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Tech Stories Archives - March 2010
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1.
It's all so clear now.
This will solve all our communication problems with the fishies. http://oddlyspecific.com/2010/02/wait-which-one-is-it/ It's A Miracle Stryker One
/ 2010-03-01 ]
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"What do you mean with Orange cable? I don't see any oranges here.... DOH!" <eg> -Dr Jerkyl
I'll take this pic for the WIN! http://images.oddlyspecific.com/oddlyspecific/2010/01/129083160498700731.jpg ;-) -Necros
Regardless of its native language, a starfish will always sit there stunned, whining "I don't know which one to believe! Is it orange or is it... Kabel?" -teivrann
Orange cabal? A secret society all about citrus maybe? -Captain Trips
maybe i read too many online cartoons...anyway, this brings 2 of them to mind: http://techfox.comicgenesis.com/d/20050128.html http://www.supermegatopia.com/comics/weaselboy.php?thisLink=wb01-06.gif -Erictheblue
the Supermegatopia site suffered some problem that wiped most of the comics, so i'll repeat the punchline: the hero is trying to disarm a bomb "let's see, i think it's always the blue wire...oh no, these wires, they're ALL blue!" -Erictheblue
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2.
Funny tech call
From Consumerist: http://consumerist.com/2010/03/dont-call-in-to-complain-about-how-you-cant-steal-wi-fi.html Too funny. [By: Starfury / 2010-03-01]
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Your tagline pretty much says it all. Kudos to Leo for at least trying, but I could still hear a wind tunnel effect on her end of the line as it went through one ear and out the other. I think it was making a sound sort of like "Durrr hurrr"... -teivrann
I've seen this on occasion myself. A few folks at work will occasionally ask me questions about wi-fi, and I find out that they're discreetly leeching off of someone in the neighborhood. [My wi-fi? Locked down tight, with not only a WPA key needed but also a whitelist so that only certain MAC addresses will connect over the wireless. Yes, I'm a b@$+@rd.] -VoiceOfSanity
I just named my wi-fi connection "CIA Node 1". Haven't had anyone try to connect to it.
-Ramblin
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3.
I feel complemented and inslulted
Sleepy, at work... Please forgive any spelling/grammer mistakes. I just finished up volunteering for the awesome CorinBank festival (http://www.corinbank.com), where I was running the Volunteer's Kitchen. As well as feeding the vollies, we were also selling to the punters. I got asked several times during the festival whether I was a chef or not. One lovely German Lass was talking to me over a beer or ten, when she asked, and I said no I am a Data Warehouse programmer. "Oh," quoth she "you don't look like a programmer". I think that was meant as a complement, but should I feel insulted on behalf of all programmers whom occationally see daylight? [By: PoglaTheGrate / 2010-03-01]
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Fixed link: http://www.corinbank.com -chazz
Possibly she only knows programmers via "Hackers" or "The Net". If she assumes all programmers look like Hugh Jackman from "Swordfish" then none of us look like programmers. -AussieFoot
Are you sure she was from Germany and not Austria http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucking,_Austria ? ;) -Necros
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4.
Otis spotted?
So, driving to work today and I'm almost there when I see the logo of the company for the van in front of me. It's Otis Incorporated! Come up beside it at my turn and see that it's Otis Canada Inc (Elevators and Escalators). I think the link has been posted before, but I was amused enough to look it up ( http://www.otisworldwide.com/ ).[By: spectreoflife / 2010-03-01]
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I've always thought Otis should sponsor the Redding Festival... then it could be Otis Redding Festival. Three is a company that does lifts and escalators called Shindler. I had a laff every time I saw Shindler's Lift -PoglaTheGrate
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5.
The other side...
http://abstrusegoose.com/136
We've all been there. ;-)[By: Divinar / 2010-03-01]
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Hello I.T. have you tried turning it off and back on again?</The IT Crowd> -AussieFoot
*snerks* -Seamyst
Turning it off & on again fixes PC problems betweek 1/3 and 1/2 of the time! -Holdfast
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6.
Comcast Conspiracy?
