The special interest groups are YOU! The NRA is not made up of some tiny group of rich people in a smoke filled back room, they are made up of millions of Americans who got together to promote a cause. There are other such groups. Perhaps you have heard of the AFL (American federation of Labor) which is a group who banded together to promote the cause of workers.
Now you might disagree with both groups, that is your rights. However by restricting them you also restrict the groups you agree with.
None of these groups take over speech. You do not have to listen! They can send you mail, but that costs money and you can throw it away unread like most people do. They can buy a commercial, but that only gets to you if you have the radio/TV on at the time, and even then they are supporting the program you enjoy.
Back in the 1700s freedom of the press was important because a printing press was now cheap enough that you could buy one without getting a grant from the king. Today printers are still cheap, and you can also get a website without a grant from the government. Appearently you don't have a website you care about. Some of us do though. Even if nobody reads our website we have at least tried.
No, even if you have the worst, easiest to break locks on your house, odds are your locks are still the strongest part of your home's security. Therefore it is stupid to upgrade them. Windows are easy to break (unless tempered glass, or such).
Would you accept the word of a locksmith telling you that your current locks aren't sufficient and that you should give him lots more money to put new locks on your house if he cannot SHOW you how easy it is for him to pick your current locks?
As a matter of fact any locksmith that tried to sell me new locks by picking them would get shown the door. There is no such thing as a lock that cannot be picked, and no good locksmith will sell locks based on his demonstration of their pickability.
Mind if my locks are really bad he might show me studies (if such exist) that show how bad my model lock is compared to the one he is selling. That is unlikely though, because unless I am really paranoid about security[1] the weak point on my house is not the locks no matter how easy to pick they are. The casual thief will find the door locked and go to an easier target. The professional thief won't even try the lock because there are easier way into the house.
[1]If I'm paranoid you can assume I have a monitored alarm system, glass breakage detectors, and motion sensors. The only thief who won't consider such a house a target is one who knows I have something worth his while, despite the security. Only the best theifs are good enough for this, and they would normally try to target vaults not houses.
If you can cash in, yes anyone with intelligence will cash in as soon as they can. If they like the company they will still sell the stock.
It is not a good idea to keep a both your income and most of your saving tied into the same thing, if the company goes down fast you might loose both your job and your savings. Diversify.
If you really like the company you can buy some of their stock back, but make sure it isn't a significant part of your savings. Also make sure you reserve enough to pay the taxes, a big mistake many people with options make.
Many rich people have left behind a foundation of money. Those who end up running the foundation often donate to political causes opposite of the ones the origional guy would have supported.
Sure today RMS is in charge and will keep the GPL pure. RMS will not live forever, in fact he could be dead now having been hit by a bus on the way to work, and in a few moment the story will make/. Unlikely, but it could happen. Once he is gone who is to say corporate interests won't take over and made a version 4 license that allows unlimited modification and distribution without making any source public. Linux is protected, while everything v2 or latter is not!
Of coruse Linux is taking the risk that something illegal will be found in the v2 license. That seems unlikely, but laws change all the time.
Sure if I could assure two girls to every guys. However my parents' generation gets to choose the ratio and might choose the opposite which I want nothing to do with.
They are tying like everything to ignore FireFox, while responding to the threat. They will be forced into the next step, but not until we get firefox a lot more popular.
I'm not helping though. I like Konqueror much more than firefox.
A parabolic array only matters when you are trying to focus a signal. The Greeks were only interested in energy, and had no concern for phases. Therefore they don't need anything other than clear line of sight to the target for everyone. Each person just has to figure out which of the (many) bright spots is the one they control, and keep that more or less on the target. So long as the average energy reaching the target spot is enough it doesn't matter if many are not on target at any particular moment.
Everytime I get a new machine at work I need to spend a little time setting it up. Doesn't matter if it is FreeBSD, Linux, or Ms Windows, I have to spend some time making it work like I like it.
