* Posts by Nunyabiznes

625 publicly visible posts • joined 6 May 2010

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America's EARN IT Act attacking Section 230 is back – and once again threatening the internet, critics say

Nunyabiznes

Re: you are REALLY bombastic

To be fully accurate:

NY told Spotify to remove JR or to remove him - in an effort to silence JR.

I'm not sure it was a completely altrusive moment. He got very little revenue from Spotify, and his record label (well the majority owners of his music) had to agree. He stood to lose very little and got some notoriety from the whole dustup. It was probably a net + for him. JR had to make a mealy mouth statement about inclusiveness, and Spotify came out with some bs statement about "correct" information.

Visiting a booby-trapped webpage could give attackers code execution privileges on HP network printers

Nunyabiznes

Re: "Updated firmware is available for download from HP, the company said in a statement."

Or if it is, it will bork your MFP.

Amazon India accused of copying merchant products and juicing search results to sell its own knockoffs

Nunyabiznes
Meh

Color me surprised.

Nunyabiznes

Re: Amazon UK do this

So your ASDA = Walmart here.

Sharing medical records with researchers: Assumed consent works in theory – just not yet in practice

Nunyabiznes

Re: smart as the folks in NHS Digital are

I'm sure there are some pretty smart people who are policy makers at NHS Digital. They just also happen to be unscrupulous bast*rds.

Don't fall into the trap that people who we disagree with are stupid.

BOFH: You. Wouldn't. Put. A. Test. Machine. Into. Production. Without. Telling. Us.

Nunyabiznes

This week

I got to watch another department explain that the test environment they had wasn't supposed to have live data on it. The department putting said data onto the system had been told repeatedly not to use it for production because it was a test system - please just test it so we know it is fit for purpose, no live data please.

Of course it now has 3+TB (!) of prod data on it and when it was switched off panic ensued. Upshot was that the test environment is now production - even though it has some issues that caused the decision to scrap it in the first place.

I would be more outraged, but the testing department did the same thing to us more than once in the past, so karma.

Zoom-o-cracy: Wales MP misses vote, allowing COVID-passport rule change, blames the IT dept

Nunyabiznes

Can't fix

All the technology in the world can't fix <stupid> arrogant asses who won't test remote access before important things come up.

Hands up for anyone who thinks he contacted IT before he decided to not be present at an important vote to test alternative connection capability.

Anyone? Bueller?

Surrey County Council faces £700k additional SAP support fees as £30m Unit4 ERP set to miss go-live target

Nunyabiznes

Vendor

If the vendor misses a date that they agreed to for implementation, why isn't the vendor paying a fee that covers incurred costs?

Nunyabiznes

Yeah, but shiny!

Texas cops sue Tesla claiming 'systematic fraud' in Autopilot after Model X ploughed into two parked police cars

Nunyabiznes

Re: Giving up the booze.

2 drinks in a normal sized person within an hour puts them over the legal limit here. 0.08 BAC.

So legally, if you've had 2 drinks and driven home you were "slammed". Shame on you.

US school districts blame Amazon for nationwide bus driver shortage

Nunyabiznes

Re: Bus drivers...

I'm sure hardened combat veterans would rather deal with the Taliban than teenage girls. Shudder.

Nunyabiznes

Re: Uhh...

A lot of drivers are looking for part time work as a filler or retirement gig. Amazon offers that too, but at a better rate (generally) and you don't have to listen to some snot-nosed brat's helicopter parents complaining that you asked their crotch-fruit to sit the heck down.

Amusing sidebar: My bus drivers (4 primary drivers over 12 years of riding school bus minimum of 45 minutes each way*) would simply lock up the brakes if you were running around instead of sitting. All but the most stubborn or stupid kids learned to get in, sit down and shut up. Parents knew better than to complain because the alternative was to drive your brat to school yourself while they were suspended from the bus.

*I seldom had homework because I did it on the bus. Didn't help my penmanship, but gave me much more time to wander off into the woods after getting home.

Nunyabiznes

Re: Bus drivers...

FFS.

Having the opportunity to leave for a better job every time it comes around is part and parcel of a free society - and is exactly what is happening in this case.

<snip long rant>.

BOFH: You'll find there's a company asset tag right here, underneath the monstrously heavy arcade machine

Nunyabiznes

Re: Sshh!

