I'll admit that I'm slowing down to save gas, but I always do it in the outside lane. I've got a 2008 Scion Xd that's rated for 27/33 (automatic). By (a) starting off slower and (b) keeping it between 55-60 on the interstate, I can average 42-43 MPG for the tank (it resets itself every time you fill up). When starting off, I remember something I read about pretending your foot is on an egg on top of the gas/break petal. Don't push down too hard too fast and if you see a red light ahead, take your foot off the gas.
I'll go 55 on the interstate and have everyone speeding by, but I don't mind. Most of the stretch I'm on is rated 65/55 so the trucks are supposed to be going 55 anyway (which they don't). By the time it gets to the 70 MPH zone, it's starting up a big steep hill so the trucks are slowing down to 45 by the time they reach the top anyway due to gravity. Down the other side and I'm ready to exit.
I'm also lucky... the town I'm in had a new gas station come in and they're having price wars. It's down to 2.58 already for regular:)
Am I the only one that never liked LaTeX? I really tried, but plain TeX worked a lot better for me. I did my thesis in plain TeX and wrote the math tests I used to give in it as well. My solution was to develop a set of basic macros to import each time. I could never get used to how LaTeX tried to do everything for you. I much prefer a blank slate to build upon rather than someone else's vision. As I remember, even importing pictures (eps/ps format) was simple. Maybe plain TeX is worth taking a look at. You don't need to learn a whole bunch of complicated commands because there aren't any:). And it's a safe bet that once you've learned it, there won't be too many changes made in future releases. There's this four volume book set (I don't remember the author, but they were green) that I learned from. It showed you everything you'd want to know.
"spend some of your evening hours developing a business plan, potential clientele, educating yourself."
I'm in the same sort of boat. After working for a nice company for about 10 years and liking what I do, they've started constantly re-organizing and wanting to mess with what I do. I still like what I do, just not how I've been treated over the last couple of years. I decided to start developing at night in a software we don't use here (Java) to develop stuff that I think will be of help to others. I think a lot of times, its not that someone doesn't enjoy their work, it's that they don't feel like what they do matters any more or that they don't feel like they're helping others like they once did. I figured that I'm getting paid very well (too well to walk away) so I'll keep working here, but put my pasions in to what I'm interested in during my own time. If it builds up so I can quit one day, then so be it. Otherwise I've still got a good paying job w/ benefits.
Of course I do get frustrated some times when I have a good idea at job #1 that I'd like to work on at job #2 (the fun one), but you have to learn to tuck it away for later and go on with what you're doing;)// www.openoak.com
"Will I go out of my way to do it so that others can do their job better?" Actually that's what I was originally hired to do. I work in a large department in a large company and was hired as "systems support". It went pretty well for a time, until I started developing applications that people could actually use (without taking months to do it with two programmers and a project manager). I even tried working with the developers, but I could tell that some were ok, but others really didn't want me over there. The whole thing eventually blew up in a conference room with the department heads arguing over who would "control" my work. My boss got mad and said that I was getting out of the developing business and they could have it. Of course, when they wanted something, you know who they came to.
I've gotten to the point that I don't want to develop software at work any more. I've got a more than full time job just managing the operations side. I decided to take my development "frustrations" out at home on a platform they don't use here (Java) and do something to benefit myself and other companies.
It can be nice having the rogue superusers, but you have to be careful in how you treat them--don't rely on them for critical support unless it's their defined job and don't let your IT support badmouth them just because they're "not one of them".
Just my.02 from someone who's lived it.
openoak.com
The other good thing they provide is commercial support for PostgreSQL. I've been tinkering with some software of my own to publish. I've decided to stick with postgres for the fact that you can distribute it with for-profit software without reservation, but I don't want to get into the database configuration business. This way I can say "I'm giving you PostgreSQL and EnterpriseDB to install. If you're a small business then postgres should work fine. If you think this is mission critical enough, then get the support from EnterpriseDB". This way I can concentrate on the application and not field calls about how to do detail configuration.
I just looked at their web site and it looks like they're changing their theme from "Oracle compatable for less" to "Postgres Plus" and it looks like they've bringing Mac compatability back:) I like software that is available everywhere. http://www.openoak.com/
I just got the 65" Mitsubishi DLP. I considered DLP vs LCD projection (I didn't want a plasma heat source and with the big room {>30' long} I wanted to go big). It's got the six color-wheel so it does a great job producing all sorts of colors. The way DLP works was also a plus for me compared to LCD--LCD has defined pixels whereas DLP has "soft" pixels which mush into the other ones so you really don't see them. One other plus compared to plasma is that if the bulb goes out, just replace it. When the plasma screen goes out, you have to replace the whole TV. I also went with Sears since they offered a) a nifty price match which I used and b) a five year in-home warranty that includes yearly check-ups.
