Is it just me, or is the $50/month some sort of mythical sweet spot for monthly content subscription service bundles like this? Why does this sort of outdated âoebundlingâ approach continue to be so popular? Do consumers actually want this?
Most US drivers who buy Volvos will be non-plussed by this limitation. Volvo markets to the safety conscious in the Freedom States, and this commitment aligns with their shared values for promoting safer vehicles. In practical terms, drivers who live in cities and municipalities with strict speed limits and heavy enforcement (i.e. cash strapped towns in the USA with smallish police forces) will likely not find this limit to be anything to even balk at. They're already driving slow to avoid a speeding ticket - getting caught running 112 mph would land them in a dingy city lockup overnight. Try talking your way out of that one to the judge in Nowhere-Ville USA that counts on 60% of it's revenue coming from fines levied on moving violations.
The highest posted speed limit in the country is 85 mph (137 km/h) and can be found only on the Texas State Highway 130 between Austin and Seguin. You can bomb down the 130 in your 2020 Volvo S60 capped at 112mph and still get a speeding ticket that lands you in lockup and bail set.
You're more likely to flinch at a tumbleweed, swerve, and end up dead as your $50k speed limited luxury sedan careens off the road, rolls a dozen times in every axis, and finally lands upside down in the middle of nowhere. The sheer inertia will snap your neck.
I remember a time where people weren't so outwardly disrespectful in such concentrated numbers. The vitriol is unbearable. Time to burn this Internet down and start a new one with some accountability built in. That anyone can get away with making death threats against someone expressing a respectful opinion is disgusting.
Rather than looking for ways to improve, Brett has stooped to pointing fingers and blaming the messenger of bad news (RT). The people called you out on a bollocks film, Mr. Ratner - take it as the gift that it is - an outpouring of free feedback. The messenger is very efficient at collecting the voices of many to arrive at a thorough analysis. It's the sort of things businesses had to once pay big money to get and could use to their benefit without anyone else ever seeing it. Now that it's nearly instant and public, when things don't go well, everyone knows. On the flip side, if you have something that resonates with viewers - it can be a runaway hit and you didn't have to invest $100m to do it necessarily. This should be a key take-away for anyone wanting to make a brilliant film. Hollywood studios would be wise to adapt their business model to the new reality and embrace it unless they want to end up a failed bit of history. My hunch is that the person making the original comment is upset with having to deliver bad news to investors and answer to shareholders. He should be upset - the analysis shows it was a terrible movie. Impartial analysis doesn't easily lie.
It does, though I don't see it being able to solve the problem. You still have to pay taxes being an American citizen. Oh, you mean evading being reported to the IRS by using an international 3rd party? Now you've committed a felony. Problem not solved.
You can (and should) deduct your IRS allowed capital purchases from your INCOME, not your income tax (deductions from your income tax are known as credits). If your purchases fall under the definitions of a deductible expense, than yes - you can deduct it from your taxable income (typically Schedule C, Section 179 and others). Depending on the expense, you will either take the entire amount for the year, or you will depreciate it over a period of time. When you go to sell it, if you make more money on it than you paid for it, than it's a gain - also reported on your Schedule C. If you lose money on it, the gain will generally be offset by the larger original investment. You are taxed on the NET gain. What you've described as double taxing is only happens if you don't declare the original expense. There's a lot more to it, so make sure to consult an accountant or tax attorney for your specific situation.
Truth be told, if you're an American worker, you are expendable. You can be outsourced or replaced faster than you realize. Sure, the company might have some serious issues (of if you're a really bad IT guy, come crashing down because you took all the keys to the fortress that the company didn't even know existed). Generally, life goes on without you in that company.
You're best bet is to understand the reasons why your policies aren't working and rewrite them to work. If you can't get them to give you their machines for backup, write scripts to back them up when connected to the network (there are solutions out there that can do this for you, too).