At least they got it sorted. A set of office buildings were completely built out and leases had been signed before they figured out not one of the set of 4 had a janitor's closet with appropriate facilities. This was found the first night of cleaning by the contracted cleaners. Not even their manager had noticed it...

Eventually there was one men's bathroom in each (multistory) building modified to include a proper mop sink.

WTF? Microsoft makes fixing deadly OMIGOD flaws on Azure your job

Nunyabiznes

Re: "Cheap" for a reason

I just don't understand why so many managers insist on going cloud - especially when there is a robust infrastructure in place already. (Acknowledging that there are certainly some use cases where cloud services are the correct technical solution.)

Ours is forcing us down this path, costing us much more than previously, and getting worse service and security.

Some people are stupid - not their fault, their parents shouldn't have bred. These managers are willfully ignorant, which is very much on them.

Nunyabiznes

Re: The uneasy feeling about all the MS provided (spy) stuff on their Linux Azure VM's

If you remove it, MS will silently re-install the compromised version instead of the patched (ie not compromised yet) version.

Spot the dog? No, we couldn't either because Spot is a robot employed by United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

Nunyabiznes
Terminator

Obvious application

And here is the most obvious application for robots - doing jobs that are inherently too dangerous for humans to do without cumbersome safety equipment.

Until of course they figure out it is easier to get rid of the humans than it is to do their dirty work.

BOFH: Pass the sugar, Asmodeus, and let the meeting of the Fellowship of Bastards … commence

Nunyabiznes

comments

The BOFH was great as usual, but the comments kept the ball rolling today. Bravo lads (and/or lasses).

Leaked Guntrader firearms data file shared. Worst case scenario? Criminals plot UK gun owners' home addresses in Google Earth

Nunyabiznes

Registrations

And just another example of why I don't like registrations of private data. That a company has data this exacting is even more worrying than a government entity having it (maybe).

Big tech proud as punch about cameos in Joe Biden's security theatre

Nunyabiznes

Re: Just a game

It's not even new players - they are just re-arranging the deck chairs.

A man spent a year in jail on a murder charge involving disputed AI evidence. Now the case has been dropped

Nunyabiznes
Headmaster

Re: Imagine if

In this instance, the police didn't alter the evidence. The contractor did.

See icon.

Un-carrier? Definitely Unsecure: T-Mobile US admits 48m customers' details stolen after downplaying reports

Nunyabiznes

customer

I'm a customer and have had 0 contact from T-Mobile about this. Good thing I read El Reg. I mentioned in an earlier article that I would be surprised if they did contact me, so I guess I'm right so far.

US watchdog opens probe into Tesla's Autopilot driver assist system after spate of crashes

Nunyabiznes

It's harder than you think

Tesla has poured a lot of time and money into their systems, and they still fail. This seems to prove that driving is a lot harder than it looks, and programming a driverless car is even harder.

One example I have to hand is driving to an intersection directly pointed at the sun. The colors of the traffic control lights get washed out by the glare and you have to depend on situational awareness to determine if you have right of way or not. To me (not a programmer, btw) that seems awfully difficult.

If the statistics provided by Tesla (and quoted above) are correct, they are doing a pretty good job on the whole. It is just that the failures are spectacular and Elon can be a lightning rod due to his marketing claims.

T-Mobile US probes claims of 100m stolen customer records up for sale on dark web

Nunyabiznes

I wonder

If T-Mobile will actually follow through and inform customers that their data was appropriated.

I doubt it, and I doubt they will take ownership of the issues caused for their customers by their incompetence (and of course by the black hats actions).

Since I'm a customer (dumbest move I've made in awhile, btw) I guess I'll find out, or not.

Off to change passwords and my shopping cc#.

World Intellectual Property Office settles dispute with CIO it previously ousted for 'criminal misconduct'

Nunyabiznes

Way Laid

Wei Lei appears to be the bigger person in this charade. Hats off to him and I hope his retirement is golden.

Elevating bork to a new level (if the touchscreen worked)

Nunyabiznes

Touch screen not necessary

For failure that is.

I had the great fortune of using an elevator in a hotel that was very ordinary. Buttons in lobby and inside unit. It stopped between floors and refused to open doors or continue on its journey. The emergency phone was designed to dial a hard-coded number when picked up. Great, except it went to a disconnected line.

