OK so this was the fateful weekend when I went the extra mile and paid the VAT myself! I realise that is not very technical or geeky, but it has scared the pants of me to expose myself that way (financially I mean, that was a bad metaphor!).
More tehcnically... it feels sad, but we have detsroyed around 65 terrabytes of data, but by piercing the drives, making them impossible to reuse, which is especially sad when some of these are rather rare 500GB SCSI drives which would have been perfect for refurbishing aging servers to live a longer and happier life.
Ah well, I guess I have to reconcile myself that reuse is a harder row to hoe in this world than I thought it would be when I started in my job. Or maybe I am just geting older and more cycnical?
Sorry for dearth of posts, not that nothing geekwirthy of note has happened, rather that too much has! Highlights were meeting Marth Lane Fox at Go On 2012, and recording my own winkball... Not going to mention the change of IP subnet mask and suchlike they did whilst I was on holiday, not to mention the two new servers.... I mean progress is great, but so is like TELLING people and ideally in advance! I was only out for two weeks so it must have been planned....
stopping now before this gets all whiny!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Pangolins in profusion
A hundred of them to be precise. And you get precisely one pangolin for your pound, or free with any purchase.
Business seems to be picking up, or is it just that I am keeping myself busy TRYING to make it do so?
More than likely also because we are at the start of a cycle for new internships, which is always challenging and all the more so because this time two of them needs special support. Although one has a support worker the other seems not to, or perhaps she is just less supportive!
But I am starting to get the idea that I can see limits inherent to the Comm-Tech model. Not only those from outside, like the need for active trustees who participate to bring us forward, but those inside. Primarily it is about communication and systems that support it.
I have long observed that IT tends to foster preservers of their own domains who are unable to share what they know and delegate. But this is not the way forward - that was why the mainframe paradigm (or whatever you want to call it) died.
We are meant to be much more open we should be able to grow past this critical and small size; so it is frustrating not to be able to....
And to add to my anxieties there is a slight prospect of having to work alongside "the beast who shall remain nameless" and that is in direct conflict with my ethics and would rule us out of the BAAN E-stewards programme, which I would personally like to see us join!
But for now at least - it is a Bank Holiday and I should enjoy that!
Business seems to be picking up, or is it just that I am keeping myself busy TRYING to make it do so?
More than likely also because we are at the start of a cycle for new internships, which is always challenging and all the more so because this time two of them needs special support. Although one has a support worker the other seems not to, or perhaps she is just less supportive!
But I am starting to get the idea that I can see limits inherent to the Comm-Tech model. Not only those from outside, like the need for active trustees who participate to bring us forward, but those inside. Primarily it is about communication and systems that support it.
I have long observed that IT tends to foster preservers of their own domains who are unable to share what they know and delegate. But this is not the way forward - that was why the mainframe paradigm (or whatever you want to call it) died.
We are meant to be much more open we should be able to grow past this critical and small size; so it is frustrating not to be able to....
And to add to my anxieties there is a slight prospect of having to work alongside "the beast who shall remain nameless" and that is in direct conflict with my ethics and would rule us out of the BAAN E-stewards programme, which I would personally like to see us join!
But for now at least - it is a Bank Holiday and I should enjoy that!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Con-Tech for teh future?
A period of ups and downs, with the highest up being the idea of simply offering a few tiers and giving them catchy names, hence we have Simply Silicon, Cheap as Chips, Savvy Surfer, and Deluxe Duo! Add to that you can open source your order for 20% off or bare-bones it for half price and you have our new marketing strategy - why we did not think of it a long time ago I have no idea!
On the incoming side we have managed to pick up a little with a client who has a little CSR going on, which is always gratifying, but then managed to loose out on a hundred screens and thirty printers due to throughput issues and Lambeth requirements - like buses they all came along at once, I must remember February through April is one of the busiest times for future reference!
We have just cooked up a hush hush plan to start a MFR and reclaim enough to make things sustainable - the only hitch is we do need about fifteen tonnes a week , which is a little challenging in terms the journey from where we are now!
Meanwhile I made my first attempted foray into the brokering of scrap world, but it's a tricky business to get assurance of proper handling and prevent possible exposure to costs - we know this stuff is valuable but it is like a closed world trying to get the dosh!
And on a side note I am hopeful there will be fruits form our ADISA membership, since they are slowly gathering steam as a professional body and Steve seems to recognise the value we have for him as members even though it is not immediately monetary (there's no way we could swallow the membership fees.
Last but not least I got the run around from Mercy but it has taught me valuable lessons about keeping clients adherent to our terms! The less said about that the better - it has been a while since I lost my cool with a customer, but she took me there!
On the incoming side we have managed to pick up a little with a client who has a little CSR going on, which is always gratifying, but then managed to loose out on a hundred screens and thirty printers due to throughput issues and Lambeth requirements - like buses they all came along at once, I must remember February through April is one of the busiest times for future reference!
We have just cooked up a hush hush plan to start a MFR and reclaim enough to make things sustainable - the only hitch is we do need about fifteen tonnes a week , which is a little challenging in terms the journey from where we are now!
Meanwhile I made my first attempted foray into the brokering of scrap world, but it's a tricky business to get assurance of proper handling and prevent possible exposure to costs - we know this stuff is valuable but it is like a closed world trying to get the dosh!
And on a side note I am hopeful there will be fruits form our ADISA membership, since they are slowly gathering steam as a professional body and Steve seems to recognise the value we have for him as members even though it is not immediately monetary (there's no way we could swallow the membership fees.
Last but not least I got the run around from Mercy but it has taught me valuable lessons about keeping clients adherent to our terms! The less said about that the better - it has been a while since I lost my cool with a customer, but she took me there!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Top Secret
I had never expected to be considering this as a dilemma presented within my urrent employment, but here it is...
