Bla bla bla... Linux... Bla bla bla...

So, this was the theme for a good part of the day... as I talked about Ethereal, Neusus, Honeypots, Cedega, Cross Over Office... writing a driver to use the Xbox 360 controller in Linux... bla bla bla... Replacing the N.E.W. Server... and all the lovely things I can’t talk about too!

 

Anyway. Another fun day at work. More and more I realize that most technically inclined people just don’t have the knowledge base I have about using different applications, and how to find applications to do what you want. 

 

It also seems that almost every Windows person I meet knows very little about Network Security... so it seems.  Most of the people around the office keep saying “Oh that would be really good” and more than often my response is “but Windows won’t do that”... at least not without making a whole bunch of really slow programs to form a good application.

 

So.  In the end... I am sure that in every way Linux seems superior to Windows... with a more stable and faster result... aside from ease of use...  I guess Windows is easier to use that Linux... but Mac on the other hand... that is what I need to work with for a while...

 

I think as soon as I have $2500 to get a new laptop I’m buying a Mac Book! 

 

Anyway... I gotta get back to work.

 

Later,

  SteveO

WiFi Hazards article...

An interesting article on WiFi hazards....

 

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/rss.aspx

Halo humor...

One of the guys in the lab is this guy Kale, who is an awesome artist... here is a picture he drew the other night:

Halo with real physics...

That’s it for now...

Later,

SteveO

People of the Freezer...

I got this awesome email from work today... because we were told that only FTEs and tech people could plug or unplug any network cables yesterday.... well, all of our Xboxes were unplugged last night, so this morning one of the guys in the MP lab back here sent an email to our manager, requesting him to come plug in his Xbox.  This is the response we got:

 

“Since you, the people of the freezer are constantly rewiring stuff to make things work you’re now considered “those few designated by FTEs” and are of the anointed.

 

In English: You’re free to mess with network cabling. Continue to be extremely cautious...”

 

 

Great days in the freezer.

 

Later,

    SteveO

 

P.S.  About the sign on the fridge that says “Don’t drink the milk... lets just say the light wasn’t the only thing not working on the fridge last night...

Funny Thing...

Funny thing about weekends when you work at Microsoft... they don't mean so much... 'cept all your friends seem to have the day off.

Although, I think I might have Sunday off... I guess Saturday and Sunday are optional... actually, everything over 40 hours is optional, but if you don't work the over time, they'll just find someone else who will.

so yup... I'm working a lot of hours, but it's ok... I like the job.

My team is all people that you would expect to meet at a D&D game arguing about who's character is better... it's kinda funny to listen to them talk about world of warcraft... or Pokemon... anyway, they are all cool people. Anyway... I guess that's just the type of people that do game testing... after all they do play games most of the time... and try to find problems in the games.

well, ok, I need to get some food to cook dinner.

Later,
SteveO

Starting to shine

I guess I'm really starting to shine around the work place... today I gave all the guys in the MP Lab a brief introduction to UDP VS TCP/IP... UDP uses less bandwidth was the main theme... and we tracked down some guys who were cheating on X-Box Live... it was pretty cool, and it really set the tone of what types of information I do know about computers... with a little luck it might help me to go Blue (hired full time)...

Other than that... the usual stuff... trying to break the software... my bug count is up to 6 so far... and everyone is shocked that the new guy with no testing experience is finding one bug for every working day that he is actually looking for bugs. I really feel like I fit in here... and even though the hours are really long, and I have no time for a personal life, I still love it!

anyway... dinner time, then I'm off to bed. G'night

Later,
SteveO

Worse than a shell script...

Today we came up with something worse than a shell script to replace someone in the lab...

As Kale entered the lab, we informed him that he had been replaced by a half a dozen dough-nut holes.... now that is unsulting...

anyway... I look back and remember, I had a day off once... just once... at it looks like it will be that way until we reach a release date.

We seem to be on a 60 hour per week schedule for the duration of this project. I guess that's the sad thing about joining a project like this so late, but I guess that is just how it goes...

So, I leave the house at 8am... and don't return until around 11pm... and I only get paid for a 9.5 hour day... that kinda sucks.I almost wish they would just keep us until 9... because then I would be able to take a bus to still get home at the same time.

but anyway... yesterday was my day off. and I went out to North Bend to climb Mt Si. It was a good time... Allister, James, Brian, Mike, Jaani, and I all went up the mountain for a day in the wilderness-esk type area... I only say "esk type area" because while it is a remote area that is relatively difficult to access, the trail is one of the most hiked trails in the country. It's a lot of fun, and a bunch of people were up there with their dogs... so Jaani loved running around without his leash.

oddly enough, I don't think Jaani wandered more than five feet away from me the whole time... and that was only because James wanted to race him down the trail... but he never went away from the group.

Meanwhile... Jaani has cost me another $260 in vet bills due to a skin infection, which may cost more money if it doesn't get better and I have to take him to the dermatologist...

Other than that... it's work work work... all day and into the wee hours of the night.

I guess I have plenty of time for reading though, so it's a good thing that I have a lot of books I can read.

anyway... I'm going to bed. here is a picture from my hike:


Later,
SteveO