New AMD Processor Announcement
on
19 million Amps
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· Score: 1
In a related story, AMD has announced that it is shipping it's long-awaited 1.2 petahertz Athlon 128 FX 8-core processor. It requires a heatsink about the size of a can of tuna.
It depends on the size of the University, the role of the department in the University, and the nature of the job.
My experience has been with the University of Iowa, a 30000 student research university with an attached regional hospital. There are 2 central IT groups on campus (hospital and central academic campus), and about 3000 smaller departmental IT groups. Generally, the larger IT departments are better managed, better staffed, and better funded than the smaller departments. Management also tends to be skilled at managing people. Smaller departments vary widely. I've worked for both central IT groups, and I once accidentally took a small departmental job. I don't think I'd ever take a small department job again.
Usually, the hardest thing to do is figure out what the salaries are going to be. If it's a public institution, chances are that salaries are public information. Call the HR department to find out the mean salary for the job title you're interested in.
You should really check out Joel On Software . His articles on user interface design are right on the mark. Specifically, you might want to read his User Interface Design for Programmers book (available mostly online, free).
They're not trying to scare anyone. Almost all systems directly involved with patient care are classified and regulated by the FDA as "Medical Devices."
What's worse about all of these systems is that they're purchased by doctors without any IT involvement. The doctors ask "Is it secure?" and without so much as a moment's hesitation, the sales rep says "Yes." I have yet to get a straight answer from a medical sales rep, and the most technical person they'll give you access to is a Technical Sales Representative who's just an MBA with an MCSE.
Ooops! Here are all of my employer's salaries for 2003 http://www.press-citizen.com/salaries2003/uihome.h tm
Seriously, why not just make salary figures public? In Iowa, all state employee salaries are public information, and most newspapers publish them at least once each year. It just keeps everybody honest.
We recently lost our private offices for a cube farm and faced a similar problem. The solution was what we called a semi open plan. We divided our large room into several smaler rooms, about large enough for a work group of 7-8 people. Each room had completely mobile furniture, including rolling cube-style walls. Initially, the group rooms were set up like small cube farms; some stayed that way, others got rid of their walls. Everyone seems to like this flexibility.
The guiding principle was "windows are for people." Areas where people spend most of their time (offices) have access to natural lighting, while other areas (conference rooms) have none.
As long as you're familiar with the TOS for their unlimited plan...
From their Terms of Service
Unlimited Express Network: Express Network data sessions may be used with wireless devices for following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) e-mail; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, e-mail and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force and field service automation). Express Network Unlimited Service and Calling Plans cannot be used with server devices or with host computer applications. Examples of such prohibited uses include, without limitation, web camera posts or broadcasts, continuous jpeg file transfers, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other machine-to-machine applications. Such data sessions cannot be used as substitute for private lines or frame relay connections. "Always On" capabilities and static Internet Protocol addresses are not available in connection with Express Network Unlimited Service and Calling Plan. We reserve right to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone who uses Express Network in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. We also reserve right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement. You will not see Express Network data session information on your bill.
The Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) that comes with the.NET SDK is just a stripped down version of SQL server. Unfortunately enough, it's got enough "features" to make it vulnerable to attack. Sure I'm just stating the obvious, but I've already talked to 3 boneheaded.NET developers that insist that they're not running SQL Server. Imagine what I found on port 1433...
Just in case you''re thinking that MSFT's selling the XBox at a loss is going to drive them into bankruptcy, you might want to read this article on CNNMoney. To quote the article:
It's more cash than Ford, ExxonMobil and Wal-Mart have combined, and nearly four times as much as Intel, the tech company with the next largest cash balance. It is enough to buy the entire airline industry -- twice. Or all the gold in Fort Knox, four times over. It is enough to buy 23 space shuttles or every major professional baseball, basketball, football and hockey team in America.
I somehow doubt that slashing XBox prices is going to hurt them that much in the long run.
