I completely agree. I've been saying the same thing. However, here's what I think would be cool. Blur the lines between movies and TV. While TV shows are on break during the summer, make a movie that explores some element of it. Or start off a TV show with a big summer blockbuster. Get people hooked on a movie and then add "and you can watch it all year on ABC..."
So you think that Wal-mart can take on a cultural icon like Disney and force them to relent when 50% of parents are going to be looking for The Little Mermaid and Cars in the next two months?
We're talking Disney here. Not some other production house. Wal-mart needs Disney more than Disney needs Wal-mart because when they release (or re-release) a film, people rush out to buy it to add to the collection. Kids love the films, and whatever kids love, mom and dad will buy.
So if Wal-mart cuts off Disney, they will be the ones hurting. Parents will go to Wal-mart, see they don't have the film, and buy it somewhere else. And after a month or two, Walmart will come crawling back to Disney.
I think there is a 3rd category on this subject: casual users of social networking sites.
It doesn't bother me that this information is available. I put it out there, and I have to suffer the consequences of my actions for it. But at the same time, I don't want to be bombarded with information about people on my "friends" list. I would either like to disable the list completely, or create a filter where I see information from specific friends only.
Likewise, I should be able to opt out of other friend's news feed. Let me set the privacy level of my news feed so only specific friends can see certain things. If some people want to see something, they can browse to my profile, and if I want all the people on my list to see something, create a "special notice" option similar to the one in Yahoo Groups.
Unfortunately, the GP is generally right. For every "good" cop out there who has some self control and doesn't have violence issues, there are 3-4 who do.
One of my college workstudy jobs was working at the campus information desk, which was also responsible for dispatching our rent-a-cop security guards (very small private college with approx. 450 on-campus students). Most of the guards were either full-fledged LEOs or auxillaries, and they moonlighted as guards for the extra cash.
I got to know some of the officers very well, and what I learned shocked me. Some had issues with minorities, and one actually had expressed the desire to physically assault students who were known troublemakers. That he never did was amazing.
Its good to stand up for your rights, but there is a time and a place for that (usually in front of a judge). Doing anything outside of asking if you are being charged with a crime and requesting legal representation, especially if you are cocky about it, will get you Tasered, pepper sprayed, beat down, arrested, and/or shot.
Now not all cops are like that. But if you go flaunting your knowledge of "the law" and "your rights," you will get the book thrown at you.
LOL. Obscure? Come on, man. Its Boondock Saints. That movie is a cult classic. Some of my friends have seen it so many times they can recite it from memory.
Best quote from the movie that I can post without tripping some profanity filter: So you're Chekov, huh? Well, this here's McCoy. Find a Spock, we got us an away team.
Because smart terrorists who want to sew distruction aren't fitting the calling patterns. They won't be using the same phones repeatedly, and they are probably using networks that are harder to observe or crack (such as sneakernets).
Don't jump to very hasty conclusions about IT programs. I just got an IT degree, and I didn't get any training on the "programs that are out there."
Instead of learning about SQL Server, I learned SQL and how to build a DB in 3rd Normal Form. I learned VB, but before I even got to that class, I had to take another one where we spent more time writing and testing programs on paper. Instead of learning how to configure a Cisco Router, I learned about the 7 layer OSI model and how data communications work.
Some IT programs, especially at the Associate Degree level, probably do only teach you the current technology. A program that is well designed won't do this, though.
More features isn't the answer. The answer is cell companies providing a breadth of phones so everyone can get something close to what they want.
For example, I prefer a phone with IR so I can offload all my numbers into my PDA. But I don't need a camera, wireless web, the ability to check my email, or play MP3s.
I know, its slash-blasphemy. But I also invested a ton in digital cameras, a PDA, a laptop, and an iPod. I don't need one more gadget to replace them all.
Man, those things could stand up to punishment. The 5100 series bricks could be dropped, dunked, sunk, and even smashed off of a concrete wall without problems. What I wouldn't give for a phone like that again.
Don't be afraid to turn down a job, especially if it might not be a good fit for your family situation. In the end, your family will be much more important than your yearly salary.
