And in a strange juxtaposition, when you look at the vibrator pages, there's the prominently displayed "Add To Wedding Registry" button... just the kind of wedding present the newlyweds will really care about!
Exactly, because who in IT actually works on or manages projects anyways? Believe it or not, there are "nerds" who do things in IT besides write code.
I worked with the project management office at a major financial house for 3 1/2 years, writing and upgrading PM) web applications. If I learned anything from the experience it's that 1) good project management makes the typical geek's life easier, 2) project managers find it hard to manage projects because the geeks don't see the need to keep PMs in the loop what they're doing, and 3) projects very rarely finish on time.
As a side note, I got watch the outsourcing craze in person as more full-time employees (FTEs) got replaced with offshore resources. And then of course, it happened to me.
What about Moria? Again, not a texter, but I whiled away pretty much 50% of my college career playing it deep into the dawn. I estimate it took 1500 game hours before I finally hwas able to kill the Balrog.
RetroCoder can't stop anyone from examining their code, unless they're going to encrypt it somehow. If it winds up on someone's machine, and that someone happens to work for a software security company, and he/she is an industrious hacker with the time and patience, they'll rip open the pathetic key-logging code, figure out its secrets at home on their PC, then bring the knowledge to work and poof -- key-logger neutralized. What's RetroCoder going to do, hire spys to follow everyone who works for all the software security firms (would like to see that happen - fastest way to put them out of business)?
The idea of patenting and protecting software from infringement is absurd. Open source is a natural extension of programming. You make a bit of useful code, you share that code with others so a lot of reinventing-the-wheel doesn't take place. You find out that a piece of software does something malicious and you tell everyone else. Let's face it: there are enough programmers out there with time on their hands and mad hacking skills to make the idea of "protected software" a fantasy.
It's amazing that the electric car has become the forgotten technology in this discussion. People are so hell-bent on hybrids and fuel cells, they forget that battery-powered vehicles were around as early as the late 1800's (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/6111/electc ar.htm). Of course the proviso is that back then cars were clunky, slow, and the batteries were clunky and unreliable, but the idea was there.
And forget slapping solar cells on cars. Load up a car with high-efficiency batteries, merge the hybrid's advanced electrical technology to handle it, and build solar and wind-powered electric "filling stations" everywhere. Better yet, beam power from powersats in space directly to the stations. It doesn't take a science fiction writer to think this up, but it helps
Sloppy experimentation; they forgot to factor in the presence/absence of metal fillings... my Uncle always said that's how they were trying to control his mind.
Someone should do a Ph. D. thesis on the massive number of GPA points frittered away playing Risk on college campuses... I suspect I lost a 100 or more.
But that's the double standard that Microsoft has set. As long as they have the power they will exploit it. And they will have the power as long as everyone spends more time complaining about them than doing anything about it. So the Microsoft-bashing needs to stop, and the Microsoft-outdoing needs to begin.
You'll note that free speech is very important to the UN, so important that it's Article 19. As opposed to say, number 1, where it is in some famous government document I can never remember the name of...
The New Jersey school district is to pay the child $117,500, right? Um, is that $117,500 of tax money? That's a lot of chicken nuggets and little milk cartons...
Yes, that certainly is a lot of chicken nuggets and milk, not to mention pencils, books, and salaries... but how else are you going to teach a school that is was wrong? By hitting them in the wallet, the one place most school districts can't afford to take a hit.
Aren't the schools supposed to be teaching our kids values? Or did I miss that part of American History class?
If this code was work-for-hire, then this would be completely illegal (and laughable).
I was under the impression that if I worked for a company writing/fixing software, whether I was perm or temp, that the company owns that work and I can't deny them use of it, nor claim it for my own purposes. If I could, I'd be able to hold any company I did work for hostage. Exactly why would they hire me?!? And don't mosty companies make you sign an agreement that specifically states that they own your work and you can't take it with you? Sounds like both sides may have dropped the ball on this one.
To which, if you have even the slightest clue about the nature of the internet, the answer is no. The internet is a fluid superentity, a collection of connections, designed from the get go to withstand global thermonuclear war. It can't be controlled. Even if you did something to the DNS servers, new forms of the internet would sprout out from the people and prosper.
Control of anything so sizeable and amorphous as the Internet is an illusion.
When you think about it, networking has reached the level of individual machines within a home being linked, protected (hopefully) from the outside world by firewall, and linked to other ad hoc networks by the Internet. The "information superhighway" cliché is less apt than the analogy of the Roman roads. The Roman Empire expanded, building roads to allow the dissemination of goods and information more rapidly. It also built fortifications to protect those roads. Eventually, Rome outgrew its network and lost control. And we all know what happened next.
But while the Empire vanished, its works did not, and the people left behind in the remains continued about their business. And so the built their towns up, towns became cities, and very soon their were new empires.
The Internet will continue to grow, reach some maximum threshhold, perhaps collapse, and then the pieces will be picked up and something new will emerge. Life goes on.
