That is a very odd comparison, to say the least. The 2 groups are different in too many ways. The testing styles are too different in too many ways. The requirements were different as well. Testing conditions were different. Etc. Hardly scientific. But, it does make great press, right? Odd that so many Slashdot stories moan about science vs. , but then they go with a weird story like this where a "study" is presented as science just because the authors used sort-of scientific "talk" to present their "findings." Isn't this the type of story that 20/20 or Dateline makes up to get viewers?
As a writer (yes, you can't tell from my slashdot writing, which proves my point...), one needs limitations when one writes. For example, what reading level shoudl I write to, who is the audience, what is the audience comprehension level, and what style or genre would you prefer for my text. The instructions for both tests give very little of this information. I would find it impossible to write to my audience here... the exam graders/judges.
You know, I just love the fact that Anousheh Ansari is up there. It has been so long since we've had such inspiration, imagination, and determination in the space program. Heck, even of all the space programs going on these days in the world. Her presence there is inspirational and has really captured the imagination of my kids and their friends. Simply wonderful to see that look in their eyes that I must have had in the Apollo days. A woman who paid a prize to go to space also paid for her own trip up there. Just for the fun of it! And to boot, with all that is going on in the world, she is of Iranian descent. I mean, come on. If we can't feel good about this and make some "nice" over it, then we should really be ashamed of ourselves.
The same ridiculous politicians who whine about gas prices are the same ones who allow it to be priced in tenths of a cent. I just find that rather humorous. Maybe because it is also the same politicians who are crying to get the penny taken out of currency circulation.
Anyway, all the space on those gas station billboards being take up by "9/10s" could be put to much better use advertising cigarettes.
To sort of answer the question, though, rising gasoline prices act like a tax in the economy, not inflation. Inflation is defined as an increase in available cash in the economy, usually as the result of the govermnet putting more of it there to cover rising prices. Gas is a rare economic beast because it is involved in the price of EVERYTHING you pay for due to transportation costs. And also it is non-elastic in a major way.
I guess they have not figured out that the campy-ness of the show was a big part of the appeal. That and the fact that you were sort of forced to use your imagination to buy into some of it.
It sort of seems to me like they are saying: "We want to make that Klingon more realistic." Um...
Please don't automatically reboot my machines again when the patch's patch is installed. I have the custom options in MS Update to allow me to control install/reboot for the updates. Well, it ignored that this week and rebooted 2 of my machines for me.
Then, I noticed that The Register had a couple of articles this week about the same thing happening to others.
Just who in the hell does MS think they are?
Oh, and if the patch's patch's patch needs a reboot as well, don't do that too.
The injured party is the mope (or market) that the executives sold their stock to. The injured party is the rest of the shareholders. I mean, this is stupidly simple math.
It was illegal when it was done. It was clear that it was illegal. It was (for the most part) hidden very much on purpose. It is very clear what was going on and why they thought they could get away with it.
If the SEC prosecutes all of these instances, than my faith in the market goes up, not down.
Given the histrionics and draconian measures... It would be frickin' genius if bin Laden would hatch a plot to hide explosives in a bra. "Remove your shoes. Toss that Starbucks down the sink! No bras allowed!"
The shoe thing has been a real treat for those TSA employees with foot fetishes, but we need some draconian bra-related measures for the rest of us.
Are we really more secure and free if we can't take a Diet Sprite on our flight to Cleveland?
In a 200 person company, I would get rid of Access on the desktop. I see the appeal, but it's time for the IT department to step up and consolidate database development/maintenance so that it is more centralized.
Once IT takes control of all databases, all sorts of things fall into place, such as security, backups, moving to a single technology (SQL Server or MySQL), etc. At first it is a bit more costly and people will complain about losing flexibility. But in the lgng run, it is cheaper and people who do OTHER work will find it nicer to be able to focus on their core expertise.
The article is a bit brief and can be interpreted in many ways. The summary implies that saving to PDF will not be supported in the final release of Office 2007, even though the feature appears in the latest Public Beta 2 that is out there for all to use.
