When you see how these dollars were lost it just proves more and more how much waste and unnecessary costs are involved with this federal govt. I commented on the breakdown portion of the main article statement above. I still think we should run the govt using the 80/20 assumption--20% of the people do 80% of the work just as in the private sector quite often. We could probably shrink this govt down 80% or more and still everything would run, the country would prosper without govt intrusions into everything, and the economy would grow again AND basic services would continue to run in the govt. Sure, maybe some workers might have to put on multiple hats but SO WHAT! We have to do that all the time in the private sector AND we aren't guaranteed job security as these feds seem to be. Not sure what it takes to fire anyone in this govt but you can do just about anything short of murder and get away with it...it's a travesty!! [COMMENTS TO ABOVE ARTICLE STATEMENT] The breakdown includes about $3.1 billion in lost government services [QUESTIONABLE VALUE HERE], $152 million per day in lost travel spending [TRAVEL FOR WHOM? GOVT PERSONNEL--SOUNDS LIKE WE SAVED MONEY], $76 million per day lost because of National Parks being shut down [WOULDN'T HAVE COST ANYTHING IF OBAMA HADN'T FORCED CLOSURES OF STRUCTURES AND LAND THAT HAD NO REASON BEING CLOSED], and $217 million per day in lost federal and contractor wages in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area alone. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers bore the economic brunt of the shutdown [NO THEY DIDN'T SINCE THEY WILL BE PAID BACK-PAY--AT MOST IT WAS AN INCONVENIENCE]but small businesses also suffered from frozen government contracts and stalled business loans. [THIS I AGREE WITH IN THAT CONTRACTORS AND OTHERS WON'T GET BACK PAY AND WORKERS HAD TO USE LEAVE OR GET NO PAYCHECKS BUT THEN IT GOES BACK TO WHETHER THE AGENCIES AND SERVICES WHERE THEY WORK ARE TRULY NECESSARY]

Another example of a monopoly (although no one seems to admit it) crushing the little guy....trust that when one online door closes a new one opens or does not open for a reason...thanks for the years of service....cheers~

Of course, we all need to remember what sacrifices others have made for our freedoms and never forget that...the younger generations have taken this for granted and it is partially on my generation and other older ones for dropping the ball to some extent. We need to ensure young people understand what freedom in this country means and that they must continually fight against forces always trying to smash our freedoms and put us back under tyrannical rule. Remember what Ben Franklin told a woman who came up to him and asked him "well, do we have a Republic sir" and to that he replied "if you can keep it". Never has this been so true today...this younger generation WILL lose this Republic if they do not fight for it....it's that simple.

I remember back when Jurrassic Park was released and the character Malcolm had a line that so works for this ridiculous notion--"your scientists were so busy worrying about if they could, they forgot to ask if they should"

While govts at any level tend to think first with their wallet and then their minds when dealing with purchases, Cisco sales people should have acted above board on this. By that I mean, THEY, not the customer, are the experts or should have access to the experts and must help guide customers to some degree. It's NOT only about making a sale but keeping customers. How stupid is that? Cisco has excellent products--true--but they are NOT the only game in town anymore so they better watch out. Just look at EMC...people love their products and they are rock solid but support costs and all this ancillary crap is WAYYYYYYY overpriced. Anyone who is a true engineer and has managed such equipment knows exactly what I am talking about....same can be said for vendors like F5, NETAPP, and so one...the equipment is easy to spec out...it's this other "support" bulls**T I can't stand. And often you have no choice but to purchase it. When vendors require the support costs as part of the entire package then they have a duty to act reasonably and help the customer--not screw them over. The obvious outcome for this sales person was to sell as much sh*t to a govt as it could...period. What else is the explanation?

We did that for the first few years but then had them destroy it as the use is very limited and only good for certain things. Still, small price to pay to have another protection for your child even if the use is limited. Never know what the future brings. It's really just like anything else...insurance that you hope you never need. Cheers.

Why is every solution in this country to fire someone or jail someone when a mistake MAY have been made? And I emphasize MAY!!!! This country and its ridiculous leftist ideals is turning this nation into a STATEIST and UTOPIAN state where we ALL LOSE OUR FREEDOMS.

what are they talking about? Outlook does this now...it's called setting the hours....maybe I am missing the exact feature this article refers to...

I've been on many interviews and only had to do something similar once and, frankly, it turned me off the job. I had to sit in front of nearly 30 people (at the same time) during my interview and then to have some techie hand me a visio diagram half way through and ask how I would best design this network and what IP ranges I would use, etc. was overwhelming to say the least. It was also some part of their network still in the planning stages so HOW I could have answered correctly is beyond me when they don't even have a solution. Interviews themselves actually don't bother me when they are run correctly. I didn't appreciate getting blindsided with a test (one of several asked of me that day) especially under those stressful circumstances with everyone waiting on me to complete this document before moving to some other interviewer in the bunch. The job did not pay that much and was NOT a design job so that just added to my annoyance at this request. I get the idea but give the interviewee a break in this circumstance. At least give them forewarning so they can prepare somewhat or get into the frame of mind of answering specific technical questions in test format or as brain teasers and such.

