Known Element Enterprises Corporate Blog

“(no, I don’t illegally copy software)”

Oh great one, teach me your ways of copying software legally.

I need to do a quick brain dump. The past 3 weeks at disney have involved two complete losses of our data center and have highlighted the need to change our approach completely. What we are trying to do is tantamount to rebuilding a boeing 747 in flight fully loaded with passengers.

Will write more later. I have many thoughts and ideas and must record them. Going to get some much needed sleep/r&r soon. Oh by the way the 747 analogy is not mine. Will attribute later……

Note to Google PR: You typically want to never have your brand mentioned in the same sentence with child pornography and neo-Nazis.

That was attached to http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2007805,00.asp?kc=EWNAVEMNL082406EOAD

Yet another example of Google failure/incompetence. I love it!

Hello Michael,

A few comments.

I presume this is for Google. It looks remarkably similar to other job postings I have seen from Modis that were for Google. I must say that I am not interested. Having gone through a very intense interview process (half a day) and vastly outperforming other candidates just to be rejected with a “your background didn’t match what they wanted” is not what I consider very professional. I was then called by Google to setup an interview. After informing the caller that I had already gone through the process and been rejected he apologized and said he got confused. Did he? I really don’t know.
These events and the continuing search by Google for candidates leads me to believe that Google is vastly disorganized and doesn’t know what it wants. Perhaps instead of seeking engineers it should overhaul its hiring/hr practices? I can recommend a number of consultants who would be more then happy to help.
I would like to close by saying two things. Number one I want to go on record and say that I will not work for Google as an engineer. Ever. There is a whole lot of pizzah/dog and pony show but no real substance. And there appears to be a lack of organization and focus. Number two please pass on my comments to Google and let them know I would be more then happy to put them in touch with consultants who can help them bring there hiring/hr process up to par with other organizations. I would even be willing to serve as a subject matter expert in relation to hiring of engineers.

Thank you for your time.

-Charles Wyble

michael.hetrick@modisit.com wrote:
>
> Hello Charles,
>
> I found your resume on our database of Southern California candidates that we’ve worked with in the past and I wanted to see if you might be interested in some really great long-term contract opportunities in Santa Monica, CA. Our client is seeking Senior-level Linux Administrators and QA Engineers. This is an exciting opportunity to come work for an organization known throughout the world!
>
> Hourly rates up to $56/hr, depending upon experience level. A BS or MS Degree is required (Computer Science or equivalent is preferred)
>
>
>
> Linux Systems Administrator
>
> Strong scripting experience is a must, i.e. Perl, Bash, C, or Python. Ideal candidate will be someone who has large “Mission Critical” system experience, having managed several hundred servers at one time.
>
> As a System Administrator, you will support their growing office and server infrastructure. You will be working in a demanding and fast-paced environment, so you will need exceptional technical acuity and individual initiative combined with a customer focused approach.
>
> Duties include:
>
> Configure system and network parameters.
> Monitor stability and performance.
> Ensure 24×7 operation.
> Assist with corporate Linux desktop support.
> Write comprehensive documentation.
>
> 3+ years experience with Linux.
> Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking.
> Working knowledge of security, webservers, NIS/NFS
> Excellent programming/scripting skills (bash, perl, python, etc).
> Excellent verbal and written skills with outstanding customer service.
>
> Plusses include Debian/Ubuntu packaging experience and experience with PAM.
>
> QA Engineer
>
> This position requires a self-motivated individual with excellent written and oral communication skills and experience in testing enterprise software. Candidates are expected to plan, design, and execute functional and system testing for large scale distributed systems. Create test automation test suite and infrastructure as necessary. This position will work directly with senior development engineers to identify areas to focus testing activities, report and track defects and project schedules, as well as providing leadership and direction to junior members of the QA organization.
>
> 5+ years of enterprise testing experience.
>
> Experience in testing operating systems and distributed environments.
>
> Strong background with Linux/Unix is required.
>
> Experience in planning, designing, and performing functional and system level tests.
>
> Lead complex project from test planning to production launch.
>
> Ability to set priorities, accommodate requirement changes and resource changes.
>
> Experience in programming with a least one of the languages: C++ is a big plus, but C or Java is also good.
>
> Created functional and/or regression automation suite in Python, Perl and/or Java.
>
> Excellent written and oral communication skills.
>
> Ideal candidate will have an interest in Digital Photography.
>
> Must be a great team player and enjoy working in a fast pace environment.
>
> Knowledge of performance testing a plus
>
> Interested parties, please reply with a word document resume for immediate consideration. Thanks!!
>
> Michael Hetrick
>
> Resource Development Manager – ModisIT
> 222 N. Sepulveda Blvd Suite 130
> El Segundo, CA 90245
>
> Office: (310) 414-3300 X261
> Mobile: (323) 445-9435
> Fax: (310) 414-3313
>
> Michael.Hetrick@ModisIT.com
>
>
>
> Confidentiality Notice: The material in this e-mail is intended only for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is confidential, privileged, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that the unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify us at 866-335-3289 to arrange for the return of this material to us. Thank You.

