"Since many board members are senior executives at other firms and sit on each others boards, there really isn't much incentive for them to not grant large parachutes and such. It simply wouldn't be rational to potentially jeopardize their own upcoming reward."
So, why don't the stockholder vote these board members out? The buck stops somewhere...?
"We are *all* expected to have a sense of social responsibility, or end up with the label "jerk"."
Ok, exactly who came up with this rule, and when did this suddenly come about??
Looking out for one's own interests above all others is a natural instinct that comes with humans. This "social responsibility" is a new rule on me...did this just recently trump the old paradigm of individualism, survival of the fittest, etc?
I guess this is the new way of thinking, brought on by years of having no winners/losers in schools, no competition in schools in favor of protecting everyones fragile self esteem. Trouble is, in spite of this indoctrination of many of our young, there are some who still naturally develop the need to succeed, to look out for their own self interests, and when they do, it shocks the hell out of everyone coming out into the big bad world of reality and they don't understand why anyone would do that and rock the kum-bah-ya boat where everyone is equal, and everyone has to play nice and keep the field level.
That just isn't reality, and the sooner you learn that, the sooner you can get out there and work in the real world. It isn't a bad place, but you gotta know the realistic rules and methods people use, and navigate your path through it accordingly.
"It's different when the "someone else" is the board of a publicly owned company."
Well, it isn't like these CEO's held a gun to the boards collective head and forced them to hire them AND to give them these packages. It is the company's own fault for striking such bargains in the first place...they signed the paperwork too, so there should be no bitching when executive Billy Bob exercises his contractual options for his own benefit.
"Because when it's their *job* to look out for the interests of the employees and stockholders, and they instead look out for only their own interests, it becomes something completely different from self-preservation, motivation, or whatever you want to call it. It becomes greed. It is arguably theft. It is almost certainly evil. It is in no way, shape, or form a 'job well done'."
That may be the job title...but how is that any different than other job titles like general manager, breakroom supervisor, technician, janitor. All of those people also have 'jobs' that support the interests of others...and in a less direct way, even the stockholders too. But you seem to have this thought, from your writing, that the top boss should somehow be more altruistic about their jobs vs their survival instincts. I don't think that way. When it comes to supporting my lifestyle and means of living (money) I pretty much think only of myself and MY survival if it ever comes down to it.
Don't get me wrong...I love my friends, my family and anyone around me, and as long as I have the means, I like to help out, pay for things...and I've done that with a number of my friends who have been out of work for awhile. But that is when things are flush with me. If it gets tough for me, well, that well shuts off. My sense of self preservation is priority #1. I expect no less or no more from others. I guess some give till it hurts, and that's their prerogative, but, I don't expect it and I'm not sure why anyone ever expects it from the higher up bosses, just because their survival instincts and practices involve so much more money that other peoples'.
"Although I graduated some years back, I still advocate the use of pen and paper to students because of final exams. You are going to be sitting in the gymnasiums writing 15 hours of exams in the space of a few days. By hand. On paper."
Wow..where are you going to college? What classes are these that require you to do 15 hours of writing for final exams?!?
Is everything you've ever done on a final essay questions or something? No fill in the blank, no multiple choice? I mean, for chemistry or math, sure you have to show work, but still that doesn't usually end up filling page after page after page with YOU having to write that much. At least, it never did when I was in college. Usually simple answers were all it took to do final exams in most classes I took, if it was problem solving, you showed some work, in computer classes you wrote some snippets of code examples to solve the problem, etc. Heck in some of my later schoolwork in grad school, there really was no final, you usually just wrote a paper on something and turned it in, but there, no handwriting needed.
"I agree, Valentine's day chocolate is generally awful. If you want to do it right, go to a real chocolatier and get a box of their specialty. It will cost you a lot more than the crap at Walmart but it will actually be worth eating and show that you put some thought into it. For flowers, at least make sure she isn't allergic or sensitive to scents first. A migraine would be the worst Valentine's day gift ever."
I just prefer to get her hammered..that way, a good time is ensured for all concerned parties.
"2) By making it legal, you make it possible to enforce monitoring of behaviors. Since players in the US would have to provide their SSNs for tax purposes, a central database of players could be maintained by the government (it would pretty much have to exist, again for tax purposes). That same database could be used to spot problem gamblers and steer them towards help. (Note that I personally am against this idea, but recognize it's inevitability.)"
