All things being equal, it seems that Apple is doing more than everyone else. But Apple is being bashed for not "Doing The Right Thing." So where's the bashing for Google? HTC? Samsung? Dell? I agree that the industry needs to continue to improve conditions. I find it heartening that even the Apple Haters admit that Apple is doing more than the rest.
I'm not a believer in dramatic, overnight change. That level of change tends to create more problems than it solves. To expect Apple to come in, wave their cash and change the culture is naive, immature and smacks of the arrogance we as westerners are always accused of.
While I do think the quickness of the report makes it less credible, it's interesting to note that the folks who accuse the company of "whitewashing" things also mention that the employees would put on a good show for the evaluators to make sure Apple sticks with Foxconn.
Of course they would. Because, despite whatever "abuses" are going on, the workers seem to want their jobs. It would be interesting to ask them if they would like to go back to the way things were before the factories came in.
It seems that the Apple-hating folks always assume the worst, despite at least *some* proof to the contrary. Could there be rampant explotation and de-humanization of the employees? Sure. Could this be the nirvana of all workplaces, with everyone smiling, well-rested and well-to-do while doing lots of work? Sure.
My guess is that the truth is somewhere inbetween. Since Apple appears to be making an effort to be honest (let's not forget that initiated this freely) and working to improve things, I'll cut them some slack. I'm sure if this whole thing is a cover-up and Foxconn is really a current day Rura Penthe, I'll be the first to turn in my iDevices.
(or if they start charging for software per-device!)
Interesting. Could you do me a favor and recheck your policy. We had the "sewer backup" rider, but that only covers when the place is flooded due to toilet/drains backing up. We were told (at the time) that that was the extent of possible coverage.
This was confirmed when I talked to the State Farm agent. She said that it was a federal law that it cannot be offered from any carrier. That there was a federal program.
But your point is worth following up on. I'll recheck with a different carrier. Just lots to do these days.
This thing was built from pieces I was able to buy/snarf here and there over the past 8 years. The speakers were actually given to us from a deceased relative. I laid out the cash way back when for the sub. I built the screen for $80 in parts. I saved for a year to get the projector.
And yes, we have savings. We're busy buying new appliances, spending about $15K on mold removal and god knows what on the repairs -- if they happen at all. You need to read the summary, friend.
And my office was *not* in the basement, otherwise it too, would have been gutted. It was in a room on the ground floor (the main house is up about three feet from ground level. So, while I lost the floor and 24 INCHES of wall, it was not a total loss.
Heh. Well, the first thing I did when I got to them and pried them from the wreckage that was the cabinet I had them in was to turn them on their sides on the floor and start rotating them every few hours. Thinking it would let the water drain away.
The tarp in question is really to keep debris from blowing onto a lot of stuff from the basement we have to go through. The area it's in is like an overbuilt carport (actually was used by a previous owner to house his boat) and is open on two opposite sides, so it has some protection from the elements.
Your point is well taken, however one saving grace is that the UPS that went under was a POS that stopped working about two months ago.. It was on the list to be replaced. The UPS that has worked faithfully and kept the network running after power was off was in the area above and did not get wet, nor was it powering any of the components in the rack below -- it's dedicated to the network hardware.
Well, we are at a somewhat low point in the area, but also right next to a storm sewer. We haven't had water before this so I was quite surprised to see the water forcing itself through the bottom and sides of our back door.
Our storm sewer has been known to get clogged and start to back up toward our house. But I usually just go out, clear the sewer with a rake and that's the end of it.
Actually, I *DID* exactly that earlier in the morning of that day. Wife threw up the alarm that the water was starting to pool, so I went out, cleared the sewer... watched it all drain in, no pool... and went back in and started breakfast. Before breakfast was over, I heard something strange and thought one of our gutters was overflowing. Only to find the newest waterfall down to the basement.
You had water up to the celing to get your projector and all the gear in the rack as well? Holy crap how about replacing the electrical panels as well as the furnace, ac and other things forst..
If you re-read the original post, you'll see that those things are of course on our list. We had the electrical panel dried out, taken apart and inspected by an electrician. The water didn't actually reach the ceiling. It got up to about 6' which was close to (like within 3-4 inches) the bulk of my networking equipment (router, one of my UPSes, Apple Airport and the cable modem) but just missed.
