Good point. At the company I work for, which is large and in the technology field but shall remain nameless, the upper management is very clueless. Technology decisions are being driven by politics and I think the future of the company could be comprised by this. HR has proved time and again to be a huge obstacle to getting qualified people hired. The only way I and some good, highly-qualified and hugely talented friends of mine were able to get hired was to bypass HR, which had no short- or long-term collective memory (i.e., every time you talk to them it is as if you've never talked to them before), and (like most companies these days) was only interested in keyword-searching resumes rather than exercising human judgement, or more importantly, allowing managers to exercise human judgement, on potentially good candidates. To wit, I had almost 20 years of software development experience and came on as a contractor, was hired before my contract ran out and my boss has been very happy with me, but I would have never gotten through HR, because my resume didn't contain a high enough quotient of buzzwords, which completely ignores the fact that as a successful software developer of many years, I am capable of coming up to speed on new systems, platforms and languages in a reasonably short time... in fact, in the past I've been hired to do C, C++ and Tcl work at different respective jobs, not having had prior experience in those specific languages because I demonstrated, through interviews, tests, and reputation, that I was capable of coming up to speed and becoming productive and proficient in something new. This is why resumes are becoming more and more useless and irrelevant, because they are becoming simply banks of keywords, and people game the system, whereas the real qualities that make for a good developer are often completely ignored by the search process.
... and the first thing I thought of was Ted Nugent. The second was the Muppets.
I think Gonzo would be good journalist and commentator... certainly a lot more dignified than Dan Rather or Bill O'Reilly and a lot less shrill and cartoon-like than Sean Hannity or Katie Couric.
That's OK, the Appearance of Doing Something Useful to the Internet Act of 2006 will be amended by the Slightly Less Harmful Appearance of Doing Something Useful to the Internet Act of 2007.
Congress has long since stopped worrying about having any effects whatsoever (except for the financial benefits of their corporate overlords, er, constituents, and buying their next election), and have concentrated solely on the appearance of doing something useful to those 90% of people who only hear the 6-second sound bite of what they have done.
It's a rare thing when legislation doesn't make the problem it is supposed to solve worse... and you can forget about it fixing anything.
However, in 2006, in the Age of Moral Equivalence and Intellectual Bankruptcy, expressing a preference for one country, philosophy, religion, or just about anything else, over another is considered the Worst Thing Imaginable: a Hate Crime. Apparently, someone who makes a claim that one thing is better than another can only engender in others the infantile conclusion that that someone must find the other thing to be irredeemably bad. Especially when it comes to politics, religion, morality or programming languages.
In fact, it seems that it has become completely unfashionable to claim anything is good. Exercising any discrimination at all, however sensible and proper, is simply impolitic.
I hereby commit an atrocious and unrepentant Crime Against Humanity by Having an Opinion and Stating It Unequivocably:
I declare that the United States of America to be the best country in the world and has been a huge net positive influence in world history. I furthermore claim that Jesus Christ is Lord, abortion is murder and marriage is between one man and one woman. I will go on to say it doesn't matter if emacs is better than vi because Multi-edit is better than both; Microsoft may be evil, but Windows really isn't that bad; MST3K is the greatest TV show ever, and "The Simpsons" is a great, but "Family Guy" is a sorry and unfunny rip-off; and everyone should listen to the Flower Kings and Spock's Beard, because unlike most contemporary rock groups, they don't suck.
In other news, GP is in the running for most modded post ever. From 1 to -1 all the way up to +3.
Why? Did it get modded so far down the integer wrapped?
I wouldn't trust ICANN to run a fever better than the U.S. government, leave alone the Internet, Net Neutrality or no. For all the real problems, utter stupidity, corruption and complete insanities in the U.S., the rest of world is generally worse.
Thanks for the clarification. I knew I wasn't being correct but it was just a joke and this is just/.:-)
However, I have been reading "Darwin's Radio" by Greg Bear and wondering where the science stops and the science fiction begins. It's incredible how much there still is to learn about how this stuff works.
And finally, 20 instructions is still pretty RISCy.
