Recent Posts

1301

Living Room / Re: Animal Friends thread

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 23, 2014, 07:02 AM »

^^^^ Awesome!  But wtf is with the telegraph pole at 00:45?  Seems to defy the laws of physics for a moment lol.

-Stephen66515 (August 22, 2014, 09:11 PM)

Most likely the camera is behind the face shield of a 3/4 style helmet that is deforming in the wind as the person wearing it turns their head. If you watch carefully there are several (some rather subtle) odd distortions in the video visible any time they look to the side.

1302

General Software Discussion / Re: Wordpress and Hackers

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 21, 2014, 05:47 PM »

For something with that level of exposure, I'd rename the admin account to something that was meaningful only to me. Then to be a total ass I'd create a bogus (HoneyPot) account with the default admin name that triggered an event to log as much information about said visitor as a browser session allows.

...Maybe even add an automated redirector that sent anyone with more than 10 failed login attempts in a minute to the FBI's home page...

1303

Living Room / IT Resumes

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 21, 2014, 03:23 PM »

    So it's occurred to me as we're looking for a new body here in IT, that apparently they don't teach people how to do a resume properly in schools these days. And it seems that most people are going with the best friends interpretation of marketing tactics advice of doing as much embellishing as possible ... Which more often than not backfires horribly during the interview when the applicant goes blank after getting hit with a probing question regarding listed skillset 'X'.

    With that thought in mind - given the large cross section of talent we have here - I thought it might be nice to get a discussion started about what to and not to do when creating a resume for an IT position. I'll start by listing some of the don't I've encountered in the past few weeks:

Don't put things you are interested in learning in a list of existing skills.
Don't put certifications you are planning to get under existing skills.
Don't leave large unexplained - multi year... - gaps in you work history.
Don't get wordy trying to make limited experience sound like more than it is (Especially for an entry level position - which this is).


And on the other/do side:
Do keep in mind that the first person to see your resume is unlikely to be the guy that is in charge of IT, so lighten up on the technical jargon and just be friendly, concise, and professional (especially in the cover letter). If you come across as cocky, aloof, or arrogant...the rest of your resume won't matter.

Do research the company to find out what they do so your resume can be tailored to their needs.

Do list other skills (in short) that you have in your background that could be relevant to what the company does. Any idiot can clamp an end on an Ethernet cable, but if you have a background in construction...there's a good chance you can also handle the hard part which is to get the cable across a building and then down through a wall ... Without damaging the building. If the company systems control machinery, an mechanical background might be nice to mention (assuming you actually have one).

Anyhow, I'm running out of time. But I wanted to see what other folks thought about what makes a good IT resume.

1304

Living Room / Re: Talents and talent shows

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 21, 2014, 01:57 PM »

It's a brilliant idea and she is just great!
I cant vote over this side of the water, but wish her the best of luck !

-tomos (August 21, 2014, 01:48 PM)

cough *Proxy Server* cough

 

1305

Living Room / Re: Talents and talent shows

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 21, 2014, 01:44 PM »

The wife and I have been watching AGT, and I remember that act was cool as hell. So she's got our votes!

1306

General Software Discussion / Re: printer problem

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 20, 2014, 01:55 PM »

Transfer Belt possibly. Don't really have much to go on.

If you can scare up a manual for it and find out how to do one of the internal demo/test prints. That will tell you if it is actually something in/on the printer that is malfunctioning, or if it is a driver/software issue by taking the computer out of the equation.

1307

Living Room / Re: High School Student Laptop Policy

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 20, 2014, 12:01 PM »

Their rationale is that it makes support more difficult, and that the "integrative technology" which provides for communication between the students and teacher may not work on equipment brought from home...that, and the teacher would not be able to use the same "integrative technology" to monitor whether the students were using the laptop for schoolwork, rather than social networking or games.

