Re:Not all people work long hours because of naive
on
NYT on EA Games
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· Score: 1
As a young, fresh out of college graduate, I had the same experience. My best friend and I started an entirely onsite hardware/software "outsourced" IT department service for small businesses. I would regularly work 16 hours a day 7 days a week with no problem, and really enjoyed it for quite a while. The odd thing was that I didn't quit because of the hours, but because of the stress of being a small business owner. We were absolutely raking in the cash, but dealing with everyday, managerial type issues drove me bonkers.
As such, I now work 30-40 hours a week, with great pay, and freakin INCREDIBLE benefits. Right now, I'm in crunch mode, with two major projects I'm shouldering mostly on my own due in 5 days, so I'm working about 60-70 hours for the next couple of weeks.
Keep in mind, I have 4 kids, the oldest being 8, and a sick wife (I myself have cancer). But because the company is SO fucking fantastic, I have no problem working extra hours to get the job done.
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I received $5000+ from other employees and partners of the company, with no request on my part, they just started sending gifts and checks to me, out of the goodness of their hearts. That's the kind of place I work, so I really don't understand why ANYONE in their right mind would work for a company like EA.
I thank God I don't work in a company that works like that! Management ALWAYS takes the blame first, and instead of firing people, unless they truly are incompetent, they find ways to educate and learn from mistakes. This generally ends up costing the company SO much less money, as firing someone, replacing them, and then training the new person up to the level of the old is usually VERY expensive in comparison.
I think that Jamie and Adam not being scientists is what makes it so incredibly fun to watch. They're getting paid to be destructively curious. I would love to be able to do some of the crap they get to do! Blow up an ancient wooden cannon you made, with 40 lbs. or so of gunpowder? BOOM!
Reminds me of my job a bit. I'm currently in crunch mode, so I am, of my own volition, working at least an extra 40 hours a week for the next couple of weeks to get this project done.
However, 90% of the rest of my time here, I just wander in sometime around the time I'm supposed to get to work, and wander out sometime around when I'm supposed to leave. No one cares at all, because my work is professional, and delivered on time. That's all that matters here.
Where I work, there are sometimes some minor crunches to get projects done, or to get something working. However, the compensation is usually more than enough to make up for it. Even though my salary is comparatively low for what I'm doing, I actually don't mind because of those kinds of benefits.
As someone who knows a bit about this community, having been involved in it for over 10 years through various family members that live and work there, I believe that the plan for the utility district to roll out this kind of access does not seem like a losing proposition to me. Truckee is a VERY wealthy town, considering how many live there, as most people who work there are already wealthy. These wealthy citizens have enacted a number of measures that if created in other small towns would be a disaster, including higher taxes on land. I believe that for this case it is actually a good idea for this kind of competition, and the incumbent broadband provider is only fighting to keep a monopoly, not for the good of the community.
Another idea along those lines would be a system for MMORPGs or similar type games where you can purchase items in the store for tokens. You can get the tokens by running SETI@home or folding@home. For each set you complete, you get X tokens to spend in your game. Hell, you could use it that way for almost anything that is applicable to distributed computing. What an incentive to contribute!
I vividly remember seeing that video and thinking "WTF?" to myself. I then had to sit down and figure out in my head how they could do that. It was down to either the camera/wall movement or some sort of CG.
I have something very personal to talk about in relation to a doctor, malpractice, and the litigious nature of our (USA) society.
I had potentially fast spreading cancer last year. In order to get it under control quickly, and also tell whether it had spread, I had to undergo a pretty dangerous and quite extensive surgery. That surgery has had a very unusual side-effect of causing chronic, debilitating pain in my right leg.
My father asked me yesterday, what I was going to do about it. I replied that I would just hope for the best, continue with my pain management sessions and therapy. After this reply, he started down the road of "why aren't you suing the pants off the surgeon?". I stopped him short and stated that they cured my cancer. I'm not dead, that's exactly what I had in terms of best possible expectations.
Why the heck do people think that surgery is a perfect art? Much less medicine in general?? Our computers are much much less complicated than our bodies, and they fail often and must be replaced pretty damned often, the more complex they get.
Frankly, I'm not on either side of the SCO vs. Linux Zealots argument that goes on, either here, in the mainstream media, or on Groklaw. Both sides have points. It all depends on the judge in this case who will determine, from the FACTS presented during the course of the trial, who deserves what and how much. If SCO cannot come up with any real facts that can prove that they are correct, then I cannot imagine any judge granting them a damn thing.
