This time, it's big business.
Apparently, Australia's biggest four banks are looking at Linux. At least, according to this article on Australian IT, they are!
Wow, what a blow that would be to Micro$oft! Apparently, several of these banks are at least considering what it would take to revamp everything in their system to run off Linux. And, I mean, everything: ATMs, teller stations, back-office systems, you name it. Looks like it's a great time to be a Linux geek in Australia!
And, it's good news, too!
I've been called back for a second interview!! Yea!
So, obviously, the interview last week went well. And, this could be a really good job. They're a world-wide organization with offices in some really interesting places, like Singapore, London, Africa, and Equitorial Guinea. And, best of all, they're building a big network all based on Novell products. Oh, and they're rolling out a PeopleSoft solution on Linux. Score! So, I would get to use all my favorite skills, learn new things, travel to exotic locales, and the main office is less than 10 minutes from my house, even with bad traffic.
Well, anyway, I found this out yesterday, but I didn't want to detract from my "fun Friday" posting, so I waited until today to post the update.
I'll keep you posted!
If it's still in Beta, it's still a game.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Anyway, while poking around on Google, I found a neat little feature on their Google Labs page. It's called Google Webalerts. Basically, it lets you do a search, but have the results e-mailed to you on a daily basis. Of course, the idea is that it will only show you the new things since you last searched, but I don't know how well it works yet, but it looks cool!
Hey, it's Friday, why not give it a try?
As a father, this hits home.
I'm personally against medicating every feeling that we might have that doesn't meet with society's "norm", but that's what so much of modern psychology seems to want to do. I'm especially against medicating children who are labeled by teachers, not medical professionals, as having attention deficit disorder. Well, it looks like I may have been right all this time. At least, according to this article on Wired News.
What's even more criminal, to me, is that this report was supressed. Why? Why else, greed. The drug companies want to keep selling thier legalized smack to us to medicate our feelings away. Pretty soon, we'll all be like THX1138 or like something out of Brave New World. Does anyone else find it ironic that "soma", a drug described by Huxley in Brave New World is a reality?
It's time to wake up, people. We have to deal with life on life's terms and not try to medicate uncomfortable feelings away.
At least in Australia it is!
But, that's a good thing!! According to this article on Australian IT, the Australian welfare agency, Centrelink, has set up an internal Linux laboratory to research the potential cost savings or performance improvements that open source software might deliver. Now, this might not seem like much, but I think it's a great step toward Linux getting into more government agencies. The more Linux replaces Micro$oft, the better, in my mind. So, you go, Tux!
Lots to do...
And, so little time to do it!
Well, no word on a second interview yet, but I know they're interested in having me back. Frankly, the job looks great, as long as the travel isn't too extreme and the pay is good enough.
This week I'm also running around trying to get everything done for my daughter's birthday/sleepover this weekend. Though, I think I became my wife's hero when I suggested pizza for dinner. Anyway, more to come, so stay tuned!
No, this is not a joke or a dream.
For those of you, like me, who enjoy a good single-malt Scotch, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society is for you! Now, this is an organization that sounds like it's my style. An organization dedicated to the enjoyment of Scotch. Ah, where have you been all my life?
Seriously, this does look like fun. These folks have very, very special, and private, Scotch geared to the very high-end customer. The initial membership fee is $149, but that includes "the purchase price of one 750ml bottle of an extremely rare and unique malt whisky never to be available again." In addition to that, the new member also receives a membership kit, which includes a membership certificate, membership card, The Short Guide, the most recent bottling list and newsletter, along with our gift catalog. Annual renewal is $35.
But, for the Scotch connesuer, this is a really special thing. Hmm, now, what do I have to do to convince my wife....
Anyway, they have some interesting articles, too, so, what the heck, it's Friday! Go check it out!
Oh, God, how I hate interviewing...
But, it's a requirement for change, so I do it. Well, both interviews I had this week went well. The first was with a search firm and was on Tuesday. It was fairly standard. They mainly had found someone with all the right buzzwords on his resume. (That was me, incidentally.) They ran me through the standard questions about where I'd been, what I'd done and why I was looking to leave. Then, they gave me the info about the job, as they understood it. And, too, they let me know about the environment and the person I was interviewing with, so I could guage my answers and so on. Standard stuff.
The second interview was with the actual job and was yesterday afternoon. I met with three people in IT. One was the person who I'd actually report to and the other two were people I'd interface with. One of them was a manager who was originally from Scotland and he was a hoot. He had a bit of an accent, but was easily understandable and was full of life and fun. Really, all the people there seemed really happy and in fairly good moods. I can't say where it is just yet, but it's an oil-related business that deals with ocean-based vessels and platforms. Very interesting stuff. And, their main headquarters are just a few miles away. My commute would be like 5 minutes, or less. Pretty good for Houston.
There is a bit of travel involved, and there would probably be international travel, which could be fun. But, they're pretty tight on salary, so we'll see what my headhunter can do for me. Of course, my resume reads like their job description and I know that the headhunter had someone in from San Antonio, so I think they might be flexible. I mean, how many guys can there be in Houston that have 10+ years experience with Novell and have Linux experience, too? Not many.
In any case, I think I made a favorable impression, so now it's a waiting game. I'll keep you posted!
Oy, where to begin...
First of all, you may have noticed that the blog has been a little quiet this week. In fact, it's been several days since there's been a real post. Okay, there are several reasons for that.
Chief among those reasons is some personal family stuff that caused a bit of chaos around the house. It's rather delicate, so I won't get into it, other than to say, it's a reminder that kids are like the ocean. You're never sure what's coming on the next wave and don't turn your back on it, because the riptide can suck you under. But, that being said, the problem is being resolved, so, no worries.
The next thing is all the outsourcing rumours at work. I know, I know, I haven't mentioned this before, but only because it hasn't been out in the open. Now that it is, I feel okay with talking about it. There's nothing solid yet, but today, HP is in talking to people about their job and how they do it. Sounds to me like they're getting ready to make it happen, though the official word is that nothing is set in stone. Yet. Anyway, folks were talking about their "meeting with the Bobs" all day yesterday. Me, I'm just looking for the guy with the red Swingline. (Oh, wait, that's me!)
So, the last thing is that I'm not going to be the last rat on the ship, for a change, and I'm out there looking. And, in fact, I have an interview with a "placement agency" today and, most likely, a job interview through them tomorrow. A Novell position with Linux. Less than 5 minutes from the house. That could be cool.
Well, I'll keep y'all posted.
Well, that's what it looks like.
And, that's what it is! I was going through my old links the other day and found a strange Japanese website that featured a round, green ball that had a mini-itx motherboard in it. (Here's an English translation of the page) Anyway, it looked totally wild and, well, like something I would like to actually own! With all the talk about casemodding lately, I thought it was an appropriate link.
One of the interesting things, for me, is that this is about two years old. If you look at the link, you'll see reference to "2002", which, I assume, is the year. So, I've had this link for almost two years before posting it.
Well, Friday is as good as any other day, I guess. Enjoy!