Its mainly due to budget issues and the community that wrote congress and requested that they look into OSS. Oregon is, unfortunately, heading the way of California.
I'd kill for 1 extra outlet right now - seriously...
In government housing overseas, you're stuck with 2 220 outlets and 1 110 in each room. I'm currently running my office with 4 computers, 1 router plus all my gadgets off 1 110 outlet (as in 1 plug, not the standard 2) and 3 power strips.
I can agree with this point. I'm helping start up a small business and we needed some software custom made since its barely out there (but still not what we needed.)
Right from the beginning, we decided that if we made this software OpenSource and just put our name on it, not only would it help businesses as a whole, but free advertising always helps us.
References to the company are in the code, on the website, our logo is on the website, etc... Its basically like IBM releasing something - you know they made it, but you can use it for free.
I'm not fighting either, but I really do understand what you're saying.
I agree that this issue isn't anything to do with your end. This issue was always explained as a header issue to me. (and I was tier 3) If you've found another bug, good for you (sorry too)... If they've played with the software, which I can REALLY see them doing, I could see this being an issue. Long story short, without knowing their systems anymore, I can only offer you the, now old, information I had while working there. The problem you are describing was *always* a header issue while I was working there. Somethings changed.
And I understand the tunnel vision training - all the newer techs had it. I started before we offered DSL and actually got to understand how the systems worked. While now they will hardly ever have someone walk out to their NID - it was normal for the properly trained people to do it within minutes of a bad problem. Although I will admit being part of the tunnel vision group of "upgrade your modem drivers, thats why you're not getting 56k..."
I honestly hated my job after ELNK took over because every single call/email usualy started out with "I'm sorry for..." Now, I'm just some poor soul stuck in Europe;-)
Thanks for the morning laugh. Made me feel like I was back in Electronic Support answering an email. At least you replied nicer than I would have...
The headers being corrupted are actually caused by 2 sitautions.
The first is easy - A spammer buys or hacks together a program that kills certain headers. This naturally causes problems for anyone attempting to download the message, on any mail server. Normally when one of these came about, we could recognize the message and support could pull it out of a users mailbox within minutes of someone complaining about a mail problem (Done on a case by case basis). In extreme situations, like when ELNK would send out this type of stuff, it was done automagically by us and a new message was placed in its spot (just like it was never deleted). Now, the funny part is, Eudora and other mail clients can still grab this crap - OE can't... Thats why I said it was OE - I didn't even mention all the security issues of using it, but if you're here, thats enough. I recently switched my family over to Thunderbird because the default layout is similar to OE.
The second reason is ELNK's mail server. I betchya ELNK's own outsources don't even know about this one... The reason: they use MindSpring's mail server which was a custom created solution... It was a customized open source package fit to their server environment. (They have/had the largest DEC Alpha Array in the country. If they found a bug, Compaq would write a custom patch for them.) Before the Netcom D situation, they had never lost a single piece of mail. (and Netcom D wasn't even their fault) While its very good software, it does cough once in awhile.
Now, next time you call, they won't admit it, look into or anything, but now you know.
Long story short, buy a domain name and setup your own mail solution for your family. I did this years ago and now when there is a problem, I know about it, I fix it and I apologize for my own mistakes... ELNK offers mail forwarding (again, something they don't normally advertise) for anyone that is moving mailboxes - set this up for awhile after moving the address and just have them tell anyone that sends through the ELNK address. If you don't like this route, use mail2web.com to kill the offending message since it just fetches the subjects first. Oh yea, if you threaten to cancel, they should offer "you" a free month too...
God, its so nice being able to tell both sides of a 3 headed monster... Don't even get me started on their customer database(s)... But, enough for now, I don't need to get one of those nasty letters in the mail from ELNK.
Yea, this was a standard problem with Outlook/Express. Normally the headers are corrupted. Oddly enough, Earthlink would occasionally send out a corrupted message that would stop up even their own mail client... Only thing we could do is offer webmail to clean out the offending message or tell them to use another client.
Our worst mail issue was the Netcom D fiasco - I won't even go there...
MindSpring started outsourcing but fired several places due to quality issues. Once the the merger was inked, everyone and their brother got company cell phones and pagers and they seriously started looking for outsourcers.
In the long run, after working for both MindSpring and Earthlink for awhile, I'm glad the MindSpring name is gone. Earthlink ended up ruining their own name and not the MindSpring name.