I am a great supporter of the United Nations, though not in its current sorry state. I believe that eventually, if we're going to right all the wrongs and clean up our home, it's going to require global government with backbone and teeth. It's not something I'm going to see in my lifetime and perhaps it won't occur for a century or more, but I do believe it will occur
The UN is not a true governing body; while its members meet to discuss topics of global import and it has the resources/capacity to deal with events on the world stage, it has never been given the necessary power by its member states to actually bring about true change. UN Peacekeepers have become something of a joke, while the US shoulders the brunt of peacekeeping duties throughout the world. It provides a necessary forum for world conflict resolution, but has no way to enforce mandates that it passes down (e.g. telling North Korea to suspend its nuclear program, condemning Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and demanding that Saddam leave, cessation of genocide in [enter your favorite Balkan/African country here], etc.)
To simply hand the UN the keys to the castle, i.e. control of the Internet and its workings, when they have shown an inability to handle even the simplest task (remember the Oil-for-Food program?) is a case of hiring an alcoholic to run your brewery -- he might do a good job, when he's not passed out on the floor.
For now, the country that brought the world the Internet needs to keep control. We won't be ready to hand over that control until such time as the UN can force countries to shape up and ensure freedom of access for all people.
Geeks of the 21st Century are like the test pilots of the mid-20th Century. We want the best, cutting-edge equipment, and we want the freedom to wring the most performance out of it we can.
So, how do you keep your geeks happy?
The best tech: give 'em the best servers and plenty of them, run the hottest operating systems, and load up the best languages. Spend the money. You'll be glad you did.
The best conditions: give 'em the space to concentrate, not some tiny cube in a far-flung corner. They need three flat-screens, get out your catalog! Coffee-maker on the desk? You bet! Nothing's too good for the best.
Give them the whole picture: Don't try flowery speechs and managerial BS. Tell 'em what the problem is you need solved. Give 'em the tools to work the problem. Give 'em some idea of when you want it done and make sure there's some incentive to reach that deadline.
Don't micro-manage: Once you've given 'em the problem and the tools to solve it, step back and let 'em go. Don't expect 'em to fill out reports or keep you constantly updated. They'll work more productively if you tell them you need an update once a month instead of once an hour.
Pat 'em on the back: No employee-of-the-month crud. When the team does well or one geek pulls your fat from the fire, make sure everyone knows.
Get smart: try to make sure you're not asking the impossible, 'cause a geek will try to do it anyway, just for the challenge
And finally, hire the best: Remember, there are lots of geeks, but only the top layer have The Geek Stuff. Plenty of impressive-looking résumés out there, but anybody can slap stuff down on paper. Don't ask them where they see themselves in 5 years, because the answer is "In front of a computer, coding." Test their skills and test their mettle. You'll be glad you did!
Slashdot Mirror
Lop off the ears, stretch the legs, stitch on a long tail, bleach and buff the fur... could have it for you by Thursday...
And in a strange juxtaposition, when you look at the vibrator pages, there's the prominently displayed "Add To Wedding Registry" button... just the kind of wedding present the newlyweds will really care about!
I worked with the project management office at a major financial house for 3 1/2 years, writing and upgrading PM) web applications. If I learned anything from the experience it's that 1) good project management makes the typical geek's life easier, 2) project managers find it hard to manage projects because the geeks don't see the need to keep PMs in the loop what they're doing, and 3) projects very rarely finish on time.
As a side note, I got watch the outsourcing craze in person as more full-time employees (FTEs) got replaced with offshore resources. And then of course, it happened to me.
What about Moria? Again, not a texter, but I whiled away pretty much 50% of my college career playing it deep into the dawn. I estimate it took 1500 game hours before I finally hwas able to kill the Balrog.
RetroCoder can't stop anyone from examining their code, unless they're going to encrypt it somehow. If it winds up on someone's machine, and that someone happens to work for a software security company, and he/she is an industrious hacker with the time and patience, they'll rip open the pathetic key-logging code, figure out its secrets at home on their PC, then bring the knowledge to work and poof -- key-logger neutralized. What's RetroCoder going to do, hire spys to follow everyone who works for all the software security firms (would like to see that happen - fastest way to put them out of business)?
The idea of patenting and protecting software from infringement is absurd. Open source is a natural extension of programming. You make a bit of useful code, you share that code with others so a lot of reinventing-the-wheel doesn't take place. You find out that a piece of software does something malicious and you tell everyone else. Let's face it: there are enough programmers out there with time on their hands and mad hacking skills to make the idea of "protected software" a fantasy.
It's amazing that the electric car has become the forgotten technology in this discussion. People are so hell-bent on hybrids and fuel cells, they forget that battery-powered vehicles were around as early as the late 1800's (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/6111/electc ar.htm). Of course the proviso is that back then cars were clunky, slow, and the batteries were clunky and unreliable, but the idea was there.
