Actually this is the fun part. Governments have been "enforcing" open source as gimmicks. The only way to show there is a REAL market is to have an actual producer get involved and actually PROVIDE the goods and support. Red Hat did its part, various OSS groups did their part, etc.
They weren't tax supported, but they did a better job than all the tax supported wealth consuming agencies out there:)
I agree, once the cards hit my neck of the woods, if they're well implemented in hardware, I'll gladly supplant my 7800's in my SLI rig:) (Or build another one.)
But how many Americans, Canadians or even Mexicans can, off the tops of their heads name any other sovereign states on the North American map, besides those three? Most of them have similar educations... with the only graduating credential in ANY Prussian School System being "obedience" and "respect" of authority. (Hint: All western schools are based on the Prussian School System. Their only true purpose is to turn out "replaceable cogs in the machine". A job they accomplish admirably.)
I can guarantee that most will barely be able to recognize their own country. Put a blank map in front of as many as you wish, without advance warning of the "test/quiz" and then enjoy watching them know less than you expected. If they can recognize Panama, Honduras, etc, you're in luck. But I doubt they will.
When I was in school, most of my "classmates" (I hesitate to abuse the word "peer" because it implies they are my known equals) could not even locate the G-8 on the map. Better yet... most couldn't find anything BUT those 3 big countries you mention on the map... and some still mistook Canada for Alaska. Others mistook Mexico and Canada. As for Panama and the rest of the tiny countries? Good luck. More maps will not mean "more interest".
(And I do agree, as I have several maps on my walls... personal interest cannot be legislated or forced down people's throats in school. Your comment, while cute, is not how the real world works, has worked, or ever will work. People do what they are interested in, not what they are forced to. The schools never do anything to pique interest in the average human. The excellent human might have his or her own interest, but that is regardless of the schooling they are forced to endure or not. The only thing schooling CAN do is destroy that interest by associating it with boredom and routine. This is something schools often do in order to promote "sameness" among its peons... ahem... students.)
I find that "panopticon" is something unfamiliar to many western readers. This concept, however was evident in many places where totalitarian authoritarian states were to be found. This includes the North American continent which has at least 3 known authoritarian states.
However, the Great Firewall is no surprise, as it is more likely civilian self censorship and self policing that results in most "apprehensions" of dissenters the Chinese government makes yearly. Many of these people are not caught by the "technologies" or police departments, but instead are turned in by "good citizens" (otherwise known as family members and friends).
And since this was never designed as a "representative democracy" you got what you deserved. When you can't even pretend to know your own history, or what actually "may" have occurred in the past, how can you sit there and pretend that you're living either free, or represented?
All events have been carefully crafted to lead this world to where it has gotten today. Those who didn't miss the plot line, can thoroughly enjoy the humorous sarcasm with which the masters have led the mindless cattle to their deserved fates. Call them liberals, call them democrats... call the conservatives or fascists. They all got what they deserved, they clamored for masters to keep them "safe" and they got the masters they desired.
Good riddance to all the rubbish... i.e. the mindless swine who ran off the hill.
Well you don't "receive it" you ask for it. I refused to ask for it. Isn't really that simple? I don't like paying taxes, because I receive no services for it, so after my first year, and learning about the downsides to being in debt to the government via student (or any other loans) I decided not to play that game, and instead finished my college work part time, over the last few years.
Its a preference thing, frankly speaking. You can live your life how you want, and I live mine my way. Simple enough eh?
Let me put it as someone I once knew put it to me.
"It isn't that I don't appreciate help when I'm down. It is only the fact that I don't demand help when I'm down, nor do I expect it. I don't ask that someone else be forced to help me, but if someone willingly does, then they have earned my respect and appreciation."
I accept help from private men and women, I just don't accept it from the government or its helpers. I've seen entirely too many strings attached to those contracts, and unconditional acceptance hinges on the mere "taking" of the carrot they hang in front of you. I've played that game once, and never will again.
You know what they say right? "Fool me once... shame on you... fool me twice... shame on..." You don't fool me twice with the same pattern of tricks.
Actually you did what any consumer should but won't. You used YOUR property YOUR way. Don't feel bad. Of course if you're in England, you can choose to bow your head, but again, you don't have to, even there.
There is such a thing as the old law of contracts and according to that, there are VERY direct rules to contracting. Funny part about that is that the person at the SHOP is the one that is in charge of entering into that sale contract with you.
There's more to it, but some has been codified again into the UCC... do very careful reading of it if you're in the USA at any point. Helps a lot with doing business at any point.
Give me a break. You were given free training in a high demand field during the boom years.
Interesting. My father always tried to teach all his workers. They always tried to steal from him. The ones that DID NOT were the ones that kept their jobs and were well paid. Period. When I learned this stuff I paid my very own, very hard earned cash.
Suffice it to say that when a guy tells me "I can make 35 bucks an hour in DC doing this", I said, okay, rent in DC is twice for a dump what you pay here for a nice apartment... fine, either get going to DC right now... go there to make twice the money, but if you intend to spend the rest of the day on this job site and actually get paid from this company's funds, I expect you to get your boots off the table, get out of the trailer, and get back to work.
Tell me this then. What do you do with someone who's previous employee gives him a horrible feedback? Do you just assume he's telling the truth? Or that you may have a highly skilled person sitting in front of you that didn't get along with the previous boss?
Employer? I presume you mean employer. I've never put out an add in the paper "boss needed, good employee reviews required"... As I've said... I make decisions based on what I see, what I read, and what I hear.