It does a pretty good job at expanding the non-HDTV DirecTV signal to 1080p (just dont' try to stretch it). You can tell an older show from a newer one by the way it appears (the newer ones are better--reruns from the 80's can have a slight distortion). It takes the DVD signal and produces a nice crisp picture (stretching widescreen DVDs to fill up the picture is fine). I'm wanting to start buying HD DVD's, but I guess Blu-Ray vs HDDVD is for another discussion.
W stated that terrorists don't like the freedoms that the US enjoys... Is the government policy to rid us of those freedoms so that the terrorists won't have a reaon to attack? Maybe this is how we're winning the war on terrorism.:(
I've been using Netbeans to develop Java Swing applications on my Mac Mini and I really like it. Something about hand-coding all of those JLables, JTextFileds and such that just gets to me...
I got mine at TransIntl.
I checked several forums and they're the ones that seemed to have the best reputation. I got a 1 GB DDR PC2700 DIMM Memory Module for $99. It showed up pretty quickly too. There's a video on how to install it here under "Memory Installation". Just get a really flat putty knife and take your time:)
I bought the current $599 version a few months ago. The bluetooth addition would have been nice (I had to buy a cheap USB-bluetooth to have a wireless keyboard/mouse), but I'm one of the "not-most-people" in a rural area with a modem being the only way to connect:( I did pop in a 1GB memory stick in--it really wasn't that bad to install. I just wish I could get them to switch me over at work... once you've gotten used to using the command key, it's hard to go back:)
It's also used as a distraction in order to solve problems. I don't know how many others work like this, but when I've got a complicated project to do (they keep coming my way for some reason), I can come up with a better solution by not directly thinking about it, but rather letting it mull around in the back of my mind for a while. I'll actually go and check a some sites for a distraction while putting together a solution. Pretty much I build the solutions by not thinking about them. Once built, I can do the actual work with little effort or thought.
If it were compromised whoever has the password can see my transactions, that's it.
That's the problem... My account was broken into and they saw copies of my canceled checks. They took the routing/account number off of them and started making their own transactions in my account. Bank of America basically told me that it was: (a) my fault for giving out my personal information, which I hadn't or (b) spyware on my machine, which I politely told them was a Mac. They didn't like it when I asked them "did't some of your employees sell your account holder's information?" After the way I was treated, I closed my accounts and went to a credit union. One other note of interest is that they also told me that "Total Protection" only applies to credit cards, that I'm basically on my own when it comes to ACH debits to my checking account.
Organized crime bosses who refuse to let companies set up shop without bribes?
But they'll give you a better exchange rate US Dollars-->Hryvnia than the banks...
How much would you like to pay for your water?
I think they're making a new market for themselves... Think about it: at some point, the oil wells will run dry and they'd be out of business. Why not polute everything now so that 50 years from now they can start selling clean water and air. Just convert the oil refineries to water/air refineries.
But don't forget... They only used people with Phone Numbers... Look at a whole group of people without home phones they missed all together.
Personally, I'm beyond the reaches of cable and I don't look for BellSouth to upgrade anytime either:(
Here in Tennessee, we've got a theatre that shows two first-run films for $1.00 on weeknights and $3.00 on weekends (I'm probably going to see Kill Bill Vol 2 tonight for $1.00). You just have to put up with the locals (rednecks and food-stamp people or some combination thereof).
As I recall from way back when, Caldera was originally based off of Red Hat... Maybe they can just form "United Linux" which looks just like Red Hat under the hood...
A long while ago, in a weak moment, I was talked into using passport to use MSN messanger at work (peer pressure from our M$-based IT shop). I don't use it anymore now (actually I only used messanger for about a week before tossing it). Does anyone know of a way of un-signing up for passport? I've checked all around the passport site and cannot find a way of getting out and I don't want to be counted in their statistics.
