There's a song whose lyrics go something like this: "you can't get something for nothing..."
The mass retailers like Best Buy do well because, at the end of the day, people want to spend less money. However, to have someone truly knowledgeable about music requires someone who is intelligent and can draw relationships between time periods and genres and know all the debates among the afficionadoes of various (and not always related) genres.
Having worked at, bought for and managed at a big-name music retailer (one of those mentioned in the article) for most of the 1990s, I will tell you "worthwhile" retail clerks of the ilk I describe are hard to come by. Aside from music of the day, anyone whose knowledge you'd respect would require some time to develop that knowledge. This was traditionally acquire either via:
1) working for a magazine/new source 2) working radio (esp. college radio) 3) working music retail for many years
When you combine all of these non-lucrative, non-fortune-acquiring prerequisite efforts and stack them up against just doing something else, many people give up while they are young. What you are left with John Cusack and Jack Black's characters in "High Fidelity:" niche afficionadoes calling their own shots (most aren't overly rude to customers). Anyone really knowledgable about music (across genres) will have resigned themselves to a future-less existence and are typically the scary "fringe" types complained about in other posts here. The articles are also about this breed dying. The Biggerer music-focused stores will evolve or wither out, but any dedicated to providing variety and music knowledge under a leased physical space (replicated from region to region so you can physically visit) are not likely to survive.
In any case, paying someone reasonably for being the repository of knowledge you crave is rare. With longevity of service, the particular retailer I worked at for 7 years in the 1990s (one of those rightly accused of high prices), attempted to reward knowledgable clerks with decent health care and retirement benefits as a nod to the fact that you can't get "something for nothing." It is likely that this chain will now pay for trying to establish a dynasty of stores that were music-oriented. We should feel no guilt for wanting cheaper, but we should not likely lament what we give up when we opt for cheap.
The reason you aren't going to find knowledge at a Best Buy is that it isn't likely valued. The Internet will now provide music expertise in spades, making the need for these old-style record store "knowledge workers" likely passe.
I, for one, and DAMNED GLAD I got the hell out just before it all really fell apart.
You've taken the words right out of my mouth. If they want to sell use out, then stop hiding under the umbrella of our freedom and tax dollars. There was a time when corporations were expected to exhibit a modicum of social responsibility.
Complete bullshit. I see, at institution of higher learning I work at, gross abuses of work visas and various loopholes that take people straight into employment. It is SOOOOO easy for a foreign student to make inroads into the US job market. The public likely has little grasp on the TRUE nature of abuses of the various work-visa programs like H1-B and the like. Rightfully so, these people don't give two shits about me as an U.S. citizen, they just want their slice of the pie. However, a global market without the same nation-preserving protectionism that MOST OTHER COUNTRIES USE, will create a new feudal system in the U.S. where the majority of us become akin to serfs. IT today, the rest of you tomorrow.
My dog got these things (BUFOs or Cane Frogs) in her mouth when I was growing up in Hawaii and would foam at the mouth and convulse for about 20 minutes. I was amazed that she made it to 10 before she passed on with all the BUFO venom she consumed.
I grew up in Hawaii and what is weird about the article concerning the coquis is that it claims this is the first problem with amphibians. However, I am glad someone made mention of the BUFOs (Australian Cane Toads) as they were very abundant in the 1970s.
I remember these very well as they would emit an awful slime from their backs and leave long strands of their eggs in puddles after a rain. I think the thing about bufos is that they did not have as annoying a vocalization that the coqui seems to.
new technology spring up wild west big guys have to compete and make little money big guy can afford to buy little guys out big guy has no competition and rakes you, joe average over the coals go to the competition? what competition.
The spammers win as long as they project their fusillade of tripe.
Re:Great Book - Just for fun
on
Just For Fun
·
· Score: 1
I have Rebel Code, and while it is not in front of me, I know that Dave Diamond did not write it. Is this a nom de plume for the same author? If so, then I would be definately interested in getting this.
Microsoft will pitch, sell and own the Lowest Common Denominator; which is the overwhelming majority.
There is no need for Linux/Open Source to conquer the world, only to do what it does and for whom it does the best it can. If Linux starts to shine, the LCD *may* move to it, but how many of you want a Linux that is *dumbed down*?
I teach comp sci and info sys students C++ part time at night at my local university. It is amazing how many of these students do not have *basic* GUI/Windows skills down pat. The time when the whole world switches to Linux/Open Source maybe far far off.
