AT&T: The Great Teacher

Ah, AT&T.  My favorite service provider.  My day just wouldn't be complete without them and they've taught me so much.  Let's recap:

1) When you have a problem dialing one number in your DID block, you can not open a ticket using the automated system - because a DID number is not a PRI circuit, nor is it an individual line and those are the only two choices available.  Also, it is remarkably difficult (near impossible) to open a ticket without using the automated system.

2) When you open a ticket for your PRI circuit, simply so you can then talk to technician to tell them it's not really your circuit you are having trouble with, they will immediately test your circuit.  Thus disconnecting you.

3) When you move from one PRI circuit to another, your DID numbers must be both ported to the switch and programmed to the circuit.  Both parts might not actually be done, even though they are both required for a functioning number.

4) It takes no less that 4 people (and 4 visits) to install a managed, fiber Internet circuit.

5) When they seamlessly cut your IP addresses over to that new circuit, the technician will not know that the DNS system will automatically suspend your reverse DNS zone.  No one will tell you this.

6) Not even the first DNS technician you talk to a day later after you discover some places won't accept your email because your reverse DNS records are missing.

7) But the 2nd guy you talk to will know this.  But it's something they discover accidentally as they do their job.  It's not written down anywhere.

Now if they would only tell me where to send the gear from our old managed Internet connection, I'd be golden.

Detail Levels in Outlook Calendar

In the monthly view on the Outlook 2010 calendar, you have the option of several "Detail Views" - Low, Medium and High. If you accidentally select anything other than the default of high, you might be in for a surprise - with any other view most of your calendar items don't appear.

• Show Low Detail - Only holidays appear on a blank calendar.
• Show Medium Detail - Holidays and color bars appear that indicate days on which you have calendar items.
• Show High Detail - Time and header information, including category colors for calendar items appear.

I'm not exactly sure when I'd have a use for any view other than high detail, but this is useful information in case appointments suddenly disappear for you or someone you support.

She's Geeky - Just Hack It

Last week, I enjoyed my 4th time at the She's Geeky Un-Conference.  If you are a woman, you really shouldn't miss out on a chance to network and share your geeky-ness with other like-minded women.  And maybe not even like-minded... I even learned about the science behind making balloon animals this year.  What a fun way to unwind!

One of the quotes tweeted around after one of the conference days was "Whatever you want different in life, you should hack it."

It was tweeted by a IT friend of mine in attendance and a noticed by another non-IT friend to whom I had recommended they work together on a project.  I received an email expressing concern that my IT friend was not "reputable" because she was endorsing HACKING. OMG.

Yeah. So here is my PSA.

Hacking isn't criminal by nature. That's just how the word is mostly in the common media. It's gotten a bad rap, but really it's about embracing discovery, learning and improvement. Like anything, you can apply it to more that just computers and technology and you can use it for good or for less than good. You can choose to make things worse for others, or you can choose to make things better for everyone.

So get out there and "hack" the things in your life that aren't the way you want.  Learn a new skill, figure out ways to change things that don't work well. Use something "off label". Order off the menu from time to time.

Need an example?

This particular post (Beth Scott, @scanlime) embodies that quote from above in a way I can't even describe (and the topic is generally NSFW) but you'll see what I mean when you take a look. I'm not that skilled in electronic circuits and I don't have that awesome 3D printer, but this takes hacking your life right to the, um, edge.

So, get out there and "hack" your life a bit.  You'll be better off for it.

Going Home is Hard

One of the major projects for the end of 2012 was moving the office to a new location.  It's been quite the learning experience, but it's not often the average Sys Admin gets to help out planning and designing for a whole new data center.  So it's been pretty cool overall.

As part of the moving process, I deal with all the telecommunications.  I started early with AT&T to lay the ground work, trying to eliminate as many possible problems as I could. But alas, it was mostly in vain.

Today will be the 2nd official work day in the new office where several staffers (including executives) and our fax machines are experiencing an issue where they aren't receiving any inbound calls from outside our PBX system.

Some history:  We have two 100 blocks of DID (direct inward dial) numbers. The numbers are "native" to a switch/central office we'll call SANFRAN01.  Our office, before my time here, was located a building that was serviced by SANFRAN01.  Over 10 years go, the office moved a short distance, but to a location serviced by a different switch (SANFRAN21).   AT&T did some fancy footwork and allowed my company to keep their block of numbers.

Fast forward to now.  The office has moved again.  This time back to a building located in SANFRAN01.  "Fabulous" says AT&T, "Your phone numbers are going home!"

Except some have gotten lost on the way.  When our new PRI was turned up on Monday, the DIDs were cut over and some random number of them (from each block) have appeared to have taken a detour. Or a vacation.

So far, AT&T has taken well over 48 hours to solve the problem and it's still unsolved, with little explanation.   I suspect some of the fancy-fancy footwork done over a decade ago is tripping some things up. The ticket has been "escalated".  My AT&T rep probably cringes every time he sees me calling.

But I guess he doesn't have to worry for long - I also got a call today from my "new" AT&T rep telling me she's my new person starting in 2013.  "You mean like since yesterday?" I ask her.

"Yes", she says.

I'm not sure she's so happy she called me today.

Girls in Tech LA hosts Windows 8 Unleashed!

Here's a great event for you tech ladies in the LA area... Jessica is a friend of mine, so I know she organizes and gets behind some fabulous events!

WHAT: Girls in Tech LA partners with Microsoft and UberGeekGirl's Jessica DeVita (Microsoft MVP) to present a class on Windows 8 mobile and desktop apps! At this all-day workshop, Microsoft evangelists will thoroughly train from soup to nuts. By mid-day you’ll be building an app with an all-star team!

WHO: Calling all FEMALE college students and professionals throughout LA - aspiring and experienced female coders, developers and app-builders! Required: Very basic programming experience.

WHERE: Microsoft Office in Downtown LA

WHEN: Date: Saturday, January 19, 2013

WHY: Girls in Tech LA realizes the untapped pool of aspiring female developers and we make it our goal to provide opportunities for growth, education and exciting challenges.

Why Windows 8? Microsoft Surface is selling out, Windows 8 mobile is going gang busters! Join Microsoft and Girls in Tech LA to learn how to make money with your app and capitalize on the next generation of tablets. We’ll even show you how to market your app in the Microsoft app store!

BRING: A laptop (Windows or Mac)

To register, go to http://gitlawindows8unleashed.eventbrite.com/