Amen! Same exact boat kid, house and wife. Working as IT "Manager" at a small business. By manager, I mean "All programming/server maintenance/security/helpdesk/printers/etc".
It is a very delicate balance to find a job that pays the bills and a job that you are passionate about. The trick is to keep looking and keep a positive outlook.
PS: Anybody need an advanced scuba certified/experienced software developer?
I'm looking into this as well, but the high deductibles still are a bit confusing. According to wiki(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_savings_account), "insurance doesn't cover anything until the consumer pays a large deductible"
So each year, you are paying the $1200 out of your pocket, before you can tap into the HSA?
I don't know if I still count as "Young" (almost 30). My disillusionment came from not understanding how some of the major IT companies stopped wanting to innovate, seemingly only motivated by profit and high-stacked management. Working at two fortune 500 companies in R&D software facilities and being constantly chained down by paperwork and other useless (point of view) management activities took a high toll on my energy and spirit to create/explore new technologies. I don't think the younger generation is as Naive as a lot of people take them for, especially when they thrive on new technology/information. Being forced to set up my corporate career goals yearly on what I hope to achieve, seemed fruitless and a waste of time. Time spent in the several small business offices, in the hope of trimming management cruft and wasteful activities did not pan out either.
In the end, I found the only work freedom that worked, was from starting my own company. To each their own.
Fantastic! The WTO Ruling has officially sanctioned the real The Pirates of the Caribbean. The irony being, they can create t-shirts and merchandise without having to pay royalties to Disney.
Completely agree. I would add you always need backups that you can take offsite, in the event of a housing disaster. External USB harddrives (or enclosures) and a safety deposit box are a very cost effective solution.
More importantly, from an industry stand-point, I find it turning into a very interesting chess game. Google's press releases the past two weeks have just been about introducing new systems. Every single release has caused Microsoft to go on the defensive. Google releases a new kit for an open social network, and Microsoft has to keep defending their Facebook investment and also downplay Google's product. Google releases a new mobile kit and is immediately attacked by Microsoft (and Symbian). I don't recall this happening with any other product released by Google, including Google Docs. The two giants are facing off.
How much longer can Sony continue to sell its PS3 for a loss though? Obviously it will continue through the holiday season, but it will get interesting IF their recent Japanese upsurge in sales stalls AND more US bargain retailers are continually selling the HD-DVD at lower cost.
I really think that these projects have a tremendous amount of merit within a company, but I think before a department outsources any projects there are a few important questions to go over. What happens if there is a break in? What happens when the software goes down and crashes? Are they backing up your data properly and you can verify it? Is there a single point of failure? Request a new feature? When is it due? If supoenaed, can you go back 30 days through your data and retrieve a lost email?
I'm not trying to overcomplicate the web2.0 idea, but it seems the dangerous "shiney" aspect keeps winning out.
People using science and tools to try and explain things that are currently unknown or understood? I don't think that is too spooky. True the second article is about people and their beliefs, but I don't really find it that strange.
It also depends on the type of refurbished equipment you install Ubuntu on. I have installed Ubuntu on several old Dell workstations (3-6 years old), and have never had any hardware issues. They have all made great donations to local schools in my area.
I have had problems building a "Frankenstein" database server from spare parts (mostly bios/disk issues), but it was mostly the motherboard's fault. I guess the saying "mileage may vary" is applicable.
Same deal. Suse was the only thing able to easily integrate into our current environment. "Easily", being the operating words.
Its a shame, since we use Ubuntu on all of our test systems. We would love to consolidate to Ubuntu, because they make it easy to do most other things.
for a few years, I think companies have made out like bandits. Companies have always towed the "your a professional" line when expecting overtime from employees. While that may be true, try telling that to your plumber or mechanic. I'm wondering what the impact on general salary would be if some sort of legislation was put into place.
Or from the Nat. Geographic article: "Numerous arsenic deposits have been found in the subsoils of southern Peru, explained Modesto Montoya, a nuclear physicist who collaborated with the team. The naturally formed deposits contaminate local drinking water."
Always use the best tool for the job. Sure you could build a house with a spoon instead of a hammer...Of course, this is only if you are solely in charge of the project and tools. I've seen some amazing decisions from upper management regarding application development tools.
True, but not a whole lot of small business managers care or have heard of Sun. Most everyone has heard of IBM and know that they have "bank", so to speak. This is an amazing development. More importantly is the government use of Lotus and the transition to this office suite.
As a SMB manager who manages mostly a WinXP network, I believe it will be when management of a entire network of Apple's from a single group policy (accounts,fileshare profiles, network profiles, mail accounts all from a single utility). I manage a few Suse and Ubuntu servers, so this would go for them as well.
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Amen! Same exact boat kid, house and wife. Working as IT "Manager" at a small business. By manager, I mean "All programming/server maintenance/security/helpdesk/printers/etc".
It is a very delicate balance to find a job that pays the bills and a job that you are passionate about. The trick is to keep looking and keep a positive outlook.
PS: Anybody need an advanced scuba certified/experienced software developer?
I'm looking into this as well, but the high deductibles still are a bit confusing. According to wiki(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_savings_account), "insurance doesn't cover anything until the consumer pays a large deductible"
So each year, you are paying the $1200 out of your pocket, before you can tap into the HSA?
