I've got to agree. I consider myself a geek, but not a nerd.
To me, nerds are the ones with social problems. While I may some qualities of them, I don't shy away from social gatherings, I have a wife and I don't spend my days making stupid computer jokes or counting in binary.
I think the Windows Environment is whats causing the main problem here.
If you've got a lot of people moving around on a normal basis, it sounds like a call center environment. For this type of thing, its better to have (at least in my opinion) Thin Clients since a users profile stays in one place. That and you don't have to worry about each machine when something happens.
Now I didn't say switch just before the last semester... Schools are usually smart - they know when someone is coming in from a degree program that doesn't match up with theirs.
I'm a business partner for a internet security firm and, unfortunately, I see it the same way. Personally, I'm self taught from day one. BASIC and DOS knowledge helped me get my first technical job and since then, I've been moving up in the world. Now, I'm "self learning" for Cisco Certs (CNNA, etc) - although I'm doing it right - I have acquired so much equipment to help with my personal goals that when its all on, my home office sounds like a full data center. My wife only lets me use it during certain hours of the day...
The other thing that troubles me is the fact that you're studying computer forensics. This is more than studying habits of people - its where to find files on a computer, how to hack encryption, how to literally pull a drive and mount it on a clean machine, etc. I'm sorry, but I have a little bit of a problem trusting an online course for this type of stuff. Something that sounds as simple as pulling a drive and mounting it isn't as easy as it sounds. I have one machine thats so damn picky, I barely touch the hardware or make major changes to the OS, but I use it as a DB and test machine for home projects... I'd love to see someone attempt to pull that drive and make a copy of it... Wikipedia delves into the hardware argument a little more.
Hell, I want a degree in Mechanical Engineering and the most I'm THINKING about doing are my core classes and I've been researching online schools for awhile because I'm so picky about quality. The only reason I'm considering that is because of my current location - outside the US.
Sorry, DeVry may be a valid school, but its not on my personal lists. One thing you can do is transfer at some point so your degree will actually come from something better looking. When you do that though, you'll probably have to consider taking a few classes over and a lot more classes on top of what you thought was the degree program. Also, when you apply for jobs, don't be surprised if you actually get tested on the skills you say you have. I've been tested on everything from my typing speed to the ability to bring windows back from the dead. In a level 3+ technical support position, its not uncommon to be put in font of a computer and have someone say "theres your error - fix it". Something as simple as a Windows DUN error 691 sounds simple, but is it really the username/password or something else... (I just pulled that out of thin are - thats more of a level 1 question - sorry)
You got me on that one, but the MTVR looks like the older M923, just updated. As for how many updates/improvements they made, no clue. But I agree, the military will use one of their vehicles, not what crosses the finish line.
But with the info you gave out, I don't think terramax should be able to officially compete. If they want to run the course without prize capability, so be it.
Frankly, if contractors wanted to compete, they should have started these projects long ago. When I was in PA about 5-6 years back, the gov was attempting to use unmanned vehicles (I believe they where using something like the Stryker) and where having horrible success - that was common knowledge.
Well, you could technically get that vehicle as gov surplus (even though they started destroying vehicles now). Its just an altered (although new) M923/939
Honestly, I would have used an M113 APC. It has plenty of room inside for racks of equipment, enclosed space for air conditioning and air filtration, its a tracked vehicle, plenty of room on top and in front for sensors and, like all military vehicles, has (roughly) a 10 hour operating capacity (which is where the 10 hour rule came from).
As for the software and nav systems, I agree with you. Unless its something that has been released to the public for awhile, I don't think it should be in a vehicle.
Well, there is another reason too. For the less than the price Dell wants, I can build a box that out performs, looks better, has more memory and more storage AND I can get it without an OS...
I'll keep saying this until I die. You buy a computer from Dell, Compaq, (insert other company here) if you can't build your own or you're a business and need the support structure. Even the people (ok most) that have money and are lazy and don't feel like building their own have a computer shop do it for them.
