I know that WoW and Counterstrike are hugely popular games, and thus, draw the crowds, but one would figure that living in a combat zone would drive a player twoards a less violent game, like Katamari or something like that (which I am sure was/is just as popular there as here). Not that those games are not fun, but escapisim being what it is and all...
This leads me to a thought that I have had many times at the gym. (I know, geek... gym... blah blah blah).
I see all of those people on bikes, stairclimbers, elipticals and such, and think, "Wow, what a huge waste of energy!" It would be fairly easy to turn much of the physical energy used on those machines into electrical energy, and the gym could at least power its own lights with it, if not sell power back to the electric company.
I suppose though it would make the patrons feel even more like a hampster on a wheel.
Right, and if you get your hands on some free deviled eggs while you are drinking that free beer, you could get some serious vaporware going on later that day...
This is my favorite part of all of this. Not only are those of us that can afford digital TV being double-fucked for the creation of the HDTV standard and then having to pay for the tuner for something we just don't need, we now may have part of our tax dollars pay for someone else's digital tuner converter that can't afford HDTV! Absolutely unnecessary. (Emphasis mine)
This gives immense insight into the type of people that get voted into Parliment. The voters are either oblivious, don't care, don't know better or maybe they are also members of that movement.
Or perhaps they have a really twisted sense of humor...
Are you talking the odds that it is a Friday, a Friday the 13th, or the odds that your Windows OS Calendar is right?
Re:No worries about this with NHL
on
NBA Rejects EA Deal
·
· Score: 5, Funny
Which brings up an interesting point, will NHL 2004 exist as if there had been a real hockey season, or will it showcase all of the NHL's big stars playing for european teams to pay the bills and stay in mental and physical shape?
I can see it now, me typing along on yet another lengthy report, and having my mind wander. The pointer fires up slashdot... Or worse! I think I would have to resist having one of these at work or any time I don't want those around me knowing what I am really thinking.
My favorite toys were the Slinky, Tinker-Toys, and the Erector Set.
Slinky: Not as creative of a toy as the latter two, but very hypnotizing. Also very fun outdoors in urban environments with really, really long stairwells. (Urban environments would probably require more parental supervision.)
Tinkertoy: Real creative toys made from wood.
Erector Set: While this has the most potential for creative play, you really need to have patience and attention to make anything happen. If you have a child with these qualities, and the motor skills to handle all the small parts, definately a winner.
While I am an engineer, not a programmer, I have to say that the real answer to this problem lies in the company's culture, which includes the culture of the management. As long as there are people willing to submit to this sort of treatment, it will continue, EA being a very extreme case. Here are two examples of situations that I have worked in recently to compare and contrast.
Company #1: While it was never specifically stated that the employee should put in long hours, it was common for employees to work 7:00 am-5:30pm m-f with weekend work at least every other weekend. This was with no "crunch-time" effect. The culture of the employees was simply "I work more than you do so I am a more valued employee." The odd thing about it, is it was still impossible to actually complete an improvement project, and those employees who worked long hours were more adept at creating more work for themselves than completing it. A common joke at this company was "If you are working from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, you are only working half days." Very funny. Even funnier, this company regularly makes the fortune magazine 100 best companies to work for list. Needless to say, I am no longer with this group.
Company #2: This company's culture is "Get your work done and get out of here." Much more relaxing. The value is placed not upon how much time an employee spends at work, but on how much the employee gets done. I would feel completely secure in this position if I would work myself out of a job by automating all things possible, because the company recognizes innovation rather than time at the grindstone. The 4.5 day week is common practice, and if you have to work overtime, other employees feel honestly bad for you. The best part about it, if an exempt employee works more than 40 hours in a week, management actually insists that the employee takes comp time. I could go on and on about this, but the culture of the employees and managers is the key.