I agree with a gentleman above. Forget about M$, forget about bashing "the great satan;" just take what you like from them, reverse engineer it and get the freak out of dodge.
the more you despise their youth, the more they'll despise your age and wisdom. Crapping on the heads of the kids is never the solution. I am not sure you could stand in any one place and declare the parameters of a *real* unix user. Why limit and narrow? If people are used to doing things a certain way (as you are from your heyday with unix-oriented keyboards) then why not accomodate that as well?
I enjoyed learning from your post, but found your l33t-ism to be just what the budding community does NOT need.
J-
I've participated in 4 elections now. Over time I've heard many complain about politicians and how they suck and how the system is flawed and not worth the effort. I've bought into that many times in the past, yet I still get out there and vote...
What is the point? Well, few of us have not benefitted or somehow perpetuated the system and 'the way it is.' As such, I still believe that the United States is founded on the idea of a Government "Of and for the People." Change is still very possible from the bottom up and the minute we exchange the collective power we have is the minute we will be exploited. Gore, Bush, Nader, whatever, vote for who represents your idea of America and participate as a citizen. Anyone who sits on the sidelines, who could have prevented it, deserves what's coming. Similarly, those that vote also deserve what's coming, but also steered the path in some small way.
If we give up on our system, many of the fantastic visions presented in SF and Cyberpunk lit are likely to come to fruition. I don't want to live in the United States of (Sony, Ford, Phillip Morris, Microsoft, Etc. Etc.).... do you?
I suppose this is more editorial. Barcode scanners are available from anywhere, are they really suing him because he is storing UPCs?
Ranks high for comedic value then.
-A
who would have thought?
Slashdot = info = nerdinterest = "their gonna know I'm cool" = moronic post = newinfo = nothing really learned.
Thus
+Karma cool. Right?
Wow!
-A
Thanks for the clarification. Was confusing as I thought somehow that travesty had resurfaced. I think the original concept would have been hacked severely, plus who was going to tie up an extra phoneline to feed the beast?
-A
Had I of been hear for the 18 times this has been iterated, then I would be worthy of your vitriol.
Thank you for your measured thoughts and astute information.
-A
Slashdot Mirror
There's a song whose lyrics go something like this: "you can't get something for nothing..."
The mass retailers like Best Buy do well because, at the end of the day, people want to spend less money. However, to have someone truly knowledgeable about music requires someone who is intelligent and can draw relationships between time periods and genres and know all the debates among the afficionadoes of various (and not always related) genres.
Having worked at, bought for and managed at a big-name music retailer (one of those mentioned in the article) for most of the 1990s, I will tell you "worthwhile" retail clerks of the ilk I describe are hard to come by. Aside from music of the day, anyone whose knowledge you'd respect would require some time to develop that knowledge. This was traditionally acquire either via:
1) working for a magazine/new source
2) working radio (esp. college radio)
3) working music retail for many years
When you combine all of these non-lucrative, non-fortune-acquiring prerequisite efforts and stack them up against just doing something else, many people give up while they are young. What you are left with John Cusack and Jack Black's characters in "High Fidelity:" niche afficionadoes calling their own shots (most aren't overly rude to customers). Anyone really knowledgable about music (across genres) will have resigned themselves to a future-less existence and are typically the scary "fringe" types complained about in other posts here. The articles are also about this breed dying. The Biggerer music-focused stores will evolve or wither out, but any dedicated to providing variety and music knowledge under a leased physical space (replicated from region to region so you can physically visit) are not likely to survive.
In any case, paying someone reasonably for being the repository of knowledge you crave is rare. With longevity of service, the particular retailer I worked at for 7 years in the 1990s (one of those rightly accused of high prices), attempted to reward knowledgable clerks with decent health care and retirement benefits as a nod to the fact that you can't get "something for nothing." It is likely that this chain will now pay for trying to establish a dynasty of stores that were music-oriented. We should feel no guilt for wanting cheaper, but we should not likely lament what we give up when we opt for cheap.
The reason you aren't going to find knowledge at a Best Buy is that it isn't likely valued. The Internet will now provide music expertise in spades, making the need for these old-style record store "knowledge workers" likely passe.
I, for one, and DAMNED GLAD I got the hell out just before it all really fell apart.
A-
You've taken the words right out of my mouth. If they want to sell use out, then stop hiding under the umbrella of our freedom and tax dollars. There was a time when corporations were expected to exhibit a modicum of social responsibility.
So luck we are in election year.
