do you really think there is just this dangerous gas ready to be released where you work and you have exactly 20 seconds to escape before you die?
If you have a CO2 based total flooding fire suppression system, YES, this is the case! I don't know what the deal is with Halon, but I do know that I work in a NOC in Tokyo, and we have a CO2 based system that has a 30 second warning before the system goes off. After that, the room quickly(60 secs.) fills with CO2 (bringing visibility down to about 0 within a few seconds of discharge) and then poisoning you with CO2.
According to this report from the EPA, high concentration exposure to this type of system will render you unconscious and dead within 30seconds-2 minutes of exposure.
Japan uses gas based fire suppression systems for many different applications. Many of them are Halon based, but some are CO2 based (as is our machine room) This includes multi-level indoor parking garages attached to apartment buildings. I've even seen a halon based system inside this museum!
Gas based systems are used in almost all large scale NOC's. I recently toured a few NOC's in Tokyo, and they all have centrally based Nitrogen gas fire suppression systems. (Which, are not normally dangerous, as they reduce the concentration of oxygen to a level that prevents combustion, but still supports life.)
Can somebody please tell me how [hardware X + non-free-OS] can be cheaper than [hardware X + free-OS]?
If you are a Linux expert, wouldn't you expect to get paid more than an MCSE? Thats the argument they are trying to make. Linux takes more expensive, and more hands on support from qualified people who demand more money.
My ride consisted of a grocery store shopping cart with a rope tied to it. I drove a large metal stake into the ground at the top of a ravine and tied the other end of the rope to it. Then I would place my younger sister and her friend into the cart and push it down into the ravine. The rope would stop the cart from going all the way down into the rocks and water at the bottom... but I did not think of putting seat belts on my ride so it didn't end up working that well.
Can someone explain how hemp derived methanol is made? I've heard the same claims, but where does it actually come from? I don't think its fermented...Not that much sugar in Hemp.
I did the LFS about a year ago, just prior to installing Gentoo 1rc6. It was a great learning experience. I am probably comfortable using Gentoo now, because of it. With that said, once my machine was up and running, there was not much I could do with it! LFS does walk you through the compiles and installs of all essential components of a linux system. But, they give you exact, step by step instructions on how to do this. This helps you learn a lot about how the linux system is built, and works, but it still doesn't help you learn how to compile and/or install other programs that may need adjustments to makefiles or anything non-standard. (This is why I have since picked up a book on C;))
This is what Gentoo accels at. Installing applications (from source) successfully. Previously using RedHat or Mandrake, I never got to the point where I had ALL the applications I wanted installed and working successfully. With gentoo, I have this, and I'm actually using my linux box; not just tinkering with it...
Everything just works and handled by package management. The only time you need to compile things without emerge is when the software you want is not yet available in gentoo portage.
This is the main reason, for me at least, for using Gentoo. After using RedHat and Mandrake for several years, this is the first time I have ALL my apps working properly, and I'm actually USING my system (not just f'n around with it). The dependency management and package installation just works.
I saw this w/ subtitles here in Japan. It really is a beautiful movie. The characters are instantly authentic, and it has the typical lack of black and white, good vs. evil that separates Japanese and Eastern stories from the traditional 'good vs. evil' central to Western plots...Evil never has any redeeming aspects in Western ideology. (Just ask Bush)
I'd like to second peoples remarks about Nausica. It is an amazing animation, and the movie is only one story out of a series of manga.
This is my obligatory 'added incentive' post which I have been making to many related stories...This is the only way the dinosaur music industry will be able to compete with file sharing: ADDED INCENTIVE! If they can't offer the convenience which filesharing provides (even for a reasonable fee) then they'll have to give people some incentive to buy CD's. (lower price, added bonuses, MORE VALUE!)
On the otherhand, does it really matter if people are constituents or not? Is broad public and global opinion more important that those of an individual community, county or state?
This is an interesting issue, which I thought of as well. But, I think its actually addressed reasonably well in the article:
And frustrated offices are faced with two less-than-ideal choices: delete the e-mail and ignore a potential constituent or spend valuable staff time and resources corresponding with nonconstituents - a civic-minded approach, perhaps, but not efficacious for Members who are up for re-election every two years.