OT: Do you have any sites that helped you get started for Group Benefits etc? That seems to be the only stopping issue for me at the moment.
I don't know if I still count as "Young" (almost 30). My disillusionment came from not understanding how some of the major IT companies stopped wanting to innovate, seemingly only motivated by profit and high-stacked management. Working at two fortune 500 companies in R&D software facilities and being constantly chained down by paperwork and other useless (point of view) management activities took a high toll on my energy and spirit to create/explore new technologies. I don't think the younger generation is as Naive as a lot of people take them for, especially when they thrive on new technology/information. Being forced to set up my corporate career goals yearly on what I hope to achieve, seemed fruitless and a waste of time. Time spent in the several small business offices, in the hope of trimming management cruft and wasteful activities did not pan out either.
In the end, I found the only work freedom that worked, was from starting my own company. To each their own.
Fantastic! The WTO Ruling has officially sanctioned the real The Pirates of the Caribbean. The irony being, they can create t-shirts and merchandise without having to pay royalties to Disney.
Pretty nice list of personal investors to begin with!
A little bit of funding from Mr. Sergey Brin, http://www.nanosolar.com/investors.htm (Google).
GoogleSolar.com planned?
Completely agree. I would add you always need backups that you can take offsite, in the event of a housing disaster. External USB harddrives (or enclosures) and a safety deposit box are a very cost effective solution.
More importantly, from an industry stand-point, I find it turning into a very interesting chess game. Google's press releases the past two weeks have just been about introducing new systems. Every single release has caused Microsoft to go on the defensive. Google releases a new kit for an open social network, and Microsoft has to keep defending their Facebook investment and also downplay Google's product. Google releases a new mobile kit and is immediately attacked by Microsoft (and Symbian). I don't recall this happening with any other product released by Google, including Google Docs. The two giants are facing off.
How much longer can Sony continue to sell its PS3 for a loss though? Obviously it will continue through the holiday season, but it will get interesting IF their recent Japanese upsurge in sales stalls AND more US bargain retailers are continually selling the HD-DVD at lower cost.
Nah, I always play my luggage number: 1...2...3..4
True, but if Tsar Bomba makes a man's country turn into glass, I think we could notch that as a win for the bomb.
I really think that these projects have a tremendous amount of merit within a company, but I think before a department outsources any projects there are a few important questions to go over. What happens if there is a break in? What happens when the software goes down and crashes? Are they backing up your data properly and you can verify it? Is there a single point of failure? Request a new feature? When is it due? If supoenaed, can you go back 30 days through your data and retrieve a lost email?
I'm not trying to overcomplicate the web2.0 idea, but it seems the dangerous "shiney" aspect keeps winning out.
People using science and tools to try and explain things that are currently unknown or understood? I don't think that is too spooky. True the second article is about people and their beliefs, but I don't really find it that strange.
When exposed to a bright over head light, you have the sudden urge to scatter? Super Villians beware!
It also depends on the type of refurbished equipment you install Ubuntu on. I have installed Ubuntu on several old Dell workstations (3-6 years old), and have never had any hardware issues. They have all made great donations to local schools in my area.
I have had problems building a "Frankenstein" database server from spare parts (mostly bios/disk issues), but it was mostly the motherboard's fault. I guess the saying "mileage may vary" is applicable.
News I envision:
"Crazy driver with burning Hobo Can, catches car on fire. Backs the 95 corridor traffic up for 100 miles. Details at 11".
Paint.NET has a LOT of promise, but until you can go back and re-edit text I don't see much use of it other than minor photo editing.
Same deal. Suse was the only thing able to easily integrate into our current environment. "Easily", being the operating words.
Its a shame, since we use Ubuntu on all of our test systems. We would love to consolidate to Ubuntu, because they make it easy to do most other things.
for a few years, I think companies have made out like bandits. Companies have always towed the "your a professional" line when expecting overtime from employees. While that may be true, try telling that to your plumber or mechanic. I'm wondering what the impact on general salary would be if some sort of legislation was put into place.
Or from the Nat. Geographic article: "Numerous arsenic deposits have been found in the subsoils of southern Peru, explained Modesto Montoya, a nuclear physicist who collaborated with the team. The naturally formed deposits contaminate local drinking water."
Always use the best tool for the job. Sure you could build a house with a spoon instead of a hammer...Of course, this is only if you are solely in charge of the project and tools. I've seen some amazing decisions from upper management regarding application development tools.
What about the cost of batteries for the system? What would the cost of the battery array be?
True, but not a whole lot of small business managers care or have heard of Sun. Most everyone has heard of IBM and know that they have "bank", so to speak. This is an amazing development. More importantly is the government use of Lotus and the transition to this office suite.
As a SMB manager who manages mostly a WinXP network, I believe it will be when management of a entire network of Apple's from a single group policy (accounts,fileshare profiles, network profiles, mail accounts all from a single utility).
I manage a few Suse and Ubuntu servers, so this would go for them as well.
" a.k.a. good old fashioned police work."
When I read that I heard in the voice of Chief Wiggum: "That's some good work, Lou!"