Companies replace computers often. Generally every 2-3 years, though some go much longer. Companies upgrade Windows often, mixing Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, and XP on the desktop is more pain than it is worth, so they standardize on one (or two), and every once in a while migrate everyone to the new one as the old OS looses support for new machines. Once again time is taken setting up those machines.
If you call 911 often as practice you are correct. However calling 911 once is not a prank, it is a very important test of your emergency procedures and something you should do. Make sure when you run this test that you tell the operator that this is a test right away! Then hold on until the operator can talk to you. (often they will put you on hold for a minute while they take care of something else)
Well not now as in today, we don't want to slashdot 911. However if you have VOIP service and 911 should be enabled, call 911, tell the operator it is a test (sometimes they will put you on hold until they are not busy, just wait) then ask the operator to verify that they have your correct address.
It is legal to call 911 for purposes of testing, but you should only do so when you need to test something. A voip phone is good reason to test 911.
It is easy to do. Everyone should do it once in their life just so they have an idea what will happen when 911 answers. Just remember that you are low priority, don't get mad when they leave you suddenly. If there is an emergency you want them to take care of that first.
As one who sides with the "should have done PostgreSQL instead" crowd:
Microsoft Office --> TeX
ASP.NET --> python and php.
Rational Rose --> Umbrello
I'm not sure what PeopleSoft does, but I suspect there are better alternatives. I've been told there is a nice web based tool for accounting that works well, but I forget what it is. Though the double entry bookkeeping of GnuCash is a good choice, better than MySql as a replacement for MSSQL.
Not that my first two choices are better. (TeX once you learn it does much better layout, and python is a nice scripting language overall)
What I would do though is give my email to your replacement. (not your boss, though he likely has it anyway, your replacement) Professional courtesy is to answer simple questions after he can't figure it out. Shouldn't happen often, more than 4 times and you should start thinking about billing rates. Once in a while though the next guy gets stuck and it is handy to be able to ask "Joe, do you remember how to simulate a critical over temperature test without damaging the parts?" or some other question that you just can't figure out.
Your answer should be as complete as you can make it in a few minutes. Brain dump what you remember. Don't work too hard though. Don't spend more than a few minutes unless they are paying you.
This is something you do, because sometime you will have to ask the guy you replaced. At least when he is alive - I know more than one critical person who died in the middle of a solo project. That is a different story though
Check with a lawyer if this really is important...
As I understand the law, you are not required to give 2 weeks. However if you give less than 2 weeks it is considered walking off the job, and for unemployment purposes you were fired with cause and thus get nothing.
It also means the when called about a reference the boss says you were fired for cause, where if you gave the full 2 weeks no boss in his right mind would say anything less than "He started on some date, and left in good standing on date." This can make a big difference, as it is hard to hide keep past employers off your resume, and some companies will check. I've known people who gave two weeks and left one day short, and they lost the reference.
Note that you can sometimes come to an agreement with the old company to leave after less time. I know more than one person who gave two weeks and only worked 1 because the company was as ready as they ever could be for them to leave. I know one person who gave two weeks and was escorted to the door and told his last pay check would arrive in the mail. (that is they paid him for those 2 weeks to sit at home and do nothing)
Except that Apple does not dare change too often. People are not willing to upgrade software all the time. If every day you had to download a new version of iTunes you will soon give up, not worth it.
Just specify in your contracts that you get all specifications needed to create drivers, along with rights to publicly disclose them.
Have a lawyer write the relevant parts, but that is the idea. Just make sure there is no requirement for a NDA.
Once you have the specifications you put them on your website and inform some developers. If you can afford it, send a demo a developer of at least FreeBSD and linux (depending on your target there are other FOSS operating systems to target). Shouldn't be too much, and can go a long way to helping.
You forget that/. readers are much more likely than average to be in IT (or go into IT in the near future), and thus will have some input. When we say no Adaptec, even for MS Windows machines that does make a difference. Only if we apply it though.
