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Happy System Administrator Appreciation Day!

saintp writes "In case you forgot, today is System Administrator Appreciation Day. Be sure to appreciate your sysadmin with some sweet schwag, a LOPSA membership, or even some theme cupcakes. Here's to all the sysadmins out there! Now I've got to go fix the mail server...." Update: 07/28 17:44 GMT by H :And remember that you can vote/nominate them for SysAdmin of the Year.

201 comments

  1. Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by lecithin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A paycheck is all the appreciation that I expect.

    Today is Payday.

    For some reason, I don't think that this is going to get as big as mother's day.

    I know that there is going to be some bitching about how many sysadmins aren't appreciated. Well, you could always work at Mcdonalds.

    --
    It could be worse, it could be Monday.
    1. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Qzukk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      A paycheck is all the appreciation that I expect.

      If the worth of your life is a paycheck, then I'm sure you're pleased with yourself, and I'm happy for you.

      Personally, I believe that I shouldn't have to negotiate with HR for "perks" like "treat me like the human I am".

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    2. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by 0racle · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Your not a human entitled to respect, you are a human resource no different then any other resource to the company.

      --
      "I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
    3. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 1

      For some reason, I don't think that this is going to get as big as mother's day.

      Ya think?

      Personally, I'm saving all my Good Will For No Good Reason At All for "Marketing Chippie Day." When is that again... third Thursday in September? Or is that "Accounting Niblet Who Stamps My T&E Day"? I get these three holidays mixed up for some reason...

    4. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by hanavi · · Score: 1

      Hey, they may actually pay more more there....

    5. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by mebollocks · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Obviously you're not a sysadmin. Payday is the day employees of a company get paid for their time and labour. All employees have payday. A sysadmin's job however is one of constant battle with people's over-expectation. The cleaners and janitors are more appreciated and get more polite conversation from other employees than sysadmins.

      Well yes it's what I asked for but it's not what I wanted!


      There is a strange sense of over-entitlement for employees of a company when it comes to IT, this goes for programmers as well as sysadmins.
      Of course it will never be as big as mother's day. Mother's are far more deserving of appreciation than any employee.
      So those that have arranged a response to the lack of human empathy to IT workers should get a job in McDonalds? Well done, you've solved the problem, congratulations.
      If you're a sysadmin, no doubt you're familiar with the phenomenon of 2 different people coming to your desk at the same time and talking over each other, at the same time, about 2 completely different requests, never once acknowledging each other, both completely convinced of their enitilement to whine at you about how their laptop isn't bling enough or their quota is too small and their time is too valuable to clean up.
      Nowhere else would such behaviour be tolerated.
      Has anyone ever approached their facilties department and asked for a bigger desk because they don't have the time to tidy it?
      Sure, you've got some admins that subscribe to the book of bofh, never realising that maintenance of productivity is their sole reason to have a job but these are the exception especially more recently, as management get more clued in to IT.

      Ask any employee, Finance, HR, Corporate, if they think they're appreciated enough and the answer will be no. But none of these groups are expected to be available 24*7, train themselves constantly, be on-demand during office hours to all and sundry, behave as if they're responsible for everything that happens within their department, always be patient, take time away from their complex SAN restructure to show how to re-sync a wireless mouse... blah blah... I could go on forever.

      This day exists for a reason since 2000.
    6. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by nihaopaul · · Score: 1

      well worth of life isn't all about the paycheck but like me i received no thanks today, maybe i need to edjimicate people.
      so what i'm going to do is add on to all my clients bills +hpysysadmday, think i'll get away with it?

      hmm

    7. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My mother *IS* a sysadmin, you insensitive clod!

    8. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The day I meet an HR department that acts like it is capable of recognizing a human, then I will agree with your statement.

      Personally, I believe that if the HR department isn't actively trying to sabotage your job, you're ahead of the game.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
    9. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by lymond01 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That's funny. My brother manages a team of a dozen or so employees for a large Canadian-based networking company (any guesses?). He was telling me that after he went against HR's recommendations, and got burned, he now listens to them. The guy he wanted had the skillset my brother was looking for. HR told him he'd be a bad hire, that he just wouldn't put in the time you want him to. Hired him anyway, and fired him in 2 months and started the whole process over again.

      HR has its moments, good and bad.

    10. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      with that attitude all of your good employees will go somewhere else and you'll be left with the worst.

      moreover, fewer college kids are entering the computer field because they have heard about how its not a good job anymore.

      so good luck outsourcing your projects to India.

    11. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by FST777 · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Has anyone ever approached their facilties department and asked for a bigger desk because they don't have the time to tidy it?
      For some reason, folk at work think I'm the facilities too. And yes, they keep bugging me to change their desk (in height) whenever they feel like. Maybe it's something in our genes (crosslinked with capability for being sysadmin): Bug me! I want it!

      Sidenote: you are absolutely correct. Sysadmins are undervaluated. Secretaries get more day-to-day appreciation, and yet secretary-day is more broadly celebrated. Other odd thing: my wife is a nurse, and there exists a nurse-day here. At her work, secretary-day was celebrated with a day off for all secretaries and activities in a theme-park, payed by management. On nurse-day, there was cake, paid by the workers organization.

      When they asked me at work if I would do something on secretary-day, I said no, and explained why. They kinda understood me.
      --
      Free beer is never free as in speech. Free speech is always free as in beer.
    12. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Saeger · · Score: 1
      "... secretary-day is more broadly celebrated. Other odd thing: my wife is a nurse, and there exists a nurse-day here."

      Hmm. I wonder if it has anything to do with secretaries and nurses generally being women? And maybe something to do with blowjobs? How many sysadmins give BJs? There's your answer right there.
      --
      Power to the Peaceful
    13. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by FST777 · · Score: 1

      Oh, but nurse-day is allright. Compared to what they must go through every single day, a sysadmins life is pure bliss.

      --
      Free beer is never free as in speech. Free speech is always free as in beer.
    14. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, it's just two different flavors of hell.

    15. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by geekoid · · Score: 1

      oh please.
      "A sysadmin's job however is one of constant battle with people's over-expectation. "

      just like every other service job.
      Yes, sysadmin is a service job.

      Also, if your responseabilities includes dealing with the PC perphs, then you are a tech support person, and not a system admin no matter what title they give you.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    16. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      HR dept is related to the upper management of the company. If the upper management is bad then HR is bad, if the upper management is good then HR is good. I believe pay is part of the larger picture. I had an high paying job but it was a pain with long hours and 24-hour on-call. I got an lower paying job but don't have the long hours and 24-hour on-call. I depends on what you life is like (or lack thereof). If you love money and don't mind to sacrifice you personal life then go for it.

