Are the posted questions getting worse?

  • GilaMonster (6/8/2012)


    I've heard mutterings about using Kinect for that. With it's facial recognition it can lock the computer when you get up, unlock when you sit down.

    Would probably take a lot of work to get implemented though

    It would. Kinect can now make an educated guess at man/woman/kid and assess a body type.

  • Anyone with leet XML skills want to lend a hand here? http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1312818-391-1.aspx

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Greg Edwards-268690 (6/7/2012)


    Stefan Krzywicki (6/7/2012)


    Revenant (6/7/2012)


    For an intermedaite or senior BI developer, I would probably add "understanding of business statistics." By that I mean a good grasp of applicability of arithmetic average, modus and median, and of standard deviation and similar concepts, at least at the level that allows him/her to discuss requirements with business users.

    Understanding of business statistics and being able to discuss those arithmatic concepts with business users are two very different skill sets. I'd separate them, and only include "ability to interpret business requirements and convey complex ideas to non-technical end-users" if there's actually going to be any interaction with the business users. If this person is going to be insulated from the end users and work off specs generated by others, I wouldn't focus on that in the job req.

    In fact, I'd probably leave both of those off the job req entirely and ask questions designed to ascertain the candidates abilities in these areas in the interview. That's the kind of more general requirement that gets ignored at the job req stage anyway.

    A couple of very good points to keep in mind as we go through the interview process.

    Although my manager is the overall architect, we are expected to be both technical and business savvy.

    Our job is pretty much pointless if we and the business are not on the same page.

    Thanks everyone for some comments so far!

    @Brandie: Thanks for the kudos, appreciated. 🙂

    Greg, most of the comments you've gotten are already good, but one addition:

    If you want someone who does Sharepoint, you need to make that a big deal in your request. Sharepoint is getting to be a particular skillset (similar to the way SSAS competence is) and should not be left as an 'extra' in any way. Also expect to pay 10-20% more for a Sharepoint person. Competence + Sharepoint is not that common.

    In general, though, I'd agree with the above but I look at it a hair differently. Who do you expect to be driving the BI components? Is this person merely the technical assistant to a business partner who's driving what they need, or are they the one deriving what the business needs from a technical perspective? The difference in that minor phrasing will depend on where you need them to have skills, and how much it's going to cost you if they come with that combination.


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

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  • Revenant (6/8/2012)


    GilaMonster (6/8/2012)


    I've heard mutterings about using Kinect for that. With it's facial recognition it can lock the computer when you get up, unlock when you sit down.

    Would probably take a lot of work to get implemented though

    It would. Kinect can now make an educated guess at man/woman/kid and assess a body type.

    Errr, Kinect can already do facial recognition (and voice if memory serves, but don't quote me on that one) and do things like log you in based on who's in front of the system.

    The work would be cracking the Kinect to get it to work with non-proprietary systems, not the internal facial recognition software. It's got the definition already to do so.

    EDIT: I should mention that's part of why I REFUSE to own one. It creeps up my spine in a 1984 way. It my GAME system, I really don't want it doing that.


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

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  • Evil Kraig F (6/8/2012)


    Revenant (6/8/2012)


    GilaMonster (6/8/2012)


    I've heard mutterings about using Kinect for that. With it's facial recognition it can lock the computer when you get up, unlock when you sit down.

    Would probably take a lot of work to get implemented though

    It would. Kinect can now make an educated guess at man/woman/kid and assess a body type.

    Errr, Kinect can already do facial recognition (and voice if memory serves, but don't quote me on that one) and do things like log you in based on who's in front of the system.

    The work would be cracking the Kinect to get it to work with non-proprietary systems, not the internal facial recognition software. It's got the definition already to do so.

    EDIT: I should mention that's part of why I REFUSE to own one. It creeps up my spine in a 1984 way. It my GAME system, I really don't want it doing that.

