There's a large percentage of Americans of working age that don't work at all. Welfare can pay more than minimum wage so the work incentive has been removed for many who know how to play the game.
Also, just because someone is occupying space and time "at work", it doesn't necessarily mean they're working. I became proficient at my job (salaried) and my productivity increased to the point where I could get my tasks completed in 1/2 to 2/3 of the time others did in a long work day. Yes, if there was more to do, I did it. My evaluations were always pretty darned good (electronics engineer for a large company where I actually had to SHOW material results).
I saw a lot of people in "fluff jobs" talk about how hard they were working but in actuality, they often showed no results and wouldn't be missed if they disappeared. Working long hours doesn't necessarily mean getting a lot of stuff done. Some people are inefficient.
Last, as people have mentioned, we have been a rather capitalistic bunch that likes to buy lots of crap and large, expensive items.
The average house of the '50's has nearly doubled in size. We no longer have one phone, one car, one TV.
So, we work to buy more crap and because we've bought more crap, we have to work more. Then we say "gee, both husband and wife have to work so we can afford to live" when in fact, we've become addicted to buying more and more toys.
Me, I've bought my toys and for a long time, I'm pretty happy with what I have. I can go to Fry's Electronics and pirooz the aisles, ready to buy anything interesting but I typically end up leaving without buying anything. I'm happy with my car, my TV, my collection of PCs and all the rest of the stuff (and the stuff is pretty old but again, I'm happy with it).
I'm a bad consumer. Also, I don't have to work anymore because I saved my money when working and lived within my means.
I predict Meg Whitman and Marissa Mayer will both proclaim their "success" in destroying H.P. and Yahoo and will depart to "spend more time with their families".
Both ships are about to sink and they can save face by departing in the near future.
We built match rockets. I do agree that video crap has mostly ruined curiosity from children. In my day, "getting bored" actually stimulated creativity. Now it is replaced with meaningless time wasting.
Nevada is very business friendly. No income tax. Hoover Dam nearby. Solar electricity farm nearby. Large labor force. Cheap housing nearby (Henderson). Water from Colorado River nearby.
I worked for a "very large computer company" (retired). I interviewed and hired many engineers.
I know of zero situations where we bought a design from an individual and developed the product. We bought companies but not individual patents from a person.
You may want to try Kickstarter or something similar. Or, attend a trade show and demonstrate the product and attempt to get a venture capital firm interested in the product.
I agree. I've called a "gift truce" with my S.O. and my sister. We caught ourselves just buying crap that wasn't needed for each other just so we weren't "offending" each other by not buying a gift for the occasions so we agreed to stop.
I've found what makes me "marketable" is to have a broad knowledge of the skill.
It varies for disciplines.
In my case, having an ability to design both analog and digital circuits. An understanding of how to manufacture the product. The ability to work cross-culture and actually enjoy the process. To be able to converse with the folks on the loading docks, the R&D bunch, the suits (playing that game disgusts me as they're shallow and short term in some cases).
It's a choreograph but it can be done and one can have a great deal of enjoyment pursuing the art.
YMMV as they say.
If one simply "goes to college", the possibility of disappointment could result.
I recall reading an article in Time Magazine about Gene (a LONG time ago) describing his hobby of tunneling in his back yard. At times he'd dig it with a spoon. He found the task relaxing and rewarding. His tunnels were quite well-built (reinforced).
He was quite an interesting guy. Also an early adopter to liquid cooling (yes, there were others).
If they paid as much effort inventing products as they did with acquisitions and "splits" it would be a successful company.
It's only the name of a once great company now.
Its soul has been removed.
Such a sad thing to witness. I keep hoping the ghosts of Hewlett and Packard will return to smite the assholes that have filed through it's corporate doors whilst stuffing their pockets full.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, we have a "choice".
It's between Hillary (Chucko) and Trump (Bozo).
Gotta love the two party system.
If it weren't for "global warming", we'd be in the ice age.
"Diversity" means *my idea* diversity, not your idea of diversity.
I bookmarked it in hope that I'd get unbiased news. After a while, the news links just seemed to be "Yahoo-like" clickbait.
Sensational, tabloid type news subjects.
I removed it from my news sources.
I wish I could find an unbiased news source but it's getting more-difficult to fine lately.
This brings up an interesting angle.
What about DUIs?
Who would be driving the car? Could I get my robo-car to drive me home from the bar when I'm shit faced and have it be my designated driver?
Just thinkin'
There's a large percentage of Americans of working age that don't work at all. Welfare can pay more than minimum wage so the work incentive has been removed for many who know how to play the game.