The article further does not say that this is just a European problem, as that where the alleged future theoretical lawsuit might be filed someday maybe. So, are US consumers off the hook and we will see the feature?
And, if you are unemployed, then you have lots of time to enter programming contests and try to make a name for yourself so that you can get an H1B and job in USA.
I could also draw the conclusion that a country that exports by value the most software in the world probably doesn't need contests to prove anything.
I shall now be modded down as "Needs more Slashdot 'education'"...
I feel that I must make a comment on this story because is is so true. The reality of the Linux-snob mentality is far beyond what this story notes. Linux users are so into trashing MS for its arrogance, but their own arrogance is equivalent. Corporate arrogance or personal arrogance is still arrogance. It is childish, obvious, and sickening. I'm glad that a Slashdot editor had the balls to post the story.
Oh, shut up. Anyone with a public FAX number just needs to get slapped anymore. Give me a break. From Fortune 100 companies I work for to 1-man shops, NOBODY I work with has an always-on-public FAX number.
It's like bitching about smoke signal spam. Which, actually, really used to piss me off until my all-protecting government made it all go away. Please make it all go away, government... I'm so helpless.
This is beyond a no-brainer. I actually doubt the authenticity of the story based on how the real world works. Or maybe the poster is really in a 25 person company or something.
Anyway, here is how it works. Your department has IT needs. These needs are written down. The IT department has guaranteed services it provides. These are written down. Your department takes a budget "hit" to pay for an internal IT department. These are the givens.
Now, if IT does not provide services you NEED/REQUIRE (like backup, duh), then you go to the whomever is above both departments (COO, VP of division, president...) and you show the mismatch. This is not a complaint, just a reason why you are increasing your budget next year to get the services you need to succeed.
Of course, you are keeping a log of all incidents that are occurring and a log of down time and a log of costs to you as a result, etc.
Look, business people are not idiots. The 3 previous paragraphs I write above are beyond no-brainers. Why is this stuff so non-obvious to today's geeks??
The 12 minute delay is due to the Slashdot Effect. Don't buy any of this so-called "speed of light" crap. At least the bandwidth is holding up this time. Most of the last several probes could not handle the Slashdotting and are still down. Even the article mentions this.
Here. Roll this six-sided dice. If you get a 4, you die. You get to roll once. Do it now.
Does that change your mind?
I think that you need to take a very long walk and do some thinking. Your family loves you and wants to support you and you rejected them. I think that you have other problems with your personality and stubborness that are probably worse than the depression you mention.
Right now would be a really good time to grow up. Do it fast.
Finally, in terms of the roll-of-the-dice, you have to understand that comprehension of risk does not fully biologically develop in your brain under you are at least 25. Given that proven fact and your knowledge of "depression risk", is THAT something you should also consider? Or do you just want to consider risks that favor your pre-determined point of view?
Most cancer patients survive the initial cancer. And they move on with their lives. I have 6 survivors in my immediate family and 5 of the 6 have changed their lives and how they live in very significant ways.
In terms of work, which is what your snotty little one-liner seems to be getting at, you go back to work when you are up to it and you move on. If your bosses or colleagues or customers are not understanding of your situation and why you were away all of a sudden, then you have really crappy bosses and colleagues and customers. I have never seen this happen and the cold-heartedness of the workplace that the article implies (and you seem all too willing to accept) simply does not exist. Yes, even co-workers and bosses are human beings no matter where you work. Except for municipal government employees. Those people are just frickin' evil.
I am in the same boat as the author of the article. I found, however, the conclusions and advice to be rather awkward if not just plain weird. To be honest, I doubt the accuracy or sincerity of the author. Sounds a bit James Frey-ish to me.
Here is how it works... You get diagnosed with cancer and then you freakin' forget ANYTHING about work. Period. I don't frickin' care if you are the president or Sheryl Crow. You take care of yourself and your family. Managing your work is just below the bottom of any priority or list you may have.
Been there, done that with too many family members and others in our support network. The article is pure sci-fi/fantasy/victim-hood non-sense. I don't think that in my life that I have ever been offended by anything, but the editor who put this on Slashdot is getting pretty close to being the first to do so.
