As often happens in the world of my family, or that which I have come from, I find myself immersed in the world of “information and technology”. In geek, nerd, or corporate speak, that’s IT to you. In all seriousness, I can’t remember a day without technology being apart of my life. Computers, televisions, CD’s, VHS, and so on. When Star Wars finally made it to broadcast over our local CBS affiliate, I drove that beta tape into the ground because I watched it so many times. All this tinkering with gadgets, or electronics, just kind of comes second nature.
Mark today as another first. My first IT seminar. Microsoft Security Training. Imagine, if you will, a bunch of people crowded into an auditorium being lectured to about network and domain security. Group policies. On and on. To me, it is of interest because the more I can do at the station to keep all the office machines safe from hackers, the less late nights I’ll have. As far as the entertainment factor goes, it’s just not my bag. However, you look around this room and there are people who live for this. Pale skinned individuals with poor to no grooming or fashion skills, drinking their highly carbonated, sugary, caffeinated beverage of choice while munching on something sweet. They giggle with eagerness when they prove the speaker faulty on some subject he just covered. It’s like elementary school when the same people laugh at your for raising your hand, admitting to some security policy you operate on your local network that is so three months ago.
I’m not a PC person, but I can handle working with both platforms. By that, I mean Apple and Microsoft. I enjoy the work I do and like to think that I’m pretty good at it. I’m far from perfect, that’s for sure. I’m learning everyday, and in this business, that’s exactly what you need to keep doing, day in and day out. I fear some of these people, with their pony tails, belt clip cell phones, polo shirts, khaki pants, hush puppies, and portable technology of choice. I admit, what I do as a broadcast engineer is nerdy, but if I had their jobs, yet alone lives, I think I’d go postal.