The main significance of the article is that this is another major media source citing widespread corporate support for Linux. (Just the title of today's NYTimes article, "Balancing Linux and Microsoft" is another major indicator)This is great news for many of us (who's us?)! Personally, I think this is great because it means more job opportunities working with Linux (which I much prefer working with and supporting over MS products).
I think MS is probably too big and too slow to fight something this large and this widespread. Granted, they will fight dirty, and we should be aware of anywhere that they threaten our rights to choose, or abuse their power to influence political decisions, But, for the most part, I think the merits of Open Source and Linux will be obvious to enough business managers that it will continue to act as serious competition.
Not to troll, but this is the exact question I submitted as an 'ask slashdot' a few weeks ago...I'd like to re-phrase it the way I posed it in my question: What are the most portable tech skills? Besides desktop support, which is computer related and can be done anywhere, what skills are are the most portable and relatively high paying in not-necessarily urban areas?
I am in a similar situation as this guy, so want to know the concensus...But, here are my thoughts on the matter:
The ability to change your skillset, and adapt to any skillset is one of the most valuable assets in the tech industry...Working as a tech is primarily about problem solving. The technology itself is (often) dynamic, and little more than the context within which you solve these problems. Granted, some technologies are easier to use, easier to understand, and more enjoyable. But, once you have developed your problem solving skills, you should be able to apply this to any technology... In line with this idea, I think a wide variety of skills are the best preparation for a nomadic tech lifestyle. Preferably ones you enjoy working with!!!
Frame Relay is specifically meant to be 'oversold'. That is the nature of the technology.
Frame Relay uses statistical multiplexing to allow a T1, for example, to be shared by multiple connections. The theory of statistical multiplexing is that the nature of network utilization is bursty, so its unlikely that everyone sharing the T1 will try to use more than their share at one time. If they do, thats where the CIR comes in. This is basically a cap preventing users from taking more than their fair share.
You would know if you were buying this type of service...It would be called Frame Relay service, not just T1 internet service or T1 service...
T1 is a specification to deliver voice or data over copper or fiber, but typically handed to customers as copper with an RJ45 head. (usually the same type of cable as ethernet, but different pinouts) True T1 is determined by the equipment on the ends of the line, and potentially the equipment owned by telco in the middle. When used for data, it is capable of 1.544 Mbit/second. If you purchase a T1 for internet service, you most likely have a full 1.544 Mbit/second T1 circuit which goes from your site to your ISP's building. Once it reaches your ISP, they connect it into their network somehow. The question of oversold DS3 has to do with your ISP's connection to the internet. Your ISP hopefully has at least one higher speed link to the internet (DS3, which is 28 T1's or about 45Mbit/sec, or higher). This connection is what will limit your actual download/upload rates to the rest of the world. If this link is significantly 'oversold' it is possible that you will not get the 1.5Mbit you are paying for...
The problem may be further down the line, though, and out of your or your ISP's hands...Your ISP will hopefully have relationships with their larger ISP's, but your ISP can only guarantee bandwidth so far. As another poster mentions, the maximum transfer rates you can get are limited by the smallest link along the way...(which may be less than T1 speed)
It is possible that the technology to deliver the service is not in fact T1, but that is not clear from the initial post. If the ISP controls the router at your site that terminates the equipment, they most likely hand off to you as ethernet. If thats the case, they may be using DSL or something on the other side that isn't, technically speaking, T1, but still capable of giving you the same basic data rates and speed as a T1.
Good luck! I think if you are able to regularly get 1.2Mbit/sec total to somewhere out on the internet(using one, or several of the recommendations made as comments) you probably have nothing to worry about...
Some quick thoughts about Microsoft, and Linux. First, Microsoft, as the richest company in the world, HAS to keep INCREASING profits. A company that has made so much money for its stockholders has to not just keep making money, but increasing profits. Its the nature of our economy. If you're not growing, you're not making money for your shareholders.
This is maybe true only more recently, where dividends are less and less the reason that people invest in corporations. People invest because they expect the market value of their shares to increase. (especially with Microsoft, who IIRC doesn't pay dividends to shareholders)
Microsoft has accumulated so much cash, so quickly, that if they don't continue to do so, their stock value will go down.
