I got to work on the Monorail in Atlanta. Great idea. Awful implementation. The marketing should have been much better IMHO. I've still got mine. The biggest problem that I had was the lack of a NIC. Wow, I didn't think that anyone ever even saw one of those. I know this is off-topic, but it's really cool to see someone that has actually used a product that I helped build.
Exams like this are great.
on
Laptop Exams?
·
· Score: 1
I actually had a class where all of the tests were given in this fashion. We would come in to class and the teacher would let us use online help docs, anything we could find on the net, irc, etc. The only thing that we couldn't do was talk to each other. I learned alot more in that class than I did in just about any other programming class I took. Our final exam went something like this: There is an SQL server on the network with an address of foo. Login to this server and create a table with your name. The table should have x amount of fields. Write a client side application that will allow multiple users to connect to the server and browse and update the database. You may use any matierials execpt for each other. You have 3 hours. I enjoyed these tests much more than the ones that made me memorize a bunch of stuff that could easily be looked up.
I find melodies very interesting thing. When I place some tunes after each other, and publish it first in the world, none other has permission to play them and sell the music without giving me the credits. When you think what music basically is, pieces of vibrating air in specific order, and I have the "rights" for it, doesn't it sound (sorry) absurd idea? I just can't get it. How can one own such a thing?
Try working with the EDI X12 format for a few months. XML is a dream compared to EDI. As soon as the major players in all of the industries that use EDI can come up with a industry-wide XML standard (i.e. After we go ice skating in hell), XML will really be kicking ass. This may not be anything that you can use at your job now - comma delimited text files are still pretty useful for certian tasks - but XML is worth looking at, especially in this age of buzzwords over substance.
I agree with the original poster. From what I've seen, every year the colleges and universities in this country become more like young-adult daycare centers than intitutes of higher learning. I know that many of you AC's will protest and say, "Not at my school, man!" - I've probably never been to your school. I'm going by what I've seen in the southeastern US over the past 10 years. When I starting college in 1992 (I'm still kindof there. I'm trying to collect the entire set of degrees) the big thing was to major in PolySci and "change the world, man!". Sure, it was stoopid, but at least there was some kind of passion involved. Now I mostly see apathy.
After reading alot of the replies to the original post, I feel the need to throw in my $0.02. Sure, all of the options that you have recommended are all viable, reasonable, intelligent options, but you have to understand that the ultimate decision will come not from the admin, but from his PHB. I left a very large shipping company earlier this year. I can't mention the name of the company, but I can say that they absolutly, positivly have a thing for loud colors. I was a network admin in charge of 2 Novell Netware 3.12 file servers, a few ancient Sun boxen and the occasional random server here and there. Every day was like a South Park episode.
Me: Boss! Boss! Our Netware boxen just shit themselves during the Y2K compliance test you made me perform (even though you could look at these things and tell that they were kinda long in the tooth)
Boss: Well, what are YOU gonna do about it?
Me: Uh, put in a budget request for new servers at the next departmental staff meeting?
Boss: No, that won't work. You see Geek, (kneels down on one knee and puts his arm around me. Happy music begins to play) we need all of the money in the budget so that we can give it to Oracle.
Me: ORACLE? Why? This is a Sybase shop! All of the DBA's and (snicker) developers are all trained on Sybase! Why are you gonna screw them?
Boss: (Laughs patiently) Oh, no! We're not screwing all of the people that have trained for years on Sybase, we're "adding value" to our employees.
Me: I still don't understand why our department would go to all the trouble of completely upgrading our databases and retraining all of our people at the cost of loosing our network.
Boss: Well, I'm sure that you'll think of something.
Me: I HAVE! I NEED NEW SERVERS! Look, all I need is the hardware. The OS would be easy - I could use Linux!
Boss: Oh, no! We can't use Linux.
Me: Why not?
Boss: Because there is no giant cash-cow company associated with Linux. What happens if the Linux boxen go mad and eat a small child? Who would we sue?
Me: But Linux wouldn't do that! It's stable!
Boss: And then there's the poor IT Director to think of.
Me: Why should I care about that asshole?
Boss: He's what we call a "Novell Bigot". Novell could wipe it's collective ass with a CD and he'd want to install it on everything that had a processor. Besides, he owns alot of stock in Novell. Now, you wouldn't want his mistress to go without those new breast implants that he's gonna buy her with the profits he gets from his stock, would you?
Me: This sucks! What happens when we all come into work on 1/2/00 and the network is completely hosed?
Boss: Well Geek, that's when YOU bend over and "take one for the team".
Big companies don't buy software based on whether or not it works well - they buy it because some shitbrained VP saw a big glossy ad in Wired and liked the pretty colors. You want Linux in the workplace? Produce a distro, loose the penguin and put Pamala Lee's tits in a full-color glossy gatefold ad in the middle of next month's Wired.
