tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post6893330636237894768..comments2024-02-14T02:30:36.732-05:00Comments on The Blog of Helios: Linux Contractor Fired for Using Firefox/LinuxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-46141416266990580832010-03-04T07:21:01.406-06:002010-03-04T07:21:01.406-06:00Is there such a thing as too much anti-microsoft r...Is there such a thing as too much anti-microsoft ranting? Those who want to reach out and sing camp fire songs with Redmond will draw back a bloody stub for their troubles.<br /><br />Going along to get along is weak.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-65319465304706950962010-03-04T05:57:15.046-06:002010-03-04T05:57:15.046-06:00Your article title is disingenuous at best and int...Your article title is disingenuous at best and intentionally misleading at worst. If we are to take your hearsay as truth and not believe that your friend engaged in some anti-Microsoft ranting to one or more parties involved, then at worst your friend was fired for not having the necessary tools to do the job at hand.<br /><br />Recently I just came across a good article on "100 Linux Tips and Tricks"<br /><a href="http://www.adminkernel.com/linux/100-linux-tips-and-tricks" rel="nofollow">Here is its link.</a>creativesumanthttp://www.adminkernel.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-3591874368563862702010-02-03T11:26:25.308-06:002010-02-03T11:26:25.308-06:00I run Firefox on my WindowsXP machine at work, no ...I run Firefox on my WindowsXP machine at work, no issues. I take my laptop which runs Ubuntu 9.04 and hook it directly onto the company network without issue. It's pretty lax here, which is cool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-33394504958490368632009-12-16T15:27:27.298-06:002009-12-16T15:27:27.298-06:00There are a bunch of idiots that have posted on he...There are a bunch of idiots that have posted on here, they obviously don't have the ability to comprehend written English.<br /><br />At no point did the person refuse to use Windows and or IE.<br /><br />They rang the testing company to see if there was a different/less expensive solution to the problem.<br /><br />They did this in their own time to facilitate the testing/hiring process.<br /><br />If they had come to me for a job, and shown that sort of initiative I would have offered them more money.<br /><br />In my experience most of the people who, as suggested by the same morons who obviously can't comprehend written English, keep their heads down, invariably show little initiative at work, are clock watchers, and their work is almost always substandard. The only thing they seem to be really good at is hiding just how bad they are until they have left. Then someone with real nous has to pick up the pieces.<br /><br />tracyanneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-68172045040713566722009-12-15T17:51:04.628-06:002009-12-15T17:51:04.628-06:00Leave the poor kitty in peace, punch Steve Ballmer...Leave the poor kitty in peace, punch Steve Ballmer.Amenditmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12345522537672251667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-28801823016764275992009-12-15T00:32:48.927-06:002009-12-15T00:32:48.927-06:00I'm so mad at this story I want to punch a cat...I'm so mad at this story I want to punch a cat!kroon78http://www.photonothing.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-40918482903421708652009-12-10T19:39:09.301-06:002009-12-10T19:39:09.301-06:00Its easy to jump on the side of the IT guy or the ...Its easy to jump on the side of the IT guy or the PM, but both were wrong in this story.<br /><br />First of all, as many have pointed out the IT guy should have had access to a windows machine or VM. Its just as inexcusable for him not to have access to a working copy of IE as it is for the PM not to know about Firefox. That said, it is also inexcusable, that he would even need to call the PM and then the web testing company for support on such a trivial issue. <br /><br />Of course its ridiculous that a company hiring a Linux tech would not support Linux as a platform for supporting their platform. That's a messed up situation... but it is also ill advised to make noise about it and point out how messed up it is when you need the job and you aren't even hired yet. Do the Job. Get paid. Do not call for tech support because the competency testing doesn't support your browser/OS. How stupid can you be? Sure complain all you want to web sites that don't support W3C standards but not to your prospective employer. If you are on the way out the door and never intend to work for them again you can even bring it up as a parting jab. But use a little common sense for Pete's sake.<br /><br />Now for the project manager... to those that say she was right to get rid of the IT guy for being a bit of a loose cannon, I say a PMs job is to manage the project and that means the people on the project. She's ignorant if she has never heard of Linux or Firefox but that has nothing to do with her competency to manage the project. But not being able to manage one IT guy who wanted/expected to be able to take the test with his platform/browser of choice was her failure as a manager To not be able to do what a manager is supposed to do... manage personell proves her incompetence as a manager. It is inexcusable that the end result was a lie about the project being canceled. How very unprofessional.