Why would you have to do the SSN thing? You don't have to show your SSN (or any ID) to enter a brick and mortor casino and gamble. The only time that is required..is if you do any transactions over $10K I think. Why could online be any different? As an individual, there is a place on your 1040 tax form to put winnings/losses from gambling. It isn't the 'houses' responsibility to pay your taxes (again, unless you trip over the magic large number). The house pays their taxes...you pay yours. No need for more surveillance.
"...easier for people to get addicted and gamble away all their assets at home."
And it is the Federal Govt's mandate to prevent this...?
[Goes to get copy of Constitution to look for this enumerated power the Feds have concerning this...]
Seriously, part of being free...is being free to fsck up...to fail to make bad decisions. As a grown, adult, should I be deprived of an adult activity that I am perfectly able to control, afford and enjoy just because Billy-bob over there can't keep from betting his whole life savings?
I'm sorry, I just don't believe the government is supposed to be there to save you from yourself.
"... no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three."
"Five years ago, Bush was being sworn in for a second term, a black president was inconceivable as a concept, New Orleans was still in one piece..."
Well, we went through some tough times down here the first few years after Katrina, but I'd say on a whole....we're doing better and much better off down here now than before the storm.
Hmm. I think we need to work for a constitutional amendment, to basically say a corporation is NOT a person with 'speech rights'. I'm ok with incorporating for liability protection (without it that, small businesses would be in tough water in this litiginous society).
But we need something to take our government back for the normal people, put OUR interests in general first. I don't know how to word it...but something to limit lobbyists and their interaction with politicos. How about all meetings have to be public, and either broadcast or transcripts of everything said between the parties is open to public scrutiny and record?
How about also amendments saying that federal political campaigns can ONLY be funded publicly. Mandate free air time over the public airwaves for debates and speeches. Maybe ever go so far as to mandate that senators are no longer elected by general public elections and go back to having them appointed by their respective state legislatures?
We gotta do something to take our country's political system back from the highest bidder, and back to being answerable to the people.
"See all those little white streets (e.g., in the Garden District between St. Charles Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street)? "
I live in NOLA. Trust me...the driving conditions I mentioned are from here. I've personally been 100+ mph down St. Charles (years ago, long story). But no one here drives less than 40 on most any street, even the ones you named as being city like. Many are one way...some have long stretches where side streets stop, you don't...etc.
If you go 25mph on almost any street in this city, you will get run over. Of course, while doing this, you also have to dodge all the potholes that will take your undercarriage out. It helps if you have them all memorized, but hey, down here you do that anyway so you can get home ok from a night at the bar(s).
"
The problem with your post is that you don't understand the difference between "city streets" and "highways." City streets are typically laid out in a grid pattern, have closely-spaced intersections (say, 1/10th of a mile apart), and have 25-35 MPH speed limits. Highways tend to have 40+ MPH speed limits and fewer intersections, but may still be only two lanes. Residential areas that are called "subdivisions" instead of "neighborhoods" are typically directly attached to highways.
You're probably confused because you only think you've been in cities, while in reality you were in the suburban sprawl surrounding them.
"
I know the cities I've lived in or been around in a lot...New Orleans,Little Rock, Knoxville, Tucson, Houston, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville...etc.
Most are driving conditions like I've described.
Unless you only consider a city to be like New York city, then what I describe is what I city I know is with my conditions described above. I've seen very few proper grid cities that were only that way. I'm not talking about the suburbs, I'm talking the city limits proper for the listed cities and more that I've familiar with....
"Why watch a DVD when you can watch streaming media."
Picture and sound quality maybe?
Some of us do have large tv/projectors, and good quality soundsystems we like to run our content through. I rarely watch media through a tiny computer screen, unless I'm on the road or something.
"Haha, I am married. And I'm corrected constantly because, as I have learned, I am always wrong."
Geez man...grow a pair, eh?
I do wonder when I've seen some guys get married...did they get a spine-ectomy when they got married? C'mon...man-up...you're supposed to be the leader in the family.
"If you ride a cargo bike, there's no problem with carrying your stuff. That's why I got one, because I couldn't stand riding with a backpack.
As for the exercise, for a given amount of time, you get more of it (though not as much variety) if you ride a bike, because time spent driving is not exercise. The shower time is invariant -- either you shower after you exercise at the gym, or you shower after you exercise on the bike. For variety, I shovel snow."
