Daily Cup of Tech

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My daughter was quite distraught this morning. She had found a penny yesterday and she had put it in her room to before she went to bed last night. When she woke up this morning, she could not remember where she had put the penny and was in a panic to find it. We looked everywhere in her bedroom without any success.

I stepped out of the room for a couple of minutes and then returned to the search. “Miraculously”, only a few seconds after rejoining the search, I “found” the absent penny!

Anyone who has had children knows exactly what I did. I went into our change jar, dug out a different penny and then planted it in my daughter’s room where it was found and solved the problem.

The reason that this works because for people, perception is reality. My daughter perceived that I had found her lost penny so, in her mind, I did find her lost penny. The fact that he penny she has now is not the same penny that she lost is irrelevant. In her mind, this is her penny.

This same principle holds just as true for managers and employers as it does for five year old girls with lost pennies. It can be very easy for IT personnel to give the people that they answer to the perception that they are busy working on projects when, in reality, they are doing other things.

For example, it is quite difficult for your boss to know the difference between you researching for the new mail server upgrade project and researching your hobby. Or writing a post on your blog looks an awful lot like working on that server documentation.

Here’s the thing. You may get away with this for a while. In fact, you might get away with it for years! But, in the end, it will come back to bite you on the backside. Here’s why.

Reality always trumps perception. In the end, your knowledge of the mail server upgrade will be deficient or the server documentation does not get done one time. People notice these patterns over time and this will negatively affect your reputation.
Hard, diligent work always pays off long term. There is something to be said for hard work. It teaches you to focus, to complete projects and to be responsible. None of these things can be learned through deception.
The risk isn’t worth it. So, what do you think your boss will say when (not if) s/he discovers that they have been paying you to surf the Internet? Best case scenario, you will get a reprimand. Worst case scenario, you are looking for a new job without a good letter of reference.

I know the temptation to pull the wool over your employer’s eyes is strong. It is so easy to do. But the long term damage that you could be doing to your career just does not justify it. RESIST!

If you found this post useful, why don't you buy me a cup of coffee to show your gratitude?

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[Star Wars Yoga]

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I recently read 64 Things Every Geek Should Know and I was inspired to create The “Official” Geek “Must Do Before You Die” Checklist:

