Interesting read. Thanks for sharing. On Thursday, September 15, 2016, Rabi Tripathi <rab...@gmail.com> wrote:
> ** > Dan, > Thanks for keeping this community and this platform going for this long. > You had the vision, you have had the dedication, you've also had the > tenacity to keep this amazing thing going steady. And you've kept the > discipline on the list. > > I've been here since 1997, but since 2011 I have been an occasional > lurker. Like an addict sniffing alcohol. I am glad I came in today to check. > > I accidentally stumbled into Remedy after college in 1996 and was still a > Remedy guy till 2010. Sometimes I wonder what my career and my life would > have been if I had made a different choice. > > After college, I was about to take a Visual C++ developer job at a bank in > New York City. Out of the blue a company called RISC Management called to > say they would make me a Remedy consultant and pay for travel around the > country. I was sold. I didn't care what else they said and what Remedy was. > One week of training and I was off in Atlanta helping I think it was Bell > South, all expenses paid. Being paid a handsome $40,000 per year. I didn't > know but I had just switched to a track named Remedy for 14 years. > > Ok, I just reread what I wrote below and I warn you it has no point. > Thinking of Remedy, ARSList and ARSListers brought back a lot of deep > emotions and memories, so my mind wandered around. > > I have seen ARS 2.1 and beyond. No applications in the early days, each > implementation started with building the app on the ARS engine you bought. > Point and click customization, Rapid Application Development, process > before the apps were the Remedy mantras. From Unix, the platform ported to > Windows. Manualls were always green on black. > > I had to learn enough of SQL, Oracle, Sybase, Informix, and DB2 as > sometimes there was no DBA. Went to Merril Lynch, JP Morgan, Motefiore > Medical Center, Merial, Pitney Bowes, Uniliver, Down Jones, Gucci, Bureau > of National Affairs, Celluar One, Heidrick and Struggles (Sears Tower), > CIT, SIAC, Ameritech, Walgreens. Long ago, so I think statute of > limitations on client disclosure has expired. I mostly did well on > engagements, many solo, some in teams. > > Not always. I went to Compaq headquarters in Houston to port them from > Unix to WinNT. I had trouble installing ARS. Pleas for help (text paging > through a call, remember?) from my manager went unanswered (his dog ate his > pager, literally, it turns out). I was sent back on the plane middle of the > week, but I survived as I was very new (second or third gig). A client got > upset for not knowing that macro files could be opened and customized. > Mostly I wasn't this inept. > > ARS 3.x brought some apps. 4.x apps were more mature. I replaced a system > in the literally deep, dark room under Wall street where a lot of circuits > met (SIAC). > > I switched the company in 1.5 years, and started making $70,000. Got laid > off in 10 months (red hot days of Remedy, but they didn't know how to get > business), but quickly went back to work. The applications and the platform > matured through the versions. ARWeb gave way to...forgot the name of the > 1MB applet that had to be downloaded every time. Active Links became more > active and Filters filtered more. Went to hospitals, banks, retailers > (GUCCI, Walgreens), > > Escalations always confused people that if the Run If didn't match it did > not fire Else code on each record, but fired it just once. > Category/Type/Item were always problematic and everybody had an opinion. I > had a gig just fixing the structure. I never understood why Remedy Notifier > window was tiny and not resizable. Doug Mueller always said no when asked > if he would consider an "undo" button in Remedy Admin. > > ARSList was always the best friend day and night. It multiplied your brain > by a factor of 2000 or 3000. It was not only a tech forum, but a hangout. > Reading the posts taught you 10 times what a training or one implementation > would teach you. > > I never went to a RUG. Can't really explain why. No employer ever offered > and I didn't try too hard. So I know the old timers mainly through their > posts. Claire Sanford is a name I definitely remember. Dan's writings could > be/are amusing, especially if he is writing about something he is not > amused about. > > I became RAC certified. Wife was happy to use my mileage for free trips. > Setup DSO in three continents. Did Unix scripting, C API programming, Perl > scripting. In Detroit I worked a 24 hour day to troubleshoot an issue. > > Dark days of Peregrine took me to San Diego for Peregrine training. It was > a waste, but wife got to come and we made it to Tiuana in Mexico. > > As Peregrine appeared to be going down, I bought $3000 worth of stock > thinking I know the technology, it's good enough to make a come back. They > went belly up and I got pennies back. This was a precursor to my sinking > $3000 in Lehman Brothers, as it was tanking. (Don't follow the crowd, > right?) > > In Edmonton, Canada, on not so fine December week, I got tired of the > cold, so worked a 48 hour shift to I could fly