-cschw (August 20, 2014, 11:17 AM)

And they're wrong - I just spent 2 months rolling out a BYOD solution at a school that is using an internally hosted Stoneware LanSchool cloud solution that allows anything that can connect to the school's wireless network to access resources on the school network. All internet - "naughty website" - filtering is done at the border of the network. I have no idea what the cost of the system was (they bought that on their own) but from an IT perspective it's slick as hell.

If the teacher's really want to know which students are screwing off, all they need to do is walk around to the back of the classroom and look ... Just like in the good old days - Surveillance software not required - and there are no maintenance and licensing fees to contend with.

1308

Living Room / Re: High School Student Laptop Policy

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 20, 2014, 07:15 AM »

Mind you, when I went to school you were still allowed to use a pen, paper,...

-4wd (August 20, 2014, 06:18 AM)

Hell even now when I go onsite I consistently move the tablet I carry out of the way so I can use a pad of paper under it to take notes ... It just seems faster to me.


But on topic: The local school that I've been working with for the last few months had a system that allowed any school supplied student's machine to be directly accessed and monitored in real time. I say had, because the new admin that I've been working with there had the whole system torn out by the roots because (And I quote directly) "It's just to creepy".

1309

General Software Discussion / Re: Frustrated Mom Creates ‘Ignore No More’ App To Get Teen Kids To Return Calls

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 19, 2014, 03:13 PM »

^ I get a sense this is leading somewhere?

-tomos (August 19, 2014, 02:00 PM)

Me too. *Shrug* ...The current system has been in place for x million years and somehow the species has managed to survive so... What alternating is being proposed? Or is this just one of those thought experiments designed to circuitously demonstrate just how nihilistically hosed we really in the grand scheme of things?

1310

Living Room / Re: Has someone died in that house?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 18, 2014, 05:33 PM »

Someone is surely terrorised by the movie "The Shining"...  

-Giampy (August 18, 2014, 02:35 PM)

I never really liked that movie - struck me as a bit dull. But the slaughter of the predecessor(s) is a popular theme in horror movies. I'm more inclined to worry about the property value tanking due to - a more superstitious - public perception issue, causing me to get stuck with something I can't unload without turning it into a tourist attraction. Kinda like Ma Barker's House which ain't to far from here ... Then again neither is the Seven Sisters Inn, which TAPS did a piece on a few years back. And then there is the Ritz Historical Inn...once again, just up the street a bit.

...But those are the fun ones.

1311

Living Room / Re: Has someone died in that house?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 18, 2014, 01:21 PM »

What do you think about this service?

http://www.diedinhouse.com/

-Giampy (August 17, 2014, 04:47 PM)

To the best of my understanding the previous occupant of my house did indeed die in it...(I found out a few months after buying it)...of natural causes. I have absolutely no problem with this. However if the previous occupant had done a murder/suicide of the entire family - Or was torturing people to death, etc. ... Well I'd have liked to know that ahead of time so I could go buy something else.

So in that regard I would have to say that the site is providing a useful service. Especially since not everyone is so inclined to lead with that kind of info.

1312

T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (download)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 18, 2014, 07:03 AM »

I think that's the wrong window to send the command to. Here is the part of the code that T-Clock uses to refresh itself:

Code: C++ [Select]

1. void RefreshUs(void) {
2.         HWND hwndBar, hwndChild;
3.         char classname[80];
4.  
5.   hwndBar = FindWindow("Shell_TrayWnd", NULL);
6.  
7.         // find the clock window
8.   hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndBar, GW_CHILD);
9.   while(hwndChild) {
10.                 GetClassName(hwndChild, classname, 80);
11.                 if(lstrcmpi(classname, "TrayNotifyWnd") == 0) {
12.                    hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndChild, GW_CHILD);
13.                    while(hwndChild) {
14.                                  GetClassName(hwndChild, classname, 80);
15.                                  if(lstrcmpi(classname, "TrayClockWClass") == 0) {
16.                                         SendMessage(hwndChild, CLOCKM_REFRESHCLOCK, 0, 0);
17.                                         SendMessage(hwndChild, CLOCKM_REFRESHTASKBAR, 0, 0);
18.                                         break;
19.                                  }
20.                    } break;
21.                 }
22.           hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndChild, GW_HWNDNEXT);
23.   }
24. }

You have to grab the parent, and then walk into the child IIRC.

