Very good point. I think of Apollo 13 more of a disaster than Challenger, just on the sole basis that Challenger was due to negligence. Just my own perception, but the Challenger was a great tragedy and was one of the major reasons why I'm a programmer now instead of an astrophysicist.. bloody unqualified managers.
Well, I'm just thinking back with my friend John Bull who was in the Apollo series as an astronaut and still works for NASA and was active in the shuttle missions in 1986. For him there was no generational change.
16 years is not a generation.
My understanding is that it's called bulk mail for a reason.
Bulk email has a deal with the post office, carrier presort. They say, we have X number of mailing to go out, how much for each person in Y area. The PO quotes them a price and they take it or leave it. However, directed spam (Credit card offers, etc) offers differently. That is technically not Bulk email. That is personal email, if it has your name on it (instead of Resident, or something similarly general) while it is still bulk mailed out it follows much the same guidelines as normal mail.
This is totally separate from Postage guaranteed, which is what most business reply mails are sent as. This means, that they are supposed to pay for it when it gets there. As far as your little diatribe of have for-profit companies pay your postage to them is just ridiculous. You don't have to mail it, that is just the most convenient way to do it. Feel free to drive on down to where ever it is and drop it off to save the $0.32. I use a bill pay service, it is automated and works great and they charge $5.00 flat rate, regardless of how many bills go out that month.
I think something that would really be great would be an option to "Add $0.35 to my bill for postage paid return envelope" -- I'd still stick with my bill payment service, because it's about a 1000 times easier than actually mailing anything. But I know a lot of people would love that, and if I never found the billpay service I would. Saves time having to run to the store to buy stamps all the time.
30% is what I have noticed to be typical. Different firms do it differently, the only way to know is to ask the corporate client or ask the agency. Otherwise it's just a ballpark.
Anyway, the contract programmer has to be the best deal I've had. I got burnt out of the salary position and am now making a very good living contracting out.
First off, use an agency. Until you get your name and contracting experience out they are your best bet. They know more people than you ever could.
Don't count on telecommuting until you have proven yourself to a company, in whatever way they want. Sometimes this sucks, othertimes it's quite easy.
Be fierce with your money, keep in mind that if you are going through an agency plan on them getting 30% of your pay for every hour of work you do (You make $70, they make $30 and bill the client $100 per hour). Make them work for you, not the other way around. Never let them forget that you are their client, and it's their responsibility to keep you happy as well as the corporate client. Make them pay you well, not what you think you are worth. You will get more.
Also, use the internet resources as much as possible. dice.com is my personal favorite, as well as most of the recruiters I know.
Don't ever expect overtime, if you do you will be disappointed. You will work 8 hours and only 8 hours, most people dont want to pay for your overtime work. Nor holidays, expect to be forced to take that day off without compensation -- while this is technically illegal under an agency (see FLSA actions for hourly employees) it is the common practice.
Definitely pursue the contracting thing, it's the best thing I ever did. While it may not be right for you, I wish you the best of luck.
And there's always something - Not a single company in Silicon Valley complies with California's 40 hour work week law, for example.)
There is no 40 hour work week law in California, that's why. They changed that so that non-exempt (Salary based) employees do not have the same 40-hour (FLSA) week that everyone else does. This is pretty isolated in the tech industry however.
Oh yes, I am quite aware they are the same specs. Perhaps I should start using Sarcasm tags in my posts at times.
But anyway, considering that for about a week straight the coolest it got next to my athlon was about 105F and I didn't have any problems with it, I'd say you may want to look at ventilation a bit better if you have ran into any problems.
If you can't carry groceries to a 3rd story appartment I'd suggest excercising more.
Everything is within walking distance in a town, it just depends upon your perseverence and fitness. I stay fit, and have no problems walking the half mile back fully loaded with anywhere from 5-10 bags of groceries dangling from my body.
And also, if you excercise it does not cause you to eat more. If you eat healthy, often times you will eat less.
And also, if you died of exhaustion think of all that you would be conserving in the environment (air, gas, food)...
Why is it that you have to drive somewhere to get out of the house?
I walk to my grocery store every time, instead of drive. It's good to get out of the house and stretch out for a bit.
So, because I have more money because I walked (instead of being a fat lazy ass) the economy benefits.
[Argument Targetted] *Fire Away* [Splash 1]
BTW, Conservation would be taking a bus or something similar to your families place.
Lay off the crack, during the California heatwave (100+ for weeks on end) while our A/C went out the house I was living in shot up in excess of 115F.