I've washed and dried 2 different Panasonic SD Cards with no problems. They both still work fine and held the data with no problems - surprised the crap out of me.
Re:Its a matter of perspective
on
Pay vs. Happiness
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
The sad part is, most people (I'm guilty of it too) just roll their eyes and keep on truckin'. I wanted to be a programmer for my young adult life and now that I'm 26, I suddenly decided that I wanted to go with Mechanical Engineering with a focus on robotics. If I would have listened to the guidance counselors, the books (listing long hours, high stress, etc) and other programmers I would have saved myself a heck of a lot of time. But noooo, I knew everything in high school, just like most kids...sheesh
Sure ME shares some of the same down sides of programming, but at least I get to do what I want.
I'm so glad that, last night (literally), I convinced my wife to allow me to build 2 MythTV boxes. This was after she's stated for a year that I couldn't have any other computers...
At first, she balked at the price, but when I explained that I could actually use the computers later AND we wouldn't have to pay anything for the services AND we could use them in a lot of places around the world (we're military and in Europe right now), she gave in.
Well, that's no ordinary rabbit. That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on.
Honestly, I think the thing is a piece of trash and would never buy one. But I might go for the Bunny Sentry GunTM - That'd scare away the kids around here!
HA - I wish the military gate searches where "random" like they say... I get searched, litterally, 10 times more than my wife. The german contractors love the fact that my car isn't sold in Germany and they like to look at it. They also know (from the sound) that I've played with it a little and like to look under the hood. Her car: A toyota Carrola - mine: Saturn SC2
The fact that while I'm at work, I drive a van to haul equipment, I get searched almost everytime with that. I can partially understand that, but someone is more than likely to attempt to blend in than come in with a van.
But seriously, the best "random" search I've seen have been dogs. They don't care about my car (although they aparently like the leather), they don't care about how I look, etc...
I remember that there was a security firm that decided to basically test the governments security without actually being requested. In the long run, they where confused when the feds showed up and raided the place.
This is actually true. Most "places" that allow trademarking state that you have to use it on product or or services before you can officially trademark it. Its also stated that Trademarking doesn't give you much legal leverage...
I live in a military community in Germany and have used the "Hunt" method a lot. Right now, I currently have 2 PIII 466's running FreeBSD in my basement - both where free, just needed a few parts. 1 needed a cheap eBay power supply and the other needed a hard drive... I've networked them wirelessly through 2 floors so I don't need to worry about cabling in my buildings stairwell.
They're not the newest, but lower on the side of power consumption and since they're running FreeBSD, they don't have any load problems. Both are running different flavors of FreeBSD, different types of web related software and are about to start functioning as a small Blender render farm.
Even then you would have issues. The weather would have caused the cell phones to be scratchy at best.
Also, when I supported satellite customers for internet access, there where specific days of the year that there would be no service what so ever - nothing anyone could do about it. I don't know if voice communication has this (doubt it, but I'm not a rocket scientist yet). But after my support time with Internet Satellite access, I wouldn't touch that stuff if you gave me free service, equipment and paid me to use it.
Add in the effects of weather, lag times, etc - I honestly wouldn't consider satellite reliable for an always on, crystal clear, phone.
Unfortunately, HR depts screen most candidates... For many of the jobs I've had, HR is the first screening point. A lot of the recruiters I talk with are external screening points as well and, in my opinion, are almost as bad as HR people.
Both groups, HR and recruiters, generally know what they're looking for, but spend a lot of time looking for someone with certs after their name. They generally don't get to know the person and reall don't care much about real world experience.
With the same situation, I can generally talk to a hiring manager and get a job without a problem by explaining my past, my accomplishments, what I know (that they want) and generally, sometimes even offering a few suggestions from an outsider.