Or are you calling a best buy TV and stereo a "home theater" if you did not have a projector, screen sound control on the walls, and a real integrated sound system you did not have a "home theater".
I find it cute when people call their TV and cheapie stereo a home theater.
P.S. if your surround sound decoder cost less than $3500.00 it's a cheapie toy.
Well, I've been upgrading parts here and there over the years. We had a Zektor HDMI switcher that swapped between the computers, the PS3 and the DirecTV. Had a Slingbox pro that piped stuff upstairs through the 1GB network. An older Panasonic AE700U projector projecting on a home-built 102" screen. Truly, the amp was a cheapie but the speakers were klipsch and the sub was an old NHT Sub-One. I had a Philips Pronto that I used to control the DirecTV, lights and the switcher, but no in-wall controls, so I guess it doesn't meet your criteria for a "true" home theater. *eyerolls*
Also, why waste your time, simply collect on your insurance and buy all new. You had homeowners insurance right?
Yes, of course. However if you read your fine print, you'll see that you can't buy flood insurance in the US from your insurance company unless you are in a flood plain (this is what I was told when I asked about it awhile back). If you want to get flood insurance, you need to get it through a federal program. Again, re-read the original post.
Good luck, and may I suggest you invest in a more serious pump?
You may. A suggestion I will follow when we rebuild the basement. Although we have TWO pumps, I intend to add a third, that HAS a backup battery. This was a catastrophic storm, as I said previous, worst in 135 years.
Interestingly enough, one of the computers that got dunked was an old Apple Cube I used to monitor my UPS and other various cron jobs. It as no fans, so we'll see. The bad news is that it may have been powered when the water hit it. It was at the bottom of the rack and the water was at about 3' when I killed the power.
The real test will be the PS3. It was at the top of the rack and probably was barely under. Amazingly, my network gear and the UPS that powers it were all at a height of about 6'4". And never were touched.
Finally, where do you live? 10" of rain turns into 6' of water in a basement when you don't live in a flood plain? Why would anyone build a basement in an area subject to such problems? (I live in an area without basements, both because of shrink-swell soil and high water tables.)
Well, it was the worst rain in 135 years. So the phrase "subject to" is... well, quite subjective.
Heh. The good news was that our HT setup is a Front-projection and the projector was on the ceiling. The lens cap that hangs down had a thin line across the top third, indicating how close the water came to ruining it. And that one I don't think would have survived. Those bulbs are quite sensitive.
The screen was home-built for around $80 in parts, so I can re-create that. But the whole "down to the studs" thing is
Competition from the 'net is a factor, but right now only Apple has a device that "just works" and it's still at the teething stage. It's also rental only. Some of us like to buy discs
Actually, you can BUY movies on iTunes as well. Not all, but many. But if you derive pleasure from the actual act of purchasing physical, outdated media, well, to each their own.
To keep from being overwhelmed, start with an idea you have for something that you have a passion for. Think of some idea and lay it out on paper (or visio). I wanted to mess around with Python and we recently had a baby, so I wrote an "I/O" and sleep tracking system for our infant daughter in Python.
For the most part, all the high-level languages are the same. There are differences and strengths, but at the point you're at most of these would be lost on you anyway. You already know Javascript, so pick another language -- and try to build your project in it. PERL, Python,.NET, Ruby... Pick one and stick with it.
About 5 years ago I wrote a project for my brother so I could sink my teeth into PHP/MySQL. It's turned into a product we now sell and make (a small amount of) money on each year. The hardest part for me is sticking to the project with no real client to be beholden to -- hence MY need to build something I really want to make, not some example out of a textbook.
When I decide it's time to learn something new, I generally see what is "up and coming" and learn that so by the time I'm fluent, I'm much more marketable. Right now, Ruby looks like a pretty decent choice.
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All things being equal, it seems that Apple is doing more than everyone else. But Apple is being bashed for not "Doing The Right Thing." So where's the bashing for Google? HTC? Samsung? Dell? I agree that the industry needs to continue to improve conditions. I find it heartening that even the Apple Haters admit that Apple is doing more than the rest.
I'm not a believer in dramatic, overnight change. That level of change tends to create more problems than it solves. To expect Apple to come in, wave their cash and change the culture is naive, immature and smacks of the arrogance we as westerners are always accused of.
