One day when migrating my computer from one case to another, I had finished the installation, plugged it all in, then switched it on.
nothing happened
Of course, stupid me, I forgot to plug the mains leads inside the case to the switch (back when a switch was a switch dammit! 240 volts live.
So I reached over and grabbed the lead inside the case.
Which was of course, still live after having everything else plugged back in.
I remember the most strange sensation as my lower lip started to oscillate at 50Hz (I am assuming this, since thats the frequency of the power supply here) and a quick shout before somehow I was no longer holding the lead.
(Good thoughts csoto!)
-Ask them if they understand the nature/scope of the job
It might be worhtwhile to instead of asking them if they understand the nature/scope, to actually have them explain their understanding of it - I've help interview (first round, technical roles) a few candidates at lower levels - usually sourced from Recruitment agencies - and its remarkable how many people don't know the job they are applying for, and in one case, the name of the company they were coming to for an interview!
Much of this goes to seeing what the person is imagining the role to be - though there are likely to be some differences, you are more likley to find out if you let them start off and don't taint their knowledge. Also good to see if they are preparing and serious about the job.
Maybe also find out it they don't like late starters.... but then again, thats just because I am one....
This actually happens.
There is a service called "pureprofile" in Australia - you join, fill in a marketers wet dream of profiling information and you occaisionally are emailed from pure profile to go and view ads - if you view the ad, you accumulate money - you can then use that money redeemed as a cheque, to get a discount voucher for fuel purchases, donate it to a charity (and get a receipt for a tax deduction) etc.
The idea is that a trusted organisation - in this case pureprofile acts as ago between between the advertisers and the public. I think I have about $30 in my account at the moment. I don't get ads all that often though, so thats after a year or two.
It took what was a good combination of Turn Based Strategy and Shooter into a much better strategy and intertwined plot - keeping some of the great things from the first game, adding value through new races, weapons and ships - and a great great plot, which in many ways expanded the first game through a richer history.
I am not from the US, so my familiarity with your government is scant at best, however - there may well be a better mechanism for this change than attempting to change the laws.
Changing the laws usually involves a very long an complicated process, where the automobile manufacturers are likely to moan and complain and lobby even after any legislation is passed.
As an alternative, or even as an addition, consider
* The government is a very large purchaser of vehicles for all sorts of purposes - transport, police, maintenance, military, car pools, inspectors etc - it is therefore likely that there is a massive purchasing bueracracy to go with this.
* The purchasing beaurarcracy usually drives billions in purchasing and has the ability to set the requirements for goods to be purchased.
So, perhaps the government should REQUIRE, through its own purchasing (where no legislation would be required, that all vehicles it purchases MUST have open standardised diagnostics) given the likely scale of purchases the government makes, the automobile manufacturers would be left to either Do It (in which case its done, and there is at best its adoption into all cars, at worst only government vehicles - but there is at least a fleet of vehicles out there you can target), or to Not Do It (and face allegations of collusion, or provide a trigger for the government to legislate it with some justification)
I'll admit that there are a few flaws:
* You can still lobby the government to force purchasing not to mandate the changes.
* The manufacturers could (perhaps the best option from their perspective) provide free equipment to access the data.
* Manufacturers could do it only to government vehicles (but at least then there would be a large number of vehicles out there in the second-hand market. Which would eventually lead to discussions about why the manufcaturers are maintaining two seperate systems.
* Takes a long time.
This kind of problem can be solved generally in two ways - purchaser preference, and legislative involvement. In most situations though, individual purchasers have very little leverage - big purcashers on the other hand, have a LOT of leverage.
I wonder if all the slashdotters are about to have their machines counter DOSed.
After all, several million page hits are about to occur on their home page - and if you don't have this set up on your own infrastructure, when you make the thing - its not exactly good PR.
My apologies - I didn't mean to imply that that was your opinion - Its definitely from the article - it just seemed like the right place for the comment.
I've found that the biggest problem I have is trying to pitch any pc discussions (be if fixing problems, options, solutions, how does it work type stuff) at the correct level for someone I am dealing with - often because a lot of areas are broad enough that without interrogating the person, you don't know what they already know (and if they really know what they think they know).
I usually try to start out simple, and work my way up to complex and evaluate the users amount of knowledge as we go - the big problem is that sometimes you do get fellow geeks, or reasonably clueful users and I run the risk of sounding patronising.
