As I sit here reading this, I am waiting on deployment scripts to finish running for our monthly production deployment. This month is "PCI Compliance" month - lots of security & permissions changes, auditing, etc. going into prod tonight. Should be done in about three hours...:-( ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz...............
I answer the phone for exactly five "people" - my boss, our NOC staff, my wife, or one of my kids. I'll also answer if I'm expecting the call. Otherwise, if I don't recognize the number, and I'm not expecting the call, piss off. That rule applies both at home and at work. If you want me to do something for you, send the request via email, I don't do this just to be a prick - my mailbox is my to-do list, my journal, my archive, and my audit trail.
Boss: "Why did we drop TableX from the database, and who's the idiot that made that decision?" Me: Let's just type TableX into Google Desktop - oh, here's an email from October 2006, from you, directing us to drop that table, because we're using it to store credit card info in violation of PCI regulations. Any further questions?
I'll vouch for Speakeasy as well. I was a customer for many years, until last spring. Through no fault of theirs, I had to switch to Comcast (kicking and screaming). My Speakeasy service was being provided over a Qwest DSL line, and I'm right at the limit for being too far from the CO. This wasn't a problem for the first 3 years or so, but over the final year, the connection became less-and-less reliable, to the point where a moderate rainfall would knock me offline for an hour. Terribly annoying, and a real problem when I needed to VPN in to work. I finally admitted defeat and called up Comcast.
That said, Qwest is working all around me (Minneapolis, SW metro), rolling out fiber. I'm waiting patiently for the new service to be offered up, at which time I'll be jumping back over to Speakeasy, assuming they'll be able to work with the new fiber. If not, I'll take whatever ISP is available, just to get off Comcast and onto the new fiber.
Put the photos on an SD card, include a digital picture frame compatible with that SD card, and seal both up with one of those vacuum-seal gizmos used for food storage. Maybe even repeat a couple of times, so that there are multiple "layers" of sealing. Seems like that would protect it from moisture, and guarantee that the photos will be viewable.
Amen!!!! I'm salaried, and have the flexibility to work when/where I want to. I do 24x7 production database support, and also get involved in some development projects. If get called at 3:00am to deal with a busted server, I usually don't come in to the office the next day, instead I'll work from home for a few hours, after I roll out of bed. One of the development projects I was on was with a new project manager, who had this grand scheme requiring all participants to track their hours and submit weekly time reports. I flat out told the guy that I don't track my hours, for him or anybody else, period - you tell me what you need done and when you need it, I'll get it to you by that time.
Next time you're sitting at a stoplight, look at the drivers of the other cars. Just a couple days ago, as opposing traffic was turning left on green, I counted FOUR of six drivers with a phone jammed in their ear. Last trip to the grocery store, I had to force my way past a woman grazing in one of the aisles, elbows resting on the shopping cart, yakking obliviously on the phone. Last week, while biking home from work one day, on a paved trail that cuts through a wooded park, I had to yell out "passing on the left!" three times to a teenager on a bike, weaving from side-to-side while yakking on the phone.
The problem with phones, I think, isn't the talking, is the fact that people tend to become oblivious to their surroundings when using one.
Couldn't agree more. I've made the 12-mile round trip 8 times this summer (I'm counting because my wife/kids didn't think I would stick with it). The first time, I thought I was going to die. Took over an hour to make the 6-mile trip to work, my legs were on fire, I could barely stand up when I got to the office. I had my wife pick me up at the end of the day. For the next three days, my legs and my ass were so sore that I could barely walk, I was HURTING. About a week later, I decided to try it again - this time, I made it to the office in decent shape, I couldn't believe the difference. The ride home wasn't as good, I ended up walking the last half of it. I tried again the next week, and now I've completed the round trip 8 times. Unlike the first trip, I can now make the journey with no pain, no rubber legs, no saddle-sores, nothing - I hop off the bike feeling like I just finished a brisk walk. It's amazing how much my body has adapted to the effort.
I don't ride every day. I have to avoid rain, as I don't have the proper gear to keep my laptop dry (I didn't want to spent a bunch of money until I knew how this was going to work out). I also have days where I need to do something after work, kid appointments, errands, whatever. There are also days where I just don't want to ride, but I'm getting at least one ride in a week, which is better than nothing.