back early in the week. Went > out to eat, but yes no sleep, no shower. An add job coding PL/SQL against > ARS's database, so I was mostly alone. I was a zombie through the flight > through MN. > > I customized every module to death in 6.x. At a client near LA, I spent > two years customizing. ITSM 7 radically changed the applications, > exponentially raising the complexity, making log reading a nightmare. The > paltform got a lot wider with more components, mostly from acquired > companies/technologies. > > On 9/11 I had finished a 10 month Remedy upgrade gig (I think it was ITSM > 5) at Ameritech in Detroit and I was sleeping late at home in New York City > that Monday having nothing to do. Luckily I and my wife were safe. Traveled > a week later for one last trip to Detroit, was seated just behind the > cockpit, and they gave me plastic knife to eat but steel fork which I > thought was stupid as the fork is a better weapon than a steel knife. > Getting up to go to the bathroom was awkward, lest somebody jumps on me > fearing a cockpit intrusion. I picked up a pack of cards at the airport > with pictures of the twin towers and gave it around in Detroit as I said > goodbye. People were still in shock, as far as Detroit. > > After the first kid, I switched to independent contracting job around New > York City, so I could pick local gigs. I did fine, but I didn't like a > single wall street bank I went to. I was a misfit, and after the 2008 > financial crisis, I promised I wasn't going to make a living enabling them > to do the stuff they do that are illegal, should be illegal, or are > immoral. Dumb if you live in New York I know, but I meant it. I ultimately > moved to Washington DC. > > Worked virtually for six months from the other side of the earth, starting > work after dinner, sometimes working with battery power for the DSL link, > the VOIP box and the laptop. Dealing with ITSM 7, the buggy/unstable > installation (or the code), on the phone with BMC's premier support, with > sales reps listening, on emergency calls hours at a time. The three > continent project was a disaster. I forewarned and got into trouble. Power > struggle between the three continents (I mean the companies' Australian, > Eurpoean and American entities, Aussies wanting to be the king renaming > Remedy "Agility", and sending their own branded Remedy/ITSM installation > package with their own version that barely worked. Weirdest thing I ever > saw. ). > > Finally for some stability I came back to New York, joined the Ivy Laegue > University as a full time employee. Ancient Remedy installation. I became a > hero by deploying Mid-tier (what, you can do Remedy on the browser?). I > struggled to get them to upgrade ARS/ITSM internally (no consultants). No > outside labor, no extra maintenance cost didn't seal the deal with the IT > bosses. Preached ITIL. Went all the way up to one level below CIO preaching > a tool/process transformation. Gave up and quit. A month later, ServiceNow > swooped in and they flipped. It's a good thing I never became a salesman. > > There ended my Remedy career, as I joined a big consulting firm and > started ITSM process/strategy work. My current client site has Remedy, but > I don't have the keys to the Remedy kingdom, so I am just a user. > > Anyway, if you are still reading, I admire your stamina. Be well folks. I > will join the community even if I may not be visiting often. And a big > thanks to all who helped me, laughed with me, and pulled their hair with me > in ARSLIST over the years. > > I've not done a good job of meeting the listers in person, but if you will > be visiting DC, I will have coffee or a beer with anybody, oldtimers or > newcomers. r-a+b+i+n+t+A*T+g-m-a-i-l. Lose all the special characters. > > Regards. > > > >> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >> From: arslist <arsl...@danielbloom.ca >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','arsl...@danielbloom.ca');>> >> Date: Tue, Sep 13, 2016 at 11:06 AM >> Subject: Re: Off Topic - Before the List is Gone! NOTE: Not Gone, MOVED >> To: arslist@arslist.org >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','arslist@arslist.org');> >> >> >> ** >> >> NOTE: On Friday Sept. 30th the plug will literally be pulled on the >> Servers this version of the list is running on. Please move over to the new >> home in Communities by then. >> >> >> >> The ARSlist didn’t even start on listserv, it was another messaging >> software. I planned to make it a group on usenet, but the anarchist group >> in charge spent 9 months talking about where it should be in the structure >> (anyone familiar with Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and the marketing >> team arguing about what do people want from the wheel?) >> >> >> >> For the past 14 years it has had a home in a machine room in downtown >> Toronto, on Servers I purchased (both replaced once). Those servers from >> 2009-2013 also helped us run the WWRUG events, so I could justify the >> expense. >> >> >> >> Volume on the ARSlist is a quarter of what it was two years ago because >> the vast majority of posters are now on communities. >> >> >> >> There is also