The main problem is that the government uses IE on almost every single computer on their network. You're lucky to get other types of browsers anywhere in the gov. On top of that, you're even luckier to get your home computer to connect to something that is even half important to anything...
They get discounts on MSFT products, therefor use IE specific development programs (IE: Word/Frontpage).
Now, on the other side of things, I have started seeing a move in GS postings towards Handwritting code and using non-Frontpage programs like Dreamweaver.
I did it once because I didn't fully plug my laptop all the way into a docking station and the link failed even though my laptop was 1 foot from the router. Luckily I was able to plug the laptop into the dock and redo the upgrade and it worked without bricking.
My problem is there are 5 other idiots in my (government) stairwell, all using wireless. No matter which channel I pick, one of them has to "explore" the wifi spectrum to see if they get better throughput and signal. (In fact, the neighbor on the other side of the wall from me is giving me a 62% signal from his unsecured network on the channel that had no interference 2 weeks ago - arg!) And every one of them is unsecured. Because of this, I have to use 2 wireless G routers with after market firmware and a 9db antenna (2 floors down) in order to get my network to talk to my freeBSD boxes downstairs. Without the antenna, I could get the system to work for about 3 minutes before it would fade out. Now, with the power output I've bumped the routers up to and the antenna, I'm technically violating a European law. Oddly enough, with the setup I've got, I should be able to provide connectivity to half the neighborhood I live in... It sucks, but when you're a programmer surrounded by wannabe geeks, you have to take extreme measures.
Moral of the story - no matter how smart you think you are, there is always someone dumb enough to ruin it for you.
I've owned my own domain since I started working for MindSpring, who later merged with Earthlink. When I get a new ISP, I don't even setup their email account - I just use their SMTP...
As for ELNK surviving this - its a shame. To see such a horrible company that screwed so many of their employees in the past go out of business would be a major payback... I hope you realize that 98% of support and service (doesn't matter which dept) is outsourced in India or Korea...
Bad, because I was about to get into the ISP business... Good, because it puts a company that I was downsized from out of business - Earthlink.... I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
But in the end, I see this being tied up in court for years to come.
Due to the military, I went to about a dozen schools (military and civilian) and not 1 of them had anything remotely close to this. The most I ever saw was an automotive class or an after/before school choir...
Kids have everything these days. I still wonder through the toy store drooling at some of the toys kids have the option of getting, not to mention watching the little things run around calling their moms names without getting beat like I did. BLAH!
I use to work with Earthlink and even though people would purchase a "static" address, it was still technically not a true static address. If you're purchasing the address from an ISP, thats why you're having problems. If you read the contract, they can technically change the address anytime they wish. Earthlink would usually rotate about every 4-6 months.
Re:I argued about increased business and royalty
on
The Case for Free WiFi?
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· Score: 4, Interesting
I seem to remember there being some software that would cause the POS and router to interact so that it would allow you to connect when you purchased something. Basically, you buy something and your free password to the system is on the receipt. After X amount of time, it will disconnect you, causing you to buy something else. Using this, you could basically keep your product rates the same and watch your average person either clear out when their time is up, freeing up space - or cause them to run over and buy something else real quick. The military (ok, MWR) is currently using the same type of sessions on their computer equipment for soldiers to use, most places you get a half hour to an hour and you're done unless someone ups the time for you.
I know this technically goes against the "free" part of it all, but it is a way for the system to work and free up the tables of people nursing one drink every 3-4 hours. It would also keep others on the outside of the shop from leeching on the connection as well.
I currently have 2 machines around me, about to add a third. My wife, yea, she hates it because it has "that little devil thingy on the screen all the time..." No matter how many times I've explained it, she says the same thing - it looks like the devil... Some people just don't get it.
Somehow I knew that this was going to turn into an "I want it!" free for all...
I have to admit, the box is bigger than anything I currently have, but then again, I'm willing to put up with more than most people. On the other side of things, my wife won't let me get another box until atleast 1 is gone (5 computers and growing).
What she doens't know is that all the small boxes being shipped to me from the states to "upgrade" my main box are the workings to secretly make a newer, faster, better computer... MUHAHAHA
Back before identity theft got popular, I was starting a business and stumbled across an incorp site that was obviously made out of FrontPage... Since I worked with FP at the time, I knew that it could empower the idiot masses, so I viewed the code. Low and behold, it was storing the form to the site. This form had everything you needed to take over someones life - Their name, business name, 2 addresses, CC info, shareholder info with their SSN's, cc info - everything.
