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100 essential geek skills
16 years ago
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Azraelle
100 Essential Skills for Geeks
(Original Wired.com article written by Anton Olsen)
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/0.....lls-for-geeks/
If you can do it right now, mark it with an X.
Internet - Access, Browsers, Security
[X] Properly secure a wireless router.
[X] Crack the WEP key on a wireless router.
[X] Leech Wifi from your neighbor.
[X] Screw with Wifi leeches.
[X] Setup and use a VPN.
[ ] Work from home or a coffee shop as effectively as you do at the office.
[X] Wire your own home with Ethernet cable.
[ ] Use your 3G phone as a Wi-Fi access point.
[X] Understand what “There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1” means.
[ ] Identify key-loggers.
[X] Surf the web anonymously from home.
[ ] Buy a domain, configure bind, apache, MySQL, php, and Wordpress without Googling a how-to.
[ ] Create a web site using vi.
[X] Google obscure facts in under 3 searches. Bonus point if you can use I Feel Lucky.
[ ] Get something on the front page of Digg.
[X] Bypass content filters on public computers.
[X] Protect your privacy when using a public computer.
Computers - Hardware and Software
[X] Turn a web camera into security camera.
[X] Properly connect a TV, Tivo, XBox, Wii, and Apple TV so they all work together with the one remote.
[X] Program a universal remote.
[ ] Swap out the battery on your iPod/iPhone.
[X] Benchmark Your Computer
[X] Identify all computer components on sight.
[X] Know which parts to order from NewEgg.com, and how to assemble them into a working PC.
[X] Troubleshoot any computer/gadget problem, over the phone.
[X] Use any piece of technology intuitively, without instruction or prior knowledge.
[X] How to irrecoverably protect data.
[X] Recover data from a dead hard drive.
[X] Share a printer between a Mac and a PC on a network.
[X] Install a Linux distribution. (Hint: Ubuntu 9.04 is easier than installing Windows)
[X] Remove a virus from a computer.
[X] Dual (or more) boot a computer.
[X] Boot a computer off a thumb drive.
[X] Boot a computer off a network drive.
[ ] Replace or repair a laptop keyboard.
[X] Run more than two monitors on a single computer.
[ ] Successfully disassemble and reassemble a laptop.
[X] Know at least 10 software easter eggs off the top of your head.
[X] Bypass a computer password on all major operating systems. Windows, Mac, Linux
[X] Carry a computer cleaning arsenal on your USB drive.
[ ] Basic *nix command shell knowledge with the ability to edit and save a file with vi.
[X] Transcode a DVD to play on a portable device.
[ ] Hide a file in an image using steganography.
[X] Share a single keyboard and mouse between multiple computers without a KVM switch.
Media - Video Games, Books, Comics, Movies, Music, TV
[X] Knowing the answer to life, the universe and everything.
[ ] Knowing how to avoid being eaten by a grue.
[ ] Know what a grue is.
[ ] Understand where XYZZY came from, and have used it.
[X] Play any SNES game on your computer through an emulator.
[ ] Burn the rope.
[ ] Know the Konami code, and where to use it.
[ ] Whistle, hum, or play on an iPhone, the Cantina song.
[ ] Learning to play the theme songs to the kids favorite TV shows.
[X] Be able to trace the Fellowship’s journey on a map of Middle Earth.
[ ] Know all the names of the Dwarves in The Hobbit.
[X] Understand the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel.
[X] Know where your towel is and why it is important.
[X] Re-enact the parrot sketch.
[X] Know the words to The Lumberjack Song.
[X] Reciting key scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
[X] Be able to recite at least one Geek Movie word for word.
[ ] Know what the 8th Chevron does on a Stargate and how much power is required to get a lock.
[X] Be able to explain why it’s important that Han shot first.
[X] Know why it is just wrong for Luke and Leia to kiss.
[X] Stop talking Star Wars long enough to get laid.
[ ] The ability to name actors, characters and plotlines from the majority of sci-fi movies produced since 1968.
[X] Cite Mythbusters when debunking a myth or urban legend.
[ ] Sleep with a Cricket bat next to your bed.
Toys, Games, and Creativity
[X] Build amazing structures with LEGO and invent a compelling back story for the creation.