    17. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by kin_korn_karn · · Score: 1

      Thank you. I get so tired of people in IT acting like they should get all of these perks like it's 1998 and nobody with money knows what to throw it at. I have never had an employer that treated me like anything more than a necessary evil, and I don't expect that I will until I'm self-employed.

    18. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by GigsVT · · Score: 1

      No one is entitled to respect. Respect is earned.

      --
      I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
    19. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by tubapro12 · · Score: 1

      lets see if they all agree with that when no sysadmins show to make their pcs work and the guy the hire to replace the last one is worse...too bad about no $$$ though. lol.

    20. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by dubbreak · · Score: 1

      If you're a sysadmin, no doubt you're familiar with the phenomenon of 2 different people coming to your desk at the same time and talking over each other, at the same time, about 2 completely different requests, never once acknowledging each other...

      You wouldn't make a very good webserver. Anyhow just do what any good BOFH would do, have a neet stack of post-its with "HTTP/1.0 400" written on them, and without looking up from your terminal hand one to each.

      --
      "If you are going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill
    21. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least at McD's, all you have to do is give them the food. You don't have to stand there and show them how to eat it for the fifth time. Or go back and make them more after they try to jam it into their ear, then bitch about how it doesn't work right.

      Bastard users. I love them, though. Like my own little busfull of retarded children.

    22. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Nephilium · · Score: 1

      That's why I love my job... when one of my co-workers (an army reservist), was activated... the female HR person recommended we hire strippers for him... it took the male GM to say NO! for it to be stopped...

      Nephilium

      I enjoy the craft of it, the art of it. I treat cocktails like a cuisine. -- Robert Hess, writer

    23. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Also, if your responseabilities includes dealing with the PC perphs, then you are a tech support person, and not a system admin no matter what title they give you."

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_administrator

      Get a clue moron.

    24. Re:Payday = Appreciation Day where I work by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 1

      Good point. At the company I work for, which is large and in the technology field but shall remain nameless, the upper management is very clueless. Technology decisions are being driven by politics and I think the future of the company could be comprised by this. HR has proved time and again to be a huge obstacle to getting qualified people hired. The only way I and some good, highly-qualified and hugely talented friends of mine were able to get hired was to bypass HR, which had no short- or long-term collective memory (i.e., every time you talk to them it is as if you've never talked to them before), and (like most companies these days) was only interested in keyword-searching resumes rather than exercising human judgement, or more importantly, allowing managers to exercise human judgement, on potentially good candidates. To wit, I had almost 20 years of software development experience and came on as a contractor, was hired before my contract ran out and my boss has been very happy with me, but I would have never gotten through HR, because my resume didn't contain a high enough quotient of buzzwords, which completely ignores the fact that as a successful software developer of many years, I am capable of coming up to speed on new systems, platforms and languages in a reasonably short time... in fact, in the past I've been hired to do C, C++ and Tcl work at different respective jobs, not having had prior experience in those specific languages because I demonstrated, through interviews, tests, and reputation, that I was capable of coming up to speed and becoming productive and proficient in something new. This is why resumes are becoming more and more useless and irrelevant, because they are becoming simply banks of keywords, and people game the system, whereas the real qualities that make for a good developer are often completely ignored by the search process.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
  2. Do burnt motherboards make good gifts? by krell · · Score: 1

    I thought it was OK to stub out my ciggies on the CPU.

    --
    Where were you when the voynix came?
  3. first post by utopianfiat · · Score: 1

    Thanks for installing MAME on my workstation, sysadmin! (plays MVC2)

    --
    +5, Truth
  4. Schwag? What about Nugs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    Be sure to appreciate your sysadmin with some sweet schwag...
    Uh, I am thinking you do not know what that word means. If I gave my sys admin some low grade cannabis, I'd probably be fired.

    You see, my sys admin would probably only accept some high quality nugs.

    By the way, you forgot to mention that ThinkGeek, Inc. is an OSTG Company and so is Slashdot. Nice self-Slashvertisement there.
    1. Re:Schwag? What about Nugs? by really? · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Of course you would be fired. As you should. (One gives the admins good stuff, and there is nothing better than BC bud.)

      --

      "Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are the dead." A. Huxley
    2. Re:Schwag? What about Nugs? by GoodNicsTken · · Score: 1

      You call that high quality nugs?!? How about some Sensimilia!

    3. Re:Schwag? What about Nugs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe IN BC this is true, but here in the US of A "beasters" as we call them have to be shipped over a border, and show up all kinds of compressed, although still tasty. Meigs county, Ohio, and Humboldt county, California are the hotspots stateside.

    4. Re:Schwag? What about Nugs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As a syadmin, I would gladly and gratefully accept some high quality nugs.

  5. 404 not found? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The requested URL (it/06/07/28/1418242.shtml) was not found.

    If you feel like it, mail the url, and where ya came from to pater@slashdot.org.


    Guess who's not getting nominated for SysAdmin of the Year...

    1. Re:404 not found? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't know what bothers me more:
        o That error screen
        o The fact an effective workaround still hasn't been implemented by ol /.
        o That its spelled peter not pater!!!!

  6. I can tell... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 5, Funny

    All the system admins are kicking back my help desk tickets and telling me to do their job.

    1. Re:I can tell... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or mabye you just can't remember how to copy and paste, and are one of the abusers of the ticket system?

    2. Re:I can tell... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Actually, I worked on a help desk for a living. I'm well familiar with cut -&- paste and I typically work 500 tickets per month when the average expectation is 100 tickets per month. But one of the things I'm seeing a lot more lately is that the help desk is doing more work that used to be handled by a larger team of sys admins.

  7. Vote for me by lymond01 · · Score: 1

    I will up the caching limit on the SQL database. New Category 6 cabling to the gigabit switches in the network closet. Error catching code will be updated on the finance web application. Roaming profiles will no longer store temporary internet files.

    Vote for me and all your wildest dreams will come true.

  8. The article yesterday wasn't good enough? by fullphaser · · Score: 0, Redundant
    http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/27/143 229 I'm sorry that wasn't enough of a hint as to what today is?
    And tomorrow, we will see "Today is the sysadmin day". 99% guaranteed
    It appears you were right.
    --
    Did someone say cake?
    1. Re:The article yesterday wasn't good enough? by maxwell+demon · · Score: 4, Funny

      And tomorrow we will get an Ask Slashdot: "Yesterday was sysadmin day. What appreciation did you sysadmins receive?" :-)

      --
      The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
    2. Re:The article yesterday wasn't good enough? by fullphaser · · Score: 1

      and then after that a slashback with all three.