I emailed the site owner and even gave my phone number so they could call if they wanted to - stupid me... The lawyer called his local police, said that I broke into his website and was stealing his business (not the idents mind you) and he had my phone number and he wanted to press charges.
Luckily, my local, somewhat competent, police dept got a faxed copy of the email and just called me up and told me what he was attempting to do. They politely told me that they'd take care of it, but don't contact the guy again.
I was flagged in Verizons customer database. Flag stated that I was rude, cursed a lot and actually knew what I was talking about... Aparently the new supervisor I chewed up and spit out after a week long DSL outage didn't like me.
Oddly enough, I found this out when I worked for them as a contractor a year after I closed my account - they keep their customer records for far too long.
I'd rather eat my own poop rather than do business with them. - thanks for the laugh...
Random is just that, random. You could have been a little old lady and they would have gotten you. I've flown at least 6 times since 9/11 and I've taken off my shoes and had my laptop(s) powered up before I even get over to screening booth. If you're lazy and arrogant enough to think that being a soldier is going to get you a free ride through security, you deserved getting screened. Personally, I could see terrorists using the BDU's or ACU's (whichever you're wearing at the moment) as a sign of trust.
Basically, you're whole argument says that every time I go on a base here in Germany, I should be trusted because I have a military ID card, military tags on my car and I'm American? Boy, you're pretty damn smart... Just like you, I can cause all kinds of problems on base, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't get searched. I get searched at least once a week now.
Oh, and I'd be careful about talking about the ability to kill people downrange. Command is pretty ass-tight about people talking about Fragging and you should know how the government is about taking things out of context. These kind of bone-headed comments and opinions actually make me think you really aren't a soldier. If you are, you're pretty damn stupid.
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I'd rip and reinstall Adobe, but if that doesn't help - FireFox has a PDF extension that will popup every time you click on one. PDF Extension Details
It honestly amazes me that people can hold the manufacturers of guns liable for the actions of what people do.
Thats exactly like saying my wife is going to sue Dell because I used one of their computers to write some nasty virus... (just an example folks)
Anyway, we're off topic as it is...
How come I couldn't find you guys on Slashdot a year and a half ago when I was trying to get into the TS group for the state...grrr...
Oh well, now I'm in Germany doing GS work.
Epson, Nike, etc are there too...
Its mainly due to budget issues and the community that wrote congress and requested that they look into OSS. Oregon is, unfortunately, heading the way of California.
I'd kill for 1 extra outlet right now - seriously...
In government housing overseas, you're stuck with 2 220 outlets and 1 110 in each room. I'm currently running my office with 4 computers, 1 router plus all my gadgets off 1 110 outlet (as in 1 plug, not the standard 2) and 3 power strips.
I'm a safety commercial waiting to happen...
I can agree with this point. I'm helping start up a small business and we needed some software custom made since its barely out there (but still not what we needed.)
Right from the beginning, we decided that if we made this software OpenSource and just put our name on it, not only would it help businesses as a whole, but free advertising always helps us.
References to the company are in the code, on the website, our logo is on the website, etc... Its basically like IBM releasing something - you know they made it, but you can use it for free.
I'm not fighting either, but I really do understand what you're saying.
;-)
I agree that this issue isn't anything to do with your end. This issue was always explained as a header issue to me. (and I was tier 3) If you've found another bug, good for you (sorry too)... If they've played with the software, which I can REALLY see them doing, I could see this being an issue. Long story short, without knowing their systems anymore, I can only offer you the, now old, information I had while working there. The problem you are describing was *always* a header issue while I was working there. Somethings changed.
And I understand the tunnel vision training - all the newer techs had it. I started before we offered DSL and actually got to understand how the systems worked. While now they will hardly ever have someone walk out to their NID - it was normal for the properly trained people to do it within minutes of a bad problem. Although I will admit being part of the tunnel vision group of "upgrade your modem drivers, thats why you're not getting 56k..."
I honestly hated my job after ELNK took over because every single call/email usualy started out with "I'm sorry for..." Now, I'm just some poor soul stuck in Europe
Thanks for the morning laugh. Made me feel like I was back in Electronic Support answering an email. At least you replied nicer than I would have...
The headers being corrupted are actually caused by 2 sitautions.
