Nha I have had total power it doesn't corrupt it just makes you care less, i have seen what you may call "unwarranted power" an that is what scares me I decked a Rupert for just this in my last combat tore of duty.

Sadly I don't program I want to learn I just dont have the free time - when one of my clients needs somthing coustom I talk to my friend justin he tweaks or makes coustom programs when i need. That guy is a god send - he went from my barman (best one imo), to firend, member of staff an then just nearly family. That guy i sware lives in code he dereams in binary... he has been working on his own version of FreeBSD for a few years an i tell you now I would pay for this OS when he is ready I have even given him money just to sit at home an work on it thats how much faith i have in it.

Yea money is the main thing on the mind of a CEO when there opening up a office in a new country, I charge less than every one in the area but i make more money because of it inside six months i have gone from me working for a few small places to me having 4 members of staff (1 is part time but he is worth it) I make more than enough a week to cover my costs pay myself an pay my staf £30 a hour. Thing is though we are all friends an at the end of the week if its been a good week i stick cash behind the bar for them to get drunk off.

You want to know the odd thing I have zero in qualifications when it comes to IT other than coms certs i earned in the army, IT is my passion an i meen that I would rather sit at home waiting for the new ubuntu release or FF update than spend time in the pub ith frineds or loved ones. I dont know why but computers have always been my thing an I thank god they are Dave might knot know this but becoming a mod on TF prity much saved my life...

There are medics an then there are angels as the expresion goes in the british army. I am the guy who shows up an makes peace with a computer an i dont pull crap if you need a new machine i will say so but i wont ask you to pay me £100 for a new PSU I will say ok £50 job if i find any thing else i will call you. Data recovery is one thing i am ubber cheep at students in liverpool uni wouldnt have passed if it want for myself an ray offering data recovery at a £50 flat fee.

I gatherd that the shrub was related to some one there who pulled him a job, he was probably the kid who though format an reinstall was the best option on faulty problems.

Originally Posted by Saxon

Nha I have had total power it doesn't corrupt it just makes you care less,

Interesting... do you mean like, in the sense of NOT having to "answer to the man" etc. et al, BECAUSE @ that point, YOU are "the man"? I can see that, but, elucidate a bit here IF you care to that is... I've never really HAD that kind of 'power' (not really, like "unlimited" etc.) is why I ask.

See, I'd tend to think that with MORE 'POWER', of ANY kind, you would bring on more hassles OR, hassles of a diff. kind is all (I just don't believe there are ANY "absolute free rides" in this world is all)...

WHEW - "going philosophical" on you now, sorry man (disregard this if you like, I am "having one of those days", lol!)

Originally Posted by Saxon

i have seen what you may call "unwarranted power" an that is what scares me

By that, do you mean giving power(s) to those that can't handle it, OR, should NOT have it?

Originally Posted by Saxon

I decked a Rupert for just this in my last combat tore of duty.

Well, again: Time to "query you", on what appears to be British "slang" here, or military slang outta your nation... WHAT IS A "RUPERT"??

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Saxon

Sadly I don't program I want to learn I just dont have the free time

Well, it's NOT all "rocket science" (some stuff is to this day to me, even now, but it's NOT too bad, especially w/ today's knowledgebases online, better by FAR than when I got REALLY "into it" in the early 90's especially when PC's were "relatively new" & the tools, by way of comparison today, especially in programming IDE's & prebuilt components? FAR BETTER NOW!)

World's better in fact I think!

Also - Yea, I know that feeling on time... I want to get my "MBA", but finding the time is the tough part (if my current work goes 'belly up' & it's starting to look that way since everyone's "tightening their budget belts" & its heavily predicted for 2009 in fact? I may end up pursuing it anyways, like it or not!)

Doing coding, especially today? It's more having the time to learn it, which takes years imo & more years to be "GOOD" @ it (I don't consider myself great @ it, too "right-brained emotional type" vs. "left-brained logical type" here I think is why I will NEVER be a "great one" @ it - it's still work to me @ the coding levels quite often, rather than having it "just come naturally" to me).