      --
      Did someone say cake?
    3. Re:The article yesterday wasn't good enough? by mebollocks · · Score: 1

      ... and the answer will be, none.

    4. Re:The article yesterday wasn't good enough? by Klaidas · · Score: 1

      Hehe, ;)
      I wouldn't put my money, if I had to bet, "if there will be a third reminder of SysAdmin day 2006". This time I could give, like, 2% guaranteed But hey, it's /. - you never know what might happen.

  9. I tried to send my sysadmin a thank you e-card. by Spazntwich · · Score: 5, Funny

    But the network was down.

    1. Re:I tried to send my sysadmin a thank you e-card. by sharkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No, it's because we block all that e-card shitware at the network edge. Intestinal parasites dug up from the festering bowels of the Internet do not belong on my network, thank you very much.

      Show your sysadmin your appreciation by NOT slumming through the sleaziest shitholes on the 'net using his resources.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    2. Re:I tried to send my sysadmin a thank you e-card. by apt142 · · Score: 1

      You should follow that up by dropping an internet in a tube. He may get it in 5 days but, he'll know you thought of him.

    3. Re:I tried to send my sysadmin a thank you e-card. by 14CharUsername · · Score: 5, Funny
      Show your sysadmin your appreciation by NOT slumming through the sleaziest shitholes on the 'net using his resources.

      Well, so much for browsing slashdot today.

    4. Re:I tried to send my sysadmin a thank you e-card. by abuthemagician · · Score: 0

      I see you saw the idiot senator too... if i had mod points i'd give you a +5 Funny

    5. Re:I tried to send my sysadmin a thank you e-card. by apoc.famine · · Score: 1

      Don't send a card - point them to the System Administrator Song instead. They'll like it better, I promise.

      --
      Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
    6. Re:I tried to send my sysadmin a thank you e-card. by geekoid · · Score: 1

      great test though! if you are a sysadmin, and you get one of these cards, then you are not a good sysadmin.

      Of course, if I had a sysadmin with your attitide, I would make it my life goal to get one of these past your 'defences'.

      If you are going to act like a prima-donna, you had better well be a prima-donna.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  10. A good quote from "The Incredibles"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Helen: Everyone's special, Dash.
    Dash: Which is another way of saying no-one is.

    1. Re:A good quote from "The Incredibles"... by freeze128 · · Score: 1

      If there was a way to make nobody special, my system admin would certainly find a way to make it happen.

    2. Re:A good quote from "The Incredibles"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A: Everyone is Human, B.
      B: Which is another way of saying no-one is.

  11. My office remembered! by TrippTDF · · Score: 1

    I got a card and $20 at Au Bon Pain.

    1. Re:My office remembered! by larkost · · Score: 1

      Lets see... you can almost afford a coffee there!

    2. Re:My office remembered! by GungaDan · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's true, man.

      But only the first two words are in French.

      --
      Eloi are stupid, throw morlocks at them!
    3. Re:My office remembered! by TrippTDF · · Score: 1

      wow. it had been years since I went in there, and ove the week-end I tried to use one of the certificates. The sandwich I got worked out to $6.50, and it was sub-par by New York City standards. This is why I stay away from brand names.

  12. Hard to Find a Good SysAdmin by airrage · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is definitely an area of IT that has suffered lately with outsourcing. I find that the issue is really that, at least in my experience in Corporate America, that the SysAdmin role has a interesting career ladder. Generally, my biggest gripe is finding someone who is well rounded in experience. Somehow, seems people are missing some major skill set like the ability to talk to another human being or empathy (just kidding). Actually, what I find is a big reluctance to change.

    Alas, we suffer on.

    Peace Out.

    --
    "This isn't a study in computer science, its a study in human behavior"
    1. Re:Hard to Find a Good SysAdmin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Looking for a good SysAdmin? I want a job working with Linux / openBSD / networking (and no windows work other than tracking them down with snort plz! ). Preferrably somewhere where I can enhance my security skills, as this tends to be my strong point.

      I only make $50,000/year with the option to buy stock, so it shouldn't be tough to come up with a budget. Fortunately, my current job lets me wear t-shirts and shorts.. I guess that's the only 'raise' I've gotten in the last 6 years. Good thing I mostly like what I do, but seriously, I'm too good at being the all-in-one sysAdmin, it's like where do I go from here?

      Got Security? Need a HA cluster?

      I would think so.

    2. Re:Hard to Find a Good SysAdmin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You want empathy in a SysAdmin? Have you the brainworms?!

  13. Ooooh I knew forgot something ... by Average_Joe_Sixpack · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thanks for reminding me, I have to fire the sysadmin today

    1. Re:Ooooh I knew forgot something ... by houghi · · Score: 4, Funny

      What was you login again?

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    2. Re:Ooooh I knew forgot something ... by Dr+Caleb · · Score: 4, Funny

      For a manager? 'password' or '12345'.

      --
      "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." Mark Twain
    3. Re:Ooooh I knew forgot something ... by operagost · · Score: 1

      Clearly you are a PHB yourself.

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    4. Re:Ooooh I knew forgot something ... by rufty_tufty · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hey my keyboard is broken! All I get are *'s in my password field...

      --
      "The weirdest thing about a mind, is that every answer that you find, is the basis of a brand new cliche" -
    5. Re:Ooooh I knew forgot something ... by Kimos · · Score: 1
      For a manager? 'password' or '12345'.
      That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!
    6. Re:Ooooh I knew forgot something ... by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Come into my office tomorrow and I'll tell you. BTW, you'll need a box as well.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  14. I wouldn't give a LOSA membership if it were free by winkydink · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A SAGE membership on the other hand... that I would give

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  15. APPRECIATION? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe I've just had unusual experiences where I've worked, but at almost every job I've had, the admins have been some of the biggest assholes I've ever run into without having a criminal record. It's almost like antisocial personality disorder is a requisite for the job. The nicest ones I've seen are a bit like Napoleon Dynamite's brother, except meaner, the meanest ones resembling SS guards. Anyone else had these experiences?

    1. Re:APPRECIATION? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude, It is probably you.

      Sysadmins are usually some of the most laid back folks you will ever know. If this isn't the case with you, sorry. Quit bugging them about fixing your script that doesn't run like it used to before you made a change.

    2. Re:APPRECIATION? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The nicest ones I've seen are a bit like Napoleon Dynamite's brother, except meaner, the meanest ones resembling SS guards. Anyone else had these experiences?

      Well, you've just described both of our Windows admins almost to a tee. Our UNIX admins, on the other hand, positively rock!