The first is easy - A spammer buys or hacks together a program that kills certain headers. This naturally causes problems for anyone attempting to download the message, on any mail server. Normally when one of these came about, we could recognize the message and support could pull it out of a users mailbox within minutes of someone complaining about a mail problem (Done on a case by case basis). In extreme situations, like when ELNK would send out this type of stuff, it was done automagically by us and a new message was placed in its spot (just like it was never deleted). Now, the funny part is, Eudora and other mail clients can still grab this crap - OE can't... Thats why I said it was OE - I didn't even mention all the security issues of using it, but if you're here, thats enough. I recently switched my family over to Thunderbird because the default layout is similar to OE.
The second reason is ELNK's mail server. I betchya ELNK's own outsources don't even know about this one... The reason: they use MindSpring's mail server which was a custom created solution... It was a customized open source package fit to their server environment. (They have/had the largest DEC Alpha Array in the country. If they found a bug, Compaq would write a custom patch for them.) Before the Netcom D situation, they had never lost a single piece of mail. (and Netcom D wasn't even their fault) While its very good software, it does cough once in awhile.
Now, next time you call, they won't admit it, look into or anything, but now you know.
Long story short, buy a domain name and setup your own mail solution for your family. I did this years ago and now when there is a problem, I know about it, I fix it and I apologize for my own mistakes... ELNK offers mail forwarding (again, something they don't normally advertise) for anyone that is moving mailboxes - set this up for awhile after moving the address and just have them tell anyone that sends through the ELNK address. If you don't like this route, use mail2web.com to kill the offending message since it just fetches the subjects first. Oh yea, if you threaten to cancel, they should offer "you" a free month too...
God, its so nice being able to tell both sides of a 3 headed monster... Don't even get me started on their customer database(s)... But, enough for now, I don't need to get one of those nasty letters in the mail from ELNK.
Yea, this was a standard problem with Outlook/Express. Normally the headers are corrupted. Oddly enough, Earthlink would occasionally send out a corrupted message that would stop up even their own mail client... Only thing we could do is offer webmail to clean out the offending message or tell them to use another client.
Our worst mail issue was the Netcom D fiasco - I won't even go there...
MindSpring started outsourcing but fired several places due to quality issues. Once the the merger was inked, everyone and their brother got company cell phones and pagers and they seriously started looking for outsourcers.
In the long run, after working for both MindSpring and Earthlink for awhile, I'm glad the MindSpring name is gone. Earthlink ended up ruining their own name and not the MindSpring name.
The main problem is that the government uses IE on almost every single computer on their network. You're lucky to get other types of browsers anywhere in the gov. On top of that, you're even luckier to get your home computer to connect to something that is even half important to anything...
They get discounts on MSFT products, therefor use IE specific development programs (IE: Word/Frontpage).
Now, on the other side of things, I have started seeing a move in GS postings towards Handwritting code and using non-Frontpage programs like Dreamweaver.
I've gotta agree with this...
I did it once because I didn't fully plug my laptop all the way into a docking station and the link failed even though my laptop was 1 foot from the router. Luckily I was able to plug the laptop into the dock and redo the upgrade and it worked without bricking.
My problem is there are 5 other idiots in my (government) stairwell, all using wireless. No matter which channel I pick, one of them has to "explore" the wifi spectrum to see if they get better throughput and signal. (In fact, the neighbor on the other side of the wall from me is giving me a 62% signal from his unsecured network on the channel that had no interference 2 weeks ago - arg!) And every one of them is unsecured. Because of this, I have to use 2 wireless G routers with after market firmware and a 9db antenna (2 floors down) in order to get my network to talk to my freeBSD boxes downstairs. Without the antenna, I could get the system to work for about 3 minutes before it would fade out. Now, with the power output I've bumped the routers up to and the antenna, I'm technically violating a European law. Oddly enough, with the setup I've got, I should be able to provide connectivity to half the neighborhood I live in... It sucks, but when you're a programmer surrounded by wannabe geeks, you have to take extreme measures.
Moral of the story - no matter how smart you think you are, there is always someone dumb enough to ruin it for you.
I've owned my own domain since I started working for MindSpring, who later merged with Earthlink. When I get a new ISP, I don't even setup their email account - I just use their SMTP...
As for ELNK surviving this - its a shame. To see such a horrible company that screwed so many of their employees in the past go out of business would be a major payback... I hope you realize that 98% of support and service (doesn't matter which dept) is outsourced in India or Korea...
Honestly, I see this as good and bad.
Bad, because I was about to get into the ISP business... Good, because it puts a company that I was downsized from out of business - Earthlink.... I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
But in the end, I see this being tied up in court for years to come.
According to the FCC's news release, you have 1 year of grandfathering left before they can cut your service... Yeha...
