How about a little compassion? Yes, some of the things kids in there were simply stupid - but you know what, I'm betting you were pretty much an idiot and far from level-headed at 13 or so too - like most of us were. I know I sure as hell didn't think all that clearly at that age.
As adults I think we tend to get so jaded and so quick to judge. Kids at that age aren't as thick skinned as adults, teasing, name calling, gossiping is very painful at adolescene. Go ahead and saw "awwwww..." all you want, I'd rather show a little kindness that turn the kid in a angry, repressed, beaten down sociopath.
"she DESERVES for it to be spread around the school and to be humiliated for it.... stupid kids doing stupid things and then running to mommy and getting sympathetic attention when it comes time to pay for their stupid actions"
I'm REALLY glad you weren't my parent, and I hope you aren't anyone's parent. I made some mistakes as a kid - but you know what my parents did - made damn sure I learned from it while ALSO being supportive and understanding, like a good parent should; not berating me and ranting b/c they were pissed off, unsympathetic, cynical adults.
I played CoH as well (recently cancelled), what I liked was that the storefronts and signs are fictitious, and NOT real. I prefer fake billboards, because while I expect a cityscape to have them, I don't need companies pandering their crap to me while I play a game for entertainment
Heck - you already paid $40-50 for the game, then $12-15 a month fee to play, and you'd tolerate the ads? You are a marketer's dream:)
I also only want them to track my avatars movements for one purpose only, to stabilize, improve and maintain the game, period. Not to figure how to cram more ads in my face.
Even IF they dropped the montly fee COMPLETELY I would be unhappy with the ads. I play games to escape the world, not see yet another freakin coke machine, GAP ad, or Shell gas station sign.
I will avoid companies and games that start doing this, no way in h*ll am I going to let one of my few pleasures and escapes be ruined by those annoying marketing companies, it's bad enough as it is now.
Initially I thought it looked fun, tried it for a total of maybe 8-10 hours, then shelved it and never regained interest.
To me, worrying about virtual dishes piling up, a temper tantrum throwing daughter, showering, finances, etc was just too much like real life (less the daughter), I just didn't 'get it.'
Since we have to deal with that stuff in real life, why add to the stress via virtual one was my thought. Maybe b/c if you get good at the game, you feel like you have the control you rarely get in real life? Who knows.
I'm more escapist in my gaming, I want to do impossible things or be someone I could never actually be in real life. Ah well, to each their own.
Uh huh - not insulting anyone, but most jesus freaks I know are utter idiots for believing in something that doesn't exist, basing their lives on something that can't be tested or proven, selectively ignoring the laws of science and physics when it suits them (like conservation of energy and matter, carbon dating - ad nasuem), being zombie-like dogmatists, and wasting their lives obsessing over the self-delusion that you are anything but worm food when you die. But you know... I don't mean to offend
Mod this as troll or funny, I don't care - but when someone makes sweeping, idiotic stereotypes against any group - they shall be mocked.
No go away, or shall I be forced to taunt you a second time...
I'm not saying the media is conservative, just that there is plenty of media that's heavily right as well as heavily left. Imo, neither are doing us a service, I think media in general is much more 'newsertainment' than it is news, insteading of reporting the news - they now interpret it, comment on it, and add little value.
Now as far as "As far as Gitmo, they werent US citizens. US citizens dont get constitutional protections." I really hate that arguement. If we are trying to 'export' democracy, is it not fair to reason that setting an example or higher standard would be better? Citizenship status is irrelevant, if 'just cause', 'innocent until proven guilty', 'due process' are staples of US democracy, should it not then be applied to others and an example of how it should be done?
I think a lot of Iraqis (civilians, ordinary people) are mad at the US b/c they were excited by the promise democracy and then see things like Gitmo or the prison abuse cases and wonder - THIS is US democracy?
Yes, we aren't beheading people, but is that the low standard you want to measure the US against? How about raising the bar, so people actually look up to the US system of law and justice instead of focusing on the recent hypocrisy we've all seen?