So, I get a flyer in the mail today, urging me to switch from the evil AT&T to the evil Comcast cable company. Immediately went into the shredder, of course. Then my DSL connection goes out tonight. And my DSL connection *never* goes out. I'm sensing a disturbance in the Dark Side of the Force...[By: RiffRaff / 2010-03-01]
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I switched from DSL (Qwest) to Comcast a year ago and haven't looked back. It happened after a Qwest service technician was honest enough to inform me that Qwest had no intention of providing me with the level of service I was paying for, unless I upgraded to their faster fiber-based service. I've not had a single minute of down time since I switched. I'm also happier with the quality of the phone service (I have the "triple play") than I was with Qwest; it just seems clearer. -rdwells
sometimes I wonder where the fiber in comcast's or qwest's network is? Is it connecting 2 routers? Probably with at&t its fiber to some remote dsl terminal on the street corner serving a neighborhood and able to maintain under a mile radius so it gets 10mb speeds. -areatech
Downunder I use iiNet and have so few outages and issues I recommend them to anyone. Other people we know with Helstra, Floptus, and other providers who use Helstra's infrastructure, seem to have endless problems. Any problems I've had are usually Helstra messing around with the phone system in my building. iiNet use their own ADSL 2 network which avoids Helstra's woes. -Wraith556
Connection came back up some time overnight. -RiffRaff
Here where I live, fiber is something that the snowbirds have with their breakfast every morning... and DSL is half the speed at 20% more the cost than cable. Such is life here in Floorida... -VoiceOfSanity
I have ATT DSL and the last 2 rainstorms it got flaky/dropped. Of course it takes them a week to get a truck out to check the lines which have dried off by then. I'd go to Comcast but it's 2x as much for about the same speed as DSL. -Starfury
I have DSL through Speakeasy but they lease access from Qwest. No problems, and the TOS explicitly allows me to run an FTP or web server out of my home (not that I actually do), so I stay with them. Doesn't hurt that the switching station is across the alley from my house. -thx1138
VoiceOfSanity - That's because, IIRC, the Foridan patchwork-from-Hell line ownership is so goddamned crazy it's any wonder that ANYONE could get any semblance of a decent ADSL connection. -Seamus
Been on cable since it was called The @Home Network, then it was bought by AT&T, now it's Comcast. Service has been pretty good, but close to $60.00/month for 12Mb/s seems damn expensive. -Stryker One
I know some techs have a habit of cutting cable lines. this goes mostly for satalite service, but i would not be supprised if other techs do it. -ZombieBear
I'm on cable with Cox, and while expensive have had few troubles. And, when you get disconnected because you didn't pay your bill, your service is back on before the IVR gives you your credit card confirmation number. Plus, you've got to love a company that calls a spade a spade. "We're Cox" -AngrySup
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7.
More an open question (semi-OT)
The background: I'm introverted to the point where, as I discovered by accident last month, the stress of work is causing me painful muscle tension and shortness of breath. The job itself is not the problem--it's just being out among people for ten hours a day. There is nothing in my work that could not be done remotely, and we actually have a couple of team members who are in another state.
The situation: I was granted work-at-home access last week in case we get another huge snowstorm, but warned sternly that "this can only be an occasional thing, we don't want it to be regular." Today, to try it out, I left the office at noon and worked from home the rest of the day. Got done as much as I usually do plus a load of dishes, and I could breathe. It was glorious.
