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Daily Cup of TechBean There, Done Tech |
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Very funny and very informative!
So, who’s up for DVORAK?
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Wireless security is always something that I am concerned about. I have written about this before and I continue to come up with new and better ways to protect my network.
Recently, I have taken to completely turning off my wireless access point. I figure, if there is no wireless signal to access, then there is nothing to hack into. I got myself another digital timer just like the one I wrote about in How To Get a 2 Year Old To Wake Up When You Want. Then, I analyzed then I needed to have the wireless on and when it was not being used and I programmed it to be off during those times!
Some of the times that I discovered the wireless could be turned off include:
This seems to work well for me about 95% of the time. But, I did find that the on/off button on the timer was very important. It was also very inconvenient because the timer was in the back of my wiring closet which is always a pain to get into.
So, my future plans are to built a Y power splitter for the access point. I will then purchase a switch with a remote contol. I can then plug the timer into one outlet, the remote switch into the other, the Y cord into each device. I would then plug the wireless access point into the Y cord.
Theoretically, I should be able to then have the access point powered by either the timer or the remote control.
Please remember, I am not an electrical engineer and this is only an idea. Don’t go out an electrocute yourself!
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Yesterday, we talked about the first four lessons that we can learn from Wile E. Coyote about project management. To recap, they are:
Today, we are going to move on to the next five lessons. Some of these may be less obvious but they are no less important.
One of the constant themes that I have discovered exists in these cartoons is that Wile E. will often come to the conclusion that all he needs is the ability to move as fast as the road runner. Often, he achieves this goal through various means just to realize in the end that going as fast as the road runner is only part of the equation and that there are several other skills which the Road Runner has accomplished which allows him to stay in control while at these speeds. Skills such as the ability to stop quickly,turn at high speeds and control direction of travel are all just as important as getting up to speed. Unfortunately, Wile E. Coyote never masters these skills.
If Wile E. knew that he did not have the skill set to properly travel at high speeds, he could have potentially come up with a different plan or called in some help, saving himself a lot of pain and aggravation. The same can be said for your IT projects. If you know your limitations regarding what is required for the project, you will know exactly when you need to bring in outside help or change your plans accordingly.
More often than not, Wile E. has some good ideas. The problem that he runs into is that his thought processes stop at what he believes will work. He does not think about what other things could happen. He never goes to the next step to determine what else might happen.
We all do this. We are so excited that we have finally figured out what we believe will solve that nagging problem which has been frustrating us for what seems like forever that we forget to take it the next step and figure out what the rest of the side effects are. Sure, you may have solved that Word problem but you managed to take down the entire network at the same time. Not exactly a good solutions.
Some of the ideas that Wile E. comes up with are nothing if not creative. He will often put together a combination of seemingly unrelated objects to invent something that is truly brilliant.
But, yet again, it does not work. In fact, it is often the shear complexity of the device which causes the problem. Remember the old saying, “The more you fix the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain.”
My advice is to follow the KISS method (Keep It Simple, Stupid). There are definitely times when a complex solution is the correct solution. Just take a look at how complex something like the space shuttle needs to be.
But this is IT, not rocket science. If there are two different solutions that will provide you with the same outcome, I highly recommend you go with the simplest because they are easier to implement, easier to troubleshoot, less likely to fail, and generally less expensive.
Is it just me or does Wile E. need to start shopping elsewhere? I mean, really! Of often does a company need to send me something that does not work before I start thinking, “Maybe there is an R&D issue at this company,” or “The QA department needs to be replaced!”
The ACME Corporation (which, some people believe stands for American Company that Makes Everything) will apparently provide Wile E. with everything that an enterprising young coyote needs, except for satisfaction. (It appears that there was even a lawsuit filed against ACME by Mr. Coyote at one point!)
While we may find it funny that Wile E. continually goes back to the same company for all of his road runner catching needs, we do the same things! I can’t remember how many times I’ve heard people say things like, “I will only use…”:
When we make statements like these, we immediately limit ourselves and the creativity of our solutions.
I recently had someone ask me, “Are you a Mac or a PC guy?” My response? “I works with several different operating systems and various hardware platforms and I have come to the conclusion that, while each will often excel in specific areas, there is no one perfect system or configuration that will work the best in all situations. That is why I choose the correct operating system and platform depending on the task that I need to perform. I have no loyalty to any one.”