Makes sense. Sometimes I ask my wife to smell something from the fridge to make sure it's OK, because her sense of smell is better than mine. It was _much_ better when she was pregnant. There's a whole 'nother set of adaptations going on there. Of course, the disadvantage of an even keener sense of smell was that it often meant she didn't want to smell my sweaty, muley self.
Another thign that used to intrigue me about human evolution is how crummy our physical abilities are compared to most animals that would somehow compete with us.
Could it be because those physical limitations are far more than compensated for by our intellect?
Why build a massively powerful or fast body when you can get away with less if there's a really good brain?
Women tend to have a better sense of smell than men, too. That might feed into your theory or not. I'm not sure.
I guess _you_ never heard that Pintos exploded because the gas tank ruptured allowing vapors to be ignited. The parent was correct, liquid gasoline is not flammable.
I wasn't arguing against using WGA. I was just saying that there's no reason to be sure WGA doesn't cause problems. In other words, you can't prove a negative. On the other hand, what other major piece of Microsoft software doesn't have exploitable flaws?
Perhaps you should respond to what I am actually saying rather than what you think I am saying, or whatever straw man statement you want me to be saying so you can gratuitously deny my assertions.
Sorry for being so harsh, but I hate it when nerds belittle non-nerds to make themselves feel better. Yes, this guy is a bad journalist - should it really be on the front page of slashdot though?
Slashdot Mirror
Good point. At the company I work for, which is large and in the technology field but shall remain nameless, the upper management is very clueless. Technology decisions are being driven by politics and I think the future of the company could be comprised by this. HR has proved time and again to be a huge obstacle to getting qualified people hired. The only way I and some good, highly-qualified and hugely talented friends of mine were able to get hired was to bypass HR, which had no short- or long-term collective memory (i.e., every time you talk to them it is as if you've never talked to them before), and (like most companies these days) was only interested in keyword-searching resumes rather than exercising human judgement, or more importantly, allowing managers to exercise human judgement, on potentially good candidates. To wit, I had almost 20 years of software development experience and came on as a contractor, was hired before my contract ran out and my boss has been very happy with me, but I would have never gotten through HR, because my resume didn't contain a high enough quotient of buzzwords, which completely ignores the fact that as a successful software developer of many years, I am capable of coming up to speed on new systems, platforms and languages in a reasonably short time... in fact, in the past I've been hired to do C, C++ and Tcl work at different respective jobs, not having had prior experience in those specific languages because I demonstrated, through interviews, tests, and reputation, that I was capable of coming up to speed and becoming productive and proficient in something new. This is why resumes are becoming more and more useless and irrelevant, because they are becoming simply banks of keywords, and people game the system, whereas the real qualities that make for a good developer are often completely ignored by the search process.
... and the first thing I thought of was Ted Nugent. The second was the Muppets.
I think Gonzo would be good journalist and commentator... certainly a lot more dignified than Dan Rather or Bill O'Reilly and a lot less shrill and cartoon-like than Sean Hannity or Katie Couric.
The day I meet an HR department that acts like it is capable of recognizing a human, then I will agree with your statement.
Personally, I believe that if the HR department isn't actively trying to sabotage your job, you're ahead of the game.
Doesn't "installing a legitimately free-of-cost alternative" include OpenOffice?
That's OK, the Appearance of Doing Something Useful to the Internet Act of 2006 will be amended by the Slightly Less Harmful Appearance of Doing Something Useful to the Internet Act of 2007.
Congress has long since stopped worrying about having any effects whatsoever (except for the financial benefits of their corporate overlords, er, constituents, and buying their next election), and have concentrated solely on the appearance of doing something useful to those 90% of people who only hear the 6-second sound bite of what they have done.
It's a rare thing when legislation doesn't make the problem it is supposed to solve worse... and you can forget about it fixing anything.
Here's the proper analogy:
I put my garden hose in the street and leave it running 24/7. Is it stealing if you walk up and fill up a jug with water?
I asked a lawyer this once, and he said yes, but he's a jerk so I take it with a grain of salt.
Besides, the law is whatever the **AA buys.
However, in 2006, in the Age of Moral Equivalence and Intellectual Bankruptcy, expressing a preference for one country, philosophy, religion, or just about anything else, over another is considered the Worst Thing Imaginable: a Hate Crime. Apparently, someone who makes a claim that one thing is better than another can only engender in others the infantile conclusion that that someone must find the other thing to be irredeemably bad. Especially when it comes to politics, religion, morality or programming languages.