Just recently, I turned down a job because the schedule and commute would play havoc with my personal life. Although I was interested in the position, I wasn't willing to trade away my social freedom during this 1 year commitment. In the end, my gut said no and I moved on.
To go along with that line, consider checking into publications like Information Week and Network Computing from CMP. You can swing a free 1 year subscription to them, and it will get you inside what is going on in IT.
First, it doesn't pay to learn programming languages. Programming languages change or are replaced by the next new thing. Who knows what programmers will using in 5-10 years.
If you want to program, learn how to write algorithms. Once you learn how to write algorithms, you can write in any programming language, even if you have never been trained in it.
That was the first thing I learned in the programming section of my IT degree. We didn't touch a programming environment until halfway through the semester, and by that point, we could write the algorithm for a PB&J sandwich in pseudocode.
When you can write algorithms, you can become language portable. If you have a job that requires C#, you can use a desk reference and the help system to implement your code. If your next job requires Delphi, you won't need to completely retrain yourself.
Finally, give yourself projects. I learned how to develop databases by giving myself personal projects in that field, taking advantage of the MSDNAA to get SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft Access. With a simple SQL refresher, I would feel comfortable sitting down and hand coding a simple DB in Oracle, DB2, or MSSQL (not taking into account differences in each SQL implementation).
I dunno about you, but I have had the motherboard in my Thinkpad replaced 3 times. Each time it was replaced, I didn't have to deal with a reactivation.
Slashdot Mirror
I completely agree. I've been saying the same thing. However, here's what I think would be cool. Blur the lines between movies and TV. While TV shows are on break during the summer, make a movie that explores some element of it. Or start off a TV show with a big summer blockbuster. Get people hooked on a movie and then add "and you can watch it all year on ABC..."
Wasn't something like this done with the X-Files?
So you think that Wal-mart can take on a cultural icon like Disney and force them to relent when 50% of parents are going to be looking for The Little Mermaid and Cars in the next two months?
Can I buy some pot from you?
We're talking Disney here. Not some other production house. Wal-mart needs Disney more than Disney needs Wal-mart because when they release (or re-release) a film, people rush out to buy it to add to the collection. Kids love the films, and whatever kids love, mom and dad will buy.
So if Wal-mart cuts off Disney, they will be the ones hurting. Parents will go to Wal-mart, see they don't have the film, and buy it somewhere else. And after a month or two, Walmart will come crawling back to Disney.
We might not have an In-and-Out or whatever it is called, but we have a lot of Culvers, and they supposedly do the same thing.
I think there is a 3rd category on this subject: casual users of social networking sites.
It doesn't bother me that this information is available. I put it out there, and I have to suffer the consequences of my actions for it. But at the same time, I don't want to be bombarded with information about people on my "friends" list. I would either like to disable the list completely, or create a filter where I see information from specific friends only.
Likewise, I should be able to opt out of other friend's news feed. Let me set the privacy level of my news feed so only specific friends can see certain things. If some people want to see something, they can browse to my profile, and if I want all the people on my list to see something, create a "special notice" option similar to the one in Yahoo Groups.
Unfortunately, the GP is generally right. For every "good" cop out there who has some self control and doesn't have violence issues, there are 3-4 who do.
One of my college workstudy jobs was working at the campus information desk, which was also responsible for dispatching our rent-a-cop security guards (very small private college with approx. 450 on-campus students). Most of the guards were either full-fledged LEOs or auxillaries, and they moonlighted as guards for the extra cash. I got to know some of the officers very well, and what I learned shocked me. Some had issues with minorities, and one actually had expressed the desire to physically assault students who were known troublemakers. That he never did was amazing. Its good to stand up for your rights, but there is a time and a place for that (usually in front of a judge). Doing anything outside of asking if you are being charged with a crime and requesting legal representation, especially if you are cocky about it, will get you Tasered, pepper sprayed, beat down, arrested, and/or shot. Now not all cops are like that. But if you go flaunting your knowledge of "the law" and "your rights," you will get the book thrown at you.
Along with those, you should also ask if you are being charged with a crime.
That's more like Exhibit B. Exhibit A is Ronald Reagan.
