The problem with IT – More money Syndrome
The more and more I deal with companies and managing networks and working with the wonderful world of windows server, the more and more I realise how poor many companies deal with IT.
Q: “What is the problem?”
A: “I don’t really know, but we can solve it if we buy a new X “
Here in lies the problem, there a number of companies that get this crap answer. There is very rarely a person in the company who will take responsibility and make sure their current system works properly before trying new things or upgrading, at the end of the day new hardware is meant to be better right?. Small to medium businesses have less of a problem with this because the amount spent on IT directly effects there bottom line, and don’t have deep pockets for IT to begin with.
The problem becomes even more pronounced when you get to a school or college. There are obvious complexities with these system your dealing with a couple of hundred computers and about 10 times as many users, but when anything goes wrong more money ‘must’ be spent to solve the problem. Inevitably the systems breakdown within a couple of weeks or even days, because the real problem wasn’t tackled or even attempted to find a fix.
For the average user this is a minor or major frustration depending on which way you spin it, but for anybody interested or working in tech like me, its like having burnt sticks buried into the back of my eyes. It can’t be too difficult to get it set up right in the first place, I like buying new tech as much as the next man (probably even more) but you have to realise somewhere along the line what you are proposing is costing someone a shed load of money and that money could be used better elsewhere, especially in schools.
–Rant Over–
I almost get Twitter, I think.
OK, so I will be the first to admit I am quite the geek but I didn’t really get twitter. Fair enough I have had an account but it wasn’t until last night that the penny finally dropped.
So I have twitter in my AIM account, but have never really done anything with it. “track iron man” the 3 words that brought about the revelation that made twitter make sense to me.
Within seconds I had 30 messages, all relating to our favorite subject Iron Man. Not content with just one subject I added a couple more, and then shut down AIM. Unfortunately for my iphone it was ill equipped to deal with that many messages in one go, so mobile messaging is now disabled. I think twitter is one of those weird things you come across that you have to have being using it for a couple of weeks, before you actually get it.
Heres to Twitter!!
Update:
Its one of those things that snowballs, I don’t think I post that much but the information I get out of twitter is invaluable. Like:
Stay until the end of Iron Man, there’s an extra scene.
Also its nice to just be able to post, that witty one liner you just came up with ;-).
Twitter Updates for 2008-05-05
- word for mac 2008 is the worst program ever made. #
Twitter Updates for 2008-05-04
- If your not to bothered about being PC checkout Kevin ‘Bloody’ Wilson #
- tracktrack kurzweil #
- needs no explanation really – http://tinyurl.com/69648f #
- facebook is getting almost as bad as myspace, its slowing to an unbearable pace #
- twitter facebook app borked – http://tinyurl.com/5lht7y #
- the longer you spend on the internet the longer you spend on the same sites #
- watching twit live http://www.twitlive.tv #
- stickam is melting thanks to twitlive #
The problem with Phorm
Phorm is a obvious idea, associate ads with what a user views and they will be more likely to click on these ads. There are obvious privacy concerns with the system what gets associate to the users, coupled with rushed legislature link. Could land many people in hot water and prison.
Phorm is just the latest incarnation of what is a global trend, we already collect enough data to be able to track every persons moves transactions and friends, we just don’t want the dots to be connected up. Thats when it will go wrong. For better or for worse we are going digital, and more so with web 2 centralising the data we have, making it even easier for profiles of innocent people to be made.
The problem with these systems are if they are put together, no is squeaky clean. For instance I have peace of music in my iTunes library called “Thank God for the Terrorists” it isn’t too hard to imagine if I was traced buying that piece of music, I could be arrested.
We need to fight to make sure these database aren’t connected up anymore then they already are, we don’t need ID cards, or CCTV to stop terrorism and crime. We need to grow up, and tackle the root causes. It’s very dangerous to even think these things do anything to stop crime or terrorism.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” – Benjamin Franklin
Review in 20 Seconds: Iron Man [Film]
Ok, so I would be the first to admit that I didn’t think Iron Man was going to be a film for me.
As always I turned out to be wrong, I aren’t a comic book fan but this film has to be one of the best ‘superhero’ films ever made. I mean come on Spiderman isn’t all that great and The Incredible Hulk isn’t that brilliant either.
The dialogue is engaging and witty, and most of all the whole thing is almost believable.
Verdict
Go See!!
Google Links for 05/03/08
Todays Hot Pics – Straight from Google Reader
Review in 20 Seconds: Primo [TV]
Primo, is a one man play based on the memoirs of Primo Levy; A survivor of .
I have to say Anthony Sher’s performance and adaption of the memoirs is amazing, I started watching the program by accident, and couldn’t believe how engaged I was within a few minutes, it is very evident that Sher has stage presence and convincing portrays the persona of Primo.
People often stray away from such awkward subject matter, either fearing a backlash or believing they wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Fortunately Primo suffers neither, and should be a watch for everybody. Its honest and brutal, without employing any other actors other than Sher himself.
Verdict
An amazing and poignant film.
Links
Primo @ amazon.co.uk
Review in 20 Seconds: Three and Out [Film]
I should start by reiterating my statement “2008 is going to be a good year for British Cinema”
3 and Out is what many people have come to expect from Dark British Humor, and that respect it doesn’t disappoint. However, it has some rather intersting twists ands turns, and doesn’t end anywhere where you would expect it to. Its honest and funny in the places where it is appropriate, but most of all its an enjoyable if somewhat tense watch.
Verdict
Enjoyable and Tense – If you want out and out comedy this is not a film for you, but if you want a serious yet funny film, get yourself into a cinema.
Links