    3. Re:APPRECIATION? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ugg I've had nothing but problems with sys admins. At the university I am currently attending, the sys admin for the CS dept is downright nasty sometimes. For example, during my distrubuted computing class:

      1) the sysadmin failed to set up a simple lab of 12 linux machines for our class to run our projects on.

      2) because of this we had to test our server implementations in the undergrad lab, which systematically killed all of our accounts because we needed to fork hundreds of process to produce simulated simulataneous connects to our servers for testing purposes (lab had hard limit on process creation)

      3) took nearly 2 weeks to reset our accounts so we could log back in to finish our project

      4) did a complete OS overhaul during the last 2 weeks of class, causing major issues and delays in our final projects

      and on top of all this he was an ass whenever we asked for assistance in these matters with his "I'll get to it when I have time" attitude

      needless to say, I will not be getting him a card. Maybe its because its a university sys admin, who knows.

    4. Re:APPRECIATION? by georgeav · · Score: 1
      Quit bugging them about fixing your script that doesn't run like it used to before you made a change.
      HUH ? Judging from his message, you should say: "stop bitching about that codec you need installed NOW, because one of the clients sent you an important pr0... aah... video presentation, or you'll tell his boss".

      Now really, why do you think that they are "..meaner, the meanest ones resembling SS guards" and still get away with it. No overestimating, but if you think that one's power is judged by the destructions he could cause, trust me.. the sysadmin has A LOT OF POWER. If he decides that the company should go down, IT WILL (at least on it's knees). What can a company CEO can do when the system went down, along with all the data ? OK, call the IT support company; how much will it take for somebody to get there, reinstall the system, restore the backup ? And, usualy the sysadmin is also responsible for the backup :-D. What will the clients do, when the provider's services will be down for.. let's say 1,2,3 days ?

      So, before bitching about the sysadmin; just think at how much damage you can cause and how much damage he can cause and you'll have a whole different picture :)
    5. Re:APPRECIATION? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      I can add code that will destroy the machines on 15,000 customers PC's.
      And destroy all the company data, and I am not a sysadmin.

      A CEO can completly and permenantly destroy a company.
      A lawyer can loosa a case and thus loose the company.

      The maintenance staff can put chemicals in the ventilation that will kill everyone.
      So with thos listing, sysadmin is near the bottom of what they can do(within the scop of their job) to harm the company.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    6. Re:APPRECIATION? by georgeav · · Score: 1

      You got me wrong, I was just stating that the sysadmins are pretty under-rated. The CEO is supposed to have this power, anybody can go crazy, etc. Everybody has a degree of power; but at this moment, IT is crucial for almost any business. (and you should note that I belive your code should be tested before sending to customers :-) and if you have access to the company data (in case it is digital) you are also a sysdamin)

      http://www.thedryp.com/articles/An%20Ournce%20of%2 0Prevention.asp on BCP: 93 percent that lost their IT (information technology) area for more than nine days had filed for bankruptcy within one year of the disaster, according to the National Archives & Records Administration.

      Actualy I was picking on that guy. He looks like the kind of guy that "admin, programmer, whatever.. IT guy, fix my computer". But maybe he really had bad experiences; or most sysadmins really are like that but I either got used to them or I've been lucky so far.

      Also, please note that I don't think sysadmins are some Dr. Evil just waiting for the proper moment to kill the company, just as a CEO/COO/accountant/PR/etc. wouldn't.

  16. IT here at Xilinx by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thanks for everything Xilinx IT people!

  17. That "not really sure" cupcake... by Qzukk · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm fairly certain that that cupcake is supposed to be the ZoneAlarm traffic meter from the systray.

    --
    If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    1. Re:That "not really sure" cupcake... by sharkey · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure I'd want to eat a DELL cupcake, and anyone who "hearts" Software Assurance is not to be trusted.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    2. Re:That "not really sure" cupcake... by docrmc · · Score: 1

      One could make a sociological survey out of the fact that the AIM icon was instantly recognized, while the ZA meter was so easily missed. What does that say about the person who posted this image? Non-PC user? Non technical user? Furthermore, what does that say about us to whom the image was so immediately obvious?

      --
      "Moral indignation is just jealousy with a halo."
  18. Happy... by Avillia · · Score: 0, Troll

    "Pull a random holiday out of my ass" day!

  19. Awesome co-workers by wuie · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Last year, SysAdmin day went with hardly a word at my workplace. I heard about it on Slashdot, told it to my boss, and then we would randomly say it to whoever we helped that day, as a joke. Since my boss and I are the only two IT people at our workplace, things tend to get swamped from time to time.

    Today, I was sitting at my desk busy with code for a new app when I'm handed a card. Inside are all of my co-worker's signatures, saying thanks for all the hard work that I've done over the past year.

    I was utterly baffled, since I had no idea why I was receiving a card. It wasn't until I remembered last year, and came here to see if it was SysAdmin day. When I can get a card from my co-workers before Slashdot can post the holiday, that's an awesome feeling.

    I'll probably be grinning ear to ear for the rest of the day. :)

    1. Re:Awesome co-workers by Otter · · Score: 2, Funny
      When I can get a card from my co-workers before Slashdot can post the holiday...

      Obligatory: That's because they already saw it on Digg!

    2. Re:Awesome co-workers by Critical+Facilities · · Score: 1

      Today, I was sitting at my desk busy with code for a new app when I'm handed a card. Inside are all of my co-worker's signatures, saying thanks for all the hard work that I've done over the past year.
      Unfortunately, the card went on to say "Good luck in your future endeavors...."

    3. Re:Awesome co-workers by nuintari · · Score: 1

      Wow, consider yourself very fortunate. So far I have celebrated this day by explaining that email is not instant communication, nor is it a good way to send massive files, to a guy whose every response has been, "how is that _my_ problem?"

      Oh yeah, and some bitch yelled at me for suspending her account for _extremely_ late payment. Six months of service, has never even paid the install fee. I said if we didn't see money by the end of the month, I would dispatch someone to grab the equipment, and send their bill to a collections agency.

      Oh, and my _most_ bested buddy of a customer, who is oh so intelligent and amazingly resouceful just called. So I better cut this short.

      --

      --Nuintari

      slashdot : where an opinion can be wrong.

    4. Re:Awesome co-workers by geekoid · · Score: 1

      well, don't forget to get all your coworkers a card for doing the job there paid to do as well.

      I wish the US had a day like this...some sort of day to celebrates wroking, labor.

      A labor day of sorts...

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  20. Reward Your IT With Spam by Cylix · · Score: 1

    I started to nominate myself and then realized what exactly I was doing...

    I decided to flip over to the rules section to see if they would respect privacy or at least attempt to lie to me. (It's the little things that count)

    So, if you don't like your IT staff that much... go sign em' up. Reward them with 40 or 50 more personalized junk mailings!