<br /><br />As an independent consultant, I can say from personal experience that you may as well expect this sort of thing. But in order to be successful as a consultant you have to be able to handle problems without bothering anybody higher up on the ladder than necessary. That means, if the URL produces a page that won't render, figure out why yourself before reporting it as a problem. If that means you have to use IE then do it without expecting them to conform to you. Dual boot, a VM running Windows, whatever. Or even... wait for thatlaptop they are so generously sending you... and be nervous as hell while you wait that you might be the only tech they hired that they had to send a laptop to.<br /><br />A good consultant is a problem solver. This IT guy/consultant showed his incompetence by not being able to solve on his own the problem of logging in to a competency testing website. How ironic is that? <br /><br />Wight13Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-10434396126402491732009-12-07T20:33:16.948-06:002009-12-07T20:33:16.948-06:00No, Krams, I wouldn't. But that's not wha...No, Krams, I wouldn't. But that's not what happened here.<br /><br />See, the project manager lied like a dawg. That principal *was* willing to use MS Windows and Internet Explorer on the computer the project manager was going to ship him. While waiting for said computer to arrive, he had simply asked the testing company about Firefox trying to make things better all around. The project manager, upon firing him (that's really what this was), no longer gave him the chance to even take the test, which, again, he was willing to do! Whoops....<br /><br />So, unfortunately, your comments totally misrepresent the situation. He did nothing wrong here. And she was a bad PM if she had to resort to lying about him like that.<br /><br />--SYGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-24642672135222781332009-11-30T08:47:47.987-06:002009-11-30T08:47:47.987-06:00Well, technically if you are taking a comeptency t...Well, technically if you are taking a comeptency test, you are not yet hired. And you cannot be fired if you have not been hired yet. <br /><br />candidate needed to take a test. Had Linux. Could not take test (blame the testing company). Employer - not getting test results did not hire said contractor. Would you hire someone if they did not pass your tests?Kramsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-83140306344524491412009-11-23T15:55:27.407-06:002009-11-23T15:55:27.407-06:00It is better off not working for that three letter...It is better off not working for that three letter company. From the story, you can tell the project manager know NOTHING about computing and have NO FREAKING idea what he/she doing. I don't think the project manager will be comfortable to have someone A LOT smarter because she know better how much she doesn't know. <br /><br />All the best,<br />G<br /><br />Proud to be a Linux UserAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-51138640936249574562009-11-21T00:53:16.134-06:002009-11-21T00:53:16.134-06:00A lot like trying to teach a pig to sing...
Not on...A lot like trying to teach a pig to sing...<br />Not only is it a waste of time.<br />But it simply annoys the pig ...Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17490966466819291720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-63499841455725806352009-11-19T23:03:52.122-06:002009-11-19T23:03:52.122-06:00I'm stuck working the dark side of tech suppor...I'm stuck working the dark side of tech support, Geek Squad. While I hate what i do, gotta pay the bills, and IT jobs where i live are like supermodel rocket scientists, not exactly common. So i totally understand how stupid a manager can be. I worked at Circuit City was well, and WOW. The people who companies put above technicians usually have no earthly idea what it is we do, and while that can be fun (it's great to be able to tech-talk out of anything) it sucks when the unit you speant 3 days digigng around in to remove the trojan WITHOUT setting it off walks out the door unpaid for because of a manager's decision.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-66252886590867828932009-11-19T21:33:32.147-06:002009-11-19T21:33:32.147-06:00Hundreds of years ago, if you tried to connect to ...Hundreds of years ago, if you tried to connect to God using your own religion, as opposed to the one of the people in power, you'd get burned alive.<br /><br />Nowadays in our Web fearing/loving society, using a different browser than the one used by the people in power can cost you your job.<br /><br />There is hope though, we don't burn people because of their religion any more.