No worries, I have a cell phone! Very minimal service of course, and after finding the corner of the space where a call could be made I dialed up the lobby. Where the phone was apparently ignored. Repeatedly.

Luckily I had my trusty multitool on my belt which I used to pry open the doors enough to get my hands in and pull the doors fully open. Scrambled out and got my quite flustered compatriots out.

The hotel didn't seem to care they had multiple failures in a system and never responded to my queries. Just one more company on my list of places never to do business with again.

Zorin OS 16 Pro arrives complete with optional 'Windows 11' desktop

Nunyabiznes

Re: The small market share of Chromebooks in businesses is puzzling

@MrReynolds2U

So much your second point. While many of the issues of MSOffice alternatives can be worked around, not being able to run a specific piece of software because you don't have Windows is an insurmountable problem.

Companies that develop business software that costs multiple thousands of $ (or whatever currency you use) seldom wish to spend additional funds to build and maintain a separate version for any other OS. They seldom spend the money to maintain the Win version worth a damn.

Activist raided by police after downloading London property firm's 'confidential' meeting minutes from Google Search

Nunyabiznes

Re: slack web security

I wonder if it could be someone internal to Leathermarket that, due to lack of proper security policy, was able to leave certain data accessible without (legal) repercussion. Someone quietly supportive of the opposition to LM's plans, but also wishful of continued employment.

If so, beers to them.

*Personal conspiracy theory not related to any hard data provided in article*

Breaking Bad or just a bad breakpoint? That feeling when your predecessor is BASIC

Nunyabiznes

To be fair, as a helpdesker I've had to spend a lot of time troubleshooting because the network team believes their systems are infallible. Even after proving it wasn't a desktop issue, being sent on wild goose chases is common.

I seldom get a "sorry about that" after a 5 minute troubleshoot and fix session by the network staff (after being pointed in the right direction by one of us) resolves an issue they've been loudly proclaiming was someone else's problem.

Oh well, it's Friday and weekend plans are afoot. Y'all have a good one.

US labor official suggests Amazon's Alabama workers rerun that unionization vote

Nunyabiznes

Re: Crikey

@Lethal

Upvote for the humor, but...

if Amazon was dumb enough to use crocodiles in Alabama - they should be found guilty.

*local wildlife would be alligators.

On this most auspicious of days, we ask: How many sysadmins does it take to change a lightbulb?

Nunyabiznes

Re: First and only thought

For about 2 years we were put under Facilities. The lingering affects of that are still haunting us today.

I started signing for packages as one of the facilities guys and chucking the stuff in random closets. When asked "I never saw that come in. Who signed for it?". Eventually they got the clue and changed the process.

We still get calls for lamps, under desk heaters (plugged into the battery side of the UPS, natch), and various cheap tat plugged into the USB ports of PCs for power. Apparently I need a good set of side cutters...

Nunyabiznes

Re: First and only thought

@Timo

Except that you are on salary and your actual work still needs to get done - so after hours and weekends it is because the company couldn't be arsed to hire an extra oxygen converter to accept packages. Or tell the facilities supervisor to get their arse in gear and take care of their job.

Dell won't ship energy-hungry PCs to California and five other US states due to power regulations

Nunyabiznes

Re: Efficiency?dre

I came here to comment on software efficiency. We could use a lot less hardware if software was written better on average.

Of course, some of this is market pressure to provide more "bling" in everything also. Why do I need glitzy crap on a page when I'm looking for a list of parts? <Insert your example here> Because someone in marketing did research and found most punters want more glitzy crap. Form over function by demand.

Google updates timeline for unpopular Privacy Sandbox, which will kill third-party cookies in Chrome by 2023

Nunyabiznes

Re: Just an app

Yes but they can afford to use 1000 pound notes to stop the bleeding and never notice the cost.

They'll just use the mountain of cash they have to browbeat the market into thinking this is what they've wanted all along.

Those few of us that know better are not even a whisper in a hurricane.

You, too, can be a Windows domain controller and do whatever you like, with this one weird WONTFIX trick

Nunyabiznes

Re: Right to repair

Upvote, but...

Would this spell an end to Intellectual Property? Would that be a bad thing?

I don't know the answer to either of those questions, but you are correct there should be a conversation.

