Posted inExperience / Information Technology / Thank You Sir May I Have Another

Beware the Cradle

You know, a cradle can be the greatest thing on earth. It can also cost you days. A few days ago, when I was trying to determine just how weak the power supply in my HP Franken-Z, it cost me days. The machine is running Linux Mint Mate edition. When I tried to stick in the NVS video card it couldn’t get powered on far enough to show me the logo screen. Just kept re-booting, … Beware the CradleRead more

Posted inExperience / Information Technology / Thank You Sir May I Have Another

You Aren’t More Productive Using Indians

There has been a push or mor accurately a desperation grab by technical recruiters to use Indians for the vetting process. This is always an unmitigated disaster. The ones that are “priced right” don’t know shit. Worse, they subcontract out the actual work to people who know even less. Cox Communications Today’s foray into the realm of “priced right” technical recruiters is brought to you by Cox Communications. Obviously they have a vendor management system … You Aren’t More Productive Using IndiansRead more

Posted inExperience / Information Technology / Thank You Sir May I Have Another

HP Franken-Z’s

When I first got my HP Z series computer in 2023 I praised it. A bit of new toy syndrome to be sure. As long as I just wrote books and surfed the Web on it, was fine. Sleek looking and quiet. But you know me. When I’m not using my computers I like them to help save the human race. First it was BOINC, now it is Folding@Home. I’ve added a rear exhaust fan. … HP Franken-Z’sRead more

Posted inExperience / Information Technology / Thank You Sir May I Have Another

LF CR LFCR and CRLF Because it Keeps Coming Up

One would think the whole LFCR discussion would have been documented and saved throughout the decades. One should really be warned about thinking. Despite what you will read in Google’s always right <cough><cough><hack><hack> AI as well as other places online, way more than Acorn BBC Micro use LFCR for line endings in text files. During the heyday of Midrange computers it was the wild wild west. Lots of names you don’t hear anymore, DEC, Singer, … LF CR LFCR and CRLF Because it Keeps Coming UpRead more

Posted inExperience / Information Technology / Thank You Sir May I Have Another

The Last IBM Engineer

I get the Route Fifty morning email because that’s what is left of Government Computing News magazine. Don’t worry, you can’t find any reference to Government Computing magazine via Google. You see, Government Computing News magazine was the only media to publicly document the reason HealthCare.gov failed during its initial roll-out. Agile. All of the rest of the media simply quoted the peddlers of this fatal snake oil who all said it failed because it … The Last IBM EngineerRead more