From what I have seen of the shows, the primary reason that Wile E. is after the Road Runner is to get a good meal. And it does appear as thought he has skipped a meal or two in his day. But, here is the one thing that has bothered me about this cartoon ever since I was a kid:
If Wile E. has enough money to pay for all of these contraptions that from the ACME Corporation and the time to wait for them to arrive by mail order, why doesn’t he just ORDER SOME FOOD!? I mean, seriously? Has this idea never crossed the mind of our coyote genius? Just pick up the phone and order some KFC, Whitecastle, McDonalds, WHATEVER. The food will come quicker and there is a significantly less chance that a bomb will explode next to you and knock you over a cliff while you are chowing down on a Whopper and extra large fries!
OK. I’m glad I got that off my chest! But, I’ve talked with IT managers who use projects as ways to get “perks” at the office so that they can try out new tech toys or they will buy the first gadget that appears to do the job without performing proper price checking due diligence or seeing if there is a more economical solution.
We will finish up this series tomorrow with part three. Hope to see you then.
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I was watching Saturday morning cartoons when an old favorite of mine came on. Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner suddenly graced my television screen and brought a smile to my face. Suddenly, I was seven again and trying to figure out ways for that coyote to catch that bird.
But, it didn’t take long for reality to set back in and it was once again 2009. And my project management hat went on. Viewing that coyote and that road runner from a project management perspective, I soon came to realize that both were making classic decisions that every project manager faces. And the outcomes are often very similar to what some project managers see.
So, I thought that I would present to you some of these project management lessons that I learned the morning from Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner.
One of the early episodes, Operation: Rabbit, is one of the few episodes where we hear Wile E. Coyote speak and he is paired up with Bugs Bunny. A lot of the dialog is about how much of a genius Wile E. Coyote is and how Bugs should just give up now and save them all a lot of trouble. Of course, in the end, Wile E. Coyote is without his rabbit stew.
We will often do this as IT people. We are so accustomed to being the person who knows how the systems work, how hardware and software interact, and it is not uncommon for us to receive accolades because of it. The worst thing that we can do is to start believing some of the misconceptions that people have about us. We do not know everything. We can’t just walk into a room and make any problem disappear.
Strong planning is the key. Without it, it is irrelevant how smart you are.
Sometimes, lack of planning isn’t Wile E. Coyote’s biggest problem. He’s had some pretty well thought out and well documented (something most of us can’t say we do) plans. And still, things go horribly wrong.
No matter how hard you try, how many details you think of, there is always something that is out of your control. The spring on the pistol doesn’t have enough tensile strength or the fuse on the rocket burns faster than it did in testing.
This is why when you are planning your IT projects, it is critical to have a full set of back-out and recovery plans in case things go completely wrong. You can’t think of every single factor that could affect your project so make sure Plan B is ready, just in case.
Wile E. Coyote has a nasty habit of thinking from time to time that he’s actually done it! He’s finally caught that road runner. But, alas, it is too good to be true. And, in the end, he discovers that he is worse off than when he started.
I’ve definitely done this! You just finish a complicated project and everything looks perfect. You are just on the way out after hurting your arm from patting yourself on the back for doing such a great job when the phone rings. Something isn’t working. Then another call. And another. Suddenly you realize that not only did your project fail, you’ve caused a significant amount of problems. Instead of your day winding up, you are just starting a very long and frustrating process of calming people down and troubleshooting unforeseen problems.
Make sure that you have checked over every possible factor you can think of before announcing you are done and even then, be prepared for the unexpected to come back and bite you in the derriere.
There is never an end to the things that goes wrong for our friend Wile E. And sometimes he is his own worst enemy. Instead of stopping and thinking through why something went wrong, he charges in, more concerned with fixing the problem than any potential consequences.
I did this one time. I was so focused on correcting the problem with the computer that I had just images that I did not notice when I went to re-image the machine I chose the wrong image name and indicated that I wanted to image to, not from the machine. I had to tell the client that we lost all of the data and that there was not way that I could get it back!
Take your time when things go wrong. Think through your actions. Then act when you have a sound updated plan.
That’s it for today. Tomorrow, we will look at some other things Wile E. does that gets him into trouble.