It’s Bill Gates is gaurded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the Great WGA is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland riddled with fire, ash, and Starbucks coffee, the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand could you do this. It is folley.

This was attached to a story about firefox devs being invited to Redmond….

I was sitting at a bus stop on my way to work and an 11 year old kid sees my badge and says:

You work for the Walt Disney Company?

His eyes were all big and he was like in awe of me. It was too funny. My co worker said I should have said: It’s not like you think. I don’t ride roller coasters and eat churros all day.

Hehe.

I got the basis for this from a /. post….

Hello;
You don’t know me but I’m your watcher. My job is to watch what you do on the internet and who you talk to on the telephone and where you drive your car etc. This take ooddles and ooddles of storage, and as you know we here in the gubernet have vastly reduced budgets.

We have lots of brilliance but not a lot of money. So here is what we did; when you buy a forty gig hard-drive, what you really get is 240 gig hard-drive but you can only use 40 of it. The other 200 is for us! We store everthing we want to know about you on your own computer! Soon we are going to get everybody on fiber, well remember Sun’s tagline, “the network is the computer” muaahahahahah, the possibilities are mindnumbing!

Oh by the way when you turn your computer off, it really isn’t off, just those fans, the hard-drive sound effects, and the CPU heater are off (fooled everone with that didn’t we). The only way to really turn off you computer is to throw the maincircuit breaker, pull out the battery on the motherboard, and wait fifteen minutes for the capacitors to discharge.

I bet your wondering why I’m telling you all of this; it’s because the more people know, the less they’ll believe, so tell everybody.

Next week we’ve arranged for our alien friends to abduct you so remember tell everybody; life will be easier if you tell everybody
Regards The Watcher
p.s. tell everybody
p.s.s tell everybody and we’ll only abduct you once so, tell everybody, keep it to yourself

It’s been a while since I have blogged a “general” update. So here goes…..

I have been at Disney (in the Walt Disney Parks And Resorts Online [WDPRO]) group for a week now. I have been reading over all the documentation and getting familiar with the systems. And drinking lots of coffee. I never realized how good the mochas were. Yummy. I sit next to a team of web developers so I over hear all types of interesting stuff about different browser bugs etc. One gripe: I didn’t have a phone or computer the fist day and I still don’t have a badge.

I have a lot more time to read now since I am commuting a couple hours each way. Here is a break down of my commute:

1. 5:30 to 6:15 Do morning prep stuff
2. 6:15 to 6:30 Go to train station.
3. 6:30 to 6:59 Wait for train.
4. 6:59 to 8:08 Take train from Oxnard to Burbank (According to google maps thats a distance of 58.1 miles)
5. 8:08 to 8:45 Wait for bus to Disney office (the bus stop is across the street. Well diagonogly. Close enough)
6. 8:45 to 5:30 Do Stuff
7. 5:30 Leave work
6. 5:45 to 6:00 Take bus to about a block from Metrolink station
7. 6:00 to 6:56 Wait for train
8. 6:56 to 8:00 Go home.