I guess it also depends on where you live. It just isn't practical here. I don't see how I could pack on everything I wanted for a bike ride to work. I pack my lunch, etc...some days I have to bring the laptop with me home and back...etc. Not to mention, living in New Orleans...the rainy season and seasonal street flooding, the heat and humidity, etc. I'd certainly not look professional when I got to work after a bike ride. I won't even go into the poor conditions of our roads here.
No option to shower after getting to work...?
As for showering after the gym..I leave work in the evenings...go to the gym...then drive home to use my own shower.
Don't get me wrong, a bike is a great exercise and recreational tool, I'm hoping to get a nice one for good weather coming up soon, to ride on the weekends over at City Park...lots of good looking chicks over there to meet and a bike is great for that. But as for it being a practical means of general transportation for me? I don't see it happening. I'd rather not have to get up earlier in the morning because a bike ride would turn a 7-10 minute drive (I speed a lot in the car by the way) into 1-1.5 hours on a bicycle if all went nicely.
". I think it's a bit absurd and dangerous to ride a bike on a 45 mph rode, for sure, especially without a bike lane. But a 25mph suburban or city street?"
Hmm...I dunno where you live, but any city I've been in in recent history HAS no areas that are 25mph streets. Around here, if you are going less than 45-55 mph on a city street, you are gonna get run over...even if in a car!!
I know you are likely talking about posted speeds. Honestly, I have only see 1 or two streets posted at 25mph, most are unposted so 35mph is supposed to be the speed there.
In reality, that posted speed has NOTHING to do with how traffic flows and moves these days. The only use for posted speeds is for the cops to collect revenue when needed, as that no one travels that slow.
That's why I've thought it stupid for a bicycle to be allowed on city streets...it IS just too dangerous for them with the realistic ways people all drive cars on them.
I'm scared as hell when I go out on my motorcycle...they don't see me either, but at least I have a fighting chance on the bike since I have power and can out accelerate the autos...and I generally have a helmet on.
I somehow get the idea from reading posts on this thread..that many people ONLY shop at one grocery store at a time??
I look at the sale ads that come out weekly, and often on my shopping day (either Sat or Sun) and go hit 1-3 different stores to get the deals on what is on sale. I also love my favorite store, Sam's Club....the warehouse type store to buy things in bulk.
I dunno how people shop for a family on a bike..I've had small 2-seater sports cars all my life and I have to be creative quite often just to fit my purchases into them?!? I like to smoke foods...I doubt lugging around a 15lb brisket on a bicycle is much fun, especially if you're also buying stuff to cook it with (side dishes, charcoal, wood for the smoker). I like to buy on sale and in bulk, and I'm a single guy and there is no way I could do my food without a car. I can't imagine trying to fit all that onto a bus...that doesn't come very close to my house.
And no, I really can't do a 'little shopping' every day. My days are already filled with going to work, then to the gym...then home to eat, do stuff there and crash for the next day. When I'm in between girlfriends, well, I don't have anyone to help out with my stuff (Hey babe can you pick up my stuff at the cleaners?)..so if I don't get it done, it doesn't get done. I dunno where you have all this time to shop almost daily...and cook almost daily.
I pretty much spend my Sundays cooking multiple things and meals for the entire week for breakfast, lunch and dinner...
Slashdot Mirror
So, why don't the stockholder vote these board members out? The buck stops somewhere...?
Ok, exactly who came up with this rule, and when did this suddenly come about??
Looking out for one's own interests above all others is a natural instinct that comes with humans. This "social responsibility" is a new rule on me...did this just recently trump the old paradigm of individualism, survival of the fittest, etc?
I guess this is the new way of thinking, brought on by years of having no winners/losers in schools, no competition in schools in favor of protecting everyones fragile self esteem. Trouble is, in spite of this indoctrination of many of our young, there are some who still naturally develop the need to succeed, to look out for their own self interests, and when they do, it shocks the hell out of everyone coming out into the big bad world of reality and they don't understand why anyone would do that and rock the kum-bah-ya boat where everyone is equal, and everyone has to play nice and keep the field level.
That just isn't reality, and the sooner you learn that, the sooner you can get out there and work in the real world. It isn't a bad place, but you gotta know the realistic rules and methods people use, and navigate your path through it accordingly.
