Posts by TireIron

Typical '80s IT: Good idea leads to additional duties, without extra training or pay, and a nuked payroll system

Fire Proof Safe....

I once worked for a printing company who decided that the mainframe backups should be kept in a fire proof safe at the other end of the large site.

A second hand fire proof safe was purchased and installed in the warehouse on a wooden pallet (so it could be easily moved if required) surrounded by millions of copies of the coming years calendars and other paper and cardboard items.

I could never work out if the IT Manager simply didn't take backup storage seriously or he wasn't right in the head. As far I recall there was never any test restores either so option two might be correct in his case.

I can 'proceed without you', judge tells Julian Assange after courtroom outburst

Re: Blackmailed

Immediately puts the guys 'evidence' into question as he's giving it under duress/threat.

I suspect in most cases this would undermine the guys credibility but some how I think the justice systems in all countries involved with Assange will do as its told and look the other way.

The Wrath of Amazon: JEDI wars rage on after US Department of Defense affirms Microsoft contract

A Worrying Trend Is Starting...

The one where a company lose a bid for a contract so you go to court until they win.

I believe this is going to be a trend that will grow over the coming years for those companies with deep pockets.

Might be quicker to let the courts decide who should win a bid,

Then we might end up with the courts be sued! That might be interesting,

Be very afraid! British Army might scrap battle tanks for keyboard warriors – report

Re: Send in the Drones

Pretty sure there was a film based on the same premise - only the bloke lost it when he pushed the button and an innocent bloke got hit by the missile.

I wonder if WFH will be an option - save on office space, commuting etc thus the MOD can claim to be reducing its carbon foot print - Has to be a good thing :-)

Cyber War - Hasn't' That Been Ongoing...

...for a number of years already, isn't that why we refer to other countries as 'actors' so as not to upset them when they have done something naughty?

...and aren't our (UK) Intelligence services such as MI6 and other shadowy gov organizations supposed to be fighting the cyber fight already?

But if the powers that be think the need for tanks is no longer needed then creating a battalion or two of keyboard warriors and signing them up to the ongoing cyber bun fight at least keeps the defense budget up which is probably what this is all about.

This PDP-11/70 was due to predict an election outcome – but no one could predict it falling over

Re: The elevator did it

The ZX81 external Ram extension pack was a nightmare. the slightest move of the ZX and you have a crash. A slab of blue tack helped keep it in place but eventually I got the the soldering iron out and hard wired the damn thing on. A lot of soldered wires later and worked fine.

TalkTalk, Three, and Virgin Media, come on down! You've all won a prize for... not being that great at something!

Customer Services - A shambles by design

I think virgin hit the nail on the head but didn't finish the statement:

..."always looking at how we can further improve our customer service without having to invest real money into it".

Unfortunately call centers cost money, a lot of money. so you run it as 'efficiently' as possible with as few staff you can get away with. Staff retention is to be avoided where possible and pay them as little as possible. There is always another somebody wanting a job...

Which brings me onto Plusnet and its excellent customer service they spout on the TV/Radio. The last couple of calls to Plusnet took around 50 minutes to get through. Here's why this annoys me. There Plusnet call center is about 20 minutes away. That means I could drive to there call center, knock on the door and explain the issue and drive back with in that same time - Maybe a 'Drop in shop' when you have a problem is a way forward, it may be quicker - oh that would cost real money...

Australian regulator slams Google ‘misinformation’ in pay-for-news-fight

Re: Nope

Pretty much doing the same!

Dido 'Queen of Carnage' Harding to lead UK's Institute for Health Protection because Test and Trace went so well

Cronyism

Doesn't matter which political party is in power, cronyism happens. Its what happens when you have top decision makers who don't have a clue so reach out to their mates who they believe may have a better idea of whats going on than they do.

Trouble is their mates don't always have any better idea of a situation either...

ANPR maker Neology sues Newcastle City Council after failing to win 'air quality' snoopcam project bid

Shameful company but hang on what if...

...this could be expended across the board?

So every job or contract you didn't get, you could sue because you think you were the better candidate? Isn't the principle the same?

I sense this is only a matter of time...

Re: Wait so...

Whilst understanding your sentiment, would put a lot of techy's out of a job :-)

MI6 tried to intervene in independent court by stopping judge seeing legal papers – but they said sorry, so it's OK

Did These Spies Actually Leave There Names And Addresses?

Seemingly so....

"Two spies phoned the IPT to demand that the report was kept away from the judge's eyes. IPT secretary Susan Cobb wrote back..."

...and did it really take two spies to make the phone call? ...We are doomed...

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin. Hang on, the PDP 11/70 has dropped offline

The Floppy Disk Incident...

Back in the early/mid 90's I did contract job doing IT Support for an office that had just replaced its mainframe with networked PC's. Due to historical data they had kept one of the mainframe managers on.

Talking to him one day about IT in general, and how things had got smaller, he suddenly looked me in the eye and said, "Have you ever held an eight inch floppy in your hand?". Me being a bit speechless having brain freeze at that moment suddenly found myself stood there with said floppy draped over said hand with the instruction, "don't bend it too much"...

I believe said IT Manager had used that line more than once with the ladies of the office in the past...

The Great British anti-5G fruitcake Bakeoff: Group hugs, no guns, and David Icke

Re: The higher the frequency, the greater the energy

Where is Myth Busters when you need them?

Seriously looking forward to reply's to this post :-) Seeing the down votes but no arguments to the contrary?