... it turns out that businesses are only concerned about making money! They are only constrained by those laws, morals, or ethics that have a negative impact on profits! Shocking!
The average CEO in America makes $13.8 million per year (https://www.glassdoor.com/research/ceo-pay-ratio/), so when we start replacing CEOs with AIs, we'll save a fortune!!
There was a man flying in a balloon. It was a beautiful day, but the wind came up and blew the balloon off course, and soon the man was hopelessly lost. Eventually, he let some of the air out of the balloon, and drifted down until he was floating low over a field, where he saw another man walking his dog.
The man in the balloon called to the man in the field and said, "Hello! Can you tell me where I am?"
The man in the field said, "You're in a balloon, floating about 40 feet above a field."
"You must be a developer," said the man in the balloon.
"Yes, I am. How did you know?" said the man in the field.
"Because what you've told me is technically accurate, but it's of no use whatsoever," said the man in the balloon.
"You must be a manager," said the main in the field.
"Yes, I am. How did you know?" said the man in the balloon.
"Because you don't know where you are, you don't know how you got here, and you don't know how to get out of the situation you're in, but somehow it's my fault," said the man in the field.
Two things never to forget:
1. CYA: Cover Your A$$ - always make sure that you have documentation to back up what you say happened in the course of a given project. If it isn't documented, it didn't happen. Always get written acknowledgement from all parties involved in any kind of agreement (email is fine).
2. Companies are in business to make a profit. Everything a company does is for this purpose. Even when companies treat employees well, it's only to increase profits. The executives who run the show would lay you off tomorrow if they thought they could do so and improve their bottom line, and they'd lose not a wink of sleep.
I will definitely get this for my kids, especially since we are Dr. Who fans. I have great memories of playing Robot Odyssey, which had logic gates that you could "solder" together. Later on, I played RoboSport by Maxis, which wasn't as sophisticated but was still fun. Any others that people out there remember?
No, a degree in English literature will not help you find a job
I got my English major in 1988. I've been employed continuously since then, with the exception of a few months during the bursting of the tech bubble. I did not obtain a second degree (however, I have accumulated a fair amount of work experience over the last 26 years).
The title of this post could be interpreted as sarcastic, but it is totally possible to improve your people skills, especially if you think that's where your problem is. Early on, I considered myself a total socially awkward introvert, but turned that around by reading books like this and working on my social skills. Sounds corny, but it works. Classic advice, good book:
http://www.dalecarnegie.com/da...
This is a question of management not hiring enough people to do things right. What happens if the one guy who knows everything goes on vacation? If he never went on vacation, no one would say boo because, in our warped culture, having a desire to do anything but work around the clock is somehow abnormal.
Depending on your situation, college may be the last time in your life when it is practical to spend most of your time doing whatever you want, studying whatever you want, without the pressure of having to earn a living and support any dependents (if you are lucky).
Don't blow it.
Don't do what you should do; do what you want to do. If you have the inclination, branch out and explore a little bit. Stretch a little: do something that's outside the realm of what you think you like.
I was in the same spot a few years ago: I wanted to get into astronomy, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I saved my pennies for a while, and bought an Orion XT 6 Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount for about $300. It includes the telescope, a finderscope, and two plossl eyepieces (25mm and 9mm).
I've been very happy with the purchase.
After a while, I also got a Barlow lens (doubles the magnification of your eyepiece), and a small plastic case for storing/carrying my lenses safely.
For the first year and a half I had the scope, I took it outside and looked at the starts once per month (making sure I always had a nice clear night). After that, my wife gave birth to twins, so my viewing stopped for a few years until they slept through the night. Now that the kids are older, I'm back to my monthly look at the sky. Some may criticize that monthly is not often enough to get the value out of my investment, but it works very well for me. I've learned quite a bit about stars, planets, and other objects. Also, I'm going at such a slow pace that I don't foresee a time when I'll "grow out of" my telescope.
I second the other folks who have recommended Celestia; it's a great piece of software.
Also, check out Amazon for a book called "Turn Left At Orion," by Guy Consolmagno, Dan M. Davis, Karen Kotash Sepp, and Anne Drogin. This is a great guide to finding objects in the night sky at all times of the year. The authors describe objects that are likely to look good when viewed through binoculars or a small-aperture telescope.
Another resource that I like is to pick up the occasional Sky & Telescope or Astronomy magazine, mainly for their monthly star charts and guides to the heavens.
I've seen a few comments from employers in this thread who bemoan the lack of experienced people in the job market.
Whatever happened to hiring someone who was inexperienced, but still sharp, and developing that person? This is how I got my start in 1990: someone who had seen my work took a chance that I'd do a good job supporting the company's LAN, even though I lacked experience, and hired me. With the exception of a few months during the bust years of 2001 and 2002, I've been working in the field ever since (in a variety of different positions, most recently QA testing).