Done	#	Item	Web Reference
	1.	Add a Third Monitor	http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/17960-13-adding-monitor
	2.	Build a Linux Firewall	http://www.ocmodshop.com/ocmodshop.aspx?a=1524
	3.	Build a Network File Server	http://dailycupoftech.com/howto-install-freenas/
	4.	Build a PC	http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/
	5.	Build a Robot	http://www.hiskey.us/PhysicalComputing/Week10.aspx
	6.	Build an HTML based Website using Notepad	http://www.w3schools.com/htmL/
	7.	Bypass a Computer Password on All Major Operating Systems	http://www.joetech.com/2009/01/29/how-to-crack-the-account-password-on-any-operating-system/
	8.	Bypass School or Work Website Blocks	http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
	9.	Carry a Computer Cleaning Arsenal on Your USB Drive	http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
	10.	Compile a Linux Kernel	http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/compiling-linux-kernel-26.html
	11.	Control Your House Lights with a Computer	http://www.instructables.com/id/Control-lights-in-your-house-with-your-computer/
	12.	Convert Cassette Tapes to Digital Audio Files	http://lifehacker.com/software/mp3/alpha-geek-how-to-digitize-cassette-tapes-222394.php
	13.	Crack a Wi-Fi Password	http://docs.lucidinteractive.ca/index.php/Cracking_WEP_and_WPA_Wireless_Networks
	14.	Create “Hello, World” in at Least Five Different Programming languages	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphabetical_list_of_programming_languages
	15.	Create a Disposable E-Mail Account	http://dailycupoftech.com/2009/03/14/create-a-temporary-e-mail-account-on-your-domain/
	16.	Create a Recovery Drive Image of Your Computer	http://dailycupoftech.com/2008/05/06/free-or-open-source-imaging-solutions/
	17.	Create a WordPress Plugin	http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/wordpress/creating-a-custom-wordpress-plugin-from-scratch/
	18.	Create a WordPress Theme from Scratch	http://www.wpdesigner.com/2007/02/19/so-you-want-to-create-wordpress-themes-huh/
	19.	Create an Add-On for Firefox	http://lifehacker.com/software/programming/how-to-build-a-firefox-extension-264490.php
	20.	Create an SSH Tunnel	http://www.ehow.com/how_2036605_create-ssh-putty.html
	21.	Create Music with Keyboard	http://thebatman.net/keybored/
	22.	Design and Build a Circuit Board	http://www.olimex.com/pcb/dtools.html
	23.	Do Cool Things to Altoids Tins	http://www.squidoo.com/altoids-tins
	24.	Download a Video from YouTube	http://keepvid.com/
	25.	Download Wikipedia	http://download.wikimedia.org/
	26.	Execute a Shell Script	http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/unixhelp/scrpt/scrpt1.2.html
	27.	Find a Users IP Address on AIM	http://www.elitehackers.info/forums/archive/index.php/t-2827.html
	28.	Find a Website IP Address Without Web/CommandPrompt Access	http://laptoplogic.com/resources/64-things-every-geek-should-know
	29.	Flash System BIOS	http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1605
	30.	Hack a Pop Machine	http://skattertech.com/soda-machine-hack/
	31.	Hack a USB Drive Startup File	http://dailycupoftech.com/usb-drive-autoruninf-tweaking/
	32.	Hide a File Behind a JPEG	http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/hide-file-in-picture/
	33.	Homebrew Hack Game Systems	http://www.3stepads.com/2009/03/05/learn-unlock-wii-system/
	34.	Increase Wi-Fi Range	http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000451
	35.	Install a Content Management System for a Website	http://dailycupoftech.com/2009/04/24/cms-roundup/
	36.	Irrecoverably Protect Data	http://www.truecrypt.org/
	37.	Jailbreak an iPhone	http://lifehacker.com/398906/jailbreak-iphone-20-with-pwnagetool
	38.	Know the Meaning of Technical Acronyms	http://www.techterms.com/acronyms.php
	39.	Know Who Mulder and Scully Are	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulder_and_Scully_(song)
	40.	Learn and Write Javascript	http://www.yourhtmlsource.com/javascript/basicjavascript.html
	41.	Learn At Least One Fictional Language	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_constructed_languages
	42.	Learn Hexadecimal and Binary Number Systems	http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.aspobjID=DIG1102
	43.	Learn How to Convert a DVD to x264 (or XviD or DivX)	http://howto.diveintomark.org/ipod-dvd-ripping-guide/
	44.	Learn How to Hot Wire a Car	http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Hot_Wire_Your_Car
	45.	Learn How to Install Mac OS X on a PC	http://dailyapps.net/2007/10/hack-attack-install-leopard-on-your-pc-in-3-easy-steps/
	46.	Learn How to Reset RAM	http://www.yousaytoo.com/sudjarwo/how-to-reset-ram-in-a-computer/29133
	47.	Learn Important Keyboard Shortcuts	http://ow.ly/548w
	48.	Learn the Fastest way to Kill a Computer	http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1720
	49.	Learn to Identify Keyloggers	http://www.ghacks.net/2007/06/28/how-to-defeat-most-keyloggers-on-public-computers/