The same way, I don't buy what everyone's selling. Not everything is quantifiable... a remarkably bad review warrants further research, especially if the guy seems competent or honest during the interview. In the end, if I want someone, they'll prove if they're worth it or not during their trial run. If they're worth it, they stay. It isn't that hard to put into practice.
You know, you remind me of myself during my "be a socialist" attempt... I tried hard to stay hateful, and angry, and a member of the "oppressed and downtrodden victim" class. It was my only year of full time college. Surrounded by other "oppressed and downtrodden" college students. And you know what I discovered? It took EFFORT to stay angry and not get up and clean house. In the end, you can stay down, and stay upset that others are winning... or you can examine why you're fighting over the same piece of cheese... and find another. Believe me or not, there is LOTS of cheese in this world... and all the rats in the race are all fighting over the one piece hanging in front of them. (And the totalitarians make sure that they each get a fair cut, after the dividers get THEIR bigger cuts first. But god forbid that all the rats notice that there is plenty of other cheese outside the maze. That'd leave the totalitarian government rats without their choice cuts.)
Why does a government agency get to dictate what is and isn't true?
As far as I see it, and any so called "consumer" should... if a GOOD is sold... then claim to it is relinquished for that object/service. Whether its an apple, or a DVD, if I give it to you in exchange for your cash, I can't tell you what to do with it or whom to show it to. Neither can you tell me not to use your cash to strengthen my own assets. Oh well, free markets aren't free in this world and will not be for at least a few more years.
An interview will NEVER prove how skilled a man may be. A guy may be able to talk the talk, but not walk it.
You cannot find out what someone knows until you put them out in the field, and let them show you their skills. An interview has never shown me a man's character or his skill or work ethic. Sure they can lie to me all day long, with a straight face. But once I get someone out in the field, I find out what they can do.
Everyone IS created equal... but that doesn't mean everyone remains equal throughout life. Some choose to lag behind, others pull ahead. Those are choices we each make, and we should be unrestricted in making those choices. Failure IS an option, just as success is an option. As are all degrees of each in between the extremes.
No need. It was fun. I've seen and done things most people only see in movies. Thanks for the attempt though, but there is no need for pity. I enjoy everything I do, even arguing on this board (as pointless as trying to sway socialists to take responsibility for their own lives can be).
I think the agreement may well have been "don't fly armed nuclear warheads, ready to launch". If they were "carrying" them, they'd probably be secured in the cargo area... I'm no military man, but I am quite familiar with weapons talk, I believe the term is either "secure the weapon" or "make safe the weapon"... either way it implies not having the weapon loaded and live.
I have taught gun safety before, I'm pretty sure I know how to keep "accidents" from happening, this is just a scaled down problem... almost reminds me of stupid kids or adults playing with guns saying "oh its not loaded", while their finger is on the trigger and the gun is pointed at someone they don't intend to shoot (both are no nos in weapon safety).
The only thing here is that, as I understand it, the issue wasn't "transportation" it was "readiness to fire" that was the problem. Flying nukes is one thing, flying ready and armed nukes is another. If some idiot thinks its an exercise and sets off what turns out to be a live nuke, there will be hell to pay, and it can easily be written off as an "al quaida" attack. You can bet the farm on that.
Yeah, did you know that this little thing called the Constitution has a clause in it (not an amendment either, like that much ignored list of 10 amendments called "the bill of rights", but an ACTUAL clause in it) that states that ALL treaties entered into by CONGRESS shall be the supreme law of the land?
The treaty you are referring to, is the "UN, Nuclear Arms NPT (Non Proliferation Treaty)". Sure I don't approve of the UN either, but that is a treaty we've entered into by allowing the tyrants in DC to do as they pleased.
Thanks man... look, I know I seem to be vicious and aggressive, and those things I am... when it comes to business, I do what it takes to win. That being said, I've never treated those I work with any differently than I'd treat myself. That's why I used to buy the lunches when they did well (those 5 bucks subway/blimpie/quiznos subs add up quick). I love the camaraderie on a good crew, but I hate thieves and scumbags. You get all types, and sometimes they really are people who got a raw deal from "society". I don't mind getting some folks who actually "change". Its not something that's unheard of.
Who knows, if I hadn't been robbed during my anti-gun socialist phase, I might have succeeded at believing that I could be a member of the administrati, living off the welfare of the state theft machine (tax revenue). However, after seeing how quickly the cops can show up to a robbery... I realized that its everybody for himself, and if we can make life better for a few through OUR own voluntary efforts, then good. But it cannot be forced upon us by others. That's called socialism... and in other times it was called tyranny.
I've experimented with all of these things... and I found that a true free market is the ONLY thing I approve of.
(But damn it was fun seeing my father's face when I used to spout that "evils of capitalism" crap to him. This being your classic self made businessman (and an escapee from communism)... he started from veritable nothing and ended up wealthy... he did it twice, once under communism, running a black market farm operation, for which the state in question declared him a "public enemy" and "capitalist oppressor", despite the fact that during a time when production was crap due to socialized standards, and collectivization, his little farm in the middle of nowhere was feeding EVERYONE that worked there, AND produced enough to sell at the local markets. After he was "shut down" he got pissed, told the heads of the "party" (the societal planners in the area) to go sodomize themselves, and then packed his bags and left for America. When he arrived here, he found that leaving all his cash back home was a bad idea. But after being bounced around a bit by the "job market" he saved up some cash and bought a van and some tools. Within a few years he had a fleet and paying with cash for new cars. Was it easy? No. Was it rewarding? Yes. Did he feed some of the people who used to tell us to "go back where you came from"? Yep. Was he meaner than me, and ten times as tough? Yes. I still respect him, even if he's an old geezer now. Because his unwillingness to bend his knee to any ruler is what gave me my unwillingness to be broken by some lame "societal planners". It really is all how strong you are, how clever you are, and how unwilling to submit you are. Everything else follows nicely. (The sheep will always tell you that you're "cheating the system". Ironically you're actually USING the system that they themselves designed and voted for.)