One thing I noticed around the turn of the century was that there weren't any 20-somethings at work anymore. At age 34, I was far and away the youngest person at work. Where will the next generation of experienced old hands come from if not from within? At some point, all the experienced people will be too old to work any more, and then what will we do? The worst part of outsourcing is that we're outsourcing not just today's jobs, but the future of our talent pool.
((Let me cynically answer my first question ("Whatever happened to hiring..."): regular corporate layoffs. To most managers, we grunts are nothing more than numbers in the "Expenses" column of a spreadsheet.))
Why not use this money to fund existing science programs and basic research? We seem to do less and less of that as time goes on. If students know they can find decent pay and interesting work in science, more will choose it as a career.
Tech writers too? Does this mean that, the next time I read a software manual, I'll have to endure an anti-GPLv3 diatribe in between descriptions of items in the Edit>Preferences menu?
What scares me is not that people believe this stuff, but that people who believe this stuff are getting into public office and passing laws that affect me. I've read more than one message in this thread decrying other posters for speaking out against the Creationist museum. I ask you to please consider your obligation as a US citizen (if you are a US citizen) to participate in the democratic process.
If our elected officials change our government such that it adopts policies in line with Creationist views, and you disagree with those views, it is your right -- your obligation -- to express your contrary opinion in spoken and written form, as well as in the voting booth. The mere existence of a Creationist museum scares me because it means that there are enough voters to push our government in what I feel is a bad direction. The Creationists have a right to have the museum and express their views. But I have a right, and a duty, to express my views that they are mistaken, to argue against their beliefs.
Here's a thought experiment to illustrate my point: Imagine that all medical research and treatment, everywhere in the US from now on, had to adhere to strict supervision by a board of politicians and clergy with fundamentalist views. Now wait 100 years. What do you think the state of US medical technology would be in such a case?
>I didn't win. They even e-mailed me back to tell me it was a silly waste of technology.
This is a real shame; I think it would be a great product (obviously). Playing devil's advocate for a moment, however, there probably isn't a large enough market to justify the expense of producing such a device. Which is why a general-purpose table sounds like such a good idea to me:-).
Point taken, but how many videogames, circa-1980, could automate all the tasks required to run an AD&D campaign (for example, Against the Giants) for five players?
Slashdot Mirror
... it turns out that businesses are only concerned about making money! They are only constrained by those laws, morals, or ethics that have a negative impact on profits! Shocking!
The average CEO in America makes $13.8 million per year (https://www.glassdoor.com/research/ceo-pay-ratio/), so when we start replacing CEOs with AIs, we'll save a fortune!!
The man in the balloon called to the man in the field and said, "Hello! Can you tell me where I am?"
The man in the field said, "You're in a balloon, floating about 40 feet above a field."
"You must be a developer," said the man in the balloon.
"Yes, I am. How did you know?" said the man in the field.
"Because what you've told me is technically accurate, but it's of no use whatsoever," said the man in the balloon.
"You must be a manager," said the main in the field.
"Yes, I am. How did you know?" said the man in the balloon.
"Because you don't know where you are, you don't know how you got here, and you don't know how to get out of the situation you're in, but somehow it's my fault," said the man in the field.
Two things never to forget:
1. CYA: Cover Your A$$ - always make sure that you have documentation to back up what you say happened in the course of a given project. If it isn't documented, it didn't happen. Always get written acknowledgement from all parties involved in any kind of agreement (email is fine).
2. Companies are in business to make a profit. Everything a company does is for this purpose. Even when companies treat employees well, it's only to increase profits. The executives who run the show would lay you off tomorrow if they thought they could do so and improve their bottom line, and they'd lose not a wink of sleep.
How soon they forget Microsoft Bob ...
OK, I *would* definitely get this for my kids, except that I'm in the US and can't get it. Ah well ...
I will definitely get this for my kids, especially since we are Dr. Who fans. I have great memories of playing Robot Odyssey, which had logic gates that you could "solder" together. Later on, I played RoboSport by Maxis, which wasn't as sophisticated but was still fun. Any others that people out there remember?
No, a degree in English literature will not help you find a job
I got my English major in 1988. I've been employed continuously since then, with the exception of a few months during the bursting of the tech bubble. I did not obtain a second degree (however, I have accumulated a fair amount of work experience over the last 26 years).
The title of this post could be interpreted as sarcastic, but it is totally possible to improve your people skills, especially if you think that's where your problem is. Early on, I considered myself a total socially awkward introvert, but turned that around by reading books like this and working on my social skills. Sounds corny, but it works. Classic advice, good book: http://www.dalecarnegie.com/da...
The problem is that a new generation of hotshots will just come along to replace the ones that have grown up and want sane working conditions.
The next contest will be to see who can write an automated paper generator that fools the plagiarism detector.
> If prisons are full of white-collar criminals, then who's running the country?
The white-collar criminals who are able to exonerate themselves and their friends?
AMEN! If I had mod points, I would give them all to you.
