On role models.

My office mate is an uberprogrammer. I am merely competent, and that in just a handful of languages. I just observed that they mere fact of knowing that he would look at and probably use my code made me do a better job than I might have otherwise.

(I astounded one of our newer colleagues a few days ago by mentioning that I was only adequate as a programmer. "Don't you need to be a programmer to be a sysadmin?" No, you simply have to have a solid grounding in programming basics. Actual development experience is not necessary. The ability to memorize and grok complex abstract semi-hierarchical relationships, on the other hand, is key.

On role models.

My office mate is an uberprogrammer. I am merely competent, and that in just a handful of languages. I just observed that they mere fact of knowing that he would look at and probably use my code made me do a better job than I might have otherwise.

(I astounded one of our newer colleagues a few days ago by mentioning that I was only adequate as a programmer. "Don't you need to be a programmer to be a sysadmin?" No, you simply have to have a solid grounding in programming basics. Actual development experience is not necessary. The ability to memorize and grok complex abstract semi-hierarchical relationships, on the other hand, is key.

Story idea

Well, a fragment: an unscrupulous systems administrator makes money by investing in the penny stocks featured in pump-and-dump spams. This is made possible by correlating arrival times and alphabetical addresses across a bunch of networks: his program looks for signs that the majority of the spam blast has not yet been sent, then buys those stocks. If the spam run appears to be near its end, he stays away. The various networks all autoreport spam to him as part of a razor-style antispamming system.

(Later: this story brought to you by the realization that 84% of the spambox at work is stock pumping schemes.)

Story idea

Well, a fragment: an unscrupulous systems administrator makes money by investing in the penny stocks featured in pump-and-dump spams. This is made possible by correlating arrival times and alphabetical addresses across a bunch of networks: his program looks for signs that the majority of the spam blast has not yet been sent, then buys those stocks. If the spam run appears to be near its end, he stays away. The various networks all autoreport spam to him as part of a razor-style antispamming system.

(Later: this story brought to you by the realization that 84% of the spambox at work is stock pumping schemes.)

Disposable printers.

What was once fantasy, then science fiction, then mere prediction, is now true: we are living in the age of the disposable printer.

Just now I saw an ad from a reputable company offering to sell me an HP color inkjet for $30. Oh, and free shipping. Oh, and a $10 gift certificate to an unrelated business. Given that a set of new ink for said printer costs $20 for black or $30 for color... there is no point in buying more ink when it runs out. Just get a new printer for the same price.

Printer manufacturers ought to lease their printers to consumers on a price-per-page model. If the printer breaks, send a new one for shipping cost. Every year offer the option of replacing your current one with the new model for free, or upgrade to a higher-end printer for a one-time-cost. That way they could build recurring revenue and customer loyalty, and ensure proper (and probably cost-effective) recycling of the components.

Disposable printers.

What was once fantasy, then science fiction, then mere prediction, is now true: we are living in the age of the disposable printer.

Just now I saw an ad from a reputable company offering to sell me an HP color inkjet for $30. Oh, and free shipping. Oh, and a $10 gift certificate to an unrelated business. Given that a set of new ink for said printer costs $20 for black or $30 for color... there is no point in buying more ink when it runs out. Just get a new printer for the same price.

Printer manufacturers ought to lease their printers to consumers on a price-per-page model. If the printer breaks, send a new one for shipping cost. Every year offer the option of replacing your current one with the new model for free, or upgrade to a higher-end printer for a one-time-cost. That way they could build recurring revenue and customer loyalty, and ensure proper (and probably cost-effective) recycling of the components.