    --
    "You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours." -- Yogi Berra
  21. Moderators Are Irresponsible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Not only are the editors idiots about grammar and word definitions but also all the people with mod points!

    *sigh*

    What next? A story about "synergy" in the IT corporate world?

    1. Re:Moderators Are Irresponsible by houghi · · Score: 1

      Come to think of it, it is at least one month ago that I got any mod points.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  22. W00t by rmadmin · · Score: 1

    In honor of Sys admin day, I'm putting in my 2 weeks and going back to being a sys admin. :)

    No, I'm not kidding, finalized the deal last night. Ironic, eh? :)

    1. Re:W00t by afidel · · Score: 1

      I gave myself a half day off. I worked till midnight last night with Veritas support including a handoff to Australia and once the users restore was complete this morning and I got through my short laundry list of todo's I headed home to be with the family. Best sysadmin day ever =)

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    2. Re:W00t by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 2, Informative

      In case you've forgotten, it's "Down, not Across".

      --
      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  23. History and Tradition by stuffduff · · Score: 4, Informative
    --
    "Can there be a Klein bottle that is an efficient and effective beer pitcher?"
  24. Music for Celebrating Sysadmin Day by scruffy · · Score: 1
    1. Re:Music for Celebrating Sysadmin Day by Mr.+Ascii · · Score: 1

      Excellent song/video!!

  25. Be sure to leave something nice on Ted's Desk by MrByte420 · · Score: 1

    http://www.sysadminday.com/Time.html ..Because Ted just loves a good mystery.

    --
    If religous zealots don't believe in Evolution, then why are they so worried about bird flu?
  26. To quote Jimmy Fallon by CaffeineAddict2001 · · Score: 3, Funny

    *SIIGH* MOVE!

  27. You can call me... Larry. by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 1

    You all know who to vote for, even if he is a self centered, totalitarian, overbearing perfectionist. He's all that stands between you and a total cascade failure blue screen of certain death. Let's hear it!

    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
  28. And when can we expect to see a... by Rellik66 · · Score: 2, Funny

    BOFH day?

    --

    Too many zeros, not enough ones

    1. Re:And when can we expect to see a... by Attilla_The_Pun · · Score: 2, Informative

      Every day is BOFH day. BOFH is a state of mind. It commands recognition EVERY DAY. Else I re-wire your network jack to 240VAC, then conveniently have run out of any spare PCs.

      --
      ...Somewhere, there is a chile you cannot eat." --Daniel Pinkwater in A Hot Time in Na
  29. Site Access Policies by ConnortheMad · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thank you for the warm hearted appreciated. Your IPs are currently being tracked via the Squid Proxy and those found not compliant with the corporate internet usage policy will be subsequently brought before HR.

    1. Re:Site Access Policies by ConnortheMad · · Score: 1

      And remember, grammar checking plugins are not in adherence to software usage policy.

  30. No love for helpdesk? by SoundGuyNoise · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I emailed the founders of Sys Admin day a couple years ago, and asked if helpdesks were included in the appreciation. He said no, maybe we can get our own holiday.

    We are the gatekeepers. We're on the front lines, sweating it with our phone headsets and standard issue network access. Meanwhile the big wig admins kick back in their air conditioned servers rooms.

    --
    You never expect irony, do you?
    Want to be a professional wrestler? Visit www.iyfwrestling.com
    @iyfwrestling
    1. Re:No love for helpdesk? by Secrity · · Score: 4, Funny

      Don't you have airconditioning in India?

    2. Re:No love for helpdesk? by SoundGuyNoise · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't know. I'm in upstate NY. I've had jobs moved to other countries though.

      --
      You never expect irony, do you?
      Want to be a professional wrestler? Visit www.iyfwrestling.com
      @iyfwrestling
    3. Re:No love for helpdesk? by Bandman · · Score: 1

      you are....probably dreaming of being a sysadmin some day.

      I was, when I was on the phones, for 3 years. Now I'm a sysadmin, and have been for 4 years.

      You can get out! There is hope!

    4. Re:No love for helpdesk? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's in the past, I think. I haven't specifically spoken to Ted about it for sysadminday, but LOPSA specifically includes Help Desk (and lots of other kinds of admins).

      Help Desk is *HARD*. In some ways it's harder than regular tier 2/3 sysadmin because you actually have to deal with (gasp!) people, instead of having the luxury of only dealing with mostly-deterministic hardware and software.

      I've been doing the sysadmin thing since the early 80s, and now that I'm managing a group of very senior sysadmins, they're being sent to Covey and Carnegie and Toastmasters and all kinds of communications training. They have to go talk to customers to figure out what they're really trying to do. They need different skills to advance to the most senior tech levels. The help desk guys who came up through those ranks are doing pretty well, since they picked up a lot of that earlier.

    5. Re:No love for helpdesk? by Attilla_The_Pun · · Score: 2, Informative

      Exactly. Where else do you think us sysadmins learn our verbal kung-fu skills, and get our jaded, "thousand-mile stare" from? :)

      Three years doing helpdesk was enough for me. The capper was realizing I literally could do the job while reading, drawing, just about anything short of holding up a conversation.....So I moved on into my first sysadmin job, and haven't looked back yet.

      --
      ...Somewhere, there is a chile you cannot eat." --Daniel Pinkwater in A Hot Time in Na
    6. Re:No love for helpdesk? by Bandman · · Score: 1

      that's outstanding!

      Yea, tech support really does allow you to get some useful skills. Holding multiple conversations at once is one I use about every day.

    7. Re:No love for helpdesk? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      +5 Heartwarming (Must... Keep... Straight... Face... As if a helldesk minion could ever aspire to the exalted role of SysAdmin.)

    8. Re:No love for helpdesk? by morcego · · Score: 1

      My personal path:
      Helpdesk -> SysAdmin -> Manager AND SysAdmin -> Company Owner AND SysAdmin

      It doesn't matter what you do now. Once people know you are/were a SysAdmin, they will dump everything on your lap.

      In any case, I would never hire a SysAdmin that didn't work on helpdesk for at least a couple years.

      --
      morcego
    9. Re:No love for helpdesk? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Maybe when the helpdesk stops being whiny and condesending.
      OTOH that sure didn't prevent sysadmin from getting there own day.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    10. Re:No love for helpdesk? by hatefulmofo · · Score: 1

      I'm curious to know how you transitioned from a Helpdesk position to a SysAdmin position. I've been working on a Helpdesk for a few years now, and while I aspire to be a SysAdmin, I'm having a hard time marketing myself as a sysadmin candidate. Any advice?