The white text on green background is very difficult to read. Please consider using the "boring" old black text on white background.
This is a question of management not hiring enough people to do things right. What happens if the one guy who knows everything goes on vacation? If he never went on vacation, no one would say boo because, in our warped culture, having a desire to do anything but work around the clock is somehow abnormal.
Depending on your situation, college may be the last time in your life when it is practical to spend most of your time doing whatever you want, studying whatever you want, without the pressure of having to earn a living and support any dependents (if you are lucky).
Don't blow it.
Don't do what you should do; do what you want to do. If you have the inclination, branch out and explore a little bit. Stretch a little: do something that's outside the realm of what you think you like.
I was in the same spot a few years ago: I wanted to get into astronomy, but I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I saved my pennies for a while, and bought an Orion XT 6 Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount for about $300. It includes the telescope, a finderscope, and two plossl eyepieces (25mm and 9mm).
I've been very happy with the purchase.
After a while, I also got a Barlow lens (doubles the magnification of your eyepiece), and a small plastic case for storing/carrying my lenses safely.
For the first year and a half I had the scope, I took it outside and looked at the starts once per month (making sure I always had a nice clear night). After that, my wife gave birth to twins, so my viewing stopped for a few years until they slept through the night. Now that the kids are older, I'm back to my monthly look at the sky. Some may criticize that monthly is not often enough to get the value out of my investment, but it works very well for me. I've learned quite a bit about stars, planets, and other objects. Also, I'm going at such a slow pace that I don't foresee a time when I'll "grow out of" my telescope.
I second the other folks who have recommended Celestia; it's a great piece of software.
Also, check out Amazon for a book called "Turn Left At Orion," by Guy Consolmagno, Dan M. Davis, Karen Kotash Sepp, and Anne Drogin. This is a great guide to finding objects in the night sky at all times of the year. The authors describe objects that are likely to look good when viewed through binoculars or a small-aperture telescope.
Another resource that I like is to pick up the occasional Sky & Telescope or Astronomy magazine, mainly for their monthly star charts and guides to the heavens.
Have fun!
I've seen a few comments from employers in this thread who bemoan the lack of experienced people in the job market.
..."): regular corporate layoffs. To most managers, we grunts are nothing more than numbers in the "Expenses" column of a spreadsheet.))
Whatever happened to hiring someone who was inexperienced, but still sharp, and developing that person? This is how I got my start in 1990: someone who had seen my work took a chance that I'd do a good job supporting the company's LAN, even though I lacked experience, and hired me. With the exception of a few months during the bust years of 2001 and 2002, I've been working in the field ever since (in a variety of different positions, most recently QA testing).
One thing I noticed around the turn of the century was that there weren't any 20-somethings at work anymore. At age 34, I was far and away the youngest person at work. Where will the next generation of experienced old hands come from if not from within? At some point, all the experienced people will be too old to work any more, and then what will we do? The worst part of outsourcing is that we're outsourcing not just today's jobs, but the future of our talent pool.
((Let me cynically answer my first question ("Whatever happened to hiring
Why not use this money to fund existing science programs and basic research? We seem to do less and less of that as time goes on. If students know they can find decent pay and interesting work in science, more will choose it as a career.
Tech writers too? Does this mean that, the next time I read a software manual, I'll have to endure an anti-GPLv3 diatribe in between descriptions of items in the Edit>Preferences menu?
Thanks for clarifying. I just wanted to make sure I understood.
So the best alternative explanation for the scale problem is an act of Divine creation?
What scares me is not that people believe this stuff, but that people who believe this stuff are getting into public office and passing laws that affect me. I've read more than one message in this thread decrying other posters for speaking out against the Creationist museum. I ask you to please consider your obligation as a US citizen (if you are a US citizen) to participate in the democratic process.
If our elected officials change our government such that it adopts policies in line with Creationist views, and you disagree with those views, it is your right -- your obligation -- to express your contrary opinion in spoken and written form, as well as in the voting booth. The mere existence of a Creationist museum scares me because it means that there are enough voters to push our government in what I feel is a bad direction. The Creationists have a right to have the museum and express their views. But I have a right, and a duty, to express my views that they are mistaken, to argue against their beliefs.
Here's a thought experiment to illustrate my point: Imagine that all medical research and treatment, everywhere in the US from now on, had to adhere to strict supervision by a board of politicians and clergy with fundamentalist views. Now wait 100 years. What do you think the state of US medical technology would be in such a case?
>I didn't win. They even e-mailed me back to tell me it was a silly waste of technology.
:-).
This is a real shame; I think it would be a great product (obviously). Playing devil's advocate for a moment, however, there probably isn't a large enough market to justify the expense of producing such a device. Which is why a general-purpose table sounds like such a good idea to me
Point taken, but how many videogames, circa-1980, could automate all the tasks required to run an AD&D campaign (for example, Against the Giants) for five players?