While I do think the quickness of the report makes it less credible, it's interesting to note that the folks who accuse the company of "whitewashing" things also mention that the employees would put on a good show for the evaluators to make sure Apple sticks with Foxconn.
Of course they would. Because, despite whatever "abuses" are going on, the workers seem to want their jobs. It would be interesting to ask them if they would like to go back to the way things were before the factories came in.
It seems that the Apple-hating folks always assume the worst, despite at least *some* proof to the contrary. Could there be rampant explotation and de-humanization of the employees? Sure. Could this be the nirvana of all workplaces, with everyone smiling, well-rested and well-to-do while doing lots of work? Sure.
My guess is that the truth is somewhere inbetween. Since Apple appears to be making an effort to be honest (let's not forget that initiated this freely) and working to improve things, I'll cut them some slack. I'm sure if this whole thing is a cover-up and Foxconn is really a current day Rura Penthe, I'll be the first to turn in my iDevices.
(or if they start charging for software per-device!)
Indeed. A recall two key points that made the movie moderately tolerable.
I love this place.
Yeah. I'd switch, but ... No Mac client? WTF?
Interesting. Could you do me a favor and recheck your policy. We had the "sewer backup" rider, but that only covers when the place is flooded due to toilet/drains backing up. We were told (at the time) that that was the extent of possible coverage.
We have State Farm, too.
This was confirmed when I talked to the State Farm agent. She said that it was a federal law that it cannot be offered from any carrier. That there was a federal program.
But your point is worth following up on. I'll recheck with a different carrier. Just lots to do these days.
Now *THAT* is cool. Thanks for the tip.
Gah. I'll bet you're right. That does suck.
Honestly, I was really hoping the Cube would survive. We'll see.
Thanks for the suggestion -- the basement has already been gutted, cleaned and dried out by the boys in white suits. Did a great job, too.
Everything is *gone* down there. Carpet... Walls... Ceiling...
Rich people. Nice.
This thing was built from pieces I was able to buy/snarf here and there over the past 8 years. The speakers were actually given to us from a deceased relative. I laid out the cash way back when for the sub. I built the screen for $80 in parts. I saved for a year to get the projector.
And yes, we have savings. We're busy buying new appliances, spending about $15K on mold removal and god knows what on the repairs -- if they happen at all. You need to read the summary, friend.
And my office was *not* in the basement, otherwise it too, would have been gutted. It was in a room on the ground floor (the main house is up about three feet from ground level. So, while I lost the floor and 24 INCHES of wall, it was not a total loss.
Heh. Well, the first thing I did when I got to them and pried them from the wreckage that was the cabinet I had them in was to turn them on their sides on the floor and start rotating them every few hours. Thinking it would let the water drain away.
The tarp in question is really to keep debris from blowing onto a lot of stuff from the basement we have to go through. The area it's in is like an overbuilt carport (actually was used by a previous owner to house his boat) and is open on two opposite sides, so it has some protection from the elements.
Your point is well taken, however one saving grace is that the UPS that went under was a POS that stopped working about two months ago.. It was on the list to be replaced. The UPS that has worked faithfully and kept the network running after power was off was in the area above and did not get wet, nor was it powering any of the components in the rack below -- it's dedicated to the network hardware.
Well, we are at a somewhat low point in the area, but also right next to a storm sewer. We haven't had water before this so I was quite surprised to see the water forcing itself through the bottom and sides of our back door.
Our storm sewer has been known to get clogged and start to back up toward our house. But I usually just go out, clear the sewer with a rake and that's the end of it.
Actually, I *DID* exactly that earlier in the morning of that day. Wife threw up the alarm that the water was starting to pool, so I went out, cleared the sewer... watched it all drain in, no pool... and went back in and started breakfast. Before breakfast was over, I heard something strange and thought one of our gutters was overflowing. Only to find the newest waterfall down to the basement.
You had water up to the celing to get your projector and all the gear in the rack as well? Holy crap how about replacing the electrical panels as well as the furnace, ac and other things forst..
If you re-read the original post, you'll see that those things are of course on our list. We had the electrical panel dried out, taken apart and inspected by an electrician.