If they don't want to spend the money or allow you to bog down their machines, negotiate other solutions. Sure, you're not going to get an ideal-for-you resolution. I'm not sure if you realize this, but the world doesn't revolve around IT. If something bad happens, it's never just one persons fault. Everyone is at risk. It's no different with automobiles, homes or the food supply for that matter.
CYA is only one necessary reaction when dealing with these types of situations.
Getting creative and working with the staff ensures you continue to have a job. It will also teach you about what types of questions your should be asking before declaring policies and that policies are really only guidelines when it comes to owners and high level managers.
If all else fails, it's time to move on. Do so before it gets ugly so you can get some good references. Everyone dies on a burning bridge.
Most of the conferences I've wanted to attend offer very little in terms of value. They are sponsored by vendors. Vendors are not the right source for information. Conferences that are backed by user groups or other broad interest groups are desirable, but I can't think of any examples.
Here's my wish-list for the perfect conference:
1. Attendees will leave with new SKILLS (not the same as 'Product Knowledge') - Teach something you would otherwise have to take classes for to understand or is the knowledge of seasoned IT people that can help everyone accomplish something that is problematic.
2. Tech's don't appreciate 'Solution' hype directed at decision makers - The decision makers don't generally go to most conferences. It's that simple. You have to explain what your product does before you explain what it solves to techs.
3. Slow the pace, keep it meaningful - Tech people need to digest information just like everyone else. If you have accomplished providing a meaningful conference, you will be putting a lot of information forward. Keep the pace reasonable and don't overlap too many sessions.
4. Eliminate the sales pitch - Everyone is sick of the sales pitch. We're sick of hearing how Vendor X can solve all your woes with Product Z. Yawn. Next!
5. Eliminate the know-nothing booth TME - Techs don't like to be accosted by TME's. Quite frankly, those TME's piss off most tech people. Have the booths attended by the engineers who work on the product so that REAL QUESTIONS can be answered.
6. Eliminate the "if you let me scan your badge, you can have a free T-Shirt" scam - We all know you want to email/call us. If we want more information, we have your brochure and card.
While Hodgeman may be a comedian by trade, he has a great point. Though, where I live (Portland Oregon) the numbers of Geeks-to-non-Geeks is shoring up over time. In fact, I think Portland was recently declared the 3rd most geek-friendly place in the world.
Truth is, the geek inherited the earth long ago. They just need to rise up and grow a backbone. It can be done. Right? Anyone? Bueler?
I've owned and loved my Treo 600 now for just over a year. I have a 256MB SD card in it, loaded with MP3's, a pair of headphones and PocketTunes loaded. I've been listening to music on my PDA/Phone/Camera for quite awhile now.
I think the Treo can take even larger SD cards, too.
Is is just me or have people forgotten about the old means of Analog copying? Most sound cards are capable of it. Sure, maybe you can't *easily* RIP, but you can do it. Let's face it - we've been copying tapes and LP's using the ol' Analog method for years. I don't think you can't encrypt an analog audio signal easily, and I doubt anyone is going to try it.
Gregster
The Domino Effect
I think it's important to distinguish that fun and research aren't always the same. I think the problem here is that a lot of companies can't understand that if someone is having fun, that doesn't neccesarily mean the person isn't doing their job. In fact, most situations require IT to test the toys (like palms, printers, scanners, etc.) that exec's will be using - and for most IT people, getting a kick out of their research is part of the job. It's true that a lot of IT people (I'm guilty of it, too) abuse their research power by purchasing things without a just business case (and believe me, there's always a business case for anything that needs to be researched - no matter how "insignificant" it may seem at first.) On the flip side, sometimes the "Fun" isn't really fun. People get the impression that testing new equipment and software is always "fun". But, I'll tell ya - when I was told to find a Media Asset Management program, I was anything but enthused. Still, people oooed and awwwed at my new software.
Bottom line - it's an issue of power abuse more than having fun.:):)
G
Slashdot Mirror
Is it just me, or is the $50/month some sort of mythical sweet spot for monthly content subscription service bundles like this? Why does this sort of outdated âoebundlingâ approach continue to be so popular? Do consumers actually want this?
