I can definitely see Creative Risk Analysis Projections being produced by the ASS-holder.

Someone should offer an astroturfing certification (Perhaps the Astroturfing Super Specialist?). Then there would be a standard to measure against when hiring these folks and we wouldn't have to suffer through unfortunate incidents like this.

Oh and welcome to EH.net Travis. There are some really good/smart folks here, happy to have you join in.

One way or the other, it amounts to jumping in, in some fashion. Journey of a thousand miles and all that...

Yup, its out of pocket for me as well. I did get to go to RSA this year though, so I can't complain too much.

I'm still debating on whether to take a class or not. Anyone else taking one?

Also keep in mind that pen testing is a fairly specialized area in the security industry and that many of the open positions will be looking for candidates with a solid body of experience. You might open your scope up a bit and take a look at more general infosec jobs. You'll be a bit more likely to find positions there that are aimed at folks with less experience.

Also, the old adage "its not what you know, its who you know" has always held true for me. To repeat MaXe, you need to be doing some serious networking with other folks in the field.

They've definitely jumped the shark with the second season. The first season was moderately clever and hackerish, the second is just a stupid office sitcom. It also appears to have indeed been canceled again:

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/04/12/breaking-in-canceled-again/128767/

I'm planning to be out for it 

Heck yes. Get a few drinks in me and I'll show you my CISSP test scar. I think there's still a bit of shrapnel in there...

I thought the article was interesting, but not the "hey I'm doing to ditch my AV now too" kind of interesting. To keep the same argument, but change the setting a bit, "I never wear a condom because I'm really careful who I fsck, and besides condoms aren't 100% anyway". Sounds a bit thin to me... 

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), it also kills the shared experience and sense of community that come with having suffered through the paper test.

Not speaking, but I'll be there 

Interesting. I'll give it another shot. At least it was entertaining and did not contain CSI anywhere in the title.

Merry Xmas all!