From the blog: ''Homeland security applications are the big reason we were chosen for this award,'' says Rutenbar. ''Imagine if an emergency responder could query a critical online database with voice alone, without returning to a vehicle, in a noisy and dangerous environment. The possibilities are endless.''
Like some slight tweaking in order to deploy massive voiceprint-recognition silicon arrays for amazingly efficient automatic realtime conversation transcription and identity determination, attached to Echelon.
So cool... so potentially evil... head begins to hurt... tinfoil hat burning....
"If the only popular games using OpenGL use the same engine, that tends to make me think that people are not fond of programming for OpenGL in general, just one person/company."
Yes, but as you say they may have just simply created a kick-ass engine, in which case if you wanted to leverage OpenGL (cross-platform titles come to mind) there's less reason for others to create from scratch.
Combine that with the OpenGL-friendly Torque game engine and you've got a good pair of heavyweight tools.
From their site: "The Torque Game Engine started life as the technology behind Dynamix/Sierra/Vivendis products Tribes, Starsiege, and Tribes 2, and is an industry proven engine. It is currently being used by thousands of developers around the world with shipping titles such as Marble Blast, Orbz, Think Tanks, Tennis Critters, and the upcoming mecha game, Lore."
"With laws that cannot be read we are all illiterates."
With laws that cannot be read, we are all "as-yet-designated" terrorists, pending the whim of either political malfeasance or bureaucratic error.
To this day I still LMAO thinking of how easy it was to shut up the "keep the gov't off my back" types who claimed to be conservatives defending the Constitution. Just chant the magic word "terrorism" and they went to sleep like gassed animals at the local pound. That's right little fellah, you can have your little assault weapon. Everything's fine. Now close your eyes... relax....
I used to think my Refleco3000(tm) tinfoil hat was enough. These days I'm looking for a tinfoil bodysuit.:-/
As someone pointed out over at groklaw, 31 million is almost exactly all SCO is now worth in reserves, assets, etc. Team Boise ain't exactly sacrificing much here.
Everyone talks about SCO running a sleazy poorly executed shakedown (I agree), but I'm wondering if Boise and Crew have just shown us how to run a sleazy *brilliantly* executed shakedown - of SCO.
And from reviewing all the filings, it's clear Boise et al weren't exactly working overtime with their best and brightest in putting the case together.
Boise: "Hey look, it's a moron with tons of money. Let's string him along and see where it takes us."
The would-be con men have been conned, and damn well I'd say.
"Please do not rely on a litigant's motion papers to prove a point. [... ] I am sure SCO's motions look pretty too - - it is not as if both sides lack for decent lawyers. In most cases anyway a judge will let the jury decide"
Have you actually *read* each side's filings over the past year? I've read many of them, including the latest round. SCO's lawyers come off sounding like drunken frat boys on a dare. IBM's wrecking crew sound like The Terminator, unwavering, unimpressed, and about to crush you under metal alloy heel.
You really need to read the entire filing on this one. It's night and day.
Saying you can't judge the case based on filings is like saying you can't judge the likely outcome of a football match by looking at the players, where one team is a bunch of kids in nappies and the other are bouncing the ball around the circle with their heads.
... So please refrain from computing for the next 7 years. Just go about your lives. Pay no attention to the penguin and cute little red daemon over there. Hey look! Over here! Have this complimentary Plush Clippy!
"I won't argue it is easy, or it will happen quickly, just that is how I think we should view this opportunity."
Tragedy and opportunity are definitely just different sides of the same coin. I fully agree that those of us who want to stay afloat in this industry will need to adjust - skills, even spending habits (the 90's ain't ever coming back). And that certainly brings opportunity for some, you and I intend to be among them.
A lot of others are getting screwed though, and until there are some global agreements in place on things like basic environmental law, human rights, workers' rights, etc. it will be extremely hard to have a level playing field.