Its like shopping for cars... There are those who pay sticker. There are those who go into massive debt to do so, and there are those who know how to shop for cars, new and used... and how to haggle. I remember my first car... a Buick... paid my old man almost 1000 bucks for it. (Yes, he didn't "give" me the car, he SOLD it to me:) He bought it at 600, so he made a profit on it too... And I took damn good care of it, because it was MINE... I worked for it. It wasn't just property, I also had control over it (proper paperwork). He never passed up a chance to teach me a lesson. He truly is a damn good father. (He also taught me that profit (financial and personal) is a MUCH greater motivator than spankings or "allowances".)
So I salute you back, and I hope that if you decide to run a business, you study up on the old law of contracts, and learn how to do business. And then KEEP all of what you earn. After that, direct it in whatever endeavor you prefer. It is your call, and your
You ever hire someone with "glowing" recommendations and find out they REALLY suck but their previous employer was scared of a defamation lawsuit so he said nice things about the guy?
Then you can't get rid of him because you'll pay his unemployment? Yeah I'm cheap. That's why I didn't have to go bankrupt.
Ditto, I'm white (no secret), but I've hired Mexicans, without a second thought (some of those boys work ten times harder than whites, they just need direction, but the work ethic is impeccable). If they work, I keep'em, if they don't, I fire them. Same as with blacks, asians and whiteboys. I discriminate on quality and quantity of work, not on the color of skin.
I'm straight but I wouldn't hesitate to hire a homosexual either. So long as he/she knows that if I fire him or her, it ain't cause I don't like who they make out with... that's a personal issue they should take care of in their personal problem.
I have always been an "equal opportunity" employer and firer, so to speak. I give everyone who is good enough a chance to do their best. If their best isn't at least as good as my worst, I don't need them.
Its like choosing clients for your business. If you take just anyone... then you get what you deserve. Some good, some bad. If you're established enough, get picky, it will serve you ADMIRABLY in the end. Most big big service companies end up having a preferred client list, and the only way to get on it and do business with them, is to be invited to it. This is not something small timers will know of, but I've had the opportunity of doing business with two such companies and from the businessman standpoint, it is a JOY. (Course if you get careless, anyone will skin you alive, its the nature of existence itself.)
Why not attach your name and email to that thread, I'd love to actually send you paperwork on how to do it. If you want to do legitimate business, without enforcing government oppression, instead of screaming for socialism, start a business and run it the way you want, with the people you want. That is what this country was SUPPOSED to be about, but the vast masses cry a river that the government won't employ them and tax those "evil" businessmen more.
You get brownie points. That was the best and most thought out put down I've ever received. It was also ignorant as can be, pointing out that you didn't even read my posts before attacking me. You get the actual "closed mindedness award".
Actually no... I have great disdain for uncomfortable clothing. I wear jeans and shorts and do most of my office work on the road now. I can do almost everything from running my own IT, to building a house from scratch. Only thing I'd hire you is something I don't feel like wasting my own time for. I find that hiring people is HEAVILY discouraged by government regulations. Last time my father ran a half million dollar project before retiring, he found that overtime taxation cost him almost 50 grand every week. Suffice it to say that our estimate did not include the heavy taxation that the locals and feds imposed on our workers for being well paid. We had to mortgage the office building we owned just so we could pay your precious "social cost". We also had to fire several people in order to make ends meet. Thank your taxation authority for that. I'm not going to make all my workers suffer in order to achieve the greater good. I started this business to prosper by my efforts, contractual, mental and physical. I am not about to sacrifice the prosperity of the truly good workers for those who are just a tax liability on me and my assets. Until you actually DO business as a small business, and then try to go big and hire more people, you don't realize how hard the government makes it to compete with its sanctioned monopolies.
As for your quality versus quantity argument... did you read my other posts? That is exactly what I argue for. That payment should follow production... production in my book (as my other posts should've enlightened you to) refers to quality AND quantity. I don't refer to communist production. And I prefer not paying for what doesn't benefit me, just as YOU should not pay for what does not benefit you. I would prefer you to stay at home and learn a second craft, art, trade, whatever, than to stay at the office, and be bored to death mastering solitaire.
Then perhaps you would learn what I've learned.
It sounds to me like your managers are just like me, only they don't tell you. I would personally prefer to keep my guys at home, taking care of their families and getting to know their kids... EXCEPT when there is work to be done, and just pay them out of the proceeds of the work, instead of paying them to waste time at work. First thing I learned working for myself was how to structure my time so I can get maximum ENJOYMENT out of it. When its work, its work, when its not, then I don't take my work at home with me.
And if you KNEW me, you'd know I'm hands off, but I'm a vicious inspector after the job is done. If I have to redo it, then you're not coming back to work the next day. If I'm pleased with it, you stay on the crew and are well compensated. And it matters little if you're man or woman, I'll as soon keep a girl on the crew as a guy... since I don't screw my office people, or my field people, sex doesn't get you promoted. If I need to hire a professional for sex, you can guarantee that I'd hire someone that is paid per job, a contractor, so to speak.