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I'll admit that I'm slowing down to save gas, but I always do it in the outside lane. I've got a 2008 Scion Xd that's rated for 27/33 (automatic). By (a) starting off slower and (b) keeping it between 55-60 on the interstate, I can average 42-43 MPG for the tank (it resets itself every time you fill up). When starting off, I remember something I read about pretending your foot is on an egg on top of the gas/break petal. Don't push down too hard too fast and if you see a red light ahead, take your foot off the gas. :)
I'll go 55 on the interstate and have everyone speeding by, but I don't mind. Most of the stretch I'm on is rated 65/55 so the trucks are supposed to be going 55 anyway (which they don't). By the time it gets to the 70 MPH zone, it's starting up a big steep hill so the trucks are slowing down to 45 by the time they reach the top anyway due to gravity. Down the other side and I'm ready to exit.
I'm also lucky... the town I'm in had a new gas station come in and they're having price wars. It's down to 2.58 already for regular
Am I the only one that never liked LaTeX? I really tried, but plain TeX worked a lot better for me. I did my thesis in plain TeX and wrote the math tests I used to give in it as well. My solution was to develop a set of basic macros to import each time. I could never get used to how LaTeX tried to do everything for you. I much prefer a blank slate to build upon rather than someone else's vision. As I remember, even importing pictures (eps/ps format) was simple. Maybe plain TeX is worth taking a look at. You don't need to learn a whole bunch of complicated commands because there aren't any :). And it's a safe bet that once you've learned it, there won't be too many changes made in future releases. There's this four volume book set (I don't remember the author, but they were green) that I learned from. It showed you everything you'd want to know.
"spend some of your evening hours developing a business plan, potential clientele, educating yourself." ;) // www.openoak.com
I'm in the same sort of boat. After working for a nice company for about 10 years and liking what I do, they've started constantly re-organizing and wanting to mess with what I do. I still like what I do, just not how I've been treated over the last couple of years. I decided to start developing at night in a software we don't use here (Java) to develop stuff that I think will be of help to others. I think a lot of times, its not that someone doesn't enjoy their work, it's that they don't feel like what they do matters any more or that they don't feel like they're helping others like they once did. I figured that I'm getting paid very well (too well to walk away) so I'll keep working here, but put my pasions in to what I'm interested in during my own time. If it builds up so I can quit one day, then so be it. Otherwise I've still got a good paying job w/ benefits.
Of course I do get frustrated some times when I have a good idea at job #1 that I'd like to work on at job #2 (the fun one), but you have to learn to tuck it away for later and go on with what you're doing
"Will I go out of my way to do it so that others can do their job better?" Actually that's what I was originally hired to do. I work in a large department in a large company and was hired as "systems support". It went pretty well for a time, until I started developing applications that people could actually use (without taking months to do it with two programmers and a project manager). I even tried working with the developers, but I could tell that some were ok, but others really didn't want me over there. The whole thing eventually blew up in a conference room with the department heads arguing over who would "control" my work. My boss got mad and said that I was getting out of the developing business and they could have it. Of course, when they wanted something, you know who they came to. .02 from someone who's lived it.
I've gotten to the point that I don't want to develop software at work any more. I've got a more than full time job just managing the operations side. I decided to take my development "frustrations" out at home on a platform they don't use here (Java) and do something to benefit myself and other companies.
It can be nice having the rogue superusers, but you have to be careful in how you treat them--don't rely on them for critical support unless it's their defined job and don't let your IT support badmouth them just because they're "not one of them".
Just my
openoak.com
The other good thing they provide is commercial support for PostgreSQL. I've been tinkering with some software of my own to publish. I've decided to stick with postgres for the fact that you can distribute it with for-profit software without reservation, but I don't want to get into the database configuration business. This way I can say "I'm giving you PostgreSQL and EnterpriseDB to install. If you're a small business then postgres should work fine. If you think this is mission critical enough, then get the support from EnterpriseDB". This way I can concentrate on the application and not field calls about how to do detail configuration.
I just looked at their web site and it looks like they're changing their theme from "Oracle compatable for less" to "Postgres Plus" and it looks like they've bringing Mac compatability back :) I like software that is available everywhere.
http://www.openoak.com/
I think it actually has six colors (magenta, red, yellow, green, cyan, and blue).
I just got the 65" Mitsubishi DLP. I considered DLP vs LCD projection (I didn't want a plasma heat source and with the big room {>30' long} I wanted to go big). It's got the six color-wheel so it does a great job producing all sorts of colors. The way DLP works was also a plus for me compared to LCD--LCD has defined pixels whereas DLP has "soft" pixels which mush into the other ones so you really don't see them. One other plus compared to plasma is that if the bulb goes out, just replace it. When the plasma screen goes out, you have to replace the whole TV. I also went with Sears since they offered a) a nifty price match which I used and b) a five year in-home warranty that includes yearly check-ups.
