Bob's Boring Banter

Saturday, September 06, 2003

Yeah! I got a job! I'll be testing Mac software for SBC's Internet group! Wheeee!

Of course, it occurs to me that Scott Adams was working at SBC when he started the Dilbert comic strip, and as we all know, much hilarity subsequently ensued.

posted by Bob R. 8:58 AM

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

A nice piece on Salon today by David Talbot on Democrats finally fighting back against the clowns who run our country right now. My favorite part:

And what is the temper of the Democratic Party base? They loathe Bush and everything he stands for -- he's become a lightning rod for dark and febrile passions in the same way Bill Clinton was (and is) for the GOP core. It's not just his harebrained ideological nostrums for how to reorder America and the world. They hate him and it's personal. They hate his frat-boy smirk, his phony fly-boy act, his cringe-inducing mangling of the language, his born-again sanctimony, even his Texas twang and his godforsaken, tumbleweed ranch where only someone as fence-post-dumb as W. would hole up in August. They hate him like their lives depended on it, lives that will certainly be unbearable if this bumbling extremist is reelected (or elected) in 2004.

posted by Bob R. 11:24 AM

Sunday, August 31, 2003

So I let myself get my hopes up about that last job I interviewed for. And I didn't get it. Let me tell you, this leaves you in a bad state of mind. Never let yourself get up about a job until you have the offer letter in hand.

But I have been working on ideas for doing my own consulting work, and not getting the job gives me the mental freedom to continue pursuing this dream, if you can call it that. I don't really have a business plan, but I've been reading up on the types of work I would want to do, and I guess a spiel I would give would look something like this:

I envision myself being a jack of all trades software/hardware consultant who can come out to your home or place of business and help you make computers work for you.

I see the computer as being a tool for business or home, not a source of frustration. Although I am a Macintosh advocate, I will also set up Windows systems, and advise you on the security problems inherent in that choice.

I can advise you on finding an Internet Service Provider and I can help you decide whether cable or DSL or dial-up access meets your needs.

I will help you set up a network that can be wired or wireless, including printers and other networked equipment.

I can troubleshoot systems, replace major hardware components and help you find businesses that will make repairs I can't make. I will do hardware and software upgrades, including memory (RAM) and storage (hard drives and optical media).

I'll only charge you when I come out to your place. I won't charge for phone calls.

Above all, I will be someone who will help you learn how these things work so that you can make good decisions about what to do on your own.

Now how can I back up these claims?

I have worked with computers in general since 1980. This covers machines as diverse as UNIVAC, VAX, Macintosh, Cray, FPS, Silicon Graphics, Sun, nCUBE, and Intel.

I have worked on just as many operating systems, including VAX/VMS, Unix (unicos, SunOS, Solaris, IRIX, Linux), Macintosh (from the original through OS 9 and OS X 10.2), and Windows (DOS, 95, 98, NT4, W2K, XP).

I have set up networks from scratch (AppleTalk, Ethernet, 802.11b/g), including modems, DSL modems, hubs, switches and routers.

I have many satisified customers already, and I can send you a list on request.

So that's the spiel--look for a redesigned website soon.

posted by Bob R. 11:22 AM

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