"I'm required to design and maintain hundreds of databases, several servers, write apps, troubleshoot network problems, manage million dollar projects, AND do desktop support for 2000 devices with 3 other IT people for $40K/year."
You have a job, so look before you leap over trivia. Leaping to better money OTOH would be a Wise Choice.
"I haven't had to wear one in almost 20 years, but when I did, I liked it, because then I didn't have to think about what I was going to wear to work."
Worked for me, and I still wear what is essentially a "uniform" (jeans, plain black T-shirt, blue work jacket) where I work now. It's cheap, it doesn't show dirt (I work in a welding shop) and I don't have to think about it.
I don't give a shit about self-expression by dressing differently at work, I'm there for the money and because I enjoy working on machines.
T-shirts scream "peon". Suggest shirts from a uniform service (so you dont have to buy replacements or wash them yourself) and come up with a professional logo. Dark colors don't show sweat and stains as much. Dark blue or black would stand out. Brown is depressing.
"Money, energy and resources wasted on this would probably be better spent on something worthwhile that would actually have an impact on the team's ability to provide quality service."
I wouldn't give a shit. Pay me and pay for my clothes if ya don't like what I buy myself.
"Yes, just stop taking the oil and other resources from foreign countries like locusts."
The US didn't "take" anything from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in general has put quite the liplock on the collective arse of the House of Saud. The conflict is more complex that your post would have it.
"Is it more ethical to interfere with another's property, without permission, to solve a larger problem, or is it more ethical to respect private property and privacy? Surely there are cases for both."
One may make such a decision from preference, and not ethics.
When we count environmental impact we shouldn't externalize the other costs involved.
Producing a truck takes far more resources than does a motorcycle, and the truck will generate more waste oil/waste fluids/waste lubricant over its life cycle. It will require more effort to scrap and generate many pounds of plastic waste (seats, interior,some body parts, bedliner). Unlike a motorbike, trucks have air conditioning which usually means at least one full load of refrigerant either leaked or dumped into the atmosphere. (Yes, I know about recovery pumps, I'm a mechanic....) Trucks weigh more and produce more wear on roads, They have twice as many tires which are larger and require recycling as well as more resources to produce.
I'm fond of my trucks (and argue that retaining a properly tuned big block is less impactful than buying replacement trucks) but let's remember that what comes out the exhaust is not the total impact per mile travelled of any vehicle.
They are simple. tough, easy to work on, and the most successful powered vehicle in history to the tune of SIXTY MILLION so far.
The US didn't build them because it didn't and doesn't need to. This guy did it so well that there was no point in trying to compete given US labor costs:
"Many high performance bike these days have worse consumption than many cars."
They are also amazingly quick and powerful.
Old Triumphs are beautiful, easy to work on (necessary since they are quite delicate), and fun to ride. They are also slow, require frequent maintenance, and not comparable to modern bikes which often have better specs than road racers of ancient times. The most successful motorcycle based on such an old form-factor is the 883 Harley Sportster, which only exists as "bait" for people who want a Harley but can't afford a Big Twin. (They are decent bikes one can keep for decades, but they aren't "performance" machines.)
Most people in the US don't need them, and if _you_ want a slow motorcycle then go ahead and buy or build one.
There are plenty of small four-strokes you could fit with smaller carbs (or homebrew EFI ), a taller set of sprockets for lower RPM at cruise, narrow ribbed tires, and a fairing to reduce drag.
There are people doing diesel conversions if you want higher mileage, but those who prefer performance will buy accordingly.
We didn't really need the Towers, and when they were proposed many regarded them as an eyesore.
Modern communication that didn't exist when they were built facilitates the dispersed infrastructure we should have rather than concentrating valuable functions.
"(anybody want to invent a pants-mouted bomb detonated by urine?) "
Bombs can be stuffed up the arse for transport, and thanks to the internet we know a grenade-sized object can fit with some work. This fellow didn't get close enough, but someone will:
"Unlike al-Awfi, al-Asiri was not a genuine repentant -- he was a human Trojan horse. After al-Asiri entered a small room to speak with Prince Mohammed, he activated a small improvised explosive device (IED) he had been carrying inside his anal cavity. The resulting explosion ripped al-Asiri to shreds but only lightly injured the shocked prince -- the target of al-Asiri's unsuccessful assassination attempt.
While the assassination proved unsuccessful, AQAP had been able to shift the operational paradigm in a manner that allowed them to achieve tactical surprise. The surprise was complete and the Saudis did not see the attack coming -- the operation could have succeeded had it been better executed. "
"Too bad those people caved, but that need not cost us the ability to know what they wanted so badly to hide."