All of the thrashing and spewing around by various individuals just makes it difficult to keep a level head. Not, mind you, that I was particularly level to begin with.
Since the judge's own order on the motion to remand (see also part 2) questions whether there really was ever actually a copyright transfer, Novell's assertion that there was no transfer cannot be knowingly false, so SCO's case falls apart.
And no, I'm not a grammar nazi... just a pretender.
I have the same problem when I drink and switch to a non ergonomic keyboard. Hands at different angles, and it throws me off quite a bit.
I was just thinking about the brain-computer connection through my hands, and while doing so was watching my fingers type the words my mind was thinking about. I don't seem to have any direct control anymore over how they type exactly. If I think hard about how to spell the word and connecting that to my fingers hitting those keys, I slow WAY down. Personally, I haven't had a WPM score below 110 since I was about 9 years old. I use gtypist for my son, as he is learning to type.
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As a young, fresh out of college graduate, I had the same experience. My best friend and I started an entirely onsite hardware/software "outsourced" IT department service for small businesses. I would regularly work 16 hours a day 7 days a week with no problem, and really enjoyed it for quite a while. The odd thing was that I didn't quit because of the hours, but because of the stress of being a small business owner. We were absolutely raking in the cash, but dealing with everyday, managerial type issues drove me bonkers.
As such, I now work 30-40 hours a week, with great pay, and freakin INCREDIBLE benefits. Right now, I'm in crunch mode, with two major projects I'm shouldering mostly on my own due in 5 days, so I'm working about 60-70 hours for the next couple of weeks.
Keep in mind, I have 4 kids, the oldest being 8, and a sick wife (I myself have cancer). But because the company is SO fucking fantastic, I have no problem working extra hours to get the job done.
When I was diagnosed with cancer, I received $5000+ from other employees and partners of the company, with no request on my part, they just started sending gifts and checks to me, out of the goodness of their hearts. That's the kind of place I work, so I really don't understand why ANYONE in their right mind would work for a company like EA.
OH well, a fool's born every minute.
Cynical, are we?
I thank God I don't work in a company that works like that! Management ALWAYS takes the blame first, and instead of firing people, unless they truly are incompetent, they find ways to educate and learn from mistakes. This generally ends up costing the company SO much less money, as firing someone, replacing them, and then training the new person up to the level of the old is usually VERY expensive in comparison.
How weird, you're exactly like I am. I am very curious about EverCrack and EverCrack2, but do not dare even open it once...
I just know I'll get addicted and my 4 children will suffer!
I think that Jamie and Adam not being scientists is what makes it so incredibly fun to watch. They're getting paid to be destructively curious. I would love to be able to do some of the crap they get to do! Blow up an ancient wooden cannon you made, with 40 lbs. or so of gunpowder? BOOM!
I'm laughing all the way to heaven...
This may have been a bit over the top comment, but I sure did find it funny. It's really hard to muffle the guffaws with my hand...
I think it's stupid to rely on a single method of authentication.
Multiple and concurrent authentication systems can be used.
i.e.
1) Biometrics + smartcards
2) Biometrics + passwords
3) smartcards + passwords
Any of those three should provide a good level of security without too much extra effort.
Reminds me of my job a bit. I'm currently in crunch mode, so I am, of my own volition, working at least an extra 40 hours a week for the next couple of weeks to get this project done.
However, 90% of the rest of my time here, I just wander in sometime around the time I'm supposed to get to work, and wander out sometime around when I'm supposed to leave. No one cares at all, because my work is professional, and delivered on time. That's all that matters here.
Sticking to a clock is stupid.
Where I work, there are sometimes some minor crunches to get projects done, or to get something working. However, the compensation is usually more than enough to make up for it. Even though my salary is comparatively low for what I'm doing, I actually don't mind because of those kinds of benefits.
First, this is F****** COOL!
I don't care if it doesn't track, for the price, it's pretty damned neat.
Second, I was rolling from all the funny as hell comments on this topic.
Combine the comments and get a squirrel destroying monster robot that sounds like RoboCop roaming your house and destroying anything that moves.
What a mental picture!