* Tell the truth, but do it with tact and possible solutions
* Keep your head down and mouth closed.
I think it would be a good idea to add that you should, if attempting to discuss issues, that you should try and be (and demonstrate) an awareness of the core business of the company (if, like many, you are part of an IT Dept for a company that actually makes money of something else).
There is no point highlighting problems (even if they have solutions) if the problems don't really affect the service the IT Dept provides to the rest of the business. (Its different though if the IT Service is the product, eg S/W house, outsourcer, etc).
My mother has a wonderful workshop.
Angle grinder, Hammer Drill, Jigsaw, blah blah blah. Put up the shelves for all my step-fathers orchids (using the hammer drill).
My step-father on the other hand, can't change a light globe and when asked by my mother for a Hammer Drill for her birthday, didn't know what one was and I haven't taught him how to use the memories or key-lock on his mobile phone because its too complicated for him.
That said, my father makes an excellent salesman, whereas my mother (when she tried it) was average at it.
Sometimes people don't fit into the stereotypes - sometimes they do - stereotypes can make things easier (the first question asked when getting presents for children is "boy or girl?") but also limit the options you have.
I wonder if the the fact that some women have problems dealing with technology sales people is because most of them are male, and are typically used to dealing with males in technology areas. This is changing, but it won't happen immediately. The stereotypes may be plain wrong, but still take a while to change.
'The problem is not a lack of highly educated workers,' said Scott Kirwin, founder of the Information Technology Professionals Association of America. 'The problem is a lack of highly educated workers willing to work for the minimum wage or lower in the U.S. Costs are driving outsourcing, not the quality of American schools.'"
I'm guess that one thing that hasn't been realised by said capitalist, is that the highly skilled workforce they want to pay minimum wage can't afford to become highly skilled if the only reward is minimum wage - that is, of course if they REALLY wanted to keep jobs in the US in the first place...
Given the state of the US dollar at the moment relative to most of the rest of the world, I suspect that if you tried scanning in foreign currency, the program would actually give you a much better version of it.
I guess that i everyone is within 6 degrees of kevin bacon, including the terrorists, that Kevin Bacon is in for a rough time with the powers that be...
At that stage, when we started seeing Internet postings, something had to be done," said Lesniak. "It's just not legal to try and destroy somebody's share value."
*rant* Thats a bit rich. Run for cover everyone, the mega corps are taking over *end rant*
Am I the only one who thinks that this is a bit rich?
I am sure that it is colmpletey legal to destroy a companies share value - after all many executives do that all the time and get away with it - provided you do it legally - the problem in the article is that the person is treading the fine line between extortion and publication.
from the top of my head I can think of the following ways to destroy share value legally:
* Compete effectively with them (ie drive them out of bussines by running your own business and winning their customers
* Air their dirty laundry (much like the article) - provided its the truth.
* Start protest movements (eg anti-nike etc)
* Subvert their product - such as with que cat.
Sorry for the rant but the attitude implied from the quite is just shocking - I could understand if the person was talking about it being illegal to steal trade secrets or to extort money - but to "Destroy share value" - as though share value is a right (and we've all seen RIAA and MPAA try to keep their share value haven't wee...) instead of the way it is meant to be - a reflection of its "value" (market rates, supply demand etc) - is just plain wrong.
Too true - I'll admit that I hadn't thought as far as google (or perhaps the google directory) ending up as the top of the links - in some ways surprised that it hasn't happened yet;).
Apologies, I meant to say:
I know i don't bother to keep my own web page with links to freuqently used / interesting links any more. The volume of links for which I create / manage has been dropping in favour of using search engines. I'm guessing that others are doing this too.
It drives me nuts when I can't remember the search keywords I used to find a site previously (or if there has been a google dance since I last searched) - guess I need to use bookmarks more - but again, my own bookmarks aren't available for searching.
The saturation of google with online sales is annoying enough, however if my assumption (and it is an assumption that could easily be false) is true - and taking what Doctor7 and xixax pointed out - the singal to noise ratio from the commercial sites will decrease and google will starve - although I admit that this is overdramatic, and recent changes to googles algorithms have been looking at fixing this.
Something I have been wondering about is will the massive adoption of tools like google start result in a reduction of linking, hence undermining the very web that google (and many other engines) crawls.
I know I don't bother with many links these days - whats the point when I can use google to search for it, the open directory to find by category (or even on the odd occaision Yahoo). Even if I am looking for something similar I don't even have to web crawl for it - you can just Show Similar to find it.