Also, just because someone is occupying space and time "at work", it doesn't necessarily mean they're working. I became proficient at my job (salaried) and my productivity increased to the point where I could get my tasks completed in 1/2 to 2/3 of the time others did in a long work day. Yes, if there was more to do, I did it. My evaluations were always pretty darned good (electronics engineer for a large company where I actually had to SHOW material results).
I saw a lot of people in "fluff jobs" talk about how hard they were working but in actuality, they often showed no results and wouldn't be missed if they disappeared. Working long hours doesn't necessarily mean getting a lot of stuff done. Some people are inefficient.
Last, as people have mentioned, we have been a rather capitalistic bunch that likes to buy lots of crap and large, expensive items.
The average house of the '50's has nearly doubled in size. We no longer have one phone, one car, one TV.
So, we work to buy more crap and because we've bought more crap, we have to work more. Then we say "gee, both husband and wife have to work so we can afford to live" when in fact, we've become addicted to buying more and more toys.
Me, I've bought my toys and for a long time, I'm pretty happy with what I have. I can go to Fry's Electronics and pirooz the aisles, ready to buy anything interesting but I typically end up leaving without buying anything. I'm happy with my car, my TV, my collection of PCs and all the rest of the stuff (and the stuff is pretty old but again, I'm happy with it).
I'm a bad consumer. Also, I don't have to work anymore because I saved my money when working and lived within my means.
Is that so bad?
I predict Meg Whitman and Marissa Mayer will both proclaim their "success" in destroying H.P. and Yahoo and will depart to "spend more time with their families".
Both ships are about to sink and they can save face by departing in the near future.
I loaded Linux Mint and have found it quite usable.
I agree that Win7 is my last version of a Microsoft OS unless they back off on their prying in to my personal computer. I doubt they will.
People in the Yoo Ess are quite complacent regarding data privacy.
We built match rockets. I do agree that video crap has mostly ruined curiosity from children. In my day, "getting bored" actually stimulated creativity. Now it is replaced with meaningless time wasting.
Nevada is very business friendly. No income tax. Hoover Dam nearby. Solar electricity farm nearby. Large labor force. Cheap housing nearby (Henderson). Water from Colorado River nearby.
Las Vegas is very close to Lake Mead and the Colorado River.
I worked for a "very large computer company" (retired). I interviewed and hired many engineers.
I know of zero situations where we bought a design from an individual and developed the product. We bought companies but not individual patents from a person.
You may want to try Kickstarter or something similar. Or, attend a trade show and demonstrate the product and attempt to get a venture capital firm interested in the product.
I agree. I've called a "gift truce" with my S.O. and my sister. We caught ourselves just buying crap that wasn't needed for each other just so we weren't "offending" each other by not buying a gift for the occasions so we agreed to stop.
Yahoo would have been better off if she became a stay at home mom.
Funny. I thought they were referring to a NASA documentary.
In yesterday's news, wasn't Anonymous already shutting down ISIS sites?
I've found what makes me "marketable" is to have a broad knowledge of the skill.
It varies for disciplines.
In my case, having an ability to design both analog and digital circuits. An understanding of how to manufacture the product. The ability to work cross-culture and actually enjoy the process. To be able to converse with the folks on the loading docks, the R&D bunch, the suits (playing that game disgusts me as they're shallow and short term in some cases).
It's a choreograph but it can be done and one can have a great deal of enjoyment pursuing the art.
YMMV as they say.
If one simply "goes to college", the possibility of disappointment could result.
Pursuing a passion is most-important.
Aw crap. My mistake.
That was Seymour Cray.
I recall reading an article in Time Magazine about Gene (a LONG time ago) describing his hobby of tunneling in his back yard. At times he'd dig it with a spoon. He found the task relaxing and rewarding. His tunnels were quite well-built (reinforced).
He was quite an interesting guy. Also an early adopter to liquid cooling (yes, there were others).
RIP Gene.
You taught us how to think outside of the box.
Nor could we go to the moon again, let alone Mars.
The government can't do anything right today.
Correct. I live in rural California and my only choices are satellite internet or dial up.
Satellite has a 10 GB cap so it's pretty useless for video.
Loot and scoot CEOs.
If they paid as much effort inventing products as they did with acquisitions and "splits" it would be a successful company.
It's only the name of a once great company now.
Its soul has been removed.
Such a sad thing to witness. I keep hoping the ghosts of Hewlett and Packard will return to smite the assholes that have filed through it's corporate doors whilst stuffing their pockets full.
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello."
(John Prine)
Wow. That's great news.
I guess I'll have to get my Gardner-Denver wirewrap tool out again :-)
(really, this is good news) SMT is a bitch to experiment with.
I guess we could use the old "NSA logic".
If they've done nothing wrong, they have nothing to hide.
Recording admirable actions should have no negative reactions.