Logging is a clear example. We can ban clear-cutting in North America, but unless it's met with corresponding import tariffs on timber imported from countries where cheap clear-cutting is still allowed, that just screws up the balance. You lose if you try to Do The Right Thing.
Luckily there are no such problems in UT 2004. And seeing as to how it's Beer O'Clock, I'll see you on the field. *8-)
"Well if you want to skim off money you have to add value somehow.
Supervision, hiring good people, project management, ensure quality, provide customer support, all those things customers want."
Which still brings us down to the numbers game. N developers cannot possibly migrate into N corresponding management positions. You'd be lucky to have even N/3 management positions open up, and odds are those are going to be filled by someone who is (drumroll please) already a manager for said company.
I'm not taking a position on whether offshoring is good or bad (because clearly it's both - good if you're the one offshore, bad if you're the one onshore). But the original claim was that offshoring IT jobs will lead to more IT jobs in America. That's patently, demonstrably false.
Jobs are leaving, for better or worse. It will happen to India just like it's happening to us. Corporate greed will always seek out the bottom line, just like shortsighted blue-collar consumers will shop faithfully at Walmart for "those great deals" to stretch their unemployment checks... after their factory shuts down to move overseas... which was done to keep the vampires at Walmart happy.
"Since programmers don't need to be physically close, why not hire the cheapest capable person? If you only pay $10/hr, you make $40/their hour, of course minus your management work."
Works fine until people wonder why they're paying the middleman $50 at all when they can turn around and hire the $10/hour worker directly. And that is exactly the situation here.
IT staff aren't getting magically "promoted" into "higher value added positions" when their jobs are outsourced. Their actual job is leaving the country, and they're being laid off. Whether that's better or worse is a relative viewpoint. Regardless, there aren't any equal-paying (much less better-paying) jobs replacing them.
"
What about this doesn't make sense, when I was 14, I worked for a guy cutting lawns doing almost exactly this."
Yeah that's great, except you can't offshore outsource lawn mowing. Going offshore you can exploit a completely different tier of societies that aren't tied to the ecomonic regulations and expenses of the corporation's home country. You can't live on $3/day here in the States.
"Jet fighters, tanks, bombers, conventional missles, etc are what sell. And please don't try and tell me that China makes them better."
No, but I'll wager they sell theirs a hell of a lot cheaper. Luckily our last great national resource here in America - Reality TV Programming - will save our economy...(?)
Crap, we're going to be herded onto the 'B' Ark within the next 10 years, aren't we?
This has to be the first ever economic theory equivalent of the Chewbacca Defense.
Chewbacca supposedly lives on the planet Endor. Now why would an 8-foot tall wookie live on a planet with a bunch of 3-foot tall Ewoks? Why, I tell you why: because it doesn't make sense.
Claiming that outsourcing IT jobs from a country will increase IT employment in that same country doesn't make sense.
None of this makes any sense.
If it doesn't make sense, there will be more jobs for American IT workers.
"In hindsight, I think the answer of "Penguins?" would be better suited.
"
:-) Angry pengiuns. In ninja suits.
Dilemma though - wouldn't Cmdr. Tux and forces be likely to sympathize with the OS geeks seeking safe-haven from the DMCA? I foresee a complex web of underground partisan intrigue. Casablanca South.
"Where were you last night?"
"That's so long ago, I don't remember."
"Will I see you tonight?"
"I never make plans that far ahead. "
"This story has be passed around and it has fueled the "The US Gov is evvviiiiiiil" fires for a while. The problem is that it is very misleading."
The problem, however, is that this is not an isolated incident due to a single visa issue. There's a broader pattern of similar behavior on the part of US authorities.
Please read it, it's enlightening. Note that the article was written this month.
"Ok...here's a proposal. [... ] How about, instead of mindlessly bashing what they are trying, coming up with something better. Something that won't take decades to bring to fruition [... ] Let's try to fix the process, instead of jumping up and down, screaming."
