8895898
submission
HangingChad writes:
Gary Lyndaker talks about Janine Wedel's "Shadow Elite". About how our information infrastructure is increasingly being sold off to the low bidder. Contracting in state and federal government is rampant, leaving more and more of our nation's vital information in the hands of contractors, many of whom have their own agenda and set of rules. From the article: "Over 25 years, as an information systems developer, manager, and administrator in both state and private organizations, I have increasingly come to the conclusion that we are putting our state's operations at risk and compromising the trust of the people of our state by outsourcing core government functions." I've seen the same thing in my years in government IT, ironically much of it as a contractor. My opinion is this is a dangerous trend that needs to be reversed. We're being fleeced while being put at risk.
7911946
submission
HangingChad writes:
Now that my latest gig is winding down, I'm thinking about starting my own PC repair and network support business instead of another managerial position or going back to consulting. I've run my own business before so I'm already familiar with the realities of licensing, insurance and advertising, and I've got enough capital to get started. I'm planning on taking some classes to sharpen my hands-on skills even though I already build my own PC's. I wanted to ask some of the tech types here, what are the essential components of your black bag tool kit? What software tools would you consider essential? What's in your hardware tool bag? And what, if any, spare hardware supplies do you routinely stock (power supplies, spare hard drives and spare memory would seem to be no-brainers)? And what areas of that field are most requested (forensics, data recovery, PC repair, laptop repair)? I'm leaning toward a mobile service model instead of a bench top retail store, so I'll have to carry with me what I need.
It's almost inevitable I end up providing this service for family and friends anyway, I figured it's a good time to consider trying it for a living.
7842610
submission
HangingChad writes:
Roger Thompson describes on his blog, also reported here, an experience that may point to banks and credit card companies aggregating data from social media sites. Before the corporate apologists step up with their usual "if you don't want to make it public don't post it" line, think about that for a second. And ask what's next? Are they going to start reading your email? Logging your cell phone calls? Is social media a public web site, or a convenient way to keep in touch with family and friends and where do we draw the line on corporate data aggregation? I'm thinking right here might be a good place.
7008690
submission
HangingChad writes:
Google enterprise division talks smack on Office. Plans 30-50 updates to Docs over the next year, including new features as well as performance enhancements. Says business users will be able to ditch Office. Oh, yeah, it's on.
6613711
submission
HangingChad writes:
If I had to choose, I'd rather be a...
- Vampire
- Werewolf
- Mummy
- Necromancer
- Ringwraith
- My family already thinks I'm a troll
6389747
submission
HangingChad writes:
MarketWatch makes a logical case for secession. Just because we started out united doesn't mean we need to stay that way. There are a lot of advantages for letting red state America go their own way. Why not? The only thing "united" about the United States is the name.
6253319
submission
HangingChad writes:
Republicans are mounting opposition to net neutrality as federal regulators prepare to vote this month on regulations that would prevent discrimination against certain types of internet traffic. Democrats say the rules will keep phone companies from discriminating against Internet calling services and stop cable TV providers from hindering online video applications. Meanwhile in the Senate, the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas, is considering legislation that would prohibit the FCC from developing net neutrality rules.
2444203
submission
HangingChad writes:
Hang around Slashdot for five minutes and you'll discover that many in the tech field have strong opinions, frequently coupled with equally strong personalities and seasoned with a dash of ego. As a tech manager you frequently have to balance application changes management wants with difficult programmer and designer personalities who sometimes react like you're attacking their baby. What makes it tricky is sometimes both sides have a point. At times the changes management is asking for really are a poor choice. My attitude is they're paying the bills and I'll make the best counter-argument I can, but if they remain determined then give it to them, even if I personally disagree. Then I wind up getting it from the programmers and designers. These aren't necessarily issues related to ethics or security, sometimes the most vitriol arises from things as simple as a difference of opinion about a page layout.
I've consulted with a few companies in the recent past that have actually outsourced development because they had difficulty finding and retaining quality programmers and then found them difficult to work with.
One of the challenges of being a tech manager is refereeing between opposing viewpoints bumping into large egos. Replacing quality programmers is not always easy, even if they're being annoying. Productivity suffers. My questions for the other managers here, what tricks do you have for managing difficult personalities and where do you draw the line? For programmers, when you feel management doesn't appreciate your masterpiece of development, how could your managers frame communication so the topic is less threatening? There has to be some means of compromise that doesn't let developers dictate to management which is the tail wagging the dog, or being brutish and insensitive, sending valuable but bitter employees home to polish their collection of assault rifles. And is the vitriol and clash of egos we take for granted here at Slashdot discouraging some companies from in-house development?
