Wow, now this almost makes me want to drop the Pocket PC and switch sides. Treo 650 as seen on Gizmodo. A guy I work with switched from a Pocket PC for a Treo 600. He loves the Treo. I've hear a lot of good things about it. If it has Bluetooth they it might be worth it. I am all about convenience when it comes to these devices. The Bluetooth would give you the ability to use a wireless head set. That is enticing.
read more...
Friday, August 27, 2004
Saturday, August 21, 2004
A take on Interviewing at Microsoft and other thoughts
After reading this post on Michael Swanson's blog, I thought about all the job interviews that I have been on and all of the ways I have tried to get my foot in some door. This is truly original. Way to go Michael. Too bad your efforts didn't pay off. But I imagine you learned a lot from the experience.
Since I have been in the tech industry for almost 20 years, I would imagine that I am like most people when it comes to interviewing. It's a process that no one likes, most of all the interviewer. It's tough to make a decision based on a small segment of time. This person could play a key role in your company and you don't want to make a mistake.
That kinda reminds me of the scene in Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, where the band is auditioning potential Bass players. In the end, Robert Trujillo is the guy they like. And instead of just making him the "newest" member of the band, they wanted this guy to be part of the family. The first thing they did, give him a million bucks right on the spot. The next thing they did... give him a 25% stake in the band (the lawyers tried to give him 5% percent but James and Lars freaked out.) They wanted this guy to know the risk the band was taking on him and in return wanted everything he could give, plus a lot more.
I'm sure the stress is pretty high, but if all companies treated their new hires like this. Did something to make them feel part of the family right away instead of always feeling like their one day away from being let go. In the tech industry their are no loyalties, from the company or the employees. That's why I think being an independent contractor is the only way to make a really good living. Sure, you might give up the chance to make some money with the likes of Microsoft or Google, but those chances are few and far between, and you have to be in the right place at the right time.
read more...
Since I have been in the tech industry for almost 20 years, I would imagine that I am like most people when it comes to interviewing. It's a process that no one likes, most of all the interviewer. It's tough to make a decision based on a small segment of time. This person could play a key role in your company and you don't want to make a mistake.
That kinda reminds me of the scene in Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, where the band is auditioning potential Bass players. In the end, Robert Trujillo is the guy they like. And instead of just making him the "newest" member of the band, they wanted this guy to be part of the family. The first thing they did, give him a million bucks right on the spot. The next thing they did... give him a 25% stake in the band (the lawyers tried to give him 5% percent but James and Lars freaked out.) They wanted this guy to know the risk the band was taking on him and in return wanted everything he could give, plus a lot more.
I'm sure the stress is pretty high, but if all companies treated their new hires like this. Did something to make them feel part of the family right away instead of always feeling like their one day away from being let go. In the tech industry their are no loyalties, from the company or the employees. That's why I think being an independent contractor is the only way to make a really good living. Sure, you might give up the chance to make some money with the likes of Microsoft or Google, but those chances are few and far between, and you have to be in the right place at the right time.
Is technology invading your space?
I spent most of the day cleaning my office, going through stacks of paper (moving it from one pile to another), stacking CD's, putting software back in it's cases, throwing away magazines that were a year old, you know, kind of spring cleaning.
As I was going through all my stuff I started stacking all the gadgets I have in one area on my desk. A cell phone, PDA, digital camera, mp3 player, USB thumb drive, cassette player (for books on tape), 3 different kinds of head phones, laptop, desktop, 2 wireless routers, cordless telephone, a digital clock, DVD player, 36" TV, Xbox and more. Wow, that is a lot of stuff. I doubt if I'm even close to most gadget geeks but it all looks amusing when put in a large pile.
A little while later I went to the store to pick up some evening snacks and things for tomorrow. I try not to shop on Sunday. I took my phone (in case the very important call comes in), my PDA that had the list of things I needed to get (because I hate carrying around little pieces of paper) and my CD case (to listen to some great tunes for my 2 minute ride).
Did I really need all that stuff? A guy I work with has it made in the shade. I noticed recently that he is very low tech in a high tech world. First I noticed that he doesn't have a cell phone. Doesn't need one. Nothing is that important he says. He has a phone on his desk. He doesn't own a PDA, an MP3 player, a digital camera or even a desk top PC (although he does have a laptop, used sparingly at home.)
I admire his low tech life style. I remember when I was a kid, I didn't have a cell phone or a PDA or almost any of the gadgets I do now. It was just as fun and a lot less stressful.
(coming back to finish this post a few hours later)
I was just up stairs trying to find something to watch on the satellite. Nothing. 900 channels and nothing. I don't have any movie channels because they are a huge waste of money, but you would think that something interesting would be on. Maybe its just me and I'm too tired.
Any way, to finish up my original post, there is a lot to be said about living a low tech life style. The stress of not worrying about the cell phone, email, satellite or Windows updates. Maybe the answer is a day on the links!
read more...
As I was going through all my stuff I started stacking all the gadgets I have in one area on my desk. A cell phone, PDA, digital camera, mp3 player, USB thumb drive, cassette player (for books on tape), 3 different kinds of head phones, laptop, desktop, 2 wireless routers, cordless telephone, a digital clock, DVD player, 36" TV, Xbox and more. Wow, that is a lot of stuff. I doubt if I'm even close to most gadget geeks but it all looks amusing when put in a large pile.
A little while later I went to the store to pick up some evening snacks and things for tomorrow. I try not to shop on Sunday. I took my phone (in case the very important call comes in), my PDA that had the list of things I needed to get (because I hate carrying around little pieces of paper) and my CD case (to listen to some great tunes for my 2 minute ride).
Did I really need all that stuff? A guy I work with has it made in the shade. I noticed recently that he is very low tech in a high tech world. First I noticed that he doesn't have a cell phone. Doesn't need one. Nothing is that important he says. He has a phone on his desk. He doesn't own a PDA, an MP3 player, a digital camera or even a desk top PC (although he does have a laptop, used sparingly at home.)
I admire his low tech life style. I remember when I was a kid, I didn't have a cell phone or a PDA or almost any of the gadgets I do now. It was just as fun and a lot less stressful.
(coming back to finish this post a few hours later)
I was just up stairs trying to find something to watch on the satellite. Nothing. 900 channels and nothing. I don't have any movie channels because they are a huge waste of money, but you would think that something interesting would be on. Maybe its just me and I'm too tired.
Any way, to finish up my original post, there is a lot to be said about living a low tech life style. The stress of not worrying about the cell phone, email, satellite or Windows updates. Maybe the answer is a day on the links!
Friday, August 20, 2004
Back to blogger
Well, the web host I was using totally screwed me again. This time I lost all my files (my fault for not having a backup) but still, they keep restoring a backup of my directory that is dated in May, AND I didn't ask them too.
So I have moved my site to another server and it will take me some time to get it back on line. I have lost all of my posts, that sucks. I also need to set up the Biking and Photo blogs. Patience while I get these things back up. Hmm, actually maybe no one is reading this and so it won't really matter.
read more...
So I have moved my site to another server and it will take me some time to get it back on line. I have lost all of my posts, that sucks. I also need to set up the Biking and Photo blogs. Patience while I get these things back up. Hmm, actually maybe no one is reading this and so it won't really matter.
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