I stating the assumption that others are also doing this - and if this is so, then won't the ability of page rank and similar link "usefulness" evaluation algorithims to produce good results degrade?
Q:...What's the special sauce?
A:The secret sauce that HP....
Anybody thinking: HP Sauce.
I wonder if the interviewer asked the question with this in mind. Sauce, (mostly) liquid, adapts to shape of container, starts to go off if unused...
Wonder if it goes well with spam.
Slashdot Mirror
Have To Smile :)
nothing happened
Of course, stupid me, I forgot to plug the mains leads inside the case to the switch (back when a switch was a switch dammit! 240 volts live.
So I reached over and grabbed the lead inside the case.
Which was of course, still live after having everything else plugged back in.
I remember the most strange sensation as my lower lip started to oscillate at 50Hz (I am assuming this, since thats the frequency of the power supply here) and a quick shout before somehow I was no longer holding the lead.
ops.
It might be worhtwhile to instead of asking them if they understand the nature/scope, to actually have them explain their understanding of it - I've help interview (first round, technical roles) a few candidates at lower levels - usually sourced from Recruitment agencies - and its remarkable how many people don't know the job they are applying for, and in one case, the name of the company they were coming to for an interview!
Much of this goes to seeing what the person is imagining the role to be - though there are likely to be some differences, you are more likley to find out if you let them start off and don't taint their knowledge. Also good to see if they are preparing and serious about the job.
Maybe also find out it they don't like late starters.... but then again, thats just because I am one....
The idea is that a trusted organisation - in this case pureprofile acts as ago between between the advertisers and the public. I think I have about $30 in my account at the moment. I don't get ads all that often though, so thats after a year or two.
And if you mention it, his controllers will imprison you.
Its just a shame you can't find some 6 year olds to point it out in this case.
Was a great sequel to Star Control.
It took what was a good combination of Turn Based Strategy and Shooter into a much better strategy and intertwined plot - keeping some of the great things from the first game, adding value through new races, weapons and ships - and a great great plot, which in many ways expanded the first game through a richer history.
Changing the laws usually involves a very long an complicated process, where the automobile manufacturers are likely to moan and complain and lobby even after any legislation is passed.
As an alternative, or even as an addition, consider
* The government is a very large purchaser of vehicles for all sorts of purposes - transport, police, maintenance, military, car pools, inspectors etc - it is therefore likely that there is a massive purchasing bueracracy to go with this.
* The purchasing beaurarcracy usually drives billions in purchasing and has the ability to set the requirements for goods to be purchased.
So, perhaps the government should REQUIRE, through its own purchasing (where no legislation would be required, that all vehicles it purchases MUST have open standardised diagnostics) given the likely scale of purchases the government makes, the automobile manufacturers would be left to either Do It (in which case its done, and there is at best its adoption into all cars, at worst only government vehicles - but there is at least a fleet of vehicles out there you can target), or to Not Do It (and face allegations of collusion, or provide a trigger for the government to legislate it with some justification)
I'll admit that there are a few flaws:
* You can still lobby the government to force purchasing not to mandate the changes.
* The manufacturers could (perhaps the best option from their perspective) provide free equipment to access the data.
* Manufacturers could do it only to government vehicles (but at least then there would be a large number of vehicles out there in the second-hand market. Which would eventually lead to discussions about why the manufcaturers are maintaining two seperate systems.
* Takes a long time.
This kind of problem can be solved generally in two ways - purchaser preference, and legislative involvement. In most situations though, individual purchasers have very little leverage - big purcashers on the other hand, have a LOT of leverage.
Cheers.
Boricle.
After all, several million page hits are about to occur on their home page - and if you don't have this set up on your own infrastructure, when you make the thing - its not exactly good PR.
Boricle.
Cheers, Boricle.
if they can receive an SMS message, doesn't that mean that they have a mobile phone
in which case you can ring them and ask them to come in for a "meeting".
Or at least TELL them they are fired over the phone.
I usually try to start out simple, and work my way up to complex and evaluate the users amount of knowledge as we go - the big problem is that sometimes you do get fellow geeks, or reasonably clueful users and I run the risk of sounding patronising.
* Tell the truth, but do it with tact and possible solutions
* Keep your head down and mouth closed.