What do the following people all have in common:
Besides all being human (purposefully leaving out the obligatory mother-in-law joke), they were all first time computer users at some time. They all sat at a keyboard for the first time, stared blankly at the screen, and then said, “Now what?”
So, I decided to put together a list of books that every noobie should have on their shelves! I’ve also copied a brief description of each book so that you can see what you’re getting yourself into.
Just the Computer Essentials: A Plain-English, No-Nonsense Guide to Buying and Maintaining a PC Running the Windows Vista™ Operating System for Your Home or Home OfficeYou’ve seen the books for “dummies” and you’re beyond that - you know how to turn a computer on, check your email, and surf the Internet. There are books for geniuses that focus on getting over-detailed on technology you don’t care anything about. Why can’t there be a book for you - a book to help you buy a new computer or help you protect your computer and data without all the useless information???
You’ve come to the right place! Just the Computer Essentials is a book written for the everyday user.
Essential Introduction to Computers, Seventh EditionThe perfect coverage of essential computer concepts. Topics include hardware, software, communications, networks, the Internet, and covers information on how to purchase computers for personal use.
Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics (4th Edition)Who knew how simple computers could be?
What can you do with your new PC? The sky’s the limit! Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics will show you how to set up and configure your PC, including how to connect to the Internet. Then you’ll learn how to fix your digital photos, create digital scrapbooks, download digital music to your iPod, burn your own custom CDs, watch DVD movies, write letters and memos, balance your checkbook, and create show-stopping presentations. And if you need more computing horsepower, you’ll even learn how to upgrade your PC and add new peripherals. It’s all easy, thanks to Michael Miller’s step-by-step instructions and helpful advice!
Now updated for both Windows Vista™ and Windows® XP, Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics will have you using your new PC in no time! Here’s a preview of
what you’ll find inside:
Learn how to set up and configure your new computer, and install new computer hardware and software
Get the scoop on how to work with Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista, and how to personalize it just for you
Learn how to use the most popular computer programs—including Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Works, Microsoft® Money, and Quicken
Connect to the Internet for web surfing, email, instant messaging, blogging, and podcasts—and create your own MySpace page
Become a digital media pro—learn to work with digital cameras and photos, download and listen to digital music, and burn your own CDs and DVDs
Find out how to protect your PC from spam, viruses, spyware, and computer attacks
Learn how to set up a wireless home network and share your Internet connection with multiple PCs
The Internet for DummiesThis bestselling guide has introduced flocks of folks to the Internet, but the Internet evolves faster than you can turn pages. So jump aboard our cyber-ship and discover the newest Internet. Along with classic tasks like e-mail and Web browsing, this edition covers new trends like online video, photo albums, and even using the Internet as your telephone!
Internet SimplifiedThe content boom on the Internet has been explosive in the past few years with more than a billion people surfing worldwide. Internet Simplified shows beginning level computer users how to get comfortable surfing the web and how to navigate the flood of information once they find what they’re looking for. Users will find helpful information on the most talked about newcomers to the online world such as social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, blogging, and downloading media content from YouTube and iTunes, as well as an introduction to the old standbys such as email, auction sites, and instruction for safe surfing. Coverage on how to safeguard against viruses and SPAM and keep computers free from unwanted visitors is approached in a gentle, user-friendly manner so anyone can apply the techniques and be free from troublesome intrusions. Full-color screen shots and numbered, step-by-step instructions guide readers through the intricacies of navigating the web in a friendly, approachable way. The updated design features a more sophisticated look and larger fonts and images to make this a perfect reference for all ages.
David Pogue’s Digital Photography: The Missing ManualIf you’re ready to jump into digital photography or would like to increase the skills you already have, David Pogue’s Digital Photography: The Missing Manual is just what you need. Bestselling author David Pogue provides a no-nonsense guide to the entire process, including how to: buy and use a digital camera; get the same photographic effects as the pros; manage the results on your Mac or PC; edit photos; and, finally, share the results with your adoring fans — on paper, online, or on mugs, jigsaw puzzles, and blankets.
After reviewing hundreds of digital cameras and photo services in his weekly New York Times column, David Pogue knows digital photography. With this new Missing Manual you will:
David Pogue’s witty, authoritative voice has demystified the Mac, Windows, iPods and iPhones for millions of readers. Now, he offers step-by-step instructions and plenty of friendly advice to help you join in the fun and get real satisfaction from digital photography.
