Consider the following perks at my workplace:
Onsite gym
Popcorn machine
Tea/coffee machine
Few other (small) nice odds and ends
Should I be paying taxes on what those items would cost me if I had to pay for them? I think not. I accept that those items cost my company money, which is results in a slightly smaller paycheck. Don't ding me twice by lowering my pay AND making me pay taxes for the value of these items.
I don't think you understand how non-cash taxable benefits work, and this argument isn't about requiring a blanket-tax on all the non-taxable benefits. You only pay taxes on the benefits you receive. If your company chooses not to track individual usage (or includes it in your contract), it is employer freedom and choice, not a tax issue.
Changing the tax laws because you don't like the way your employer treats you is an over-reaction. You're not forced to take a job that provides non-cash taxable benefits that you don't want.
Changing the tax laws so they apply in an even manner to everyone? That is a goal that everyone should support, and I don't understand your opposition to it.
We (as a country, and yes, I'll speak for my country here) tend to tax things that employees receive as part of doing their job. Like, income. Company car usage on personal business. Certain types of business accommodation perks.
Unless google is willing to open their cafeteria to the world, getting "free" meals as part of your job is, well, part of your job. I think most people can agree that the US tax system has a few loopholes - but why is it crazy to expect people to pay taxes on their income?
Of course innovation can be automated, but until brute-force automation surpasses human ingenuity (or computers learn to self-replicate and force natural selection), it'll always be more effective (but not timely) to have a human doing it.
The actual list can be found by searching by IE results, and selecting pass.
I'd post it here, but the character encoding won't display since most are english (or even english-ish).
For questions like this, my dad would always say something cheesy, like "Does it matter, son? There's no time like the present, and that's all that matters".
Of course, he didn't think going into the business world as an employee was a good professional choice, either.
The issue is the Chinese government (national level) is not based upon any principles of openness. They hide anything and everything that might threaten their place in power. The only time it comes out is when trying to keep it secret would hurt even more (i.e when a coverup is exposed).
Yeah, and you'd think they'd be honest enough to simply say "None of your business". That's the interesting thing - The general thought is that the chinese government does not usually go out of it's way to actively deceive citizens, it just denies.
Consider the thousands (and sometimes millions) of spending on movies, software development and drugs.
Then consider how much MORE gets spent on marketing. If big companies are willing to more money at marketing a product (good or not) because they know it'll increase sales, why would you think about doing it on the cheap?
I'm not suggesting that it can't be done inexpensively, but I am suggesting that you will get exactly what you pay for... if you're lucky. And the chances of getting lucky go up quite a bit when you start paying someone - and the more experience they have, the better it will be.
Oh, and contracts. They're nice to have, and easier to enforce when you go 3rd party.
There are so many people breaking the law on my street, how will the insert strange and/or unreasonable law be enforced? You can do anything you want if you are smart, and get away with it. That is what I have noticed anyway.
Fixed that for you. Just for the record, you have broken more laws than mitzvots. Doesn't make them any less ridiculous.
I want this thing running linux before the month is out.
First big hurdle - is there even a Linux that's built for touch input?
Well, besides Android (which has been mentioned), I'm pretty sure Ubuntu is prepping a phone implementation of a linux OS... and if that's not customized for touch interaction, I'll eat my socks.
I'm pretty sure this happens at every apple release. They run out of stock, and it's a huge success. I suppose the definition of success and understock (and all things related) is quite variable.
I can't help wonder if microsoft just judged the market acceptance of the product just right and was... expecting this sort of statement, controversy and... free advertising (I'm such a cynic).
Unfortunately, so many companies have bought into the idea that hype - any hype - will lead to funding, which will lead to product development.... which will lead to the product that was being hyped.
Sure, your article proves your point and mine. Since it validates both claims, do you think it is worthwhile for either?
Realistically, there is a universal set for beautiful faces. Symmetry, 0.7 waist/hip ratio, accented cheekbones, eyes and diminished chin. And since we're discussing beauty, which many people believe to be subjective, you'll find just as many opinion pieces backed up by "science" as you will legitimate studies.
