Whatever works

Military base has its first network-threat exercise requiring all PCs to be shut down, reports a pilot fish who's seen this all before at another base. As usual, when the exercise is over, the commander in charge of the base's networks calls the network control center with instructions to send out an e-mail telling users they can turn their PCs back on. "A secretary politely informed him that those of us with our computers turned off won't get the message," says fish. "Without missing a beat, he told the control center to issue the announcement over the public address system, too."

Define 'good'

Factory uses these aging printers to print labels for cases or products. But they keep breaking down, says a pilot fish on the scene. "Parts are very expensive and hard to find," fish says. "Every time, IT manager suggests replacing the very old and worn-out printers. The plant manager always agrees and sends request up to the company general manager, who says, 'No, keep fixing them.'?" And what does the GM say when he's shown that the replacement cost is less than the annual repair cost? "As long as we can keep fixing them, we will. No sense in disposing of good equipment."

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