Smart move...6 months ago. Today it's doing the right thing six months too late. They act like bozos until the media spotlight shines on them, then they get smart. There's something really disingenuous about that. It's almost worse then staying scumbags. No one hates sleazebag more than a sleazebag that's a pussy.
But someone in legal probably brought up the annoying yet relevant fact that if all the media got the attention of a really good lawyer they were boned like cheap prom date. The head shed gets religion really fast at times like that. Or when the word "boycott" surfaces in casual conversation.
Times like this it's good to announce the dismissal of several former employees. Put a couple heads on pikes, apologize profusely, send flowers, offer to send her kids to college. This is the Exxon Valdez and what you do in the next 15 minutes can cost or save you billions. I'd be firing some mofo's and acting surprised. Schocked and aghast. It may not keep you from being sued, but it will make a difference when the dollar figure comes down if you reacted strongly when you, supposedly, found out. Reality is nothing, plausibility is everything.
I'd sue the publisher and the author
on
The Saga of Katie.com
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· Score: 2, Insightful
And subpeona all their internal documents related to the domain name. While that was going on I'd also file a criminal complaint.
It just seems insane for the publisher and author to take a hard line on a case like this. They can't win. No matter how it turns out, even if they won in court...highly doubtful...they get dirty. They're already dirty and now it's public dirty laundry waving in the breeze. The abused figures out how to turn a horrible incident into big $$$$ fear mongering on Jerry Springer and in turn becomes the abuser. What a f'ing PR disaster and now the media's got ahold of it.
Even Blake Stowell from SCO couldn't spin that into anything positive. It's so heavy-handed and brazen, you'd think they were doing it deliberately.
Penguin's upper management is either on some serious medication or they need to be. Take away the crack pipe and get them into detox.
If you plan on doing something with your ideas, then commit! Start an S-Corp, get some liability insurance, and have your "employer" pay you by invoice instead, and sub out your own payroll.
The paperwork for an s-corp is pretty signifcant compared to an LLC, which offers much the same protection in most states (YMMV consult your lawyer for specifics of course). You can do the the same thing with straight 1099 if you can get them to go along with it. Professional liability insurance in IT is pretty reasonable. I'd suggest at least a million, maybe five if you work on big projects. You'll also have to start filing quarterly tax returns, which is annoying but not terribly difficult.
A lot of companies don't or won't because they want that control but it does put your relationship on different footing when you can arrange it.
And you're right, in most states you have more bargaining power as a corp (technically an atrificial person) than you do as an individual. The biggie for a lot of people is health insurance. Blue Cross/Blue Shield sells high deductible policies for individuals, but the benefit of being your own corp is being able to figure your charge rate to include overhead. Wo-ho!
Cutting prices won't make all that big of a dent in MSFT profits. Okay, so they take a couple billion off the top, they still make something like 12 billion a quarter. And they have no factory to support, no parts to buy...they can afford to cut prices a long, long way.
Besides, with MSFT the nickle and dime treatment never ends. You pay, pay, pay. Not to mention all the other software you have to buy to keep their crap running right.
Personally, I think it was a bad choice. But if you're going to stay with MSFT, then that's the way to deal with them.
How is your workstation customer doing? I helped convert a small office (five workstations) over to Xandros and it went off without a hitch. After handling a couple "how to" type calls and one printer problem I didn't hear back from them for six months. Called the other day to see how things were going, wondering in the back of my mind if maybe they switched back and just didn't want to tell me.
They were fine. They hadn't called because there weren't any problems. Lucky more companies aren't switching, half of us would be out of a job.
I built a warehouse and shipping management system that ties into a UPS scale hooked to a UPS computer in the warehouse. A box roller track lets the warehouse staff roll the boxes on to the scale.
We were swapping out the computer the scale hooks to and the UPS tech sets the new machine down on the roller track while he's unhooking the old one. Some of you probably realize most box rollers are sloped. I'm on the other side of the isle and turned around just in time to see that brand new PC start rolling down the box rollers, hit the corner and turn into a really expensive and aerodynamically unsound frisbee. The classic waist high drop onto a concrete floor. It landed flat and the plastic cover split as various pieces went spinning off.