Fox News balanced ?!?! OMFG you can't be serious, O'Reilly - yeah telling guests to repeatedly 'shut up' when they disagree with you, that's balanced journalism, uh huh...
If the media was a liberal as you claim, they'd have taken Bush, Rice, Rumsfield to task on their blatant lies and misdirections regarding Iraq, instead of tossing them softball questions so they keep getting invited to WH press events.
Go read "Iraq on the Record: The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq" by Rep. H Waxman (I think it's still at www.reform.house.gov/min) and you can have documented evidence of the Bush admin's bs - the 'liberal' media should've had a hayday with that, but they didn't b/c they're not NEARLY as liberal as you claim.
"At least W puts terrorists in cages" Oh really, yeah illegally holding people for 2+ years in Guantanamo with no lawyers, charges, trials - guilty until proven innocent. That's the kind of government and leadership I want... great...
"most liberal arts majors are terrible at the sort of ordered thought that becoming an good programmer requires"
I'm sorry, but that is an utter and complete pile of bullsh*t. I got my BS in philosophy-psychology-sociology (was a multi-disciplinary major) from a respected liberal arts college.
I've been a very successful programmer for about 9 years now, and have actually had hiring managers tell me my degree was in their mind an asset. Why? Because contrary to what people like you probably think about disciplines like philosophy, it's ALL about 'ordered thought' - not that fluffy navel contemplation crap people read in self-help sections.
People I've worked for see the value in a good liberal arts education, I can think analytically, critically, and creatively - ALL of which are valuable to coding. Being able to approach a problem from different angles is very valuable.
So go read some Kant, Heidegger or Nietzche - not from some cutsey 'quotes' website, but go read (and REALLY understand) Being & Time or The Critique of Pure Reason and then talk to me. If you can get your narrow mind around that, then you'll see how comparatively easy the logic of programming is.
The one thing you may or may not have thought about is that many people (myself included) put a LOT of time into creating modules. To want their work to have a little longevity is not an unreasonable wish.
NWN's Aurora is a nice tool, but with a decent learning curve, it can take considerable time to create a solid module. And there are some really nice mods out there, that would look great with a new engine
So it would be cool if the tool/scripting was backward compatible so that existing modules would still function, or at least would with minimal effort.
I always put into some smart a*s name and info, as do pretty much all my friends (80% of whom are IT types). So any demographic information is really crap. I tell my parents, friends, etc to do the same.
'Readership' I've probably created 4-5 accounts on the same site b/c I forgot the stoopid uid/pwd and just create another one if I really want to read something. I think any numbers about subscribers/readers are totally off.
People are busy and cautious. It puts people off - they don't want to give up any information (asssuming they are honest on the forms), or they don't want to be bothered signing up for a site that they don't even know they're interested in. Plus how many freakin uid/pwd combos do I really want to keep track of? Not many.
I think for posting to bulletin boards etc it makes more sense, so a-holes, harassers, etc can be handled. But when it's non-interactive like just reading an article, I don't see the point (as a user, I understand why the biz does)
If a site forces a sign-up, unless I REALLY need/want to read something, I'm outta there. Otherwise they never learn anything useful about me, other than maybe some generic machine location info.
It doesn't mean his points aren't valid. Just because someone is 'part of the system' doesn't mean they can't say something legit or insightful on an issue. To some degree because he has been in that world, he has more insight into it than most of us I imagine.
He's actually criticizing himself to some degree too - I have to give him some credit there
His remarks are applicable to lots of media, radio stations (something like 3 companies run 90% of the FM stations), the book publishing industry (small presses are going extinct, and about 4 massive publishers run the market now), bookstores (about a 60% of US independent bookstores have closed in the past 5 years), mega retailers (Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc) have destroyed the smaller, 'mom & pop' businesses.
While many people think the 'uber' stores are a good thing - ultimately we are often given less choice, more average/mediocre products, and little innovation and originality.