I fully agree. Another critical angle is to
contact your representatives and be heard. Your phone call is actually more powerful than your vote in many ways. Your vote gets the person into/out of office, your phone calls/email/letters gives them direct feedback on specific issues.
Followup ideas on How To Do It Better to follow shortly, but I've got to knock out a conference call first. Yeah, work. The nerve of them.;-)
"Well, yes. After implementing any system, you review after a period of time, and correct mistakes/problems."
Yes, and BEFORE implementing a system like an inherently error-prone No-Fly list, even some basic design review of error recovery should have been firmly in place, beyond "there's this guy you can call and something might be done, maybe, if you're a senior gov't figure." I'd loved to have been in on the design meeting where that was finalized.
It took a senior senator 3 WEEKS to get off the list. Think you'd have ANY chance? That's broken by design. And given past abuses (Euro journalists denied entry to US due to their "mistaken" inclusion on The List) I have zero confidence in this not being used as a political tool. Tom DeLay's "missing plane w/ congressmen" false report to the FAA, for example.
And that's only the painfully obvious list. What about the ones you're never allowed to see?
Nearly every aspect of this homeland "security" as implemented appears to have come from some underperforming kindergarten class. "And colors! We'll have pretty colors for the national terrorism alert level!"
Meanwhile actual terrorists, whose plans apparently are NOT drawn up by underperforming kindergartners, will be busy trying to get one of their own put onto the equally poorly thought-out "security express" list that allows previously cleared individuals minimal security review at airports.
But that's just me talking, some guy who's never benefitted from a terrorist attack, unlike those now supposedly in charge of preventing them.
Slashdot Mirror
"He was referring to MS's history of... and kicking your dog. To my knowledge, Mozilla has never done that."
No, but Mozilla once tried to *eat* my dog.
"I think such "remixes" are vital for culture. [
Yeah! Like Greedo shooting first! Oh... wait...
From the blog: ''Homeland security applications are the big reason we were chosen for this award,'' says Rutenbar. ''Imagine if an emergency responder could query a critical online database with voice alone, without returning to a vehicle, in a noisy and dangerous environment. The possibilities are endless.''
Like some slight tweaking in order to deploy massive voiceprint-recognition silicon arrays for amazingly efficient automatic realtime conversation transcription and identity determination, attached to Echelon.
So cool... so potentially evil... head begins to hurt... tinfoil hat burning....
"If the only popular games using OpenGL use the same engine, that tends to make me think that people are not fond of programming for OpenGL in general, just one person/company."
Yes, but as you say they may have just simply created a kick-ass engine, in which case if you wanted to leverage OpenGL (cross-platform titles come to mind) there's less reason for others to create from scratch.
Combine that with the OpenGL-friendly Torque game engine and you've got a good pair of heavyweight tools.
From their site: "The Torque Game Engine started life as the technology behind Dynamix/Sierra/Vivendis products Tribes, Starsiege, and Tribes 2, and is an industry proven engine. It is currently being used by thousands of developers around the world with shipping titles such as Marble Blast, Orbz, Think Tanks, Tennis Critters, and the upcoming mecha game, Lore."
"With laws that cannot be read we are all illiterates."
With laws that cannot be read, we are all "as-yet-designated" terrorists, pending the whim of either political malfeasance or bureaucratic error.
To this day I still LMAO thinking of how easy it was to shut up the "keep the gov't off my back" types who claimed to be conservatives defending the Constitution. Just chant the magic word "terrorism" and they went to sleep like gassed animals at the local pound. That's right little fellah, you can have your little assault weapon. Everything's fine. Now close your eyes... relax....
I used to think my Refleco3000(tm) tinfoil hat was enough. These days I'm looking for a tinfoil bodysuit. :-/
"I refuse to obey a law that I cannot read".