Appropriate styling can make purple lenses attractive, assuming a subset of supporting aesthetic features in the subject. Usually requires a dark hair color. Red hair clashes terribly with purple, for instance.
From your response, I take it that you are one of those people that just plain look bad when wearing purple?
Heh. Well, most things go well when paired with other things they match with.
Realistically though, purple glasses are going to be more-or-less unattractive, based solely on the fact that they're outside of the norm.
In a few years, I expect to see the rate of pedestrian-car accidents and people running into poles to go up by an order of magnitude. Sure, it overlays in your field of vision, so it's not like looking down at a phone, but we're just not meant to multitask with our senses the way this kind of device demands.
I don't even want to think about how many idiots will drive while using such devices.
... and BOOKS, don't even get me started on those. I mean, people used to have to KNOW things, and now they can just look them up? And they're in ENGLISH? Seriously. It loses so much meaning when it's not in the traditional latin.
I assure you there are folks who would give any service of their choosing as much time as they like if they think it's worth while to wait. Can be three weeks like for you or it can be maybe a few months even. Loyalty is a personal thing, but companies that do poorly with service tend not to have many clients/customers unless they offer something unique and/or interesting. And loyalty is very fickle.
Well, yeah. This.
But I don't think it is loyalty, exactly. More of a dedication, or a trust. And it's easy to maintain that trust through good communication, status updates or accurate repair timeframes. Having a status report filled with "progress" updates that don't really mean anything isn't deceptive, because the medium IS the message - the content is irrelevant.
Most people already know that microbes can do things that humans can't. Including live in places that humans are not able. It's not even unique to microbes - rats, cats and elephants can all do things that humans can't.
Try supporting an office full of average, run of the mill, people sometime and your perspective might change. "People" are not you or me. Even if they are experts in some other area, the majority of them will need training for any major computer related change. Most of them are afraid to change even the most simple settings because they think they might break something or might get in to trouble. And in some environments many settings are often locked down anyway.
... Who do you work with? In my experience, what you describe is not an aptitude problem, it's an attitude problem.
Autocad & PowerDraw (now PowerCADD) 2D CAD followed a decade later by SolidWorks 3D for turning concepts into executable designs that were within the realm of price and usability for individual designers.
Yes, 3d studio max had a huge impact on animation. Thank all-things-CAD.
My ten year old daughter was in tears because she couldn't figure out her new windows 8 laptop. Perhaps MS shouldn't have tried to do too much too soon?
Sounds like you've got a PEBKAC problem...
I'm sorry, I read your story as a failure on behalf of microsoft to communicate instructions, and a failure on behalf of toshiba to sell you a high quality, low price laptop.
Maybe there is some way for microsoft to provide a "how to" video the first time the computer turns on, and for toshiba to subsidize the price of the laptop with easily uninstalled software.
Microsoft screwed the pooch on this one and it will probably mean the end for Ballmer. Hopefully the next OS corrects the issues and slashdot can find something else M$ to bash.
I have two relevant observations. The first, is that Microsoft may be correct - they made a tablet OS, and their hardware partners made traditional laptops. Instead of putting a touchscreen on some of the lower-end models, the manufacturers decided that more ram (really? What home user needs more than 64k, I mean, 4gb), a variety of colours (pink? what, do girls use computers now?), bigger hard drives (you can store ALL the things in the cloud), and french-language keyboards are a better use of their money (It's not like there is some sort of law that requires language labels)...But in all seriousness, Microsoft has a point - their vision for selling an operating system did not fit with the current batch of manufactured devices. Fault? That's a different question.
Second point: Screwing the pooch means you're making puppies, or sitting in the back room, doing nothing. Probably not the most fitting euphamism for this 800lb gorilla in the room (which looks like a duck, quacks like a lame duck, and walks like a dumb duck).
Slashdot Mirror
Consider the following perks at my workplace: Onsite gym Popcorn machine Tea/coffee machine Few other (small) nice odds and ends Should I be paying taxes on what those items would cost me if I had to pay for them? I think not. I accept that those items cost my company money, which is results in a slightly smaller paycheck. Don't ding me twice by lowering my pay AND making me pay taxes for the value of these items.