[X] Understand that it is LEGO, not Lego, Legos, or Lego’s.
[X] Build a two story house out of LEGO, in monochrome, with a balcony.
[X] Construct a costume for you or your kid out of scraps, duct tape, paper mâché, and imagination.
[ ] Solve a Rubik’s Cube.
[ ] Calculate THAC0.
[X] Know the difference between skills and traits.
Science, Math, and Technology
[ ] Do cool things to Altoids tins.
[ ] Be able to construct paper craft versions of space ships.
[XX] Origami! Bonus point for duct tape origami. (Ductigami)
[X] Explain special relativity in terms an eight-year-old can grasp.
[ ] Recite pi to 10 places or more.
[X] Explain that the colours in a rainbow are roygbiv.
[X] Understand the electromagnetic spectrum - xray, uv, visible, infrared, microwave, radio.
[X] Know the difference between radiation and radioactive contamination.
[X] Understand basic electronics components like resistors, capacitors, inductors and transistors.
[X] Solder a circuit while bottle feeding an infant. (lead free solder please.)
[X] The meaning of technical acronyms.
[X] Build a fighting robot.
[X] Program a fighting robot.
[ ] Build a failsafe into a fighting robot so it doesn’t kill you.
Misc. Practical Skills
[ ] Be able to pick a lock.
[X] Determine the combination of a Master combination padlock in under 10 minutes.
[X] Assemble IKEA furniture without looking at the instructions. Bonus point if you don’t have to backtrack.
[X] Use a digital SLR in full manual mode.
[X] Fix anything with duct tape, chewing gum and wire.
[X] Be able to calculate tip and split the check, all in your head.
[X] The coffee dash, blindfolded (or blurry eyed). Coffee <brew> [cream] [sugar]. In under a minute.
[ ] Have a documented plan on what to do during a zombie or robot uprising.
[X] Identify evil alternate universe versions of friends, family, co-workers or self.
[X] Be able to convince TSA that the electronic parts you are carrying are really not a threat to passengers.
[X] Talk about things that aren’t tech related.
71/100
o.O I'm 71% geek! curse you duct tape origami!
Azraelle100 Essential Skills for Geeks
(Original Wired.com article written by Anton Olsen)
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/0.....lls-for-geeks/
If you can do it right now, mark it with an X.
Internet - Access, Browsers, Security
[X] Properly secure a wireless router.
[X] Crack the WEP key on a wireless router.
[X] Leech Wifi from your neighbor.
[X] Screw with Wifi leeches.
[X] Setup and use a VPN.
[ ] Work from home or a coffee shop as effectively as you do at the office.
[X] Wire your own home with Ethernet cable.
[ ] Use your 3G phone as a Wi-Fi access point.
[X] Understand what “There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1” means.
[ ] Identify key-loggers.
[X] Surf the web anonymously from home.
[ ] Buy a domain, configure bind, apache, MySQL, php, and Wordpress without Googling a how-to.
[ ] Create a web site using vi.
[X] Google obscure facts in under 3 searches. Bonus point if you can use I Feel Lucky.
[ ] Get something on the front page of Digg.
[X] Bypass content filters on public computers.
[X] Protect your privacy when using a public computer.
Computers - Hardware and Software
[X] Turn a web camera into security camera.
[X] Properly connect a TV, Tivo, XBox, Wii, and Apple TV so they all work together with the one remote.
[X] Program a universal remote.
[ ] Swap out the battery on your iPod/iPhone.
[X] Benchmark Your Computer
[X] Identify all computer components on sight.
[X] Know which parts to order from NewEgg.com, and how to assemble them into a working PC.
[X] Troubleshoot any computer/gadget problem, over the phone.
[X] Use any piece of technology intuitively, without instruction or prior knowledge.
[X] How to irrecoverably protect data.
[X] Recover data from a dead hard drive.
[X] Share a printer between a Mac and a PC on a network.
[X] Install a Linux distribution. (Hint: Ubuntu 9.04 is easier than installing Windows)
[X] Remove a virus from a computer.
[X] Dual (or more) boot a computer.
[X] Boot a computer off a thumb drive.
[X] Boot a computer off a network drive.
[ ] Replace or repair a laptop keyboard.