My office is wherever I open up my laptop:) I own the place, any money I make or don't make is my own problem:) Anyone that works for me has THEIR money set aside:)
Yep, I jumped out of the IT field a couple of years back, when I realized that the only IT guys that actually do work are the contracting IT guys. The others are nothing different than insurance policy. Feel free to judge me as you will. I'm just finally venting all the angst I've been building up from socialists claiming they know what is best for everyone.
So yeah... call me an asshole, call me a bad boss. Most of the guys I hired for jobs in the last 3 years have been all too happy to work for me. I pay better and I treat them like men. Of course that's something that isn't taught in school anymore. After all, they had to ban kickball and tag because it "hurt children's self esteem". They drug half the schoolchildren in America for things that half a century ago were termed "growing pains" or "boys will be boys".
There are things I don't do, that bosses at places that paid for me to sit around DID do.
-I don't accuse my men of ANYTHING without proper evidence. -I don't reward them for doing what they're supposed to. I pay them for that. -I don't leave them UNrewarded when they perform above and beyond the call of duty. -I don't short them of opportunities to grow. If they want to learn something, I don't stand in their way. -I don't lie to my people. I tell them exactly what to expect. Its what my old man did for me. -I don't insult them. If they're lazy, that's not an insult. -If it comes down to firing them, I'll damn right tell them why. -I do not sabotage their future career chances, even if they're not what I'm looking for. Unless they steal. -I don't condone stealing... or lying. When their third grandmother dies... that calls for evidence.
And I'm not "corporate" America. My current business is not a "corporation" as you are accustomed to. I don't trade with the permission of the "help" of the government and as a result it is not governed by their laws and regulations (it is, however governed by the simple rules that once existed between all who contract but have long been forgotten by the sheep of today's society). I make my own way, fix my own problems. I don't have dissatisfied clients... because I pick my clients closely, they're not the only ones interviewing during meetings. If I don't like them, or don't feel they'd suit my business well, I don't take them on, long ago it was called "smart business", nowadays its not even a chapter in the economics classes... (those classes subscribe to Keynesian mythology anyways). In exchange, doing business is a pleasure.
And as for the secretary in question... *I* (normally had my father been around it would have been his call in those days) fired her because she was still on the phone on a personal call, and the books weren't done and she had received more "leniency" over personal business than your crew probably does. It was the end of the day. I should not, after coming in sweaty and tired, have to clean up and do the books, I don't pay people so I can do their work. That isn't why I, or my father, or my mom or any employer would hire a secretary. We, and you, hire them to keep the office running PROPERLY. Same reason you and your particular crew are hired. If the owner came in and saw you sitting around while there's a virus raping the network and deleting or corrupting client files... I can guarantee you'd be fired in about 30 seconds and an outside contractor brought in for fixes.
****As an aside, when we had nothing to do at my IT biz, we played Quake 3:) Had a client who had us install a Windows 2003 server, and all he did was run Unreal Tournament off of it. Quite a fun place to contract to. I billed him an hour once, because he had me coach a new guy on how to play.
No... I worked on a construction sites I didn't do "management" until I was almost 20. Only "management" section of work I had was catching those who stole equipment or materials. I got really good at it too. I think its called "loss prevention" nowadays.
He would even deduct stolen tools from my paycheck. And to top it off, he'd cut my pay to zero for the day if he was displeased with my work ethic... that was our contract. The crew worked 8 hours with overtime... I worked alongside. If he felt unhappy, I went home broke that day. He wasn't unfair, but he made me earn my pay. You got an allowance as a kid... I got my old man laughing when I brought it up. Said "that's why so many Americans can't work... because they got allowances".
And that was the last time I brought it up.
As an upside... "daddy's boy" passed the class A contracting license exam by 18, and could've passed the journeyman and master tests for electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas fitting by the time I was 18 (had to wait till 22).
Actually I have a REAL problem with "hourly" billing. My time is worth at least a pound of GOLD per week. Whatever that translates at in the local currency, I don't need to be paid in gold... cash is easier. If I get less than that, I see it as a loss on the financial side. If I do a job, I would sooner be paid PER task accomplished, than per hours wasted. This way, the price can be set to the importance of the task, instead of to how many hours are wasted or not in doing the task. This also frees up time that would be wasted twiddling thumbs, for doing more useful things... hell even writing a book would be better.
Try to present this pay for production system to "workers" and they will go nuts... how DARE you try to bring up a system where only production is paid, and idle time is either used for other endeavors or idled away (despite the little socialists screaming that the capitalist "oppressors" are "stealing their labor", when you try to pay them ONLY for production, they go NUTS!!)
During my short time working for others, I found only ONE company where I was paid per project accomplished. I was happy as a pig in slop, though some "co workers" were very upset that they barely made a hundred bucks in a week, but I decided to experience other working jobs... and worked "per hour" and found it was disgusting. There is little incentive to finish early, or finish well. When working for others you're always working to pass the hours, not really trying to FINISH the work and finish it WELL. There's no reason... there's always more employers. As opposed to working for yourself, when you have EVERY incentive to do a good job, and do it fast. After all, every hour as a self employed man is either productive in funds or goods, or productive in relaxation, without any fear that "someone will catch you slacking off".
I could go on with a long list of my personal accomplishments, both before and after graduation, or with the fact that I found school to be a bore, blah blah, but in the end it comes down to this. I took responsibility for my life, and it worked out fine... without having to worry about poverty. That is all there is to it.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually this is the fun part. Governments have been "enforcing" open source as gimmicks. The only way to show there is a REAL market is to have an actual producer get involved and actually PROVIDE the goods and support. Red Hat did its part, various OSS groups did their part, etc.