In my years, I've only been turned down for 2 jobs and both where because I was young and full of myself. I have sinced learned, through 7 months of unemployment and losing most of what I owned as well as living out of my car for a few days, that the technical world doesn't revolve around me. It was a shitty way to learn, but now I don't walk into a position thinking I'm gods gift to the company. Now, I'm humbled to even get an interview and will (mostly) bend backwards to make sure everything goes smoothly. The last job I was hired for, I interviewed 2 hours after I landed from an international flight...
Back when I did TS work, I refused Certs specifically because what I was "seeing" in the call center. It was very normal for some idiot to get on the phone and start off with "I'm an MCSE, so don't talk to me like I'm a baby. I'm having problems DNS problems because of YOUR service..." Once I heard this, I made the jargon as deep as I could and told them to Go to DUN, Edit the Connectoid and tell me their DNS. Normally I would hear a slight scream on the other end and they would go "um...how"
Now, after going through that, my GED butt made a decision not to go that route because I would figure businesses would start to get away from people like that, but I was aparently wrong.
Now, I'm a geek working on a government installation as a towel boy at the Gym while attempting to network my way into Network Support. 5 years of TS work and I can't even get a Temp help desk position because I don't have any certs. (or so they say)
Even with the Certs, its more about who you know than what you know, which is why Certs still suck. Its a nasty circle...
Das Machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und poppencorken mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren musten keepen das cotten-pickenen hands in das pockets - relaxen und watchen das blinkenlights.
The above was apparently based on the following, original version, from the early 1960s:
Alles touristen und non-technischen looken peepers! Das machinkontrol is nicht for gefengerpoken und mittengrabben. Oderwise is easy schnappen der springenverk, blowenfus, undpoppencorken mit spitzensparken. Der machine is diggen by experten only. Is nicht fur geverken by das dumpkopfen. Das rubber necken sightseenen keepen das cotton-picken hands in das pockets. So relaxen, und vatchen das blinkenlights.
And here's the phony-English version the Germans use:
This room is fullfilled mit special electronische equipment. Fingergrabbing and pressing the knoeppkes from the computers is allowed for die experts only! So all the "lefthanders" stay away and do not disturben the brainstorming von here working intelligences. Otherwise you will be outthrown and kicked anderswhere! Also: please keep still and only watchen astaunished the blinkenlights.
Of course, this warning would not be complete without the Internet version:
Das Internet is nicht fuer gefingerclickend und giffengrabben. Ist easy droppenpacket der Routers und overloaden der Backbone mit der spammen und der me-tooen. Ist nicht fuer gewerken bei die Dummkopfen. Die mausklicken Sichtseeren keepen das Bandwidth-spewen Hands in die Pockets muss; relaxen und watchen das cursorblinken.
Finally, the Palm Pilot version:
Das PalmPilot ist nicht fuer gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy scratch der Screene, zappen RAM, und droppen-smashen. Ist nicht fuer gewerken bei das Dummkopfen. Das rubber-necken Sichtseeren keep die Hands in die Pockets -- relaxen und watchen Das Blinkenlights.
There is a strong difference between.mil addresses. Personally, I have a.mil address like every military person in the world, but I'm a spouse and its easy to tell its an AKO account...
There are verification channels for all this to go through and the volunteer can just point the parent to specific documents relating to what they're doing.
The very lowest rule of OPSEC is security through obscurity. I know it was a joke, but obviously you've never been around the military.
When overseas, this rule applies to everything, including daily life in or out of your home. Personally, the idiots that walk around with an American t-shirt in a rough area deserve what they get because they don't listen to OPSEC in any way.
The best job I've ever had paid lower, but was like Google. They offered Employees all kinds of extras including stock options. Unfortunately, when the stock tanked and toilet paper was worth more than my options, things started to be labled "not fun"...
Honestly, companies like Google would be fine for me, with lower pay. Onsite gyms, doctors, sleeping areas - its all worth it.
Yea, all my pay stubs are stuck in one folder because of "your" 4 ring binder... Then again, I'm just too lazy to go out and buy one since I'm in Europe.;-)
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I've got to agree. I consider myself a geek, but not a nerd.
