And no - this is not a cheap attempt at starting a flame war. I really do think the treatment of *most* individuals by the *IAA is pretty shabby, and in some case questionably legal. *IAA just has the financial backing to try, and the publicity mostly helps them, does not hurt them in a meaningful way. Since they *want* to be perceived as relatively evil group that you as the 'average joe/jane' are powerless against.
Now - the opinion part. I do hope they persist in this tactic. I recently have been turning to indie music in various forms and ya know what - found some *really* good material! Stuff I am happy to throw out a few $ to the artist, especially if they are getting a large cut of the money. And when I say really good - I mean excellent. Outstanding. Prime stuff. I haven't turned on my radio in vehicle or home since I started.
So - RIAA - keep it up. Indie music is my new crack - and their tactics are only ensuring a greater supply chain to me!
Court says ISP must block Pirate Bay, and since only an idiot would do a 'friend of the court' testimony on how to make thier own ISP-lives miserable - they agreed to a inane proposal by someone who IS NOT tech savvy (obviously) in the least.
I certainly must have missed something. They are only doing a DNS level "block" of Pirate Bay? No shutting down of specific IP addresses that go to servers or at least some attempt at firewall (ie, Great Wall of China variant) filtering ?!?!?
I really hope some other./'ers can say they are doing something different - or I am going to spend alot of time chuckling over the brandy tonight....
Encrypted datafiles
- No, although some effort is being made to only allow access to files on the server, and not allow them to print 'work' items on 'home' printer.
Well-secured "work-only" home-office PCs
- BWWWAAA HA HA HA HA HA. Not a chance. Sorry, don't mean to be rude, but that is pretty much laughable.
Multi-Factor Authentication
-YES - the one thing they are getting right! Most are going with RSA keys that change every 'x' seconds.
Non-Wirelss Internet connections
-See reply #2. Again, there is 'some' effort to shut down dual access, so you can't be on VPN and 'home-internet' at the same time. If you need Internet access you use the work gateway and firewall via the VPN. I think the horrible performance of VPN'ing over a 802.11b connection (open bad performance, encrypted even worse) would do more to shift things to hard line connections than anything else.
Well, in the DC area if more telecommuting were permitted, it might make a dent on traffic. You could certainly tell the "compressed work schedule' days when that was a big thing. (DoD still on that?)
Now, productivity? In quite a few cases I can think of, they goverment-types don't produce anything useful except fertiziler and CO2 anyway - so not having them bug me in person every day does improve MY productivity! At least I don't feel quite so grumpy when I go home.
While I think you have a brighter future than "Want fries with that" option, the above poster did get one thing right. What do you *like* to do?
I could not stand to write program code all day long, as it would drive me insane, BUT - for whatever reason, I don't mind writing in php and working with web-based programs. I know there are others that feel just the opposite. So, while you will see plenty of good answers on 'you have to know ' and they will be right, cull it down to what leads you into a career you can enjoy.
I earn pretty decent coin now, but have earned better in past. I just loathed the job. And since this is personal view - As long as you can learn quickly, and don't mind doing good quality work, there will be a job for you somewhere.
Darwinism doesn't just affect critters.
Now - if you happen to be in an IT department, doing things the same exact way you did 10 years ago, using the same skill sets you had 10 years ago, because you haven't seen fit to expand them, yes..you are heading for the career dirt nap. Same as the critter world, evolve or face extinction.
However - if you keep current with your skill sets, learn new methods, push new ideas, *LISTEN TO NEW IDEAS*, there will ALWAYS be a place for you in the IT field. I would argue the sheer speed of technology evolution guarantees those that can adapt will have secure employment for a lifetime. I find I have learned more "new" ideas and methods over the last 1.5 years, than I did the previous 8.5. Many of which allowed me to bring a new or better service to those who depend upon me doing a good job. Which in turns...solidifies my position.
I truly do not worry about 'future' tech, or having a way to pay for my retirement.
>>There is a third reason. They don't stay in business very long.
Well, since I fall squarely into the "small business" catagory, will put in my 2 cents:
Do I make *all* the profit I *possibly* could with how I choose to run things? No doubt - I give up a tangible percentage of real and potential profit.
How? By paying for 8 hours a month that every employee is required to do some form of 'community service' It is part of thier job description.