:)
:) (Or build another one.)
They weren't tax supported, but they did a better job than all the tax supported wealth consuming agencies out there
I agree, once the cards hit my neck of the woods, if they're well implemented in hardware, I'll gladly supplant my 7800's in my SLI rig
Indeed your wishful thinking is correct.
But how many Americans, Canadians or even Mexicans can, off the tops of their heads name any other sovereign states on the North American map, besides those three? Most of them have similar educations... with the only graduating credential in ANY Prussian School System being "obedience" and "respect" of authority. (Hint: All western schools are based on the Prussian School System. Their only true purpose is to turn out "replaceable cogs in the machine". A job they accomplish admirably.)
I can guarantee that most will barely be able to recognize their own country. Put a blank map in front of as many as you wish, without advance warning of the "test/quiz" and then enjoy watching them know less than you expected. If they can recognize Panama, Honduras, etc, you're in luck. But I doubt they will.
When I was in school, most of my "classmates" (I hesitate to abuse the word "peer" because it implies they are my known equals) could not even locate the G-8 on the map. Better yet... most couldn't find anything BUT those 3 big countries you mention on the map... and some still mistook Canada for Alaska. Others mistook Mexico and Canada. As for Panama and the rest of the tiny countries? Good luck. More maps will not mean "more interest".
(And I do agree, as I have several maps on my walls... personal interest cannot be legislated or forced down people's throats in school. Your comment, while cute, is not how the real world works, has worked, or ever will work. People do what they are interested in, not what they are forced to. The schools never do anything to pique interest in the average human. The excellent human might have his or her own interest, but that is regardless of the schooling they are forced to endure or not. The only thing schooling CAN do is destroy that interest by associating it with boredom and routine. This is something schools often do in order to promote "sameness" among its peons... ahem... students.)
I find that "panopticon" is something unfamiliar to many western readers. This concept, however was evident in many places where totalitarian authoritarian states were to be found. This includes the North American continent which has at least 3 known authoritarian states.
However, the Great Firewall is no surprise, as it is more likely civilian self censorship and self policing that results in most "apprehensions" of dissenters the Chinese government makes yearly. Many of these people are not caught by the "technologies" or police departments, but instead are turned in by "good citizens" (otherwise known as family members and friends).
Again this comes as no surprise to me.
Nice quote. Saw that in a game recently too... Warhammer 40k, the psyker fellow says that.
Cheers leftenant... nice Sig.
:) (The cheaper one.)
Mine's an X5
And since this was never designed as a "representative democracy" you got what you deserved. When you can't even pretend to know your own history, or what actually "may" have occurred in the past, how can you sit there and pretend that you're living either free, or represented?
All events have been carefully crafted to lead this world to where it has gotten today. Those who didn't miss the plot line, can thoroughly enjoy the humorous sarcasm with which the masters have led the mindless cattle to their deserved fates. Call them liberals, call them democrats... call the conservatives or fascists. They all got what they deserved, they clamored for masters to keep them "safe" and they got the masters they desired.
Good riddance to all the rubbish... i.e. the mindless swine who ran off the hill.
Well you don't "receive it" you ask for it. I refused to ask for it. Isn't really that simple? I don't like paying taxes, because I receive no services for it, so after my first year, and learning about the downsides to being in debt to the government via student (or any other loans) I decided not to play that game, and instead finished my college work part time, over the last few years.
Its a preference thing, frankly speaking. You can live your life how you want, and I live mine my way. Simple enough eh?
Details :)
You can't let details get in the way of press. Even bad press is STILL good press.
You must've misunderstood what I've said.
Let me put it as someone I once knew put it to me.
"It isn't that I don't appreciate help when I'm down. It is only the fact that I don't demand help when I'm down, nor do I expect it. I don't ask that someone else be forced to help me, but if someone willingly does, then they have earned my respect and appreciation."
I accept help from private men and women, I just don't accept it from the government or its helpers. I've seen entirely too many strings attached to those contracts, and unconditional acceptance hinges on the mere "taking" of the carrot they hang in front of you. I've played that game once, and never will again.
You know what they say right? "Fool me once... shame on you... fool me twice... shame on..." You don't fool me twice with the same pattern of tricks.
Actually you did what any consumer should but won't. You used YOUR property YOUR way. Don't feel bad. Of course if you're in England, you can choose to bow your head, but again, you don't have to, even there.
There is such a thing as the old law of contracts and according to that, there are VERY direct rules to contracting. Funny part about that is that the person at the SHOP is the one that is in charge of entering into that sale contract with you.
There's more to it, but some has been codified again into the UCC... do very careful reading of it if you're in the USA at any point. Helps a lot with doing business at any point.
Give me a break. You were given free training in a high demand field during the boom years.
Interesting. My father always tried to teach all his workers. They always tried to steal from him. The ones that DID NOT were the ones that kept their jobs and were well paid. Period. When I learned this stuff I paid my very own, very hard earned cash.
Suffice it to say that when a guy tells me "I can make 35 bucks an hour in DC doing this", I said, okay, rent in DC is twice for a dump what you pay here for a nice apartment... fine, either get going to DC right now... go there to make twice the money, but if you intend to spend the rest of the day on this job site and actually get paid from this company's funds, I expect you to get your boots off the table, get out of the trailer, and get back to work.
Tell me this then. What do you do with someone who's previous employee gives him a horrible feedback? Do you just assume he's telling the truth? Or that you may have a highly skilled person sitting in front of you that didn't get along with the previous boss?
Employer? I presume you mean employer. I've never put out an add in the paper "boss needed, good employee reviews required"... As I've said... I make decisions based on what I see, what I read, and what I hear.