Most US drivers who buy Volvos will be non-plussed by this limitation. Volvo markets to the safety conscious in the Freedom States, and this commitment aligns with their shared values for promoting safer vehicles. In practical terms, drivers who live in cities and municipalities with strict speed limits and heavy enforcement (i.e. cash strapped towns in the USA with smallish police forces) will likely not find this limit to be anything to even balk at. They're already driving slow to avoid a speeding ticket - getting caught running 112 mph would land them in a dingy city lockup overnight. Try talking your way out of that one to the judge in Nowhere-Ville USA that counts on 60% of it's revenue coming from fines levied on moving violations.
The highest posted speed limit in the country is 85 mph (137 km/h) and can be found only on the Texas State Highway 130 between Austin and Seguin. You can bomb down the 130 in your 2020 Volvo S60 capped at 112mph and still get a speeding ticket that lands you in lockup and bail set.
You're more likely to flinch at a tumbleweed, swerve, and end up dead as your $50k speed limited luxury sedan careens off the road, rolls a dozen times in every axis, and finally lands upside down in the middle of nowhere. The sheer inertia will snap your neck.
I remember a time where people weren't so outwardly disrespectful in such concentrated numbers. The vitriol is unbearable. Time to burn this Internet down and start a new one with some accountability built in. That anyone can get away with making death threats against someone expressing a respectful opinion is disgusting.
When it's obsolete, they can just unplug it and walk away. Who's going to notice & do anything about it?
Rather than looking for ways to improve, Brett has stooped to pointing fingers and blaming the messenger of bad news (RT). The people called you out on a bollocks film, Mr. Ratner - take it as the gift that it is - an outpouring of free feedback. The messenger is very efficient at collecting the voices of many to arrive at a thorough analysis. It's the sort of things businesses had to once pay big money to get and could use to their benefit without anyone else ever seeing it. Now that it's nearly instant and public, when things don't go well, everyone knows. On the flip side, if you have something that resonates with viewers - it can be a runaway hit and you didn't have to invest $100m to do it necessarily. This should be a key take-away for anyone wanting to make a brilliant film. Hollywood studios would be wise to adapt their business model to the new reality and embrace it unless they want to end up a failed bit of history. My hunch is that the person making the original comment is upset with having to deliver bad news to investors and answer to shareholders. He should be upset - the analysis shows it was a terrible movie. Impartial analysis doesn't easily lie.
It does, though I don't see it being able to solve the problem. You still have to pay taxes being an American citizen. Oh, you mean evading being reported to the IRS by using an international 3rd party? Now you've committed a felony. Problem not solved.
..and by not paying taxes, that makes you better? Everyone benefits from something your taxes pay for.
You can (and should) deduct your IRS allowed capital purchases from your INCOME, not your income tax (deductions from your income tax are known as credits). If your purchases fall under the definitions of a deductible expense, than yes - you can deduct it from your taxable income (typically Schedule C, Section 179 and others). Depending on the expense, you will either take the entire amount for the year, or you will depreciate it over a period of time. When you go to sell it, if you make more money on it than you paid for it, than it's a gain - also reported on your Schedule C. If you lose money on it, the gain will generally be offset by the larger original investment. You are taxed on the NET gain. What you've described as double taxing is only happens if you don't declare the original expense. There's a lot more to it, so make sure to consult an accountant or tax attorney for your specific situation.
Truth be told, if you're an American worker, you are expendable. You can be outsourced or replaced faster than you realize. Sure, the company might have some serious issues (of if you're a really bad IT guy, come crashing down because you took all the keys to the fortress that the company didn't even know existed). Generally, life goes on without you in that company.
You're best bet is to understand the reasons why your policies aren't working and rewrite them to work. If you can't get them to give you their machines for backup, write scripts to back them up when connected to the network (there are solutions out there that can do this for you, too).