Too funny - you call someone arrogant then throw around terms like 'lesser cities'?
Been to NYC to visit plenty of times - you couldn't pay me enough to live there. Dirty, too crowded, violent, people are rude as h*ll, prices on just about anything are insane
What you talk about are advantages to 'you' maybe - but most of what NYC has to offer could never outweigh the cons to me.
Chicago is the only US city I lived in and really enjoyed - maybe b/c it's in the midwest, it seems a bit friendlier than the east.
New Yorkers are notoriously provincial, remember the famous print "A New Yorker's View of the World"? That about sums it up.
Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver - I doubt you've really spent anytime in any of those cities. They have most of what NYC could ever offer without all the crap and attitude.
"sure looks like you have your own freedom of speech problems in that case doesn't it"
Yeah, and The Patriotic [sic] Act allows gov't croonies to wiretap w/o court orders, investigate your reading habits without your knowledge, as they try to strongarm libraries and bookstores into giving up your info.
In terms on media, do some research on who gets 'invited' to White House events, liberal journals/journalists get blackballed all the d*mn time. Question Bush and you're 'unpatriotic'. The media handles Bush with kid gloves and softball questions.
40% of Canadian teenagers hate the United States Maybe b/c of remarks like the "'friendship' seems to only go one way. I wouldn't give canada anything until they start helping us "
Have you even consider that fact that by NOT having a huge military and an aggressive foreign policy Canada IS doing the US a favor - the longest ungaurded border in modern history, allowing the US to commit resources elsewhere.
"I wouldn't give canada anything until they start helping us"
Interesting, and yet the US gives China most favored nation trade status even though they do nothing but snub the US, trade dump, and violate who knows how many human rights.
And start helping you how? In what way? By joining in Bush's trumped up war? No thanks...
If you're main (or only) consideration is money, then sure the U.S. is probably for you. I'm a Canadian living working in the US (Denver), but seriously thinking about returning to Canada, Im a Nova Scotia native, but love western Canada, esp Vancouver.
However, some other things to consider:
cities are cleaner and generally safer
from east to west, beautiful lands and parks
liberal politics (Canada is moving left as the US goes further right) - this may or may not be a pro depending on your views
Some interesting culture, from the English/Irish/Scottish influence of the maritime provinces, to the French in Quebec (their quirks aside), to the Hong Kong/Chinese influence in the west.
Health care system. Yes, has its pros and cons, but you always are covered.
More and varied political parties, 4-5 major parties, and many more smaller fringe ones.
Canadians as a whole are friendlier, more outgoing and generally more laid back
If you like to travel, being Canadian is generally a plus, whereas I hate to say it, being an American isn't
We use metric!;-p
Canucks can go to Cuba, Yanks can't;)
Hockey! Hockey! Hockey
Disclaimer: My politics are pretty left, I'm agnostic, hate the religious right (wrong), don't give a f*ck who sleeps with, or who marries who (ain't my business), could care less if people smoke pot, love the outdoors, fun cities, and being around a range of people.
Though I do really enjoy the US overall, social & foreign policy under the Bush admin really doesn't suit me, along with him being in bed with the highly political Christian right who think everyone's business is their own.
It just kills me how fast so many people here are willing to d*mn and condemn MS's IE for their security flaws, but are so quick to rally and excuse/defend FF or Mozilla.
Yes, IE has a lot of issues, but the day FF/Moz is 50/50 with IE (which is fine by me btw), you'll start seeing more of this.
I do hope FF/Moz holds their own and proves more secure - but people shouldn't gloat about FF/Moz 'superiority' until it's really put to the test. IE has like 95% of the market and FF has comparatively little - and hence, little attention from malignant hackers and the like
If people want to see FF/Moz thrive they should expose and rant at flaws with the same ferocity they do with IE.
What I find unusual in the U.S is our tolerance of violence (often gorey, excessive, gratitious violence), but one breast is revealed and you'd think it was the end of all things...