We put it back together as best we could, including taping the power switch back in place, and to our mutual surprise when we powered it up it worked fine. In fact, it hasn't had a down day.
In at least one tank out there they tried something that was supposed to harden the sludge, but it started giving off hydrogen gas. Now the tank has a layer of hardened sludge that burps hydrogen every so often.
All but one of the canyon facilities has been closed up and sealed but there are still a lot of enriched fuel rods that need to be processed. Some of them have been in the tanks so long they're decaying and becoming dangerous to handle. If something isn't done about them there will be a problem, guaranteed. Just like the tanks. The longer they sit there, the more they leak. Get on with it already.
Hanford and the Tri-Cities is really a beautiful area. They have hydroplane races on the Columbia every summer, beautiful river side parks and the rural areas near the river are lush farm land. Several very nice wineries are located not far away and there are great places to hike, climb, windsurf and bike all within a short distance.
Adjusted for age the cancer rate in that area is a bit lower than the national average. Probably more related to the great summer weather and opportunities for exercise than the activities at the engineering works.
The one down side are the straight line winds that kick up from time to time. They used to call them termination winds because the next day so many people would come in and quit. They will scour the paint right off your car if you're unlucky enough to be out driving.
Yes, there are clean up issues that need to be addressed at Hanford, but don't let that color your perception of the entire area. It's really very nice.
A morally bankrupt industry pays off a judgment with crap product and probably has a good laugh about how it helped them dump excess inventory and they're probably getting a write off for it on top of that.
If you need low light performance I'd suggest a VX2100 over the DVX100a. If low light isn't a factor, then go with the DVX100a. I have a VX2000 and have shot side by side with DVX shooters and the footage blended fine when we white balanced to a common source.
Unless you're going to be under water you don't need an expensive underwater housing. If it's weather or rain a good weather cover like Porta Brace is very effective.
After that a good shotgun mic like a Sennheiser ME66 and you'll be right in business. Oktava also makes a very respectable mic for dialogue. There are numerous mic comparison clips at DVFreelancer in the Audio section.
They're not all bad in TN. You happen to have two very good legislators: Bob Tanner and Harold Ford Jr. I've met Mr. Ford, a very intelligent and articulate gentleman. Tanner is a Democrat from a very right wing part of the state. Still popular, though.
Okay, anyone want to step up and say the Republicans didn't pull out all their legislative tricks to defeat this amendment? Anyone still want to argue that the Republicans haven't gone completely over to the extreme right? Can anyone really reasonably say that the FBI having access to your library reading without a warrant really makes us safer?
Can't pin this one on the Dems, only four Democrats voted for this amendment vs 194 against.
Combined with their fiscal irresponsibility it seems pretty obvious the Republican party has abandoned most of the positions usually identified as conservative. It's hard to find a label for what they've turned into. Fascism is really the word that comes closest. Whatever it is it's angry, dogmatic, nationalistic, conformist, intrusive and they're spending this country into the ground.
If this represents half of America then we are truly pathetic. We have elevated greed to a religion and sunk to a mental level one step above a third world country.
Your employer is trying to get something for nothing. And they'll keep squeezing you and the others as long as they can get away with it.
If you're going to pay for your own broadband access, cell phone, pager or whatever, then I'd use those resources and the time after hours to start building my own business. Whether in technology or another field.
That's what I did and have a fairly profitable sideline today. If my employer wants to buy my after hours time that's fine, but no freebies. And if they do let you go you'll discover the responsibilities and joys of running your own business.
The only way to like the boss is to be the boss. And there are many, many small to medium size businesses, anywhere from 5 to 15 workstations, that can't afford a full time tech but would love to have someone to call to help with computer problems now and again. Mailings are the best way to find them. Send them a sticky card they can put on the side of their computer. Real estate offices, small medical facilities, restaurants, legal offices, home businesses. There are a ton of places out there. You'll even get calls from bigger companies because they're short of staff and need temporary technical help.
The way I'd look at it is your employer is giving you an opportunity to learn about professional liability insurance, getting a business license, advertising (I'd wait on a yellow pages ad), and paying quarterly tax returns. It's not that hard.