While I do not like some of the provisions of the PATRIOT Act, this is of no bother to me. Fighting propoganda with propoganda is always a constant. Propoganda has a very pure definition from both sides. Basically, you are stating your point of view with not facts or education to support it. Given that Al Qaeda uses propoganda in such a HUGE (and I mean in terms of reaching hundreds of millions of uneducated poor) way, it seems totally obvious that we use propoganda in the short-to-medium term in exchange. To me, it makes complete sense to use propoganda in certain parts of the world. I see the point because there are so many hundreds of millions who are not as educated as those of us here on this forum.
I am a huge believer in the case that has been made that corporate investment (plants) in the mid-east and Africa will have huge benefits for world-wide peace over time. I am not opposed to UAE taking over port control in our 6 ports here in the US. I am not scared of so-called terrorists. You?
There is NO SUCH THING AS RELIGIOUS OR CULTURAL WARS (such as cartoon wars or wars with Islam, etc.). It does not exist. Every war and dispute is about "HAVE and HAVE NOT." Always has been and will always be. This has been displayed again by free trade with the far east and South America, etc.
Differneces in religion and so-called-culture are brought up only by over-zealous leaders with personal agendas. These issues are used only to fuel a fire. Religion is only ever used as a weapon instead as a reason to go to war. Go to ware for "stuff", and get your people to go to war over "cartoons". And, that last sentence works both ways.
What are the instructors like? That should matter more.
A class at that level is supposed to be about some "concept". Either OOP, or databases, or design, or algorithms... If the class is JUST about the language/platform, then don't even bother taking the class. Unless you have some industry/job specific need to learn a language, then I would avoid it.
Some instructors end up getting bogged down in platform specific issues. For example, ADO when the course should instead be about databases.
So, I'd figure out which instructor will offer the most conceptual learning. Language doesn't matter... unless the FCC is involved. Learn concepts, theory, good practices, etc.
I have to ask... If you were infected by this thing, then why not call law enforcement? You know it is malware of the worst kind and you know exactly who did it to you. Why not call the FBI or your Attorney General and file a criminal report? Couldn't you list Sony or the record store/online store you got it from as the source? I don't know. Seems like a good form of civil disobedience at the very least.
Isn't that what we're supposed to do?
Of course, all Slashdotters were not infected because we all boycott music companies anyway. Right?? Or did I miss a memo?
Come on. If someone secretly installs a rootkit/backdoor on your system and you have no doubt who did it, then you must call the FBI and/or your state authorities. This is a criminal matter, not something to start a boycott about.
If I had been infected, my first course of action would have been to call the FBI and report the store that sold it so that they could clear the shelves/close the store. Injunction, injunction, that's the function.
But, there is no possible way that I can be infected because I enroll in all the Slashdot Boycotts(tm) and haven't purchased a CD or new music in years. Not even iTunes, because the official boycott called for a boycott of all music companies. But somehow, I am still enjoying new music...
Let's spend a couple hundred billion to go there. Great idea.
30 years ago, I learned in frickin' catholic elementary school that Mars had high-speed winds (on the order of a couple hundred knots), common massive unpredictable dust storms, and other nutty stuff going on, including weird volcanoes and possible large magnitude earth quakes. It would therefore be an almost impossible place to visit. Elton John made a similar point. And if he can agree with the nuns, then there must be some truth to it.
The place is inhospitable and there is noone there to raise your kids. End of story. Can we stop getting our next great ideas from sci-fi and focus on something a little more realistic and just as cool? Like sending probes to various moons in the solar system to look for life?
I don't know where this whole "let's go to Mars" thing started, but it was probably some ill-conceived early-day spam. Let's just not go and say we did. Time to move on.
Slashdot Mirror
Hold on just one sec. I need 5 minutes in the bathroom after reading that Slashdot story.
Of course, I'm imagining that the submitter is, um, not your typical Slashdotter.