<br />So maybe, one day...Dr Strangelovehttp://www.pevinkinel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-13255948765151991332009-11-19T12:07:55.810-06:002009-11-19T12:07:55.810-06:00Ehhrmmm.... what is this window thing?Ehhrmmm.... what is this window thing?Roelf Renkemahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09344143464743402131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-43679123362932833842009-11-19T09:53:06.725-06:002009-11-19T09:53:06.725-06:00It only took me about a week for it to sink in, bu...It only took me about a week for it to sink in, but your one-picture-describes-a-thousand-rants photo is a view from behind the 8 ball. Good one Ken.kozmcraehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477116396443886503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-9223258796070431132009-11-19T08:50:49.545-06:002009-11-19T08:50:49.545-06:00"The company I am legally not allowed to ment..."The company I am legally not allowed to mention any more due to them firing my ass 4 years ago." (HAL) has a habit of doing this. <br /><br />Internally they're all "Use SmartSuite" and "We're moving to RedHat" with cute little Linux fesability study projects and such running. <br /><br />But don't you dare, EVEN TRY AND USE IT. You <b>WILL</b> use MS Office. You <b>WILL</b> use Internet Explorer and the company sanction build of Windows. Deviation from this is <i>frowned upon</i>.<br /><br />And yes, HAL will black ball people from the whole company globally for no reason at all. In fact, if a black ball reappears via another 3rd party (i.e. is an employee of a service provider) contracts get cancelled. If you are outsourced they black ball you as well.<br /><br />It makes, former HALers tricky to employ if you plan on courting the single red eye in the furture.Van'https://www.blogger.com/profile/03338605055348655505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-49898689820662850142009-11-19T08:45:31.322-06:002009-11-19T08:45:31.322-06:00how can a project manager for an IT project not kn...<i><b>how can a project manager for an IT project not know what Firefox is?</b></i><br /><br />Since when have management anywhere known anything? ;-p<br /><br />As to the person that was fired, there is a legal system in place to stop wrongful terminations, which this clearly is, I suggest she use it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-58182839130510947582009-11-19T06:39:33.046-06:002009-11-19T06:39:33.046-06:00IDIOTIC
BUSINESS
MEN?
:)<b>I</b>DIOTIC<br /><b>B</b>USINESS<br /><b>M</b>EN?<br />:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-1164001025458588882009-11-19T05:38:53.049-06:002009-11-19T05:38:53.049-06:00Why do so many companies require MS windows and IE...Why do so many companies require MS windows and IE or OS X and Safari why can't they allow Linux to be the one to do the job especially when it is so mainstream anymore? I have to reboot to watch netflix and other silly things.M. James and Onalisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033191833917139926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-63343662335411215052009-11-19T05:26:53.798-06:002009-11-19T05:26:53.798-06:00All of the people that are frying the 'princip...All of the people that are frying the 'principal' guy for 'not knowing how to use IE' are either missing the point or give themselves too much credit for their own intelligence. The point to the story was that this project was geared towards using Linux. This guy was the Linux consultant, so he tried to get a jump on things by beginning to tell them which way to go in order to make the project successful.<br /><br />Technically, he did make IBM look bad by jumping the gun and contacting them directly with a request that he thought was harmless. This company thought they were hiring IBM's brainpower, not that of an offshore contracting company.<br /><br />The end message here is that he bucked 'the system'. 'The system' is lazy, self-serving and run by people who only look for ways to do less work while making themselves look better and make more money. I realize most of this readership are young idealists eager to make the World a better place. I was once one myself. Still am, but it took a few years to realize that you can't change 'the system' overnight, simply because there are too many of them. This is just another example of what happens in 'the real world'. It can be a lot like High School at times.<br /><br />Never give up, though. That's what being young is for. ;)Adminnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-65158735746800468612009-11-18T12:00:10.597-06:002009-11-18T12:00:10.597-06:00@WE ARE *NIXED!--
Yes, that is incredibly unprofe...@WE ARE *NIXED!--<br /><br />Yes, that is incredibly unprofessional. Sounds like someone who is very insecure and unable to handle confrontations, and would rather lie to make it seem like the circumstances are beyond her control when they're actually not.<br /><br />@Anon 11/18 8:30--<br /><br />Sounds just like MCP/MCSE certs. I must be behind the times, I figured people who did project management usually had some formal business school degrees, not pathetic vocational certs. This explains much. You can give a useless, incompetent person a piece of paper because they crammed for a multiple-choice test, but you still can't make them remotely competent or imbue them with good sense. All they become is a pompous idiot with a piece of paper.Scott M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-74833139774056952632009-11-18T10:57:33.507-06:002009-11-18T10:57:33.507-06:00I'm the bad guy, I am a project manager. The f...I'm the bad guy, I am a project manager. The fact that I hate using MS products for very good reasons is completely irrelevant but true.