Will I be able to stop having to explain to my users what a 'hit-box' is when their drag-and-drop attempts result in two icons piled on top of each-other on the desktop?
I use Nagios, but on a smaller scale than what you describe. I love the system, but I would imagine it being difficult to maintain on a larger scale. Nagios itself is requires manual configuration unless you use a separate front-end like Centreon, which is also far from perfect..
A friend of mine has been toying with OpenNMS for the last few months, and he's pretty happy with it although he reports that it's still got some minor issues that need to be worked out. It's FCAPS compliant, and I get the impression that it might be the better option for handling a large installation. There's a new version scheduled for release soon, so we'll see what that brings to the table.
There's also recently been an announcement of a Nagios fork, scheduled for release sometime around October. I forget the site or project name but I'm sure a bit of Googling will locate their site for you.
IT is a support function, deal with it or find a different career field.
I disagree. I work in IT for a 400 person non-IT organization and I spend my working days developing new and innovative solutions for our organization that will help us more effectively compete in the market.
I spend time on things like developing Intranet systems that allow communication and organization among staff in ways they never dreamed of before, interfacing medical equipment with HMS/ERP systems, creating network monitoring systems that send our store-room staff SMS messages when doctors printers are running low on paper, just to name a few. I also spend time revising existing systems so that they need less support.
We have help-desk techs, sure, but that's because our department has structure. I'm part of the offense, they're part of the defense, and we're all aware that we're part of a team and that neither of us can grow without the other; My work is not more important than theirs, just "different." My work makes their work easier, and their work makes my work easier.
Our help-desk guys, like any help-desk guys, want to learn and grow their skills -- and I/want/ them to grow. When everyone does their jobs well, we end up with free time -- which can be spent on things like education and development. They grow, I grow, our systems grow, the organization grows, I make sure their paychecks grow -- wash, rinse, repeat.
If your organization doesn't provide avenues of growth, then move to another organization that does. Trust me: They exist.
I'm a manager at a/major/ East-African health-care organization based in Uganda.
Years ago (before I arrived) someone had a highly customized Microsoft Navision system put in for our HMS/ERP system.
If we want to modify anything more in-depth than what color a button is we have to call up a Microsoft Licensed Consultant who has a key-file on a USB stick that allows them access to the inner-workings of the system -- and pay them hourly.
This system is the beating fucking heart of our organization and we can't even make something a required field or modify the validation of an entry without calling these circus clowns up.
The default license allows access by 36 simultaneous users. Guess how much Microsoft Nairobi forces us to pay per-user when we want to add more? try EIGHT HUNDRED FUCKING DOLLARS PER SEAT -- AFTER DISCOUNT.
Want to store more information than we currently do? BUY MORE DATABASE TABLES.
Dr. Cheikh Modibo Diarra either has no idea what he's talking about or is an outright fucking liar, because Microsoft has nothing anywhere near a business model that works for Africa.
On the other side of the coin, Square could have simply realized that a move like this would generate neutral publicity at best.
If you were Square Enix, would you make such a move before it was necessary and risk the PR fallout for something that may have never gone through to completion anyway?
for one reason or another i tried slackware first about five years ago. it took about a week to get to where i learned that startx was the way into the gui and another two weeks before i got it to actually load the gui without erroring out.
i eventually got the network link up and managed to configure my machine so well that if i moved the mouse the wrong way my browser window would simply disappear.
i've since become a debian loyalist, but i feel like i got it right by starting with a really hardcore system first. it really helped me learn linux properly and made using any other flavor after that a snap.
I've got at least four low-tech friends back home in the US that I've given Ubuntu to for their laptops which originally had Windows. They specifically ASKED for it after seeing it running on my laptop and hearing about the benefits from me. Next time I fly back home I have three other friends who have seen it on said friends laptops and now want me to add it to theirs.
Think guns are a bad idea in America? High murder rates a big deal to you?
Next time you're in Burma, try asking someone how they plan to overthrow the Junta.