I'm not trolling for a violence is bad/ok argument (I love a good action flick), just seems many people/politicians worry about their kids seeing too much skin, but don't seem AS worried about violence. Or in some cases, the religious hypocrites want people to take 7 year olds to see The Passion of the Christ - but have fits over most other violence in film/media
I'm not saying that we should censor 'x' amount, but it seems weird to me how random the application of censoring is - and how people with a political agenda (liberals like Dryfuss or conservatives like "Passion" advocates) kick up a stink only when it suits their personally ideologies.
Sorry, the case I listed was pre-Patriot Act, though I recall the gov trying to 'grandfather' it in the court case as some point (which the Court rejected in about 1 sec)
My point though, is the gov't does investigate your reading habits, and the Patriot Act is one more blantant attempt to make keeping that private more and more difficult - and that's flat out wrong.
Actually there was a case locally in Denver, one of our best independent bookstores fought to keep patron records private after some gov't croonies came in demanding them based on Patriot [sic] Act authority.
Kudos to the bookstore owner Joyce Meskis, who not only refused, but took the case to the Colorado Supreme Court and won.
I shop at that store and buy anything from cookbooks to leftist political works to sci-fi/fantasy. And I'll keep shopping there not only cause it's a great place, but b/c they are on the right side of the issue in my book
So there's your example for you. You can Google for a lot more examples of bookstores and libraries having to fight against these intrusions in your private reading habits. What you read is your business, and I'm d*mn happy there's a lot of bookstore owners and librarians willing to stand up for my (and your) 1st Ammendment rights.
Most HR people I know tell me that cost per employee rougly equals the employees salary x 2. So assuming it's true, they're saying the average income runs $150k. I think 150K as a average, taking into account VP, CEO, etc. type salaries sounds in the ballpark
Also don't forget, it's not just health insurance, it's physical office space, utilities, provided hardware (PCs/laptops, phones, pagers, etc), training, business insurance, biz expense accounts, and lots of other non-tangeables that go into employee costs. If you look at it that way, you can see how the numbers can add up.
My point FL is not about Hollywood itself, while your flame might be over the top imo - I'm not claiming the film industry is perfect.
However, I think that's besides the point - at the risk of sounding trite, I still believe in the addage 'two wrongs don't make a right'.
Of course I broke the rules, but if I got caught drinking at 15, of course I'd expect to get busted - sure I'd be p*ssed, but that'd be my fault.
It's good for kids to express themselves, rebel, etc. - part of adolescence. BUT it doesn't mean they are exempt from the law, and I reiterate, they are taking money out of working people's pockets.
Don't forget, when people bash Hollywood, they often have in their minds premadonna directors, producers, and egomaniacal superstars. There forget the no name actors, set carpenters, rigging, design, costume people who aren't rich superstars and are just working stiffs trying to make a paycheck. The kid is taking money out of their pocket - and not for some higher moral or political purpose, or out of need, etc.
So while I don't disagree with your social commentary completely, I don't think it means what the kid did was legally 'ok'
The kid was stealing, all the ranting and raving and psuedo-constitutional ramblings means diddly squat.
You don't have an inalienable 'right' to see a movie let alone copy it, it's a business transaction. You pay your $5-10 to go in, shut up (hopefully), watch the movie and leave. Period.
F*ck the punk, he only adds to already expensive ticket prices, he knew it was illegal, and he was obviously planning on selling it.
Say what you will, the people who are involved in those movies are working like anyone else and deserve their buck, brats like him ultimately affect their paychecks.
If the kid was homeless and starving and stole food, yes, I'd have plenty of compassion - but it was a movie, pure entertainment, and he's a thief and was trying to profit off of it.
One option, though not without its own stress - is contracting. I've worked f/t perm and been a contractor, like anything they both have their pros and cons.
