THWACK Monthly Mission - January 2019

[SolarWinds_Worldwide_LLC]

Navigating the CLOUD CONTINUUM

You are here, in a vast and ever-changing IT universe. Good thing you have your trusty data map, because finding an integrated monitoring solution and navigating the evolving need for observability could get tricky. Will a nebulous, hybrid situation take you ever further into the cloud? Or, are you already out there pushing the limits of cloud-native technologies? Either way, the future is coming for you.

Explore which technologies you’ll move forward with, and discover where you need to land in the cloud continuum to come out the other side in an advanced state. This voyage is about navigating through complexity at warp speed, while minimizing MTTR. So, grab your dynamic field explorer and let’s start this mission.

JANUARY MONTHLY MISSION

Use the mission’s resources to complete the tasks and answer the questions for a chance to win!

Correctly answer each question during the week and you'll be entered for a chance to win the weekly prize.

Correctly answer all 20 questions over the course of the month and you'll be entered for a chance to win the grand prize.

150 points are being awarded for each correctly answered question. There are 20 questions, which means you can earn a maximum of 3,000 points for this mission.

Want to join the mission, but not a member? Sign up FREE now!

PRIZES

Weekly Prizes & Drawing Dates:
January 14th 2019: Vacation Guide to the Solar System

January 21st 2019: Hubot Figurine

January 28th 2019: Planet Defenders Board Game

February 4th 2019: James Webb Space Telescope Courier Bag

Grand Prize:
February 4th 2019: Garmin GPSMAP 64st, TOPO U.S. 100K w/ High-Sensitivity GPS and GLONASS Receiver

MISSION RULES

A new question will open every day (Monday - Friday) starting on January 7th, 2019. Once a question has opened, it will remain open until February 3rd, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Check the schedule below for exact open/close times.

MISSION SHORTCUTS

Complete the mission shortcut to earn an additional 1,000 THWACK® points & enter to win a GlobeTrotter Etched Globe Spirits Decanter, Galilea Moon Phase Calendar & Clock, LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V Building Kit, and/or a Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ Telescope

There are four shortcuts within this shortcut...So a little bit of shortcut-ception. Each one you participate in gives you a chance to win one of four different prizes. Here are the instructions for each product screenshot needed:

Pingdom:
Step 1 - Log in, click on Experience monitoring, then Page Speed
Step 2 - Click on Add Check at the top, fill in the box and take the screenshot before you save it
Step 3 - Submit screenshot

START FREE TRIAL  SUBMIT SCREENSHOT

AppOptics:

Step 1 - Install an agent.

Step 2 - Depending on which agent you installed-

• Infrastructure: Click on the Infrastructure icon, then click on integrations at the top and take the screenshot.
• APM: Click the APM icon in the left nav and then double click on a service, take the screenshot.

Step 3 - Submit screenshot

SIGN UP TODAY  SUBMIT SCREENSHOT

Loggly:

Step 1 - When you log in and you’ve added at least one log, go to the magnifying glass at the top and click on it
Step 2 - Type is a search, hit enter and take the screenshot
Step 3 - Submit screenshot

START YOUR TRIAL  SUBMIT SCREENSHOT

Papertrail

Step 1 - After you have added at least one log, click on the “Events” tab, go to the bottom and type in a search
Step 2 - Hit the save button and while the pop-up for the save is showing, take the screenshot
Step 3 - Submit screenshot

START LOGGING  SUBMIT SCREENSHOT

Weekly Prizes	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Winners
Week 1: Complete questions 1-5 by January 13th 2019 to be entered to win: Vacation Guide to the Solar System
Week 2: Complete questions 6-10 by January 20th 2019 to be entered to win: Hubot Figurine
Week 3: Complete questions 11-15 by January 27th 2019 to be entered to win: Planet Defenders Board Game
Week 4: Complete questions 16-20 by February 3rd 2019 to be entered to win: James Webb Space Telescope Courier Bag
Correctly answer all 20 questions by February 3rd 2019 and get entered to win the Grand Prize! Garmin GPSMAP 64st, TOPO U.S. 100K w/ High-Sensitivity GPS and GLONASS Receiver

Monthly Mission Terms and Conditions: US, UK, and Canada | Germany | Australia

Mission Shortcut #1 Terms and Conditions: US, UK, and Canada | Germany | Australia

Mission Shortcut #2 Terms and Conditions: US, UK, and Canada | Germany | Australia

Mission Shortcut #3 Terms and Conditions: US, UK, and Canada | Germany | Australia

Mission Shortcut #4 Terms and Conditions: US, UK, and Canada | Germany | Australia

[melonizame]

WOAH we got 4 pages now 

[asheppard970]

Interesting, melonizame​, that you prefer pages and not having to scroll...I personally would prefer having nested conversations.  To each their own, I guess, and that's what makes this such an awesome world: diversity!  I asked marcoswithanoh​ about it a little while back, which is the only reason I know that 100 comments forces the coversations into pages, and he explained that this is an "undocumented feature" of the blogging engine they use and cannot be changed.