If they don't want to spend the money or allow you to bog down their machines, negotiate other solutions. Sure, you're not going to get an ideal-for-you resolution. I'm not sure if you realize this, but the world doesn't revolve around IT. If something bad happens, it's never just one persons fault. Everyone is at risk. It's no different with automobiles, homes or the food supply for that matter.
CYA is only one necessary reaction when dealing with these types of situations.
Getting creative and working with the staff ensures you continue to have a job. It will also teach you about what types of questions your should be asking before declaring policies and that policies are really only guidelines when it comes to owners and high level managers.
If all else fails, it's time to move on. Do so before it gets ugly so you can get some good references. Everyone dies on a burning bridge.
Most of the conferences I've wanted to attend offer very little in terms of value. They are sponsored by vendors. Vendors are not the right source for information. Conferences that are backed by user groups or other broad interest groups are desirable, but I can't think of any examples.
Here's my wish-list for the perfect conference:
1. Attendees will leave with new SKILLS (not the same as 'Product Knowledge') - Teach something you would otherwise have to take classes for to understand or is the knowledge of seasoned IT people that can help everyone accomplish something that is problematic.
2. Tech's don't appreciate 'Solution' hype directed at decision makers - The decision makers don't generally go to most conferences. It's that simple. You have to explain what your product does before you explain what it solves to techs.
3. Slow the pace, keep it meaningful - Tech people need to digest information just like everyone else. If you have accomplished providing a meaningful conference, you will be putting a lot of information forward. Keep the pace reasonable and don't overlap too many sessions.
4. Eliminate the sales pitch - Everyone is sick of the sales pitch. We're sick of hearing how Vendor X can solve all your woes with Product Z. Yawn. Next!
5. Eliminate the know-nothing booth TME - Techs don't like to be accosted by TME's. Quite frankly, those TME's piss off most tech people. Have the booths attended by the engineers who work on the product so that REAL QUESTIONS can be answered.
6. Eliminate the "if you let me scan your badge, you can have a free T-Shirt" scam - We all know you want to email/call us. If we want more information, we have your brochure and card.
Nah. Hippies might win over Hawthorne and Alberta, but never the world. :)
While Hodgeman may be a comedian by trade, he has a great point. Though, where I live (Portland Oregon) the numbers of Geeks-to-non-Geeks is shoring up over time. In fact, I think Portland was recently declared the 3rd most geek-friendly place in the world.
Truth is, the geek inherited the earth long ago. They just need to rise up and grow a backbone. It can be done. Right? Anyone? Bueler?
I've owned and loved my Treo 600 now for just over a year. I have a 256MB SD card in it, loaded with MP3's, a pair of headphones and PocketTunes loaded. I've been listening to music on my PDA/Phone/Camera for quite awhile now.
I think the Treo can take even larger SD cards, too.
There's no DRM that I'm aware of either.
Greg
Is is just me or have people forgotten about the old means of Analog copying? Most sound cards are capable of it. Sure, maybe you can't *easily* RIP, but you can do it. Let's face it - we've been copying tapes and LP's using the ol' Analog method for years. I don't think you can't encrypt an analog audio signal easily, and I doubt anyone is going to try it. Gregster The Domino Effect
I think it's important to distinguish that fun and research aren't always the same. I think the problem here is that a lot of companies can't understand that if someone is having fun, that doesn't neccesarily mean the person isn't doing their job. In fact, most situations require IT to test the toys (like palms, printers, scanners, etc.) that exec's will be using - and for most IT people, getting a kick out of their research is part of the job. It's true that a lot of IT people (I'm guilty of it, too) abuse their research power by purchasing things without a just business case (and believe me, there's always a business case for anything that needs to be researched - no matter how "insignificant" it may seem at first.) On the flip side, sometimes the "Fun" isn't really fun. People get the impression that testing new equipment and software is always "fun". But, I'll tell ya - when I was told to find a Media Asset Management program, I was anything but enthused. Still, people oooed and awwwed at my new software. Bottom line - it's an issue of power abuse more than having fun. :) :)
G