UPDATE Thanks for the 40 replies right away! We’ll read through them and reply soon. Thanks!

PeepCode is hiring! I interviewed two part-time editors last week and am now looking for a virtual office assistant. I’m offering $18/hour to start for 2-3 days a week. This will probably turn into a full-time position with increased pay and benefits within the next few months.

This is a non-programming position. Duties include:

• Internet research
• Customer service
• Promotion via email and web
• Data entry
• Various other creative tasks

Preferred skills are:

• Ability to use the web and email
• Familiarity with a Macintosh
• Willingness to learn new things
• Regular communication with Topfunky headquarters
• Ownership of a business license (sole proprietor is OK, we can help you fill out the paperwork if you don’t have one already)

None of these tasks are time-sensitive, so you can work from home at whatever time of day (or week) is best for you. Send your resume via email to peepcode@topfunky.com with VA in the subject.

Dublin

Figure A Dublin from my hotel window

I had a great time in Dublin at the end of June. I spoke at an open source conference and met several other Rubyists while I was there.

I’ve frequently felt that I should bring home some tchotchke from each of the places I visit. While in Dublin I realized that it’s not extra things that I really want, it’s people!

If you’re traveling for business or pleasure, I highly suggest that you find the local Ruby group or find a local co-working space and meet people there. I had breakfast with Ana Nelson, who introduced me to Paul Campbell of Contrast, who is working on an error reporting webapp for Rails developers.

He introduced me to Eamon Leonard and David Coallier who happen to be a few musically inclined PHP developers. We had a great time exploring the pubs of Dublin, and I learned that Guinness beer has a different taste in Dublin than anywhere else in the world.

Oh, and a few members of Ruby Ireland hosted a nice dinner in the city.

So the next time you find yourself in an unknown city, meet the locals!

Figure B Dublin alley

Figure C Clocks at the Contrast co-working space

Figure D Ruby Ireland meetup

Elsewhere

I just published a new PeepCode screencast about Phusion Passenger (technical editing by Phusion staff).

I’ll be speaking about podcasting and entrepreneurship at BizJam Seattle on Wednesday, July 9.

Jim Freeze wanted me to mention that the Lone Star Ruby Conference is open for registration. I’ll be at RailsConf in Berlin at that time, but I’m sure it will be a great conference if you can get yourself to Texas. I frequently post other worldwide conference and workshop events at Ruby on Rails Workshops.

Also, I’ve helped to launch a Deck-like ad network for Ruby blogs. We have several top quality publishers and have a few spots for advertisers. If you have a product, website, or service that would be of interest to Rubyists, check out Ruby Row.