In fact, it seems that it has become completely unfashionable to claim anything is good. Exercising any discrimination at all, however sensible and proper, is simply impolitic.
I hereby commit an atrocious and unrepentant Crime Against Humanity by Having an Opinion and Stating It Unequivocably:
I declare that the United States of America to be the best country in the world and has been a huge net positive influence in world history. I furthermore claim that Jesus Christ is Lord, abortion is murder and marriage is between one man and one woman. I will go on to say it doesn't matter if emacs is better than vi because Multi-edit is better than both; Microsoft may be evil, but Windows really isn't that bad; MST3K is the greatest TV show ever, and "The Simpsons" is a great, but "Family Guy" is a sorry and unfunny rip-off; and everyone should listen to the Flower Kings and Spock's Beard, because unlike most contemporary rock groups, they don't suck.
I await the fatwahs.
Only 80%? You must have a lot of confidence in Hollywood.
I know enough.
In other news, GP is in the running for most modded post ever. From 1 to -1 all the way up to +3.
Why? Did it get modded so far down the integer wrapped?
I wouldn't trust ICANN to run a fever better than the U.S. government, leave alone the Internet, Net Neutrality or no. For all the real problems, utter stupidity, corruption and complete insanities in the U.S., the rest of world is generally worse.
Put me down for a copy of "Quizblorg, Quizblorg" on SUMHD3D-DVD, please.
Oh, and the Beastie Boys will have 2 more albums by then...
Thanks for the clarification. I knew I wasn't being correct but it was just a joke and this is just /. :-)
However, I have been reading "Darwin's Radio" by Greg Bear and wondering where the science stops and the science fiction begins. It's incredible how much there still is to learn about how this stuff works.
And finally, 20 instructions is still pretty RISCy.
I don't even find myself playing 3D games any more. Give me Warlords Battlecry or the original Stronghold any day. They're more fun.
Oh, and Nethack.
Only 4 instructions. People are RISC!
Makes sense. Sometimes I ask my wife to smell something from the fridge to make sure it's OK, because her sense of smell is better than mine. It was _much_ better when she was pregnant. There's a whole 'nother set of adaptations going on there. Of course, the disadvantage of an even keener sense of smell was that it often meant she didn't want to smell my sweaty, muley self.
Another thign that used to intrigue me about human evolution is how crummy our physical abilities are compared to most animals that would somehow compete with us.
Could it be because those physical limitations are far more than compensated for by our intellect?
Why build a massively powerful or fast body when you can get away with less if there's a really good brain?
Women tend to have a better sense of smell than men, too. That might feed into your theory or not. I'm not sure.
RGB can't be all there is because of all the colors it can't reproduce. I want my monitor to be able to display fluorescent colors!
They are standard Web articles: Two paragraph summaries.
At the rate things are going, article writers won't even bother with the body of the story any more, it will just be a title and ads.
Can you imagine a race of people who are bigger than you, yet talk like Elmo? I'd want to kill them off too.
My favorite is Joike, you know, the guy the sweater was made for.
They may be less serious than most larger format ("broadsheet") newspapers, but they aren't to be dismissed out of hand like the National Enquirer.
Or the New York Times.
I guess _you_ never heard that Pintos exploded because the gas tank ruptured allowing vapors to be ignited. The parent was correct, liquid gasoline is not flammable.
I'm being perfectly logical.
I wasn't arguing against using WGA. I was just saying that there's no reason to be sure WGA doesn't cause problems. In other words, you can't prove a negative. On the other hand, what other major piece of Microsoft software doesn't have exploitable flaws?
Perhaps you should respond to what I am actually saying rather than what you think I am saying, or whatever straw man statement you want me to be saying so you can gratuitously deny my assertions.
Has that happened to anyone yet?
Can you be assured that none of the near daily new exploits of the Windows operating system are _not_ attributable to WGA?
Sorry for being so harsh, but I hate it when nerds belittle non-nerds to make themselves feel better. Yes, this guy is a bad journalist - should it really be on the front page of slashdot though?
You must be new here.