1313

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 17, 2014, 10:39 AM »

And this is what happens when you completely lose you freaking mind:



The 2 S3 440 GH/s machines are turned to pull cold air out of the room, and - yes that is Dryer Vent Hose - then push the hot exhaust air out through the attic. The other S1 180 GH/s machine only has one fan and no outer housing (rather odd I thought), so it's still dumping a ton of hot air into the room ... But it's at least half assed tolerable in here now.

If these are the "Quiet Ones" (and they are), I'd hate like hell to hear the noisy ones ... Let's just say the wife is not thrilled with this latest development..

1314

Living Room / Re: What *Should* We Be Worried About?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 16, 2014, 01:36 PM »

It just occurred to me that law enforcement is a lot like tech support. As long as you can clear the highest number of calls, quality is irrelevant. Just stick to the script and walk them into a - The House Wins - favorable conclusion.

1315

Living Room / Re: What *Should* We Be Worried About?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 16, 2014, 12:11 PM »

But... the more dangerous thing in the article is that silence = guilt.

-Renegade (August 16, 2014, 10:57 AM)

Ah! Yes... I neglected to close the loop on that one. So working from the above position:

The Fuzz are saying that he is guilty based on his not asking about the poor victims in the other vehicle that he hit (cue the violins..).

I OTOH wish to assert the below:
1. There was no - guilt reaction - reason for him to ask about the condition of the other driver/idiot that caused the accident.
2. He had no way of knowing there were Children-to-think-of in the scant few seconds he was afforded to react when this daffy broad came darting into his path.
3. Even if he did find out about them after, see point 1.
4. It's fairly common knowledge these days that silence is golden when the cops are involved..*

It is frankly unfathomable to me how this got so absurdly turned around. When the reality of it is that since nobody in their right mind should be maniacally careening around corners with their entire family in the car...there was no way in hell it could possible be his fault in the first place. So the fact that the system went completely full zoot into upside-down day by making silence = guilt is almost fitting (in a kangaroo court kind of way) given the backasswards manner in which they decided to attribute guilt.

*Which may actually be the endgame objective if this little shenanigan. The system wants to make people afraid to be wisely/cautiously silent in an attempt to force them to blurt out something/anything that could be usefully incrimination.

1316

Living Room / Re: What *Should* We Be Worried About?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 16, 2014, 09:32 AM »

Tom was arrested after his Mercedes sedan plowed into a car driven by Lorraine Wong, who was turning left onto a busy street.

Prosecutors argue that Tom's car was speeding at 67 mph in a 35 mph zone when the collision occurred. He was placed in the back of a police cruiser but was not officially arrested and advised of his rights until later in the day.

-Ren's Article Above

In what universe is it your fault when some idiot turns in front of you?? Yeah yeah, sad story bla bla bla ... But cruising down the road close to double the posted speed limit or not...you have the right-of-way, period. Anybody crossing the flow of traffic needs to do so smartly.

Do they not teach this in California's Driver's Education classes?!? Or do they actually enforce the F'em they got brakes rule there?

Darting out into traffic without regard for how fast oncoming vehicles may be going is how squirrels get killed constantly ... And that's setting the bar for knowing better pretty friggin low..

1317

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 15, 2014, 09:02 PM »

Sadly, some people really do need to be told ^that^ kind of shit.