The problem in America isn't that we've got guns, it's that we often don't actively promote responsible gun ownership. Instead, we shy away from them and try to lock down and control them which often results in the bad guys being the only ones with easy access.
If I'm a 'bad guy,' and I'm going to commit some violent crime, I'm probably gonna give it a second thought if I think there's a decent chance my victim is going to shoot back.
There's a college in Utah that allows students to carry firearms on their person in classrooms so long as they're licensed. Think the Virginia Tech shooting guy would have racked up as many kills there? At worst there may have been some chaos for a few seconds and someone may have accidentally been shot due to confusion, but that's a bit better than a few dozen dead students, right?
Furthermore, since we've tried to clamp down on guns, too often people, young kids specifically, don't receive any education on gun safety and thus don't learn any respect for them. Is it then any wonder that Timmy accidentally shot Sammy with his dads gun?...Or that his dad didn't have it locked up with the other components in a separate location in the first place?
The problem isn't that we have guns, it's that we don't properly embrace them as a society.
Then Obama flip-flopped on FISA and voted for a bill containing telecom immunity. In so doing he lost my vote and my support.
Sorry, but I don't understand all this internet backlash over the FISA issue.
In my opinion Obama's vote on the FISA issue was a perfect example of the type of change he has promised to offer for over a year now. He hasn't exactly been shy about his intentions to make extra effort to work with people 'across the isle' in order to expedite progress through compromise.
The Democrats have achieved the goal of restoring FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means of conducting surveillance. They have also achieved the goal of restoring basic judicial oversight to the process. These goals were accomplished by compromising with Republicans on the issue of retroactive immunity, something which they staunchly opposed.
End result: The telecoms are no longer accountable for their alleged complicity with the governments illegal actions, however the illegal program has been stopped and action has been taken to prevent the problem from reoccurring in the future. Furthermore, effective and necessary intelligence gathering tools are no longer in danger of becoming unavailable due to the bureaucratic hangup. On top of all that, the compromise guarantees a thorough review by the Inspectors General of our national security agencies to determine what took place.
What exactly is your problem with that? What are you more interested in? Demanding the telecoms burn for their actions, or fixing the problem and moving forward?
I know this is Slashdot, and tech issues are paramount to all, but revoking your support for Obama over this issue indicates to me that you're not seeing the bigger picture.
I've been watching this forum and the internet for a while, and I don't contribute often, but I felt this needs to be said.
If you guys are going to seriously say that you're no longer supporting Obama because he compromised on this FISA issue, then you're losing focus on the bigger picture. He did what he has claimed he would do for his entire campaign, which is compromise to get things done.
Furthermore, if your only concern is a tech issue, then you're just as bad as someone who's only voting based on immigration, or gun rights, or any other single issue.
Wake up. You're all smarter than this, or at least you claim to be every day on these forums.
I emailed the Obama campaign about this situation, about how he's losing voters over this issue and needs to explain his actions publicly, and got this response:
Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. There is also little doubt that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, has abused that authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders.
That is why last year I opposed the so-called Protect America Act, which expanded the surveillance powers of the government without sufficient independent oversight to protect the privacy and civil liberties of innocent Americans. I have also opposed the granting of retroactive immunity to those who were allegedly complicit in acts of illegal spying in the past.
After months of negotiation, the House passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year's Protect America Act. Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President's illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over. It restores FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means to conduct surveillance - making it clear that the President cannot circumvent the law and disregard the civil liberties of the American people. It also firmly re-establishes basic judicial oversight over all domestic surveillance in the future.
It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I voted in the Senate three times to remove this provision so that we could seek full accountability for past offenses. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful. But this compromise guarantees a thorough review by the Inspectors General of our national security agencies to determine what took place in the past, and ensures that there will be accountability going forward. By demanding oversight and accountability, a grassroots movement of Americans has helped yield a bill that is far better than the Protect America Act.
It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives - and the liberty - of the American people.
Around my area there's a block that does this and the electricity company gives them a deduction every year since it qualifies as a "public display."