Well, you're right about one narrow point. The Max Cleland incident was the last straw, but it didn't start there. There were plenty of other examples of Rove Politic leading up to that. But I doubt the retelling would benefit you as you don't seem to have any conscience or ethics left to protect.
I disagree that both sides play that game and the Cleland incident was very different. In fact, that "game" what ever it is you're referring to isn't even played or condoned by every Republican. If you consider that kind of third world behavior a game, then you're part of the problem.
And what does globalization have to do with any of it? Though it does raise some interesting questions. If a company making billions in profits needs to ship all their programming and manufacturing jobs off shore to stay competitive, I start wondering who they're competing with that the billions they made aren't enough. But what do you care? If you're not concerned about fabricating lies about the character of a very patriotic American who risked their life and sacrificed limbs and the new brand of right wing politics that makes that tactic acceptable, then why on earth would you care about something as trivial as people without jobs or health insurance?
You don't care about this country, all you care about is yourself. Self interest and victory at any cost. That wasn't the Republican party I was part of, but obviously it's yours. And you're right at home there.
I'm not saying the Dems are completely innocent as well, but let's face it, they're much less in the pocket of large defense contractors, pharmaceutical companies, energy companies, and yes, software monopolies.
It's really only a matter of degrees. Democratic representatives ride on the same corporate jets to industry sponsored fund raisers in exotic locations, among them Hilary Clinton. Big business has infused itself into the legislative process so tightly I don't really think it matters who is in power.
But I do agree it seems as though the Republicans, with a few notable exceptions, have scraped all pretence of representing their constituents and sold out US taxpayers without shame or mercy.
Strange thing is I was a Republican...right up the Max Clelan incident. I think that really highlighted when the Republican party stopped representing traditional Republican values and turned into what some people describe as neo-con but I would say is just good 'ol neo-facist. Which would be partially characterized by big government propping up big companies as you suggested.
The courts didn't allow police to use thermal imaging without a warrant, I doubt they'll get to use this one without a warrant, either.
The article mentioned steel reinforced concrete and metal walls, and I assume that would include metal shipping containers or truck bodies. This would be very handy for screening containers coming into the country and on the whole beneficial if used properly.
Pretty soon we'll have wild weasel missions to block radar viewers and "stealth" houses.
Because most of the shore-side Navy turned their networks over to NMCI, they're pretty much stuck using IE. Just what the military needs, more instutional inertia to overcome in their data management.
I don't think they'd be using Bronze age technology for storing our vital public records.
Ah, but these database records would expose how much money the Bush administration is taking from the Saudi and Indian lobbyists. And that at a time Michael Moore's documentary is plastering that message across theater screens and the administration is denying it. So stall with a totally lame excuse until the film is out of the spotlight, then let it out.
This is just another example of how far removed from reality government has become. Model rockets are seen as potential terrorist weapon and much bigger threats go unaddressed. Instead of focusing on the terrorist threat we launch a war with Iraq. Instead of addressing real threats, we go after model rockets.
Maybe not so strange when you put those ideas close to one another.
I really appreciate your post. Having stopped using Windows at home I don't keep up on the lengths one has to go to keep their machine realitively clean. But I have friends getting porked pretty regularly and don't have any advice for them. A couple of them I've helped switch, but the ones stuck on Windows...no clue what to tell them.
Now I can send them a copy of your post, which I'm doing at this moment. Much appreciated.
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But someone in legal probably brought up the annoying yet relevant fact that if all the media got the attention of a really good lawyer they were boned like cheap prom date. The head shed gets religion really fast at times like that. Or when the word "boycott" surfaces in casual conversation.
Times like this it's good to announce the dismissal of several former employees. Put a couple heads on pikes, apologize profusely, send flowers, offer to send her kids to college. This is the Exxon Valdez and what you do in the next 15 minutes can cost or save you billions. I'd be firing some mofo's and acting surprised. Schocked and aghast. It may not keep you from being sued, but it will make a difference when the dollar figure comes down if you reacted strongly when you, supposedly, found out. Reality is nothing, plausibility is everything.