[asheppard970]

I debated whether or not to comment on today's (1/16) answer and my OCD finally got the better of me.

You all know that I don't pick too many nits (well, OK, I do!) but this one I just need to pick.  The answer to the question can be found in the video hint supplied by felixforbes​, etal., but when you pause the video to get the answer, right there in pixelated gray, green and red is an answer that, clearly, is not exactly the same as any of the options presented.  Now, could I assume that the answer is correct because one piece of the information in the video matches one of the answers and no others?  Of course but IMHO, if an answer is not 100% correct then it's wrong.

I recently applied for a position within my company and the applicants were required to write a script that fulfilled 12 requirements.  The script I produced met 11 (91%) of the 12 criteria so was it a success?  If you said yes then you probably picked the answer today that met 50% of the requirements for accuracy.  If not, then you see my point.  BTW, I did not get the position; it went to someone who produced a script that met 100% of the requirements...funny how that works.

I'm holding off answering today's question until later to see how this is handled.

Ah, that's better...

***EDIT***

Apparently, I had not ingested enough coffee this morning.  I retract everything above and apologize for not reading the question more clearly.

[stevenastem]

If only we could have both ...

[zhymmer]

Well i tried just for fun and the answer with 50% of the requirements is the "correct one"

[asheppard970]

And I figured that to be the case, zhymmer​, but I did not want to a$$-u-me.  I hold marcoswithanoh and the THWACK Geeks capable of higher standards, however, and that was why I made the comments that I did.  Like I said, the OCD kicked in BIG time!

[the_ben_keen]

So I don't know if it's me or what; but when I click on the hint link for January 16th question the only video is just a few seconds long but if you read the comment it says to watch the whole video but to pay attention around the 33:00-minute mark.  The link is taking me to the whitepage for APM not the session from THWACKcamp 2018 .

[nwansing]

Same here.

[jhackett1]

Is there an error for today, January 16ths, question? It seems that within the question it says the hint should be a full webinar from a Thwack camp presentation though when you click on the link the only video I am seeing displayed is a minute long advertisement on Solarwind's Application Performance Monitoring.

[the_ben_keen]

I scrolled back through some of the comments and felixforbes shared the correct link the "Observability" session from THWACKcamp.

“Observability”: Just a Fancy Word for “Monitoring”? A Journey From What to Why

By the way, read the question and answers carefully, thankfully I got it right!

[jhackett1]

Thank you so much for your help! High five for us both getting today’s question right.

Jasmine Hackett

System Infrastructure Technician

C 269.365.7000

O 269.250.8120

bellsbeer.com

[marcoswithanoh]

Just as a heads up for anyone who was holding off on answering today's question. The hint URL has been updated to reflect the correct video. For those who figured this out earlier and provided the correct link, thank you so much!

[dtmcgregor]

...and for Question 9, Pedro Gomes says: 404 the page I was looking for doesn't exist...:)

[marcoswithanoh]

Check again for me

[dtmcgregor]

All good now, thanks!

[ebradford]

A coworker inferred I am addicted to puzzles. I'd like to publically refute that comment.

I am not addicted to puzzles. I can stop anytime I want. I just don't want to.

[sierra1011]

It's actually not, "once per minute" is a frequency. The question asks for the default interval.

[rawlinad]

I should have read the comments first. Got the dreaded red x from dang free text box. Free text should have to be graded by a human.

[asheppard970]

It actually is because "technically" that is exactly, verbatim and word-for-word, what the narrative says: "The default is 'once per minute'".  So while I see the hair-splitting going on - making the distinction betwee a "frequency: rate of occurrence" and an "interval: a space between things, points, limits, etc.; interspace" - acmtix​ is quite correct in their assertion that entering "Once per minute" should result in a green check box.

Now, if acmtix​, and anyone else who entered "Once per minute" and saw the red "X", has not PM'd marcoswithanoh​ as he indicated to do, well that's a whole other kettle of fish.

[acmtix]

I used that term, "kettle of fish" to my work colleagues the other day and they didn't understand me. I did not message marcoswithanoh because I was upto my eyes in writing documentation. I never get too fussed about losing the odd few points here and there.

[asheppard970]

I like the old colloquialisms, acmtix​.  "This is a fine kettle of fish", "Put it on the back burner", etc.  They keep me rooted to the old man inside of me.

[acmtix]

Old men have wisdom I hope one day to be an old man.

