Web Log of BILLSLATER.com

Watching Big Polluter

2010-05-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

As many of you are now aware, there is a huge out of control oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and Big Polluter is mostly responsibile for it. I created a new Blog website today to go along with my Big Polluter web page. The Blog is called Watching Big Polluter. My Big Polluter web page is located at http://billslater.com/bp.

God bless the people, flora, and fauna in and around the Gulf of Mexico!

Chicago Data Center Grand Opening!!!

2009-10-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Data Center, CH1, for those in the know, finally had its Grand Opening in late September 2009.

Congrats to all those people working 100+ hour weeks to make it happen! You Rock!!!

Article 1: Microsoft Data Center Grand Opening!!!

Article 2: Microsoft Data Center Grand Opening!!!

Article 3: Microsoft Data Center Grand Opening!!!

Michael Manos: Goodbye, Microsoft! Hello, Digital Realty Trust!

2009-04-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

In a move that will suprise many, Michael Manos, the Senior Director and General Manager of Data Center Services (DCS) at Microsoft, is leaving to become a Senior VP of Technical Services at Digital Realty Trust. More about this big move is at this link.

This is a huge loss for Microsoft and a great win for Digital Realty Trust. To get a really good idea of what Michael Manos did for Microsoft DCS, visit this link.

I know Mike and worked for him in DCS when I was at Microsoft. He was my boss', boss' boss. I wish Mike the very best. I know he will do great things for Digital Realty Trust and its ever expanding customer base.

Whatever happened to the Microsoft Chicago Data Center?

2009-02-14T16:01:00.000-08:00

Remember that huge Data Center that Microsoft was building in Northlake, IL?

When completed this year, it was supposed to be the world's largest:

Size: approximately 730,000 sq ft
Power: 120 MW
No. of Physical Servers: approximately 600,000 to 800,000
No. of Data Center Container Modules: 96
Category: Generation 3 Data Center

So whatever happened to it?

According to this news article, it is being placed in the mothballs. Obviously this is another reaction to the present state of the economy.

Here's hoping for the best for all my former colleagues over there.

Anyway, if you want to see more about this magnificent facility and its potential when it finally comes online, visit this link.

And if you want to understand what a "Generation 4 Data Center" is about, click here.

Maggie the Mascot

2009-02-05T14:52:00.000-08:00

This amazing 8-year old female Sheltie, named Maggie, is the mascot of a Data Center project that I am working on. She is a wild dog who lives in the open. But she is so smart, she knows people and the cars that arrive in each day. I make a special point of bringing her Beef Jerky every time I visit. God bless this beautiful dog and her noble spirit. She is sincerely loved by everyone who works at this facility.

My New Business Card

2009-02-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

This is my new business card that I created and ordered today.

Let's Start the New Month with Some More Humor...

2009-01-31T22:19:00.001-08:00

Ending the Month with a Little Humor for Present and Past Microsoft Employees

2009-01-31T21:55:00.000-08:00

More Advice for Microsoft Employees - Past and Present

2009-01-29T05:25:00.000-08:00

I have read all the comments posted at minimsft.blogspot.com since the layoffs. If the whole of these comments represents the true environment at Microsoft, then I have two conclusions:

Microsoft is in more trouble than what you read in the press.
Microsoft's employees, present and past, thought they were living in a high-tech utopia where they were entitled to a great paying job, great benefits and a great culture that it's wonderful to belong to.

In my opinion, this really is history repeating itself. I saw all the same things at Digital Equipment Corporation. Bob Palmer came in during Summer of 1992 as the new CEO and they put founder Ken Olsen out to pasture. One of his first statements as the new CEO: "There is no job security at Digital. You have to audition for your job every day." He also turned every product unit and business unit into a profit and loss center which was accountable for its own bottom line. After 12 - 18 months, he KNEW who the losers were and who the money-makers were. Layoffs ensued. LOTS of layoffs. Eventually, the company was taken over by Compaq, which itself was merged with HP about three years later.

While Microsoft's own future as a company is as uncertain as the present Economy, I can tell the present and former employees of Microsoft that you need to wake up and understand the world. It's very Darwinian out here. (Survival of the fittest.) No one owes you anything. You must be sharp, focused, and productive and able to learn and adapt rapidly. It also doesn't hurt to be congenial. Microsoft arrogance doesn't play well in the New World. And when whatever gig you are on dries up, you must be ready to quickly move on and add value somewhere else. I have a feeling that most of you will be in denial and ignore this advice. It's OK. If and when you do get it, it will be a sign that you will probably survive and hopefully flourish in the New World.

And here is the ultimate acid test about how good you are for each of you: After you leave Microsoft, how long will it take you to find work?

Best to all of you.

Advice for Former Microsoft Employees and Other IT Workers Who Lost Their Jobs

2009-01-24T11:46:00.000-08:00

People need to quit whining, and channel their energies into finding new work.

1) Update your resume

2) Update your networking skills in the real world and in the web world - LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, personal website, personal blog, etc.

3) Upload your resume to the prominent job boards:

CareerBuilder
Dice
Monster
USAJOBS
INDEED
HOTJOBS
etc.

4) Update your wardrobe

5) Brush up on your interviewing skills by reading these two books:
Knock 'Em Dead
Sweaty Palms

6) Remember: Microsoft doesn't give drug tests, but MOST other employers do

7) Open your Bibles and read Joshua 1:8

8) Pray. God answers prayers... more than you realize.

Within two weeks of leaving Microsoft, I had three job offers, for a lot more money and fewer hours.

And I'll be praying for all of you.