It just seems insane for the publisher and author to take a hard line on a case like this. They can't win. No matter how it turns out, even if they won in court...highly doubtful...they get dirty. They're already dirty and now it's public dirty laundry waving in the breeze. The abused figures out how to turn a horrible incident into big $$$$ fear mongering on Jerry Springer and in turn becomes the abuser. What a f'ing PR disaster and now the media's got ahold of it.
Even Blake Stowell from SCO couldn't spin that into anything positive. It's so heavy-handed and brazen, you'd think they were doing it deliberately.
Penguin's upper management is either on some serious medication or they need to be. Take away the crack pipe and get them into detox.
But BSA can and will. It's just a different kind of liability.
The paperwork for an s-corp is pretty signifcant compared to an LLC, which offers much the same protection in most states (YMMV consult your lawyer for specifics of course). You can do the the same thing with straight 1099 if you can get them to go along with it. Professional liability insurance in IT is pretty reasonable. I'd suggest at least a million, maybe five if you work on big projects. You'll also have to start filing quarterly tax returns, which is annoying but not terribly difficult.
A lot of companies don't or won't because they want that control but it does put your relationship on different footing when you can arrange it.
And you're right, in most states you have more bargaining power as a corp (technically an atrificial person) than you do as an individual. The biggie for a lot of people is health insurance. Blue Cross/Blue Shield sells high deductible policies for individuals, but the benefit of being your own corp is being able to figure your charge rate to include overhead. Wo-ho!
Besides, with MSFT the nickle and dime treatment never ends. You pay, pay, pay. Not to mention all the other software you have to buy to keep their crap running right.
Personally, I think it was a bad choice. But if you're going to stay with MSFT, then that's the way to deal with them.
How is your workstation customer doing? I helped convert a small office (five workstations) over to Xandros and it went off without a hitch. After handling a couple "how to" type calls and one printer problem I didn't hear back from them for six months. Called the other day to see how things were going, wondering in the back of my mind if maybe they switched back and just didn't want to tell me.
They were fine. They hadn't called because there weren't any problems. Lucky more companies aren't switching, half of us would be out of a job.
I had an idea to mount paintball guns on bicycles and make up a kind of bike dogfight game. That would be fun.
We were swapping out the computer the scale hooks to and the UPS tech sets the new machine down on the roller track while he's unhooking the old one. Some of you probably realize most box rollers are sloped. I'm on the other side of the isle and turned around just in time to see that brand new PC start rolling down the box rollers, hit the corner and turn into a really expensive and aerodynamically unsound frisbee. The classic waist high drop onto a concrete floor. It landed flat and the plastic cover split as various pieces went spinning off.
We put it back together as best we could, including taping the power switch back in place, and to our mutual surprise when we powered it up it worked fine. In fact, it hasn't had a down day.
Sometimes you just have to show them who's boss.
All but one of the canyon facilities has been closed up and sealed but there are still a lot of enriched fuel rods that need to be processed. Some of them have been in the tanks so long they're decaying and becoming dangerous to handle. If something isn't done about them there will be a problem, guaranteed. Just like the tanks. The longer they sit there, the more they leak. Get on with it already.
Hanford and the Tri-Cities is really a beautiful area. They have hydroplane races on the Columbia every summer, beautiful river side parks and the rural areas near the river are lush farm land. Several very nice wineries are located not far away and there are great places to hike, climb, windsurf and bike all within a short distance.
Adjusted for age the cancer rate in that area is a bit lower than the national average. Probably more related to the great summer weather and opportunities for exercise than the activities at the engineering works.
The one down side are the straight line winds that kick up from time to time. They used to call them termination winds because the next day so many people would come in and quit. They will scour the paint right off your car if you're unlucky enough to be out driving.
Yes, there are clean up issues that need to be addressed at Hanford, but don't let that color your perception of the entire area. It's really very nice.
Makes you wonder if they're the exception or us.
Final offer.
We could give them Utah if they agreed never to let Celine Dion leave the country ever again or record another CD.
Unless you're going to be under water you don't need an expensive underwater housing. If it's weather or rain a good weather cover like Porta Brace is very effective.
After that a good shotgun mic like a Sennheiser ME66 and you'll be right in business. Oktava also makes a very respectable mic for dialogue. There are numerous mic comparison clips at DVFreelancer in the Audio section.