Well that would certainly get the illiterates off the hook in all kinds of situations.... :-)
"In poker, that's called "milking". Remind me never to play power with Boise et al. "
Man, no kidding! Darl's teats are going to be damn sore in the morning...
As someone pointed out over at groklaw, 31 million is almost exactly all SCO is now worth in reserves, assets, etc. Team Boise ain't exactly sacrificing much here.
Everyone talks about SCO running a sleazy poorly executed shakedown (I agree), but I'm wondering if Boise and Crew have just shown us how to run a sleazy *brilliantly* executed shakedown - of SCO.
And from reviewing all the filings, it's clear Boise et al weren't exactly working overtime with their best and brightest in putting the case together.
Boise: "Hey look, it's a moron with tons of money. Let's string him along and see where it takes us."
The would-be con men have been conned, and damn well I'd say.
"Please do not rely on a litigant's motion papers to prove a point. [
Have you actually *read* each side's filings over the past year? I've read many of them, including the latest round. SCO's lawyers come off sounding like drunken frat boys on a dare. IBM's wrecking crew sound like The Terminator, unwavering, unimpressed, and about to crush you under metal alloy heel.
You really need to read the entire filing on this one. It's night and day.
Saying you can't judge the case based on filings is like saying you can't judge the likely outcome of a football match by looking at the players, where one team is a bunch of kids in nappies and the other are bouncing the ball around the circle with their heads.
"I've been working as a Technical Support specialist because all you College-educated people stole my job as a Fry Cook."
Were you able to adjust to the paycut alright?
"Yes, we're familiar with the works of Robin Williams."
I'm not. Does he have a thing for platypuses or something?
"According to the Mayan Calendar We'll only get a year to enjoy it!"
We won't even get there. I hesitate to instigate a panic, but... MY calendar runs out on Dec 31 of THIS YEAR! AAAIEEEEEE!
"What if God smoked Cannibis?"
Dude, come on. The platypus is a dead giveaway.
... So please refrain from computing for the next 7 years. Just go about your lives. Pay no attention to the penguin and cute little red daemon over there. Hey look! Over here! Have this complimentary Plush Clippy!
"I won't argue it is easy, or it will happen quickly, just that is how I think we should view this opportunity."
Tragedy and opportunity are definitely just different sides of the same coin. I fully agree that those of us who want to stay afloat in this industry will need to adjust - skills, even spending habits (the 90's ain't ever coming back). And that certainly brings opportunity for some, you and I intend to be among them.
A lot of others are getting screwed though, and until there are some global agreements in place on things like basic environmental law, human rights, workers' rights, etc. it will be extremely hard to have a level playing field.
Logging is a clear example. We can ban clear-cutting in North America, but unless it's met with corresponding import tariffs on timber imported from countries where cheap clear-cutting is still allowed, that just screws up the balance. You lose if you try to Do The Right Thing.
Luckily there are no such problems in UT 2004. And seeing as to how it's Beer O'Clock, I'll see you on the field. *8-)
"Well if you want to skim off money you have to add value somehow. Supervision, hiring good people, project management, ensure quality, provide customer support, all those things customers want."
Which still brings us down to the numbers game. N developers cannot possibly migrate into N corresponding management positions. You'd be lucky to have even N/3 management positions open up, and odds are those are going to be filled by someone who is (drumroll please) already a manager for said company.
I'm not taking a position on whether offshoring is good or bad (because clearly it's both - good if you're the one offshore, bad if you're the one onshore). But the original claim was that offshoring IT jobs will lead to more IT jobs in America. That's patently, demonstrably false.
Jobs are leaving, for better or worse. It will happen to India just like it's happening to us. Corporate greed will always seek out the bottom line, just like shortsighted blue-collar consumers will shop faithfully at Walmart for "those great deals" to stretch their unemployment checks... after their factory shuts down to move overseas... which was done to keep the vampires at Walmart happy.
"Since programmers don't need to be physically close, why not hire the cheapest capable person? If you only pay $10/hr, you make $40/their hour, of course minus your management work."