I'm in the same boat that you are in. I got my first "real" job based on skills that I had aquired by myself. (meaning that I had never taken a formal networking class) This may sound a bit harsh, but this kind of ignorant brainwashing will make us more valuable in the long run. Think about it - how many MCSE's do you know that can solve a problem that isn't outlined in one of the NT bibles printed by MS press? Creative problem solving is not a process that can be taught in week-long classes. True, it is a tragedy that a generation of kids will be "disarmed", but it will cause a demand for real hackers in the future.
Sun is alot closer to global domination than Microsoft. What kind of machines do you think that China is using to perform ballistic tests? My only hope is that they shipped them with the JavaOS installed. Also, how secure are their systems if Mitnick can break into them? And if he did so much financial damage buy stealing so much software, why weren't the stockholders notified? Just a few things to ponder.
I think that Rob and the gang have done an incredible job keeping us up to date on what's been happening at the various trade shows. For someone who can't be there, it is a real blessing. However, I cannot help but point out one piece of news that you guys seemed to have left out this year. The coverage was great, but there's one important thing that has been on the minds of geeks everywhere - which RedHat employee got to sleep with Mae Ling Mack this year?
Although I wasn't there, I can make a pretty good prediction at what happened. If Bellsouth is anything like Time-Warner, this is probably pretty accurate. A month before the incident, an unemployed high-school dropout sees an ad in the local classifieds: "Work with computers! Free 3 - week training class! Up to $9/hr.!" The dropout decides to check it out. The next three weeks are pretty grueling, but in the end, he has an A+ certification and an MCSE. Thank Dog for those Fasttrack courses! He is given a nice Bellsouth truck and clean new uniform. When he goes to install dude's DSL stuff, he can't find the "Start" button no the desktop. As a matter of fact, the only thing on the screen is a login prompt. Confused, he calls in to his supervisor and asks for advice. The supervisor, not wanting to explain the concept and/or installation procedure for Linux, tells him, "Just tell 'em you can't install the client software and get back here. You've got 3 more installs to do this afternoon!"
Simple solution: Re-install Win9x and have the guy hook up the DSL crap. Once he's gone, put Linux back on the box and configure it yourself. That's what I did with Roadrunner.
This is not a good sign for people wanting to push Linux into the mainstream. People need to understand that, while it has managed to gain alot of attention recently, it is still not ready for prime time. Companies like Linux Care are a step in the right direction. One more step in the right direction would be the abandonment of the "elitest prick" mentality held by alot of Linux users that I have met. I've met people that thought that they were the Kwisatz Haderach just because they could install and partially configure a microcomputer operating system. Yes, it does require a modicum of intelligence to get Linux to recognize a Zip drive and no, you are not the universal superbeing because you can do it. If the guy had just said, "Oh, I understand that you don't have a client for Linux just yet. Could you go ahead and hook everything else up anyway?", things might have gone differently. I'll bet that if someone would write a client and donate it to BellSouth, they would be more than happy to distribute it.
Position Open: Software Cracker Description: Oh, God! Please help us! We can't live without Freecell! Requirements: Experience with hex editors, reverse engineering, reproduction of copy-protected software, etc. Education: N/A Salary: IS Manager's daughter
******************** O R *************************
Position Open: Linux Tech Description: Uh...like put Linux on our desktops and stuff...I don't know that much about it, but our intern says it's better than Microsoft. Requirements: Knows how to install Linux - any distribution Education: N/A Salary: Anything you want
I just left a very large company shipping company (company x) to work for a smaller, almost unknown company (company y). Hope this helps. At company x, I was a network administrator. My job was to make sure that all servers were up most of the time and that all users could connect to the network. This is a layout of our hardware. File Servers (2x): 486DX 66mHz, 32 MB/2 GB running NetWare 3.12. Workstations (150x): 486 50mHz, 16 MB/1 GB running MS Windows 95. When I started the job I asked my manager for the money to upgrade the servers. (btw: NON Y2K compliant) After I had been there a year, 1 of the 2 servers went tits up. This did not phase my manager. I soon realized that neither the servers nor the workstations (also non-y2k compliant) were to be upgraded. When everything shat itself, I would be the one holding the bag. If your situation is anything like mine was, turn in a 2-weeks notice ASAFP. I left and got a great job at company y. I'm now actually using some of the things I learned in school!
Slashdot Mirror
...I believe that the name of the software package in which you are referring is entitled "WAVE".
Shouldn't you be busy whale hunting?
Go ahead, moderate away...
