I used to work for the IT dept at a large corporation. I was always nice to people and as helpful as I could be. I never tried to make them feel stupid.
Now I work for one of the OTHER corporate departments, doing a lot of the normally "unsupported" IT work. All the other departments are constantly offering me jobs to try to get me to move to their departments. I make twice as much as I would in the IT dept. My bosses think I walk on water, and I am left alone much of the time to develop whatever projects I want.
You want to be a hero? Spend a few billion buying up rights to every song, book and movie you can lay your mitts on. Then offer it all to the world, royalty-free.
The "Gates Catalog" will be the biggest thing in education and entertainment in the world. Even slashdotters will praise your name.
.. when they find the the discussion section of half the female celebrity entries on the site involve in depth discussions about boob size. Is this really the kind of legacy to leave?
Yes. They'll find out how remarkably similar we were to themselves.
I had an AVM "operated" on by one of these partical accelerators two years ago. It was so deep in my brain that there was no way traditional surgical procedures could be used, and it would have eventually killed me. But by strapping me into the particle accelerator the surgeons were able to seal the AVM and stop blood leaking into my brain.
The only downside is it takes a lot longer to get drunk now since blood doesn't leak directly into my brain anymore...
Anyway, just a personal view of how these technologies can help.
So, what's a kid gonna look forward to after they release him from the school prison but the bigger prison that we all are sharing (unless we're rich -- whole different world for them, always).
So, like a stupid stunt on the monkey bars teaches kids to not do stupid things on the monkey bars, now we're teaching them that they'd better become rich if they want to escape this horrid future?
That's the lesson I learned. I'm going to be rich.
a) are using the buzzwords they hear b) are using that to justify giving you a lower than posted salary c) have someone in mind for the job and they are requred to post the job publicly, so they match the requirements to their candidate.
Three things are most important in an IT career, in this order:
1. Who you know (this has been mentioned many times in this thread) This gets you in the door. Get out and get to know some people. Join some user groups, make some friends.
2. Interpersonal skills. This is your most important skill. You want to be the kind of person people WANT to work with! People are sick to death of dealing with antisocial geeks who treat them like crap. A nice smile and a patient explanation goes a LONG way. And if you don't know something, ADMIT IT. People like it when they stump the geek. But when you find the answer, share it with them. They'll think you're a genius as well as a nice guy. All of my tech jobs have been acquired not on technical knowledge but on people skills. I'm making over $90K/year now on those people skills. And ALWAYS kiss up to the secretaries/admins. They have the ear of the management. You solve their problems FIRST and always be nice to them. Remembering their birthdays and bringing them chocolate is shameless but it works. (It can also get you laid, but BE CAREFUL with that on the job! Let them get YOU drunk and take advantage of you after work.)
3. Experience. No one cares about your alphabet soup (except for some higher Cisco certs) but a college degree generally puts you on a higher pay scale. It doesn't matter what degree you have, it's just good to have one. My degree is in Marketing, but I work in IT. It's what you have actually done that matters, not what tests you pass. I passed all the MCSEs (required by an old IT dept I worked for) on the first try just by cramming with the TroyTech study guides the day before. Do I remember it? No. Useless. But I've done just about everything, from programmer to server admin to network management to lowly IT tech. My resume knocks people over. If you see an opportunity to work on something different DO IT! It amazes me how some people are designers, some are programmers, some are hardware folks, some are software, some work network, some work servers but they have NO idea what to do when confronted with something from another area of expertise. Learn it all.
So, get some friends, get a good personality and get some experience and the world will be your oyster.
Isaac Asimov has a good essay on why life on earth is the way it is. I believe it is in the book "Only A Trillion" but I may be wrong since I've read a lot of his books.
He basically explains how our oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere was formed, and why it was easy for it to form.
Then he explains why life developed to use oxygen, because it was the easiest and most efficient way for it to develop, based on energy usage and complexity.
A really good book, written in the 1950's, I think. It answered a lot of my questions about why we use the super-flame-o gas oxygen to live.
We are trying to gently get it through to my teenage stepdaughter that those pictures she takes of her and her friends in various modes of undress (we check the computer regularly, fortunately nothing illegal showing so far) are NOT appropriate at her age, and could get her, her mother and me into trouble. And they should certainly NOT go onto her myspace page, even if they are only a "little racy".
Unfortunately kids have NO concept of how many freaks there are out there in the world. I know I didn't when I was younger. She's 14 and just wants to look like the models she sees in magazines and makes no connections with possible consequences. It's scary.
So yes, we do a LOT of monitoring of the computer, and the kids know it. Honesty is the best policy, and kids are kids, so be honest but firm.
And no, I won't send anyone the pictures. Ya bunch of pervs.
As I have recently become a parent of two stepkids, I can tell you it's not that hard to become involved and interested in their lives. You have to be lazy and stupid NOT to do it.
Or you could just wait for them to screw up so you can sue someone.
I worked for the federal govt for 6 years. The parent post is very true.