The water didn't actually reach the ceiling. It got up to about 6' which was close to (like within 3-4 inches) the bulk of my networking equipment (router, one of my UPSes, Apple Airport and the cable modem) but just missed.
Or are you calling a best buy TV and stereo a "home theater" if you did not have a projector, screen sound control on the walls, and a real integrated sound system you did not have a "home theater".
I find it cute when people call their TV and cheapie stereo a home theater.
P.S. if your surround sound decoder cost less than $3500.00 it's a cheapie toy.
Well, I've been upgrading parts here and there over the years. We had a Zektor HDMI switcher that swapped between the computers, the PS3 and the DirecTV. Had a Slingbox pro that piped stuff upstairs through the 1GB network. An older Panasonic AE700U projector projecting on a home-built 102" screen. Truly, the amp was a cheapie but the speakers were klipsch and the sub was an old NHT Sub-One. I had a Philips Pronto that I used to control the DirecTV, lights and the switcher, but no in-wall controls, so I guess it doesn't meet your criteria for a "true" home theater. *eyerolls*
Also, why waste your time, simply collect on your insurance and buy all new. You had homeowners insurance right?
Yes, of course. However if you read your fine print, you'll see that you can't buy flood insurance in the US from your insurance company unless you are in a flood plain (this is what I was told when I asked about it awhile back). If you want to get flood insurance, you need to get it through a federal program. Again, re-read the original post.
Good luck, and may I suggest you invest in a more serious pump?
You may. A suggestion I will follow when we rebuild the basement. Although we have TWO pumps, I intend to add a third, that HAS a backup battery. This was a catastrophic storm, as I said previous, worst in 135 years.
Interestingly enough, one of the computers that got dunked was an old Apple Cube I used to monitor my UPS and other various cron jobs. It as no fans, so we'll see. The bad news is that it may have been powered when the water hit it. It was at the bottom of the rack and the water was at about 3' when I killed the power.
The real test will be the PS3. It was at the top of the rack and probably was barely under. Amazingly, my network gear and the UPS that powers it were all at a height of about 6'4". And never were touched.
>
Finally, where do you live? 10" of rain turns into 6' of water in a basement when you don't live in a flood plain? Why would anyone build a basement in an area subject to such problems? (I live in an area without basements, both because of shrink-swell soil and high water tables.)
Well, it was the worst rain in 135 years. So the phrase "subject to" is... well, quite subjective.
I agree. It's the only way to be sure.
Heh. The good news was that our HT setup is a Front-projection and the projector was on the ceiling. The lens cap that hangs down had a thin line across the top third, indicating how close the water came to ruining it. And that one I don't think would have survived. Those bulbs are quite sensitive.
The screen was home-built for around $80 in parts, so I can re-create that. But the whole "down to the studs" thing is
Remember "The Stars My Destination"? Didn't all that tech he had implanted kind of turn on him when the wires started to cross?
Oh, puh-leeze.
They might not be compiled languages, but they sure as hell ARE programming languages.
Go back to whatever institution you graduated from and ask for your money back.
Mod parent to Troll, please.
"It looks like someone has a bad case of the Mondays...!"
Seriously -- you should write childrens' books.
To keep from being overwhelmed, start with an idea you have for something that you have a passion for. Think of some idea and lay it out on paper (or visio). I wanted to mess around with Python and we recently had a baby, so I wrote an "I/O" and sleep tracking system for our infant daughter in Python.
.NET, Ruby... Pick one and stick with it.
For the most part, all the high-level languages are the same. There are differences and strengths, but at the point you're at most of these would be lost on you anyway. You already know Javascript, so pick another language -- and try to build your project in it. PERL, Python,
About 5 years ago I wrote a project for my brother so I could sink my teeth into PHP/MySQL. It's turned into a product we now sell and make (a small amount of) money on each year. The hardest part for me is sticking to the project with no real client to be beholden to -- hence MY need to build something I really want to make, not some example out of a textbook.
When I decide it's time to learn something new, I generally see what is "up and coming" and learn that so by the time I'm fluent, I'm much more marketable. Right now, Ruby looks like a pretty decent choice.
Good luck!
I'll bet he has five other friends that service the PCs at the school. Their biggest tasks probably are:
1. Fix Windows
2. See #1.