I got to work on the Monorail in Atlanta. Great idea. Awful implementation. The marketing should have been much better IMHO. I've still got mine. The biggest problem that I had was the lack of a NIC. Wow, I didn't think that anyone ever even saw one of those. I know this is off-topic, but it's really cool to see someone that has actually used a product that I helped build.
I actually had a class where all of the tests were given in this fashion. We would come in to class and the teacher would let us use online help docs, anything we could find on the net, irc, etc. The only thing that we couldn't do was talk to each other. I learned alot more in that class than I did in just about any other programming class I took. Our final exam went something like this: There is an SQL server on the network with an address of foo. Login to this server and create a table with your name. The table should have x amount of fields. Write a client side application that will allow multiple users to connect to the server and browse and update the database. You may use any matierials execpt for each other. You have 3 hours. I enjoyed these tests much more than the ones that made me memorize a bunch of stuff that could easily be looked up.
I find melodies very interesting thing. When I place some tunes after each other, and publish it first in the world, none other has permission to play them and sell the music without giving me the credits. When you think what music basically is, pieces of vibrating air in specific order, and I have the "rights" for it, doesn't it sound (sorry) absurd idea? I just can't get it. How can one own such a thing?
"We all play the same 12 notes." - Eric Clapton
RiotNrrd
Yes, but if one cannot own intellectual property, where is the incentive to create any?
Ask Linus.
RiotNrrd
Try working with the EDI X12 format for a few months. XML is a dream compared to EDI. As soon as the major players in all of the industries that use EDI can come up with a industry-wide XML standard (i.e. After we go ice skating in hell), XML will really be kicking ass. This may not be anything that you can use at your job now - comma delimited text files are still pretty useful for certian tasks - but XML is worth looking at, especially in this age of buzzwords over substance.
I agree with the original poster. From what I've seen, every year the colleges and universities in this country become more like young-adult daycare centers than intitutes of higher learning. I know that many of you AC's will protest and say, "Not at my school, man!" - I've probably never been to your school. I'm going by what I've seen in the southeastern US over the past 10 years. When I starting college in 1992 (I'm still kindof there. I'm trying to collect the entire set of degrees) the big thing was to major in PolySci and "change the world, man!". Sure, it was stoopid, but at least there was some kind of passion involved. Now I mostly see apathy.
Hi,
After reading alot of the replies to the original post, I feel the need to throw in my $0.02. Sure, all of the options that you have recommended are all viable, reasonable, intelligent options, but you have to understand that the ultimate decision will come not from the admin, but from his PHB. I left a very large shipping company earlier this year. I can't mention the name of the company, but I can say that they absolutly, positivly have a thing for loud colors. I was a network admin in charge of 2 Novell Netware 3.12 file servers, a few ancient Sun boxen and the occasional random server here and there. Every day was like a South Park episode.
Me: Boss! Boss! Our Netware boxen just shit themselves during the Y2K compliance test you made me perform (even though you could look at these things and tell that they were kinda long in the tooth)
Boss: Well, what are YOU gonna do about it?
Me: Uh, put in a budget request for new servers at the next departmental staff meeting?
Boss: No, that won't work. You see Geek, (kneels down on one knee and puts his arm around me. Happy music begins to play) we need all of the money in the budget so that we can give it to Oracle.
Me: ORACLE? Why? This is a Sybase shop! All of the DBA's and (snicker) developers are all trained on Sybase! Why are you gonna screw them?
Boss: (Laughs patiently) Oh, no! We're not screwing all of the people that have trained for years on Sybase, we're "adding value" to our employees.
Me: I still don't understand why our department would go to all the trouble of completely upgrading our databases and retraining all of our people at the cost of loosing our network.
Boss: Well, I'm sure that you'll think of something.
Me: I HAVE! I NEED NEW SERVERS! Look, all I need is the hardware. The OS would be easy - I could use Linux!
Boss: Oh, no! We can't use Linux.
Me: Why not?
Boss: Because there is no giant cash-cow company associated with Linux. What happens if the Linux boxen go mad and eat a small child? Who would we sue?
Me: But Linux wouldn't do that! It's stable!
Boss: And then there's the poor IT Director to think of.
Me: Why should I care about that asshole?
Boss: He's what we call a "Novell Bigot". Novell could wipe it's collective ass with a CD and he'd want to install it on everything that had a processor. Besides, he owns alot of stock in Novell. Now, you wouldn't want his mistress to go without those new breast implants that he's gonna buy her with the profits he gets from his stock, would you?
Me: This sucks! What happens when we all come into work on 1/2/00 and the network is completely hosed?
Boss: Well Geek, that's when YOU bend over and "take one for the team".
