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User: evil_aar0n

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  1. Re:Don't avoid it! on How Do IT Guys Get Respect and Not Become BOFHs? · · Score: 1

    I agree in the fiction aspect and enjoy the stories particularly because I know they're not real. I only _wish_ I could get away with stuff like that.

    But, on the other hand, I know of a small public school district in western NY that is very much under the influence of a single IT staff member. He knows "things." If he doesn't like you, you might as well forget about it happening, whatever you wanted. Complaining to management makes things worse - far worse.

    He also does work for the City, and a few related agencies. He makes a pretty little penny, overall - which I won't grudge him - but I worry about the power he has over these organizations.

    So, yes, BOFH is mostly fanciful, but life imitates art in some cases.

  2. State Sponsored Bribery? on China Dominates In NSA-Backed Coding Contest · · Score: 1

    Is this a way of keeping potential crackers busy for a while, to stem the tide of spam / cracks / malware / etc? If they're working on TopCoder, they're not cranking out less desirable stuff. At least not as much.

  3. Re:Next contest ... on China Dominates In NSA-Backed Coding Contest · · Score: 1

    I didn't opt for anything - I've been hitting F5 for months without making changes to my profile - and I see exactly what the GP is talking about. I just haven't bothered to bitch. For a free service, it's hard to beat, even it it's acting stupid, lately.

  4. Re:Alternative hypothesis on China Dominates In NSA-Backed Coding Contest · · Score: 2

    Certainly plausible. There's also the "give a shit" factor. As in, "Do I give a shit about this that I'd bother to enter?" What's the payback for this? If it isn't immediate, towering fame, I can see a lot of talented might give contests like this a pass.

    It also doesn't reflect on the _quality_ of the winning entries. Yeah, maybe X number of Chinese won, but was their work that good compared to standard practice, or some other objective criteria? It's like they say: Even if you take first in Special Olympics, you're still a retard. (Apologies to all actual mentally handicapped folks and their supporters; I had more than one brother who was, in fact, retarded, and they were the coolest guys I knew.)

  5. Re:Lazy on UK Police Want Plug-In Computer Crime Detectors · · Score: 1

    I agree. It would be so much more efficient if all of us would slip on the manacles, ourselves, and march ourselves down to the local police station where we could find ourselves a nice, new jail cell. After all, we wouldn't want to make their jobs more difficult, now, would we?

  6. Re:Perfectly Legitimate on UK Police Want Plug-In Computer Crime Detectors · · Score: 1

    Well, that would simply require "One OS to rule them all."

  7. Re:Sounds great... if you can justify the cost on A Real-World Test of the Verizon MiFi · · Score: 1

    I use my Sprint wireless service as an "alternate" ISP while at work. I completely avoid the company routers, etc. Sure, I'm probably violating a policy or two, but whatever. I don't surf NSFW - generally - but I also don't care to give the company a say in where I go, or let them know where I've been.

    These things are great - could almost say life savers - for field service reps sent out into the wild. Try downloading a NIC driver for a NIC that's not working, yet. With my laptop and wireless modem, no problem.

    I've also used e-mail while driving across the state. Yeah, I at least slow down a little while typing... ;-)

  8. Re:Yeah, but... on AMD's Six-Core Istanbul Opterons · · Score: 1

    How's this offtopic? It's a legitimate question. I have an older AMD that will not run the hackintosh software. I like AMD products - they _seem_ to be faster - but I'm not spending money on this, as nice as it may be, if it won't run what I want.

  9. Yeah, but... on AMD's Six-Core Istanbul Opterons · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yeah, but will it run a hackintosh?

  10. Re:Best country in the world on Cancer Patient Held At Airport For Missing Fingerprints · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You miss my point. This was more like a boxing match between someone incapable of defending himself and a heavyweight champion. The champ won - surprise! - and then bragged about it.

    Calling these guys terrorists is about as accurate as calling the Keystone Kops "law enforcement officials." Put it this way: the Feds weren't afraid of supplying this material to these guys and letting them loose. If they were potentially a real threat, the Feds would've picked them up well before they even got close to the targets. But they let them go through with their plot, parking the car out front, scaring the bejeezuz out of the neighborhood, etc. Grab your popcorn! We're watching Security Theater!!

    I s'pose picking the low-hanging fruit still gets the fruit, but it's nothing to crow about.

  11. Re:Best country in the world on Cancer Patient Held At Airport For Missing Fingerprints · · Score: 1

    Not the same thing, but there _were_ those "mental giants" that recently tried to blow up a temple in NYC, and shoot down a military plane with a rocket launcher. Thing is, these geniuses didn't realize that they were being scammed by the Feds the entire time: the "C4" wasn't real, nor was the "rocket."