My "goal" in this field, was to FIRST get lots of years of "hands-on experience in the trenches" from techie work, to network admin/architect stuff, to security related stuff (forensics & also stuff like network/db/endpoints security), & programming... AND THEN, to 'return to my roots' which ARE in mgt. (to be the "better boss", really).

I have the degree (bachelors, from a GREAT Jesuit institution) in Business Administration/MIS concentration (plus, 2++ yrs. of hands-on @ middle mgt. level, successful (leading a chain in loss prevention in fact, out of 255 competitors in my same position for nearly both years)), & also the Comp. Sci. associates work too, so, the experience was the last step of that journey!

Now? Well - I figure it's NEAR time to get back into this field, where the money is (IF you work for others, that is - I think YOU, or anyone else that starts their OWN BUSINESS, has the absolutely overall RIGHT idea though) & that? That's mgt.!

Only thing is, & because I don't know it yet FULL BORE (contracting out as I have for nearly 1.5++ decades coding is NOT the same) owning my own business is, that you don't have only 1 boss anymore... you've got a 100 bosses (clients/customers).

Not that THIS 'scares me' - it doesn't: You do a good solid job for folks, & expect some "minor issues" callbacks occasionally is all, & life's good in this field imo... especially if you know what you're about in it, via experience hands-on!

See - I KNOW what it costs say, for a #1-800 national number, & the skills I have (&, like yourself, I know the guys to hire in my area that I'd like to work with in fact), but... the costs of say, a FULL PAGE Yellow Pages (phonebook business section in USA, folks use it to NO end, even more than the NET imo, even today) costs $2,000 per year (up there with another larger cost in T1 or even fractional T1 lines usage)...

To myself? That's quite a lot, more than the other costs I mention imo (but, not experience)...

Perhaps you as a business owner yourself can shed more light on this for me... especially on CO$T$ of doing this type of business (which IS, my "ultimate final goal" really).

See - Personally?

I'd be mostly interested in just setting up a "tech shop" really, not for custom coding (this is a PAIN, & quite longterm for larger shops with "BIG DATA" (relative term) to manage), but more for std. tech stuff like virus removals, printer issues, internet issues (you know, the "std. fare" type calls etc.)... much of this work, as you know?

CAN BE DONE REMOTELY (Via RDP or other options online even via your browser even)...

Originally Posted by Saxon

- when one of my clients needs somthing coustom I talk to my friend justin he tweaks or makes coustom programs when i need. That guy is a god send - he went from my barman (best one imo), to firend, member of staff an then just nearly family. That guy i sware lives in code he dereams in binary...

Heh, GOOD guy to know, that kind... lol! They CAN & DO "bail out" all of us, in some capacity, @ one point OR another in this field... & I agree, they exist - nobody, NOBODY "knows it all" in this field imo + experience. Too much for 1 lifetime to learn it all I think!

Originally Posted by Saxon

for a few years an i tell you now I would pay for this OS when he is ready I have even given him money just to sit at home an work on it thats how much faith i have in it.

See, here? I totally agree - don't "rip folks off", @ least NOT TOO BADLY, because they DO 'shop around' & if you get a 'bad rep'?? You're history... especially for local business clients.

Originally Posted by Saxon

Yea money is the main thing on the mind of a CEO when there opening up a office in a new country,

I don't blame them... especially owners over them: It's THEIR money on the line, & I can completely understand it.

Only problem I have is, when these companies hire pure "MBA ONLY" types, vs. guys like us (who have actual hands on years of grounding actually DOING the job in many facets)?

Well, their mistakes (&, they DO make them, because they're green & depend on others advice only, & advisors make errors too, like anyone else) CO$T HUGE usually!

... That means downsizing & driving up the costs of services they offer too - THUS, I think (heck, KNOW, I've seen it happen - it gets people fired, & mgt. LAST usually, lol, go figure) you get FAR MORE "BLUNDERS" outta guys like that, than guys that have actually DONE THE JOB!