A few advantages of contracting:
1) you get paid for every hour you work. It sucks working 70 hours, but it hurts much less when you get paid for those extra 30. I'm of the 'having a life' mentality, so I still prefer a 40 hr/wk as much as possible even when contracting.
2) Mobility. If you get a good gig and do well - usually you will get extended. If it's a bad gig, you can politely decline the extension and move on to something else. Look for contract-to-hire jobs, if it's a good fit, you can often get a perm gig, if not - it's not a big deal to leave.
3) Variety. Meet different people, get exposed to different projects and technologies. As above, if it's good try to stay on, if not - move on, but don't burn bridges doing it.
4) Free time. Depending on you financial needs - I deliberately live a low key / reasonable lifestyle - you can take time off in between contracts, esp if one was particularly stressful or tiring.
The downsides vary depending on your personality; not always stable/consistent work, sometimes contractors are treated like 2nd class citizens (Ive been lucky there), you often need to secure your own health insurance etc.
All in all I still think IT is a great field, that pays pretty well for what we do, keeps the mind active and general speaking you work with a fairly bright people who can hold a conversation.
Actually, check out "Life as a House" w/Kevin Kline, you'd be surprised. H.C. actually CAN act (he does a great job as an angst-ridden, confused teen), which lends more support to the idea that Lucas can't write or direct for sh*t. Actually, many of the actors in his films do have talent - he just has no friggin idea how to use it.
Slashdot Mirror
As adults I think we tend to get so jaded and so quick to judge. Kids at that age aren't as thick skinned as adults, teasing, name calling, gossiping is very painful at adolescene. Go ahead and saw "awwwww..." all you want, I'd rather show a little kindness that turn the kid in a angry, repressed, beaten down sociopath.
"she DESERVES for it to be spread around the school and to be humiliated for it.... stupid kids doing stupid things and then running to mommy and getting sympathetic attention when it comes time to pay for their stupid actions"
I'm REALLY glad you weren't my parent, and I hope you aren't anyone's parent. I made some mistakes as a kid - but you know what my parents did - made damn sure I learned from it while ALSO being supportive and understanding, like a good parent should; not berating me and ranting b/c they were pissed off, unsympathetic, cynical adults.
Heck - you already paid $40-50 for the game, then $12-15 a month fee to play, and you'd tolerate the ads? You are a marketer's dream :)
I also only want them to track my avatars movements for one purpose only, to stabilize, improve and maintain the game, period. Not to figure how to cram more ads in my face.
Even IF they dropped the montly fee COMPLETELY I would be unhappy with the ads. I play games to escape the world, not see yet another freakin coke machine, GAP ad, or Shell gas station sign.
I will avoid companies and games that start doing this, no way in h*ll am I going to let one of my few pleasures and escapes be ruined by those annoying marketing companies, it's bad enough as it is now.
To me, worrying about virtual dishes piling up, a temper tantrum throwing daughter, showering, finances, etc was just too much like real life (less the daughter), I just didn't 'get it.'
Since we have to deal with that stuff in real life, why add to the stress via virtual one was my thought. Maybe b/c if you get good at the game, you feel like you have the control you rarely get in real life? Who knows.
I'm more escapist in my gaming, I want to do impossible things or be someone I could never actually be in real life. Ah well, to each their own.
Mod this as troll or funny, I don't care - but when someone makes sweeping, idiotic stereotypes against any group - they shall be mocked.
No go away, or shall I be forced to taunt you a second time...
Now as far as "As far as Gitmo, they werent US citizens. US citizens dont get constitutional protections." I really hate that arguement. If we are trying to 'export' democracy, is it not fair to reason that setting an example or higher standard would be better? Citizenship status is irrelevant, if 'just cause', 'innocent until proven guilty', 'due process' are staples of US democracy, should it not then be applied to others and an example of how it should be done?
I think a lot of Iraqis (civilians, ordinary people) are mad at the US b/c they were excited by the promise democracy and then see things like Gitmo or the prison abuse cases and wonder - THIS is US democracy?