    Ok, they had intent, and their motive was certainly questionable. But their means were non-existent, and they weren't even smart enough to realize that. At best, these punks should be called "unsocial retards," because they don't quite reach the bar for serious criminals.

    Didn't matter: the papers were all full of chest pounding Feds congratulating themselves on catching these "terrorists."

  12. Re:Its definitely the exception, and a rare one on High-Tech Start-Ups Put Down Roots In New Soil · · Score: 1

    Well said. It also helps if you don't have children or a spouse. Though a spouse can definitely help if she's also working and making good money.

  13. Re:pop. 600,000 (and up) on High-Tech Start-Ups Put Down Roots In New Soil · · Score: 1

    Re: Erie. Aside from the Peach St. exit off of I-90, it's kind of "rugged." The Peach St. area, however, is going bonkers with all kinds of retail. I like Cleveland much better, even though it's two hours further away from me.

  14. Re:Plus... on High-Tech Start-Ups Put Down Roots In New Soil · · Score: 1

    When I quit Big Medical Co. in NYC back in March and had to hit the pavement, again, I noticed a lot of postings on Craigslist for Pittsburgh. I actually went back to Big Medical Co., but I'm still keeping an eye on Pittsburgh, since it's three hours closer to home. I'm a weekly commuter, so less time on the road is a plus.

    What's PGH's claim to fame, lately? Yeah, sure, the Steelers won #6, but that can't have a whole lot to do with it.

  15. Re:let me guess on Apple Plans $1 Billion iDataCenter · · Score: 4, Funny

    And virgins. Don't forget the virgins. No deal is complete without them.

  16. Re:Amici Curiae Briefs (or Boxers) on Church of Scientology On Trial In France · · Score: 5, Insightful

    True enough. But if I go to a Roman Catholic church, I'm not going to get hit up for money if I ask to see their sacred texts. Heck, they'll probably just give me one - whether I ask or not. And tithing is optional, in practice.

  17. Re:America left(sic) itself be bribed on Church of Scientology On Trial In France · · Score: 1

    They did stand their ground against the US when Bush tried to sell the BS that became the Iraqi war. That's gotta count for something.

  18. Red Barchetta on Australia, UK To Test Vehicle Speed-Limiting Devices · · Score: 1

    Anyone have a Red Barchetta for sale...?

  19. Wall-E on Robot Warriors Will Get a Guide To Ethics · · Score: 1

    This sounds like Wall-E with an attitude.

  20. Re:Robot Warriors Will Lose on Robot Warriors Will Get a Guide To Ethics · · Score: 1

    Well, sure, on paper. But, on paper, there are speed limits, too, and how many people follow those?

    I hope I didn't just overlook a "woosh" moment...

  21. This is new? on Spy Satellite Photos Used To Fight Drug Smugglers · · Score: 1

    How is this new? I'm serious. I'd have thought we were using all available resources - including military satellites - for years. What's the new element to this: that our military capabilities are now being used in the "drug war"?

  22. Re:Well on Spy Satellite Photos Used To Fight Drug Smugglers · · Score: 1

    Where are you starting and finishing? If you're coming from, say, Flagstaff, it's doable, in three days. Will you get tons of "quality time"? Maybe not. But you can certainly get a little more than the "Clark Griswold head bob" scenic view.

  23. Re:time of day on Why Programming Rituals Work · · Score: 1

    I have to "ditto" this. I _hate_ having to come in in the morning - it's bloody pointless since I'm just going through the motions until later in the day, anyway. But, Big Co. would rather have my butt in a seat at a specific time rather than have me productive. Whatever - I get paid the same, either way.

  24. Re:Sleep deprivation is very serious on The Dangers of Being Really, Really Tired · · Score: 1

    Ooh, yeah, I got this one. I'm actually a relatively young - early 40's - and active grandpa, though her term is "papi" (sounds like "poppy"). The other night, I got to watch this darling little 3.5 year old for the evening, all by myself; gramma had a party. We did just about all the fun things she could think of. We were like Calvin & Hobbes - one thing after another - and we had a blast. We found the most interesting thing: a robin's egg with a nearly fully-developed fetus inside, but with a hole in the shell. Poor thing didn't make it. Had to drag daddy down to show him, the next day.

    Long story short: Mommy & Daddy finally came to pick up the grandbaby around 9:30 pm - quit a bit before her usual bed time. After getting her home - a two minute drive - and a snack, she was out like a light. Our explorations and activities plum wore her out.

    So, my suggestion? Play with the little ones and let them burn out their energy. It's win-win: they go to sleep sooner, with less fuss, and you get a little exercise, in addition to spending quality time with the little buggers. Too bad I can't get paid for just being "papi"...

  25. Re:OK, this is lame, but... on Man Arrested For Taking Photo of Open ATM · · Score: 1

    Short version: Baaaah...

    Lord knows, our Founding Fathers certainly shut the fuck up when faced with oppression.