I don't write this as justification...Just something I thought about when thinking about why MS would be so aggresive with new licensing and pricing strategies.
On a completely different, but relatively ONTOPIC subject, I think that corporations judgement of Linux as a desktop OS has so much to do with the window manager, especially KDE. Not to start any flame wars here, but I think more minimalistic window managers (while not as attractive) have the potential to be much more simple and stable on the desktop. (And much more customizable). People say KDE is customizable, but I think its very difficult to do correctly. With something like blackbox, and a simple file manager, it can be very easy to create custom desktop PC's with options only for the apps you are supporting. If this is a desktop PC, all you need is a right click menu with OpenOffice, some email app, and a web browser.
In Japan, to get a POTS line from NTT, which is pretty much the only provider, you have to buy the rights to a telephone number. This costs about $700. You own this indefinitely, as far as I know, but its pretty much necessary if you want typical POTS service. (This is without the monthly charges which are around $30-40)
Its possible to get telephone from other providers (I get cable, internet, and phone all from JCom, the cable company)
Internet is getting very reasonable...8Mb DSL is being offered for around $40 a month now...
As most people just seem to be telling their stories, for good or for bad, about the IT industry, maybe people have some ideas about this: What are the most portable IT skills? I love the IT industry, but would rather live outside major cities, or at least have the option to move around. What skills, other than doing desktop support, are the easiest to find work in?
Slashdot Mirror
do you really think there is just this dangerous gas ready to be released where you work and you have exactly 20 seconds to escape before you die?
If you have a CO2 based total flooding fire suppression system, YES, this is the case! I don't know what the deal is with Halon, but I do know that I work in a NOC in Tokyo, and we have a CO2 based system that has a 30 second warning before the system goes off. After that, the room quickly(60 secs.) fills with CO2 (bringing visibility down to about 0 within a few seconds of discharge) and then poisoning you with CO2.
According to this report from the EPA, high concentration exposure to this type of system will render you unconscious and dead within 30seconds-2 minutes of exposure.
Japan uses gas based fire suppression systems for many different applications. Many of them are Halon based, but some are CO2 based (as is our machine room) This includes multi-level indoor parking garages attached to apartment buildings. I've even seen a halon based system inside this museum!
Gas based systems are used in almost all large scale NOC's. I recently toured a few NOC's in Tokyo, and they all have centrally based Nitrogen gas fire suppression systems. (Which, are not normally dangerous, as they reduce the concentration of oxygen to a level that prevents combustion, but still supports life.)
Its too long to be my new sig...
My colleague here in Japan has had one of these for months...
Can somebody please tell me how [hardware X + non-free-OS] can be cheaper than [hardware X + free-OS]?
If you are a Linux expert, wouldn't you expect to get paid more than an MCSE? Thats the argument they are trying to make. Linux takes more expensive, and more hands on support from qualified people who demand more money.
My ride consisted of a grocery store shopping cart with a rope tied to it. I drove a large metal stake into the ground at the top of a ravine and tied the other end of the rope to it. Then I would place my younger sister and her friend into the cart and push it down into the ravine. The rope would stop the cart from going all the way down into the rocks and water at the bottom... but I did not think of putting seat belts on my ride so it didn't end up working that well.
by Jack Handy
hemp-derived methanol
Can someone explain how hemp derived methanol is made? I've heard the same claims, but where does it actually come from? I don't think its fermented...Not that much sugar in Hemp.
I did the LFS about a year ago, just prior to installing Gentoo 1rc6. It was a great learning experience. I am probably comfortable using Gentoo now, because of it. With that said, once my machine was up and running, there was not much I could do with it! LFS does walk you through the compiles and installs of all essential components of a linux system. But, they give you exact, step by step instructions on how to do this. This helps you learn a lot about how the linux system is built, and works, but it still doesn't help you learn how to compile and/or install other programs that may need adjustments to makefiles or anything non-standard. (This is why I have since picked up a book on C ;))
This is what Gentoo accels at. Installing applications (from source) successfully. Previously using RedHat or Mandrake, I never got to the point where I had ALL the applications I wanted installed and working successfully. With gentoo, I have this, and I'm actually using my linux box; not just tinkering with it...