Yes, we aren't beheading people, but is that the low standard you want to measure the US against? How about raising the bar, so people actually look up to the US system of law and justice instead of focusing on the recent hypocrisy we've all seen?
I have a feeling the person gave me the off-topic mod simply because they disagreed with my opinion more than anything else.
If the media was a liberal as you claim, they'd have taken Bush, Rice, Rumsfield to task on their blatant lies and misdirections regarding Iraq, instead of tossing them softball questions so they keep getting invited to WH press events.
Go read "Iraq on the Record: The Bush Administration's Public Statements on Iraq" by Rep. H Waxman (I think it's still at www.reform.house.gov/min) and you can have documented evidence of the Bush admin's bs - the 'liberal' media should've had a hayday with that, but they didn't b/c they're not NEARLY as liberal as you claim.
"At least W puts terrorists in cages" Oh really, yeah illegally holding people for 2+ years in Guantanamo with no lawyers, charges, trials - guilty until proven innocent. That's the kind of government and leadership I want... great...
I'm sorry, but that is an utter and complete pile of bullsh*t. I got my BS in philosophy-psychology-sociology (was a multi-disciplinary major) from a respected liberal arts college.
I've been a very successful programmer for about 9 years now, and have actually had hiring managers tell me my degree was in their mind an asset. Why? Because contrary to what people like you probably think about disciplines like philosophy, it's ALL about 'ordered thought' - not that fluffy navel contemplation crap people read in self-help sections.
People I've worked for see the value in a good liberal arts education, I can think analytically, critically, and creatively - ALL of which are valuable to coding. Being able to approach a problem from different angles is very valuable.
So go read some Kant, Heidegger or Nietzche - not from some cutsey 'quotes' website, but go read (and REALLY understand) Being & Time or The Critique of Pure Reason and then talk to me. If you can get your narrow mind around that, then you'll see how comparatively easy the logic of programming is.
NWN's Aurora is a nice tool, but with a decent learning curve, it can take considerable time to create a solid module. And there are some really nice mods out there, that would look great with a new engine
So it would be cool if the tool/scripting was backward compatible so that existing modules would still function, or at least would with minimal effort.
I always put into some smart a*s name and info, as do pretty much all my friends (80% of whom are IT types). So any demographic information is really crap. I tell my parents, friends, etc to do the same.
'Readership' I've probably created 4-5 accounts on the same site b/c I forgot the stoopid uid/pwd and just create another one if I really want to read something. I think any numbers about subscribers/readers are totally off.
People are busy and cautious. It puts people off - they don't want to give up any information (asssuming they are honest on the forms), or they don't want to be bothered signing up for a site that they don't even know they're interested in. Plus how many freakin uid/pwd combos do I really want to keep track of? Not many.
I think for posting to bulletin boards etc it makes more sense, so a-holes, harassers, etc can be handled. But when it's non-interactive like just reading an article, I don't see the point (as a user, I understand why the biz does)
If a site forces a sign-up, unless I REALLY need/want to read something, I'm outta there. Otherwise they never learn anything useful about me, other than maybe some generic machine location info.
My 2 cents anyhoo
He's actually criticizing himself to some degree too - I have to give him some credit there
His remarks are applicable to lots of media, radio stations (something like 3 companies run 90% of the FM stations), the book publishing industry (small presses are going extinct, and about 4 massive publishers run the market now), bookstores (about a 60% of US independent bookstores have closed in the past 5 years), mega retailers (Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc) have destroyed the smaller, 'mom & pop' businesses.
While many people think the 'uber' stores are a good thing - ultimately we are often given less choice, more average/mediocre products, and little innovation and originality.
Been to NYC to visit plenty of times - you couldn't pay me enough to live there. Dirty, too crowded, violent, people are rude as h*ll, prices on just about anything are insane
What you talk about are advantages to 'you' maybe - but most of what NYC has to offer could never outweigh the cons to me.