Well, it isn't like these CEO's held a gun to the boards collective head and forced them to hire them AND to give them these packages. It is the company's own fault for striking such bargains in the first place...they signed the paperwork too, so there should be no bitching when executive Billy Bob exercises his contractual options for his own benefit.
That may be the job title...but how is that any different than other job titles like general manager, breakroom supervisor, technician, janitor. All of those people also have 'jobs' that support the interests of others...and in a less direct way, even the stockholders too. But you seem to have this thought, from your writing, that the top boss should somehow be more altruistic about their jobs vs their survival instincts. I don't think that way. When it comes to supporting my lifestyle and means of living (money) I pretty much think only of myself and MY survival if it ever comes down to it.
Don't get me wrong...I love my friends, my family and anyone around me, and as long as I have the means, I like to help out, pay for things...and I've done that with a number of my friends who have been out of work for awhile. But that is when things are flush with me. If it gets tough for me, well, that well shuts off. My sense of self preservation is priority #1. I expect no less or no more from others. I guess some give till it hurts, and that's their prerogative, but, I don't expect it and I'm not sure why anyone ever expects it from the higher up bosses, just because their survival instincts and practices involve so much more money that other peoples'.
Wow..where are you going to college? What classes are these that require you to do 15 hours of writing for final exams?!?
Is everything you've ever done on a final essay questions or something? No fill in the blank, no multiple choice? I mean, for chemistry or math, sure you have to show work, but still that doesn't usually end up filling page after page after page with YOU having to write that much. At least, it never did when I was in college. Usually simple answers were all it took to do final exams in most classes I took, if it was problem solving, you showed some work, in computer classes you wrote some snippets of code examples to solve the problem, etc. Heck in some of my later schoolwork in grad school, there really was no final, you usually just wrote a paper on something and turned it in, but there, no handwriting needed.
I just prefer to get her hammered..that way, a good time is ensured for all concerned parties.
Why would you have to do the SSN thing? You don't have to show your SSN (or any ID) to enter a brick and mortor casino and gamble. The only time that is required..is if you do any transactions over $10K I think. Why could online be any different? As an individual, there is a place on your 1040 tax form to put winnings/losses from gambling. It isn't the 'houses' responsibility to pay your taxes (again, unless you trip over the magic large number). The house pays their taxes...you pay yours. No need for more surveillance.
And it is the Federal Govt's mandate to prevent this...?
[Goes to get copy of Constitution to look for this enumerated power the Feds have concerning this...]
Seriously, part of being free...is being free to fsck up...to fail to make bad decisions. As a grown, adult, should I be deprived of an adult activity that I am perfectly able to control, afford and enjoy just because Billy-bob over there can't keep from betting his whole life savings?
I'm sorry, I just don't believe the government is supposed to be there to save you from yourself.
Well, that and I had a hell of a time finding an older version...I did, but they don't make it easy and clear where to go for older versions.
Damn...the party was still going on in the Quarter at 6am this morning....not many people at work this morning, but, I made it in.
I"m curious what kind of Indians are being affected by this Paypal thing...dot or feather?
Five......is right out!!
Maybe it knows the importance of not being seen...
Well, we went through some tough times down here the first few years after Katrina, but I'd say on a whole....we're doing better and much better off down here now than before the storm.
But we need something to take our government back for the normal people, put OUR interests in general first. I don't know how to word it...but something to limit lobbyists and their interaction with politicos. How about all meetings have to be public, and either broadcast or transcripts of everything said between the parties is open to public scrutiny and record?
How about also amendments saying that federal political campaigns can ONLY be funded publicly. Mandate free air time over the public airwaves for debates and speeches. Maybe ever go so far as to mandate that senators are no longer elected by general public elections and go back to having them appointed by their respective state legislatures?
We gotta do something to take our country's political system back from the highest bidder, and back to being answerable to the people.
Then again...I'd like a pony too...
I live in NOLA. Trust me...the driving conditions I mentioned are from here. I've personally been 100+ mph down St. Charles (years ago, long story). But no one here drives less than 40 on most any street, even the ones you named as being city like. Many are one way...some have long stretches where side streets stop, you don't...etc.
If you go 25mph on almost any street in this city, you will get run over. Of course, while doing this, you also have to dodge all the potholes that will take your undercarriage out. It helps if you have them all memorized, but hey, down here you do that anyway so you can get home ok from a night at the bar(s).