Rackspace literally decimates workforce: One in ten staffers let go this week

Nunyabiznes

Trades

Nothing against the trades here. They are just a data point that I happen to know off the top of my head. Listen to Mike Rowe for an education about what is good in the trades.

I wish I had apprenticed in electrical when I was a lad. I actually like doing low voltage control wiring and I have a working understanding of high voltage AC - enough to know what not to touch at least.

Nunyabiznes

The salary cost oftentimes reflects the higher cost of living.

Here a median house is $600K USD while the median salary is 58K. Tech sector jobs are better, but not in line with COL. When you add in all taxes, fees, etc that are non-negotiable along with the cost of housing and transportation (not many areas in the US that have good public transportation infrastructure - a good topic for future conversation) the salaries aren't that spectacular. Better than running a shovel, but not much (or at all) better than the trades.

But, you might be right that tech jobs are in for a correction. There are executive bonuses that need padding. After all, space tourism is a thing now.

Windows 11 comes bearing THAAS, Trojan Horse as a service

Nunyabiznes

Re: WebEx

We were using Cisco Webex Teams - and it was good. Unless you had roaming profiles and had to refresh the local profile cache. It would delete data out of the local app data and make it a pita to get working again.

MS Teams however is a pile of excrement. Except it keeps the data in the roaming portion of the profile so it is easier to move users between computers if you are using roaming profiles. Which I wouldn't recommend anyway.

Nunyabiznes

Re: Standards...

Why can't I upvote this more?

Malaysian Police crush crypto-mining kit to punish electricity thieves

Nunyabiznes
Joke

Re: Payback time!

You say that like it is a problem.

Microsoft, Google, Citizen Lab blow lid off zero-day bug-exploiting spyware sold to governments

Nunyabiznes

Re: Devils tongue

Upvote, but to be fair it IS a pretty useful program to certain entities.

And I'm sure it pays better than being a white hat, reporting vulns and then getting stiffed on the bounty.

IBM's 18-month company-wide email system migration has been a disaster, sources say

Nunyabiznes
Joke

Users?

Nunyabiznes

Re: "laid the blame on IBM CFO James Kavanaugh"

I think many CTOs have learned the adage of "the nail sticking out". If they try to use logic and reason to stop a "cost-savings" they tend to get hammered flush with the floor - much like a nail sticking up.

That makes it hard to stay on the merry-go-round that is corporate executive hiring. It is much better to say nothing, be a pleasant personality and parachute out of the ball of fail only to land in another cushy post.

Nunyabiznes

Migration costs

Of course they weren't - that would have affected the bonus paid on savings.

Panasonic's Toughbook G2 comes Windows 11-ready even as TPM 2.0 supplies dwindle

Nunyabiznes

Re: That keyboard dock looks like a beast

Their support over here is fantastic also. You definitely pay for what you are getting - but you get what you paid for. We have very few issues with hardware, but when we do it is sorted with paid overnight shipping both ways.

We have several of their CF33 tablets, and our users love them for the convenience of popping out a tablet and being able to work anywhere in virtually any condition and still be able to go back and use a real keyboard for reports.

I'm looking forward to getting some of the G2 units.

Ouch! When the IT equipment is sound, but the setup is hole-y inappropriate

Nunyabiznes

Was coming to post this. I have given up on just shipping a network attached printer (that also has USB connection) directly to the user.

Eh, I like getting out of the office anyway.

Do you come from a land Down Under? Where diesel's low and techies blunder

Nunyabiznes

Re: Me too!

Always say "Hold my beer and" first.

New York Stock Exchange U-turns on decision to boot China's three biggest telcos

Nunyabiznes

Follow the money

Someone made a killing by knowing beforehand that this was going to happen. Find out who and you'll know why.

Perhaps Biden Jr. has a strong position in Chinese telecoms? :troll:

Trump's overhaul of Section 230 stalls, Biden may just throw the web legal shield on the bonfire anyway

Nunyabiznes

Re: What about e-mail?

@YAAC

Wasn't Google recently sued for not forgetting someone in Australia? Even though it was just a search return on content available on a website?

Australia wants Google to jump higher and sweat before it can buy Fitbit

Nunyabiznes

Re: Have one on me!

I'm a firm believer in second chances but believing BeEvil when they say they are going to play nice is giving them a 1,000,002 chance.

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