That is a very odd comparison, to say the least. The 2 groups are different in too many ways. The testing styles are too different in too many ways. The requirements were different as well. Testing conditions were different. Etc. Hardly scientific. But, it does make great press, right? Odd that so many Slashdot stories moan about science vs. , but then they go with a weird story like this where a "study" is presented as science just because the authors used sort-of scientific "talk" to present their "findings." Isn't this the type of story that 20/20 or Dateline makes up to get viewers?
As a writer (yes, you can't tell from my slashdot writing, which proves my point...), one needs limitations when one writes. For example, what reading level shoudl I write to, who is the audience, what is the audience comprehension level, and what style or genre would you prefer for my text. The instructions for both tests give very little of this information. I would find it impossible to write to my audience here... the exam graders/judges.
You know, I just love the fact that Anousheh Ansari is up there. It has been so long since we've had such inspiration, imagination, and determination in the space program. Heck, even of all the space programs going on these days in the world. Her presence there is inspirational and has really captured the imagination of my kids and their friends. Simply wonderful to see that look in their eyes that I must have had in the Apollo days. A woman who paid a prize to go to space also paid for her own trip up there. Just for the fun of it! And to boot, with all that is going on in the world, she is of Iranian descent. I mean, come on. If we can't feel good about this and make some "nice" over it, then we should really be ashamed of ourselves.
This is just fantastic. Thank you, Anousheh.
The same ridiculous politicians who whine about gas prices are the same ones who allow it to be priced in tenths of a cent. I just find that rather humorous. Maybe because it is also the same politicians who are crying to get the penny taken out of currency circulation.
Anyway, all the space on those gas station billboards being take up by "9/10s" could be put to much better use advertising cigarettes.
To sort of answer the question, though, rising gasoline prices act like a tax in the economy, not inflation. Inflation is defined as an increase in available cash in the economy, usually as the result of the govermnet putting more of it there to cover rising prices. Gas is a rare economic beast because it is involved in the price of EVERYTHING you pay for due to transportation costs. And also it is non-elastic in a major way.
I guess they have not figured out that the campy-ness of the show was a big part of the appeal. That and the fact that you were sort of forced to use your imagination to buy into some of it.
It sort of seems to me like they are saying: "We want to make that Klingon more realistic." Um...
Please don't automatically reboot my machines again when the patch's patch is installed. I have the custom options in MS Update to allow me to control install/reboot for the updates. Well, it ignored that this week and rebooted 2 of my machines for me.
Then, I noticed that The Register had a couple of articles this week about the same thing happening to others.
Just who in the hell does MS think they are?
Oh, and if the patch's patch's patch needs a reboot as well, don't do that too.
Oh, and if.... nevermind.
The injured party is the mope (or market) that the executives sold their stock to. The injured party is the rest of the shareholders. I mean, this is stupidly simple math.
It was illegal when it was done. It was clear that it was illegal. It was (for the most part) hidden very much on purpose. It is very clear what was going on and why they thought they could get away with it.
If the SEC prosecutes all of these instances, than my faith in the market goes up, not down.
Given the histrionics and draconian measures... It would be frickin' genius if bin Laden would hatch a plot to hide explosives in a bra. "Remove your shoes. Toss that Starbucks down the sink! No bras allowed!"
The shoe thing has been a real treat for those TSA employees with foot fetishes, but we need some draconian bra-related measures for the rest of us.
Are we really more secure and free if we can't take a Diet Sprite on our flight to Cleveland?
In a 200 person company, I would get rid of Access on the desktop. I see the appeal, but it's time for the IT department to step up and consolidate database development/maintenance so that it is more centralized.
Once IT takes control of all databases, all sorts of things fall into place, such as security, backups, moving to a single technology (SQL Server or MySQL), etc. At first it is a bit more costly and people will complain about losing flexibility. But in the lgng run, it is cheaper and people who do OTHER work will find it nicer to be able to focus on their core expertise.
The article is a bit brief and can be interpreted in many ways. The summary implies that saving to PDF will not be supported in the final release of Office 2007, even though the feature appears in the latest Public Beta 2 that is out there for all to use.
The article further does not say that this is just a European problem, as that where the alleged future theoretical lawsuit might be filed someday maybe. So, are US consumers off the hook and we will see the feature?