now the new Developer’s site for the Innovation Suite, >> developers.bmc.com >> >> >> >> We are all very busy, and there are too many places to go to find things. >> Now communities will get you to the ARSlist too. I have been promised >> non-censorship and non-interference. >> >> >> >> So, same discussions, same people if we are all still interested, >> different location. >> >> >> >> Note: I am not disappearing either, and I hope none of you do! >> >> >> >> The care and feeding of this community has been a highlight of the past >> 23 years for me, and through it I have met, electronically and\or >> physically a really great group of people most of whom I think of as >> friends. >> >> >> >> Times change, c’est la vie. >> >> >> >> Now I just have to be a part of the Community, not build the platform the >> community lives on. >> >> >> >> Cheers Dan >> >> p.s. and yes, I prefer this platform to jive and Communities, it just >> isn’t the pragmatic one anymore, and I hope to influence the improvements >> in Communities to meet our needs >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *From:* Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [mailto: >> arslist@ARSLIST.ORG <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','arslist@ARSLIST.ORG');>] >> *On Behalf Of *Joe D'Souza >> *Sent:* September 12, 2016 7:21 PM >> *To:* arslist@ARSLIST.ORG >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','arslist@ARSLIST.ORG');> >> *Subject:* Re: Off Topic - Before the List is Gone! >> >> >> >> ** >> >> I totally reflect the sentiments of all of you. I heard of and started >> using the list a little after about a year or 2 after it was started and >> since then has been the best resource and online community I had the >> privilege of being a part of.. Thank you all and hopefully the BMC >> Communities will be a similar experience once I resume using it.. >> >> >> >> Joe >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> *From:* Action Request System discussion list(ARSList) [ >> mailto:arslist@ARSLIST.ORG >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','arslist@ARSLIST.ORG');>] *On Behalf Of *Kelly >> Deaver >> *Sent:* Thursday, July 28, 2016 12:33 PM >> *To:* arslist@ARSLIST.ORG >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','arslist@ARSLIST.ORG');> >> *Subject:* Re: Off Topic - Before the List is Gone! >> >> >> >> Thanks Claire.. 2AM.. I think that was me! You knew I would be flying >> back from my assignment in California and would check mail when I got home. >> Thank God, I new the answer! >> >> >> >> The community of ITSM professionals is only about 2 degrees of separation >> for anyone. I'm sure we will see you around. >> >> >> >> Times really are changing! First ARSlist moving and now I won't be able >> to make Engage this year. It will be the first Remedy included conference I >> have missed in 21 years! >> >> >> >> We* must* all stay in touch. I have spoken LOL >> >> >> >> Kelly Deaver >> ke...@kellydeaver.com >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kelly.ctr.dea...@faa.gov');> (Business >> mail) >> >> kdea...@kellydeaver.com >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kdea...@kellydeaver.com');> (arslist mail) >> >> >> >> -------- Original Message -------- >> Subject: Off Topic - Before the List is Gone! >> From: "Sanford, Claire" <claire.sanf...@memorialhermann.org >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','claire.sanf...@memorialhermann.org');>> >> Date: Mon, July 25, 2016 10:52 am >> To: arslist@ARSLIST.ORG >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','arslist@ARSLIST.ORG');> >> >> ** >> >> This list has been one of the most valuable tools during my entire Remedy >> career. We have seen so many ups and downs in that time period! Personal >> and professional! I know there are times I would not have been able to >> solve a problem quickly and accurately without it! >> >> >> >> 1am? 5am? 2pm? No problem. The list and the amazing people that >> populated it were always there for me! Thank you! I will miss the list as >> much as I will miss Remedy. There are so many people, I’m not going >> to/can’t list them all… >> >> >> >> Phil, Dan, Pat, Rick, Michelle, Warren, Teresa, Misi, Doug M, Jarl, Gid, >> Joe, Jason, Doug B., Tauf, Kelly D, Roger, Herb, Roger, LJ, David and on >> and on and on! >> >> >> >> On August 29th (that is the planned date) we cut over to SNOW. >> >> >> >> I won’t be gone yet. Remedy will still be around for at least a year. >> Nothing new will be happening. Just maintenance and archive mode! >> >> >> >> Thank you all for being so fantastic! >> >> Claire Sanford >> >> Remedy Admin/Dev 12/1/1998 to sometime in 2016. >> >> >> >> _ARSlist: "Where the Answers Are" and have been for 20 years_ >> >> _ARSlist: "Where the Answers Are" and have been for 20 years_ _ARSlist: >> "Where the Answers Are" and have been for 20 years_ >> _ARSlist: "Where the Answers Are" and have been for 20 years_ >> >> > _ARSlist: "Where the Answers Are" and have been for 20 years_ _______________________________________________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org "Where the Answers Are, and have been for 20 years"