I'm always amazed that an IT department needs to be justified in this day & age but I understand what you mean. IT is misunderstood routinely. I think one major 'big picture' issue that should be discussed with management of any company is what their goals are and what their future plans will be. Until they can answer that, creating an IT department may be putting the cart before the horse. That said, it sounds like your company is moving forward and growing and managing multiple sites will require at least one body per site. If your company doesn't see IT valuable and necessary I'm not sure how they can expect to grow. Just the physical layout of your company with remote sites will produce a need by default. I've worked in a company where one guy was trying to manage exactly the type of configuration you find yourself in--remote sites, growing staff, growing tech demands, etc.--and let me tell you if was a mess when I started there simply because it was unmanageable. IT is very time consuming and NOT always in a 9-5 schedule. You'll be surprised that even 100 users, while seemingly small, will place heavy demands on your time and resources as the business grows. I think you just need to set up a formal meeting and ask---then go from there. Justification of a dedicated IT department doesn't seem that unreasonable especially if your managers expect to grow quickly.

They are probably better off...the way Comcast and Verizon (the only 2 real choices in our area) charge ridiculous prices and, frankly, price fix everything the cost would be too high for most and I am NOT going to subsidize someone else just because I can afford my connection right now....no way. If Obama had his way he would make those of us who can afford it pay for everyone who cannot...last I checked, having internet access wasn't a God-given right....although Liberals would have you believe that...

Until the drug addicts decide to stop living for the high these things will always be around and this drug war a losing, continuous battle. I'd like to see billions poured into getting people OFF drugs and reduce their customer lists instead of this good money after bad scenario with no real payoff for taxpayers or this nation.

I've been in IT for a long time and one thing that I have found which ALWAYS ingratiates you to end-users...COMMUNICATION. You would be surprised how far a simple email or phone call (when possible) goes with non-IT folks. They just want to know what's going on and stay "in the loop" as it were. If you, as the IT expert, can develop people skills and make users feel like they matter--TRUST ME-- when the s--t hits the fan and systems really go down end-users (generally) are willing to give you a break and cut some slack. If you treat end-users and management with disdain then you get what you deserve as the "hated IT person". I've worked with many IT folks and, yes, there are jerks out there who think they are God's gift to computers and turn everyone off. You've got to be better in other areas--not just the technical ones and if you cannot manage an understanding of people or businesses then you might as well look for other work because you are worthless if all you know is one facet of IT....peace all! Oh yeah, just to piss off some out there Merry Christmas!! It's OK to say Christmas....

The fact that this group was needed simply tells the American people that we not only have a dysfunctional government right now but these so-called elected "leaders" can't get the job done and it is one they are paid to do....Congress failed the minute they appointed this smaller group. In essence, they punted on the hard decision so they could wash their hands of it--plain & simple. This government is a disaster right now and while the previous administration may have caused some things leading up to Obama's term, the fact is this administration does not take ownership of anything, blames other people/events for their problems and is dividing this country by the hour and setting us back decades both on the federal level as well as personal levels. I've never seen or heard of a President causing so much hatred and divisiveness among groups within the country. I hope all the black voters out there don't simply vote this guy back in simply because he is black--he has to be the most racist and divisive President this country has had in a long time. The only difference between him and people who are outwardly racist is the fact that he practices it through policies, speaking out of both sides of his mouth and puts things in motion behind closed doors out of public eye. To me, that's more dangerous than hate groups in the streets...at least you can deal with those idiots in public and in the open. How can you fight racism and hypocrisy on this level when you don't know until it is too late? Very disappointed in our government and we may need another Declaration Of Independence to free ourselves of this current government. It is in the Constitution and DOI--when the government ceases to be in place for the people and begins to usurp too much power it is time to disband it and create a new government---that's really what we need now as this cancer has been growing for decades long before Bush was in office. We've got a do-nothing Congress, divisive President and a court system that is out of control with a "Statist" agenda. We need to turn this country around and right this ship once and for all....America was NOT built to have government interfere in our lives and tax us ad infinitum--that's why we broke with England in case anyone forgot. The government believe it can dole our rights to citizens...they forget...WE, the people, give the government its power and WE the people can take it away. Otherwise, we might as well be Socialist or worse, Communist at our core and we know how well those systems works don't we. I find it hypocritical that WE, as a nation, are supporting revolutions around the world so people can opt in to Democracy YET our government is killing our democratic way of life and taking away the very freedoms other countries are dying for....

It's about time someone gets back to the Constitution that our country was founded on. For those of you who think we need government intruding into our lives...go pick another country to live in if you love socialism and communism so much. For that matter, many in this country need to go back and read the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. In case you forgot, America was found because of the British tyranny over the colonists. All these Statists (i.e. govt is everything) need to be squashed once and for all and put back in their place. They are ruining this country now and for generations to come and we can thank good old Roosevelt for his shady govt programs and deceit of the citizens at that time...he took advantage of people when they were most desperate and pushed many government entitlement programs and set them up so people would become addicted to entitlements. it was brilliant in an of itself but now look at us...half the country truly believes the government has their best interest at heart...what planet do you live on? I bet you think the government actually has a Social security trust fund too...wake up people!! You may not agree with Ron Paul or even like the guy but his solutions make sense for this country--LESS GOVT, LESS TAXES, LESS REGULATION!! That is the ONLY way this country moves forward...not going to happen with this administration.