<br /><br />I have been managing IT projects for more than 20 years, including development projects and software factories but I am not, never will be, an IT professional.<br /><br />One of the most difficult challenges I have faced once and again is to make a particular type of very competent IT professional understand the difficult balance between technical excellence and commercial sense.<br /><br />Let me trying again to explain what others before me have tried to do. What I see here is a PM that went beyond what I would have done to help someone through an assessment process (I'd have stopped at a point where an IT would be contractor tells me that he can't access the website, never ever would send a laptop to an uncontracted supplier). And then, after I had agreed a way forward, the problem comes to me by a different route. That's it, I probably have a dozen other candidates that they have already passed the assessment. This one is finished.<br /><br />And then, how do you tell some one that you are not hiring him. I would have most probably told some one to tell him (lest expensive choice) forget about it and keep focused on my project.<br /><br />And then I see on this blogs so many comments that forget the fact that a different linux expert, that did not have any issues to pass the assessment (and thus proved multiskilled) got the job.<br /><br />I agree no need to not tell the truth, but also, no real obligation to tell the exact motivation for the decision (and lots of legal risk). And remember, you want to be employed by a big company, you need to play by their rules, that's how they make money.<br /><br />Yes is a tough world and linux, firefox, open source are damaged greatly by attitudes as the ones shown here. They are not professional, they are not respectful, they are ....Manuelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-79742922817057536732009-11-18T08:30:54.300-06:002009-11-18T08:30:54.300-06:00"I concur on your assessment of Project Manag..."<i>I concur on your assessment of Project Managers. Fact the whole PM field is a sham in some ways. When the PMI website fosters the idea that any PM could run any project, I question that --</i>"<br /><br />I agree. I looked into the PMP route a while back; seemed like a logical path after having successfully managed IT projects for going on 20 years. It seemed to me to be nothing more than a thinly veiled pyramid scheme to make more people take the courses and the exams. After receiving your cert, you're expected to promote the whole PMP idea, teach in-house courses extolling the virtues of the PMP cert, etc., as part of the way to stay certified. I've met more PMP-certified folks that haven't the slighted idea of how to manage IT projects it isn't even funny. Frankly, the PMP is giving project management a bad name.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-73607489916214131382009-11-18T01:55:13.436-06:002009-11-18T01:55:13.436-06:00My broker does not allow direct trading access for...My broker does not allow direct trading access for any Microsoft OS for security reasons.<br /><br />Anybody doing any non-trivial work on Windows is just begging to be hacked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-82143915402078689262009-11-17T20:32:58.676-06:002009-11-17T20:32:58.676-06:00An anonymous commenter said "...this person l...An anonymous commenter said "...this person lost the contract because they were a nuisance"?<br /><br />Since when is being eager to get the job done a nuisance? The principal called the testing company to see what the principal could do on his end. Is this not a desire on the part of the principal to innovate?<br /><br />Aren't "successful candidates", for want of a better description of people in a corporate culture, supposed to be motivated (eager), and innovators?<br /><br />So "Anonymous" is telling me that going along to get along, like a dead fish floating with the currents, is more valuable than technical ability, eagerness, and innovation? Why then should I buy anything from the three-lettered company? Their products will reflect what they see as important.<br /><br />Way I see it, the calls from the testing company to the PM threatened to make the PM look bad to the PM's bosses, perhaps even to expose the PM as unqualified for the technical work. Ergo, PM CYA was needed, and somebody else, the principal, had to be blamed for the PM's technical incompetence.<br /><br />While technically incompetent, the PM no doubt has very good skills with smoke and mirrors which make the PM look very very good to people further up the organization chain. No doubt being of like mind, the people above the PM surely see the smoke and mirrors as a Good Thing. Yet again, the three lettered company will put what they value, smoke and mirrors, into their product.<br /><br />I never met the principal, and don't know much about him, but from what I see, I'd sooner work with him, or even for him, than work for the three lettered company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com