Windows Vista® Plain & Simple KitWhether you’re helping friends and family get up and running, or buying a new computer for yourself or a family member, this easy, colorful, two-book kit is designed for you. It’s loaded with tips and tricks to make it easy for you–or the new user you’re helping–to set up and use a new Windows Vista-powered PC. This kit features two great resources: The WINDOWS VISTA PLAIN & SIMPLE GUIDE TO HELPING FRIENDS & FAMILY answers the most common questions and how-to’s related to selecting, setting up, and running a new PC. It uses real-world analogies to explain basic computing concepts and offers helpful techniques, support sidebars, Web site suggestions, and more. You also get the popular WINDOWS VISTA PLAIN & SIMPLE book–the easy, colorful, SEE-HOW guide to getting things done with Windows Vista. Topics include running programs and gadgets, browsing the Web, burning CDs, organizing photos and music, playing games, troubleshooting, and other everyday tasks and topics.Each book offers practical examples and troubleshooting tips–written in plain English–for the tasks that novices want to accomplish most. Get up and running quickly–and get to the good stuff faster!
Beginning Ubuntu LinuxBeginning Ubuntu Linux, the award–winning and best–selling Ubuntu book for beginners, is now in its third edition, presenting readers with an up–to–the–minute introduction to the world of Linux and the open source community. A detailed overview of Ubuntu’s installation and configuration process encourages you to take the plunge and switch to Linux, and from there you’ll learn how to wield total control over your newly installed operating system. Guided through the most commonly desired tasks such as printer configuration, listening to audio CDs and MP3s, watching movies, performing office and Internet–related tasks, as well as general system maintenance matters, authors Keir Thomas and Jaime Sicam will soon have you using and enjoying Ubuntu Linux and never looking back.
You’ll also find a series of comprehensive tutorials on Linux internals and the command–line prompt—essential for any Linux user—along with special sections on optimization, security, and system maintenance that will broaden your knowledge to professional level.
The complete Ubuntu Linux distribution is included free on the DVD inside the book. Simply insert the DVD and follow the instructions in the book to install Ubuntu Linux!
Microsoft Office 2007: Essential Concepts and TechniquesIn Microsoft Office 2007: Essentials Concepts and Techniques you’ll find features that are specifically designed to improve retention, and prepare readers for future success. Our trademark step-by-step, screen-by-screen approach now encourages users to expand their understanding of the Outlook 2007 software through experimentation, exploration, and planning ahead.
Cyber Crime Fighters: Tales from the TrenchesWritten by leading cyber crime investigators, Cyber Crime Fighters: Tales from the Trenches takes you behind the scenes to reveal the truth behind Internet crime, telling shocking stories that aren’t covered by the media, and showing you exactly how to protect yourself and your children. This is the Internet crime wave as it really looks to law enforcement insiders: the truth about crime on social networks and YouTube, cyber stalking and criminal cyber bullying, online child predators, identity theft, even the latest cell phone crimes. Here are actual cases and actual criminals, presented by investigators who have been recognized by the FBI and the N.H. Department of Justice. These stories are true—and if you want to stay safe, you need to know about them.
• Learn how today’s criminals can track your whereabouts, read your emails, and steal your identity
• Find out how much of your personal information is already online—and how to keep the rest private
• Learn how cyber stalkers really think—and how to protect yourself from them
• Protect your laptop, your iPod, and your precious data from getting stolen
• Encounter the “dark side” of Internet dating
• Discover the hidden crime wave on today’s specialized social networks
• Uncover the cell phone “upskirters” and “downblousers” —and the technicalities that keep them out of jail
• Follow cyber crime specialists as they investigate and catch online sexual predators
• Get the real truth about phishing, pharming, criminal spam, and online scams
• See how investigations really work—and why TV crime shows often get it wrong!
• Walk through your own personal, step-by-step, online safety checkup
If you are interested in getting started on pretty much any technical topic, you really can’t go wrong with something from the Dummies Series. These books assume nothing, giving you clear and concise that is not only easy to follow but is in language that doesn’t require a pocket protector or and advanced degree in engineering to understand.
And once you get used to using that Internet thing, your first stop should be Newbie.org!
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. These books assume nothing, giving you clear and concise that is not only easy to follow but is in language that doesn’t require a pocket protector or and advanced degree in engineering to understand.