The question: Is there a good way to get my employer to change their collective mind about regular telecommuting? I've thought of going to a doctor and seeing if I can get a medical excuse but that feels like fighting dirty. Thoughts and ideas are very welcome. [By: AnneBWalsh / 2010-03-02]
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You could get a doctor's note and they might be forced to let you work from home. -Starfury
I wouldn't consider it to be fighting dirty, especially if you bring up your concerns before you resort to a doctor's note. -OgdenTechGuy
If you have a legit reason for needing to avoid crowds, and can be replicated thru medical tests, then your employer has two choices: Fire you and face a hellified lawsuit, or accommodate your medical condition. -exzyle2k
Are your stats measured? Can you point to improved productivity when working from home? -smellystudent
You will need to find some way to prove that you are actually working. Remember 99% of the people that ask for what you want just want to stay at home and be paid to drink & browse Pron. That's what you're fighting against. -SaladOfDoom
I say go for it, get the Dr note. -THETECHFROMHELL
It is not fighting dirty. If you go to them with an undocumented medical condition the best you will get told is to get it documented first, the worst is you are fired before the week is out, no matter how nice they are otherwise. Get it documented and diagnosed first, then talk with them about accommodating your condition. Gives you a much better position. Also see about getting treatment for it, this shows you are trying to move forward and not coast and should be considered by them in the future. I am not a lawyer nor do i know any, but this seems very common sense to me and most who have commented already. -GargoyleTS
Have you thought about going to the doctor to find out who could help yu to manage your stress and anxiety better? You can't shut yourself away from the world for the rest of your life. I have what they call 'general anxiety disorder' and with therapy I've found my life is a LOT more pleasant now. Happy to talk to you privately about this if you would like. -wylfwt
Show that your productivity increases when you work when compared to working at the office. Hard evidence speaks volumes. That coupled with a medical reason to be working at home from a Psychiatrist say psychological stress from the crowded environment may work. -WraithDarkRose
I agree with wylfwt, while everyone here is providing good advice on how to install a wheelchair ramp, my suggestion would be to find some therapy that can help you walk again (pardon the analogy). You might be able to find a legal reason why your employer HAS to provide you the access, but if you start to play the pushing game in a situation that you know they don't want to be in, they'll probably just find another reason to let you go. In addition, it seems like this is a disorder that could significantly impact the rest of your life as well and for that reason, you may want to find a professional that can help you manage the psychological problems that are currently leading to your physical ones. -YourLastHope
I agree with wylft. In my case, therapy plus medication helped. Every individual is different. -thx1138
Agoriphobia (sp?) can be a bitch. -HappyCrappy
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8.
"Showing your age..."
More a MePotD but with a bit of back story (walked past another store close to mine and noted that the first 3 letters of the store's name were burnt out, store is Garage): Was commenting to a co-worker I should go into the store and flag down one of the employee's to tell them that their sign was broken in case anyone hadn't noticed yet and tell them, "I'm sorry to say, but you're just showing your "age" outside..."[By: spectreoflife / 2010-03-02]
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GROOOAANNN!! -udoshan
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9.
What were they thinking?
We had a recent event where we needed as many agents on the phones as we could get. We borrowed them from many other depts. We even had an off site location that housed approx. 30 more agents. Some ID10T forgot to take into account that they might need amplifiers to plug the head sets into at the offsite location. That whole group of agents had to pick up each call manually, hold the reciever between thier neck and shoulder and there was not even a second delay between the calls. I was so glad that I was not at that site, as they all would have wanted to kill me cause I use my own equpitment, amp and headset. I would have been the only one that could sit there and work my 10 hrs in comfort. I wonder who was responsible for not thinking about the amplifiers. [By: THETECHFROMHELL / 2010-03-02]
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When you say "What were they thinking?" you're assuming that they think... -AnneBWalsh
I forgot to mention that we were in a non stop que that day, there were about 170,000 calls come though our network and approx another 5 million hitting our webite as well. -THETECHFROMHELL
Somebody gonna get a hurt real bad! -Caboose447
"... pick up each call manually, hold the reciever between thier neck and shoulder ..." You've just described how I always take calls! If you are used to it, it's just as comfortable as headphones, and it is obvious you are on a call when someone decides to do a walk-in! -Captain Trips
It's possible the person who planned it didn't overlook it. They may have gone to their supervisor and said they needed amplifiers, but was told "they weren't in the budget". No matter what, the person who planned it will get the blame. -Park7
We all always use headsets as we are always very busy, they brought the head sets to the off site location, but they forgot to bring the amps. -THETECHFROMHELL
Doesn't that constitute a dangerous and damaging work position? Isn't that what OSHA is for? -Calydor
They wanted amps, but they couldn't find any that go up to 11... oh Captain, that is a REALLY good way to end out with neck, shoulder and back problems (quoth the man with half an applied cert in erganomics) -PoglaTheGrate
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12.