    You don't want to get emails from your game system that say "I've noticed you seem to be favoring your right ankle, here are some coupons for ace bandages and some specials on ankle braces - love Kinect"

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  • Stefan Krzywicki (6/8/2012)


    L' Eomot Inversé (6/8/2012)


    Stefan Krzywicki (6/8/2012)


    Ugh, just found out we're switching to security that requires you to change your password every 90 days. Nice that we're switching to that now that security experts are saying that's exactly the wrong thing to do. They've only been saying that for years now, so why should we know? Infuriating! I look forward to seeing people's passwords written down on stickies on their monitors.

    When essentially technical things are controlled by managers whose job it is to manage and who are not required to understand technical issues it is inevitable that stupid, damaging, and incompetent management decisions will be taken, and idiotic policies like this imposed. That's why I believe that an organisation involved in serious engineering (whether soft engineering like B I or hard enginering like designing power switching and transmission systems) that senior technical people need to accept management repsonsibilities while retaining the scope to be technical, not pure management.

    Have you tackled management about the stupidity of this policy? Has the organisation no senior technical people with the management clout to get it reversed?

    Yup and I was told it is part of PCI compliance. Government regulation will always be behind the curve. Fortunately, Gail's suggestion may help mitigate the worst parts of the policy. I've forwarded that to management as well and perhaps, if combined with some training, it'll be used. I know I'll be installing it on my machine.

    I use a type of password vault and really like it. It makes my job easier. I also have to remember a lot fewer passwords now.:-D They get kind of hard to remember when they exceed 14chars

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • Chad Crawford (6/8/2012)


    Stefan Krzywicki (6/8/2012)


    L' Eomot Inversé (6/8/2012)


    Stefan Krzywicki (6/8/2012)


    L' Eomot Inversé (6/8/2012)


    Stefan Krzywicki (6/8/2012)


    GilaMonster (6/8/2012)


    PasswordSafe

    That is all.

    I'd started using eWallet, but that isn't free. Thanks!

    Watch out, there's a nasty little bug in PasswordSafe V3.26 (it may have been fixed by now, as V3.27 and V3.28 are out, but I haven't got ten round to downloading and testing a newer version yet): the "clear clip board" command doesn't clear the clip board. Of course if you never leave your computer logged in, unlocked, unattended, not even for 20 seconds, this probably doesn't matter; but it is a sharp contrast to the care with which Password Safe asks for the master key again if it has been idle for more than a very short time.

    Over the years I've gotten into the habit of locking my computer every time I stand up from my desk.

    I'll check the list of bug fixes (if I can find one) for the latest versions. Thanks for the heads-up.

    I downloaded 2.28 to check it (about time I got round to it ;-)). The bug appears to have been fixed by removing the feature; of course the workaround for the feature not being there is the same as the workaroun for the feature not working: either clear the clipboard manually, or exit password safe (which does clear the clipboard) or lock your computer before leaving your desk - even in what you fondly believe to be a secure environment.

    I've worked places (many years ago now) where someone sent a nasty email from someone else's computer. That was enough to get me to lock my computer every time I get up from my desk, even if I'll only be away for a few seconds. It doesn't have to be worry about something being stolen to make you want to be secure.

    I lock mine too, for the same reasons. Usually it's all in good fun, but it is still annoying to fix your autocorrect, host file or figure out why your "cup holder" ejects randomly every 5 minutes. I had one coworker who paired his phone with the bluetooth on his PC so it would autolock when he left the desk.

    You don't need to have physical access to somebody's machine to make the cup holder eject or for the music player to start playing certain mp3s at random times of the day. Just sayin'

    As for the bluetooth - I think that would be far too unreliable for me. Unreliable because I intentionally leave my phone at the desk for various reasons (meetings and bathroom breaks for example). Then again, it isn't difficult to hit a keystroke when standing and I always do that.

