Slashdot Mirror
Analyst, 15, Creates Storm After Trashing Twitter
Barence writes "A 15-year-old schoolboy has become an overnight sensation after writing a report on teenagers' media habits for analysts Morgan Stanley. Intern Matthew Robson was asked to write a report about his friends' use of technology during his work experience stint with the firm's media analysts. The report was so good the firm decided to publish it, and it generated 'five or six' times more interest than Morgan Stanley's regular reports. The schoolboy poured scorn on Twitter, claiming that teenagers 'realize that no one is viewing their profile, so their tweets are pointless.' He also claimed games consoles are replacing mobile phones as the way to chat with friends."
Listen AC, I have been literally awake for 30 minutes this morning. During that time, I had two raw eggs and wrote a +5 insightful post.
I'm gonna go "piss some excellence"; in the meantime, why don't you register an account so I can foe you and get going to my high-paying job.
There's a new sun
Risin' up angry in the sky
And there's a new voice
Sayin' "we're not afraid to die"
Let the old world make believe
It's blind and deaf and dumb
But nothing can change the shape of things to come
There are changes
Lyin' ahead in every road
And there are new thoughts
Ready and waiting to explode
When tomorrow is today
The bells may toll for some
But nothing can change the shape of things to come
The future's comin' in, now
Sweet and strong
Ain't no-one gonna hold it back for long
There are new dreams
Crowdin' out old realities
There's revolution
Sweepin' in like a fresh new breeze
Let the old world make believe
It's blind and deaf and dumb
(But) nothing can change the shape of things [4X]
To come
--Max Frost and the Troopers
"He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
No kidding, I was having sex at 15, and I was entering 10th grade. I know I skipped a grade but really? 8th grade?
who prays for Satan? Who in 18 centuries has had the humanity to pray for the 1 sinner that needed it most? ~Mark Twain
Funny you should mention that. some years ago I spent a month visiting my parents in North Hills, CA. My brother, unmarried at the time was a very tough young man, but not a trouble maker. I'm not one to be scared of the riff-raff either. My city of choice was Seattle for 12 years and there were only a few small neighborhood that were off limits due to high risk of getting mugged, capped, shanked, or just plain rolled.
While I was in the LA area I never had any problems though there were a few times I changed routes before a crew spotted me. My brother went apeshit on me when he caught me coming back from a 10 PM stroll to get a pint. He sounded like a male version of my mother scolding me as a 5 year old. While I appreciated his concern, of the two of us, I am probably the one more likely to have no hesitation killing someone in self-defense. I don't carry weapons, and I don't ever get into a physical confrontation unless there is no way to avoid it. In my experience that is extremely rare. And I don't care how tough you think you are, adrenal sickness after a REAL fight (not some school yard shirt ripping contest) really sucks.
Some common sense:
if you do decide to get up off the couch, and walk on the wild side. Getting self-defense training is a great way to get a little healthier, assuming you are in good enough shape for that to be a safe form of exercise.
Do NOT assume that in 6 months you are going to survive a wrecking crew without years of dedicated training, and even then you may end up bleeding to death on a pile of vanquished foes.
I have a good friend (he is traditionally trained since childhood in competitive martial arts) and neighbor who took out a crew that attacked him a block from his house and almost bled to death from a few well placed slashes from a pen-knife. Luckily his wife, was at the time training as an RN and knew how to stop the bleeding without hesitation when he crashed in through the front door and collapsed. "honey I'm home....." *WHUMP*
However, having a few tricks up your sleeve for the most common one-on-one surprises, that you can execute flawlessly is a really good idea. Solo Muggers are very similar in behavior to cougars. They only attack when they perceive that they have the element of surprise, or you have already telegraphed that you either "fat" enough to be worth the risk, or weak enough that they are confident that you will be easily intimidated. If you put up any kind of coordinated defense they will almost always break and run.
And be sensible: if they are armed and you don't have the specialized training required to CONFIDENTLY disarm such an opponent don't make the situation worse for everyone by getting killed over a few material items. If you dress for success you don't have anything on you that can be exploited anyway.
Things to be aware of:
The crews flashing signs, I don't look at them overtly or give any sign that you saw anything. If you have been paying attention you have already sized up their threat and taken appropriate strategic action.
If they say something you pretend you didn't hear anything.
If they do something more overt take a well lit detour, and be ready for anything. It helps if you know the neighborhood.
Don't dress up. Don't dress down. Don't display wealth/bling. Don't wear emblematic clothes and if you discover that you have made a wardrobe error turn it inside out or other obscuring action as soon as you can without being obvious. Wearing dark clothes is a really good idea. While you might have the cops give you a hard time if they spot you, being able to fade into a darkened yard or alcove is a great way to take a second to look over a situation before you walk close enough for them notice you.
Watch your back and listen intently to what is going on behind you at all times. Walk against the flow of traffic so you can see a mobile wrecking crew long before they are in range to get you.
If you do see a car pulling over unbidden