To me, nerds are the ones with social problems. While I may some qualities of them, I don't shy away from social gatherings, I have a wife and I don't spend my days making stupid computer jokes or counting in binary.
I think the Windows Environment is whats causing the main problem here.
If you've got a lot of people moving around on a normal basis, it sounds like a call center environment. For this type of thing, its better to have (at least in my opinion) Thin Clients since a users profile stays in one place. That and you don't have to worry about each machine when something happens.
Now I didn't say switch just before the last semester... Schools are usually smart - they know when someone is coming in from a degree program that doesn't match up with theirs.
I'm a business partner for a internet security firm and, unfortunately, I see it the same way. Personally, I'm self taught from day one. BASIC and DOS knowledge helped me get my first technical job and since then, I've been moving up in the world. Now, I'm "self learning" for Cisco Certs (CNNA, etc) - although I'm doing it right - I have acquired so much equipment to help with my personal goals that when its all on, my home office sounds like a full data center. My wife only lets me use it during certain hours of the day...
The other thing that troubles me is the fact that you're studying computer forensics. This is more than studying habits of people - its where to find files on a computer, how to hack encryption, how to literally pull a drive and mount it on a clean machine, etc. I'm sorry, but I have a little bit of a problem trusting an online course for this type of stuff. Something that sounds as simple as pulling a drive and mounting it isn't as easy as it sounds. I have one machine thats so damn picky, I barely touch the hardware or make major changes to the OS, but I use it as a DB and test machine for home projects... I'd love to see someone attempt to pull that drive and make a copy of it... Wikipedia delves into the hardware argument a little more.
Hell, I want a degree in Mechanical Engineering and the most I'm THINKING about doing are my core classes and I've been researching online schools for awhile because I'm so picky about quality. The only reason I'm considering that is because of my current location - outside the US.
Sorry, DeVry may be a valid school, but its not on my personal lists. One thing you can do is transfer at some point so your degree will actually come from something better looking. When you do that though, you'll probably have to consider taking a few classes over and a lot more classes on top of what you thought was the degree program. Also, when you apply for jobs, don't be surprised if you actually get tested on the skills you say you have. I've been tested on everything from my typing speed to the ability to bring windows back from the dead. In a level 3+ technical support position, its not uncommon to be put in font of a computer and have someone say "theres your error - fix it". Something as simple as a Windows DUN error 691 sounds simple, but is it really the username/password or something else... (I just pulled that out of thin are - thats more of a level 1 question - sorry)
You got me on that one, but the MTVR looks like the older M923, just updated. As for how many updates/improvements they made, no clue. But I agree, the military will use one of their vehicles, not what crosses the finish line.
But with the info you gave out, I don't think terramax should be able to officially compete. If they want to run the course without prize capability, so be it.
Frankly, if contractors wanted to compete, they should have started these projects long ago. When I was in PA about 5-6 years back, the gov was attempting to use unmanned vehicles (I believe they where using something like the Stryker) and where having horrible success - that was common knowledge.
Well, you could technically get that vehicle as gov surplus (even though they started destroying vehicles now). Its just an altered (although new) M923/939
Honestly, I would have used an M113 APC. It has plenty of room inside for racks of equipment, enclosed space for air conditioning and air filtration, its a tracked vehicle, plenty of room on top and in front for sensors and, like all military vehicles, has (roughly) a 10 hour operating capacity (which is where the 10 hour rule came from).
As for the software and nav systems, I agree with you. Unless its something that has been released to the public for awhile, I don't think it should be in a vehicle.
Well, there is another reason too. For the less than the price Dell wants, I can build a box that out performs, looks better, has more memory and more storage AND I can get it without an OS...
I'll keep saying this until I die. You buy a computer from Dell, Compaq, (insert other company here) if you can't build your own or you're a business and need the support structure. Even the people (ok most) that have money and are lazy and don't feel like building their own have a computer shop do it for them.
I've washed and dried 2 different Panasonic SD Cards with no problems. They both still work fine and held the data with no problems - surprised the crap out of me.
