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User: butabozuhi

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  1. Find out what people are hearing on Ask Slashdot: Communication Skills For Programmers? · · Score: 1

    Not 'find out the gossip around you' (although that can be helpful to know) but find out if what you're communicating (verbal, written) is conveying what you hope it communicates. Sometimes we do/do not include details that the receiver needs. Sometimes our tone isn't what we intended. The only way to find out is to ask (and hopefully the open communication culture you indicate will provide you honest and helpful feedback). Perhaps you'll discover that you need to include a little more detail (or less!) or watch how you word ideas so they don't come across poorly. On the other hand, you may discover that all your peers and friends have no issues with your communication. At that point, sit down with your manager(s) and find out what they expect. As long as the mood is positive at your company, all this is good stuff. It's when company culture starts going south (or there is a bad manager) that this kind of self-improvement/discovery can turn nasty. Clear communication is critical for great relationships at work and home. Learning about yourself and how to better communicate is a great thing at any age.

  2. Late for work on Turning the Belkin WeMo Into a Deathtrap · · Score: 1

    Turn off a co-worker's alarm before a big event. Nasty.

  3. Opportunity to test new learning methods on Ask Slashdot: Best Way To Take Notes In the Modern Classroom? · · Score: 1

    Been following this for a few years - there's research going on to study "digital learning" (that's probably not the official academic term) versus old school pen/paper. Some studies suggest the physical act of writing helps us remember things (we have a general "page 5, top right corner I wrote..." that helps us recall) that we don't experience virtually. Things like eReaders don't have 'page numbers' like we used to so it's challenging to have additional memory cues. With the new students not ever having physical cues, I wonder if they simply adapt new learning mechanisms? That remains to be seen. You have an opportunity to learn about the new but should keep in mind that the paradigm in which you learned might make it difficult to transition to the "new" one.

  4. Re:CAN-SPAM exception on When Does Signing Up Become 'Opting In?' · · Score: 1

    Hear! Hear! All legislation should have real teeth - or they're just wasting the paper they're printed on.

  5. CAN-SPAM exception on When Does Signing Up Become 'Opting In?' · · Score: 1

    I worked at a company, some years ago, when the "Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing" (CAN-SPAM Act) came out. It made spam 'illegal' (hard to enforce, though) but had a specific exception if the customer recently engaged or transacted with you. So, by receiving a good or service you've basically opt-ed in! Like most of the other posters I assume by providing an email I'll be spammed - so I use an email address specifically set up for that purpose.

  6. Ripple effect on Apache Foundation Attacked, Passwords Stolen · · Score: 1

    Although Apache says it's one-time use passwords were a lifesaver, that would be to itself? As many people use the same password for multiple systems, isn't there a pretty large risk of this impacting many, many other systems. Perhaps these techies wouldn't use such practices, but I'm guessing it's common enough. How many 'admin passwords' are now in the hands of these criminals? The damage from this could be pretty severe but will we ever know this?

  7. More headaches? on The Movie Studios' Big 3D Scam · · Score: 1

    My wife and friends got terrible headaches/motion sickness in Avatar. If this is supposed to make marginal movies more watchable, count many people out.

  8. IBM is simply following others on IBM Stops Disclosing US Headcount Data · · Score: 1

    We are living in a culture where there is great talk of transparency (i.e. healthcare) and communication (i.e. facebook) but there is little really being done (or said). I'm not that old but I find myself 'yearning for the days' when people walked their walk and sat down face to face for some quality time with friends. Maybe I should start a facebook group...

  9. Financial Realities on iPad Will Beat Netbooks With "Magic" · · Score: 1

    Magic is great if you have 'spare cash' lying around. With people concerned about getting the best 'bang for their buck' they'll look for a practical device that's cheaper. If Apple is only targeting luxury buyers I can't imagine their market penetration will be significant enough to impact netbooks.

  10. Downtime and Experience on "Logan's Run" Syndrome In Programming · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A related issue is the 'downtime' associated with some productive programmers. I have a really good, really experienced programmer that does work in 'cycles.' Super productive, head-down, jam until fixed/completed, then a period of 'less productive' research, a proclivity to chat, and some fooling around. Overall, more productive than most other programmers I've worked with plus high quality code. Outsiders (even 'IT outsiders' who don't understand programming) look and question this guy's productivity and wonder if he should be replaced with a less expensive option (i.e. 'hungry' newbie). Experience helps you see things the new guy won't and, in many cases, helps you be more productive instead of busy flailing around.

