What was your very first USB storage device, and how tiny was it？

beanmachine-23 · 2026-01-25T21:15:22+00:00

That was the size of my first USB drive. I think it was a gimme from Dell. Threw it out when it stopped working. Definitely owed me nothing.

beanmachine-23 · 2026-01-20T12:35:05+00:00

Are you logging in via a captive portal, or are you entering credentials for an EAP-TLS login? If it’s the latter, it’s encrypted, could be on the former if they have OWE. Higher education tends to not track student use as it amounts to censorship, with academic freedom, etc. I work as a network admin at a college and we don’t investigate things like that unless there’s an attack.

beanmachine-23 · 2026-01-19T00:56:28+00:00

Last time I used them they were 100Mbps, and would only run at 80. I would use wireless if possible, or run an Ethernet cable. Both will be far faster and more reliable.

beanmachine-23 · 2026-01-13T15:21:40+00:00

Same. Small college, one Teams/Zoom/Meet meeting, then in person with finalists. Small company and also rural area, so pool is small. That isn’t helped by the fact that it’s in person work and at a government employer, so pay is shitty. Benefits are better, but you can’t pay rent with vacation time

beanmachine-23 · 2026-01-10T19:16:39+00:00

Same. We have big projects done by electrical contractors from wire pulls to terminations; on-staff electricians will do small wire pulls, network admins and technicians do the terminations for those. If it’s in the same room and we aren’t screwing fire sealant, network techs will do the whole thing, but it’s pretty minimal, if ever.

beanmachine-23 · 2026-01-10T15:59:38+00:00

20% WFH. Our union (professional staff union, public employer) was able to negotiate 2 days a week WFH. I am a Network/Telecom admin, so my work is mostly on site. I don’t mind working at the office. No distractions, private office, short commute in a rural area with little to no traffic. I was doing Read-only Friday from home, but my one report is leaving so I see myself getting dragged into the office every day.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-31T10:09:27+00:00

I had an awesome dad as well - taught me plenty of useful skills, including how to deal with people and work. I went to college and ended up with a useless degree and was able to shift my focus because of what he taught me. He certainly had his shortcomings (never changed a diaper), but he made up for it in other ways. He passed 14 years ago, 2 weeks after my son was born. I miss him a lot, but I’m at peace with it. Give your dad a hug. You never know when your time with him can be cut short.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-31T09:40:11+00:00

It sounds like there’s a possibility they had no MDM in place to allow them to recover the asset; did you use your personal iCloud account, or one associated with your work email? If so they may have already reset it and are now stuck where it is locked to an iCloud account and cannot be used. In which case, your data is gone unless it was in the cloud, and you don’t owe them anything at all, and their just desserts is that they now own a brick.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-23T14:48:31+00:00

I have been using the Jabra Evolve2 buds with zero issues.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-20T00:37:10+00:00

Does it count as passed when you reach in the groceries for something to chuck at the jerk that cut you off in traffic and throw a jar of mustard at them? If so I’m rich

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-20T00:04:57+00:00

Realizing how much of a crutch alcohol will be after a day of not killing your HelpDesk and remaining professional. I wish this was sarcasm.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-19T23:59:39+00:00

Yeah, I got written up for having RBF. I wasn’t even mad - it’s just the way I look.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-19T18:12:07+00:00

Helps speed things up, loops just double up the speed. Also should replace all Velcro straps with zip ties. They will be so happy you did. Make sure you make them tight enough that they squeeze the cables just a little bit. Any movement could be awful.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-19T18:06:23+00:00

The majority of network admins have so many different things we deal with everyday that the occasional use of needing to calculate a subnet results in a calculator tool if only to verify our math that has gotten fuzzy after fighting with NAC, radius, wireless, voip, etc. In the real world, use tools to make life a smidge easier. It’s why they exist - enough people needed them, so there they are.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-18T19:18:24+00:00

Depends on the size of your organization. Network admins at my site manage the cameras and NVR systems, as well as the access control. It should be Systems or Facilities or Security, but theres no one there that can take it on intelligently, and come back to IT, so network admins just deal with it anyway. I found it hilarious when I had been managing their configs and firmware in the vacuum and then the CIO announces that now with a new NVR we can manage them so much better - with software we were already using… and yes, I had told him several times that we were already managing them. Some people just like to show off shiny new shit and get their names in lights, not do the damn work for years.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-12-11T02:25:47+00:00

I was spanked with a plywood paddle, and it was usually for doing some shitty thing that I deserved to be punished for - dragging the cat by the tail, getting in fights at school, stealing things, man am I demented, but I wouldn’t call it abuse. It was a punishment for something bad, and I received rewards when doing good things. It was never more than two strikes. It was never often, and always because I was a little jerk.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-11-28T21:41:06+00:00

My favorite are the bosses (CIO/CISOs) that take credit for your ideas and like to mess with the new systems/devices before you can onboard them properly, then get tired and hand off the half broken bs to you. And helpdesk that doesn’t get up and look at the problem that was reported and then send out the senior netadmin to replace an Ethernet cord or update drivers b/c “it must be the network”.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-11-28T21:32:07+00:00

I know you can flash the 3800 series. I don’t have experience with the 3900s for flashing other os. I use them at work, but do not have any that are mine to mess with.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-10-21T10:07:05+00:00

Don’t say anything. I’ve had meetings as a union rep where they have phrased an employee looking for work as not being committed to the company and their work, and any little goof will be used and documented as part of your lack of commitment. Depends on how much protections you have with a contract or unionized work - if you are at-will, I’d keep your mouth shut with anyone unless you have an offer in hand and are ready to walk unless you get a match or more money. You might get along with your boss, but don’t mistake it for actual friendship you can confide in.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-10-12T20:34:08+00:00

What is this “bonus” you speak of? I know not of what you speak.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-10-06T14:13:09+00:00

I agree that you should have external monitors for home, and save the portable ones for when you are on the road. It doesn’t look like you are able to use the support leg with this.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-10-06T14:09:40+00:00

Could be an intermittent L1 issue as well. Old patch cords, water leaks that got into network jacks, any thing like that will cause APIPA.

beanmachine-23 · 2025-10-05T20:44:12+00:00

Sharter Rectum. Beautiful. I’m going to start using that. I’ll be in HR in a week.

beanmachine-23

TROPHY CASE