I don't think you understand how non-cash taxable benefits work, and this argument isn't about requiring a blanket-tax on all the non-taxable benefits. You only pay taxes on the benefits you receive. If your company chooses not to track individual usage (or includes it in your contract), it is employer freedom and choice, not a tax issue.
Changing the tax laws because you don't like the way your employer treats you is an over-reaction. You're not forced to take a job that provides non-cash taxable benefits that you don't want.
Changing the tax laws so they apply in an even manner to everyone? That is a goal that everyone should support, and I don't understand your opposition to it.
In Canada, this is already going on.
We (as a country, and yes, I'll speak for my country here) tend to tax things that employees receive as part of doing their job. Like, income. Company car usage on personal business. Certain types of business accommodation perks.
Unless google is willing to open their cafeteria to the world, getting "free" meals as part of your job is, well, part of your job. I think most people can agree that the US tax system has a few loopholes - but why is it crazy to expect people to pay taxes on their income?
Why take a chance on hiring an outsider if your management isn't supportive?
It's a quick way to turn into an outsider yourself.
Of course innovation can be automated, but until brute-force automation surpasses human ingenuity (or computers learn to self-replicate and force natural selection), it'll always be more effective (but not timely) to have a human doing it.
The actual list can be found by searching by IE results, and selecting pass. I'd post it here, but the character encoding won't display since most are english (or even english-ish).
If we really want to deter North Korea from developing nuclear weapons, we need to preemptively deploy SC2.
For questions like this, my dad would always say something cheesy, like "Does it matter, son? There's no time like the present, and that's all that matters".
Of course, he didn't think going into the business world as an employee was a good professional choice, either.
The issue is the Chinese government (national level) is not based upon any principles of openness. They hide anything and everything that might threaten their place in power. The only time it comes out is when trying to keep it secret would hurt even more (i.e when a coverup is exposed).
Yeah, and you'd think they'd be honest enough to simply say "None of your business". That's the interesting thing - The general thought is that the chinese government does not usually go out of it's way to actively deceive citizens, it just denies.
Consider the thousands (and sometimes millions) of spending on movies, software development and drugs.
Then consider how much MORE gets spent on marketing. If big companies are willing to more money at marketing a product (good or not) because they know it'll increase sales, why would you think about doing it on the cheap?
I'm not suggesting that it can't be done inexpensively, but I am suggesting that you will get exactly what you pay for... if you're lucky. And the chances of getting lucky go up quite a bit when you start paying someone - and the more experience they have, the better it will be.
Oh, and contracts. They're nice to have, and easier to enforce when you go 3rd party.
There are so many people breaking the law on my street, how will the insert strange and/or unreasonable law be enforced? You can do anything you want if you are smart, and get away with it. That is what I have noticed anyway.
Fixed that for you. Just for the record, you have broken more laws than mitzvots. Doesn't make them any less ridiculous.
I want this thing running linux before the month is out.
First big hurdle - is there even a Linux that's built for touch input?
Well, besides Android (which has been mentioned), I'm pretty sure Ubuntu is prepping a phone implementation of a linux OS... and if that's not customized for touch interaction, I'll eat my socks.
I'm pretty sure this happens at every apple release. They run out of stock, and it's a huge success. I suppose the definition of success and understock (and all things related) is quite variable.
... expecting this sort of statement, controversy and ... free advertising (I'm such a cynic).
I can't help wonder if microsoft just judged the market acceptance of the product just right and was
Well, this article is right. And will remain right, until the next big breakthrough.
...
At which point, it'll probably be irrelevant, so
Unfortunately, so many companies have bought into the idea that hype - any hype - will lead to funding, which will lead to product development .... which will lead to the product that was being hyped.
... *sigh*
And we keep falling for it
"Outside of the norm" isn't synonymous with unattractive. In fact, it's been suggested that people with less-conventional features provoke more varied and extreme reactions, including both repulsion and extreme attraction.
Sure, your article proves your point and mine. Since it validates both claims, do you think it is worthwhile for either?
Realistically, there is a universal set for beautiful faces. Symmetry, 0.7 waist/hip ratio, accented cheekbones, eyes and diminished chin. And since we're discussing beauty, which many people believe to be subjective, you'll find just as many opinion pieces backed up by "science" as you will legitimate studies.