As someone who knows a bit about this community, having been involved in it for over 10 years through various family members that live and work there, I believe that the plan for the utility district to roll out this kind of access does not seem like a losing proposition to me. Truckee is a VERY wealthy town, considering how many live there, as most people who work there are already wealthy. These wealthy citizens have enacted a number of measures that if created in other small towns would be a disaster, including higher taxes on land. I believe that for this case it is actually a good idea for this kind of competition, and the incumbent broadband provider is only fighting to keep a monopoly, not for the good of the community.
Beautiful - that sounds exactly like a Family Guy quote.
Sorry, OT, but I followed the link in your sig, you evil dumbass bastard!
I haven't laughed that hard in a while... thanks!
Too much networking for you? I'm assuming that you mean "particles and waves" instead of packets and waves.
Although it gave me a good laugh!
I just about pissed my pants reading this. It's not often that my co-workers see me crying from laughter.
These wonderous pictures of dead, flaming monkeys on your bed filled my head.
Another idea along those lines would be a system for MMORPGs or similar type games where you can purchase items in the store for tokens. You can get the tokens by running SETI@home or folding@home. For each set you complete, you get X tokens to spend in your game. Hell, you could use it that way for almost anything that is applicable to distributed computing. What an incentive to contribute!
I vividly remember seeing that video and thinking "WTF?" to myself. I then had to sit down and figure out in my head how they could do that. It was down to either the camera/wall movement or some sort of CG.
You know... being a geek.
I'm sorry....
HMD?
Is that a "Hairy Masturbation Device"?
How about "Head of Mass Destruction"?
Either way, all I can think of is my wife.
This just brings back memories of Jamiroquai's album "Travelling without Moving".
I have something very personal to talk about in relation to a doctor, malpractice, and the litigious nature of our (USA) society.
I had potentially fast spreading cancer last year. In order to get it under control quickly, and also tell whether it had spread, I had to undergo a pretty dangerous and quite extensive surgery. That surgery has had a very unusual side-effect of causing chronic, debilitating pain in my right leg.
My father asked me yesterday, what I was going to do about it. I replied that I would just hope for the best, continue with my pain management sessions and therapy. After this reply, he started down the road of "why aren't you suing the pants off the surgeon?". I stopped him short and stated that they cured my cancer. I'm not dead, that's exactly what I had in terms of best possible expectations.
Why the heck do people think that surgery is a perfect art? Much less medicine in general?? Our computers are much much less complicated than our bodies, and they fail often and must be replaced pretty damned often, the more complex they get.
You start out by saying "I haven't used GNOME in about 2 or 3 years" and then immediately launch into "but it has this X problem"?
I'm not defending GNOME, it most certainly still has flaws, but c'mon, at least try it again before continuing to bash it.
God, talk about master baiting, you're pretty damned good at it!
Frankly, I'm not on either side of the SCO vs. Linux Zealots argument that goes on, either here, in the mainstream media, or on Groklaw. Both sides have points. It all depends on the judge in this case who will determine, from the FACTS presented during the course of the trial, who deserves what and how much. If SCO cannot come up with any real facts that can prove that they are correct, then I cannot imagine any judge granting them a damn thing.
All of the thrashing and spewing around by various individuals just makes it difficult to keep a level head. Not, mind you, that I was particularly level to begin with.
from this sentence:
Since the judge's own order on the motion to remand (see also part 2) questions whether there really was ever actually a copyright transfer, Novell's assertion that there was no transfer cannot be knowingly false, so SCO's case falls apart.
And no, I'm not a grammar nazi... just a pretender.
I'm just glad to know I wasn't the only one to think that.
I was so ashamed, I couldn't put a response in until now.
That's a pretty good point. There are a ton of geeks out there, and if you accidentally hit one, it could be like taking a swing at a hornets nest.
Unless of course this becomes similar to DDOS, in which case hitting back would just be hitting unsuspecting lusers.
NICE - it's so funny because it's so right.
I have the same problem when I drink and switch to a non ergonomic keyboard. Hands at different angles, and it throws me off quite a bit.
I was just thinking about the brain-computer connection through my hands, and while doing so was watching my fingers type the words my mind was thinking about. I don't seem to have any direct control anymore over how they type exactly. If I think hard about how to spell the word and connecting that to my fingers hitting those keys, I slow WAY down. Personally, I haven't had a WPM score below 110 since I was about 9 years old. I use gtypist for my son, as he is learning to type.