	50.	Learn to Identify Major Constellations	http://www.sky-watch.com/astronomy-guide/major-constellations.html
	51.	Load Rockbox onto an MP3 Player	http://rockbox.org
	52.	Lock Your Computer with a USB Drive	http://lionjkt.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/how-to-lock-your-computer-with-usb-drive/
	53.	Make a Cat5 Patch and Crossover Cable	http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/save-money-how-to-make-your-own.html
	54.	Make a Laptop Cooling Pad	http://www.instructables.com/id/Lazy-mans-laptop-cooler/
	55.	Make Your Office Ergonomic	http://www.ergotron.com/tabid/305/language/en-US/default.aspx
	56.	Mod a Flash Drive Case	http://www.instructables.com/id/Metal-USB—Flash-drive-case-mod/
	57.	Monitor Network Traffic	http://www.slac.stanford.edu/xorg/nmtf/nmtf-tools.html
	58.	Mount and ISO in a Virtual DVD Drive	http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/mount-an-iso-image-in-windows-vista/
	59.	Move Completely To Open Source	http://www.osalt.com/
	60.	Permanently Delete Data on a Hard Drive	http://www.dban.org/
	61.	Permanently Delete Your Facebook Account	http://www.facebook.com/group.phpgid=16929680703
	62.	Pick a Lock	http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/mitguide/
	63.	Play a Geek Practical Joke	http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/news/2008/03/pranks08currentPage=all
	64.	Play Retro Games without Retro Consoles	http://www.ladyada.net/make/fuzebox/index.html
	65.	Put LEDs Inside a Light Bulb	http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/06/make_a_led_bulb.html
	66.	Put Open Source Firmware on a Router	http://kamikaze.openwrt.org/docs/openwrt.html#x1-40001.1.1
	67.	Read 1337 At Normal Speed	http://www.wikihow.com/Read-and-Write-in-1337
	68.	Recover Deleted Files	http://lifehacker.com/393084/how-to-recover-deleted-files-with-free-software
	69.	Recover Master Boot Record	http://www.ntfs.com/mbr-damaged.htm
	70.	Register Your Name as an Internet Domain	http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/registerdomain.shtml
	71.	Remotely Control a Computer	http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfmarticleID=1441
	72.	Replace a Laptop Keyboard	http://www.refurbished-laptop-guide.com/how-to-remove-a-laptop-keyboard.html
	73.	Replacing a Laptop LCD	http://www.fonerbooks.com/laptop_4.htm
	74.	Retrieve Data off Hard Drive	http://laptoplogic.com/resources/5-ways-to-retrieve-data-off-a-crashed-hard-drive
	75.	Rip Streaming Videos	http://applian.com/download-videos/
	76.	Run an Operating System from a USB Thumb Drive	http://www.pendrivelinux.com/
	77.	Run Multiple Computers with one Keyboard and Mouse	http://dailycupoftech.com/2007/02/19/multiple-computers-1-keyboardmouse-no-kvm/
	78.	Run Operating System inside a Virtual Computer	http://linuxvirtualization.com/
	79.	Run Your Own Ethernet Line	http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/ethernetcables.html
	80.	Screw with Wi-Fi Leeches	http://tech.nocr.at/hacking-security/baffle-wifi-leeches-with-an-upside-down-ternet-2/
	81.	Setup a Computer in the Cloud	http://howto.opml.org/dave/ec2/
	82.	Setup a Streaming Media Server	http://www.n00tz.net/2008/07/vlc-media-server-ubuntu-hardy/
	83.	Setup a VPN	http://www.computernetworkinghelp.com/content/view/41/1/
	84.	Setup an Apache, MySQL, Mail, PHP server on Windows and Linux	http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html
	85.	Shrink a Website URL	http://internet.suite101.com/article.cfm/shrink_a_link_with_free_url_shorteners
	86.	Soldering Glasses Together	http://www.ehow.com/how_1315_weld-glass.html
	87.	Strip Windows DRM	http://undrm.info/remove-DRM-protection/FairUse4WM-freeware-DRM-removal-Windows-software-Strip-copy-protection-from-WMV-ASF-WMA-Windows-Media-Player.htm
	88.	Surf the Web Anonymously	http://www.torproject.org/
	89.	Survive in a Linux Argument	http://www.linux.com/articles/feature/
	90.	Tethering a Smartphone	http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2276/smartphones_bb_treo_tether_modem_usa_carriers/
	91.	Turn a Laptop into a Digital Picture Frame	http://repair4laptop.org/notebook_picture_frame.html
	92.	Turn Webcams into Security Cameras	http://www.simplehelp.net/2006/09/27/how-to-use-your-pc-and-webcam-as-a-motion-detecting-and-recording-security-camera/
	93.	Unbrick a Smartphone	http://www.howardforums.com/
	94.	Understand What “There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1″ Means	http://www.tech-faq.com/127.0.0.1.shtml
	95.	Unleash a Laser Pointer’s full potential	http://hacknmod.com/hack/6-fantastic-laser-pointer-projects/
	96.	Unlock an iPhone	http://www.pcworld.com/article/137223/how_to_unlock_an_iphone.html
	97.	Upload a Video to YouTube	http://www.youtube.com/watchv=qFyIT7rVZ0Q
	98.	Use a Camera in Manual Mode	http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-camera-modes
	99.	Use Bittorrent Effectively	http://infinitium.blogspot.com/2005/03/js-essential-howto-guide-bittorrent.html
	100.	Wire a Home Theatre System	http://www.prillaman.net/ht_info_8-wiring.html