The culture of a company is a very difficult thing to change, and it gets more and more difficult to change as the number of employees increases. The best thing that an individual can do at this time is to find a company whose culture is acceptable to their work habits. If enough of the best and brightest employees find the companies with the good culture, eventually the corporate giants with bad work practices will either change or die off.
If you think that you are the best and brightest, prove that you are the brightest by changing your own situation. Not only will it help you, but it will help others in the long run.
I suppose that the Tivo name will soon becom like the Rollerblade brand name, any in-line skate is now pretty much recognized as "rollerblades" even though the name is owned by Rollerblade (big R). This hurts the owner of the original product too, so everyone will know the name "tivo" (little T) and soon begin to forget Tivo (big T).
If I am shopping at a grocery store that uses the loyalty cards, I usually just borrow one from the person right behind me in line.
I once borrowed a card from a vey nice lady who was buying tofu and granola. I was buying an absurd amount of steak. I kind of wondered what kinds of targeted mail she got from that one...
The most disturbing thing about all of this to me is the fact that the record companies probably aren't making any more money by having these lawsuits, and probably won't. The only ones that are getting rich here are the lawyers, as usual.
This is the case in so many other industries. I sue you, I get a settlement, then you turn around and sue me back for the same amount, and get it back. The only people who made money on the dael are the lawyers who had the idea to start the whole business in the first place.
And this turns out to be the No. 1 thing people do with their computers: It's to send each other e-mail. The No. 2 thing is to send groups of people e-mail--to join the list of people who like to knit, or who like Microsoft products.
Lies! Everyone here knows what the real No. 1 thing that people do with their computers...
Slashdot Mirror
Wow, you got a lot of replies, yet no mention of Frogger...
You should have said more.
I know that WoW and Counterstrike are hugely popular games, and thus, draw the crowds, but one would figure that living in a combat zone would drive a player twoards a less violent game, like Katamari or something like that (which I am sure was/is just as popular there as here). Not that those games are not fun, but escapisim being what it is and all...
I really don't see what vehicular homicide has to do with MMPORG addiction...
This leads me to a thought that I have had many times at the gym. (I know, geek... gym... blah blah blah).
I see all of those people on bikes, stairclimbers, elipticals and such, and think, "Wow, what a huge waste of energy!" It would be fairly easy to turn much of the physical energy used on those machines into electrical energy, and the gym could at least power its own lights with it, if not sell power back to the electric company.
I suppose though it would make the patrons feel even more like a hampster on a wheel.
Right, and if you get your hands on some free deviled eggs while you are drinking that free beer, you could get some serious vaporware going on later that day...
He was also a linguist...
I see, but was he a cunning one?
This is my favorite part of all of this. Not only are those of us that can afford digital TV being double-fucked for the creation of the HDTV standard and then having to pay for the tuner for something we just don't need, we now may have part of our tax dollars pay for someone else's digital tuner converter that can't afford HDTV! Absolutely unnecessary.
(Emphasis mine)
I think you mean double plus -fucked sir...
Your saving throw against getting shot down must now be higher than 20.
Oh crap, now it's me too.
This gives immense insight into the type of people that get voted into Parliment. The voters are either oblivious, don't care, don't know better or maybe they are also members of that movement.
Or perhaps they have a really twisted sense of humor...
And some dry white toast please.
I suppose someday, someone will be able to say "I downloaded the internet" and actually be right...
Are you talking the odds that it is a Friday, a Friday the 13th, or the odds that your Windows OS Calendar is right?
Which brings up an interesting point, will NHL 2004 exist as if there had been a real hockey season, or will it showcase all of the NHL's big stars playing for european teams to pay the bills and stay in mental and physical shape?
Yeah, but I heard that like 89% of all statistics like that are made up anyway.
I can see it now, me typing along on yet another lengthy report, and having my mind wander. The pointer fires up slashdot... Or worse! I think I would have to resist having one of these at work or any time I don't want those around me knowing what I am really thinking.