  11. What about the benefits to Joe User? on Cooling Bags Could Cut Server Cooling Costs By 93% · · Score: 1

    There are probably great economies of scale for datacenters, but what about Joe User? The article wasn't clear if 'included in the manufacturing process' would include consumer level systems. Just thinking that cost savings for datacenters is great, but I'd be really interested if it helped out the regular consumer (not to mention what kind of operational issues might this bring up?).

  12. Hawaii has the same issue on Chicago Court Throwing Out LIDAR Speeding Tickets · · Score: 5, Informative
  13. Nothing new to Asia on John Hodgman On the Coming Geek Culture · · Score: 1

    Asia has traditionally rewarded intelligence and hard work (versus jockdom). The smart ones (who score really high on standardized tests) get that way from hours (had been 12+ hour days of before school, school, and after school including weekends) of studying. Less so now, but in the past if you scored well you got into the best schools, best universities, then automatically into the best jobs in the country. Take baseball in Japan as an example of their 'jockdom.' They're paid well, but no where near UH levels. They play hard (practices are grueling) and people expect them to essentially 'use themselves up' during the course of their careers. US ballplayers (in the 80s) who went over had 'special treatment' as they were excused from the more rigorous work by the Japan players. Other cultures and nations simply do not put athletes on pedestals like we do in the US. They admire their skill but don't treat them like they're the most important people in the country. People who work hard, are skilled (craftsmen, artisans), or smart (scientists, engineers) are appropriately valued.

  14. People always forget about Hawaii on Google Voice Now Works WIth Existing Mobile Numbers · · Score: 2, Informative

    Available in the US? Still waiting for a number in a Hawaii area code...

  15. Manga or Marvel? on Astro Boy Director Speaks · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    What's been more successful? Marvel adaptations or Manga? DC or Darkhorse for that matter?

  16. Here's how to stay safe on 40 Million Identities Up For Sale On the Web · · Score: 4, Funny

    Go to Google (or Yahoo or Bing) and type in your full social security number. Hit ENTER. If you find your number online, you're a victim of identity theft! If you don't find your number online...just wait a few days as you just sent it clear-text for the whole world to see. Yeeeeehah!

  17. Smiling makes people happy on Railway Workers Get Daily Smile Scans · · Score: 1

    http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-nature/emotions/happiness/science/smiling-happy1.htm Happy people are more productive. Kind of a neat idea that would be difficult to implement in a company that wasn't service oriented.

  18. Magic Missile the Darkness on 10 Business Lessons I Learned From Playing D&D · · Score: 1

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zng5kRle4FA ...sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself. Don't take yourself too seriously and you'll better handle the politics and vagaries of work.

  19. Re:ATM != desktop computer on Cybercriminals Refine ATM Data-Sniffing Software · · Score: 1

    Bank management may be comprised of buffoons, but they aren't the only reason ATMs are Windows based. Although I'm no longer in the banking industry, when I left a few years ago the trend with the big ATM manufacturers was Windows. The vendors said they were locked down. The vendors said they gave greater functionality (i.e. marketing) than the old machines (notice they have ads showing on them nowadays?). Why change something if it ain't broke? Somehow, someway, the vendors were sold on Windows and pushed it down to the banks. Banks, who need to use established vendors and have support contracts, had really little choice than to 'move forward.' The day Diebold announced their 'next generation windows ATMs' I bet the criminal world let out a cheer!

  20. Re:Two years in the first line? on The Stigma of a Tech Support Background · · Score: 1

    I think there are two things that could help: focus on what you want to do and how the 'front line' experience has helped (i.e. customer service experience, multitasking, appreciation for end user issues, etc.), and secondly, you probably won't get 'promoted' into the job opportunity you want without demonstrating you can already perform the job. The irony of job experience. If you can do things outside the 'IT tier-1 support' box (small programming job, project management, lead some staff, etc.) you'll demonstrate initiative and demonstrate you can do the job you're seeking. At the same time, it might get you noticed at your current company (assuming you want to stay) for a promotion there! Good luck.

  21. Where did they get the name? on Visual Search Engine Tracks Stolen Images · · Score: 1

    TinEye - they might have gotten the name from the Brandon Sanderson series "Mistborn" where tineyes are 'magicians' who have enhanced senses. They can see/find/feel things through the use of 'tin' (and there are other abilities that somewhat relate to a 'web' of connections).

  22. Anyone remember the movie Runaway? on New Robots Developed To Climb Walls · · Score: 1

    Remember Tom Selleck in Runaway back in 1984! Those robots were creepy - but not as creepy as Gene Simmons or as cool as the homing bullets!