Heck yeah I know the password.
A happy hour friend says he can really tell it’s summertime: The number of support calls for his apps increases. From temps. Like this one:
PROG: I’ll have to drop by and reset the password then. But are you sure you’re typing it in right? Passwords are case-sensitive.
TEMP: Heck yeah, I got it right. I was watching her type it in at training.
PROG: What’s the password?
TEMP: asterisk asterisk asterisk asterisk…
True? Not true? Sounds more like the latter. But it’s funny. 
Eldon Sarte
http://eldonsarte.com
Oh, it could certainly be true.
This is not a freelance story. I would have submitted it for a regular blog post
When I worked at an ISP at the help desk, they had just hired a fellow who claimed to have lots and lots of experience with Internet connection software.
About an hour after he was hired, this new fellow was trying to log into an admin system that only the boss was supposed to have access to.
One of the other workers saw the fellow with the password dialog on the screen and halted him. Assuming the newbie didn’t know better, the worker informed the fellow that only the boss is allowed access to that software.
The new fellow says, “Then he should pay attention to who is standing behind him when he types in the password. And he should have a better one than just 6 stars, too. I know all about passwords!”
The fellow proceeds to type in 6 asterisks and click the Login button.
He was escorted out of the building about 15 minutes later.
Don’t leave me hanging William… did he get in? hehe
Too bad it’s not a “freelance” tale. Tell you what, though, since this post is mine anyway, if it gets 150 votes, YOU get the giftcard.
Eldon, I was right there when it happened. Saw the whole thing. He had such a surprised look on his face when his login was refused.
The rest of the day, after the fellow was escorted out, most of the people in the whole department would pause occasionally in their work, hold still for a moment as if thinking of something with 100% focus, slowly shake their head as if they had imagined something unbelievable, then resume their work.
In the whole company, “like stars for a password” got to mean “like the action of a really, really stupid braggart.”
I just saw the following vidclip yesterday. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Asterisk turned out to be this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG0__De4La0
If there’s anything that promotes freelancing, it’s that clip. Then again, the guy could be a consultant.