[X] Run more than two monitors on a single computer.
[ ] Successfully disassemble and reassemble a laptop.
[X] Know at least 10 software easter eggs off the top of your head.
[X] Bypass a computer password on all major operating systems. Windows, Mac, Linux
[X] Carry a computer cleaning arsenal on your USB drive.
[ ] Basic *nix command shell knowledge with the ability to edit and save a file with vi.
[X] Transcode a DVD to play on a portable device.
[ ] Hide a file in an image using steganography.
[X] Share a single keyboard and mouse between multiple computers without a KVM switch.
Media - Video Games, Books, Comics, Movies, Music, TV
[X] Knowing the answer to life, the universe and everything.
[ ] Knowing how to avoid being eaten by a grue.
[ ] Know what a grue is.
[ ] Understand where XYZZY came from, and have used it.
[X] Play any SNES game on your computer through an emulator.
[ ] Burn the rope.
[ ] Know the Konami code, and where to use it.
[ ] Whistle, hum, or play on an iPhone, the Cantina song.
[ ] Learning to play the theme songs to the kids favorite TV shows.
[X] Be able to trace the Fellowship’s journey on a map of Middle Earth.
[ ] Know all the names of the Dwarves in The Hobbit.
[X] Understand the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel.
[X] Know where your towel is and why it is important.
[X] Re-enact the parrot sketch.
[X] Know the words to The Lumberjack Song.
[X] Reciting key scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
[X] Be able to recite at least one Geek Movie word for word.
[ ] Know what the 8th Chevron does on a Stargate and how much power is required to get a lock.
[X] Be able to explain why it’s important that Han shot first.
[X] Know why it is just wrong for Luke and Leia to kiss.
[X] Stop talking Star Wars long enough to get laid.
[ ] The ability to name actors, characters and plotlines from the majority of sci-fi movies produced since 1968.
[X] Cite Mythbusters when debunking a myth or urban legend.
[ ] Sleep with a Cricket bat next to your bed.
Toys, Games, and Creativity
[X] Build amazing structures with LEGO and invent a compelling back story for the creation.
[X] Understand that it is LEGO, not Lego, Legos, or Lego’s.
[X] Build a two story house out of LEGO, in monochrome, with a balcony.
[X] Construct a costume for you or your kid out of scraps, duct tape, paper mâché, and imagination.
[ ] Solve a Rubik’s Cube.
[ ] Calculate THAC0.
[X] Know the difference between skills and traits.
Science, Math, and Technology
[ ] Do cool things to Altoids tins.
[ ] Be able to construct paper craft versions of space ships.
[XX] Origami! Bonus point for duct tape origami. (Ductigami)
[X] Explain special relativity in terms an eight-year-old can grasp.
[ ] Recite pi to 10 places or more.
[X] Explain that the colours in a rainbow are roygbiv.
[X] Understand the electromagnetic spectrum - xray, uv, visible, infrared, microwave, radio.
[X] Know the difference between radiation and radioactive contamination.
[X] Understand basic electronics components like resistors, capacitors, inductors and transistors.
[X] Solder a circuit while bottle feeding an infant. (lead free solder please.)
[X] The meaning of technical acronyms.
[X] Build a fighting robot.
[X] Program a fighting robot.
[ ] Build a failsafe into a fighting robot so it doesn’t kill you.
Misc. Practical Skills
[ ] Be able to pick a lock.
[X] Determine the combination of a Master combination padlock in under 10 minutes.
[X] Assemble IKEA furniture without looking at the instructions. Bonus point if you don’t have to backtrack.
[X] Use a digital SLR in full manual mode.
[X] Fix anything with duct tape, chewing gum and wire.
[X] Be able to calculate tip and split the check, all in your head.
[X] The coffee dash, blindfolded (or blurry eyed). Coffee <brew> [cream] [sugar]. In under a minute.
[ ] Have a documented plan on what to do during a zombie or robot uprising.
[X] Identify evil alternate universe versions of friends, family, co-workers or self.
[X] Be able to convince TSA that the electronic parts you are carrying are really not a threat to passengers.
[X] Talk about things that aren’t tech related.
71/100
o.O I'm 71% geek! curse you duct tape origami!