Note to potential "cavers": You can certainly sanitize the information you plan to agree to keep secret, give it to reliable third parties, then take the money.
It isn't honest, but there is no reason to be honest with your enemies. We are past the point of moral obligation to such people.
There is an option for citizens who want to be good guys and snitch on companies who employ illegals and are thus tax cheats. You can turn in illegals, punish employers who exploit both them and Americans who need jobs, and make a profit.
"Amount of Form 211 Reward Rewards range from 1% to 15% of amounts collected (including taxes, fines, and penalties, but not interest) up to a maximum of $10 million."
Modern surveillance systems a combination of manned patrols and surveillance systems would make a modern "Morice Line" practical. The purpose isn't to stop them all, just most of them.
That's actually quite practical, especially with UAVs and manned surveillance posts, but there is little political support in Washington for effective border control.
It's easy to build small operating bases, easy to stage patrols to monitor what sensor and cameras detect, and while it would not halt border crossings it would reduce them to a more reasonable level.
What isn't easy is doing this when Mexico objects (failed narcostate that it is, every dime sent from Yanquiland is welcome) and when Mexicans in the US (who have zero logical interest in border security and everything to gain from lack of it) vote and protest against it.
What you see as "slavery" is the normal path of industrial development.
When starting from nothing, it has always been necessary to leverage human capital. The Industrial Revolution was built on cheap labor, yet its outcomes (eventually) brought about prosperity and improvement in quality of life for all classes. It made the modern socialist welfare state possible.
Slashdot Mirror
"I'm required to design and maintain hundreds of databases, several servers, write apps, troubleshoot network problems, manage million dollar projects, AND do desktop support for 2000 devices with 3 other IT people for $40K/year."
You have a job, so look before you leap over trivia. Leaping to better money OTOH would be a Wise Choice.
"They're clearly trying to force you into a blue collar category."
Simply explain that you are a unique and special snowflake who defies uniform categorization.
"I haven't had to wear one in almost 20 years, but when I did, I liked it, because then I didn't have to think about what I was going to wear to work."
Worked for me, and I still wear what is essentially a "uniform" (jeans, plain black T-shirt, blue work jacket) where I work now. It's cheap, it doesn't show dirt (I work in a welding shop) and I don't have to think about it.
I don't give a shit about self-expression by dressing differently at work, I'm there for the money and because I enjoy working on machines.
Don't argue, take advantage!
T-shirts scream "peon". Suggest shirts from a uniform service (so you dont have to buy replacements or wash them yourself) and come up with a professional logo. Dark colors don't show sweat and stains as much. Dark blue or black would stand out. Brown is depressing.
"Money, energy and resources wasted on this would probably be better spent on something worthwhile that would actually have an impact on the team's ability to provide quality service."
I wouldn't give a shit. Pay me and pay for my clothes if ya don't like what I buy myself.
"Yes, just stop taking the oil and other resources from foreign countries like locusts."
The US didn't "take" anything from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in general has put quite the liplock on the collective arse of the House of Saud.
The conflict is more complex that your post would have it.
Meh. I could care less about their new version of the I-Opener business model.
Smart move using an ARM for vendor lock while allowing geeky workarounds.
"If you want realism, there's a recruiting office down at the local mall that has a total immersion game that will rock your world."
People don't do repeat combat tours just for the money.
"Is it more ethical to interfere with another's property, without permission, to solve a larger problem, or is it more ethical to respect private property and privacy? Surely there are cases for both."
One may make such a decision from preference, and not ethics.
""You definitely need to use the command line at least a bit to get an Ubuntu system up an running properly"
Much of that is merely copying and pasting from suggested fixes found on teh intarweb. (Kudos to helpful posters on Linux forums.)
I prefer that to going on a turd hunt for oddball Windows drivers any day.
When we count environmental impact we shouldn't externalize the other costs involved.
Producing a truck takes far more resources than does a motorcycle, and the truck will generate more waste oil/waste fluids/waste lubricant over its life cycle. It will require more effort to scrap and generate many pounds of plastic waste (seats, interior,some body parts, bedliner). Unlike a motorbike, trucks have air conditioning which usually means at least one full load of refrigerant either leaked or dumped into the atmosphere. (Yes, I know about recovery pumps, I'm a mechanic....) Trucks weigh more and produce more wear on roads, They have twice as many tires which are larger and require recycling as well as more resources to produce.
