explicitly decide what to do when the value could not be boxed to (usually) an int. Often with charts - I wanted to see a break in the chart for null, not a drop to 0.
Versions prior to DM 5.0 had a C++ collection service and basic ints caused bugs. For example, for cooked counters like CPU percentage you could not display a value until the Nth collection (usually 2, sometimes 3) and that value needed to show no value, not a zero value, until that point.
December 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Versions prior to DM 5.0 had a C++ collection service and basic ints caused bugs. For example, for cooked counters like CPU percentage you could not display a value until the Nth collection (usually 2, sometimes 3) and that value needed to show no value, not a zero value, until that point.
I used .NET nullable types throughout the collection service source code for SQL Diagnostic Manager because it is a valid performance data point and because it causes (IMO) the correct amount of friction / consideration for devs. But people at work would exclaim "Vicky and your @$# nulls!"
December 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I used .NET nullable types throughout the collection service source code for SQL Diagnostic Manager because it is a valid performance data point and because it causes (IMO) the correct amount of friction / consideration for devs. But people at work would exclaim "Vicky and your @$# nulls!"
I am, however, a completely obnoxious person to attend a production of The Nutcracker. If I feel like a staging does not make proper use of a musical cue in Act 1 I will *not* shut up about it at intermission.
December 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I am, however, a completely obnoxious person to attend a production of The Nutcracker. If I feel like a staging does not make proper use of a musical cue in Act 1 I will *not* shut up about it at intermission.
When I was younger I was a serious ballet dancer and performed in The Nutcracker 5 years in a row, and did stage management for another 5 years when I was no longer dancing. Even after hearing the entirety of the ballet literally hundreds of times, the music still gives me a thrill of frisson.
December 10, 2025 at 6:50 PM
When I was younger I was a serious ballet dancer and performed in The Nutcracker 5 years in a row, and did stage management for another 5 years when I was no longer dancing. Even after hearing the entirety of the ballet literally hundreds of times, the music still gives me a thrill of frisson.
Every private equity firm upon acquiring a company: "Ah, see, the problem is that you employ people and sell products and/or services. Let's put a stop to that."
December 4, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Every private equity firm upon acquiring a company: "Ah, see, the problem is that you employ people and sell products and/or services. Let's put a stop to that."
Customers are the ultimate learning resource!
That last example on the page with the "filter or return all" shows how freaking subtle it can be as a bug.
That last example on the page with the "filter or return all" shows how freaking subtle it can be as a bug.
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Customers are the ultimate learning resource!
That last example on the page with the "filter or return all" shows how freaking subtle it can be as a bug.
That last example on the page with the "filter or return all" shows how freaking subtle it can be as a bug.
I let my blog site expire after I joined Microsoft, but this was worth digging out an archive post for:
web.archive.org/web/20170318...
web.archive.org/web/20170318...
Data Type Conversions with Coalesce and IsNull
One topic I have spoken on a few times in the past few months, but have not elaborated on a great deal, is the issue of bugs caused by data type conversions when using the IsNull expression in T-SQ…
web.archive.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I let my blog site expire after I joined Microsoft, but this was worth digging out an archive post for:
web.archive.org/web/20170318...
web.archive.org/web/20170318...
We used bitter apple spray for Christmas lights one year. It didn't work on the cat, but it did get all over the Christmas tree, and so for years it would make its way through transference onto my cookies I was trying to eat while decorating, even well after the cat had died. His sweet revenge.
December 2, 2025 at 9:31 PM
We used bitter apple spray for Christmas lights one year. It didn't work on the cat, but it did get all over the Christmas tree, and so for years it would make its way through transference onto my cookies I was trying to eat while decorating, even well after the cat had died. His sweet revenge.
Even when I *did* need to do a few checks to monitor response to a medication over the course of a week, as suggested by my doctor, a Contour Next kit with monitor, lancet, and test strips was under $10 at the local pharmacy.
November 29, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Even when I *did* need to do a few checks to monitor response to a medication over the course of a week, as suggested by my doctor, a Contour Next kit with monitor, lancet, and test strips was under $10 at the local pharmacy.