There were 6 of my computers, and 4 others through the house. Not one of them had heat problems. Computers are more than able to run with outside temperatures above 100F. Show me one that isn't and I'll show you a CPU Fan that is bad.
First off, if you can deflect the energy using a reflective surface (in this case a perfect mirror) then it will not absorb the energy.
Secondly, you can't coat a missile with reflective surfaces. Not entirely anyway, nothing that would be like a mirror (laser focusing type) so it would just take a little fraction longer for it to burn through the reflective surface if it isn't near 100% reflective.
That is why you can still blow up a reflective surface with a mirror, is because it's not a perfect reflective surface, and still catches the energy. The targetting mirrors are just very very very finely tuned so that it does not catch as much energy. Another reason why there are Red lasers, instead of say.. blue, indigo, or violet. Red lasers are of a lower frequency on the radiation band (Remember ROYGBIV color spectrum?). You can't harness the power of a violet laser, because the energy is just too intense and it takes too perfect of a mirror to refract the beam - way beyond our abilities.
I have a Sharp compact DVD player (purchased because of the size) and it will not play CD-R's as well.
I've had this DVD player for over a year, and I though (I remember hearing this somewhere) that the DVD-reader (which can also read CD's) cannot support the burn marks of a CD-R. Dont know if that's accurate but you aren't alone.
Seriously though, what the hell are they talking about Nano pants? I have scotchguard, and a few other stain resistant clothes (my kevlar threaded motorcycle jacket rejects stains very well) it just seems like yet another hype to make another $5.00 off the pants. It's not like this feature is going to cost the consumer $5.00, probably $10.00 to $20.00 as soon as the fad takes off.
Indymedia just seems to be a group of psychos complaining about how the world is unfair and we should boycot everything.
Sorry for the misunderstanding of your roll into it. I do know that it is very difficult, even for a consortium to guarantee that all of the goods are in fact what you want and ordered, regardless of your chain. You have unethical employees (Bob, the inspector buys conflict diamonds, trades them out for roughly equivalent nonconflict diamonds and makes some cash on the exchange), and sometimes just accidents. I never hold any organization completely to blame for something, it usually always comes down to one or two people who made a wrong decision and often times continue that decision to save their dignity from admitting they were screwed up.
Keep in mind that they are not cutting off and going into a media silence -- only doing a controlled release which I think is a pretty good thing. If there was a complete silence I would be upset, but I think it is better to allow trickled information to keep people at bay a bit more.
Yes, I see that. Look at the scope of what actually hurts MS more - because the joystick is a physical property and therefore better to sell and get rid of and keep the money.
Look at the money gains, it is more beneficial to M$ to have them sell a joystick and lose a sale of a win license than to not sell either at all.
Normally I wouldn't respond to something like this. I'm compromising that after looking at your web page.
I only hope you do not have children, and if you do you do not pollute their head with this extremist activism against anything. First off, your post is completely OT and very inflammatory of DeBeers. You really are in no position to tell others that they are an evil company because you feel they have allowed themselves to be tricked.
My guess is you have never worked into any B->B->C type chain, because most of the time you have a good idea where something came from you really don't know. DeBeer's cannot devote the resources to ensuring that each and every diamond came from a nice peaceful mine with dwarves singing "Hi Ho" as they chip away at the rock.
After reading both your main site, and your protest site I really have to say - Stop reading national enquirer. Good grief, you are so against all the bad things Bush stands for you wont even give him any credit on valid things he does. C'mon - like Gore is any better of a man than Bush is. They are the same, a simple man with a cabinet behind them and a country to support them. This country will not let them ammend things to the constitution and take away their guns, and cause oil companies to start spreading baby seals on their ships. Get a grip on reality, look at history and realize that there are more sides than what you see because from everything said (on your site) it seems you really only look on sided.
Now that I'm done with that, and you wont listen because you will blow me off as a conspirator or naive consumer I'm going to get back to my code.
In defense - keep in mind I heartily agree with you, but I still agree somewhat to their stance.
I worked at Ames RC in Moffett Field, and one of the biggest problems with getting actual work done was the 'consumer crowd'. It is exceptionally difficult to get work done, when you do have the tax paying citizens keeping track of you and some of them will actually be able to come into the lab and bug you.
A media silence on things would help this problem, and thus provide more efficient workplaces. I still don't think that silencing everything is a good move though.
Normally I wouldn't respond but I saw a blazing F150 sized hole in your argument.
Don't like MS? Don't use the software
He's not talking about software, he's talking about hardware. He's talking about the fact that to use a joystick, you have to buy windows. And that is absolutely absurd. If I was him I would have taken it back and got a linux supported joystick.. but I also dont play any games that require a joystick.
