Books
Book Review: Time Management for System Administrators
The Summer really has flown by. Another school year is about to begin. Working at a university, that means the optimum time for working on longer term projects has come to an end and it’s about to get really busy with just the day-to-day tasks again. I was swamped through the Summer with tedious projects and with students returning it will only get busier. I’ve been reading Time Management for System Administrators to help me get the most out of the time I’m in the office.
The book goes to lengths defining/defending why system administrators need their own time management book and upon completing it, I really saw the value in having a book specifically geared for us. The biggest thing that sets sysadmins apart from most other occupations is that we are constantly being interrupted. It would be different if the interruptions were the work but there are also long-term projects that require time to plan and implement.
Book Review: Wind Energy Basics
Wind Energy Basics, Second Edition: A Guide to Home- and Community-Scale Wind-Energy Systems by Paul Gipe is a very down-to-Earth book and a practical voice in the over-estimating, over-selling, pipe dream world that is the wind energy industry. Many people think or are told that they’ll be able to spend a little chunk of money on a wind turbine, strap it to their rooftop, and they’ll never have to pay another electric bill or the electric company might even be paying them. Paul Gipe is a reality check in that kind of world to tell you from practical experience that it doesn’t quite work out that way.
Book Review: Cut Your Energy Bills Now
The second in a series of three Green books (Got Sun? Go Solar being the first) I’ve been reading lately, Cut Your Energy Bills Now – 150 Smart Ways to Save Money and Make Your Home More Comfortable & Green by Bruce Harley, is all about the practical application. 150 ways to save energy and indirectly save money is right. The book is filled with common things that most houses can take advantage of to be more energy efficient. As somebody that has recently become a home-owner, I can really appreciate a lot of the things that this book spells out, provides directions to do, and advises on what we want to achieve with our homes.
Book Review: Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow, the co-editor of the popular site boingboing.net, is a work of fiction for young adults (and even us adults) that was on the New York Times best-seller list for seven weeks. Although a fictional account of the events after an event similar to 9-11, the story relates to those interested in IT security very readily. Deeply embroiled as a political thriller, Little Brother was also very capable of showing how technology can be used against oneself and how we should really understand the things we use and become dependent upon on a daily basis.
Book Review: Got Sun? Go Solar
Got Sun? Go Solar by Rex A. Ewing and Doug Pratt (2nd ed.) doesn’t exactly relate to IT like most topics here on 404 Tech Support but nor have we been strangers to talking about the saving energy and going green motives of the day. This book is an excellent source for that part where the “rubber meets the road” when discussing renewable energy. If you’ve been thinking about the topic of maybe wiring up your house with a wind turbine or maybe some solar panels, Got Sun? is a must read for you.
Book Review: CompTIA Strata Green IT
CompTIA just recently announced their CompTIA Strata Green IT certification and as this has been what my job involves lately, I decided to jump on in and see if I could get the certification as soon as possible. The exam certifies that you as an IT Professional have…
- A specialized knowledge of current IT methodologies
- The ability to develop, deploy, and calculate true ROI for green IT initiatives
- Knowledge of cost-cutting power management and IT virtualization techniques
- Proven understanding of environmentally-sound waste disposal
- An awareness of global organizations mandating standards and regulations
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