Remember when 2000 was supposed to be the most secure ever? Then XP? Now it's Longhorn. I didn't believe them then and I don't believe them now.
I feel sorry for the poor Windows poopies. Paying big bucks to get porked like a cheap prom date. And not so much a kiss from Billy boy.
Frist does whatever Cheney tells him.
It is. It's on Headline News anyway. Running the story every half hour.
I misquoted the number of Democrats voting for this amendment in an earlier post. It was 191 for and 4 against.
But I agree with the poster suggesting there were 210 members of Congress needing immediate replacement, regardless of their party affiliation.
Can't pin this one on the Dems, only four Democrats voted for this amendment vs 194 against.
Combined with their fiscal irresponsibility it seems pretty obvious the Republican party has abandoned most of the positions usually identified as conservative. It's hard to find a label for what they've turned into. Fascism is really the word that comes closest. Whatever it is it's angry, dogmatic, nationalistic, conformist, intrusive and they're spending this country into the ground.
If this represents half of America then we are truly pathetic. We have elevated greed to a religion and sunk to a mental level one step above a third world country.
If you're going to pay for your own broadband access, cell phone, pager or whatever, then I'd use those resources and the time after hours to start building my own business. Whether in technology or another field.
That's what I did and have a fairly profitable sideline today. If my employer wants to buy my after hours time that's fine, but no freebies. And if they do let you go you'll discover the responsibilities and joys of running your own business.
The only way to like the boss is to be the boss. And there are many, many small to medium size businesses, anywhere from 5 to 15 workstations, that can't afford a full time tech but would love to have someone to call to help with computer problems now and again. Mailings are the best way to find them. Send them a sticky card they can put on the side of their computer. Real estate offices, small medical facilities, restaurants, legal offices, home businesses. There are a ton of places out there. You'll even get calls from bigger companies because they're short of staff and need temporary technical help.
The way I'd look at it is your employer is giving you an opportunity to learn about professional liability insurance, getting a business license, advertising (I'd wait on a yellow pages ad), and paying quarterly tax returns. It's not that hard.
I disagree that both sides play that game and the Cleland incident was very different. In fact, that "game" what ever it is you're referring to isn't even played or condoned by every Republican. If you consider that kind of third world behavior a game, then you're part of the problem.
And what does globalization have to do with any of it? Though it does raise some interesting questions. If a company making billions in profits needs to ship all their programming and manufacturing jobs off shore to stay competitive, I start wondering who they're competing with that the billions they made aren't enough. But what do you care? If you're not concerned about fabricating lies about the character of a very patriotic American who risked their life and sacrificed limbs and the new brand of right wing politics that makes that tactic acceptable, then why on earth would you care about something as trivial as people without jobs or health insurance?
You don't care about this country, all you care about is yourself. Self interest and victory at any cost. That wasn't the Republican party I was part of, but obviously it's yours. And you're right at home there.
It's really only a matter of degrees. Democratic representatives ride on the same corporate jets to industry sponsored fund raisers in exotic locations, among them Hilary Clinton. Big business has infused itself into the legislative process so tightly I don't really think it matters who is in power.
But I do agree it seems as though the Republicans, with a few notable exceptions, have scraped all pretence of representing their constituents and sold out US taxpayers without shame or mercy.
Strange thing is I was a Republican...right up the Max Clelan incident. I think that really highlighted when the Republican party stopped representing traditional Republican values and turned into what some people describe as neo-con but I would say is just good 'ol neo-facist. Which would be partially characterized by big government propping up big companies as you suggested.
The article mentioned steel reinforced concrete and metal walls, and I assume that would include metal shipping containers or truck bodies. This would be very handy for screening containers coming into the country and on the whole beneficial if used properly.
Pretty soon we'll have wild weasel missions to block radar viewers and "stealth" houses.
NMCI: Yesterday's technology next week.
Ah, but these database records would expose how much money the Bush administration is taking from the Saudi and Indian lobbyists. And that at a time Michael Moore's documentary is plastering that message across theater screens and the administration is denying it. So stall with a totally lame excuse until the film is out of the spotlight, then let it out.
Maybe not so strange when you put those ideas close to one another.
Now I can send them a copy of your post, which I'm doing at this moment. Much appreciated.