Speaking of idiots, try this one on for size... One day last week, I was on my way home from work (on my bike). One stretch of the trip is on a paved bike trail through a wooded area, I've seen several deer, some wild turkeys, lots of wildlife. Anyway, last week, I'm riding through the woods, and ahead of me I see a slow-moving bike, weaving from side-to-side. I slow down, and yell ahead (twice) to announce that I'm passing - no response. I get close enough to see the rider and understand the problem - it's a teenager, riding a bike that's too small for him (knees hitting the handlebars), and HE'S TALKING ON A CELL PHONE!!!!! I thought I'd avoid cell-phone-distracted-drivers by getting off the road, apparently NOT!!!
Maybe so, but you get what you pay for. I know several of the project managers at my company have begun refusing to use offshore resources due to the high levels of frustration, poor quality, lack of communication, etc...
Something about looking for IT jobs in the local paper strikes me as humorous... Seems a bit like going to a seafood restaurant and ordering chicken.:-)
Honestly though, Monster.com, Dice.com, those sorts of resources would be more useful than the newspaper.
Umm, no, tabs was not THE reason Firefox was beating IE, it's just one of many. For me, it's primarily the add-ons, followed by portability - tabs are way down the list for me. Show me how to integrate Google Notebook into IE. Show me how to integrate ForecastFox into IE, or AdBlock, or any of the numerous GMail/GCal enhancements provided through Firefox add-ons. Are any of these things CRITICAL? Of course not. They exist solely to make the browser more useful, more productive, and more enjoyable, and that capability is the #1 feature that IE is missing.
Consider Minnesota. Lots of tech work in the Twin Cities (SW metro in particular), Alaska-style winters and wilderness "up North", lots of outdoor recreation, generally nice people. Plymouth, the suburb to the north of me, was just named "best place to live" by Money magazine.
...my Roomba, on a daily basis, recognizes stairs as a threat and refuses to fall down them. I guess I don't see the "big deal" here, sounds like a built-in protective measure worked as expected. The technology is no less awesome, but still, it functioned AS DESIGNED.
True. I would argue, however, that demonstrating a willingness to "go the extra mile" or to do "whatever it takes" without complaining will help one to build a reputation that will propel them into that senior position. You're an employer, you have a senior-level position to fill, and you have two candidates to choose from:
- candidate A is smart, knows Widget Platform inside and out, but when asked to work after 5:00pm, tends to complain loudly and demand overtime pay because he's "entitled". He's often difficult to contact outside of the office.
- candidate B is equally smart, doesn't know Widget Platform quite as well, but knows where to find answers. He's also personable, never complains about after-hours calls. He is accessible when needed, and makes it a point to communicate to his co-workers that he'll be in late because he took an overnight support call.
Which one are you going to put into that senior position?
Perfectly understandable - I've worked in a place like that before, I didn't stick around very long. Apparently few people did, last I heard, the company is barely breathing. There are good employers out there. I fully understand and appreciate my good fortune, and intend to enjoy it as long as possible.
Amen. I broke the 6-figure barrier earlier this year. In return, I am essentially on call 24x7, unless I'm on vacation. IN RETURN, I have the freedom to work whenever/wherever I choose. I support a dozen production database servers that are in use around the clock, by users around the globe. If there is an issue at 3:00am, I deal with it, no questions asked. I also don't roll out of bed the next morning and show up at the office ready to work, I show up when I'm ready, or I "work from home". Nobody questions it, nobody complains. If I need to leave in the middle of the day to take a kid to the doctor, or the orthodontist, or I just feel like taking a three hour lunch, I do so. Again, nobody questions it, nobody complains. It works well, I'm happy, my boss and his boss are happy, and my family is happy. I would never dream of throwing a fit and demanding to be PAID for that 3:00am phone call.
The Shannara series by Terry Brooks (can you tell I'm a fan?) would be an excellent choice. Read them in chronological order, not publication order, beginning with "Running With the Demon". Brooks recently bridged the gap between the "present day" books of the Word & Void series with those of the "future" Shannara series - the third book of that bridge will be released in August.
