“There, there, Little One. Friday will be here before you know it.”
It is Wednesday Story Day time again. Last week Larry gave Perry instructions on evidence preservation. In the meantime, Andrew went over to the IT department to see if there was any hard drive storage that went back ten years that could possibly have the original file intact. Let’s join Andrew as he talks to the head of IT.
“So here is the problem. We have a hard copy of a file that goes back ten years, and the file is not correct.”
“Yeah so why not go to the backup storage file?”
“We did that, and the file has been erased.”
“Well, that is interesting. If a file was erased, then I should have some documentation to that effect.”
“That would be swell if you could tell us who erased the file.”
“What is the file name.”
“It is named Sandusky.”
“Okay let me look that up. A couple of keystrokes should do it. Hmmm.”
“Humm what?”
“There is no Sandusky file..”
“How far back do your records go?”
“The protocol has been in place for about fifteen years, but I know folks kept track of deleted files earlier than that.”
“So whoever deleted the file didn’t follow the protocol.”
“That would be my guess.”
“Can anyone delete a file.”
“If they are authorized on the system they can.”
“So this is a person who had access to the system. In other words an inside job.”
“How far back was the file erased.”
“We are not sure but we think ten years.”
“And you say the hard copy in the file room is not the correct version?”
“Yes. It was printed off the original file that had been adulterated then erased.”
“There is a long shot.”
“I’ll take whatever shot there is.”
“We used to back up everything on tapes before we went to servers and way before the cloud.”
“Are you saying a tape going back ten years may exist?”
“I am. We can’t be sure until I have someone go through the files. We have tons of tapes.”
“Could I ask a favor?”
“Yeah sure, anything.”
“Could you personally look for the tape? I’m thinking whoever erased the backup could still be employed here.”
“You saying one of my employees is responsible?”
“No. I’m just thinking we ought to be careful that’s all.”
“That does make sense. One thing about the tape though.”
“What’s that?”
“We don’t have any equipment to read it.”
“What? How could that be?”
“We got rid of all the old readers when we brought in the servers.”
“So you’re telling me even if we find the tape we may not be able to determine what’s on it?”
“I do have another idea. Our supplier may have a customer still using tapes and we can ask to use a reader.”
“You are a genius. This sounds very encouraging. How long till you locate the tape?”
“Not sure but I’ll spend the rest of the day looking. That good enough?”
“Bless you, my son.”
“One other thing.”
“What’s that.”
“I’m in IT, so genius comes naturally.”
Fiction Favorites 
I often wonder how many outfits still keep tapes and WORM disks for security but lack the means to read them. Back in the day, it was said that WORM disks had a theoretical life of fifty years, but the drive technology changed so often they’d be useless after five!
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I think that is what is happening here. Thanks, Keith.
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They’re on Beta?
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Reel to reel magnetic (so I’ve been told)
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Wait. Like the old movie reel stuff? That’s real vintage.
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Well sorta. Let’s just say yeah.
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I love his final comment!
I’m not sure if I know where this is heading. Oh, wait, John is writing this. I’m sure I don’t know where this is heading. I do think it’s right to suspect everybody. There are so many ‘ifs’ in the theoretical line that the impossible seems likely at this point. I don’t know about the detectives, but I think you have us right where you want us.
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Thank you, Dan. I want you right there.
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Judging by that last line, the head of IT is little full of himself!
Oh, and that picture of Twiggy and Lucy with the quote is just adorable 🙂
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I’m with Mae…he’s got a big head!
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Huge. Thanks, Jill
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Good, they’ve found a possibility. I can well believe they got rid of the readers. The philosophy today is “out with the old and in with the new”. A good installment, John. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Yes there is always a possibility.
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Sounds like a typical IT guy. I sense lots of follow up to get him to deliver.
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I think you may be right.
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Ahh, an opening. YAY. I love, love the photo and the tender exchange. 🙂
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Thank you, Gwen. 😀
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Well, it’s a longshot for sure, but worth trying. I’d say the IT guy has a bit of an ego. 🙂 It shall be interesting to see what he uncovers. Love, Love the photo! Those two are too sweet for words.
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Thak you, Jan. They are fun to watch.
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Hope they hurry – I want to know who deleted it.
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Typical IT pomposity! Still, I was wondering the same thing, if they found the tape, how were they going to read it? John, that photo of Lucy and Twiggy is just too cute!!
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Do egos explode when they get so inflated? ♥
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That was a productive meeting:) Sometimes keeping a paper copies is still advisable. Love the pic!
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Except the only paper version is inaccurate as well. oops
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very true…lol
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🙂
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John,
Lucy and Twiggy are just so friggen adorable together!
As for this spiraling mystery you’ve got going, I’m always hesitant to jump to conclusions, since in the past I was so often wrong. The Head of IT is a snarky know it all, and that’s all Imma say for now.
It seems the guilty party or parties is either really smart, or has simply benefited greatly from technology’s lightning speed progress. Or both. But definitely not ‘neither’.
That’s all I got! LOL
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Thank you, Marc. I think the benefit for the guilty is in the smarts department. I love your comment today.
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I love this story!
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I’m so glad. It might have legs.
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Oh YOU!!!!
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Ha ha ha. 😀
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Goooan… You’re spot-on with that character. I know dozens of the head IT guy’s even more conceited clones. Although he does seem like a pretty good guy.
Loved this episode though, John. I know you’re building up to something that will give me whiplash. 😀
The photo of Twiggy and Lucy is adorable. I’m with Twiggy — Friday can’t come too soon. I’m glad she has Lucy to comfort her. ❤ Hugs.
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You should be wearing wiplash cream. LOL
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Ha! Now I understand the cramp in my neck this morning. I’ll be back for the next episode — protective neck-brace in hand. 😀
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Just keep your hands inside the car. Hugs.
😀
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This is looking promising. High five that IT guy… I think.
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Sure we can do that. 😀
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😀
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This reminds me of the VHS tapes we still have, John. 🙂 Oh, gosh, I’m aging myself. Another great dialogue, and I still like to keep hard copies. 🙂
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Me too, Lauren. Thank you
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide.
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Thank you. Traci
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You’re welcome, John!
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The pictures of themmm… awww!
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🙂
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