Big companies don't buy software based on whether or not it works well - they buy it because some shitbrained VP saw a big glossy ad in Wired and liked the pretty colors. You want Linux in the workplace? Produce a distro, loose the penguin and put Pamala Lee's tits in a full-color glossy gatefold ad in the middle of next month's Wired.
I'm in the same boat that you are in. I got my first "real" job based on skills that I had aquired by myself. (meaning that I had never taken a formal networking class) This may sound a bit harsh, but this kind of ignorant brainwashing will make us more valuable in the long run. Think about it - how many MCSE's do you know that can solve a problem that isn't outlined in one of the NT bibles printed by MS press? Creative problem solving is not a process that can be taught in week-long classes. True, it is a tragedy that a generation of kids will be "disarmed", but it will cause a demand for real hackers in the future.
Sun is alot closer to global domination than Microsoft. What kind of machines do you think that China is using to perform ballistic tests? My only hope is that they shipped them with the JavaOS installed. Also, how secure are their systems if Mitnick can break into them? And if he did so much financial damage buy stealing so much software, why weren't the stockholders notified? Just a few things to ponder.
I think that Rob and the gang have done an incredible job keeping us up to date on what's been happening at the various trade shows. For someone who can't be there, it is a real blessing. However, I cannot help but point out one piece of news that you guys seemed to have left out this year. The coverage was great, but there's one important thing that has been on the minds of geeks everywhere - which RedHat employee got to sleep with Mae Ling Mack this year?
How about just "Gods"? I know that it may be a bit haughty, but think about the way that you are treated when you fix a user's problem. MHO.
Although I wasn't there, I can make a pretty good prediction at what happened. If Bellsouth is anything like Time-Warner, this is probably pretty accurate. A month before the incident, an unemployed high-school dropout sees an ad in the local classifieds: "Work with computers! Free 3 - week training class! Up to $9/hr.!" The dropout decides to check it out. The next three weeks are pretty grueling, but in the end, he has an A+ certification and an MCSE. Thank Dog for those Fasttrack courses! He is given a nice Bellsouth truck and clean new uniform. When he goes to install dude's DSL stuff, he can't find the "Start" button no the desktop. As a matter of fact, the only thing on the screen is a login prompt. Confused, he calls in to his supervisor and asks for advice. The supervisor, not wanting to explain the concept and/or installation procedure for Linux, tells him, "Just tell 'em you can't install the client software and get back here. You've got 3 more installs to do this afternoon!"
Simple solution: Re-install Win9x and have the guy hook up the DSL crap. Once he's gone, put Linux back on the box and configure it yourself. That's what I did with Roadrunner.
This is not a good sign for people wanting to push Linux into the mainstream. People need to understand that, while it has managed to gain alot of attention recently, it is still not ready for prime time. Companies like Linux Care are a step in the right direction. One more step in the right direction would be the abandonment of the "elitest prick" mentality held by alot of Linux users that I have met. I've met people that thought that they were the Kwisatz Haderach just because they could install and partially configure a microcomputer operating system. Yes, it does require a modicum of intelligence to get Linux to recognize a Zip drive and no, you are not the universal superbeing because you can do it. If the guy had just said, "Oh, I understand that you don't have a client for Linux just yet. Could you go ahead and hook everything else up anyway?", things might have gone differently. I'll bet that if someone would write a client and donate it to BellSouth, they would be more than happy to distribute it.
Position Open: Software Cracker
Description: Oh, God! Please help us! We can't live without Freecell!
Requirements: Experience with hex editors, reverse engineering, reproduction of copy-protected software, etc.
Education: N/A
Salary: IS Manager's daughter
******************** O R *************************
Position Open: Linux Tech
Description: Uh...like put Linux on our desktops and stuff...I don't know that much about it, but our intern says it's better than Microsoft.
Requirements: Knows how to install Linux - any distribution
Education: N/A
Salary: Anything you want
I just left a very large company shipping company (company x) to work for a smaller, almost unknown company (company y). Hope this helps. At company x, I was a network administrator. My job was to make sure that all servers were up most of the time and that all users could connect to the network. This is a layout of our hardware.
File Servers (2x): 486DX 66mHz, 32 MB/2 GB running NetWare 3.12.
Workstations (150x): 486 50mHz, 16 MB/1 GB running MS Windows 95.
When I started the job I asked my manager for the money to upgrade the servers. (btw: NON Y2K compliant) After I had been there a year, 1 of the 2 servers went tits up. This did not phase my manager. I soon realized that neither the servers nor the workstations (also non-y2k compliant) were to be upgraded. When everything shat itself, I would be the one holding the bag. If your situation is anything like mine was, turn in a 2-weeks notice ASAFP. I left and got a great job at company y. I'm now actually using some of the things I learned in school!