This apparently has already happened: Sinfonia's Controversy response
Apparently the Opera Company of Brooklyn did not have sufficient musicians or sufficient space to hose them to stage a production of the Magic Flute. They used Sinfonia to replace the missing musicians and it was extremely successful. Based on this, they planned to stage The Marriage of Figaro only to be circumvented by the local union.
According to Sinfonia, they were actually allowing the OCB to stage productions they otherwise could not have afforded to money, musician and space constraints. The article says that this is pretty much the case with the Les Mis production as well, there not being enought space for a full orchestra.
That said, even though I prefer live music at a stage production, spontaniety and change being one of the main attractions of live performance (why see a favorite band/play more than once otherwise?), I would see a production that used something like Simfonia. I live in an area with only a couple of (very conservative) large playhouses. If a smaller company could put on a production they may not have otherwise had the resources for, well, everyone wins and I would support that.
It seems as if I always hear of American management being exported to handle outsourced projects. What kind of opportunity for vertical mobility does that leave for Indian employees? Is there a "glass ceiling" that prevents you from reaching senior programmer, project manager or other leadership positions? Are all your supervisors and bosses Westerners or do some of you work for other native employees? Does this situation cause any resentment, and if so, have you considered or do you know of any that are planning becoming entrepreneurs? Lastly, what kind of resources are provided by Indian government to promote the growth of entrepreneurial business such as grants, loans or tax breaks?
I've been with my geek for 4 years. Even though I'm pretty well qualified for that title myself, I ususally never buy him hardware or geeky toys unless he tells me that's what he wants (and yes, it is all right to ask HIM if you are stuck). The reason? If he doesn't already have it, he probably doesn't want or need it.
The most successful gifts I've given are useful, often more stylish versions of things he's had for years and never upgraded.
For instance, his bulky old digi watch didn't work for dressing up, so I got him an ultra-thin metal
Swatch skin: Swatch Skin.
Now he doesn't even wear his old watch at all.
If he's a gamer, try an Nvidia or ATI hoodie- warm and comfortable but not just a boring clothing gift (just make sure you know which card he prefers first).
We had lost our lotr books in one move or the other, and since he wanted to re-read it I got him the leather bound compilation with the pull out maps for about 85$.
I've also done things like refoaming his old stage speakers. About 80$ and it made quake much more enjoyable for him. I also have bought an inexpensive entertainment center (our tv was on the floor) and an external switchbox that took s-video. I set it up at work and it was a nice surprise; now he can play one of his consoles or watch a dvd without unplugging anything (word of advice: don't try lifting a 36" tv by yourself).
If there's anything that he's been saying he means to do but hasn't got around to use that as a guide. And if you can't think of anything to buy, go somewhere cool, like a picnic on an island or at a park, or plan a weekend trip that involves his interests (i.e. we live in Florida, so I took him to see a shuttle launch at Kennedy Space center a few years ago. Got rained out, but he'd never seen the museums before and we got to see the ISS before it was launched).
Slashdot Mirror
This apparently has already happened: Sinfonia's Controversy response
Apparently the Opera Company of Brooklyn did not have sufficient musicians or sufficient space to hose them to stage a production of the Magic Flute. They used Sinfonia to replace the missing musicians and it was extremely successful. Based on this, they planned to stage The Marriage of Figaro only to be circumvented by the local union. According to Sinfonia, they were actually allowing the OCB to stage productions they otherwise could not have afforded to money, musician and space constraints. The article says that this is pretty much the case with the Les Mis production as well, there not being enought space for a full orchestra.
That said, even though I prefer live music at a stage production, spontaniety and change being one of the main attractions of live performance (why see a favorite band/play more than once otherwise?), I would see a production that used something like Simfonia. I live in an area with only a couple of (very conservative) large playhouses. If a smaller company could put on a production they may not have otherwise had the resources for, well, everyone wins and I would support that.
It seems as if I always hear of American management being exported to handle outsourced projects. What kind of opportunity for vertical mobility does that leave for Indian employees? Is there a "glass ceiling" that prevents you from reaching senior programmer, project manager or other leadership positions? Are all your supervisors and bosses Westerners or do some of you work for other native employees? Does this situation cause any resentment, and if so, have you considered or do you know of any that are planning becoming entrepreneurs? Lastly, what kind of resources are provided by Indian government to promote the growth of entrepreneurial business such as grants, loans or tax breaks?
I've been with my geek for 4 years. Even though I'm pretty well qualified for that title myself, I ususally never buy him hardware or geeky toys unless he tells me that's what he wants (and yes, it is all right to ask HIM if you are stuck). The reason? If he doesn't already have it, he probably doesn't want or need it.
The most successful gifts I've given are useful, often more stylish versions of things he's had for years and never upgraded. For instance, his bulky old digi watch didn't work for dressing up, so I got him an ultra-thin metal Swatch skin: Swatch Skin. Now he doesn't even wear his old watch at all.
If he's a gamer, try an Nvidia or ATI hoodie- warm and comfortable but not just a boring clothing gift (just make sure you know which card he prefers first).
We had lost our lotr books in one move or the other, and since he wanted to re-read it I got him the leather bound compilation with the pull out maps for about 85$.
I've also done things like refoaming his old stage speakers. About 80$ and it made quake much more enjoyable for him. I also have bought an inexpensive entertainment center (our tv was on the floor) and an external switchbox that took s-video. I set it up at work and it was a nice surprise; now he can play one of his consoles or watch a dvd without unplugging anything (word of advice: don't try lifting a 36" tv by yourself).
If there's anything that he's been saying he means to do but hasn't got around to use that as a guide. And if you can't think of anything to buy, go somewhere cool, like a picnic on an island or at a park, or plan a weekend trip that involves his interests (i.e. we live in Florida, so I took him to see a shuttle launch at Kennedy Space center a few years ago. Got rained out, but he'd never seen the museums before and we got to see the ISS before it was launched).