The same way, I don't buy what everyone's selling. Not everything is quantifiable... a remarkably bad review warrants further research, especially if the guy seems competent or honest during the interview. In the end, if I want someone, they'll prove if they're worth it or not during their trial run. If they're worth it, they stay. It isn't that hard to put into practice.
You know, you remind me of myself during my "be a socialist" attempt... I tried hard to stay hateful, and angry, and a member of the "oppressed and downtrodden victim" class. It was my only year of full time college. Surrounded by other "oppressed and downtrodden" college students. And you know what I discovered? It took EFFORT to stay angry and not get up and clean house. In the end, you can stay down, and stay upset that others are winning... or you can examine why you're fighting over the same piece of cheese... and find another. Believe me or not, there is LOTS of cheese in this world... and all the rats in the race are all fighting over the one piece hanging in front of them. (And the totalitarians make sure that they each get a fair cut, after the dividers get THEIR bigger cuts first. But god forbid that all the rats notice that there is plenty of other cheese outside the maze. That'd leave the totalitarian government rats without their choice cuts.)
Why does a government agency get to dictate what is and isn't true?
As far as I see it, and any so called "consumer" should... if a GOOD is sold... then claim to it is relinquished for that object/service. Whether its an apple, or a DVD, if I give it to you in exchange for your cash, I can't tell you what to do with it or whom to show it to. Neither can you tell me not to use your cash to strengthen my own assets. Oh well, free markets aren't free in this world and will not be for at least a few more years.
An interview will NEVER prove how skilled a man may be. A guy may be able to talk the talk, but not walk it.
You cannot find out what someone knows until you put them out in the field, and let them show you their skills. An interview has never shown me a man's character or his skill or work ethic. Sure they can lie to me all day long, with a straight face. But once I get someone out in the field, I find out what they can do.
Everyone IS created equal... but that doesn't mean everyone remains equal throughout life. Some choose to lag behind, others pull ahead. Those are choices we each make, and we should be unrestricted in making those choices. Failure IS an option, just as success is an option. As are all degrees of each in between the extremes.
No need. It was fun. I've seen and done things most people only see in movies. Thanks for the attempt though, but there is no need for pity. I enjoy everything I do, even arguing on this board (as pointless as trying to sway socialists to take responsibility for their own lives can be).
I think the agreement may well have been "don't fly armed nuclear warheads, ready to launch". If they were "carrying" them, they'd probably be secured in the cargo area... I'm no military man, but I am quite familiar with weapons talk, I believe the term is either "secure the weapon" or "make safe the weapon"... either way it implies not having the weapon loaded and live.
I have taught gun safety before, I'm pretty sure I know how to keep "accidents" from happening, this is just a scaled down problem... almost reminds me of stupid kids or adults playing with guns saying "oh its not loaded", while their finger is on the trigger and the gun is pointed at someone they don't intend to shoot (both are no nos in weapon safety).
The only thing here is that, as I understand it, the issue wasn't "transportation" it was "readiness to fire" that was the problem. Flying nukes is one thing, flying ready and armed nukes is another. If some idiot thinks its an exercise and sets off what turns out to be a live nuke, there will be hell to pay, and it can easily be written off as an "al quaida" attack. You can bet the farm on that.
Yeah, did you know that this little thing called the Constitution has a clause in it (not an amendment either, like that much ignored list of 10 amendments called "the bill of rights", but an ACTUAL clause in it) that states that ALL treaties entered into by CONGRESS shall be the supreme law of the land?
The treaty you are referring to, is the "UN, Nuclear Arms NPT (Non Proliferation Treaty)". Sure I don't approve of the UN either, but that is a treaty we've entered into by allowing the tyrants in DC to do as they pleased.
Thanks man... look, I know I seem to be vicious and aggressive, and those things I am... when it comes to business, I do what it takes to win. That being said, I've never treated those I work with any differently than I'd treat myself. That's why I used to buy the lunches when they did well (those 5 bucks subway/blimpie/quiznos subs add up quick). I love the camaraderie on a good crew, but I hate thieves and scumbags. You get all types, and sometimes they really are people who got a raw deal from "society". I don't mind getting some folks who actually "change". Its not something that's unheard of.
:) He bought it at 600, so he made a profit on it too... And I took damn good care of it, because it was MINE... I worked for it. It wasn't just property, I also had control over it (proper paperwork). He never passed up a chance to teach me a lesson. He truly is a damn good father. (He also taught me that profit (financial and personal) is a MUCH greater motivator than spankings or "allowances".)
Who knows, if I hadn't been robbed during my anti-gun socialist phase, I might have succeeded at believing that I could be a member of the administrati, living off the welfare of the state theft machine (tax revenue). However, after seeing how quickly the cops can show up to a robbery... I realized that its everybody for himself, and if we can make life better for a few through OUR own voluntary efforts, then good. But it cannot be forced upon us by others. That's called socialism... and in other times it was called tyranny.
I've experimented with all of these things... and I found that a true free market is the ONLY thing I approve of.