I think it would be a good idea to add that you should, if attempting to discuss issues, that you should try and be (and demonstrate) an awareness of the core business of the company (if, like many, you are part of an IT Dept for a company that actually makes money of something else).
There is no point highlighting problems (even if they have solutions) if the problems don't really affect the service the IT Dept provides to the rest of the business. (Its different though if the IT Service is the product, eg S/W house, outsourcer, etc).
My step-father on the other hand, can't change a light globe and when asked by my mother for a Hammer Drill for her birthday, didn't know what one was and I haven't taught him how to use the memories or key-lock on his mobile phone because its too complicated for him.
That said, my father makes an excellent salesman, whereas my mother (when she tried it) was average at it.
Sometimes people don't fit into the stereotypes - sometimes they do - stereotypes can make things easier (the first question asked when getting presents for children is "boy or girl?") but also limit the options you have.
I wonder if the the fact that some women have problems dealing with technology sales people is because most of them are male, and are typically used to dealing with males in technology areas. This is changing, but it won't happen immediately. The stereotypes may be plain wrong, but still take a while to change.
I wonder if this is just a guise for a government handout for Boeing. Chances are that they need it...
I'm guess that one thing that hasn't been realised by said capitalist, is that the highly skilled workforce they want to pay minimum wage can't afford to become highly skilled if the only reward is minimum wage - that is, of course if they REALLY wanted to keep jobs in the US in the first place...
* smile *
I guess that i everyone is within 6 degrees of kevin bacon, including the terrorists, that Kevin Bacon is in for a rough time with the powers that be...
Search For Terrestrial Intelligence
I know I've been struggling... have you found any? Will this help?
At that stage, when we started seeing Internet postings, something had to be done," said Lesniak. "It's just not legal to try and destroy somebody's share value."
*rant* Thats a bit rich. Run for cover everyone, the mega corps are taking over *end rant*
Am I the only one who thinks that this is a bit rich?
I am sure that it is colmpletey legal to destroy a companies share value - after all many executives do that all the time and get away with it - provided you do it legally - the problem in the article is that the person is treading the fine line between extortion and publication.
from the top of my head I can think of the following ways to destroy share value legally:
* Compete effectively with them (ie drive them out of bussines by running your own business and winning their customers
* Air their dirty laundry (much like the article) - provided its the truth.
* Start protest movements (eg anti-nike etc)
* Subvert their product - such as with que cat.
Sorry for the rant but the attitude implied from the quite is just shocking - I could understand if the person was talking about it being illegal to steal trade secrets or to extort money - but to "Destroy share value" - as though share value is a right (and we've all seen RIAA and MPAA try to keep their share value haven't wee...) instead of the way it is meant to be - a reflection of its "value" (market rates, supply demand etc) - is just plain wrong.
* sigh *
oh well, back to reality
But the friends... well... the friends.
The easiest way I found to not have to do tech support for friends was to get rid of them (the friends I mean).
(joke people, joke) :).
Apologies, I meant to say:
I know i don't bother to keep my own web page with links to freuqently used / interesting links any more. The volume of links for which I create / manage has been dropping in favour of using search engines. I'm guessing that others are doing this too.
It drives me nuts when I can't remember the search keywords I used to find a site previously (or if there has been a google dance since I last searched) - guess I need to use bookmarks more - but again, my own bookmarks aren't available for searching.
The saturation of google with online sales is annoying enough, however if my assumption (and it is an assumption that could easily be false) is true - and taking what Doctor7 and xixax pointed out - the singal to noise ratio from the commercial sites will decrease and google will starve - although I admit that this is overdramatic, and recent changes to googles algorithms have been looking at fixing this.
Cheers.
I know I don't bother with many links these days - whats the point when I can use google to search for it, the open directory to find by category (or even on the odd occaision Yahoo). Even if I am looking for something similar I don't even have to web crawl for it - you can just Show Similar to find it.
I stating the assumption that others are also doing this - and if this is so, then won't the ability of page rank and similar link "usefulness" evaluation algorithims to produce good results degrade?
Any thoughts....?
Keep Lamb Chop On Top - SETI - The Team Lamb Chop Gauntlet
Q: ...What's the special sauce?
A:The secret sauce that HP....
Anybody thinking: HP Sauce.
I wonder if the interviewer asked the question with this in mind. Sauce, (mostly) liquid, adapts to shape of container, starts to go off if unused...
Wonder if it goes well with spam.