The bottom line is that, Microsoft has 2 choices in his argument: Sell a joystick, dont sell a win license or get a return on a joystick (which can cost them money + money lost from the sale) and no Win license.
His intent wasn't juvenile. Your analogy was though.
Slashdot Mirror
Very good point. I think of Apollo 13 more of a disaster than Challenger, just on the sole basis that Challenger was due to negligence. Just my own perception, but the Challenger was a great tragedy and was one of the major reasons why I'm a programmer now instead of an astrophysicist.. bloody unqualified managers.
Well, I'm just thinking back with my friend John Bull who was in the Apollo series as an astronaut and still works for NASA and was active in the shuttle missions in 1986. For him there was no generational change.
16 years is not a generation.
Bulk email has a deal with the post office, carrier presort. They say, we have X number of mailing to go out, how much for each person in Y area. The PO quotes them a price and they take it or leave it. However, directed spam (Credit card offers, etc) offers differently. That is technically not Bulk email. That is personal email, if it has your name on it (instead of Resident, or something similarly general) while it is still bulk mailed out it follows much the same guidelines as normal mail.
This is totally separate from Postage guaranteed, which is what most business reply mails are sent as. This means, that they are supposed to pay for it when it gets there. As far as your little diatribe of have for-profit companies pay your postage to them is just ridiculous. You don't have to mail it, that is just the most convenient way to do it. Feel free to drive on down to where ever it is and drop it off to save the $0.32. I use a bill pay service, it is automated and works great and they charge $5.00 flat rate, regardless of how many bills go out that month.
I think something that would really be great would be an option to "Add $0.35 to my bill for postage paid return envelope" -- I'd still stick with my bill payment service, because it's about a 1000 times easier than actually mailing anything. But I know a lot of people would love that, and if I never found the billpay service I would. Saves time having to run to the store to buy stamps all the time.
Didn't you watch Apollo 13? Or are you saying it's a different generation?
30% is what I have noticed to be typical. Different firms do it differently, the only way to know is to ask the corporate client or ask the agency. Otherwise it's just a ballpark.
Anyway, the contract programmer has to be the best deal I've had. I got burnt out of the salary position and am now making a very good living contracting out.
First off, use an agency. Until you get your name and contracting experience out they are your best bet. They know more people than you ever could.
Don't count on telecommuting until you have proven yourself to a company, in whatever way they want. Sometimes this sucks, othertimes it's quite easy.
Be fierce with your money, keep in mind that if you are going through an agency plan on them getting 30% of your pay for every hour of work you do (You make $70, they make $30 and bill the client $100 per hour). Make them work for you, not the other way around. Never let them forget that you are their client, and it's their responsibility to keep you happy as well as the corporate client. Make them pay you well, not what you think you are worth. You will get more.
Also, use the internet resources as much as possible. dice.com is my personal favorite, as well as most of the recruiters I know.
Don't ever expect overtime, if you do you will be disappointed. You will work 8 hours and only 8 hours, most people dont want to pay for your overtime work. Nor holidays, expect to be forced to take that day off without compensation -- while this is technically illegal under an agency (see FLSA actions for hourly employees) it is the common practice.
Definitely pursue the contracting thing, it's the best thing I ever did. While it may not be right for you, I wish you the best of luck.
There is no 40 hour work week law in California, that's why. They changed that so that non-exempt (Salary based) employees do not have the same 40-hour (FLSA) week that everyone else does. This is pretty isolated in the tech industry however.
But anyway, considering that for about a week straight the coolest it got next to my athlon was about 105F and I didn't have any problems with it, I'd say you may want to look at ventilation a bit better if you have ran into any problems.
Everything is within walking distance in a town, it just depends upon your perseverence and fitness. I stay fit, and have no problems walking the half mile back fully loaded with anywhere from 5-10 bags of groceries dangling from my body.
And also, if you excercise it does not cause you to eat more. If you eat healthy, often times you will eat less.
And also, if you died of exhaustion think of all that you would be conserving in the environment (air, gas, food)...
Hm, maybe not a Duron.. but I'm thinking my Athlons didn't have a problem. That's what you get for buying second rate hardware I suppose.
I walk to my grocery store every time, instead of drive. It's good to get out of the house and stretch out for a bit.
So, because I have more money because I walked (instead of being a fat lazy ass) the economy benefits.
[Argument Targetted] *Fire Away* [Splash 1]
BTW, Conservation would be taking a bus or something similar to your families place.