    11. Re:No love for helpdesk? by morcego · · Score: 1

      Hummm, the best way to market yourself as a sysadmin is to other sysadmins. Then, they can recomend you whenever management asks them (or another company).

      --
      morcego
  31. Thank you sysadmin! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For making me feel like a retard every time you visit my cubicle, for making twice as much as I do, and for wearing jeans and t-shirt while I'm stuck in a tie.

    But I must sincerely thank you most of all for not reporting all the porn you found on my PC this year. THANK YOU!

  32. I know some sysadmisn who aren't getting thanks... by Attilla_The_Pun · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The Colorado DMV computer system was down STATEWIDE today. I'm guessing there are a few sysadmins working for the DMV who will be lucky if they can get time off for lunch, let along some awesome cupcakes from the staff. ;) (Okay, thanks Mr. Sysadmin, for making me waste two hours of billable time only to have the computers die on me right as my number was called!)

    --
    ...Somewhere, there is a chile you cannot eat." --Daniel Pinkwater in A Hot Time in Na
  33. Re:System Admin day... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    only at microsoft.

  34. Friggin Sys-admins!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seems anyone (even complete tools!!!) can be one these days!!

    some muppet at work hired a couple of "sys-admins" and their first thing they are doing is ripping out our Sun network (saying too complex)
    removing NT network from the main ethernet to teh site, and putting in place Citrix!!! on the proviso that it will reduce network traffic!!!

    THANK YOU SYS-ADMIN's for making the next 6months at work the most un-productive!!!!

    no really thankyou! I love getting paid for just sitting at my desk waiting for them to fix the network !!! as they move more and more onto Citrix (timesheet software) taking Oracle off of Solaris (downtime 2days per year) to NT (2days per month) on the basis of stability and then onto Citrix (downtime 2days per week)

    Yes lets have a sys-admin appreciation day, its not like they make a company any money...

  35. You've got it backwards by btarval · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, no, no. You're supposed to LIGHT your cigs using the CPU, not put them out!

    --
    The best way to predict the future is to create it. - Peter Drucker.
    1. Re:You've got it backwards by B11 · · Score: 1

      Whoops, I was using CPUs to reheat my coffee.

      --
      insert inflammatory anti-microsoft comment here
    2. Re:You've got it backwards by RainbearNJ · · Score: 1

      Mmm.. coffee-cooled computers!

      I see a new Zalman product in the works! (The Brewer Tower: Brew your coffee and cool your CPU at the same time!)

      --
      Lucky for me I always have Emergency Pants!
    3. Re:You've got it backwards by Arcane_Rhino · · Score: 1

      Well yeah. Isn't the CPU the heater thingy behind the retractable cup-holder that comes with almost every new computer?

    4. Re:You've got it backwards by phreakincool · · Score: 1

      No, that's typically the power supply unit.

  36. Re:I wouldn't give a LOSA membership if it were fr by pilgrim23 · · Score: 1
    --
    - Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum.
  37. This is like ... by Toon+Moene · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Secretary Day, no ?

  38. Re:I wouldn't give a LOSA membership if it were fr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why would you give a membership to an organization that was supposed to be disbanded (SAGE), but not to an independent organization stiving to improve the system administration profession (LOPSA)?

  39. Apreciation by McGiraf · · Score: 1

    Excuse me while i go apreciate mylself .... hum that sounds bad.

  40. from your source by rodentia · · Score: 4, Interesting

    1. Any free or extra goods, usually given to employees or workers.

    I appreciate arguing about slang semantics is a good way to look stupid, but schwag had been free promo gear for at least twenty years prior to the stoner connotation. To avoid confusion, we've taken to referring to the grade formerly known as schwag as *the Imperial*, with all the connotations of cheap liquor upbranding itself with transparent puffery like *her majesty's imprimatur*, etc.

    --
    illegitimii non ingravare
    1. Re:from your source by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Umm, I think you are thinking of the word SWAG not schwag.

    2. Re:from your source by geekoid · · Score: 1

      not to be confused with Swag...

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  41. We don't cotton to their type around here... by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2, Funny

    We hung our sysadmin by his ankles from the roof of our tallest building, and told him that we'd very much appreciate it if our network would have somewhat more network connectivity than a 300 baud modem.

    Oh, and a specially hired dominatrix worked him over for making us use Outlook.

    Ah, good times. :)

    1. Re:We don't cotton to their type around here... by Attilla_The_Pun · · Score: 1

      Oh, and a specially hired dominatrix worked him over for making us use Outlook.

      I dunno, that sounds like a good enough excuse to me to make sure you all get upgraded to Outlook 2007. ;)

      --
      ...Somewhere, there is a chile you cannot eat." --Daniel Pinkwater in A Hot Time in Na
    2. Re:We don't cotton to their type around here... by WhiteWolf · · Score: 1

      You mis-spelled MCSE. Hope that helps. Have a Nice Day!

      --
      Eye kneed eh Grammer chicken.
    3. Re:We don't cotton to their type around here... by fdrebin · · Score: 1

      Oh, and a specially hired dominatrix worked him over for making us use Outlook.

      If you really want to punish him, make him use Notes.
      I'd <violent reference deleted> to be able to use Outlook. Anything but Notes!

      /F

      --
      Stupidity... has a habit of getting its way.
  42. Ugh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Those cupcakes look like they came out of a bird's ass!

  43. Local Chapters by ferrgle · · Score: 1

    Dont forget those sys admins that work in Wales (the country not the large ocean mamal) can visit Sys Admin Day - Wales. Yey to us!

    1. Re:Local Chapters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe rather than a cupcake you'd like a nice toothbrush and some toothpaste to clean out that nasty grill.

  44. Gift Ideas? by u-235-sentinel · · Score: 1

    Ok. the guy who wrote that page isn't a sysadmin. I mean come on. Pizza is a staple of the SysAdmin :-)

    --
    Has Comcast disconnected your Internet account? Same here. You can read about it at http://comcastissue.blogspot.com
  45. I'm jealous! by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 1

    some muppet at work hired a couple of "sys-admins"

    You have muppets where you work? COOL!!

    Are they "Sesame Street" level or the wicked keen "Farscape" level?

  46. Does anybody care? by oyenstikker · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Did any of you who are system administrators actually have anybody else know about it?

    --
    The masses are the crack whores of religion.
    1. Re:Does anybody care? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm lucky. 70% of my coworkers are developers, so they caught it on slashdot this morning, and yes they said thanks.

      I got a coffee and a donut, which is more than I would expect since I get paid to do this job
      just like anyone else does in their work.

      Not to mention I work for a pretty cool company and get to play with all sorts of cool tech.