Wraith's lair for sale
My long-time lair is on the housing market. Myself, my geekette, and junior BOFH-in-training want to move into a house with some more space. This has been my home for the last 11 years and is the 2nd longest I've lived anywhere. Even the little guy thinks this is home and he loves riding his trike up and down the corridor. He gets up quite a bit of speed on the smooth floor. The computers were temporarily moved out of the photos. So far interest in the property has been good. We are looking at 3-4 bedroom houses a few suburbs away and have a few possibles we are going to take a closer look at. http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin/rsearch?a=o&id=106335696&f=0&p=10&t=res&ty=&fmt=&header=&cc=&c=44060809&s=nsw&tm=1266787151[By: Wraith556 / 2010-03-02]
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Where's the secret panel? I know, it's secret - but if it's for sale... -Divinar
If you're willing to move to the US, a friend of mine has a 4plex, one of which has a door accessing under the stairs. He calls it the "Harry Potter Room". He even had it carpeted. -Grembo
300 thou for a Parramatta Property - what's wrong with it? I will put in my two cents and say move out to the Blue Mountains... longer commute but 300k will get you a really nice house and you would be in the Blue Mountaints -PoglaTheGrate
House by IKEA. -Stryker One
Polga, my commute is long enough, and the Blue Mountains, while scenic and charming, are just two far away from other family. As for the furniture, some of it is IKEA, but you can't blame them for designing some really good stuff. The price? What's wrong is that the unit is a 2 bedroom. We need more space for a growing family with more additions being planned. -Wraith556
Secret panels? I bet that, when preparing for the pictures, Wraith was pleased just to discover the floor! -concept14
Actually, while clearing some of the cupboards in my son's room, I found 1500 Sierra Match King projectiles I had forgotten about, and a M1907 Springfield sling (made for the movie "Thin Red Line" and sold as surplus, and a No4 Lee-Enfield sling, as well as various tools, brackets, and other odds and ends. -Wraith556
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13.
Real or Fake?
Just got this forwarded to me.
Caller : My printer is not working.
Customer Service: What is wrong with it?
Caller : Mouse is jammed.
Customer Service: Mouse? Printers don't have a mouse you fool!
Caller: Mmmmm??.. Oh really?... I will send a picture.
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/Grembo/image001-1.jpg
[By: Grembo / 2010-03-02]
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OK, text sounds phony but the pic is funny. And not a mouse, looks more like a hamster. -Grembo
That explains why my printer Squeeks when printing... -Wonko The Sane
oldie but goodie - mouse was stuck but they got him out alive and let em go. -Madrigorne
True story: I was working in Charlotte when someone from Radiator Specialty (creators of Gunk) called, they were having problems with a computer in the warehouse. Got the machine to the shop, opened it up... and a family of field mice had set up home in the computer. Nest over the CPU, one far corner was the outhouse... system was a total loss. Guy looked at it with me, and agreed, and we chunked it into the dumpster without hesitation. -VoiceOfSanity
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15.
At least it will be out of it's misery.
And, hopefully, another fishy will have learned a lesson.
http://notalwaysright.com/microbrain/4503 [By: Stryker One
/ 2010-03-02 ]
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In 15 minunutes he will call for a warranty repair. -McSmiley
Wait 'til he gets into "hot" swapping. -robbor
Please, $Deity, I know I can be a real prick sometimes, but please, let that fish have "succeeded" in microwaving his computer... Please... -beerman
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16.
You're kidding me, right?
So, there I am, sitting in front of my computer, trying to research the pros and cons of various storage systems (to see which will hold more...pr0...I mean vital documentation), when my diligence is interrupted by the tone that indicates I've received an email from a member of the subhuman proletariat...or as they're called around here, end users.
Seems that they've lost some files, and want to know if they can be recovered from backups. Now, if these were ordinary files, this wouldn't be a problem, and no story posted here. No, these were files that have allegedly been missing since we migrated these 100 or so users and their data into our AD Tree.
When did this migration occur, you ask?
In MAY 2009!!!
That's right, 10 months ago!
So, I find myself wondering why these files, which are allegedly all files from "T to Z", are suddenly an issue. I mean, after all, you haven't needed them in the last 10 months, right?