J-
Complete bullshit. I see, at institution of higher learning I work at, gross abuses of work visas and various loopholes that take people straight into employment. It is SOOOOO easy for a foreign student to make inroads into the US job market. The public likely has little grasp on the TRUE nature of abuses of the various work-visa programs like H1-B and the like. Rightfully so, these people don't give two shits about me as an U.S. citizen, they just want their slice of the pie. However, a global market without the same nation-preserving protectionism that MOST OTHER COUNTRIES USE, will create a new feudal system in the U.S. where the majority of us become akin to serfs. IT today, the rest of you tomorrow.
REVOLUTION!!!!
J-
Sorry,
That's bullshit... Government jobs are just as wobbly. Especially state and local.
A-
My dog got these things (BUFOs or Cane Frogs) in her mouth when I was growing up in Hawaii and would foam at the mouth and convulse for about 20 minutes. I was amazed that she made it to 10 before she passed on with all the BUFO venom she consumed.
J
I grew up in Hawaii and what is weird about the article concerning the coquis is that it claims this is the first problem with amphibians. However, I am glad someone made mention of the BUFOs (Australian Cane Toads) as they were very abundant in the 1970s.
I remember these very well as they would emit an awful slime from their backs and leave long strands of their eggs in puddles after a rain. I think the thing about bufos is that they did not have as annoying a vocalization that the coqui seems to.
J
Utter crap.
BTW, look for any companies distantly related to big tobacco in the "subtle ads." If they are not there now... they will be.
Sigh...
J
new technology spring up
wild west
big guys have to compete and make little money
big guy can afford to buy little guys out
big guy has no competition and rakes you, joe average over the coals
go to the competition? what competition.
There are plenty of knowledgable geeks in Japan and Korea, what training do they need? I think it is apathy.
The spammers win as long as they project their fusillade of tripe.
Thanks,
J
Microsoft will pitch, sell and own the Lowest Common Denominator; which is the overwhelming majority.
There is no need for Linux/Open Source to conquer the world, only to do what it does and for whom it does the best it can. If Linux starts to shine, the LCD *may* move to it, but how many of you want a Linux that is *dumbed down*?
I teach comp sci and info sys students C++ part time at night at my local university. It is amazing how many of these students do not have *basic* GUI/Windows skills down pat. The time when the whole world switches to Linux/Open Source maybe far far off.
I agree with a gentleman above. Forget about M$, forget about bashing "the great satan;" just take what you like from them, reverse engineer it and get the freak out of dodge.
Do you want your OS softened by the M$ user base?
I don't.
Cheers,
A
the more you despise their youth, the more they'll despise your age and wisdom. Crapping on the heads of the kids is never the solution. I am not sure you could stand in any one place and declare the parameters of a *real* unix user. Why limit and narrow? If people are used to doing things a certain way (as you are from your heyday with unix-oriented keyboards) then why not accomodate that as well? I enjoyed learning from your post, but found your l33t-ism to be just what the budding community does NOT need. J-
What is the point? Well, few of us have not benefitted or somehow perpetuated the system and 'the way it is.' As such, I still believe that the United States is founded on the idea of a Government "Of and for the People." Change is still very possible from the bottom up and the minute we exchange the collective power we have is the minute we will be exploited. Gore, Bush, Nader, whatever, vote for who represents your idea of America and participate as a citizen. Anyone who sits on the sidelines, who could have prevented it, deserves what's coming. Similarly, those that vote also deserve what's coming, but also steered the path in some small way.
If we give up on our system, many of the fantastic visions presented in SF and Cyberpunk lit are likely to come to fruition. I don't want to live in the United States of (Sony, Ford, Phillip Morris, Microsoft, Etc. Etc.).... do you?
J
I suppose this is more editorial. Barcode scanners are available from anywhere, are they really suing him because he is storing UPCs? Ranks high for comedic value then.
-A
With all those games I bought 3 years ago? Most were not ported from glide. Proprietary almost always sucks. -A
who would have thought? Slashdot = info = nerdinterest = "their gonna know I'm cool" = moronic post = newinfo = nothing really learned. Thus +Karma cool. Right? Wow! -A
Thanks for the clarification. Was confusing as I thought somehow that travesty had resurfaced. I think the original concept would have been hacked severely, plus who was going to tie up an extra phoneline to feed the beast? -A
Oops, sorry that should be 'here' maybe in some ways I am a dumbass -A
Had I of been hear for the 18 times this has been iterated, then I would be worthy of your vitriol. Thank you for your measured thoughts and astute information. -A
Does this have anything to do with Circuit City's botched experiment of the same name? -A