1. Running With the Demon 2. A Knight of the Word 3. Angel Fire East 4. Armageddon's Children 5. The Elves of Cintra 6. The Gypsy Morph (coming in August) 7. First King of Shannara 8. The Sword of Shannara 9. The Elfstones of Shannara 10. The Wishsong of Shannara 11. The Scions of Shannara 12. The Druid of Shannara 13. The Elf Queen of Shannara 14. The Talismans of Shannara 15. Ilse Witch 16. Antrax 17. Morgawr 18. Jarka Ruus 19. Tanequil 20. Straken
Opportunities are born out of times like this - ride it out, keep a positive attitude and an open mind, look for new people to hook up with, expand your network to include people in the "new" company. You very likely will find yourself presented with a chance to do something new, without having to leave the company.
"This likely will result in a possibility you come on to the new company... or not. Remember a lot depends on how much you are willing to accept as a reduction in pay which ultimately will happen at some point."
I've been through two corporation acquisitions in the last 10 years. First time, I wound up making $5K more per year, as an incentive to stay, doing the same job. Second time, I was offered a different job in the new company, making $11K more per year. We've all heard the stories about people being forced to take pay cuts to keep their jobs, but I personally don't know a single person who has experienced that.
The OP should ride this out, keeping a positive attitude and an open mind. Opportunities are born out of situations like this.
I play Call Of Duty on Xbox Live - those same kids make for some of the most UNPLEASANT games, sometimes to the point where I just leave and find another. If they're not competing to see who can say the most curse words in a single game, they're whining, or singing, or just doing SOMETHING to be intentionally irritating.
No offense, but New Orleans is disgusting. I was there 7 years ago, stayed at some fancy hotel in the French Quarter (don't remember the name, company paid for it). Everywhere you walk, your shoes make that sticky sound like velcro, every alley you walk past smells like piss. Honestly reminded me of some cheap bars from my college days. I don't want to know what was making the sidewalks sticky, I was just glad to leave there. Nasty, gross place.
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As I sit here reading this, I am waiting on deployment scripts to finish running for our monthly production deployment. This month is "PCI Compliance" month - lots of security & permissions changes, auditing, etc. going into prod tonight. Should be done in about three hours... :-( ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz...............
I answer the phone for exactly five "people" - my boss, our NOC staff, my wife, or one of my kids. I'll also answer if I'm expecting the call. Otherwise, if I don't recognize the number, and I'm not expecting the call, piss off. That rule applies both at home and at work. If you want me to do something for you, send the request via email, I don't do this just to be a prick - my mailbox is my to-do list, my journal, my archive, and my audit trail.
Boss: "Why did we drop TableX from the database, and who's the idiot that made that decision?"
Me: Let's just type TableX into Google Desktop - oh, here's an email from October 2006, from you, directing us to drop that table, because we're using it to store credit card info in violation of PCI regulations. Any further questions?
I've been standing beside the freeway all morning, holding my towel, thumb extended, expecting the worst. Now I just look silly...
I'll vouch for Speakeasy as well. I was a customer for many years, until last spring. Through no fault of theirs, I had to switch to Comcast (kicking and screaming). My Speakeasy service was being provided over a Qwest DSL line, and I'm right at the limit for being too far from the CO. This wasn't a problem for the first 3 years or so, but over the final year, the connection became less-and-less reliable, to the point where a moderate rainfall would knock me offline for an hour. Terribly annoying, and a real problem when I needed to VPN in to work. I finally admitted defeat and called up Comcast.
That said, Qwest is working all around me (Minneapolis, SW metro), rolling out fiber. I'm waiting patiently for the new service to be offered up, at which time I'll be jumping back over to Speakeasy, assuming they'll be able to work with the new fiber. If not, I'll take whatever ISP is available, just to get off Comcast and onto the new fiber.
Put the photos on an SD card, include a digital picture frame compatible with that SD card, and seal both up with one of those vacuum-seal gizmos used for food storage. Maybe even repeat a couple of times, so that there are multiple "layers" of sealing. Seems like that would protect it from moisture, and guarantee that the photos will be viewable.
Good luck with that. At least in the corner I escaped from (southeast, almost close enough to see West Virginia).
Fellow comrade, your statement borders on thoughtcrime. Please report immediately to the Ministry of Love for clarification.