You are encouraged to toe the line, come in on time, leave on time...and not much else. If you do a good job you are "rewarded" by being kept in that position, because they need someone who can do the work. If you screw up, the only way they can get rid of you is by promotion.
Still, the efforts of the 20-25% who know what they are doing keeps the government working. Most of them stay for the security and benefits. I still have friends there who are good workers, but too afraid to face the real world (i.e. Private Sector) and are cranking away to that retirement and pension. I'm only 42 and I could be three years from retirement right now if I hadn't quit 16 years ago. But it would be only at half pay, which would be less than 1/4 of what I make now.
So give thanks to the timid hard workers who actually make the government work. The rest of us will enjoy our risks and rewards.
Son, the point of going to college isn't knowledge. Anyone can pick up a book and learn.
The point of going to college is poon-tang. Pure and simple. Why do you think they make you take English literature classes? To learn what a boring read Emily Bronte really is? No, it's so you can speak meaningfully to the cutie who wears the green satin bra on Thursdays, and so you can find out exactly what is under that bra, son.
Now go learn something on a "collegiate level", or you will turn into a bitter old man.
I have recently acquired stepchildren. Suddenly I'm a parent to two adolescents.
Through trial and error, I have found that what kids NEED is what they crave: Parental attention. These kids love doing nearly anything that involves me helping them out. Whether its schoolwork, some little art activity, building something (I DO have a big box of LEGOs), taking a walk, made-up games, whatever. They are ecstatic that someone will spend time and attention on them.
So if their your kids, your stepkids, your neices and nephews, your friends kids, whatever. Just listen to them, play a game with them (spontaneous made-up games are a favorite), teach them something cool. They'll grow up all right, and you'll be that really cool person who they admire from their childhood.
Slashdot Mirror
I used to work for the IT dept at a large corporation. I was always nice to people and as helpful as I could be. I never tried to make them feel stupid.
Now I work for one of the OTHER corporate departments, doing a lot of the normally "unsupported" IT work. All the other departments are constantly offering me jobs to try to get me to move to their departments. I make twice as much as I would in the IT dept. My bosses think I walk on water, and I am left alone much of the time to develop whatever projects I want.
All because I was that "nice" guy in IT.
When I did the celebrity face search It matched me 96% with Kenneth Branagh.
So I can steal HIS ID now.
Attn: Bill Gates
You want to be a hero? Spend a few billion buying up rights to every song, book and movie you can lay your mitts on. Then offer it all to the world, royalty-free.
The "Gates Catalog" will be the biggest thing in education and entertainment in the world. Even slashdotters will praise your name.
http://www.myfakefriends.com/
'nuff said.
.. when they find the the discussion section of half the female celebrity entries on the site involve in depth discussions about boob size. Is this really the kind of legacy to leave?
Yes. They'll find out how remarkably similar we were to themselves.
I had an AVM "operated" on by one of these partical accelerators two years ago. It was so deep in my brain that there was no way traditional surgical procedures could be used, and it would have eventually killed me. But by strapping me into the particle accelerator the surgeons were able to seal the AVM and stop blood leaking into my brain.
The only downside is it takes a lot longer to get drunk now since blood doesn't leak directly into my brain anymore...
Anyway, just a personal view of how these technologies can help.
Mr. Adams said he sometimes came out with the completely wrong word when he tried to speak.
This sounds more like E. Henry Thripshaw's disease.
(As long as we're doing Python, might as well get the right fusebox.)
So, what's a kid gonna look forward to after they release him from the school prison but the bigger prison that we all are sharing (unless we're rich -- whole different world for them, always).
So, like a stupid stunt on the monkey bars teaches kids to not do stupid things on the monkey bars, now we're teaching them that they'd better become rich if they want to escape this horrid future?
That's the lesson I learned. I'm going to be rich.
I notice this too. I think they:
a) are using the buzzwords they hear
b) are using that to justify giving you a lower than posted salary
c) have someone in mind for the job and they are requred to post the job publicly, so they match the requirements to their candidate.
Three things are most important in an IT career, in this order:
1. Who you know (this has been mentioned many times in this thread) This gets you in the door. Get out and get to know some people. Join some user groups, make some friends.
2. Interpersonal skills. This is your most important skill. You want to be the kind of person people WANT to work with! People are sick to death of dealing with antisocial geeks who treat them like crap. A nice smile and a patient explanation goes a LONG way. And if you don't know something, ADMIT IT. People like it when they stump the geek. But when you find the answer, share it with them. They'll think you're a genius as well as a nice guy. All of my tech jobs have been acquired not on technical knowledge but on people skills. I'm making over $90K/year now on those people skills. And ALWAYS kiss up to the secretaries/admins. They have the ear of the management. You solve their problems FIRST and always be nice to them. Remembering their birthdays and bringing them chocolate is shameless but it works. (It can also get you laid, but BE CAREFUL with that on the job! Let them get YOU drunk and take advantage of you after work.)
