I've gone through 3 sets of management recently. All of them "manage by magazine" because they didn't know much of anything. All have wanted to be 100% Microsoft. No legacy, no Linux, no Solaris, just Windows. Why? Because it is what they read about. These dorks have wasted a couple of million dollars (and we're a smallish shop) on Microsoft shit. The current management at least has some background in multiple systems. Of course, we're still going towards 100% Microsoft. But with any luck, either (1) we will be able to retreat when the bovine excrement impacts the air moving device or (2) Windows may become reliable in our environment. I know some have said that they have a reliable Windows environment. We do not.
I used to feel as you do. And I still agree with you, in principle. But after 30 years of working in IT, and watching it be taken over by either "management" who are "empire builders" or only looking for advancement and "programmers" who just want a pay check, I've "burned out". At least at work. As I have time, I still write little utilities for myself at home for my own amusement and learning. I tried to work on a "large utility", but found so little time after cleaning up the shit programmed by others that I've given up on that as well. Perhaps my cronic illnesses have something to do with my attitude as well.
Wishing everybody joy and happiness in their chosen profession. I used to have it.
I use Pine on Linux. Simple, easy for me to use, and it doesn't do a thing unless I tell it to. People who let their computers run their lives get what they deserve.
This is where we sometimes get into trouble. The "top men" always demand to have the "best and brightest" software. But then they don't bother to save in old formats. So they distribute memos in MS Word to subordinates. Who cannot read them unless their software is upgraded. They, in turn, send memos to their subordinates and so on. So, fairly quickly, the entire company must be upgraded.
All because not very computer literate, but powerful, people don't want other, outside, managers "sneering" at them for being "behind the curve" on software.
I'm in the same boat as you. I started with Redhat before Fedora. I bought 2 or 3 successive releases simply because I could afford to and wanted to help support Linux. When Redhat went to ES or Fedora, I went to SUSE. And did the same, bought 9.3, 10.0, and 10.1 for the boxed version because I thought it was worth it. Now SUSE is dropping the "home user" as well. I may go with OpenSUSE. Or maybe not. I don't really like downloading an entire distro. My internet connection is too slow.
Religious believe should not necessarily be incompatable with being scientific-minded. Remember that science cannot explain everything. It is just a methodology for specific purposes. Unless, like many I know, you make science your religion.
With Linux, this should not be necessary. I have two "user" accounts. One is for everything other than Web surfing. The other is for the Web. Even there there is some Linux-malware the likelyhood of it being able to do anything other than wiping out my "throw away" Web user's files is very small.
I've seen this problem here (I'm in IT). A really smart Actuarial creates a very good, effective spreadsheet. It becomes both production and "mission critical" to them. The Actuarial leaves. Oh, did I mention that there is nothing documented? And the person is a Ph.D using calculations that are not understandable to mortal man (or even a woman!). Who supports this? Especially when it breaks because desktop support rolls out the next version of Excel. Screams abound!
And I giggle because I'm a dino running on old, obsolete mainframe technology where the end user can't just slap something together and put it into production.
At least, that's what I'd expect around here. We do support emails to our cell phones here. Curiously, I get bitched out if I don't respond quickly. However, the cellular carrier does not guarantee speedy delivery. I've gotten a "sev 1" page on my phone up to 10 minutes AFTER I've already fixed the problem and closed out the ticket. And I get "dinged" for making somebody call me at home because I did not respond to the email which I did not receive.
I have three desktop systems and one laptop.
Athlon64 3800+ - SuSE 9.3
Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz - SuSE 9.3
Pentium 3 1.0 Ghz - Windows 2000
Thinkpad 1.5 Ghz Celeron - dual boot Windows XP home (came with the thing) and SuSE 9.3
I rarely use the Windows/P3 any more. I keep it around mainly for Quicken because I'm too lazy and cheap to buy Crossover Office to run it on my SuSE system.
SuSE Linux does everything that __I__ want to do. Which, I will grant, is not all that much.
We have about 5 or 6 Unisys ES7000 systems (I don't work on them). I like them! They are nice and toasty warm in the Data Center. I stand behind them when I must go in there and I get too cold! I can warm up quickly. Much better as a space heater than the IBM zSeries (z/890) that I work on. It doesn't warm my hands AT ALL! So, it is obviously inferior (that's why we plan to eliminate the system that runs 90% of our core business.)
That's why I'm working on a USB connected granite chiseling machine. Hey, it worked for the ancient Egyptians! Of course, I will need some sort of "master slab" with multilingual messages so that the future can decode the language. My own rosetta stone.