Works fine until people wonder why they're paying the middleman $50 at all when they can turn around and hire the $10/hour worker directly. And that is exactly the situation here.
IT staff aren't getting magically "promoted" into "higher value added positions" when their jobs are outsourced. Their actual job is leaving the country, and they're being laid off. Whether that's better or worse is a relative viewpoint. Regardless, there aren't any equal-paying (much less better-paying) jobs replacing them.
" What about this doesn't make sense, when I was 14, I worked for a guy cutting lawns doing almost exactly this."
Yeah that's great, except you can't offshore outsource lawn mowing. Going offshore you can exploit a completely different tier of societies that aren't tied to the ecomonic regulations and expenses of the corporation's home country. You can't live on $3/day here in the States.
Completely different situations.
"Jet fighters, tanks, bombers, conventional missles, etc are what sell. And please don't try and tell me that China makes them better."
No, but I'll wager they sell theirs a hell of a lot cheaper. Luckily our last great national resource here in America - Reality TV Programming - will save our economy...(?)
Crap, we're going to be herded onto the 'B' Ark within the next 10 years, aren't we?
"Quantity has a quality all it's own."
This has to be the first ever economic theory equivalent of the Chewbacca Defense.
"In return, she will introduce them to different aspects of her life [
Sounds like the biggest hassle ever just to look at postage-stamp-sized pr0n....
Maybe someone should just teach them to google for "portman hot grits".
"In hindsight, I think the answer of "Penguins?" would be better suited. "
Dilemma though - wouldn't Cmdr. Tux and forces be likely to sympathize with the OS geeks seeking safe-haven from the DMCA? I foresee a complex web of underground partisan intrigue. Casablanca South.
"Where were you last night?"
"That's so long ago, I don't remember."
"Will I see you tonight?"
"I never make plans that far ahead. "
"Interpol?"
No, I definitely don't think they'd host it for SourceForge.
"This story has be passed around and it has fueled the "The US Gov is evvviiiiiiil" fires for a while. The problem is that it is very misleading."
The problem, however, is that this is not an isolated incident due to a single visa issue. There's a broader pattern of similar behavior on the part of US authorities.
Please read it, it's enlightening. Note that the article was written this month.
"Ok...here's a proposal. [
I fully agree. Another critical angle is to contact your representatives and be heard. Your phone call is actually more powerful than your vote in many ways. Your vote gets the person into/out of office, your phone calls/email/letters gives them direct feedback on specific issues.
Followup ideas on How To Do It Better to follow shortly, but I've got to knock out a conference call first. Yeah, work. The nerve of them. ;-)
"Well, yes. After implementing any system, you review after a period of time, and correct mistakes/problems."
Yes, and BEFORE implementing a system like an inherently error-prone No-Fly list, even some basic design review of error recovery should have been firmly in place, beyond "there's this guy you can call and something might be done, maybe, if you're a senior gov't figure." I'd loved to have been in on the design meeting where that was finalized.
It took a senior senator 3 WEEKS to get off the list. Think you'd have ANY chance? That's broken by design. And given past abuses (Euro journalists denied entry to US due to their "mistaken" inclusion on The List) I have zero confidence in this not being used as a political tool. Tom DeLay's "missing plane w/ congressmen" false report to the FAA, for example.
And that's only the painfully obvious list. What about the ones you're never allowed to see?
Nearly every aspect of this homeland "security" as implemented appears to have come from some underperforming kindergarten class. "And colors! We'll have pretty colors for the national terrorism alert level!"
Meanwhile actual terrorists, whose plans apparently are NOT drawn up by underperforming kindergartners, will be busy trying to get one of their own put onto the equally poorly thought-out "security express" list that allows previously cleared individuals minimal security review at airports.
But that's just me talking, some guy who's never benefitted from a terrorist attack, unlike those now supposedly in charge of preventing them.