Hell, I was thinking more along terms of my current management.
You're probably confused because you only think you've been in cities, while in reality you were in the suburban sprawl surrounding them. "
I know the cities I've lived in or been around in a lot...New Orleans,Little Rock, Knoxville, Tucson, Houston, Dallas, Memphis, Nashville...etc.
Most are driving conditions like I've described.
Unless you only consider a city to be like New York city, then what I describe is what I city I know is with my conditions described above. I've seen very few proper grid cities that were only that way. I'm not talking about the suburbs, I'm talking the city limits proper for the listed cities and more that I've familiar with....
Picture and sound quality maybe?
Some of us do have large tv/projectors, and good quality soundsystems we like to run our content through. I rarely watch media through a tiny computer screen, unless I'm on the road or something.
I'd guess MOST people still do...at least in the US.
How much of a distance did you have to make this haul? How heavy of traffic?
Geez man...grow a pair, eh?
I do wonder when I've seen some guys get married...did they get a spine-ectomy when they got married? C'mon...man-up...you're supposed to be the leader in the family.
As for the exercise, for a given amount of time, you get more of it (though not as much variety) if you ride a bike, because time spent driving is not exercise. The shower time is invariant -- either you shower after you exercise at the gym, or you shower after you exercise on the bike. For variety, I shovel snow."
I guess it also depends on where you live. It just isn't practical here. I don't see how I could pack on everything I wanted for a bike ride to work. I pack my lunch, etc...some days I have to bring the laptop with me home and back...etc. Not to mention, living in New Orleans...the rainy season and seasonal street flooding, the heat and humidity, etc. I'd certainly not look professional when I got to work after a bike ride. I won't even go into the poor conditions of our roads here.
No option to shower after getting to work...?
As for showering after the gym..I leave work in the evenings...go to the gym...then drive home to use my own shower.
Don't get me wrong, a bike is a great exercise and recreational tool, I'm hoping to get a nice one for good weather coming up soon, to ride on the weekends over at City Park...lots of good looking chicks over there to meet and a bike is great for that. But as for it being a practical means of general transportation for me? I don't see it happening. I'd rather not have to get up earlier in the morning because a bike ride would turn a 7-10 minute drive (I speed a lot in the car by the way) into 1-1.5 hours on a bicycle if all went nicely.
Hmm...I dunno where you live, but any city I've been in in recent history HAS no areas that are 25mph streets. Around here, if you are going less than 45-55 mph on a city street, you are gonna get run over...even if in a car!!
I know you are likely talking about posted speeds. Honestly, I have only see 1 or two streets posted at 25mph, most are unposted so 35mph is supposed to be the speed there.
In reality, that posted speed has NOTHING to do with how traffic flows and moves these days. The only use for posted speeds is for the cops to collect revenue when needed, as that no one travels that slow.
That's why I've thought it stupid for a bicycle to be allowed on city streets...it IS just too dangerous for them with the realistic ways people all drive cars on them.
I'm scared as hell when I go out on my motorcycle...they don't see me either, but at least I have a fighting chance on the bike since I have power and can out accelerate the autos...and I generally have a helmet on.
I look at the sale ads that come out weekly, and often on my shopping day (either Sat or Sun) and go hit 1-3 different stores to get the deals on what is on sale. I also love my favorite store, Sam's Club....the warehouse type store to buy things in bulk.
I dunno how people shop for a family on a bike..I've had small 2-seater sports cars all my life and I have to be creative quite often just to fit my purchases into them?!? I like to smoke foods...I doubt lugging around a 15lb brisket on a bicycle is much fun, especially if you're also buying stuff to cook it with (side dishes, charcoal, wood for the smoker). I like to buy on sale and in bulk, and I'm a single guy and there is no way I could do my food without a car. I can't imagine trying to fit all that onto a bus...that doesn't come very close to my house.
And no, I really can't do a 'little shopping' every day. My days are already filled with going to work, then to the gym...then home to eat, do stuff there and crash for the next day. When I'm in between girlfriends, well, I don't have anyone to help out with my stuff (Hey babe can you pick up my stuff at the cleaners?)..so if I don't get it done, it doesn't get done. I dunno where you have all this time to shop almost daily...and cook almost daily.
I pretty much spend my Sundays cooking multiple things and meals for the entire week for breakfast, lunch and dinner...