Chicago is the only US city I lived in and really enjoyed - maybe b/c it's in the midwest, it seems a bit friendlier than the east.
New Yorkers are notoriously provincial, remember the famous print "A New Yorker's View of the World"? That about sums it up.
Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver - I doubt you've really spent anytime in any of those cities. They have most of what NYC could ever offer without all the crap and attitude.
Yeah, and The Patriotic [sic] Act allows gov't croonies to wiretap w/o court orders, investigate your reading habits without your knowledge, as they try to strongarm libraries and bookstores into giving up your info.
In terms on media, do some research on who gets 'invited' to White House events, liberal journals/journalists get blackballed all the d*mn time. Question Bush and you're 'unpatriotic'. The media handles Bush with kid gloves and softball questions.
40% of Canadian teenagers hate the United States
Maybe b/c of remarks like the "'friendship' seems to only go one way. I wouldn't give canada anything until they start helping us "
Have you even consider that fact that by NOT having a huge military and an aggressive foreign policy Canada IS doing the US a favor - the longest ungaurded border in modern history, allowing the US to commit resources elsewhere.
"I wouldn't give canada anything until they start helping us"
Interesting, and yet the US gives China most favored nation trade status even though they do nothing but snub the US, trade dump, and violate who knows how many human rights.
And start helping you how? In what way? By joining in Bush's trumped up war? No thanks...
However, some other things to consider:
cities are cleaner and generally safer
from east to west, beautiful lands and parks
liberal politics (Canada is moving left as the US goes further right) - this may or may not be a pro depending on your views
Some interesting culture, from the English/Irish/Scottish influence of the maritime provinces, to the French in Quebec (their quirks aside), to the Hong Kong/Chinese influence in the west.
Health care system. Yes, has its pros and cons, but you always are covered.
More and varied political parties, 4-5 major parties, and many more smaller fringe ones.
Canadians as a whole are friendlier, more outgoing and generally more laid back
If you like to travel, being Canadian is generally a plus, whereas I hate to say it, being an American isn't
We use metric! ;-p
Canucks can go to Cuba, Yanks can't ;)
Hockey! Hockey! Hockey
Disclaimer: My politics are pretty left, I'm agnostic, hate the religious right (wrong), don't give a f*ck who sleeps with, or who marries who (ain't my business), could care less if people smoke pot, love the outdoors, fun cities, and being around a range of people.
Though I do really enjoy the US overall, social & foreign policy under the Bush admin really doesn't suit me, along with him being in bed with the highly political Christian right who think everyone's business is their own.
So there's my 2 cents
Cheers
Morp -
Yes, IE has a lot of issues, but the day FF/Moz is 50/50 with IE (which is fine by me btw), you'll start seeing more of this.
I do hope FF/Moz holds their own and proves more secure - but people shouldn't gloat about FF/Moz 'superiority' until it's really put to the test. IE has like 95% of the market and FF has comparatively little - and hence, little attention from malignant hackers and the like
If people want to see FF/Moz thrive they should expose and rant at flaws with the same ferocity they do with IE.
I'm not trolling for a violence is bad/ok argument (I love a good action flick), just seems many people/politicians worry about their kids seeing too much skin, but don't seem AS worried about violence. Or in some cases, the religious hypocrites want people to take 7 year olds to see The Passion of the Christ - but have fits over most other violence in film/media
I'm not saying that we should censor 'x' amount, but it seems weird to me how random the application of censoring is - and how people with a political agenda (liberals like Dryfuss or conservatives like "Passion" advocates) kick up a stink only when it suits their personally ideologies.
My point though, is the gov't does investigate your reading habits, and the Patriot Act is one more blantant attempt to make keeping that private more and more difficult - and that's flat out wrong.