By making free Internet access available at two local venues for, well basically any form of charity/benevolent or commuity service event held there.
By working with the senior center (where several volunteer thier time) to provide machines, access, programs, printers, monitors suitable for the folks that live there. (I love those waterproof keyboards!)
This is but an example, and I am happy to say I am not the only one I know of that has decided to work in this manner.
Sure - I get rewards, and I *definitely* get business from it on occasions. But the thing that pays me back dividends constantly that I get from all this?
Loyalty.
'nuff said.
(btw - have been going now for 5 years. No offense, but hope to continue to prove the above statement false, at least in my case.
Hello, my name is Rich, and I have screwed up iptables
And *why* is it you have that 'aw sh*t' moment nanoseconds AFTER you hit enter???
Could I get at least one BEFORE I screw something up really badly? Just once ?
So...from all this, the ending is - We get screwed. Thanks. The universe is just rolling the dice to see which doom wins.
Fantastic...
Now, give me another Irish coffee and let the IRS know they don't win in the end.
And you should keep work and personal lives as seperate entities.
Sure - if you have a friend at work that understands "This is Work" "This is NOT work" fine, they can intermix.
Anyone (matters not if you like/respect them) that cannot - well, don't mix the two.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually - add one more name to the /. list of those that would volunteer.
I don't care the fame part, because I would never be around to know it.
I don't care about the one-way ticket thing - hell *LIFE* is a one-way ticket!
So - If I get to pick my likely demise - growing old slobbering on myself and wearing diapers in a nursing home, OR:
A chance to go on a trip farther than anyone else ever has, see things that no one else has with their own eyes.
We all die eventually - the only difference is how we choose to face that fact.
Choice is pretty easy for me.
And no - this is not a cheap attempt at starting a flame war. I really do think the treatment of *most* individuals by the *IAA is pretty shabby, and in some case questionably legal. *IAA just has the financial backing to try, and the publicity mostly helps them, does not hurt them in a meaningful way. Since they *want* to be perceived as relatively evil group that you as the 'average joe/jane' are powerless against.
Now - the opinion part. I do hope they persist in this tactic. I recently have been turning to indie music in various forms and ya know what - found some *really* good material! Stuff I am happy to throw out a few $ to the artist, especially if they are getting a large cut of the money. And when I say really good - I mean excellent. Outstanding. Prime stuff. I haven't turned on my radio in vehicle or home since I started.
So - RIAA - keep it up. Indie music is my new crack - and their tactics are only ensuring a greater supply chain to me!
Really ? And how is it working out? Making any difference in the area? How do the 'regulate' light pollution? Not being snide - serious question.
Don't tell me this will be Microsoft based.
I have no desire to be in the air whilest the ATC AI needs a reboot, or some SMS patch goes out.
Okay - sensible.
Court says ISP must block Pirate Bay, and since only an idiot would do a 'friend of the court' testimony on how to make thier own ISP-lives miserable - they agreed to a inane proposal by someone who IS NOT tech savvy (obviously) in the least.
I certainly must have missed something. They are only doing a DNS level "block" of Pirate Bay? No shutting down of specific IP addresses that go to servers or at least some attempt at firewall (ie, Great Wall of China variant) filtering ?!?!?
./'ers can say they are doing something different - or I am going to spend alot of time chuckling over the brandy tonight....
I really hope some other
Went to lunch, came back, and *still* chuckling over all this....
Rock on, Country!
Well - If he can deliver a good smackdown to ANY *IAA group, he can post "I am God" every day on ./ for all I care!
And If I have mod points that day, will give him an "Informative" or "Underrated" mod!
The second rule is.... ...Oh..this is way too easy and cheap..nevermind...
>>With the relativistic effects, you might even be able to come out of the ride before you went in.
Then vacuum would not be a problem, because you were never there in the first place when you went in.
That will make even more sense after a couple drinkses.
Encrypted datafiles
- No, although some effort is being made to only allow access to files on the server, and not allow them to print 'work' items on 'home' printer.
Well-secured "work-only" home-office PCs
- BWWWAAA HA HA HA HA HA. Not a chance. Sorry, don't mean to be rude, but that is pretty much laughable.
Multi-Factor Authentication
-YES - the one thing they are getting right! Most are going with RSA keys that change every 'x' seconds.