I guess that I'm just really weird. I'm just a couple of months short of 53. I like MP3s. Well, I actually use the unencumbered OggVorbis encoding. I loved it when CDs came out. I like DVDs much more video tape (I even have an old, still working, LaserDisc system - remember them?). I even liked Windows when it first came out, well Windows 3.1 up to Win98. But I am now a Linux bigot. The only old tech that I still have is my CRTs. I just don't really care for LCD, DLP, or Plasma yet. Perhaps because I'm cheap.
This is true and interesting. I wonder how viable it would be for somebody to write a "chroot()'ed" brower? Or a browser which executes most of its code as "nobody", only using the actual user's authority for things such as saving files, cookies, etc. That is, only running as the user when the user directs it to specifically.
Oh well, likely just a stupid idea from a stupid person.
Barf, get the URL and download the junk wholesale using wget! No cache, no nothing. You can grab an entire frigging web site with that cute little tool!
Our state-of-the-art LAN people are learning why they should have learned the history of the mainframe. They are making the same mistakes that we made and solved decades ago. But they don't want to even say that the mainframe could have valid CONCEPTS, much less be in any way superior to their ways.
Just as an aside. Many years ago, I bought, uh licensed, the Microsoft BASIC compiler for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I. As I recall, the license specifically stated:
1) only I could use the compiler. Nobody else could use it, even on my computer.
2) I could only use the compiler on the machine on which it was initially installed. If I replaced the computer for any reason (such as repair), I had to buy another copy of the compiler!
Not entirely true. It has been shown that identical twin's DNA actually starts to diverge as they age. When first born, the DNA is identical. As they get older, experiencing different environments, eating different foods, the DNA actually is, slightly, different.
Now, this could possibly mean that a DNA-DRM'ed material that you bought when you were 15 would reject you when you are 50. Well, if you really still wanted whatever was DRM'ed and still had something that could be used to access it.
So, how do I "copy" my DRM'ed MP3 file that I bought to the newest technology? If the RIAA has its way, you'd be forced to buy the new DRM'ed material.
Remember you are a CONSUMER. A consumer who stops buying things (consuming) becomes NOTHING! In fact, you might be declared DEAD!
Slashdot Mirror
NO, your GRANDPARENTs had to have committed a crime.
I've gone through 3 sets of management recently. All of them "manage by magazine" because they didn't know much of anything. All have wanted to be 100% Microsoft. No legacy, no Linux, no Solaris, just Windows. Why? Because it is what they read about. These dorks have wasted a couple of million dollars (and we're a smallish shop) on Microsoft shit. The current management at least has some background in multiple systems. Of course, we're still going towards 100% Microsoft. But with any luck, either (1) we will be able to retreat when the bovine excrement impacts the air moving device or (2) Windows may become reliable in our environment. I know some have said that they have a reliable Windows environment. We do not.
I used to feel as you do. And I still agree with you, in principle. But after 30 years of working in IT, and watching it be taken over by either "management" who are "empire builders" or only looking for advancement and "programmers" who just want a pay check, I've "burned out". At least at work. As I have time, I still write little utilities for myself at home for my own amusement and learning. I tried to work on a "large utility", but found so little time after cleaning up the shit programmed by others that I've given up on that as well. Perhaps my cronic illnesses have something to do with my attitude as well.
Wishing everybody joy and happiness in their chosen profession. I used to have it.
When I am unsure, I simply find somebody that I know is a fool. And vote the opposite. Maybe not the best, but it does undo his vote.
Why? They don't have any oil!
I use Pine on Linux. Simple, easy for me to use, and it doesn't do a thing unless I tell it to. People who let their computers run their lives get what they deserve.
All because not very computer literate, but powerful, people don't want other, outside, managers "sneering" at them for being "behind the curve" on software.
I'm in the same boat as you. I started with Redhat before Fedora. I bought 2 or 3 successive releases simply because I could afford to and wanted to help support Linux. When Redhat went to ES or Fedora, I went to SUSE. And did the same, bought 9.3, 10.0, and 10.1 for the boxed version because I thought it was worth it. Now SUSE is dropping the "home user" as well. I may go with OpenSUSE. Or maybe not. I don't really like downloading an entire distro. My internet connection is too slow.
People turn their computers off? Why? I leave mine on 24x7 (two desktops). I do keep my laptop powered down when not in use.
Groaci. "Five eyed sticky fingers" as I recall somebody calling them.
Religious believe should not necessarily be incompatable with being scientific-minded. Remember that science cannot explain everything. It is just a methodology for specific purposes. Unless, like many I know, you make science your religion.