There were 6 of my computers, and 4 others through the house. Not one of them had heat problems. Computers are more than able to run with outside temperatures above 100F. Show me one that isn't and I'll show you a CPU Fan that is bad.
Back in my day...
Secondly, you can't coat a missile with reflective surfaces. Not entirely anyway, nothing that would be like a mirror (laser focusing type) so it would just take a little fraction longer for it to burn through the reflective surface if it isn't near 100% reflective.
That is why you can still blow up a reflective surface with a mirror, is because it's not a perfect reflective surface, and still catches the energy. The targetting mirrors are just very very very finely tuned so that it does not catch as much energy. Another reason why there are Red lasers, instead of say.. blue, indigo, or violet. Red lasers are of a lower frequency on the radiation band (Remember ROYGBIV color spectrum?). You can't harness the power of a violet laser, because the energy is just too intense and it takes too perfect of a mirror to refract the beam - way beyond our abilities.
I've had this DVD player for over a year, and I though (I remember hearing this somewhere) that the DVD-reader (which can also read CD's) cannot support the burn marks of a CD-R. Dont know if that's accurate but you aren't alone.
hehe, probably a good idea. Night, and nice thread :)
I think I will opt for a wet noodle, if it's all the same to you.
P.S. - nice site
Seriously though, what the hell are they talking about Nano pants? I have scotchguard, and a few other stain resistant clothes (my kevlar threaded motorcycle jacket rejects stains very well) it just seems like yet another hype to make another $5.00 off the pants. It's not like this feature is going to cost the consumer $5.00, probably $10.00 to $20.00 as soon as the fad takes off.
Sorry for the misunderstanding of your roll into it. I do know that it is very difficult, even for a consortium to guarantee that all of the goods are in fact what you want and ordered, regardless of your chain. You have unethical employees (Bob, the inspector buys conflict diamonds, trades them out for roughly equivalent nonconflict diamonds and makes some cash on the exchange), and sometimes just accidents. I never hold any organization completely to blame for something, it usually always comes down to one or two people who made a wrong decision and often times continue that decision to save their dignity from admitting they were screwed up.
I meant something along the lines of controlled media release.. definitely not media silence. Let the flogging commence.
Keep in mind that they are not cutting off and going into a media silence -- only doing a controlled release which I think is a pretty good thing. If there was a complete silence I would be upset, but I think it is better to allow trickled information to keep people at bay a bit more.
Look at the money gains, it is more beneficial to M$ to have them sell a joystick and lose a sale of a win license than to not sell either at all.
That was his point.
I only hope you do not have children, and if you do you do not pollute their head with this extremist activism against anything. First off, your post is completely OT and very inflammatory of DeBeers. You really are in no position to tell others that they are an evil company because you feel they have allowed themselves to be tricked.
My guess is you have never worked into any B->B->C type chain, because most of the time you have a good idea where something came from you really don't know. DeBeer's cannot devote the resources to ensuring that each and every diamond came from a nice peaceful mine with dwarves singing "Hi Ho" as they chip away at the rock.
After reading both your main site, and your protest site I really have to say - Stop reading national enquirer. Good grief, you are so against all the bad things Bush stands for you wont even give him any credit on valid things he does. C'mon - like Gore is any better of a man than Bush is. They are the same, a simple man with a cabinet behind them and a country to support them. This country will not let them ammend things to the constitution and take away their guns, and cause oil companies to start spreading baby seals on their ships. Get a grip on reality, look at history and realize that there are more sides than what you see because from everything said (on your site) it seems you really only look on sided.
Now that I'm done with that, and you wont listen because you will blow me off as a conspirator or naive consumer I'm going to get back to my code.
I worked at Ames RC in Moffett Field, and one of the biggest problems with getting actual work done was the 'consumer crowd'. It is exceptionally difficult to get work done, when you do have the tax paying citizens keeping track of you and some of them will actually be able to come into the lab and bug you.
A media silence on things would help this problem, and thus provide more efficient workplaces. I still don't think that silencing everything is a good move though.
Don't like MS? Don't use the software
He's not talking about software, he's talking about hardware. He's talking about the fact that to use a joystick, you have to buy windows. And that is absolutely absurd. If I was him I would have taken it back and got a linux supported joystick.. but I also dont play any games that require a joystick.
The bottom line is that, Microsoft has 2 choices in his argument: Sell a joystick, dont sell a win license or get a return on a joystick (which can cost them money + money lost from the sale) and no Win license.
His intent wasn't juvenile. Your analogy was though.