Kudos to the bookstore owner Joyce Meskis, who not only refused, but took the case to the Colorado Supreme Court and won.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/05/0 6/1410206
I shop at that store and buy anything from cookbooks to leftist political works to sci-fi/fantasy. And I'll keep shopping there not only cause it's a great place, but b/c they are on the right side of the issue in my book
So there's your example for you. You can Google for a lot more examples of bookstores and libraries having to fight against these intrusions in your private reading habits. What you read is your business, and I'm d*mn happy there's a lot of bookstore owners and librarians willing to stand up for my (and your) 1st Ammendment rights.
Also don't forget, it's not just health insurance, it's physical office space, utilities, provided hardware (PCs/laptops, phones, pagers, etc), training, business insurance, biz expense accounts, and lots of other non-tangeables that go into employee costs. If you look at it that way, you can see how the numbers can add up.
I do follow W3C standards for development, just wanted to be sure any alternative browsers did as well.
Regards,
Morp
Could people offer some input on alternate browsers, their strengths/weaknesses, features, prices (if any), etc.?
Also, I do a good amount of web/intranet programming, so any information relating to development issues in regards to these would be appreciated
Cheers,
Morp
However, I think that's besides the point - at the risk of sounding trite, I still believe in the addage 'two wrongs don't make a right'.
Of course I broke the rules, but if I got caught drinking at 15, of course I'd expect to get busted - sure I'd be p*ssed, but that'd be my fault.
It's good for kids to express themselves, rebel, etc. - part of adolescence. BUT it doesn't mean they are exempt from the law, and I reiterate, they are taking money out of working people's pockets.
Don't forget, when people bash Hollywood, they often have in their minds premadonna directors, producers, and egomaniacal superstars. There forget the no name actors, set carpenters, rigging, design, costume people who aren't rich superstars and are just working stiffs trying to make a paycheck. The kid is taking money out of their pocket - and not for some higher moral or political purpose, or out of need, etc.
So while I don't disagree with your social commentary completely, I don't think it means what the kid did was legally 'ok'
Cheers,
Morp
You don't have an inalienable 'right' to see a movie let alone copy it, it's a business transaction. You pay your $5-10 to go in, shut up (hopefully), watch the movie and leave. Period.
F*ck the punk, he only adds to already expensive ticket prices, he knew it was illegal, and he was obviously planning on selling it.
Say what you will, the people who are involved in those movies are working like anyone else and deserve their buck, brats like him ultimately affect their paychecks.
If the kid was homeless and starving and stole food, yes, I'd have plenty of compassion - but it was a movie, pure entertainment, and he's a thief and was trying to profit off of it.
A few advantages of contracting:
1) you get paid for every hour you work. It sucks working 70 hours, but it hurts much less when you get paid for those extra 30. I'm of the 'having a life' mentality, so I still prefer a 40 hr/wk as much as possible even when contracting.
2) Mobility. If you get a good gig and do well - usually you will get extended. If it's a bad gig, you can politely decline the extension and move on to something else. Look for contract-to-hire jobs, if it's a good fit, you can often get a perm gig, if not - it's not a big deal to leave.
3) Variety. Meet different people, get exposed to different projects and technologies. As above, if it's good try to stay on, if not - move on, but don't burn bridges doing it.
4) Free time. Depending on you financial needs - I deliberately live a low key / reasonable lifestyle - you can take time off in between contracts, esp if one was particularly stressful or tiring.
The downsides vary depending on your personality; not always stable/consistent work, sometimes contractors are treated like 2nd class citizens (Ive been lucky there), you often need to secure your own health insurance etc.
All in all I still think IT is a great field, that pays pretty well for what we do, keeps the mind active and general speaking you work with a fairly bright people who can hold a conversation.
My 2 cents anyway,
Good luck
Morp
Actually, check out "Life as a House" w/Kevin Kline, you'd be surprised. H.C. actually CAN act (he does a great job as an angst-ridden, confused teen), which lends more support to the idea that Lucas can't write or direct for sh*t. Actually, many of the actors in his films do have talent - he just has no friggin idea how to use it.