That's the short of it, anyway.
I fly pretty regularly. I've probably flown around 10 times in the past 8 months, mostly international and a few domestic flights within the US.
Let me get this straight:
You can bring on a cell phone, but not an iPod...
I regularly fly with an iPod and usually have it turned on and playing during take-off and landing. I've only been told to turn it off during these procedures once. Not only that, but I have my iPod on and playing from the check-in window all the way to my seat on the airplane. I remove it once during the security checkpoint where I place it in the small items bucket in full view of the security officers to have it scanned along with my other carry-on items.
You can bring on a lighter, but not a water bottle...
You're not allowed to bring a lighter on an airplane. You can usually get away with it, but the signs clearly tell you that you shouldn't, along with anything else that is highly flammable.
You can wear a belt, but you have to remove your shoes...
I don't regularly have to remove my shoes when flying. They scan them for metal with a wand at most airports instead of making you remove them completely. I did have to do this a few times shortly after 9-11 for some domestic flights, though. You can also "wear" your shoes, just like your belt, on the airplane. Nobody is making you fly in socks.
Are they just making the rules up randomly or something?
Are you just making these rules up randomly or something?
I'm guessing you haven't flown in a while, have just been reading some sensationalist news blogs, and want to rile people up so you can get some extra mod points. Looks like people fell for it.
I use it, and it works wonders. I've never had it install any extra crapware like the parent mentioned, though admittedly I still use a slightly outdated version. Maybe the new releases come with crapware now, who knows...
Slashdot Mirror
Will I be able to stop having to explain to my users what a 'hit-box' is when their drag-and-drop attempts result in two icons piled on top of each-other on the desktop?
I use Nagios, but on a smaller scale than what you describe. I love the system, but I would imagine it being difficult to maintain on a larger scale. Nagios itself is requires manual configuration unless you use a separate front-end like Centreon, which is also far from perfect..
A friend of mine has been toying with OpenNMS for the last few months, and he's pretty happy with it although he reports that it's still got some minor issues that need to be worked out. It's FCAPS compliant, and I get the impression that it might be the better option for handling a large installation. There's a new version scheduled for release soon, so we'll see what that brings to the table.
There's also recently been an announcement of a Nagios fork, scheduled for release sometime around October. I forget the site or project name but I'm sure a bit of Googling will locate their site for you.
IT is a support function, deal with it or find a different career field.
I disagree. I work in IT for a 400 person non-IT organization and I spend my working days developing new and innovative solutions for our organization that will help us more effectively compete in the market.
/want/ them to grow. When everyone does their jobs well, we end up with free time -- which can be spent on things like education and development. They grow, I grow, our systems grow, the organization grows, I make sure their paychecks grow -- wash, rinse, repeat.
I spend time on things like developing Intranet systems that allow communication and organization among staff in ways they never dreamed of before, interfacing medical equipment with HMS/ERP systems, creating network monitoring systems that send our store-room staff SMS messages when doctors printers are running low on paper, just to name a few. I also spend time revising existing systems so that they need less support.
We have help-desk techs, sure, but that's because our department has structure. I'm part of the offense, they're part of the defense, and we're all aware that we're part of a team and that neither of us can grow without the other; My work is not more important than theirs, just "different." My work makes their work easier, and their work makes my work easier.
Our help-desk guys, like any help-desk guys, want to learn and grow their skills -- and I
If your organization doesn't provide avenues of growth, then move to another organization that does. Trust me: They exist.
LOOK IN HOLE
LOLOLOLOLOL
I'm a manager at a /major/ East-African health-care organization based in Uganda.
Years ago (before I arrived) someone had a highly customized Microsoft Navision system put in for our HMS/ERP system.
If we want to modify anything more in-depth than what color a button is we have to call up a Microsoft Licensed Consultant who has a key-file on a USB stick that allows them access to the inner-workings of the system -- and pay them hourly.