1318

Living Room / Re: HDMI vs Football

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 15, 2014, 11:45 AM »

I don't mean to interrupt your research time but if you need a break this video may answer any questions you have about football.
https://www.youtube..../watch?v=Xus57BaY3hI

-Cuffy (August 15, 2014, 09:40 AM)

I remember that bit from years ago - It's funny as hell.

1319

Living Room / Re: Do you use a Portrait mode monitor?

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 14, 2014, 10:14 PM »

I voted Bacon.

1320

Living Room / Re: Google's Satellites Could Soon See Your Face from Space

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 14, 2014, 06:50 AM »

DAMMIT!

Thought living on the 30th floor was very private and I could do 'every cool things' on the open terrace.
Now I am more nearer to the lens ! Better live underground.

-anandcoral (August 14, 2014, 02:21 AM)

That won't help either, they'll just switch to thermals or something. Personally I say take up nude sunbathing and put up a sign that says "Kiss Me' that points to your ass. That's my plan for the weekend.

Hay, if they really want to be that nosey...Then I say they should be emotionally scarred for their efforts too!

1321

Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 13, 2014, 12:29 PM »

Don't have time for a screenshot, but it looks like Renegade hit 11,000 here: Everyone is brokenhearted

1322

Living Room / Re: R.I.P. Robin Williams

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 13, 2014, 12:22 PM »

He surprised me in Good Will Hunting.  He made that part of the plot work.  It's always a bit weird when I watch that flick since it has a couple of exterior shots right outside the room where I lived in South Boston.  But I moved out 5 years before they made the film.

-MilesAhead (August 13, 2014, 11:23 AM)

He was also great as a serial killer in One Hour Photo, and he was brilliant in What Dreams May Come.

1323

Living Room / Re: The REALITY of Virtual Flight and Other Simulators (Not Just For Simmers)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 12, 2014, 06:15 PM »

At one point does a simulation of a mind (or society) become a first-class thing deserving of the kinds of things we believe are due to living animals..

-mouser (August 12, 2014, 08:12 AM)

I dont understand "..the kinds of things we believe are due to living animals" ?

-tomos (August 12, 2014, 05:08 PM)

In a nut shell sentience. Or more specifically how "Self Aware" does it truly need to become before we need to feel guilty about "Killing" it. Killing a dog is a crime...but "killing" your car is not. ...But if it was a really (A.I.) smart car ... Would it be?

1324

Living Room / Re: Laptop Battery Record!

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 12, 2014, 04:00 PM »

FWIW I've never known it to work. I suspect it's at least 80% urban legend.

-40hz (August 12, 2014, 12:55 PM)

Me either for a laptop battery, but I used to do it all the time as a kid to get more play time out of A/AA, C and D cell batteries.

So it's not a total myth ... It did work on those back then.

1325

Living Room / Re: The REALITY of Virtual Flight and Other Simulators (Not Just For Simmers)

« Last post by Stoic Joker on August 12, 2014, 06:54 AM »

I think it really depends on your level of investment

Sims will never duplicate the IRL experience because they can't duplicate the physical feedback (like shocks, noise, or the abject terror of knowing that you're plunging to a fiery death from 30000 feet, or about to plow into a concrete wall at 240kmh)

-Target (August 11, 2014, 11:56 PM)

Very nicely put, and precisely what I was thinking.

That said they can teach you routines and habits though, like the use of controls without looking at them, monitoring of instruments and the ability to understand what they're telling you while still concentrating on whatever it is your trying to do (fly a plane, drive a car, etc), emergency procedures.  They can also teach you different skills like navigating or prepare you for unfamiliar situations (emergencies, instrument ratings, a new race track etc).

-Target (August 11, 2014, 11:56 PM)

And that adds sufficient value to make it worth doing as an initial step. Other bits like the above eluding to the necessity of a  more visceral understanding of the craft can wait until the basics are firmly grasped. The experience needed to perceive and understand the dynamic loads that come into play during a tricky maneuver can wait until one isn't distracted with trying to remember where all the buttons are.