Appropriate styling can make purple lenses attractive, assuming a subset of supporting aesthetic features in the subject. Usually requires a dark hair color. Red hair clashes terribly with purple, for instance.
From your response, I take it that you are one of those people that just plain look bad when wearing purple?
Heh. Well, most things go well when paired with other things they match with.
Realistically though, purple glasses are going to be more-or-less unattractive, based solely on the fact that they're outside of the norm.
In a few years, I expect to see the rate of pedestrian-car accidents and people running into poles to go up by an order of magnitude. Sure, it overlays in your field of vision, so it's not like looking down at a phone, but we're just not meant to multitask with our senses the way this kind of device demands. I don't even want to think about how many idiots will drive while using such devices.
... and BOOKS, don't even get me started on those. I mean, people used to have to KNOW things, and now they can just look them up? And they're in ENGLISH? Seriously. It loses so much meaning when it's not in the traditional latin.
I assure you there are folks who would give any service of their choosing as much time as they like if they think it's worth while to wait. Can be three weeks like for you or it can be maybe a few months even. Loyalty is a personal thing, but companies that do poorly with service tend not to have many clients/customers unless they offer something unique and/or interesting. And loyalty is very fickle.
Well, yeah. This.
But I don't think it is loyalty, exactly. More of a dedication, or a trust. And it's easy to maintain that trust through good communication, status updates or accurate repair timeframes. Having a status report filled with "progress" updates that don't really mean anything isn't deceptive, because the medium IS the message - the content is irrelevant.
Sorry, not news.
Most people already know that microbes can do things that humans can't. Including live in places that humans are not able. It's not even unique to microbes - rats, cats and elephants can all do things that humans can't.
Try supporting an office full of average, run of the mill, people sometime and your perspective might change. "People" are not you or me. Even if they are experts in some other area, the majority of them will need training for any major computer related change. Most of them are afraid to change even the most simple settings because they think they might break something or might get in to trouble. And in some environments many settings are often locked down anyway.
... Who do you work with? In my experience, what you describe is not an aptitude problem, it's an attitude problem.
Autocad & PowerDraw (now PowerCADD) 2D CAD followed a decade later by SolidWorks 3D for turning concepts into executable designs that were within the realm of price and usability for individual designers.
Yes, 3d studio max had a huge impact on animation. Thank all-things-CAD.
I'd say HyperCard would be a better choice
Maybe I'm being sentimental, but hypercard had a HUGE impact on my understanding of the possibilities related to computers.
VisiCalc
I wonder if we can nominate turing as a wetware piece of a complex software program. Unless I miss my guess, he inspired VisiCalc.
My ten year old daughter was in tears because she couldn't figure out her new windows 8 laptop. Perhaps MS shouldn't have tried to do too much too soon?
Sounds like you've got a PEBKAC problem ...
I'm sorry, I read your story as a failure on behalf of microsoft to communicate instructions, and a failure on behalf of toshiba to sell you a high quality, low price laptop.
Maybe there is some way for microsoft to provide a "how to" video the first time the computer turns on, and for toshiba to subsidize the price of the laptop with easily uninstalled software.
Microsoft screwed the pooch on this one and it will probably mean the end for Ballmer. Hopefully the next OS corrects the issues and slashdot can find something else M$ to bash.
I have two relevant observations. The first, is that Microsoft may be correct - they made a tablet OS, and their hardware partners made traditional laptops. Instead of putting a touchscreen on some of the lower-end models, the manufacturers decided that more ram (really? What home user needs more than 64k, I mean, 4gb), a variety of colours (pink? what, do girls use computers now?), bigger hard drives (you can store ALL the things in the cloud), and french-language keyboards are a better use of their money (It's not like there is some sort of law that requires language labels) ...But in all seriousness, Microsoft has a point - their vision for selling an operating system did not fit with the current batch of manufactured devices. Fault? That's a different question.
Second point: Screwing the pooch means you're making puppies, or sitting in the back room, doing nothing. Probably not the most fitting euphamism for this 800lb gorilla in the room (which looks like a duck, quacks like a lame duck, and walks like a dumb duck).