It does a pretty good job at expanding the non-HDTV DirecTV signal to 1080p (just dont' try to stretch it). You can tell an older show from a newer one by the way it appears (the newer ones are better--reruns from the 80's can have a slight distortion). It takes the DVD signal and produces a nice crisp picture (stretching widescreen DVDs to fill up the picture is fine). I'm wanting to start buying HD DVD's, but I guess Blu-Ray vs HDDVD is for another discussion.
W stated that terrorists don't like the freedoms that the US enjoys... Is the government policy to rid us of those freedoms so that the terrorists won't have a reaon to attack? Maybe this is how we're winning the war on terrorism. :(
Where have I saw this concept before... Oh yeah--it was in Mars Attacks!
I've been using Netbeans to develop Java Swing applications on my Mac Mini and I really like it. Something about hand-coding all of those JLables, JTextFileds and such that just gets to me...
Maybe you could fall under an exemption for a pre-existing relationship (something like a "My baby's Daddy" clause)
I got mine at TransIntl. I checked several forums and they're the ones that seemed to have the best reputation. I got a 1 GB DDR PC2700 DIMM Memory Module for $99. It showed up pretty quickly too. There's a video on how to install it here under "Memory Installation". Just get a really flat putty knife and take your time :)
I bought the current $599 version a few months ago. The bluetooth addition would have been nice (I had to buy a cheap USB-bluetooth to have a wireless keyboard/mouse), but I'm one of the "not-most-people" in a rural area with a modem being the only way to connect :( I did pop in a 1GB memory stick in--it really wasn't that bad to install. I just wish I could get them to switch me over at work... once you've gotten used to using the command key, it's hard to go back :)
It's also used as a distraction in order to solve problems. I don't know how many others work like this, but when I've got a complicated project to do (they keep coming my way for some reason), I can come up with a better solution by not directly thinking about it, but rather letting it mull around in the back of my mind for a while. I'll actually go and check a some sites for a distraction while putting together a solution. Pretty much I build the solutions by not thinking about them. Once built, I can do the actual work with little effort or thought.
If it were compromised whoever has the password can see my transactions, that's it.
That's the problem... My account was broken into and they saw copies of my canceled checks. They took the routing/account number off of them and started making their own transactions in my account. Bank of America basically told me that it was: (a) my fault for giving out my personal information, which I hadn't or (b) spyware on my machine, which I politely told them was a Mac. They didn't like it when I asked them "did't some of your employees sell your account holder's information?" After the way I was treated, I closed my accounts and went to a credit union. One other note of interest is that they also told me that "Total Protection" only applies to credit cards, that I'm basically on my own when it comes to ACH debits to my checking account.
Or do what I did... Download Acrobat Reader 4.0
Organized crime bosses who refuse to let companies set up shop without bribes?
But they'll give you a better exchange rate US Dollars-->Hryvnia than the banks...
How much would you like to pay for your water? I think they're making a new market for themselves... Think about it: at some point, the oil wells will run dry and they'd be out of business. Why not polute everything now so that 50 years from now they can start selling clean water and air. Just convert the oil refineries to water/air refineries.
But don't forget... They only used people with Phone Numbers... Look at a whole group of people without home phones they missed all together. Personally, I'm beyond the reaches of cable and I don't look for BellSouth to upgrade anytime either :(
Here in Tennessee, we've got a theatre that shows two first-run films for $1.00 on weeknights and $3.00 on weekends (I'm probably going to see Kill Bill Vol 2 tonight for $1.00). You just have to put up with the locals (rednecks and food-stamp people or some combination thereof).
It merely states that we are protecting 5 year olds from profanity. :)
Just don't "protect" them from the beer commericals and condom ads
As I recall from way back when, Caldera was originally based off of Red Hat... Maybe they can just form "United Linux" which looks just like Red Hat under the hood...
Stuck in a M$ shop... Need an exit
A long while ago, in a weak moment, I was talked into using passport to use MSN messanger at work (peer pressure from our M$-based IT shop). I don't use it anymore now (actually I only used messanger for about a week before tossing it). Does anyone know of a way of un-signing up for passport? I've checked all around the passport site and cannot find a way of getting out and I don't want to be counted in their statistics.