And, if you are unemployed, then you have lots of time to enter programming contests and try to make a name for yourself so that you can get an H1B and job in USA.
I could also draw the conclusion that a country that exports by value the most software in the world probably doesn't need contests to prove anything.
I shall now be modded down as "Needs more Slashdot 'education'"...
I feel that I must make a comment on this story because is is so true. The reality of the Linux-snob mentality is far beyond what this story notes. Linux users are so into trashing MS for its arrogance, but their own arrogance is equivalent. Corporate arrogance or personal arrogance is still arrogance. It is childish, obvious, and sickening. I'm glad that a Slashdot editor had the balls to post the story.
Oh, shut up. Anyone with a public FAX number just needs to get slapped anymore. Give me a break. From Fortune 100 companies I work for to 1-man shops, NOBODY I work with has an always-on-public FAX number.
It's like bitching about smoke signal spam. Which, actually, really used to piss me off until my all-protecting government made it all go away. Please make it all go away, government... I'm so helpless.
This is beyond a no-brainer. I actually doubt the authenticity of the story based on how the real world works. Or maybe the poster is really in a 25 person company or something.
Anyway, here is how it works. Your department has IT needs. These needs are written down. The IT department has guaranteed services it provides. These are written down. Your department takes a budget "hit" to pay for an internal IT department. These are the givens.
Now, if IT does not provide services you NEED/REQUIRE (like backup, duh), then you go to the whomever is above both departments (COO, VP of division, president...) and you show the mismatch. This is not a complaint, just a reason why you are increasing your budget next year to get the services you need to succeed.
Of course, you are keeping a log of all incidents that are occurring and a log of down time and a log of costs to you as a result, etc.
Look, business people are not idiots. The 3 previous paragraphs I write above are beyond no-brainers. Why is this stuff so non-obvious to today's geeks??
The 12 minute delay is due to the Slashdot Effect. Don't buy any of this so-called "speed of light" crap. At least the bandwidth is holding up this time. Most of the last several probes could not handle the Slashdotting and are still down. Even the article mentions this.
Um... yeah... About that whole growing up thing... Anyway... Yeah. Um. OK.
Yeah...
Here. Roll this six-sided dice. If you get a 4, you die. You get to roll once. Do it now.
Does that change your mind?
I think that you need to take a very long walk and do some thinking. Your family loves you and wants to support you and you rejected them. I think that you have other problems with your personality and stubborness that are probably worse than the depression you mention.
Right now would be a really good time to grow up. Do it fast.
Finally, in terms of the roll-of-the-dice, you have to understand that comprehension of risk does not fully biologically develop in your brain under you are at least 25. Given that proven fact and your knowledge of "depression risk", is THAT something you should also consider? Or do you just want to consider risks that favor your pre-determined point of view?
Most cancer patients survive the initial cancer. And they move on with their lives. I have 6 survivors in my immediate family and 5 of the 6 have changed their lives and how they live in very significant ways.
In terms of work, which is what your snotty little one-liner seems to be getting at, you go back to work when you are up to it and you move on. If your bosses or colleagues or customers are not understanding of your situation and why you were away all of a sudden, then you have really crappy bosses and colleagues and customers. I have never seen this happen and the cold-heartedness of the workplace that the article implies (and you seem all too willing to accept) simply does not exist. Yes, even co-workers and bosses are human beings no matter where you work. Except for municipal government employees. Those people are just frickin' evil.
I am in the same boat as the author of the article. I found, however, the conclusions and advice to be rather awkward if not just plain weird. To be honest, I doubt the accuracy or sincerity of the author. Sounds a bit James Frey-ish to me.
Here is how it works... You get diagnosed with cancer and then you freakin' forget ANYTHING about work. Period. I don't frickin' care if you are the president or Sheryl Crow. You take care of yourself and your family. Managing your work is just below the bottom of any priority or list you may have.
Been there, done that with too many family members and others in our support network. The article is pure sci-fi/fantasy/victim-hood non-sense. I don't think that in my life that I have ever been offended by anything, but the editor who put this on Slashdot is getting pretty close to being the first to do so.