This system is the beating fucking heart of our organization and we can't even make something a required field or modify the validation of an entry without calling these circus clowns up.
The default license allows access by 36 simultaneous users. Guess how much Microsoft Nairobi forces us to pay per-user when we want to add more? try EIGHT HUNDRED FUCKING DOLLARS PER SEAT -- AFTER DISCOUNT.
Want to store more information than we currently do? BUY MORE DATABASE TABLES.
Dr. Cheikh Modibo Diarra either has no idea what he's talking about or is an outright fucking liar, because Microsoft has nothing anywhere near a business model that works for Africa.
We can't wait to get off their system.
Nuff said.
On the other side of the coin, Square could have simply realized that a move like this would generate neutral publicity at best.
If you were Square Enix, would you make such a move before it was necessary and risk the PR fallout for something that may have never gone through to completion anyway?
I think not.
for one reason or another i tried slackware first about five years ago. it took about a week to get to where i learned that startx was the way into the gui and another two weeks before i got it to actually load the gui without erroring out.
i eventually got the network link up and managed to configure my machine so well that if i moved the mouse the wrong way my browser window would simply disappear.
i've since become a debian loyalist, but i feel like i got it right by starting with a really hardcore system first. it really helped me learn linux properly and made using any other flavor after that a snap.
Genius.
Cut the blatant America-hating bullshit please.
I've got at least four low-tech friends back home in the US that I've given Ubuntu to for their laptops which originally had Windows. They specifically ASKED for it after seeing it running on my laptop and hearing about the benefits from me. Next time I fly back home I have three other friends who have seen it on said friends laptops and now want me to add it to theirs.
I'm looking at you, Fallout 3...
Hopefully this gets fixed by one of the upcoming expansion packs, otherwise my boycott will continue.
According to King Graham, killing a Yeti is easy as custard pie.
...and I manage the IT department at a large international hospital in East Africa.
There are jobs out there for folks without degrees. It's all about gaining the right experience and knowing how to play the game.
A "successful game mods" list with no mention of Team Fortress, Counter-Strike, or Rocket Arena?
Where's the quality control?
Think guns are a bad idea in America? High murder rates a big deal to you?
Next time you're in Burma, try asking someone how they plan to overthrow the Junta.
The problem in America isn't that we've got guns, it's that we often don't actively promote responsible gun ownership. Instead, we shy away from them and try to lock down and control them which often results in the bad guys being the only ones with easy access.
If I'm a 'bad guy,' and I'm going to commit some violent crime, I'm probably gonna give it a second thought if I think there's a decent chance my victim is going to shoot back.
There's a college in Utah that allows students to carry firearms on their person in classrooms so long as they're licensed. Think the Virginia Tech shooting guy would have racked up as many kills there? At worst there may have been some chaos for a few seconds and someone may have accidentally been shot due to confusion, but that's a bit better than a few dozen dead students, right?
Furthermore, since we've tried to clamp down on guns, too often people, young kids specifically, don't receive any education on gun safety and thus don't learn any respect for them. Is it then any wonder that Timmy accidentally shot Sammy with his dads gun? ...Or that his dad didn't have it locked up with the other components in a separate location in the first place?
The problem isn't that we have guns, it's that we don't properly embrace them as a society.
Then Obama flip-flopped on FISA and voted for a bill containing telecom immunity. In so doing he lost my vote and my support.
Sorry, but I don't understand all this internet backlash over the FISA issue.
In my opinion Obama's vote on the FISA issue was a perfect example of the type of change he has promised to offer for over a year now. He hasn't exactly been shy about his intentions to make extra effort to work with people 'across the isle' in order to expedite progress through compromise.
The Democrats have achieved the goal of restoring FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means of conducting surveillance. They have also achieved the goal of restoring basic judicial oversight to the process. These goals were accomplished by compromising with Republicans on the issue of retroactive immunity, something which they staunchly opposed.