(Especially @ middle mgt. levels, not so much CEO, but CIO should have done the job imo, for years, no questions asked - their job IS technical in that they have to make sound decisions, & you CAN'T DO THAT, IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT WELL, imo @ least!).

Originally Posted by Saxon

I charge less than every one in the area but i make more money because of it inside six months i have gone from me working for a few small places to me having 4 members of staff (1 is part time but he is worth it) I make more than enough a week to cover my costs pay myself an pay my staf £30 a hour. Thing is though we are all friends an at the end of the week if its been a good week i stick cash behind the bar for them to get drunk off.

See? That's the type of business scenario I AM INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING ONE DAY ALSO - gotta find myself the RIGHT area, & a good set of staffers (eventually)...

My nephew & I are planning this one day in fact, once he gets outta RIT for his Comp. Sci. degree (possibly MBA after too).

Originally Posted by Saxon

You want to know the odd thing I have zero in qualifications when it comes to IT other than coms certs i earned in the army

A lot of guys are that way, & though I have dual degrees around this field? I am largely self-taught (I often 'overloaded' my schedule with STRICT comp. sci. coursework in languages in fact)... you sort of HAVE to be, on the job alone, let alone learning more on the side I think (due to constant change happening)... but, it's not bad, if you love it (which you clearly do so I KNOW you understand me here).

I was like "THIS IS MY MONEY I AM SPENDING, I WANT TO GET MY MONEY'S WORTH DURING THIS DEGREE" so, I held out on declaring a "major" on my Associates in Comp. Sci. until near the end, transferred in what I could from my first degree (MIS/business) for electives, & took 8 languages there, vs. the 2 I was required to...

Eas(ier)y for me, because I loved it/found it interesting (& that is what makes the diff., I am sure you agree).

It's also how I 'sort of' beat their system, to get my monies' worth, in the latter Comp. Sci. degree really!

See - I figured this: "Learn a lot of languages (FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, C, C++, PASCAL, ASSEMBLER, DOS BATCH, & some others to a small degree too) to learn WHICH lend themselves better to various tasks, & their capabilities", & yes, it works (for me, @ least).

Sort of like how Bruce Lee looked @ & described Martial Arts I guess... I just figured out what he did sort of: It's NOT the syntax that matters (kata), its PRINCIPLES!

I.E.-> Knowing the questions to ask, where to look OR ask (exploit experts by ALL means), how to say "I know how this is done in BASIC, how to port it to C/C++ or Delphi" etc., & then making decisions on which language suits a particular task best. That latter especially ONLY comes via experience, hands-on, the best imo!

Knowing "only 1" sort of basically "constrains you" & if that language or IDE tool falls "outta style"? You're hurting. Learn a lot of diff. stuff, to make good judgements really & to be stronger in essence.

Also, put it THIS way: After ALL of those languages & years of them? Picking up on .NET was a "snap" for me (oh, larger class hierarchy & model, but STILL "Object.Property Method" type work like most today's RAD tools are), I could function well in VB.NET easily enough, but ASP.NET was a bit diff. as was webprogramming in general (damn sessions, lol)...

(Oh, I had some things I ran into you can't do say, in ASP.NET, that you can in say, VB or Delphi (procedural programming style, what I tend to use the most (on small to midsize apps that is, NOT on large ones, here I go OOP)) doesn't seem to work for me, especially in ASP.NET)

When I first "collided" w/ ASP.NET? Well... I code ALL inline on ASP.NET, maybe I am still a bit 'weak' here, but, the code "gets the job done" well enough. HOWEVER - inlined code, typically? Is faster, anyhow, lol, so for performance?? I did alright - for "elegance" though? Well... always "room for improvement"!...

Originally Posted by Saxon

IT is my passion an i meen that I would rather sit at home waiting for the new ubuntu release or FF update than spend time in the pub ith frineds or loved ones.

Heh, I used to BE THAT WAY, but now? I put family & friends first (not all the time, but a heck of a lot more than I used to, put it THAT way)...