While I do not like some of the provisions of the PATRIOT Act, this is of no bother to me. Fighting propoganda with propoganda is always a constant. Propoganda has a very pure definition from both sides. Basically, you are stating your point of view with not facts or education to support it. Given that Al Qaeda uses propoganda in such a HUGE (and I mean in terms of reaching hundreds of millions of uneducated poor) way, it seems totally obvious that we use propoganda in the short-to-medium term in exchange. To me, it makes complete sense to use propoganda in certain parts of the world. I see the point because there are so many hundreds of millions who are not as educated as those of us here on this forum.
I am a huge believer in the case that has been made that corporate investment (plants) in the mid-east and Africa will have huge benefits for world-wide peace over time. I am not opposed to UAE taking over port control in our 6 ports here in the US. I am not scared of so-called terrorists. You?
There is NO SUCH THING AS RELIGIOUS OR CULTURAL WARS (such as cartoon wars or wars with Islam, etc.). It does not exist. Every war and dispute is about "HAVE and HAVE NOT." Always has been and will always be. This has been displayed again by free trade with the far east and South America, etc.
Differneces in religion and so-called-culture are brought up only by over-zealous leaders with personal agendas. These issues are used only to fuel a fire. Religion is only ever used as a weapon instead as a reason to go to war. Go to ware for "stuff", and get your people to go to war over "cartoons". And, that last sentence works both ways.
Moe
What are the instructors like? That should matter more.
A class at that level is supposed to be about some "concept". Either OOP, or databases, or design, or algorithms... If the class is JUST about the language/platform, then don't even bother taking the class. Unless you have some industry/job specific need to learn a language, then I would avoid it.
Some instructors end up getting bogged down in platform specific issues. For example, ADO when the course should instead be about databases.
So, I'd figure out which instructor will offer the most conceptual learning. Language doesn't matter... unless the FCC is involved. Learn concepts, theory, good practices, etc.
My god. It is like going to a Rolls Royce dealer to steal a car and taking the Geo Metro from the Used lot.
Seriously, I'd take RIAA a bit more seriously if they placed value on the song based on market value like the judge did in the My Sweet Lord case.
I have to ask... If you were infected by this thing, then why not call law enforcement? You know it is malware of the worst kind and you know exactly who did it to you. Why not call the FBI or your Attorney General and file a criminal report? Couldn't you list Sony or the record store/online store you got it from as the source? I don't know. Seems like a good form of civil disobedience at the very least.
Isn't that what we're supposed to do?
Of course, all Slashdotters were not infected because we all boycott music companies anyway. Right?? Or did I miss a memo?
Maybe nobody called the FBI.
Come on. If someone secretly installs a rootkit/backdoor on your system and you have no doubt who did it, then you must call the FBI and/or your state authorities. This is a criminal matter, not something to start a boycott about.
If I had been infected, my first course of action would have been to call the FBI and report the store that sold it so that they could clear the shelves/close the store. Injunction, injunction, that's the function.
But, there is no possible way that I can be infected because I enroll in all the Slashdot Boycotts(tm) and haven't purchased a CD or new music in years. Not even iTunes, because the official boycott called for a boycott of all music companies. But somehow, I am still enjoying new music...
Let's spend a couple hundred billion to go there. Great idea.
30 years ago, I learned in frickin' catholic elementary school that Mars had high-speed winds (on the order of a couple hundred knots), common massive unpredictable dust storms, and other nutty stuff going on, including weird volcanoes and possible large magnitude earth quakes. It would therefore be an almost impossible place to visit. Elton John made a similar point. And if he can agree with the nuns, then there must be some truth to it.
The place is inhospitable and there is noone there to raise your kids. End of story. Can we stop getting our next great ideas from sci-fi and focus on something a little more realistic and just as cool? Like sending probes to various moons in the solar system to look for life?
I don't know where this whole "let's go to Mars" thing started, but it was probably some ill-conceived early-day spam. Let's just not go and say we did. Time to move on.