The sad part is, most people (I'm guilty of it too) just roll their eyes and keep on truckin'. I wanted to be a programmer for my young adult life and now that I'm 26, I suddenly decided that I wanted to go with Mechanical Engineering with a focus on robotics. If I would have listened to the guidance counselors, the books (listing long hours, high stress, etc) and other programmers I would have saved myself a heck of a lot of time. But noooo, I knew everything in high school, just like most kids...sheesh
Sure ME shares some of the same down sides of programming, but at least I get to do what I want.
I'm so glad that, last night (literally), I convinced my wife to allow me to build 2 MythTV boxes. This was after she's stated for a year that I couldn't have any other computers...
At first, she balked at the price, but when I explained that I could actually use the computers later AND we wouldn't have to pay anything for the services AND we could use them in a lot of places around the world (we're military and in Europe right now), she gave in.
And here I thought I was the only one that spouted off Monty Python for this thread...
Well, that's no ordinary rabbit. That's the most foul,
cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on.
Honestly, I think the thing is a piece of trash and would never buy one. But I might go for the Bunny Sentry GunTM - That'd scare away the kids around here!
HA - I wish the military gate searches where "random" like they say... I get searched, litterally, 10 times more than my wife. The german contractors love the fact that my car isn't sold in Germany and they like to look at it. They also know (from the sound) that I've played with it a little and like to look under the hood. Her car: A toyota Carrola - mine: Saturn SC2
The fact that while I'm at work, I drive a van to haul equipment, I get searched almost everytime with that. I can partially understand that, but someone is more than likely to attempt to blend in than come in with a van.
But seriously, the best "random" search I've seen have been dogs. They don't care about my car (although they aparently like the leather), they don't care about how I look, etc...
I remember that there was a security firm that decided to basically test the governments security without actually being requested. In the long run, they where confused when the feds showed up and raided the place.
This is actually true. Most "places" that allow trademarking state that you have to use it on product or or services before you can officially trademark it. Its also stated that Trademarking doesn't give you much legal leverage...
I live in a military community in Germany and have used the "Hunt" method a lot. Right now, I currently have 2 PIII 466's running FreeBSD in my basement - both where free, just needed a few parts. 1 needed a cheap eBay power supply and the other needed a hard drive... I've networked them wirelessly through 2 floors so I don't need to worry about cabling in my buildings stairwell.
They're not the newest, but lower on the side of power consumption and since they're running FreeBSD, they don't have any load problems. Both are running different flavors of FreeBSD, different types of web related software and are about to start functioning as a small Blender render farm.
Even then you would have issues. The weather would have caused the cell phones to be scratchy at best.
Also, when I supported satellite customers for internet access, there where specific days of the year that there would be no service what so ever - nothing anyone could do about it. I don't know if voice communication has this (doubt it, but I'm not a rocket scientist yet). But after my support time with Internet Satellite access, I wouldn't touch that stuff if you gave me free service, equipment and paid me to use it.
Add in the effects of weather, lag times, etc - I honestly wouldn't consider satellite reliable for an always on, crystal clear, phone.
Unfortunately, HR depts screen most candidates... For many of the jobs I've had, HR is the first screening point. A lot of the recruiters I talk with are external screening points as well and, in my opinion, are almost as bad as HR people.
Both groups, HR and recruiters, generally know what they're looking for, but spend a lot of time looking for someone with certs after their name. They generally don't get to know the person and reall don't care much about real world experience.
With the same situation, I can generally talk to a hiring manager and get a job without a problem by explaining my past, my accomplishments, what I know (that they want) and generally, sometimes even offering a few suggestions from an outsider.
In my years, I've only been turned down for 2 jobs and both where because I was young and full of myself. I have sinced learned, through 7 months of unemployment and losing most of what I owned as well as living out of my car for a few days, that the technical world doesn't revolve around me. It was a shitty way to learn, but now I don't walk into a position thinking I'm gods gift to the company. Now, I'm humbled to even get an interview and will (mostly) bend backwards to make sure everything goes smoothly. The last job I was hired for, I interviewed 2 hours after I landed from an international flight...