Everything just works and handled by package management. The only time you need to compile things without emerge is when the software you want is not yet available in gentoo portage.
This is the main reason, for me at least, for using Gentoo. After using RedHat and Mandrake for several years, this is the first time I have ALL my apps working properly, and I'm actually USING my system (not just f'n around with it). The dependency management and package installation just works.
I saw this w/ subtitles here in Japan. It really is a beautiful movie. The characters are instantly authentic, and it has the typical lack of black and white, good vs. evil that separates Japanese and Eastern stories from the traditional 'good vs. evil' central to Western plots...Evil never has any redeeming aspects in Western ideology. (Just ask Bush)
I'd like to second peoples remarks about Nausica. It is an amazing animation, and the movie is only one story out of a series of manga.
This is my obligatory 'added incentive' post which I have been making to many related stories...This is the only way the dinosaur music industry will be able to compete with file sharing: ADDED INCENTIVE! If they can't offer the convenience which filesharing provides (even for a reasonable fee) then they'll have to give people some incentive to buy CD's. (lower price, added bonuses, MORE VALUE!)
On the otherhand, does it really matter if people are constituents or not? Is broad public and global opinion more important that those of an individual community, county or state?
This is an interesting issue, which I thought of as well. But, I think its actually addressed reasonably well in the article:
And frustrated offices are faced with two less-than-ideal choices: delete the e-mail and ignore a potential constituent or spend valuable staff time and resources corresponding with nonconstituents - a civic-minded approach, perhaps, but not efficacious for Members who are up for re-election every two years.
This site documents the cream of the crop of parts that have been returned because they are "defective" or "broken."
Kinda like this link?
The main significance of the article is that this is another major media source citing widespread corporate support for Linux. (Just the title of today's NYTimes article, "Balancing Linux and Microsoft" is another major indicator)This is great news for many of us (who's us?)! Personally, I think this is great because it means more job opportunities working with Linux (which I much prefer working with and supporting over MS products).
I think MS is probably too big and too slow to fight something this large and this widespread. Granted, they will fight dirty, and we should be aware of anywhere that they threaten our rights to choose, or abuse their power to influence political decisions, But, for the most part, I think the merits of Open Source and Linux will be obvious to enough business managers that it will continue to act as serious competition.
It's "Solaris is hot, and Midnight Magic's Mean" by the way.
Ah! good call!
Sounds like potential competition for /.'s sponsor, Cappucino!
The FUN is back oh Yes - sir - ree
Its the 2600 from Uh - Tar - ee!
Its the video system with classics galore
From space invaders, to cars that roar...
A real hit stick? that controls the screen
so lawless is not and so thats magic mean?
And one more thing. Its got a special low price...
Under 50 Bucks! 50 Bucks?
Now isn't that nice?!
Every since yesterday's Adverpost for the Cappucino, I know I'll be suspicious of any pointless story that has advertising potential...
Now I wonder if I could remotely flush my toliet?"
You can if you live in japan...
Not to troll, but this is the exact question I submitted as an 'ask slashdot' a few weeks ago...I'd like to re-phrase it the way I posed it in my question: What are the most portable tech skills? Besides desktop support, which is computer related and can be done anywhere, what skills are are the most portable and relatively high paying in not-necessarily urban areas?
I am in a similar situation as this guy, so want to know the concensus...But, here are my thoughts on the matter:
The ability to change your skillset, and adapt to any skillset is one of the most valuable assets in the tech industry...Working as a tech is primarily about problem solving. The technology itself is (often) dynamic, and little more than the context within which you solve these problems. Granted, some technologies are easier to use, easier to understand, and more enjoyable. But, once you have developed your problem solving skills, you should be able to apply this to any technology... In line with this idea, I think a wide variety of skills are the best preparation for a nomadic tech lifestyle. Preferably ones you enjoy working with!!!
Is the flash card he's talking about a PCI card?
BTW, I agree with the comments about building a linux FW. Kernel based firewalling and packet mangling is really at an amazing state right now...