I like the "Bees Knees" when things go well or I like a bit of tech, "Bob's your Uncle" when i've achieved something, "Codswallop" when someone tells me something technical that I know to be untrue and "Pear Shaped" when it all goes horribly wrong.

I think however "Kettle of Fish" definitely takes the biscuit...

[asheppard970]

Oh, that made me smile big, acmtix​!  😄  "Kittywumpus" is another one that I use occasionally, meaning diagonally adjacent to something.  I saw "Gobsmacked" (or is it "Godsmacked"?) on another post from Radioteacher​ and had to grin at that.  I'm going to make a glaring assumption that you live somewhere in The Realm, acmtix​, and I must say, you all do have some great ones.  "Bully for you!", "Cheerio!", "and all that rubbish!"

Oh, and the whole getting old thing?  Yeah, it isn't for the faint of heart, believe me!  LIke Helen Reddy said, "It's wisdom born of pain."

[Radioteacher]

Howdy asheppard970​!  I was born, raised and live in South Texas, but I do consume products from Scotland!   Like Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky or Glengoyne 21 Year Old Scotch Whisky are some of my all time favorites.

I have a love/hate relationship with the American English language.  I love the odd words and hate the spelling oddities and grammar rules. 

RT

[acmtix]

Americans always add Z's instead of S's. Nothing wrong with it. The word sounds the same and a Z gives it a buzz. Language is in a constant evolutionary state isn't it? Just like tech.

I reside in a hobbit hole in middle England, a land of rolling hills and wild hares. I'm going to try and work "Kittywumpus" into my next meeting. I'm not sure I know what it means. Sounds like something to do with cats and noises.

"Cheerio" is a bit upper class. We ain't that posh round 'ere.

I could just drink some of that Radioteacher​ although I do usually partake in Fine Ye Oldé Kentish Ale.

[rschroeder]

I'm with you on our common language being deployed inconsistently!

Kittywampus dictionary definition | kittywampus defined

https://wikidiff.com/kittywampus/cattywampus

In my part of the world it's "kittywampus"  (Kit-tee-WHOMP-us).

There are a seemingly inexhaustible number of words with wildly varying pronunciations and means, many separated by geographic region.  A favorite radio show / podcast of mine that analyzes and discusses these kinds of unusual words is called "A Way With Words", and can be found here:  https://www.waywordradio.org/

People call or write to the show's hosts to ask questions of words' meanings or origins, and also to discuss pet peaves, spoken or written.  I've learned much from it and I let it keep my mind active when I'm performing tasks that require little concentration.  It makes them go quickly.   You might enjoy it.

[Radioteacher]

I believe that the English language was build by sailors of British ships who bolted together all of the awkweird parts of other languages learned in the ports they visited.

Awkweird dictionary definition | awkweird defined

[Jfrazier]

If ya'll think we butcher the English language, you should see some of the terms/names the Aussie's come up with.

[rschroeder]

Oh, those folks Down Under are the MASTERS of it, aren't they?!

I've studied their lingo a little bit due to my fascination with how they force language to evolve--and often times it seems the changes are made just for the fun of it, to make life more interesting.  Sometimes changes are made just to befuddle hoity-toity people or those who put on airs and expound with great erudition.  Some fun twists to a phrase and they occasionally find they're knocked down a bit from their lofty heights.

I've never been south of the Equator, but the Aussies have my respect, good will, and admiration--simply from their language changes and their practicality and sense of humor.  I shouldn't lump them all together, but Hollywood and fiction certainly have painted an amazing and entertaining picture of the people who live in Australia.

A few terms reportedly originating from Australia and used by their people cause wry grins or confusion in listeners:

1. Brekky – Breakfast
2. Budgie Smugglers– Speedos
3. Coldie – Beer. ‘Come over for a few coldie’s mate.’
4. Woop Woop – middle of nowhere “he lives out woop woop”

Many more can be found if Googling the topic, but here are a hundred-plus to keep you "stoked on Straya":

https://nomadsworld.com/aussie-slang/

[felixforbes]

I'm Australian and cannot recall ever hearing the term Coldie used for beer - most people would say "tinnie" for a can of beer and "stubbie" for a bottle (a stubbie is a short bottle and a big bottle is a longneck). I will also cheerfully admit that I don't know everything and there could be vast numbers of people using that term often.

I'm based in the city now but have spent several years in small outback towns - the language is definitely more colourful the further out you go. Having said that, it's probably stronger in movies than anywhere else.

[superfly]

I'm an Australian too and I hear the word coldie when people are talking about beers. "Grab a few coldie's maaate!"

Things in here go off topic quickly though I must say and as this forum not keeping things logically layered once it goes over 1 page, there's a lot of off topic stuff to shift through.

[david_k]

DOH! What is an option box again?

