Re: SUN webswerver WAS:-Re: looking for anti-morons

From: me (castint_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 08/27/03 

Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 06:54:40 -0400

>I despair at what passes for computer teaching in UK schools these days. The
>kiddies are taught how to use a package, not the concept behind it. Even
>one of the exams makes direct reference to an MS package ( access ).

It's like that on the other side of the pond, too.

>Word processors are used to teach the package, not the concept of page
>layout, document layout,the differences between a text editor and a word
>processor.

I had a word processing class in 92, we learned all of this. Now the
classes are based on Word. Not to create folks who can create
documents but to create overblown secretaries.

>Some UK schools -are- seeing the light and introducing MySQL as the
>database, introducing HTML editing via notepad ( its a start! ) for the
>kiddies to build their own starter web pages before moving on (backwards)
>to MS Frontpage.

The community college I went to was going to to this. They wanted to
introduce Dreamweaver instead of FP, apparently they can get FP for
next to nothing so they're teaching FP. Nothing like furthering the
use of bloated code. :P

>We get candidates coming for interview who have 'popular' qualifications,
>and frankly, they need a map to wipe their own arses as they have little
>understanding of the underlying concepts behind how we work. We are a mixed
>platform environment because we understand that Windows is generally a
>better desktop environment, and Unix/Linux better for backend servers,
>although I use Linux as my desktop.

We're a Windows/Netware shop (mail and web are on NT for now, user
data/printing is on the Netware box). All 'doze for the desktops since
our healthcare app hasn't been ported to nix and won't work under
Wine. Myself I have a Suse box that I use for now, I'll probably have
a Gentoo box soon if it ever finished compiling. :)

>We quietly laughed when blaster couldn't get a foothold on our systems.
>Systems built by 'hackers'. Systems built by folk who want to know what
>hitting an option button on Windows does, where it writes to, how to back
>out. Systems built by hackers on Linux and Sun platforms that are finely
>tuned to deliver the services they are deployed to, and nothing more unless
>it is manually added.

It didn't hit us, we blocked it at the firewall then scanned. All but
1 machine was already patched. A neighboring facility has 65 open
machines....this will be fun to watch when someone brings in an
infected laptop.

>I wouldn't swap any of the team I work in.

I would. My coworker reads Family PC. His wife has her own computer,
won't let him touch hers. He's still singing the virtues of Windows 98
(because he's certified in it). Sad.