Amen!!!! I'm salaried, and have the flexibility to work when/where I want to. I do 24x7 production database support, and also get involved in some development projects. If get called at 3:00am to deal with a busted server, I usually don't come in to the office the next day, instead I'll work from home for a few hours, after I roll out of bed. One of the development projects I was on was with a new project manager, who had this grand scheme requiring all participants to track their hours and submit weekly time reports. I flat out told the guy that I don't track my hours, for him or anybody else, period - you tell me what you need done and when you need it, I'll get it to you by that time.
Next time you're sitting at a stoplight, look at the drivers of the other cars. Just a couple days ago, as opposing traffic was turning left on green, I counted FOUR of six drivers with a phone jammed in their ear. Last trip to the grocery store, I had to force my way past a woman grazing in one of the aisles, elbows resting on the shopping cart, yakking obliviously on the phone. Last week, while biking home from work one day, on a paved trail that cuts through a wooded park, I had to yell out "passing on the left!" three times to a teenager on a bike, weaving from side-to-side while yakking on the phone.
The problem with phones, I think, isn't the talking, is the fact that people tend to become oblivious to their surroundings when using one.
Couldn't agree more. I've made the 12-mile round trip 8 times this summer (I'm counting because my wife/kids didn't think I would stick with it). The first time, I thought I was going to die. Took over an hour to make the 6-mile trip to work, my legs were on fire, I could barely stand up when I got to the office. I had my wife pick me up at the end of the day. For the next three days, my legs and my ass were so sore that I could barely walk, I was HURTING. About a week later, I decided to try it again - this time, I made it to the office in decent shape, I couldn't believe the difference. The ride home wasn't as good, I ended up walking the last half of it. I tried again the next week, and now I've completed the round trip 8 times. Unlike the first trip, I can now make the journey with no pain, no rubber legs, no saddle-sores, nothing - I hop off the bike feeling like I just finished a brisk walk. It's amazing how much my body has adapted to the effort.
I don't ride every day. I have to avoid rain, as I don't have the proper gear to keep my laptop dry (I didn't want to spent a bunch of money until I knew how this was going to work out). I also have days where I need to do something after work, kid appointments, errands, whatever. There are also days where I just don't want to ride, but I'm getting at least one ride in a week, which is better than nothing.
Speaking of idiots, try this one on for size... One day last week, I was on my way home from work (on my bike). One stretch of the trip is on a paved bike trail through a wooded area, I've seen several deer, some wild turkeys, lots of wildlife. Anyway, last week, I'm riding through the woods, and ahead of me I see a slow-moving bike, weaving from side-to-side. I slow down, and yell ahead (twice) to announce that I'm passing - no response. I get close enough to see the rider and understand the problem - it's a teenager, riding a bike that's too small for him (knees hitting the handlebars), and HE'S TALKING ON A CELL PHONE!!!!! I thought I'd avoid cell-phone-distracted-drivers by getting off the road, apparently NOT!!!
Maybe so, but you get what you pay for. I know several of the project managers at my company have begun refusing to use offshore resources due to the high levels of frustration, poor quality, lack of communication, etc...
Something about looking for IT jobs in the local paper strikes me as humorous... Seems a bit like going to a seafood restaurant and ordering chicken. :-)
Honestly though, Monster.com, Dice.com, those sorts of resources would be more useful than the newspaper.
Umm, no, tabs was not THE reason Firefox was beating IE, it's just one of many. For me, it's primarily the add-ons, followed by portability - tabs are way down the list for me. Show me how to integrate Google Notebook into IE. Show me how to integrate ForecastFox into IE, or AdBlock, or any of the numerous GMail/GCal enhancements provided through Firefox add-ons. Are any of these things CRITICAL? Of course not. They exist solely to make the browser more useful, more productive, and more enjoyable, and that capability is the #1 feature that IE is missing.
Consider Minnesota. Lots of tech work in the Twin Cities (SW metro in particular), Alaska-style winters and wilderness "up North", lots of outdoor recreation, generally nice people. Plymouth, the suburb to the north of me, was just named "best place to live" by Money magazine.
Replying to your sig... Get out of Ohio... Leaving there 10 years ago was the smartest thing I've ever done.