[smttysmth02gt]

BOOOOOO another red x for me.

[geosca]

Today's question depends on what you define as a "Option Box".  Three of the answer choices would correctly depict the selection of one of four alternative definitions of this term (i.e. only one of the multiple-choice options would not be correct for any given definition of "Option Box". I know what I THINK the definition of an "option box" is in this context but if the framer of this question has a different opinion then I would get the dreaded red mark so I'm a bit gun-shy in pulling the trigger.

Here are the possible definitions of "Option Box" that I can see:

1. Any field where the user can input their option preference via any method (free text entry, toggle, drop-down menu selection, radial button selection etc.)

2. A check-box that can be toggled on/off by the user to determine whether or not he/she wishes to apply the stated option.

3. A drop-down menu that opens a box where the user can select from the various options presented.

4. Any field where the user may select between two or more pre-formatted options (this is a broader definition that would include both 2. and 3. above)

Does anyone know which of these definitions the framer of the question is basing this on?

[stevenastem]

I, too, enjoy some goodly word butchering.  I also like to play with word order and junk like that.  My favorite author in regard to screwing around with the language is Joseph Heller.  Good as Gold is just amazing for this sort of stuff.

[trf]

Jan 18th is pretty clear, but read the question carefully today folks! There is only one correct answer but if you don&t carefully read the questions wording you will think another answer is correct

[smttysmth02gt]

I don't think it's clear at all..."option box you can click on..." is pretty subjective. 

[trf]

add the 2 words before that to your quote and the conundrum is clarified

[asheppard970]

I've seen you mention the Bonny Libations in other threads, RT, and I keep meaning to grab a snort of the Bunny but have not yet.  My personal faves are "The Glens" (Livet 12 & 18, Morangie) although I have not tried Goyne yet...definitely need to add that to the shopping list!

I'm with you and acmtix​ in as much as "English" (whichever flavor you prefer) is an odd language.  Since its origins are from all over (Germany, France, Spain, etc.), it's no wonder that we sometimes have a bit of an identity crisis.  Heck, "Amurkins" and "Brits" sometimes can't even agree on what to call things (bonnet, hood - which is it?).  One thing I have noticed, and I used to think it was a Millennial thing but now, not so much, is the use of the word "your" in place of "you're" (e.g. Your welcome).  Maybe it's an uninformed thing, maybe it's just a laziness thing - after all, "your" has four letters and is easier to type while "you're" has five letters plus an apostrophe - but whatever the reason, it's one thing that really "gets my goat"!  Yes, it is picking a very small nit; after all, the "intent" is communicated either way.  But I'm reminded of the scene in ST-TNG when Doctor Pulaski called the Enterprise's resident automaton "Dahta" and he answered "Dayta".  Pulaski said, "What?" and he answered, "My name. It is pronounced 'Dayta'."  at which Pulaski huffed, "Oh, 'Dahta', 'Dayta' what's the difference?" and Data said (and I loved this!!), "One is my name.  The other is not."  #DropTheMic

Having said all that, though, and having studied one of our roots (German) for a few years, I dare say that I do find English a satisfying language...but I'm sure that anyone who speaks another language natively will say the same thing about their's.

[smttysmth02gt]

It's actually not.  Because the question still remains of which "option box" they are referencing. 

[asheppard970]

Hey, smttysmth02gt​, listening to the narrative in the video, beginning at 0:58, the person doing the demo specifically mentions elements you can include in the GitHub issue by "[...]clicking the option boxes below".  And the second one in the list, which is what the question calls for, is...?

[smttysmth02gt]

I see.  I see what you're saying but I don't typically just watch the videos and listen....then just select whatever they say.  Out of habit, I typically look at the screen and make the selection that way.  I still think the question could have been more clearly defined.....

[jolson1]

It is distinctly mentioned which option box he is referring to directly in the video. Turn on CC if you missed it the first time around.

[marcoswithanoh]

I'll give a Marcos hint for today. Plus it's Friday! Let's enjoy it. Option Box is not the same as a drop down selection in this case. They say it in the video, but just in case those aren't able to hear it at the moment.

[jasonstak2079]

I can see where the January 18th question could be problematic if you don't listen to the video. I got it correct.

[alexpf]

Thank you! Thank you very much!

[geosca]

Good, it was the definition I originally thought it was.  I originally paused the screen to read the text when the appropriate window came up and didn't finish listening to the audio.  The audio does, indeed, clarify the narrator's definition of "option box".

[mark.dangelo]

Is there any reason that these missions only show up sometimes in the (Contests & Missions ) section of the website? That's my main bookmark where I check first. Thanks!

[dboskey]

Don't you think that those of us that got it wrong prior to your hint deserve another chance just to level the playing field?

[marcoswithanoh]

Sounds like a great idea.