There's no way around it. You need to understand basic computer science before you can call yourself a programmer. The best way to do it is to get a degree.
---WARNING: Medical Analogy---
Anyone can put a band-aid on a wound, but you really need a doctor to perform open-heart surgery. Sure anyone can try it, but with anyone less than a trained professional, it's going to be very messy. The same thing goes for programming. Just about anyone can learn enough php to throw together a simple collection of web pages, but you're going to need a trained programmer to design, implement, and maintain a complex piece of software.
---END MEDICAL ANALOGY---
Sure it might not be fun or comfortable, but you need to get a degree. Talk to your employer. Many have some sort of tuition assistance program for full time employees. It's not going to be easy, but anything worthwhile rarely is.
Oh yeah, because working for the government is a good thing? Iowa is facing a catastrophic budget shortfall, and its elected officials (Democrats and Republicans) are in a pissing match trying to position themselves for reelection.
The University of Iowa (just ONE of the state employers) had a $38.1 Million budget reversion for 2002. See, it's easy for politicians to say "sure we'll increase education spending by 5%" and then take the money back later.
So with a planned 32.7 Million budget CUT for 2003, things look pretty shitty. Especially when you figure that there will probably be another $20 million in reversions next year.
I spent a lot of time driving buses in college, so from a practical standpoint, keep a few of these items in mind:
Avoid hard drives where practical--even when sitting at an idle, most buses do a good amount of vibrating/shaking.
You can probably assemble a pretty stable power generation scheme right off the bus engine. Talk to a good mechanic about extra/beefier alternators. Run everything through a UPS (I loved watching my headlights surge during acceleration). And for god's sake, watch your gas gauge.
Look for low/no-heat displays. Bus circulation systems are designed to be effective while the vehicle is in motion.
Oh, and Windows is fine for your terminals, but don't run your vehicle on it.
Re:Where the hell is Microsoft's PR agency?
on
al Qaeda Hacks XP?
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· Score: 0, Redundant
That may be the Al-qeada plan to destroy America. make sure all MS products stop working after a certain date.
8) "What is this talk of 'release'? Klingons do not make software 'releases'. Our software 'escapes' leaving a bloody trail of designers and quality assurance people in it's wake."
Reason #7:
It's a better deal for developers. When you develop for PCs, you have to design for the lowest common denominator. With a console, you can build for the high end system because EVERY system is the high end system.
Slashdot Mirror
In a related story, AMD has announced that it is shipping it's long-awaited 1.2 petahertz Athlon 128 FX 8-core processor. It requires a heatsink about the size of a can of tuna.
It depends on the size of the University, the role of the department in the University, and the nature of the job. My experience has been with the University of Iowa, a 30000 student research university with an attached regional hospital. There are 2 central IT groups on campus (hospital and central academic campus), and about 3000 smaller departmental IT groups. Generally, the larger IT departments are better managed, better staffed, and better funded than the smaller departments. Management also tends to be skilled at managing people. Smaller departments vary widely. I've worked for both central IT groups, and I once accidentally took a small departmental job. I don't think I'd ever take a small department job again. Usually, the hardest thing to do is figure out what the salaries are going to be. If it's a public institution, chances are that salaries are public information. Call the HR department to find out the mean salary for the job title you're interested in.
You should really check out Joel On Software . His articles on user interface design are right on the mark. Specifically, you might want to read his User Interface Design for Programmers book (available mostly online, free).
They're not trying to scare anyone. Almost all systems directly involved with patient care are classified and regulated by the FDA as "Medical Devices."
What's worse about all of these systems is that they're purchased by doctors without any IT involvement. The doctors ask "Is it secure?" and without so much as a moment's hesitation, the sales rep says "Yes." I have yet to get a straight answer from a medical sales rep, and the most technical person they'll give you access to is a Technical Sales Representative who's just an MBA with an MCSE.
Another interpretation might be that you have freedom of speech, but it's illegal to sell megaphones, so you're stuck with a big paper cone.
of Athlon overclocking stories on slashdot!