(But damn it was fun seeing my father's face when I used to spout that "evils of capitalism" crap to him. This being your classic self made businessman (and an escapee from communism)... he started from veritable nothing and ended up wealthy... he did it twice, once under communism, running a black market farm operation, for which the state in question declared him a "public enemy" and "capitalist oppressor", despite the fact that during a time when production was crap due to socialized standards, and collectivization, his little farm in the middle of nowhere was feeding EVERYONE that worked there, AND produced enough to sell at the local markets. After he was "shut down" he got pissed, told the heads of the "party" (the societal planners in the area) to go sodomize themselves, and then packed his bags and left for America. When he arrived here, he found that leaving all his cash back home was a bad idea. But after being bounced around a bit by the "job market" he saved up some cash and bought a van and some tools. Within a few years he had a fleet and paying with cash for new cars. Was it easy? No. Was it rewarding? Yes. Did he feed some of the people who used to tell us to "go back where you came from"? Yep. Was he meaner than me, and ten times as tough? Yes. I still respect him, even if he's an old geezer now. Because his unwillingness to bend his knee to any ruler is what gave me my unwillingness to be broken by some lame "societal planners". It really is all how strong you are, how clever you are, and how unwilling to submit you are. Everything else follows nicely. (The sheep will always tell you that you're "cheating the system". Ironically you're actually USING the system that they themselves designed and voted for.)
Its like shopping for cars... There are those who pay sticker. There are those who go into massive debt to do so, and there are those who know how to shop for cars, new and used... and how to haggle. I remember my first car... a Buick... paid my old man almost 1000 bucks for it. (Yes, he didn't "give" me the car, he SOLD it to me
So I salute you back, and I hope that if you decide to run a business, you study up on the old law of contracts, and learn how to do business. And then KEEP all of what you earn. After that, direct it in whatever endeavor you prefer. It is your call, and your
You ever hire someone with "glowing" recommendations and find out they REALLY suck but their previous employer was scared of a defamation lawsuit so he said nice things about the guy?
Then you can't get rid of him because you'll pay his unemployment? Yeah I'm cheap. That's why I didn't have to go bankrupt.
Ditto, I'm white (no secret), but I've hired Mexicans, without a second thought (some of those boys work ten times harder than whites, they just need direction, but the work ethic is impeccable). If they work, I keep'em, if they don't, I fire them. Same as with blacks, asians and whiteboys. I discriminate on quality and quantity of work, not on the color of skin.
I'm straight but I wouldn't hesitate to hire a homosexual either. So long as he/she knows that if I fire him or her, it ain't cause I don't like who they make out with... that's a personal issue they should take care of in their personal problem.
I have always been an "equal opportunity" employer and firer, so to speak. I give everyone who is good enough a chance to do their best. If their best isn't at least as good as my worst, I don't need them.
Its like choosing clients for your business. If you take just anyone... then you get what you deserve. Some good, some bad. If you're established enough, get picky, it will serve you ADMIRABLY in the end. Most big big service companies end up having a preferred client list, and the only way to get on it and do business with them, is to be invited to it. This is not something small timers will know of, but I've had the opportunity of doing business with two such companies and from the businessman standpoint, it is a JOY. (Course if you get careless, anyone will skin you alive, its the nature of existence itself.)
Why not attach your name and email to that thread, I'd love to actually send you paperwork on how to do it. If you want to do legitimate business, without enforcing government oppression, instead of screaming for socialism, start a business and run it the way you want, with the people you want. That is what this country was SUPPOSED to be about, but the vast masses cry a river that the government won't employ them and tax those "evil" businessmen more.
Cry me a river.
You get brownie points. That was the best and most thought out put down I've ever received. It was also ignorant as can be, pointing out that you didn't even read my posts before attacking me. You get the actual "closed mindedness award".
Actually no... I have great disdain for uncomfortable clothing. I wear jeans and shorts and do most of my office work on the road now. I can do almost everything from running my own IT, to building a house from scratch. Only thing I'd hire you is something I don't feel like wasting my own time for. I find that hiring people is HEAVILY discouraged by government regulations. Last time my father ran a half million dollar project before retiring, he found that overtime taxation cost him almost 50 grand every week. Suffice it to say that our estimate did not include the heavy taxation that the locals and feds imposed on our workers for being well paid. We had to mortgage the office building we owned just so we could pay your precious "social cost". We also had to fire several people in order to make ends meet. Thank your taxation authority for that. I'm not going to make all my workers suffer in order to achieve the greater good. I started this business to prosper by my efforts, contractual, mental and physical. I am not about to sacrifice the prosperity of the truly good workers for those who are just a tax liability on me and my assets. Until you actually DO business as a small business, and then try to go big and hire more people, you don't realize how hard the government makes it to compete with its sanctioned monopolies.
As for your quality versus quantity argument... did you read my other posts?
That is exactly what I argue for. That payment should follow production... production in my book (as my other posts should've enlightened you to) refers to quality AND quantity. I don't refer to communist production. And I prefer not paying for what doesn't benefit me, just as YOU should not pay for what does not benefit you. I would prefer you to stay at home and learn a second craft, art, trade, whatever, than to stay at the office, and be bored to death mastering solitaire.
Then perhaps you would learn what I've learned.
It sounds to me like your managers are just like me, only they don't tell you. I would personally prefer to keep my guys at home, taking care of their families and getting to know their kids... EXCEPT when there is work to be done, and just pay them out of the proceeds of the work, instead of paying them to waste time at work. First thing I learned working for myself was how to structure my time so I can get maximum ENJOYMENT out of it. When its work, its work, when its not, then I don't take my work at home with me.
And if you KNEW me, you'd know I'm hands off, but I'm a vicious inspector after the job is done. If I have to redo it, then you're not coming back to work the next day. If I'm pleased with it, you stay on the crew and are well compensated. And it matters little if you're man or woman, I'll as soon keep a girl on the crew as a guy... since I don't screw my office people, or my field people, sex doesn't get you promoted. If I need to hire a professional for sex, you can guarantee that I'd hire someone that is paid per job, a contractor, so to speak.