Originally Posted by Saxon

I dont know why but computers have always been my thing an I thank god they are Dave might knot know this but becoming a mod on TF prity much saved my life...

Well, they changed me for the better, & gave me a GOOD livelyhood... one I understand well - & love too (very interesting, big in this world too & will not slow down imo)... makes ALL the diff., in the world.

Knowing you're competent & "have the answers" or can quickly analyze the situation & KNOW you can come up with a 'fix', fairly quickly usually. A good feeling (not feeling incompetent).

Oh - What's "TF"?

Originally Posted by Saxon

There are medics an then there are angels as the expresion goes in the british army.

Right... it varies! Sometimes, by the task @ hand, or equipment being worked on... sometimes, it's just how your brain's working that day (we all have "off days" & "110% on days" too, it varies)

Originally Posted by Saxon

I am the guy who shows up an makes peace with a computer an i dont pull crap if you need a new machine i will say so but i wont ask you to pay me £100 for a new PSU I will say ok £50 job if i find any thing else i will call you.

Right, & THIS? This is WHY you'll stay successful: Doing GOOD honest work, not ripping off others if you can help it... at least "not too badly" (ala you can shear a sheep MANY times, but skin him, only once).

Between that, & treating your crew of workers as you do? I think you have a great future + will probably grow "too big" one day... mark my words! I've seen it before... & would like to go for it one day, myself.

I think having you around in THIS capacity alone, your experiences in self run business will help me... I may "nag you" on occasion for advice here, but, it may be a few years down the road is all.

Originally Posted by Saxon

Data recovery is one thing i am ubber cheep at students in liverpool uni wouldnt have passed if it want for myself an ray offering data recovery at a £50 flat fee.

Yup, depending on the "level of difficulty" (meaning not having to say, dig out ENCASE (super-powerful tool for BOTH data recovery AND Forensics work in this field (even allegedly able to get data back from say, systems even processed by for example, Acronis products for "secure datawipe" & others LIKE them)))?

It can be easy money!

HOWEVER - depending on what was lost, & HOW... I'd personally NEVER 'guarantee' some forms of data recovery (I'd probably do a "fix it or free" type thing, OR, only charge a small init. fee, & then if successful, hourly rate it took for recovery of said precious data).

Originally Posted by Saxon

I gatherd that the shrub was related to some one there who pulled him a job, he was probably the kid who though format an reinstall was the best option on faulty problems.

LOL, what is a "SHRUB"? Yes, I am 'nagging' on some of the slang you use is all, yet again... I can learn by it, culturally, for one thing!



Yes, I have seen PLENTY of that, people getting jobs because they know someone, were in the same "FRAT" as their pals, OR are related to owners OR major stockholders... even with ZERO experience, hauling in 6-8 figures paychecks/salaries... no joke (especially in mgt. levels, hence, my 10-15 yr. plan I outlined above here in this post reply to you)...

THAT goes on, everywhere you go, & @ every level (people try to help "their own" (family, friends, etc.) & there is no escaping it... but, as you noted in your example? It backfires... on hourly worker level, usually not TOO huge of costly blunders (USUALLY, not always) but, @ mgt. levels? THEIR MISTAKES COST BIG! Inexperience hands on leads to such mistakes & bad uninformed decisions is why imo & experience, having seen that before more than a few times)).

All-in-all? Good speaking to you man... serious! See, I truly DO think your "hands-on experience" in "running your own show" is what I need to learn a LOT more of... it's "the way to go" imo, & for myself, eventually especially... I CAN gain by your experiences here, especially imo!

APK

P.S.=> Sorry for "this small novel", & the 50 edits... but, I figured I'd reply to you, IN DETAIL, point-by-quoted-point is all, so we both know one another well & know where we are both coming from - because trust me: I will most LIKELY nag you on setting up the business @ some point... apk

APK long post let me see what i can answer for you.