Due to the military, I went to about a dozen schools (military and civilian) and not 1 of them had anything remotely close to this. The most I ever saw was an automotive class or an after/before school choir...
Kids have everything these days. I still wonder through the toy store drooling at some of the toys kids have the option of getting, not to mention watching the little things run around calling their moms names without getting beat like I did. BLAH!
I found a telecommuting job where I thought I could lie and get away with it... Sure its not programming, but its telecommuting: http://portland.craigslist.org/ret/86698211.html
See, most see this and complain there are too many languages and that its too hard to maintain. I see this as job security....
Exactly what I was thinking.
I use to work with Earthlink and even though people would purchase a "static" address, it was still technically not a true static address. If you're purchasing the address from an ISP, thats why you're having problems. If you read the contract, they can technically change the address anytime they wish. Earthlink would usually rotate about every 4-6 months.
I seem to remember there being some software that would cause the POS and router to interact so that it would allow you to connect when you purchased something. Basically, you buy something and your free password to the system is on the receipt. After X amount of time, it will disconnect you, causing you to buy something else. Using this, you could basically keep your product rates the same and watch your average person either clear out when their time is up, freeing up space - or cause them to run over and buy something else real quick. The military (ok, MWR) is currently using the same type of sessions on their computer equipment for soldiers to use, most places you get a half hour to an hour and you're done unless someone ups the time for you.
I know this technically goes against the "free" part of it all, but it is a way for the system to work and free up the tables of people nursing one drink every 3-4 hours. It would also keep others on the outside of the shop from leeching on the connection as well.
You're Lucky...
I currently have 2 machines around me, about to add a third. My wife, yea, she hates it because it has "that little devil thingy on the screen all the time..." No matter how many times I've explained it, she says the same thing - it looks like the devil... Some people just don't get it.
Somehow I knew that this was going to turn into an "I want it!" free for all...
I have to admit, the box is bigger than anything I currently have, but then again, I'm willing to put up with more than most people. On the other side of things, my wife won't let me get another box until atleast 1 is gone (5 computers and growing).
What she doens't know is that all the small boxes being shipped to me from the states to "upgrade" my main box are the workings to secretly make a newer, faster, better computer... MUHAHAHA
Back before identity theft got popular, I was starting a business and stumbled across an incorp site that was obviously made out of FrontPage... Since I worked with FP at the time, I knew that it could empower the idiot masses, so I viewed the code. Low and behold, it was storing the form to the site. This form had everything you needed to take over someones life - Their name, business name, 2 addresses, CC info, shareholder info with their SSN's, cc info - everything.
I emailed the site owner and even gave my phone number so they could call if they wanted to - stupid me... The lawyer called his local police, said that I broke into his website and was stealing his business (not the idents mind you) and he had my phone number and he wanted to press charges.
Luckily, my local, somewhat competent, police dept got a faxed copy of the email and just called me up and told me what he was attempting to do. They politely told me that they'd take care of it, but don't contact the guy again.
Sadly, I completely understand...
I was flagged in Verizons customer database. Flag stated that I was rude, cursed a lot and actually knew what I was talking about... Aparently the new supervisor I chewed up and spit out after a week long DSL outage didn't like me.
Oddly enough, I found this out when I worked for them as a contractor a year after I closed my account - they keep their customer records for far too long.
I'd rather eat my own poop rather than do business with them. - thanks for the laugh...
I've never heard of it either...
;-) Oddly enough, its even pulling up the screenshots as well.
BTW, archive.org pulls it up fine
Random is just that, random. You could have been a little old lady and they would have gotten you. I've flown at least 6 times since 9/11 and I've taken off my shoes and had my laptop(s) powered up before I even get over to screening booth. If you're lazy and arrogant enough to think that being a soldier is going to get you a free ride through security, you deserved getting screened. Personally, I could see terrorists using the BDU's or ACU's (whichever you're wearing at the moment) as a sign of trust.
Basically, you're whole argument says that every time I go on a base here in Germany, I should be trusted because I have a military ID card, military tags on my car and I'm American? Boy, you're pretty damn smart... Just like you, I can cause all kinds of problems on base, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't get searched. I get searched at least once a week now.
Oh, and I'd be careful about talking about the ability to kill people downrange. Command is pretty ass-tight about people talking about Fragging and you should know how the government is about taking things out of context. These kind of bone-headed comments and opinions actually make me think you really aren't a soldier. If you are, you're pretty damn stupid.