And no, dummy, I can't restore them. They never existed, as far as I can tell. We don't have them, we never had them, and sure as hell we never backed them up. They actually have to exist to be backed up. Now, go back to your little box and be quiet or I'm going to have to arrange for Bad Things (tm) to happen.[By: Grayhawk
/ 2010-03-03 ]
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That happens occasionally at my job, but it's for legit reasons - old documents are often required for lawsuits, for example. -thx1138
Perhaps the reason their missing is to avoid lawsuits! ;) -AussieFoot
Why are they suddenly an issue? Because this is the week the boss asked them for one of them, and they realized they could not be found. Now is when they sweat! -Voz
I can think of one four letter word that could cause these kinds of reactions....TAXES. -Olorin
See, my problem with this is (and, looking at my writing, I may not have been clear enough on this point) that they are claiming that they knew about this 10 months ago, but didn't say anything until now. I think someone's trying to CYA... -Grayhawk
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17.
Lowest Common Dumnominator
For a while I had been checking the price of an old iMac PowerMac G4 that a local pawn shop had in stock. While it itself was nothing special the case is gorgeous and I can always upgrade a G4 into a decent machine for web browsing/video watching. Worst comes to the worst I can put an x86 compatible board in the case and make it into a Windows/Linux machine for the same purpose. Anyway, I finally decide that my finances are stable enough to splurge out the rather low sum they wanted and nipped into the store to buy it. Since I was in a good mood and had previously had good experience of the staff working at this store I elected to greet the salesman with "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, sell me your Mac." Pretentious I know but I knew it would raise a smile with the staff there. That day however the man looked blankly at me, causing my face to fall from a cheery grin to its more normal deadpan. "The Mac, please sell it to me." Still the man looked blank, now confused and my face fell into the "I've just lost my last vestiges of hope for humanity and your still here" expression and I stated. "The Apple Mac you have in the corner..." Pointing to it "..I want to buy it." He finally got the message and sold me the machine. When a store normally has staff who are clued up enough to actually give relevant advice on machines, you must always expect the lowest common Dumnominator to be the one to serve you. PS, the machine works oh so nicely, now all I need is an upgraded processor and it will be perfect for my non-gaming needs.[By: Vie / 2010-03-03]
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Veni Vidi Volo in domum redire (I came, I saw, I want to go home) Too bad I don't know Latin or I would have slightly changed this. -AussieFoot
"I came, I saw, I had to use smaller words and less literary allusions to get it done." -Vie
Veni, vidi, disco bene. I came, I saw, I learned better. -LDFeral
vene vidi visa - I came, I saw, I did a little shopping. -TieDyedDinosaur
Vidi, Vici, Vene -PoglaTheGrate
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18.
Cost-Cutting Efforts
In an effort to cut costs in our company, several people people not producing revenue were let go and certain benefits were cut back. This morning a paper memo comes out that new revenue generators will be joining our company. This afternoon, a second paper memo comes out that another person will be joining our company. Granted, it's not THAT expensive, but why not put both announcements on one paper? Or better yet? Email ?[By: TheNator / 2010-03-03]
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Because that would make sense; you KNOW they can't have that! -udoshan
Most likely some starfish (or multiple ones, for that matter) couldn't figure out that "revenue generators" translated into "people", and had asked, prompting manglement to send out a clarifying memo. Why this wasn't done via email (along with the first one for that matter) is beyond me. -NetOwl
Maybe they wanted to avoid the 500-some-odd Reply To All responses with "oh thats cool lol". -teivrann
And the reply to all storm that will ensue. -McSmiley
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19.
Another Conversion!
Just got notified that we're upgrading to QuickBooks Enterprise 10, which gives me the option of running the database on a Linux server, including Ubuntu Server 8.04.
*Plays Another One Bites the Dust in the background*
[By: RiffRaff / 2010-03-03]
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Cool! -Grue
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20.
Left Speechless...
Okay, so, not sure if this has been linked yet, if so, please forgive my redundancy and accept my apologies for being redundant, too. ;) Anyway, I have nothing witty to say about this, so, comments? (Link is SFW) http://www.switched.com/2010/03/03/atm-thief-deposits-usb-evidence-in-his-gullet/[By: beerman / 2010-03-03]
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Go-go Gadget brainstem. -teivrann
http://xkcd.com/644/ <- slightly related -linuxmatt
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