Finally, please remember these parting thoughts: The longer you are out of work, the longer you will be out of work. The clock is ticking... time and the economy are NOT on your side. Every second you spend complaining, wallowing in self-pity, or reminiscing about the good old days of Microsoft is time lost toward your vital goal of getting that new job. So focus and apply yourselves. Your new job at the moment is to find that next great job. I'd also recommend keeping your skills consistently current and relevant so this effort will be easier in the future.

P.S. You may find these links to be helpful:
Secrets
Career
Certifications

Another Weekend Day

2005-03-20T10:15:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's been a busy weekend and it's only Sunday morning. This is only my third entry since February 19, 2005 when I created this web log.

The Vernal Equinox - Spring Is Here
Today is the first day of Spring. Since I live in Chicago, where we have four distinct Seasons, I know that as Spring progresses, it will be very different than the other three seasons here. But I am a little sad to see Winter exit. I am one of those people who actually enjoy the cold and bundling up to protect myself from its harsh effects. And I especially love the snow and the beautiful white blanket it brings to cover everything... And I love the anticipation and ultimate peace that accompanies each snowfall. My biggest complaint is that we don't get enough of the beautiful white stuff. Consider this: As a Southerner, one of the reasons I live up north in Chicago is because I love Winter and the snow.

ISOC-Chicago
Some of you may be aware that I am president and cofounder of ISOC-Chicago. ISOC = The Internet Society. ISOC-Chicago = The Chicago Chapter of the Internet Society. For many reasons, we temporarily suspended monthly meetings after June 2004. But we will resume meetings on April 7, 2005 at a little Internet Cafe down the street at 1331 N. Ashland Ave., close to where I live at 1409 N. Ashland Ave. Should be fun. At least this location is centrally located. Many complained that they didn't want to make the trek to Northwestern University Library in southern Evanston, IL to attend our meetings. Outside of downtown Chicago, it would be difficult to find a more central location than this Internet Cafe. John Owrey, who is my vice-president and cofounder of ISOC-Chicago agrees and scoped out this location with me.

Other Stuff
I have come up with some innovative methods to use MS Access to quantify, keep track of, and report on some very detailed parts of the facility I manage at work. I hope my management will appreciate and utilize this information. Getting it assembled was a lot of work.

I will try to be better at entering web log entries.

Till next time... Bye for Now.

Bill

A Weekend in the Life

2005-02-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

Greetings:

The weekends are ALWAYS too short.

Big things I got done or that remain to do this weekend --

Saturday:

Scanned in my Hillcrest High School (HHS) Class Picture after cutting it in half, and posted it to Classmates.com

E-mailed server old HHS classmates and my sister to inform them of this.

Visit the new BankOne branch at Milwaukee & Ashland, and bought some money orders. (Got short-changed in the process... where do they train these people?)

Joined BLOGSPOT.com and started my first web log.

Updated my own website at BILLSLATER.com and created a link to this weblog.

Joined some local groups at Meetup.com: Chess, LAN Games, Risk, Judo and Backgammon. Hope to meet some interesting people in one or more of these groups.

Talked on the phone for about an hour with old friend / mentor from the U.S. Air Force who called me after several years of being out of touch. His name is David Higgins. You can read about him on my Mentors web page.

Went to a movie named "In Good Company," which realistically depicted the types of generational conflicts that occur in the modern workplace. Starred Dennis Quaid, Scarlet Johannson and Topher Grace.

Dropped off the laundry to be washed, dried, and folded (or hung up).

Went to a nice dinner at the Luc Thang Noodle Restauarant at 1524 N. Ashland Ave. While they claim to be a Chinese & Thair Restaurant, I think of them more as a Vietnamese Restaurant. It is owned and operated by a Vietnamese family named the Troungs, and they have been there since 1997. I know and love the whole family. After dinner, we always go back to the kitchen, which is half the size of this small restaurant, and greet Ms. Troung and thank her for a great meal. She is a gourmet cook, but she doesn't believe that.

Afterwards, we walked home and watched the news and part of Saturday Night Live. Amy Poehler was pretty funny dressed as Michael Jackson.

Sunday:

Watched the Sunday morning news shows about Politics and Current Events. I still think the Iraq War was and is a huge mistake. I voted for Ralph Nader, does it show?

For breakfast, my lovely wife, Joanna, made a great dish with Polish sausage and scrambled eggs. It was EXCELLENT and the first time she have made it, I think.

Wrote this, the second entry in my new web log.

Meeting a new potential protege', Derek Snyder, who is the grandson of a dear friend and former student. His father, Dean Snyder, is bringing him over to discuss ways to work together in a Mentor-Protege' relationship. I am presently mentoring about six people people. Read more about Mentoring Process, my Mentors, and my Proteges at my website. Note that the Proteges Page is really dated and should be updated soon. However, people like the material I have written on mentoring, and it has been used and re-used, nationally and internationally. There is some comfort in the fact that many people like the way I have helped this process along, as well as the people I have helped. Of course, I am eternally in debt to my own mentors, who in some cases, served as surrogate father figures as well as mentors.

After we talk, Dean Snyder and Derek Snyder will join me for a late lunch back at Luc Thang Noodle Restaurant.

For the rest of the weekend, I plan some more Chess, reading, and filing of paperwork. I also have some writing to do.

Then, wrapping up the weekend, tonight I will watch Desperate Housewives and Boston Legal.

Weekends are always too short. We need a U.S. Constitutional Ammendment to create the four-day work week. This would help de-stress a lot of already over-stressed Americans.

That's all for now.

Bill

First Posting

2005-02-19T14:42:00.000-08:00

Today, I finally decided to do it. I created a Web Log at http://blogspot.com . After having a web presence since 1996, first at CompuServe and later at http://billslater.com, I have decided to explore this new web medium and see how it feels. I suspect that I will like it. But I am also sure that it will be an adjustment process. One thing is certain, however, I will post a link from my website to this web log, so it will probably be viewed by a lot of people. More soon...