My favorite toys were the Slinky, Tinker-Toys, and the Erector Set.
Slinky: Not as creative of a toy as the latter two, but very hypnotizing. Also very fun outdoors in urban environments with really, really long stairwells. (Urban environments would probably require more parental supervision.)
Tinkertoy: Real creative toys made from wood.
Erector Set: While this has the most potential for creative play, you really need to have patience and attention to make anything happen. If you have a child with these qualities, and the motor skills to handle all the small parts, definately a winner.
While I am an engineer, not a programmer, I have to say that the real answer to this problem lies in the company's culture, which includes the culture of the management. As long as there are people willing to submit to this sort of treatment, it will continue, EA being a very extreme case. Here are two examples of situations that I have worked in recently to compare and contrast.
Company #1: While it was never specifically stated that the employee should put in long hours, it was common for employees to work 7:00 am-5:30pm m-f with weekend work at least every other weekend. This was with no "crunch-time" effect. The culture of the employees was simply "I work more than you do so I am a more valued employee." The odd thing about it, is it was still impossible to actually complete an improvement project, and those employees who worked long hours were more adept at creating more work for themselves than completing it. A common joke at this company was "If you are working from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, you are only working half days." Very funny. Even funnier, this company regularly makes the fortune magazine 100 best companies to work for list. Needless to say, I am no longer with this group.
Company #2: This company's culture is "Get your work done and get out of here." Much more relaxing. The value is placed not upon how much time an employee spends at work, but on how much the employee gets done. I would feel completely secure in this position if I would work myself out of a job by automating all things possible, because the company recognizes innovation rather than time at the grindstone. The 4.5 day week is common practice, and if you have to work overtime, other employees feel honestly bad for you. The best part about it, if an exempt employee works more than 40 hours in a week, management actually insists that the employee takes comp time. I could go on and on about this, but the culture of the employees and managers is the key.
The culture of a company is a very difficult thing to change, and it gets more and more difficult to change as the number of employees increases. The best thing that an individual can do at this time is to find a company whose culture is acceptable to their work habits. If enough of the best and brightest employees find the companies with the good culture, eventually the corporate giants with bad work practices will either change or die off.
If you think that you are the best and brightest, prove that you are the brightest by changing your own situation. Not only will it help you, but it will help others in the long run.
Well, I bet, the team of specially trained operators are practically wearing a hole in the floor fetching punchcards and magnetic tapes.
You can google for more if you like. ;)
Ooh, good one!
I suppose that the Tivo name will soon becom like the Rollerblade brand name, any in-line skate is now pretty much recognized as "rollerblades" even though the name is owned by Rollerblade (big R). This hurts the owner of the original product too, so everyone will know the name "tivo" (little T) and soon begin to forget Tivo (big T).
Other brands that have seen this:
Kleenex
Crecent Wrench
Leatherman
Anyone know any more?
On a related note, my grandfather is always telling me that he already has CRS.
CRS: Can't... Remember... Stuff...?
If I am shopping at a grocery store that uses the loyalty cards, I usually just borrow one from the person right behind me in line.
I once borrowed a card from a vey nice lady who was buying tofu and granola. I was buying an absurd amount of steak. I kind of wondered what kinds of targeted mail she got from that one...
The most disturbing thing about all of this to me is the fact that the record companies probably aren't making any more money by having these lawsuits, and probably won't. The only ones that are getting rich here are the lawyers, as usual.
This is the case in so many other industries. I sue you, I get a settlement, then you turn around and sue me back for the same amount, and get it back. The only people who made money on the dael are the lawyers who had the idea to start the whole business in the first place.
Quoting the article...
And this turns out to be the No. 1 thing people do with their computers: It's to send each other e-mail. The No. 2 thing is to send groups of people e-mail--to join the list of people who like to knit, or who like Microsoft products.
Lies! Everyone here knows what the real No. 1 thing that people do with their computers...
Step #3
Profit!