    2. Re:Does anybody care? by tehshen · · Score: 1

      Who cares? It's just a bit of fun.

      --
      Guy asked me for a quarter for a cup of coffee. So I bit him.
  47. FU by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    FU

    Kindly,
    BOFH

  48. Ceili Rain sang it best... by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 1

    "I wanna be different / just like everybody else!"

  49. How appropriate by Second_Derivative · · Score: 1

    It's my birthday today :)

  50. Thought that said... by Dareth · · Score: 1

    Oh, and a specially hired dominatrix worked him over for making us use Outlook.

    I thought that said, "Oh, and a specially hired dominatrix who worked him over by making him use Outlook."

    Now that would be sadistic!

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
  51. how do you FIND your sysadmin by Sebastopol · · Score: 1

    Serious, my company has literally hundreds of thousands of machines, both Linux and MS.

    The sysadmins hide behind a ticket-request system for filing issues.

    They dispatch low-paid tech minions to fix issues.

    How would I even find a sysadmin to thank them?

    I would think anonymity is a virtue in this biz.

    --
    https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
    1. Re:how do you FIND your sysadmin by gregarican · · Score: 1

      The sysadmins are the ones stuck back in the server rooms trying to patch boxes, install new server software, script out client software pushes, working with network backups, etc. I froze my ass of in a 60 degree meat locker for 4 years doing all of this, plus administering the ACD phone system and managing all of my direct reports. It's not like I was hiding back there playing Freecell...

    2. Re:how do you FIND your sysadmin by B11 · · Score: 1

      Was it Solitare, or Hearts perhaps?

      --
      insert inflammatory anti-microsoft comment here
    3. Re:how do you FIND your sysadmin by Sebastopol · · Score: 1

      Just to be clear: I was implying that "hiding" meant "avoiding every idiotic marketing drone who thinks a CDROM is a coffee holder...", not "hiding cowardly."

      --
      https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
    4. Re:how do you FIND your sysadmin by geekoid · · Score: 1

      World of Warcraft.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  52. Re:I know some sysadmisn who aren't getting thanks by Rayeh · · Score: 0

    Some systems for Michigan's State of Secretary offices were down as well. Coincidence? I think not.

  53. Maybe you'll get more cards, too! by dmatos · · Score: 1

    You'll be really impressed if you keep getting cards from your co-workers, then, everytime you check Slashdot, there's a dupe of this story on the front page.

    --

    It may look like I'm doing nothing, but I'm actively waiting for my problems to go away.
    --Scott Adams
  54. I'm surprised Hallmark's system isn't down... by B11 · · Score: 1

    The co-worker in charge of getting the card said she couldn't find one for sysadmin day.

    --
    insert inflammatory anti-microsoft comment here
  55. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  56. System Administrator Appreciation Day by N-S+Equations · · Score: 1

    That is just S.A.A.D.

    --
    The universe is simple, it's the explanation that is complicated.
  57. Every day is BOFH day. by Flashpot · · Score: 1

    'nuff said.

    --
    That which does not kill her only prolongs my agony.
  58. Australia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's Saturday here, you insensitive clods. How the hell are my users supposed to appreciate me?

    Oh well, got the day off, I suppose. No supports calls either - yay!

  59. Those cupcakes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...were interesting, but what does all that Windows stuff have to do with system administrators? Little home-type play-pretend toy computers running Windows have nothing to do with system administration.

  60. Four Days Late. 24/7 would have been better. by onetruedabe · · Score: 3, Funny
    It seems to me July 24th ("24/7" as it's written in Europe) would have been more appropriate.

    :- Dabe

  61. Some Appreciation.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I work at Sun.

    I'll be appreciated by getting laid off next week on Thursday.

    Woot. Or something.

  62. I think my workplace dodged this one.... by King_TJ · · Score: 1

    Despite being the systems adminstrator, I was given the official title of "Network Manager" instead.

    Go figure.

  63. DBAs are excluded for the first time ever by vallee · · Score: 1

    And something got to be done about it.

    Raj Thukral at Pythian, in a fit of righteous indignation, has registered dbaday.com and is going to doing something about the Sysadminday DBA Snub.

    Paul

    --
    The real Paul Vallee is slashdot userid 2192, and, what do you mean it's not cool to point out your low userid?
    1. Re:DBAs are excluded for the first time ever by Miniluv · · Score: 1

      Uhm, right. How exactly do you "exclude" people from a fake holiday perpetuated by geeks on the Internet? And for fucks sake, who DOES something about it?

  64. Making nobody special by morcego · · Score: 3, Funny

    # usermod -u 0 nobody

    --
    morcego
  65. Has it been a whole year already? by qwidjib0 · · Score: 1

    This is clearly one of the most important holidays of the year.

  66. Variant forms, by rodentia · · Score: 1

    same word; if one considers slang first-class sema and not mere affectation.

    --
    illegitimii non ingravare
  67. Re:I wouldn't give a LOSA membership if it were fr by winkydink · · Score: 1

    Reputation of the two organizations and quality of the management of same. LOPSA will be dead, or at least much more dead than BSD in a year. Remember, you heard it here first.

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  68. How come by JustNiz · · Score: 1

    Sysadmins have their own day? Does god not want to loose his internet access or something?

  69. My take on today... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As any *real* sysadmin knows, Murphy laws are the truth.

    05:00PM or so:
    - "Ok boys, see you monday. I'm off now"
    - "Bye"
    - "See ya"

    08:00PM or so:
    After about two weeks of infernal heat, it starts raining.
    "Too bad, at least I'll enjoy a bit better this evening" *smiles*

    08:10PM or so:
    Hard rain. Hard wind. Hard lightnings. Hard thunders. Micro power outages overy few seconds.
    Meh becomes blasphemous while heading towards the office. The more closer, the more blasphemous.

    08:30PM or so:
    Machines just rebooted. Only needed to input the key for the crypted disks. Done easily and quickly.
    Gateway is shut down :( won't turn on :((
    At least I found a (moral) justification to my blasphemy
    This pic *perfectly* fits.

    10:30PM or so:
    Just finished. Heading for something to eat.

    Screw sysadmind day! I knew I'd had just to choose another job...
    And no, we don't have UPSes (yet). Purchase still hasn't been approved :(

  70. Re:I wouldn't give a LOSA membership if it were fr by Miniluv · · Score: 1

    My initial reaction was the same. But then I read http://lopsa.org/about_history and am considering killing my SAGE membership (sadly) and instead becoming a LOPSA member. I always did kinda wonder about USENIX as a parent organization to a generalist sysadmin focused group.