Back when I did TS work, I refused Certs specifically because what I was "seeing" in the call center. It was very normal for some idiot to get on the phone and start off with "I'm an MCSE, so don't talk to me like I'm a baby. I'm having problems DNS problems because of YOUR service..." Once I heard this, I made the jargon as deep as I could and told them to Go to DUN, Edit the Connectoid and tell me their DNS. Normally I would hear a slight scream on the other end and they would go "um...how"
Now, after going through that, my GED butt made a decision not to go that route because I would figure businesses would start to get away from people like that, but I was aparently wrong.
Now, I'm a geek working on a government installation as a towel boy at the Gym while attempting to network my way into Network Support. 5 years of TS work and I can't even get a Temp help desk position because I don't have any certs. (or so they say)
Even with the Certs, its more about who you know than what you know, which is why Certs still suck. Its a nasty circle...
Good lord, if I only had mod points.
ACHTUNG - ALLES LOOKENPEEPERS
Das Machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und poppencorken mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren musten keepen das cotten-pickenen hands in das pockets - relaxen und watchen das blinkenlights.
The above was apparently based on the following, original version, from the early 1960s:
Alles touristen und non-technischen looken peepers! Das machinkontrol is nicht for gefengerpoken und mittengrabben. Oderwise is easy schnappen der springenverk, blowenfus, undpoppencorken mit spitzensparken. Der machine is diggen by experten only. Is nicht fur geverken by das dumpkopfen. Das rubber necken sightseenen keepen das cotton-picken hands in das pockets. So relaxen, und vatchen das blinkenlights.
And here's the phony-English version the Germans use:
This room is fullfilled mit special electronische equipment. Fingergrabbing and pressing the knoeppkes from the computers is allowed for die experts only! So all the "lefthanders" stay away and do not disturben the brainstorming von here working intelligences. Otherwise you will be outthrown and kicked anderswhere! Also: please keep still and only watchen astaunished the blinkenlights.
Of course, this warning would not be complete without the Internet version:
Das Internet is nicht fuer gefingerclickend und giffengrabben. Ist easy droppenpacket der Routers und overloaden der Backbone mit der spammen und der me-tooen. Ist nicht fuer gewerken bei die Dummkopfen. Die mausklicken Sichtseeren keepen das Bandwidth-spewen Hands in die Pockets muss; relaxen und watchen das cursorblinken.
Finally, the Palm Pilot version:
Das PalmPilot ist nicht fuer gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy scratch der Screene, zappen RAM, und droppen-smashen. Ist nicht fuer gewerken bei das Dummkopfen. Das rubber-necken Sichtseeren keep die Hands in die Pockets -- relaxen und watchen Das Blinkenlights.
There is a strong difference between .mil addresses. Personally, I have a .mil address like every military person in the world, but I'm a spouse and its easy to tell its an AKO account...
There are verification channels for all this to go through and the volunteer can just point the parent to specific documents relating to what they're doing.
There are ways - there are many ways.
The very lowest rule of OPSEC is security through obscurity. I know it was a joke, but obviously you've never been around the military.
When overseas, this rule applies to everything, including daily life in or out of your home. Personally, the idiots that walk around with an American t-shirt in a rough area deserve what they get because they don't listen to OPSEC in any way.
The best job I've ever had paid lower, but was like Google. They offered Employees all kinds of extras including stock options. Unfortunately, when the stock tanked and toilet paper was worth more than my options, things started to be labled "not fun"...
Honestly, companies like Google would be fine for me, with lower pay. Onsite gyms, doctors, sleeping areas - its all worth it.
I don't even think there is a MB manufacturer that ships with the CPUID turned on anymore...
Yea, all my pay stubs are stuck in one folder because of "your" 4 ring binder... Then again, I'm just too lazy to go out and buy one since I'm in Europe. ;-)