I'm fond of my trucks (and argue that retaining a properly tuned big block is less impactful than buying replacement trucks) but let's remember that what comes out the exhaust is not the total impact per mile travelled of any vehicle.
Want a high-MPG bike in the US that has been available longer than most Slashdotters have been alive?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Super_Cub
They are simple. tough, easy to work on, and the most successful powered vehicle in history to the tune of SIXTY MILLION so far.
The US didn't build them because it didn't and doesn't need to. This guy did it so well that there was no point in trying to compete given US labor costs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soichiro_Honda
"Many high performance bike these days have worse consumption than many cars."
They are also amazingly quick and powerful.
Old Triumphs are beautiful, easy to work on (necessary since they are quite delicate), and fun to ride. They are also slow, require frequent maintenance, and not comparable to modern bikes which often have better specs than road racers of ancient times. The most successful motorcycle based on such an old form-factor is the 883 Harley Sportster, which only exists as "bait" for people who want a Harley but can't afford a Big Twin. (They are decent bikes one can keep for decades, but they aren't "performance" machines.)
Most people in the US don't need them, and if _you_ want a slow motorcycle then go ahead and buy or build one.
There are plenty of small four-strokes you could fit with smaller carbs (or homebrew EFI ), a taller set of sprockets for lower RPM at cruise, narrow ribbed tires, and a fairing to reduce drag.
There are people doing diesel conversions if you want higher mileage, but those who prefer performance will buy accordingly.
We didn't really need the Towers, and when they were proposed many regarded them as an eyesore.
Modern communication that didn't exist when they were built facilitates the dispersed infrastructure we should have rather than concentrating valuable functions.
"(anybody want to invent a pants-mouted bomb detonated by urine?) "
Bombs can be stuffed up the arse for transport, and thanks to the internet we know a grenade-sized object can fit with some work.
This fellow didn't get close enough, but someone will:
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20090902_aqap_paradigm_shifts_and_lessons_learned
"Unlike al-Awfi, al-Asiri was not a genuine repentant -- he was a human Trojan horse. After al-Asiri entered a small room to speak with Prince Mohammed, he activated a small improvised explosive device (IED) he had been carrying inside his anal cavity. The resulting explosion ripped al-Asiri to shreds but only lightly injured the shocked prince -- the target of al-Asiri's unsuccessful assassination attempt.
While the assassination proved unsuccessful, AQAP had been able to shift the operational paradigm in a manner that allowed them to achieve tactical surprise. The surprise was complete and the Saudis did not see the attack coming -- the operation could have succeeded had it been better executed. "
"Just plans is how we got those silly no-liquids rules."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLX
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/tatp.htm
"Too bad those people caved, but that need not cost us the ability to know what they wanted so badly to hide."
Note to potential "cavers":
You can certainly sanitize the information you plan to agree to keep secret, give it to reliable third parties, then take the money.
It isn't honest, but there is no reason to be honest with your enemies. We are past the point of moral obligation to such people.
If you don't like Groklaw, debunk what is presented there.
There is an option for citizens who want to be good guys and snitch on companies who employ illegals and are thus tax cheats.
You can turn in illegals, punish employers who exploit both them and Americans who need jobs, and make a profit.
http://www.taxwhistleblowers.org/main/page.php?page_id=2
"Amount of Form 211 Reward
Rewards range from 1% to 15% of amounts collected (including taxes, fines, and penalties, but not interest) up to a maximum of $10 million."
Modern surveillance systems a combination of manned patrols and surveillance systems would make a modern "Morice Line" practical. The purpose isn't to stop them all, just most of them.
The way to play that would be to point cams in one direction and patrol the others.
That's actually quite practical, especially with UAVs and manned surveillance posts, but there is little political support in Washington for effective border control.
It's easy to build small operating bases, easy to stage patrols to monitor what sensor and cameras detect, and while it would not halt border crossings it would reduce them to a more reasonable level.
What isn't easy is doing this when Mexico objects (failed narcostate that it is, every dime sent from Yanquiland is welcome) and when Mexicans in the US (who have zero logical interest in border security and everything to gain from lack of it) vote and protest against it.
Fruit ferments naturally without human intervention.
A "happy pill" is a reasonable goal, as is chemical pleasure (well, all pleasure is chemical) in general.
Information wants to be free, and information that valuable will be free in short order after the product is invented.
What you see as "slavery" is the normal path of industrial development.
When starting from nothing, it has always been necessary to leverage human capital. The Industrial Revolution was built on cheap labor, yet its outcomes (eventually) brought about prosperity and improvement in quality of life for all classes. It made the modern socialist welfare state possible.