Antenna Connector Types - Pictorial Guide

A helpful pictorial guide to antenna connector types.

Working on New Content

I should have something amazing for you any minute now////////////////////////////////



Via The Blaze

New Job Playbook

This is one of those mostly just for me type posts. For a couple of the jobs I have been interested in, part of my preparation includes thinking about what I would do in the first 30 - 90 days. Of course it would vary by job, but these are some of the things I might want to do:

• Create or review the service portfolio/catalog - especially understanding the relationships between systems
• Review projects - recently completed, underway, and proposed
• Spend one-on-one time with the IT staff - review their background, link their roles to services and projects
• Meet with key stakeholders in the lines of business/departments
• Meet with key suppliers/partners and review contracts
• Review any recent customer satisfaction survey data or conduct a survey
• Review expense and capital budgets including YTD/previous year actuals
• Review current IT policies and procedures
• Review recent audit findings (governance, controls, security)
• Complete a basic maturity assessment

With all that information, I would really want to focus on the differences. For example, do the stakeholders and IT team members both see the same problem areas? Do they agree on where IT is most effective? Are the projects aligned with the needs as expressed by the stakeholders? Is the money spent going toward the things that are most important? Are we training people before we start bringing in technologies?

I'd also take a look at the service catalog to see if there are opportunities for consolidation/integration. Are there services we should move in-house or be better off buying?

Ultimately, this analysis would lead to the strategic plan that would set goals for the coming years. It would, more than likely, result in changes to the day-to-day operations.

American Girl PSA

If American Girl happens to you, below are some helpful hints.

If you hold the dolls upside down when changing their clothes, their hair stays out of the way.

When changing their clothes, put both arms forward and gently squeeze them together. This makes it much easier to get the arms through the sleeves in most outfits.

Some shoes are hard to get on. For a difficult pair, start with the doll facing away from you. Place your thumb on the doll's heel. Start putting the shoe on and put your index finger on toes; applying pressure towards the heel. Squeeze the sides of the shoe with other hand and slide it over the heel.

Traditional Music

For those of you who like traditional music, I present:

Sand

Hugh Howey just released his new book, Sand, on Amazon. I really liked the Silo Saga series and the way he does business (you can get DRM free versions directly from him), so a little promo for the new one. His site is here.

Wouxun

Ed shares some more of his thoughts and details of his experience working with Wouxun - including some e-mail exchanges. Based on what he reports, I don't blame him for wanting to move on. Forgetting for a moment the issue of a memory loss defect (no pun intended), it sounds like the business relationship steadily grew worse for multiple reasons. I'm curious if all the other sellers were required to handle warranty problems the same way. Also, I don't really understand the pricing policy strategy.

Have a read and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

My World Has Been Turned Upside Down

Via 40 maps that will help you make sense of the world. Also from that page, it appears that some countries are too busy drinking spirits to drink coffee.

Links

Here are some Links to keep you busy over the week-end.

Via @EdwardMKE

Internet of Things and Security

I've seen several articles about the Internet of Things (IoT) being big in 2014. I am, in general a fan of the advantages of connected devices and the cloud, but I'm not unaware of the problems.

Bruce talks about the security issues of the IoT and routers:

"And the Internet of Things will only make this problem worse, as the Internet -- as well as our homes and bodies -- becomes flooded with new embedded devices that will be equally poorly maintained and unpatchable. But routers and modems pose a particular problem, because they're: (1) between users and the Internet, so turning them off is increasingly not an option; (2) more powerful and more general in function than other embedded devices; (3) the one 24/7 computing device in the house, and are a natural place for lots of new features."

Hans pointed out an example of a security issue on my post about the WRT54G router.

Part of my hope is that companies will take this issues more seriously. Security should be planned just as any other requirement for the application or tool. The market should severely punish companies like SnapChat that approach security issues with arrogance. And Nest had a painful, confusing experience when some of their smart/connected thermostat users were left without heat. I'm sure it will get worse before it gets better, but like given time I expect these devices will mature... or we will quit using them. At least the ones we have a choice in.

And maybe I don't want my toothbrush connected after all.