I am currently reading a book by Tom Clancy called: Into the Storm A Study In Command. Its pretty good. I also read most of a book about spammers called Spam Kings. Once I get another PDA I will most likely start reading e-books. I will probably finish up the book next week and then start listening to podcasts that I have queued up.

I tried doing some work on my laptop but there are two problems with this:

1. The train is to bouncy. Its hard to concentrate and the laptop moves around.
2. No power. Well there is some power but its hard to find.
Plus I spend enough time in front of a computer creating/inputting information. I need to start consuming more information. Hence why we have a four to one input ratio (2 eyes. 2 ears. 1 mouth.)

What else? Oh yes. Money. Or lack thereof. Our Explorer was towed and they wanted some $300.00 to get it back. Well that was not fun. That means I don’t have any money. Well just enough for food. However I need

1. Metro pass. $271.00 for a monthly pass. Thats $30.00 a month less then buying tickets. And about $80.00 cheaper then buying 4 weekly (10 trip) passess.

2. A bus pass. $52.00. Its actually 2 dollars cheaper a month to pay 1.25 a ride. However that means I have to carry cash and put it in the machine every time I ride. Major pain.

3. Insurace. I don’t know how much that will be. Still researching it. I am presuming somewhere between $200 and $300 a month. Right now I don’t have any as it expires this month and I don’t have the money to renew it.

So this will be an interesting week. I think the utilities are due this week to. Well they auto debit. I suppose I could turn that off. I need to add my gas bill to that. It still comes in the mail.

I was actually worried last night. And I never worry. About anything. Of course I didn’t worry long. Just fell asleep. My body needed it. I had been consuming to much coffee and they provide us with free soda. So it was a major change in my diet of 95% water/juice. Oh well. I won’t be doing that anymore thats for sure.

Tomorrow I am speaking at a LUG meeting. I like being invited to speak. Its a lot of fun. I have addressed both large conferences and small groups. I don’t charge for it. That is the only thing I don’t charge for. Everything else I do. I actually received a quote request for my software the other day. Unfortunately I haven’t had time to respond. I will probably do so tomorrow. I will be going to a beach party tomorrow night.

Sunday will be a cleaning and work out day. I need to organize my closet/bookshelf. Do some laundry etc. I also will enter receipts and business cards into the computer. Gotta track expenses and make sure I have everyones contact info. Thats very important.

Ok. Thats all for now.

Nothing is anything. Nobody sees things. Nobody knows. Never Say Anything. No record of. The future is past.

11 33 98 74 129 20 30 44

Mein Fureline

Look what Google just did. They cornered the advertising niche for the largest single techno-social group on the web. They are going to put ads for brand new cell phones in the myspace addicts hands, deliver performing equipment ads to bands, and they will probably turn around and let bands advertise their gigs for next to nothing.

As we watch it, google is inventing the new economy in the new society. They will establish themselves in such a way that a severe impact on Google’s functions will be visibly noticed, and by everyone. So they collaborate with MTV, the largest major youth/indepedant media business in the myspace nation. One metaphor would be that MTV is the natural gas that these kids cook things up with.

This is attached to a Sunday /. story on the $900 MILLION dollar myspace/google deal. That is insane. It shows how much people are willing to pay to get access to a group of people with disposable income. $900 MILLION is an awful lot of money. And its exclusive. Probably forever. So this means that over 1 BILLION dollars has been poured into MySpace. In less then a year.

Fox bought myspace for one reason and one reason only: They wanted the database. They wanted access to demographic and personal information on the American public. Google and Fox will make so much money off of MySpace that it might just replicate what happened with the RedHat IPO. The VC firm that handled the IPO had a sign that said: Numbers so big they broke the computer. I have a feeling that Fox/Google and whoever else makes deals with MySpace doesn’t have the formulas to calculate the ROI.

Insanity I tell you. Insanity. *ponders the damage done if myspace was offline for 24 hours*. Hmmm……