You should be careful about what you post about your boss's daughter on the net.
LOL. Obscure? Come on, man. Its Boondock Saints. That movie is a cult classic. Some of my friends have seen it so many times they can recite it from memory.
Best quote from the movie that I can post without tripping some profanity filter: So you're Chekov, huh? Well, this here's McCoy. Find a Spock, we got us an away team.
But they have money, and as the saying goes, Money talks.
Why do you think so many Americans listen to Hollywood stars on issues like politics, terrorism, and the environment??
Because smart terrorists who want to sew distruction aren't fitting the calling patterns. They won't be using the same phones repeatedly, and they are probably using networks that are harder to observe or crack (such as sneakernets).
Can anybody say "Sleeping with the enemy" ???
They're just trying to get with that sexy Japanese Digital Camera. Can you blame them?
Not if you like to do the same things as I do in stalled elevators with perfect strangers.
But do you really want the rest of the world to see you get bitch-slapped?
Actually, she was turned into a Blackberry. The reason no one is talking about it is that they're still trying to unravel the IP issues.
I heard she was turned into a Newton and Steve Jobs accidentally tried to eat her.
I've heard of a glass ceiling, but this is rediculous! I guess people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones .. or something like that.
It's "People in Glass Houses si...si...sink ships" you insensitive clod!!
Funny. Since I saw Roadrunner cartoons, I've always wanted to strap rockets to my back, jump into a slingshot, and see what happens.
Don't jump to very hasty conclusions about IT programs. I just got an IT degree, and I didn't get any training on the "programs that are out there."
Instead of learning about SQL Server, I learned SQL and how to build a DB in 3rd Normal Form. I learned VB, but before I even got to that class, I had to take another one where we spent more time writing and testing programs on paper. Instead of learning how to configure a Cisco Router, I learned about the 7 layer OSI model and how data communications work.
Some IT programs, especially at the Associate Degree level, probably do only teach you the current technology. A program that is well designed won't do this, though.
More features isn't the answer. The answer is cell companies providing a breadth of phones so everyone can get something close to what they want.
For example, I prefer a phone with IR so I can offload all my numbers into my PDA. But I don't need a camera, wireless web, the ability to check my email, or play MP3s.
I know, its slash-blasphemy. But I also invested a ton in digital cameras, a PDA, a laptop, and an iPod. I don't need one more gadget to replace them all.
Man, those things could stand up to punishment. The 5100 series bricks could be dropped, dunked, sunk, and even smashed off of a concrete wall without problems. What I wouldn't give for a phone like that again.
They make a service for those people too - Iridium.
Don't be afraid to turn down a job, especially if it might not be a good fit for your family situation. In the end, your family will be much more important than your yearly salary.
Just recently, I turned down a job because the schedule and commute would play havoc with my personal life. Although I was interested in the position, I wasn't willing to trade away my social freedom during this 1 year commitment. In the end, my gut said no and I moved on.
To go along with that line, consider checking into publications like Information Week and Network Computing from CMP. You can swing a free 1 year subscription to them, and it will get you inside what is going on in IT.
First, it doesn't pay to learn programming languages. Programming languages change or are replaced by the next new thing. Who knows what programmers will using in 5-10 years.
If you want to program, learn how to write algorithms. Once you learn how to write algorithms, you can write in any programming language, even if you have never been trained in it.
That was the first thing I learned in the programming section of my IT degree. We didn't touch a programming environment until halfway through the semester, and by that point, we could write the algorithm for a PB&J sandwich in pseudocode.
When you can write algorithms, you can become language portable. If you have a job that requires C#, you can use a desk reference and the help system to implement your code. If your next job requires Delphi, you won't need to completely retrain yourself.
Finally, give yourself projects. I learned how to develop databases by giving myself personal projects in that field, taking advantage of the MSDNAA to get SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft Access. With a simple SQL refresher, I would feel comfortable sitting down and hand coding a simple DB in Oracle, DB2, or MSSQL (not taking into account differences in each SQL implementation).
I dunno about you, but I have had the motherboard in my Thinkpad replaced 3 times. Each time it was replaced, I didn't have to deal with a reactivation.