    I have worked in too many places with pranksters and some of them wanting payback for me to ever leave my computer unlocked. 😀

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • You have to be kidding me.

    OP: I don't want a union. How do I put these two queries together?

    Me: Looks like you need a join.

    OP: Yes, how do I do that?

  • Lynn Pettis (6/8/2012)


    You have to be kidding me.

    OP: I don't want a union. How do I put these two queries together?

    Me: Looks like you need a join.

    OP: Yes, how do I do that?

    I'm still laughing too hard to help respond to that yet, I'd come off far too snarky. The worst part: He's USING joins in his original statement! :w00t:


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

    Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

  • Evil Kraig F (6/8/2012)


    Lynn Pettis (6/8/2012)


    You have to be kidding me.

    OP: I don't want a union. How do I put these two queries together?

    Me: Looks like you need a join.

    OP: Yes, how do I do that?

    I'm still laughing too hard to help respond to that yet, I'd come off far too snarky. The worst part: He's USING joins in his original statement! :w00t:

    I wanted to start my reply there with this: Really?? You've got to be kidding me! :w00t:

  • SQLRNNR (6/8/2012)


    As for the bluetooth - I think that would be far too unreliable for me. Unreliable because I intentionally leave my phone at the desk for various reasons (meetings and bathroom breaks for example).

    Uhhh... the last guy that did that had his phone hidden above one of the ceiling tiles. No, I wasn't the giver or receiver, just an observer. He had to call it several times to figure out where it was...

  • Stefan Krzywicki (6/8/2012)


    Ugh, just found out we're switching to security that requires you to change your password every 90 days. Nice that we're switching to that now that security experts are saying that's exactly the wrong thing to do. They've only been saying that for years now, so why should we know? Infuriating! I look forward to seeing people's passwords written down on stickies on their monitors.

    Used to work at a place that did this every 90 days. The worst part is the requirements for the password was that it must be exactly 8 characters long, Must contain one of $^@, at least one upper case character, 1 lower case character and at least 1 number. Such stupid restrictions make it totally insecure plus nearly impossible to remember. Nearly everybody had a sticky note.

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  • Sean Lange (6/8/2012)


    Stefan Krzywicki (6/8/2012)


    Ugh, just found out we're switching to security that requires you to change your password every 90 days. Nice that we're switching to that now that security experts are saying that's exactly the wrong thing to do. They've only been saying that for years now, so why should we know? Infuriating! I look forward to seeing people's passwords written down on stickies on their monitors.

    Used to work at a place that did this every 90 days. The worst part is the requirements for the password was that it must be exactly 8 characters long, Must contain one of $^@, at least one upper case character, 1 lower case character and at least 1 number. Such stupid restrictions make it totally insecure plus nearly impossible to remember. Nearly everybody had a sticky note.

    Sounds like a place I just left and will leave unnamed on this forum.

  • Chad Crawford (6/8/2012)


    SQLRNNR (6/8/2012)


    As for the bluetooth - I think that would be far too unreliable for me. Unreliable because I intentionally leave my phone at the desk for various reasons (meetings and bathroom breaks for example).

    Uhhh... the last guy that did that had his phone hidden above one of the ceiling tiles. No, I wasn't the giver or receiver, just an observer. He had to call it several times to figure out where it was...

    That's ok the first time. BIG hammer comes out the second time. The third time, we staple the person to the wall for a game of darts.

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  • Chad Crawford (6/8/2012)


    SQLRNNR (6/8/2012)


    As for the bluetooth - I think that would be far too unreliable for me. Unreliable because I intentionally leave my phone at the desk for various reasons (meetings and bathroom breaks for example).

    Uhhh... the last guy that did that had his phone hidden above one of the ceiling tiles. No, I wasn't the giver or receiver, just an observer. He had to call it several times to figure out where it was...

    Someone try that prank here, the default assumption would be that the phone had been stolen. Would get the prankster in a huge amount of trouble

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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