Non-Wirelss Internet connections
-See reply #2. Again, there is 'some' effort to shut down dual access, so you can't be on VPN and 'home-internet' at the same time. If you need Internet access you use the work gateway and firewall via the VPN. I think the horrible performance of VPN'ing over a 802.11b connection (open bad performance, encrypted even worse) would do more to shift things to hard line connections than anything else.
Well, in the DC area if more telecommuting were permitted, it might make a dent on traffic. You could certainly tell the "compressed work schedule' days when that was a big thing. (DoD still on that?)
Now, productivity? In quite a few cases I can think of, they goverment-types don't produce anything useful except fertiziler and CO2 anyway - so not having them bug me in person every day does improve MY productivity! At least I don't feel quite so grumpy when I go home.
While I think you have a brighter future than "Want fries with that" option, the above poster did get one thing right.
What do you *like* to do?
I could not stand to write program code all day long, as it would drive me insane, BUT - for whatever reason, I don't mind writing in php and working with web-based programs. I know there are others that feel just the opposite. So, while you will see plenty of good answers on 'you have to know ' and they will be right, cull it down to what leads you into a career you can enjoy.
I earn pretty decent coin now, but have earned better in past. I just loathed the job. And since this is personal view - As long as you can learn quickly, and don't mind doing good quality work, there will be a job for you somewhere.
Easy; National check of hospitals with shotgun wounds by bird hunters.
Darwinism doesn't just affect critters. Now - if you happen to be in an IT department, doing things the same exact way you did 10 years ago, using the same skill sets you had 10 years ago, because you haven't seen fit to expand them, yes..you are heading for the career dirt nap. Same as the critter world, evolve or face extinction. However - if you keep current with your skill sets, learn new methods, push new ideas, *LISTEN TO NEW IDEAS*, there will ALWAYS be a place for you in the IT field. I would argue the sheer speed of technology evolution guarantees those that can adapt will have secure employment for a lifetime. I find I have learned more "new" ideas and methods over the last 1.5 years, than I did the previous 8.5. Many of which allowed me to bring a new or better service to those who depend upon me doing a good job. Which in turns...solidifies my position. I truly do not worry about 'future' tech, or having a way to pay for my retirement.
>>There is a third reason. They don't stay in business very long. Well, since I fall squarely into the "small business" catagory, will put in my 2 cents: Do I make *all* the profit I *possibly* could with how I choose to run things? No doubt - I give up a tangible percentage of real and potential profit. How? By paying for 8 hours a month that every employee is required to do some form of 'community service' It is part of thier job description. By making free Internet access available at two local venues for, well basically any form of charity/benevolent or commuity service event held there. By working with the senior center (where several volunteer thier time) to provide machines, access, programs, printers, monitors suitable for the folks that live there. (I love those waterproof keyboards!) This is but an example, and I am happy to say I am not the only one I know of that has decided to work in this manner. Sure - I get rewards, and I *definitely* get business from it on occasions. But the thing that pays me back dividends constantly that I get from all this? Loyalty. 'nuff said. (btw - have been going now for 5 years. No offense, but hope to continue to prove the above statement false, at least in my case.
An accelerometer to detect when you are about to toss the thing out the nearest window (pun intended)
Or a keystroker logger that is programed to respond back to Redmond if it detects you typing
"You #$%&&# fargin' $#@@$$%%, lousy *&^%**(....."
Personally...I would prefer it just be programmed to hand me another beer.
Hello, my name is Rich, and I have screwed up iptables And *why* is it you have that 'aw sh*t' moment nanoseconds AFTER you hit enter??? Could I get at least one BEFORE I screw something up really badly? Just once ?
Might end up being Duke Nukem Foorrreeeevvvvvveeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
So...from all this, the ending is - We get screwed. Thanks. The universe is just rolling the dice to see which doom wins. Fantastic... Now, give me another Irish coffee and let the IRS know they don't win in the end.
His wife must have /.'ed him already........
All your nuclear secrets are belong to us.
Okay - now THAT was damn funny !!
And you should keep work and personal lives as seperate entities. Sure - if you have a friend at work that understands "This is Work" "This is NOT work" fine, they can intermix. Anyone (matters not if you like/respect them) that cannot - well, don't mix the two.
RIAA would love it. They could then file subpoenas because you had an unlicensed tune running through your mind.