Frame Relay is specifically meant to be 'oversold'. That is the nature of the technology.
Frame Relay uses statistical multiplexing to allow a T1, for example, to be shared by multiple connections. The theory of statistical multiplexing is that the nature of network utilization is bursty, so its unlikely that everyone sharing the T1 will try to use more than their share at one time. If they do, thats where the CIR comes in. This is basically a cap preventing users from taking more than their fair share.
You would know if you were buying this type of service...It would be called Frame Relay service, not just T1 internet service or T1 service...
T1 is a specification to deliver voice or data over copper or fiber, but typically handed to customers as copper with an RJ45 head. (usually the same type of cable as ethernet, but different pinouts)
True T1 is determined by the equipment on the ends of the line, and potentially the equipment owned by telco in the middle. When used for data, it is capable of 1.544 Mbit/second. If you purchase a T1 for internet service, you most likely have a full 1.544 Mbit/second T1 circuit which goes from your site to your ISP's building. Once it reaches your ISP, they connect it into their network somehow. The question of oversold DS3 has to do with your ISP's connection to the internet. Your ISP hopefully has at least one higher speed link to the internet (DS3, which is 28 T1's or about 45Mbit/sec, or higher). This connection is what will limit your actual download/upload rates to the rest of the world. If this link is significantly 'oversold' it is possible that you will not get the 1.5Mbit you are paying for...
The problem may be further down the line, though, and out of your or your ISP's hands...Your ISP will hopefully have relationships with their larger ISP's, but your ISP can only guarantee bandwidth so far. As another poster mentions, the maximum transfer rates you can get are limited by the smallest link along the way...(which may be less than T1 speed)
It is possible that the technology to deliver the service is not in fact T1, but that is not clear from the initial post. If the ISP controls the router at your site that terminates the equipment, they most likely hand off to you as ethernet. If thats the case, they may be using DSL or something on the other side that isn't, technically speaking, T1, but still capable of giving you the same basic data rates and speed as a T1.
Good luck! I think if you are able to regularly get 1.2Mbit/sec total to somewhere out on the internet(using one, or several of the recommendations made as comments) you probably have nothing to worry about...
Some quick thoughts about Microsoft, and Linux. First, Microsoft, as the
richest company in the world, HAS to keep INCREASING profits. A company
that has made so much money for its stockholders has to not just keep
making money, but increasing profits. Its the nature of our economy. If
you're not growing, you're not making money for your shareholders.
This is maybe true only more recently, where dividends are less and less
the reason that people invest in corporations. People invest because they
expect the market value of their shares to increase. (especially with
Microsoft, who IIRC doesn't pay dividends to shareholders)
Microsoft has accumulated so much cash, so quickly, that if they don't
continue to do so, their stock value will go down.
I don't write this as justification...Just something I thought about when thinking about why MS would be so aggresive with new licensing and pricing strategies.
On a completely different, but relatively ONTOPIC subject, I think that
corporations judgement of Linux as a desktop OS has so much to do with the
window manager, especially KDE. Not to start any flame wars here, but I
think more minimalistic window managers (while not as attractive) have the
potential to be much more simple and stable on the desktop. (And much more
customizable). People say KDE is customizable, but I think its very
difficult to do correctly. With something like blackbox, and a simple file
manager, it can be very easy to create custom desktop PC's with options
only for the apps you are supporting. If this is a desktop PC, all you
need is a right click menu with OpenOffice, some email app, and a web
browser.
In Japan, to get a POTS line from NTT, which is pretty much the only provider, you have to buy the rights to a telephone number. This costs about $700. You own this indefinitely, as far as I know, but its pretty much necessary if you want typical POTS service. (This is without the monthly charges which are around $30-40)
Its possible to get telephone from other providers (I get cable, internet, and phone all from JCom, the cable company)
Internet is getting very reasonable...8Mb DSL is being offered for around $40 a month now...
As most people just seem to be telling their stories, for good or for bad, about the IT industry, maybe people have some ideas about this:
What are the most portable IT skills? I love the IT industry, but would rather live outside major cities, or at least have the option to move around. What skills, other than doing desktop support, are the easiest to find work in?