End result: The telecoms are no longer accountable for their alleged complicity with the governments illegal actions, however the illegal program has been stopped and action has been taken to prevent the problem from reoccurring in the future. Furthermore, effective and necessary intelligence gathering tools are no longer in danger of becoming unavailable due to the bureaucratic hangup. On top of all that, the compromise guarantees a thorough review by the Inspectors General of our national security agencies to determine what took place.
What exactly is your problem with that? What are you more interested in? Demanding the telecoms burn for their actions, or fixing the problem and moving forward?
I know this is Slashdot, and tech issues are paramount to all, but revoking your support for Obama over this issue indicates to me that you're not seeing the bigger picture.
I've been watching this forum and the internet for a while, and I don't contribute often, but I felt this needs to be said.
If you guys are going to seriously say that you're no longer supporting Obama because he compromised on this FISA issue, then you're losing focus on the bigger picture. He did what he has claimed he would do for his entire campaign, which is compromise to get things done.
Furthermore, if your only concern is a tech issue, then you're just as bad as someone who's only voting based on immigration, or gun rights, or any other single issue.
Wake up. You're all smarter than this, or at least you claim to be every day on these forums.
I emailed the Obama campaign about this situation, about how he's losing voters over this issue and needs to explain his actions publicly, and got this response:
Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. There is also little doubt that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, has abused that authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders.
That is why last year I opposed the so-called Protect America Act, which expanded the surveillance powers of the government without sufficient independent oversight to protect the privacy and civil liberties of innocent Americans. I have also opposed the granting of retroactive immunity to those who were allegedly complicit in acts of illegal spying in the past.
After months of negotiation, the House passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year's Protect America Act. Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President's illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over. It restores FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means to conduct surveillance - making it clear that the President cannot circumvent the law and disregard the civil liberties of the American people. It also firmly re-establishes basic judicial oversight over all domestic surveillance in the future.
It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I voted in the Senate three times to remove this provision so that we could seek full accountability for past offenses. Unfortunately, these attempts were unsuccessful. But this compromise guarantees a thorough review by the Inspectors General of our national security agencies to determine what took place in the past, and ensures that there will be accountability going forward. By demanding oversight and accountability, a grassroots movement of Americans has helped yield a bill that is far better than the Protect America Act.
It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives - and the liberty - of the American people.
Around my area there's a block that does this and the electricity company gives them a deduction every year since it qualifies as a "public display." That's the short of it, anyway.
Anyone remember the Zone 66 intro music? Pretty badass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t13uJYwsC8A
How about hi-def component video wires sold in Best Buy for $129.00? What exactly are they made of? Diamond?
It's an American restaurant. They just use Australian marketing themes.
I'm afraid to say that I've actually tried both, and they do taste a bit different. :P They're both pretty bland, though.
I regularly fly with an iPod and usually have it turned on and playing during take-off and landing. I've only been told to turn it off during these procedures once. Not only that, but I have my iPod on and playing from the check-in window all the way to my seat on the airplane. I remove it once during the security checkpoint where I place it in the small items bucket in full view of the security officers to have it scanned along with my other carry-on items.
You're not allowed to bring a lighter on an airplane. You can usually get away with it, but the signs clearly tell you that you shouldn't, along with anything else that is highly flammable.
I don't regularly have to remove my shoes when flying. They scan them for metal with a wand at most airports instead of making you remove them completely. I did have to do this a few times shortly after 9-11 for some domestic flights, though. You can also "wear" your shoes, just like your belt, on the airplane. Nobody is making you fly in socks.
Are you just making these rules up randomly or something?
I'm guessing you haven't flown in a while, have just been reading some sensationalist news blogs, and want to rile people up so you can get some extra mod points. Looks like people fell for it.
What a shame.
For those of you who are Googling "Demon Tools" right now and maybe not finding anything:
It's actually called Daemon Tools, and can be found at http://www.daemon-tools.cc/.
I use it, and it works wonders. I've never had it install any extra crapware like the parent mentioned, though admittedly I still use a slightly outdated version. Maybe the new releases come with crapware now, who knows...