3. Experience. No one cares about your alphabet soup (except for some higher Cisco certs) but a college degree generally puts you on a higher pay scale. It doesn't matter what degree you have, it's just good to have one. My degree is in Marketing, but I work in IT. It's what you have actually done that matters, not what tests you pass. I passed all the MCSEs (required by an old IT dept I worked for) on the first try just by cramming with the TroyTech study guides the day before. Do I remember it? No. Useless. But I've done just about everything, from programmer to server admin to network management to lowly IT tech. My resume knocks people over. If you see an opportunity to work on something different DO IT! It amazes me how some people are designers, some are programmers, some are hardware folks, some are software, some work network, some work servers but they have NO idea what to do when confronted with something from another area of expertise. Learn it all.
So, get some friends, get a good personality and get some experience and the world will be your oyster.
On second thought, skip the blackjack...
-Bender
Isaac Asimov has a good essay on why life on earth is the way it is. I believe it is in the book "Only A Trillion" but I may be wrong since I've read a lot of his books.
He basically explains how our oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere was formed, and why it was easy for it to form.
Then he explains why life developed to use oxygen, because it was the easiest and most efficient way for it to develop, based on energy usage and complexity.
A really good book, written in the 1950's, I think. It answered a lot of my questions about why we use the super-flame-o gas oxygen to live.
Those of us in semiconductor manufacturing will recognize this as a vaccuum chuck.
We use them to hold the silicon wafers still whilst going through the various fabrication and testing processes.
Amen.
We are trying to gently get it through to my teenage stepdaughter that those pictures she takes of her and her friends in various modes of undress (we check the computer regularly, fortunately nothing illegal showing so far) are NOT appropriate at her age, and could get her, her mother and me into trouble. And they should certainly NOT go onto her myspace page, even if they are only a "little racy".
Unfortunately kids have NO concept of how many freaks there are out there in the world. I know I didn't when I was younger. She's 14 and just wants to look like the models she sees in magazines and makes no connections with possible consequences. It's scary.
So yes, we do a LOT of monitoring of the computer, and the kids know it. Honesty is the best policy, and kids are kids, so be honest but firm.
And no, I won't send anyone the pictures. Ya bunch of pervs.
A gold star for you, sir.
As I have recently become a parent of two stepkids, I can tell you it's not that hard to become involved and interested in their lives. You have to be lazy and stupid NOT to do it.
Or you could just wait for them to screw up so you can sue someone.
Will the movies be the "Wal-Mart Censored" version?
A friend bought a copy of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" at Wal-Mart.
Everything about the abortion was missing from the film.
I've heard other stories about movies from Wal-Mart as well.
Wait...are you Mike Judge?
I worked for the federal govt for 6 years. The parent post is very true.
You are encouraged to toe the line, come in on time, leave on time...and not much else. If you do a good job you are "rewarded" by being kept in that position, because they need someone who can do the work. If you screw up, the only way they can get rid of you is by promotion.
Still, the efforts of the 20-25% who know what they are doing keeps the government working. Most of them stay for the security and benefits. I still have friends there who are good workers, but too afraid to face the real world (i.e. Private Sector) and are cranking away to that retirement and pension. I'm only 42 and I could be three years from retirement right now if I hadn't quit 16 years ago. But it would be only at half pay, which would be less than 1/4 of what I make now.
So give thanks to the timid hard workers who actually make the government work. The rest of us will enjoy our risks and rewards.
Son, the point of going to college isn't knowledge. Anyone can pick up a book and learn.
The point of going to college is poon-tang. Pure and simple. Why do you think they make you take English literature classes? To learn what a boring read Emily Bronte really is? No, it's so you can speak meaningfully to the cutie who wears the green satin bra on Thursdays, and so you can find out exactly what is under that bra, son.
Now go learn something on a "collegiate level", or you will turn into a bitter old man.
You mean these pills won't make my P3n15 larger?
I have recently acquired stepchildren. Suddenly I'm a parent to two adolescents.
Through trial and error, I have found that what kids NEED is what they crave: Parental attention. These kids love doing nearly anything that involves me helping them out. Whether its schoolwork, some little art activity, building something (I DO have a big box of LEGOs), taking a walk, made-up games, whatever. They are ecstatic that someone will spend time and attention on them.
So if their your kids, your stepkids, your neices and nephews, your friends kids, whatever. Just listen to them, play a game with them (spontaneous made-up games are a favorite), teach them something cool. They'll grow up all right, and you'll be that really cool person who they admire from their childhood.
You are 100% correct.
And if China partners with Philips on this, then there is almost no way EVD can lose.
True, being tasty can be a big benefit to a species survival in some ways.
If we move to a cloned, vat-grown beef society, we will no longer spend massive amounts of money and land raising cows.
They'll be as rare as mountain lions. And not nearly as cool.
Wait, carpets are supposed to be vacuumed?
So THAT'S what that thing is for!
When I first saw these at Comdex 2000, I thought "These things will replace all removable media someday."
Looks like they'll do even more.