It appears that the site is already...umm...slashdotted. Google's cached HTML version can be found here.
Ooops! Here are all of my employer's salaries for 2003 http://www.press-citizen.com/salaries2003/uihome.h tm
Seriously, why not just make salary figures public? In Iowa, all state employee salaries are public information, and most newspapers publish them at least once each year. It just keeps everybody honest.
We recently lost our private offices for a cube farm and faced a similar problem. The solution was what we called a semi open plan. We divided our large room into several smaler rooms, about large enough for a work group of 7-8 people. Each room had completely mobile furniture, including rolling cube-style walls. Initially, the group rooms were set up like small cube farms; some stayed that way, others got rid of their walls. Everyone seems to like this flexibility.
The guiding principle was "windows are for people." Areas where people spend most of their time (offices) have access to natural lighting, while other areas (conference rooms) have none.
From their Terms of Service
Check out audible.com. It looks like it has most of the features you need. It's a pay service, but the content is excellent.
The Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) that comes with the .NET SDK is just a stripped down version of SQL server. Unfortunately enough, it's got enough "features" to make it vulnerable to attack. Sure I'm just stating the obvious, but I've already talked to 3 boneheaded .NET developers that insist that they're not running SQL Server. Imagine what I found on port 1433...
Google found a great article called Windows to Linux Migration Case Histories
Just in case you''re thinking that MSFT's selling the XBox at a loss is going to drive them into bankruptcy, you might want to read this article on CNNMoney. To quote the article:
I somehow doubt that slashing XBox prices is going to hurt them that much in the long run.There's no way around it. You need to understand basic computer science before you can call yourself a programmer. The best way to do it is to get a degree.
---WARNING: Medical Analogy---
Anyone can put a band-aid on a wound, but you really need a doctor to perform open-heart surgery. Sure anyone can try it, but with anyone less than a trained professional, it's going to be very messy. The same thing goes for programming. Just about anyone can learn enough php to throw together a simple collection of web pages, but you're going to need a trained programmer to design, implement, and maintain a complex piece of software.
---END MEDICAL ANALOGY---
Sure it might not be fun or comfortable, but you need to get a degree. Talk to your employer. Many have some sort of tuition assistance program for full time employees. It's not going to be easy, but anything worthwhile rarely is.
Does this remind anyone of the Dilbert comic where Ratbert eats the computer-on-a-chip and thinks he's a cyborg?
Oh yeah, because working for the government is a good thing? Iowa is facing a catastrophic budget shortfall, and its elected officials (Democrats and Republicans) are in a pissing match trying to position themselves for reelection.
The University of Iowa (just ONE of the state employers) had a $38.1 Million budget reversion for 2002. See, it's easy for politicians to say "sure we'll increase education spending by 5%" and then take the money back later.
So with a planned 32.7 Million budget CUT for 2003, things look pretty shitty. Especially when you figure that there will probably be another $20 million in reversions next year.
Yep. Working for the government is great.
Never assume that a system is secure, especially if it's just behind a firewall. Firewalls, like everything else, should be expected to fail.
Here ya go!
So, this is a RANTS (Redundant Array of NT Servers) system, then?
Can't Break it.
Can't Break in.
- Avoid hard drives where practical--even when sitting at an idle, most buses do a good amount of vibrating/shaking.
- You can probably assemble a pretty stable power generation scheme right off the bus engine. Talk to a good mechanic about extra/beefier alternators. Run everything through a UPS (I loved watching my headlights surge during acceleration). And for god's sake, watch your gas gauge.
- Look for low/no-heat displays. Bus circulation systems are designed to be effective while the vehicle is in motion.
Oh, and Windows is fine for your terminals, but don't run your vehicle on it.Oh, so XP works now?
Reason #7:
It's a better deal for developers. When you develop for PCs, you have to design for the lowest common denominator. With a console, you can build for the high end system because EVERY system is the high end system.