And forget slapping solar cells on cars. Load up a car with high-efficiency batteries, merge the hybrid's advanced electrical technology to handle it, and build solar and wind-powered electric "filling stations" everywhere. Better yet, beam power from powersats in space directly to the stations. It doesn't take a science fiction writer to think this up, but it helps
...of MegaGlobalChemCo, Ltd., maker's of fine nerve agents since 1914
No, no, no... it's: why can't I get a ST:TNG communicator instead of this clunky phone! What version of Linux is running in the 24th Century anyway?
Of course it does; how else can it get infected with Trojans and worms?
No, the engineer's name is actually Dave Codemonkey.
...everyone's fascination with aluminum siding in the 50's! Boy those government guys sure were smart back then!
Sloppy experimentation; they forgot to factor in the presence/absence of metal fillings... my Uncle always said that's how they were trying to control his mind.
To be fair, we should broaden the subject base. Shall we say, Martha Stewart?
Now that we know lichens can survive exposed to the harsh conditions of space, how about we try it with Karl Rove?
Someone should do a Ph. D. thesis on the massive number of GPA points frittered away playing Risk on college campuses... I suspect I lost a 100 or more.
No I haven't read the patent... don't need to. If someone can dream it up, someone else can dream up a way to crack it.
But that's the double standard that Microsoft has set. As long as they have the power they will exploit it. And they will have the power as long as everyone spends more time complaining about them than doing anything about it. So the Microsoft-bashing needs to stop, and the Microsoft-outdoing needs to begin.
You'll note that free speech is very important to the UN, so important that it's Article 19. As opposed to say, number 1, where it is in some famous government document I can never remember the name of...
Now, if I could only get people to stop believing in a round Earth...
It's Kansas folks. This is what happens when a whole bunch of people have too much time on their hands.
...is in booting up your machine.
Yes, that certainly is a lot of chicken nuggets and milk, not to mention pencils, books, and salaries... but how else are you going to teach a school that is was wrong? By hitting them in the wallet, the one place most school districts can't afford to take a hit.
Aren't the schools supposed to be teaching our kids values? Or did I miss that part of American History class?
I was under the impression that if I worked for a company writing/fixing software, whether I was perm or temp, that the company owns that work and I can't deny them use of it, nor claim it for my own purposes. If I could, I'd be able to hold any company I did work for hostage. Exactly why would they hire me?!? And don't mosty companies make you sign an agreement that specifically states that they own your work and you can't take it with you? Sounds like both sides may have dropped the ball on this one.
Control of anything so sizeable and amorphous as the Internet is an illusion.
When you think about it, networking has reached the level of individual machines within a home being linked, protected (hopefully) from the outside world by firewall, and linked to other ad hoc networks by the Internet. The "information superhighway" cliché is less apt than the analogy of the Roman roads. The Roman Empire expanded, building roads to allow the dissemination of goods and information more rapidly. It also built fortifications to protect those roads. Eventually, Rome outgrew its network and lost control. And we all know what happened next.
But while the Empire vanished, its works did not, and the people left behind in the remains continued about their business. And so the built their towns up, towns became cities, and very soon their were new empires.
The Internet will continue to grow, reach some maximum threshhold, perhaps collapse, and then the pieces will be picked up and something new will emerge. Life goes on.
I am a great supporter of the United Nations, though not in its current sorry state. I believe that eventually, if we're going to right all the wrongs and clean up our home, it's going to require global government with backbone and teeth. It's not something I'm going to see in my lifetime and perhaps it won't occur for a century or more, but I do believe it will occur
The UN is not a true governing body; while its members meet to discuss topics of global import and it has the resources/capacity to deal with events on the world stage, it has never been given the necessary power by its member states to actually bring about true change. UN Peacekeepers have become something of a joke, while the US shoulders the brunt of peacekeeping duties throughout the world. It provides a necessary forum for world conflict resolution, but has no way to enforce mandates that it passes down (e.g. telling North Korea to suspend its nuclear program, condemning Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and demanding that Saddam leave, cessation of genocide in [enter your favorite Balkan/African country here], etc.)
To simply hand the UN the keys to the castle, i.e. control of the Internet and its workings, when they have shown an inability to handle even the simplest task (remember the Oil-for-Food program?) is a case of hiring an alcoholic to run your brewery -- he might do a good job, when he's not passed out on the floor.
For now, the country that brought the world the Internet needs to keep control. We won't be ready to hand over that control until such time as the UN can force countries to shape up and ensure freedom of access for all people.
Geeks of the 21st Century are like the test pilots of the mid-20th Century. We want the best, cutting-edge equipment, and we want the freedom to wring the most performance out of it we can.
So, how do you keep your geeks happy?
And finally, hire the best: Remember, there are lots of geeks, but only the top layer have The Geek Stuff. Plenty of impressive-looking résumés out there, but anybody can slap stuff down on paper. Don't ask them where they see themselves in 5 years, because the answer is "In front of a computer, coding." Test their skills and test their mettle. You'll be glad you did!