...my Roomba, on a daily basis, recognizes stairs as a threat and refuses to fall down them. I guess I don't see the "big deal" here, sounds like a built-in protective measure worked as expected. The technology is no less awesome, but still, it functioned AS DESIGNED.
True. I would argue, however, that demonstrating a willingness to "go the extra mile" or to do "whatever it takes" without complaining will help one to build a reputation that will propel them into that senior position. You're an employer, you have a senior-level position to fill, and you have two candidates to choose from:
- candidate A is smart, knows Widget Platform inside and out, but when asked to work after 5:00pm, tends to complain loudly and demand overtime pay because he's "entitled". He's often difficult to contact outside of the office.
- candidate B is equally smart, doesn't know Widget Platform quite as well, but knows where to find answers. He's also personable, never complains about after-hours calls. He is accessible when needed, and makes it a point to communicate to his co-workers that he'll be in late because he took an overnight support call.
Which one are you going to put into that senior position?
Perfectly understandable - I've worked in a place like that before, I didn't stick around very long. Apparently few people did, last I heard, the company is barely breathing. There are good employers out there. I fully understand and appreciate my good fortune, and intend to enjoy it as long as possible.
Amen. I broke the 6-figure barrier earlier this year. In return, I am essentially on call 24x7, unless I'm on vacation. IN RETURN, I have the freedom to work whenever/wherever I choose. I support a dozen production database servers that are in use around the clock, by users around the globe. If there is an issue at 3:00am, I deal with it, no questions asked. I also don't roll out of bed the next morning and show up at the office ready to work, I show up when I'm ready, or I "work from home". Nobody questions it, nobody complains. If I need to leave in the middle of the day to take a kid to the doctor, or the orthodontist, or I just feel like taking a three hour lunch, I do so. Again, nobody questions it, nobody complains. It works well, I'm happy, my boss and his boss are happy, and my family is happy. I would never dream of throwing a fit and demanding to be PAID for that 3:00am phone call.
The Shannara series by Terry Brooks (can you tell I'm a fan?) would be an excellent choice. Read them in chronological order, not publication order, beginning with "Running With the Demon". Brooks recently bridged the gap between the "present day" books of the Word & Void series with those of the "future" Shannara series - the third book of that bridge will be released in August.
1. Running With the Demon
2. A Knight of the Word
3. Angel Fire East
4. Armageddon's Children
5. The Elves of Cintra
6. The Gypsy Morph (coming in August)
7. First King of Shannara
8. The Sword of Shannara
9. The Elfstones of Shannara
10. The Wishsong of Shannara
11. The Scions of Shannara
12. The Druid of Shannara
13. The Elf Queen of Shannara
14. The Talismans of Shannara
15. Ilse Witch
16. Antrax
17. Morgawr
18. Jarka Ruus
19. Tanequil
20. Straken
Opportunities are born out of times like this - ride it out, keep a positive attitude and an open mind, look for new people to hook up with, expand your network to include people in the "new" company. You very likely will find yourself presented with a chance to do something new, without having to leave the company.
"This likely will result in a possibility you come on to the new company... or not. Remember a lot depends on how much you are willing to accept as a reduction in pay which ultimately will happen at some point."
I've been through two corporation acquisitions in the last 10 years. First time, I wound up making $5K more per year, as an incentive to stay, doing the same job. Second time, I was offered a different job in the new company, making $11K more per year. We've all heard the stories about people being forced to take pay cuts to keep their jobs, but I personally don't know a single person who has experienced that.
The OP should ride this out, keeping a positive attitude and an open mind. Opportunities are born out of situations like this.
I play Call Of Duty on Xbox Live - those same kids make for some of the most UNPLEASANT games, sometimes to the point where I just leave and find another. If they're not competing to see who can say the most curse words in a single game, they're whining, or singing, or just doing SOMETHING to be intentionally irritating.
No offense, but New Orleans is disgusting. I was there 7 years ago, stayed at some fancy hotel in the French Quarter (don't remember the name, company paid for it). Everywhere you walk, your shoes make that sticky sound like velcro, every alley you walk past smells like piss. Honestly reminded me of some cheap bars from my college days. I don't want to know what was making the sidewalks sticky, I was just glad to leave there. Nasty, gross place.