Real power to me is the power of deciding who lives an who dies - My specialty was / is rifle man (better known as a sniper but a sniper is what you had to have to qualify for in my unit) I can an have shot an killed at over 1000 yards, I earned the knick name "Muff the tank" I can hit any thing kill anything an am nearly impossable to kill. I have the scars to prove it along my spine an my legs an arms you name it i probably been shot by it. Belive it or not I have also had the command codes for several nuclear weapons during transit to refurb / diss arm. Beeing a officer has its charms....

My unwarrented power thing comes from seeing to many officers who are there from there perents position in high socierty. ~ A roddny is a officer who knows nothing but pretends he knows all from his 8 months learning what for is the right one at catteric officer school. Basicly a \rodny is the type of person who will give a worng order like "Staff Chadwick Fire on the croud" i tend to break legs arms an jaws for that crap.

If you ever want advice / a good chat PM me for me IM address, I will give you all the advice i can. I am by no means a expert i just know what works by me.

look RPK tbh its best with this lenght of chat we speek via IM, pm me for the address an we will chat tonoght.

Originally Posted by Saxon

Real power to me is the power of deciding who lives an who dies

Oh, certainly... I can ONLY "liken that" (sort of) to deciding who keeps his job, or not (I've had THAT displeasure, in dishing THAT out, not cool, but... gotta be done @ times)... only diff. is? You're "Firing them" literally, from LIFE (instead of just a job, but that can be devastating too).

Originally Posted by Saxon

- My specialty was / is rifle man (better known as a sniper but a sniper is what you had to have to qualify for in my unit) I can an have shot an killed at over 1000 yards, I earned the knick name "Muff the tank" I can hit any thing kill anything an am nearly impossable to kill. I have the scars to prove it along my spine an my legs an arms you name it i probably been shot by it.

I believe it... you wouldn't be THAT confident, if you weren't telling it how it is/was for you, imo!

Me? I actually LIKE AK-47's personally (durable & can take a ton of crap -RUSSIAN EDITION ONLY (good non-easily warped barrel, vs. ROMANIAN MODEL imo)), but not for 'ergonomics'... IF the world ever "went to hell & civilization fell"? This would be my BEST BUDDY, lol... for home defense though? It's my BROWNING SHOTGUN!!!

For that (what I find the most comfortable/ergonomic), in terms of rifles??

I like the AR-15 (iirc, modded M-14/M-16 std. US military issue unit)... holds REALLY nice, is more accurate than AK was to me, but, is DEMANDING of cleaning (more than AK) - but, cleaning them's not all that bad (taking them apart & popping them back together though is a pain, but not using barrell cleaning pipe cleaners & gun oil etc.).

I'm NOT an "expert" @ guns though, FAR from it in fact... I just like them & have some 'small experience' w/ they is all, over time.

Originally Posted by Saxon

Belive it or not I have also had the command codes for several nuclear weapons during transit to refurb / diss arm. Beeing a officer has its charms....

My bro' is an officer (bronze star for courage decorated too, & was called a "mustang" while he was in the Marines, moved to Army due to family, better bennies etc. & started as a "grunt", then, made officer)

I'm very proud of he in fact, not only tough as nails, but smarter than hell & VERY educated + worldly too... great leader.

He has the "most secret/top secret" clearance stuff, & lots he cannot talk to me of in fact... I think I know what you mean here, but, not 1st hand.

Originally Posted by Saxon

My unwarrented power thing comes from seeing to many officers who are there from there perents position in high socierty. ~ A roddny is a officer who knows nothing but pretends he knows all from his 8 months learning what for is the right one at catteric officer school. Basicly a \rodny is the type of person who will give a worng order like "Staff Chadwick Fire on the croud" i tend to break legs arms an jaws for that crap.

Heh, nice to see the British Military has DIRECT "analogs" to corporate america in some ways - as does US military too (like I said above? You CANNOT get around it, it's everywhere (nepotism & the like - it's sort of only "natural" though, surrounding ones' self with folks you can trust (if such a person exists, lol) but, it has downsides, & you have the same 'gripes' I do regarding that, albeit mine are @ the corporate level in THIS field (computers)))

Originally Posted by Saxon

If you ever want advice / a good chat PM me for me IM address, I will give you all the advice i can. I am by no means a expert i just know what works by me.