My office is wherever I open up my laptop :) I own the place, any money I make or don't make is my own problem :) Anyone that works for me has THEIR money set aside :)
Any other questions?
Yep, I jumped out of the IT field a couple of years back, when I realized that the only IT guys that actually do work are the contracting IT guys. The others are nothing different than insurance policy. Feel free to judge me as you will. I'm just finally venting all the angst I've been building up from socialists claiming they know what is best for everyone.
:) Had a client who had us install a Windows 2003 server, and all he did was run Unreal Tournament off of it. Quite a fun place to contract to. I billed him an hour once, because he had me coach a new guy on how to play.
So yeah... call me an asshole, call me a bad boss. Most of the guys I hired for jobs in the last 3 years have been all too happy to work for me. I pay better and I treat them like men. Of course that's something that isn't taught in school anymore. After all, they had to ban kickball and tag because it "hurt children's self esteem". They drug half the schoolchildren in America for things that half a century ago were termed "growing pains" or "boys will be boys".
There are things I don't do, that bosses at places that paid for me to sit around DID do.
-I don't accuse my men of ANYTHING without proper evidence.
-I don't reward them for doing what they're supposed to. I pay them for that.
-I don't leave them UNrewarded when they perform above and beyond the call of duty.
-I don't short them of opportunities to grow. If they want to learn something, I don't stand in their way.
-I don't lie to my people. I tell them exactly what to expect. Its what my old man did for me.
-I don't insult them. If they're lazy, that's not an insult.
-If it comes down to firing them, I'll damn right tell them why.
-I do not sabotage their future career chances, even if they're not what I'm looking for. Unless they steal.
-I don't condone stealing... or lying. When their third grandmother dies... that calls for evidence.
And I'm not "corporate" America. My current business is not a "corporation" as you are accustomed to. I don't trade with the permission of the "help" of the government and as a result it is not governed by their laws and regulations (it is, however governed by the simple rules that once existed between all who contract but have long been forgotten by the sheep of today's society). I make my own way, fix my own problems. I don't have dissatisfied clients... because I pick my clients closely, they're not the only ones interviewing during meetings. If I don't like them, or don't feel they'd suit my business well, I don't take them on, long ago it was called "smart business", nowadays its not even a chapter in the economics classes... (those classes subscribe to Keynesian mythology anyways). In exchange, doing business is a pleasure.
And as for the secretary in question... *I* (normally had my father been around it would have been his call in those days) fired her because she was still on the phone on a personal call, and the books weren't done and she had received more "leniency" over personal business than your crew probably does. It was the end of the day. I should not, after coming in sweaty and tired, have to clean up and do the books, I don't pay people so I can do their work. That isn't why I, or my father, or my mom or any employer would hire a secretary. We, and you, hire them to keep the office running PROPERLY. Same reason you and your particular crew are hired. If the owner came in and saw you sitting around while there's a virus raping the network and deleting or corrupting client files... I can guarantee you'd be fired in about 30 seconds and an outside contractor brought in for fixes.
****As an aside, when we had nothing to do at my IT biz, we played Quake 3
No... I worked on a construction sites I didn't do "management" until I was almost 20. Only "management" section of work I had was catching those who stole equipment or materials. I got really good at it too. I think its called "loss prevention" nowadays.
He would even deduct stolen tools from my paycheck. And to top it off, he'd cut my pay to zero for the day if he was displeased with my work ethic... that was our contract. The crew worked 8 hours with overtime... I worked alongside. If he felt unhappy, I went home broke that day. He wasn't unfair, but he made me earn my pay. You got an allowance as a kid... I got my old man laughing when I brought it up. Said "that's why so many Americans can't work... because they got allowances".
And that was the last time I brought it up.
As an upside... "daddy's boy" passed the class A contracting license exam by 18, and could've passed the journeyman and master tests for electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas fitting by the time I was 18 (had to wait till 22).
Daddy's boy my ass.
Actually I have a REAL problem with "hourly" billing. My time is worth at least a pound of GOLD per week. Whatever that translates at in the local currency, I don't need to be paid in gold... cash is easier. If I get less than that, I see it as a loss on the financial side. If I do a job, I would sooner be paid PER task accomplished, than per hours wasted. This way, the price can be set to the importance of the task, instead of to how many hours are wasted or not in doing the task. This also frees up time that would be wasted twiddling thumbs, for doing more useful things... hell even writing a book would be better.
Try to present this pay for production system to "workers" and they will go nuts... how DARE you try to bring up a system where only production is paid, and idle time is either used for other endeavors or idled away (despite the little socialists screaming that the capitalist "oppressors" are "stealing their labor", when you try to pay them ONLY for production, they go NUTS!!)
During my short time working for others, I found only ONE company where I was paid per project accomplished. I was happy as a pig in slop, though some "co workers" were very upset that they barely made a hundred bucks in a week, but I decided to experience other working jobs... and worked "per hour" and found it was disgusting. There is little incentive to finish early, or finish well. When working for others you're always working to pass the hours, not really trying to FINISH the work and finish it WELL. There's no reason... there's always more employers. As opposed to working for yourself, when you have EVERY incentive to do a good job, and do it fast. After all, every hour as a self employed man is either productive in funds or goods, or productive in relaxation, without any fear that "someone will catch you slacking off".
I could go on with a long list of my personal accomplishments, both before and after graduation, or with the fact that I found school to be a bore, blah blah, but in the end it comes down to this. I took responsibility for my life, and it worked out fine... without having to worry about poverty. That is all there is to it.