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Showing posts from November, 2012

Netbooks

Near the peak of the netbook fad, I picked up a refurbished Dell Mini9. At the time I purchased it, there were several linux distributions which seemed at least worthy of trying out, and I spent several months doing just that. It was around this time that I realized that purchasing a netbook without a data plan was an obvious mistake;  nearly everything that I'd want to do with a tiny laptop required an internet connection. Still, this was like a project of discovery...I don't NEED everything. So these are my requirements: ssh client web browser (preferrably Google Chrome) wireless internet (3g / 4g or wifi) That's it! (note, if I was shopping for something like a 13" MacBook Air, that list would be a little different.) But I digress. After upgrading to the latest version of Ubuntu, I noticed a considerable drag on performance on my Mini. Boot times were longer, applications took longer to launch. And considering the software requirements I identifie...

Virtual Classroom

Brief overview of the geographic locations of people in my Oracle Training course:  Instructor is in Turkey Course Producer is in Romania 2 students in the US (myself included) 4 students in UK 1 student in Hong Kong 1 student in Indonesia. 

Surviving a new boss

So my boss quit. Depending on the nature of your position, losing your boss can have a wide variety of impacts. As a senior level database administrator, the manager I report to is basically an advocate and resource planner. In the absence for a person that position, it requires a bit of finesse and care. Here's my first thoughts on how to handle this situation: Don't Panic Be you own advocate Be valuable First, Don't Panic. No matter if you work for General Motors, Google, or the Holiday at the corner of Diffley and Lexington, organizational change happens. People get hired, fired, promoted, demoted or transfered. In all likelihood, this change has very little to do with you personally.  Now that you are without a boss, there will be a vacum while the new boss is hired and trained in. Take the time to be active in the process. Even if you don't want to be the boss, being part of the conversation will show that you are an engaged employee and willing to do ...