Man, you put that JUST perfectly, because you're probably right - like anything? It varies... & I said all I had to above anyhow, so we can drop it (I may OCCASIONALLY "PM" you here, but I try to avoid pm too, as to ANY business questions I may have, but, that's still 4-5 yrs. away in my 'personal plans' for this)...

Originally Posted by Saxon

look RPK tbh its best with this lenght of chat we speek via IM, pm me for the address an we will chat tonoght.

TO YOURSELF, and SUNSHINE:

I DO NOT DO "IM's"!!! LOL, sorry for the caps, but, making my point is all!

No way (they're NOT for me, & I do not trust them for security purposes is all (old dog here that does NOT like trying "new tricks" until I KNOW they're 110% clean & free of defects + security issues is all (or @ least CLOSE to that level) - try to "humor/indulge" me here on this note, thanks!))



* No offense intended either on the "IM" stuff guys, but... well, I have my reasons for that!

APK

during long range missions we used captured weapons but they where modified to fit in with my units tactics. I do how erver have 2 rifles i would trust my life to HKG36 an the FNFAL / WASP VARIANT. but my main marksman weapon still remains classifide.

I must add I still keep a .45 ACP colt 1911 in my room right next to my head, i also keep a SAPAS15 in my house but for my personal defense I keep a HKG36C an 400 rounds behind my bedroom door an i have much worse than that if i need it. Lets just say privaladge of rank.

I will be leaving ChitChat Forum for the time being ~ unless I meet someone cool that has some of the same interests as mine. I will be elsewhere in TNT. Take Care, sunshine

Originally Posted by sunshine

I will be leaving ChitChat Forum for the time being ~ unless I meet someone cool that has some of the same interests as mine. I will be elsewhere in TNT. Take Care, sunshine

I hope we didn't somehow upset you, it wasn't intended if so on my part... & answered your messages too!



(Oh well: This proves it - I.M. BORING! lol... I scared her off w/ my boring-ness, I knew it...)

APK

P.S.=> SAXON: That term "FAL" - I have heard that one before... a pal of mine from college who's now a VP @ a major telecom provider is way, WAY into guns - He had mentioned that type in conversation with others regarding it! Strangely, he did not have one back in 2003 when I last visited & stayed briefly w/ he (a month) while visiting!

(He has 44 rifles, many HIGHLY "modded" (fluted barrels, laser sights + other sites galore, & tons of modifications I can't even recall now! Yes -he's got money, & is into expensive toys, which rifles are (put it this way - blowing off $100 of ammo @ the range (std. stuffl like 762x39 rounds, military surplus stuff you get cheap @ the gunshop)? NO PROBLEM! Want a new rifle?? Again - NO problem! Heck, he's got a GREAT LIFE, as far as being able to afford those rifles (his car? AMG 500hp supercharged Mercedes)))... apk

Looks like the hurricane off Florida is bringing in a storm at North Myrtle Beach. Of course, I was out in the ocean around 8am and moved to the hot tub about 11am for awhile. Nice and soothing. Getting extremely windy here and overcast. We're supposed to have some rains this evening and tomorrow.

Still enjoying the family vacation.

Dave

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

Looks like the hurricane off Florida is bringing in a storm at North Myrtle Beach. Of course, I was out in the ocean around 8am and moved to the hot tub about 11am for awhile. Nice and soothing. Getting extremely windy here and overcast. We're supposed to have some rains this evening and tomorrow.

Still enjoying the family vacation.

Dave

Aha, NOW I "get it": You're on "VACA" down there... nice spot, one of my "all-time favs", in Myrtle Beach!

(I thought you lived in the place you described & I was like "Alright, DaveM's living that "good life", by all means, fulltime too"... sorry about that, I didn't know you were vacationing man...)





* Love that place - it's been a long time, but last time I was there I stayed @ a place called "Captain's Quarters" (hotel on the beach there)... was 'big fun', & VERY relaxing!

APK