Due to work that came, ironically, from a contact I introduced myself, with a client in the field of "Conflict Management", and this in combination that the majority of their work is with the Metropolitan Police force, we are being asked to consider vetting of our profiles as they require it.
It's unlikely to be to home office levels, though the relevant documents are labeled Top Secret" and no doubt I should not talk about the contents of the form - even writing this blog post could in theory jeopardise my position, but that's a risk I am very prepared to take.
The subject had already been raised at a recent ADISA conference I attended so I am probably predisposed towards going ahead - but the fact is upon reflection I should much prefer it if I had someone working alongside me who could go through this themselves...... A suspicion of "the man" and selling out as part of "the system" remains a hard thing to shake....
The Jury's out which way this may go at the moment.
Due to work that came, ironically, from a contact I introduced myself, with a client in the field of "Conflict Management", and this in combination that the majority of their work is with the Metropolitan Police force, we are being asked to consider vetting of our profiles as they require it.
It's unlikely to be to home office levels, though the relevant documents are labeled Top Secret" and no doubt I should not talk about the contents of the form - even writing this blog post could in theory jeopardise my position, but that's a risk I am very prepared to take.
The subject had already been raised at a recent ADISA conference I attended so I am probably predisposed towards going ahead - but the fact is upon reflection I should much prefer it if I had someone working alongside me who could go through this themselves...... A suspicion of "the man" and selling out as part of "the system" remains a hard thing to shake....
The Jury's out which way this may go at the moment.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Richard Stallman
Alan met him! this had to be recorded for posterity - this and the fact he is so DOWN Ubuntu and actually so RIGHT to be so.... the troubles I have had with DRM for Ebooks alone means I cannot but agree and am so ashamed to be posting this from an Ubuntu box...
Must unearth my debian P3 and press it into service as my one of my remoting in boxen - then boot it when out of office and so give myself option for power down and use less on electricity bill... suggest we should have communal remote in box?
Other brain stormed ideas for work are how-to (pictorial) on using not standed screens as way to use up Eizos
a template for time wasting potential orders aftercare to provoke a put up or shut up but do not just say nothing!
Alan to ours for those pictures?
Take in my digital video cam as gift to comm-tech to keep this laptop by exchange
make links on this profile for my really neat nanowrimo site and new eclectic blogging - my profile update was a fail
Must unearth my debian P3 and press it into service as my one of my remoting in boxen - then boot it when out of office and so give myself option for power down and use less on electricity bill... suggest we should have communal remote in box?
Other brain stormed ideas for work are how-to (pictorial) on using not standed screens as way to use up Eizos
a template for time wasting potential orders aftercare to provoke a put up or shut up but do not just say nothing!
Alan to ours for those pictures?
Take in my digital video cam as gift to comm-tech to keep this laptop by exchange
make links on this profile for my really neat nanowrimo site and new eclectic blogging - my profile update was a fail
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
my personal nightmare is in progress... see below.....
Rubbish, evidence, L proceedings
28 July 2011 04:47
To:
Bcc:
Folks, S especially,
you know you have to sleep on something sometimes to remember what matters?
you know how you have to be told what the issue is before you can work that out?
WELLLllllll this morning I remember something
I remember coming in to work and I remember moving THREE recycle bags
out of the way to park my bike - I think this was the weekend before
A1 got back - do you remember A2?.
BTW I have not copied in Ilane on this email at this time having
nearly made her cry at work on Wednesday with the challenging nature
of her learning curve and my brusque and macho manner....
BUT - and this goes out to S and A especially I believe it is
ESSENTIAL this matter is shared in full with all staff. I had no
proper awareness until after you had left with the SWEEEP evidences of
the specifics of the allegations - I think we all realise now how
serious this is!
I have asked A specifically and he agrees we shall arrange all staff
meetings in future where something we do not want interns "in on" to
happen early or late so that we can cover VITAL stuff like this.
S - bon chance mate - keep me informed please - those evidence
notes and the fact you are not staff means it is my cojones and rep on
the line out there (so don't fuck this one up)
over and out - they say knowledge is power so now you know the picture
you are looking for and the three bags in question.....
sigh - if only the shredding issue had been discussed at a
meeting, ah well - easy after the event
... names and identifying features removed to protect the innocent
Rubbish, evidence, L proceedings
To:
Bcc:
Folks, S especially,
you know you have to sleep on something sometimes to remember what matters?
you know how you have to be told what the issue is before you can work that out?
WELLLllllll this morning I remember something
I remember coming in to work and I remember moving THREE recycle bags
out of the way to park my bike - I think this was the weekend before
A1 got back - do you remember A2?.
BTW I have not copied in Ilane on this email at this time having
nearly made her cry at work on Wednesday with the challenging nature
of her learning curve and my brusque and macho manner....
BUT - and this goes out to S and A especially I believe it is
ESSENTIAL this matter is shared in full with all staff. I had no
proper awareness until after you had left with the SWEEEP evidences of
the specifics of the allegations - I think we all realise now how
serious this is!
I have asked A specifically and he agrees we shall arrange all staff
meetings in future where something we do not want interns "in on" to
happen early or late so that we can cover VITAL stuff like this.
S - bon chance mate - keep me informed please - those evidence
notes and the fact you are not staff means it is my cojones and rep on
the line out there (so don't fuck this one up)
over and out - they say knowledge is power so now you know the picture
you are looking for and the three bags in question.....
sigh - if only the shredding issue had been discussed at a
meeting, ah well - easy after the event
... names and identifying features removed to protect the innocent
Sunday, January 23, 2011
My other present (birthday)
Just before Christmas I was registered as the owner of this site - what a nice present, though I had no idea it could be done, thought ICANN had issues....
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