</flamebait>
Nah! Write the kernel in the Emacs scripting language. I mean, just about everything else that I want to do seems to be implemented in it.
With Linux, this should not be necessary. I have two "user" accounts. One is for everything other than Web surfing. The other is for the Web. Even there there is some Linux-malware the likelyhood of it being able to do anything other than wiping out my "throw away" Web user's files is very small.
I've seen this problem here (I'm in IT). A really smart Actuarial creates a very good, effective spreadsheet. It becomes both production and "mission critical" to them. The Actuarial leaves. Oh, did I mention that there is nothing documented? And the person is a Ph.D using calculations that are not understandable to mortal man (or even a woman!). Who supports this? Especially when it breaks because desktop support rolls out the next version of Excel. Screams abound!
And I giggle because I'm a dino running on old, obsolete mainframe technology where the end user can't just slap something together and put it into production.
At least, that's what I'd expect around here. We do support emails to our cell phones here. Curiously, I get bitched out if I don't respond quickly. However, the cellular carrier does not guarantee speedy delivery. I've gotten a "sev 1" page on my phone up to 10 minutes AFTER I've already fixed the problem and closed out the ticket. And I get "dinged" for making somebody call me at home because I did not respond to the email which I did not receive.
Athlon64 3800+ - SuSE 9.3
Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz - SuSE 9.3
Pentium 3 1.0 Ghz - Windows 2000
Thinkpad 1.5 Ghz Celeron - dual boot Windows XP home (came with the thing) and SuSE 9.3
I rarely use the Windows/P3 any more. I keep it around mainly for Quicken because I'm too lazy and cheap to buy Crossover Office to run it on my SuSE system.
SuSE Linux does everything that __I__ want to do. Which, I will grant, is not all that much.
We have about 5 or 6 Unisys ES7000 systems (I don't work on them). I like them! They are nice and toasty warm in the Data Center. I stand behind them when I must go in there and I get too cold! I can warm up quickly. Much better as a space heater than the IBM zSeries (z/890) that I work on. It doesn't warm my hands AT ALL! So, it is obviously inferior (that's why we plan to eliminate the system that runs 90% of our core business.)
Reporter: Senator, why is there a decrease in personal wealth?
Senator: I blame the Ways and Means comittee!
Reporter: The Ways And Means Comittee?!?
Senator: Yes, you have have Means, they'll find Ways to get it!
That's why I'm working on a USB connected granite chiseling machine. Hey, it worked for the ancient Egyptians! Of course, I will need some sort of "master slab" with multilingual messages so that the future can decode the language. My own rosetta stone.
I guess that I'm just really weird. I'm just a couple of months short of 53. I like MP3s. Well, I actually use the unencumbered OggVorbis encoding. I loved it when CDs came out. I like DVDs much more video tape (I even have an old, still working, LaserDisc system - remember them?). I even liked Windows when it first came out, well Windows 3.1 up to Win98. But I am now a Linux bigot. The only old tech that I still have is my CRTs. I just don't really care for LCD, DLP, or Plasma yet. Perhaps because I'm cheap.
This is true and interesting. I wonder how viable it would be for somebody to write a "chroot()'ed" brower? Or a browser which executes most of its code as "nobody", only using the actual user's authority for things such as saving files, cookies, etc. That is, only running as the user when the user directs it to specifically.
Oh well, likely just a stupid idea from a stupid person.
Barf, get the URL and download the junk wholesale using wget! No cache, no nothing. You can grab an entire frigging web site with that cute little tool!
Our state-of-the-art LAN people are learning why they should have learned the history of the mainframe. They are making the same mistakes that we made and solved decades ago. But they don't want to even say that the mainframe could have valid CONCEPTS, much less be in any way superior to their ways.
Just as an aside. Many years ago, I bought, uh licensed, the Microsoft BASIC compiler for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I. As I recall, the license specifically stated:
1) only I could use the compiler. Nobody else could use it, even on my computer.
2) I could only use the compiler on the machine on which it was initially installed. If I replaced the computer for any reason (such as repair), I had to buy another copy of the compiler!
Now, this could possibly mean that a DNA-DRM'ed material that you bought when you were 15 would reject you when you are 50. Well, if you really still wanted whatever was DRM'ed and still had something that could be used to access it.
So, how do I "copy" my DRM'ed MP3 file that I bought to the newest technology? If the RIAA has its way, you'd be forced to buy the new DRM'ed material.
Remember you are a CONSUMER. A consumer who stops buying things (consuming) becomes NOTHING! In fact, you might be declared DEAD!