  71. System Administrators Day? WTF? by Petersko · · Score: 1

    Who the hell thinks there ought to be a system adminstrators day? If they get a day, then EVERY profession should get a day.

    Seriously. Do you all think the job is more noble, or deserving of special recognition than, oh, let's say, that of paramedic? Or fire fighter? Or homeless shelter worker?

    Get a grip. It's a normal job, it pays okay, and it doesn't need its own day.

    1. Re:System Administrators Day? WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ask me that again when the emergency response dispatch computers are down, and you need something fixed. ;)

    2. Re:System Administrators Day? WTF? by geekoid · · Score: 1

      I agree.

      If only the US had a day to celebrate all the laborers...

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  72. Caffeinated cookies! by Aaden42 · · Score: 1

    What better to give a SysAdmin than chocolate chip cookies with extra caffeine?

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0 ,1946,FOOD_9936_25685_PRINT-RECIPE-FULL-PAGE,00.ht ml

    Our two main SA's got a dozen each this morning w/ milk waiting for them in the fridge.

  73. What an awesome sys ad day! by tpjunkie · · Score: 1

    As a super special thank you, the higher ups decided to tell us at 3 pm that we had about 35 installations that had to be completed by 4:30 pm, and we had a grand total of 4 people (including interns) to do this in. It was so much fun, I crushed a few network port boxes in my unbridled joy, and didn't even give two shits that every single desk was missing a vital piece of equipment needed for logins! /sacasm

    1. Re:What an awesome sys ad day! by dlb · · Score: 1

      "network port boxes"

      That would be called a "hub" or "switch" here in the real world.

    2. Re:What an awesome sys ad day! by geekoid · · Score: 1

      I had assumed he meant the cardboard box they came in!

      35 installs, bah. If your system is set up correctly, then 35 installs should be a snap.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    3. Re:What an awesome sys ad day! by tpjunkie · · Score: 1

      actually, each desk space in the building has a 4 port rj-45 box underneath it, with 4 cables snugged together in heavy gauge wrap which run to one of the closets on each floor which contain the routers, which are connected to the fiber network for the building, and then the corporate fiber WAN. Trust me, I know what I'm fucking talking about, and exactly what I did.

      Happy Systems Admin Day!

  74. I'm in Australian timezone... by thrill12 · · Score: 1

    ...you insensitive clod !

    --
    Slashdot: stuff for news, nerds that matter, matter for news, stuff that nerd
    1. Re:I'm in Australian timezone... by kasin · · Score: 1

      Then you should have been at the conference

  75. Re:I wouldn't give a LOSA membership if it were fr by KerberosKing · · Score: 1

    Yeah, seriously, "League of Professional System Administrators" Are they a superheroes, a group of sports teams, WTF!? Contray to what LOPSA says SAGE is not dead. In fact, anyone that's been around long enough remebers that when SAGE became a part of USENIX in 1992 it was a win-win for both SAGE and USENIX. You get better benefits, more members and a common purpose in promoting and using *NIX. Why mess with a good thing?

  76. More popular would be... by The+Great+Pretender · · Score: 1

    Grumpy System Administrator Day, I don't know many happy ones

    --
    A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
  77. customer apprication night by mrbobjoe · · Score: 1

    If we're only allowed to Appreciate Happy System Administrators today there's not going to be much Appreciation going on...

  78. Re:I wouldn't give a LOSA membership if it were fr by winkydink · · Score: 1

    Why did they mess with a good thing? Because a few crybabies on the then-SAGE exec committee (now LOPSA board) continually blamed USENIX for their problems and kept lamenting about oh how things would be better if only they were independent. After listening to this bullshit for years, USENIX finally took them up on their offer. And when LOPSA's separation wasn't moving quickly enough, USENIX had enough and let the door hit the malcontents on the ass on their way out the door.

    LOPSA's in a world of financial hurt and continues to delude themselves into thinking that USENIX if going to hand them over a big pile of money. After all the bad blood, I doubt USENIX would piss on them if LOPSA were on fire.

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  79. I get the whole day off! by dbIII · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Oh wait - it's Saturday over here, I managed to take a day off on Saturday a few weeks ago too. If sysadmins were paid overtime rates instead of salary we would be expensive beasts.

  80. You haven't seen Apple's iCards, have you? by Foerstner · · Score: 2, Informative

    They're tasteful photographic postcards. Ordinary JPEGs: no animation, no MIDIs. Free, and no ads. You don't need a Mac, or an account or anything but a web browser.

    They're on the .Mac page, but you don't need to log in to send them.

    --
    The US free market: two halves of a government-granted duopoly are free to set the market price.
  81. Theme cupcakes? by SpacePunk · · Score: 1

    What the hell happened to porn, or a blowjob from the cute receptionist?

  82. For a bunch of incompetent malcontents.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    it's funny how the incompetent LOPSA somehow managed to sponsor Sysadmin Day, do its publicity and handle press contacts, and redesign the sysadminday.com website, all in the first year of LOPSA's existence, when SAGE failed to even co-sponsor the event after promising they would for five years running....

    I remember asking SAGE about doing sysadminday stuff in 2002, 2003, 2004.... Always the same answer: "we're trying to make contact for next year...." LOPSA's done it. The proof's in the results, man. Stop your whining already about politics nobody cares about, and show me what SAGE has done for me lately.

  83. Yesterday by FRiC · · Score: 1

    As usual, this got posted on July 29 on my time zone...

  84. A nice song about it by Alain+Williams · · Score: 1

    See here

  85. Addendum by Jerry+Smith · · Score: 1
    I know what you mean, but you left something out: everybody starts with a default amount of respect.

    Otherwise every newcomer would not have to be treated with some respect, would it?

    --
    All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.
    1. Re:Addendum by DMPilgrim · · Score: 1

      everybody starts with a default amount of respect.

      No. Everyone starts with basic courtesy and a chance to prove themselves. Respect is only gained after said proof is provided.

    2. Re:Addendum by Jerry+Smith · · Score: 1
      No. Everyone starts with basic courtesy and a chance to prove themselves. Respect is only gained after said proof is provided.

      And when are you permitted near children? Because with your attitude you won't be popular around schools and playgrounds.

      --
      All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.
    3. Re:Addendum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. Everyone starts with basic courtesy and a chance to prove themselves.

      If you can't respect a person as a system administrator, then perhaps you shouldn't hire them? Respect is more than just awe and admiration.

      There must be a starting level of respect, or its impossible to proceed. If you hire an administrator but don't trust him, how will he prove himself to you if you refuse to accept his input? His ideas on the future of your company's IT might save you millions, but you'd never know if you can't be bothered to listen to them, or refuse to allow the changes.