Read my reply again. I specificly noted that the difference between investing the difference between your rent a a housepayment tends to be just as good an investment as the house. Sure the house goes up long term, but stocks tend to go up more, so even though the investment is less, the end result is the same.
Remember though this is long term, at least 30 years. Your brother way lucky. Sometimes that will happen. However I know people who bought land for $3000/acre in the '80s, and 5 years latter it was worth $800/acre. I'm not sure where things stand today. Sometimes an investment will go up like happened to your brother, but sometimes it will go down. (Of course if your brother had planned on this, then it might not be pure luck, but from the way you stated it I'm guessing it is)
Look really close before you buy. If you take the difference between rent and a housepayment and invest it, you are likely to come out even with buying a house.
The first year you own a house your payment is about $100/month, with the rest of the money interest. That $100 is the investment, the rest is money thrown away.
The advantage is you own the house after 30 years and don't have to pay rent again. IF you don't keep moving to bigger and better. If you live that long. If...
Personally I decided buying a house is right. However I lack flexability. I drive 1 hour (55 miles each way) to work now because I'm stuck with a house here, and the only good job I can find is there. Now the question is do I move? If so I'm taking the chance that they won't go out of business. (They are a start up that hasn't made money yet) I also depend on someone buying my house because otherwise I still have to make payments even after I live elsewhere. (AT least I could afford to rent an apartment elsewhere....)
Don't forget that as a renter you do not have to remodel. I can't move right now because I'm in the middle of a few projects. Eventually the house will be worth more (normally less than I invested, though I think I will come out even b4 my sweat), but for now it is a mess that nobody will buy. This cost isn't included in your rent/house payment, but you still pay it.
With a house you have to maintain it. I have to mow the lawn, sometimes weekly. (I hate lawns, but I still have to mow the dumb thing) When the water softener quit it was my job to fix it. (which may mean paying someone) I have to worry about my sewer (I don't have city sewer, most houses do so might not be a concern, but it illustrates things that you have to deal with that as a renter you don't think about)
There are two advantages of owning a house: tax benefits (at least in the US), and less restrictions. I have a big dog at my feet as I type this. The cats are sleeping somewhere around here though I can't see them.
I like owning a house. However it isn't for everyone. Don't let someone talk you into a situation that isn't right for you based on only part of the story.
Math is one of the few classes where you can learn something truly beautiful that is also useful. Few classes are more useful in day to day life. (reading, perhaps grammar)
Find a good math instructor. In grade school and somewhat in high school, teachers are people who hate math, and so they are unwilling to show you just how much fun it really is.
IF you don't run too many calls at once, a mini-itx system might fit your bill. They can be very low power, and the single PCI slot is likely enough for most purposes. Look close at that site, they sell (or at least have sold) 12 power adapters, so you can use a car battery as your power supply, and have a very long lasting UPS (perhaps changed from solar panels) just like the real telcos. Well not quite, real telcos use 48volts, but I have seem some of the smaller ones use 4 car batteries to get that power.
Use copies, only have a few nearby
on
CD Storage Advice?
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
I make copies of all my CDs, and leave the originals in the jewel case at home on a bookshelf. I don't bother to index them because I rarely look for one in that mess.
I keep the copies in small binders (I like the 72 disk ones, which work for me) in the car. I keep an assortment in each, and just take one binder at a time. It might not always have the exact disk I'm looking for when I want a particular one, but normally I just want music so it doesn't matter so long as there is a variety.
I have a 60 disk changer for my music in the living room. Not enough, but still useful, I just stock it with my long term favorites and live with the selection. (I don't use that stereo much so it isn't too big a deal)
I'm considering ripping everything to a server, and sharing things, but so far I haven't bothered. Still I dream of a nice box on my stereo that will play any of my music. (I even bought one once, but I returned it after I read the software license agreement)
I run only FreeBSD so all my software comes from ports. If I loose it I just download a new copy from the net. Someplace I have a few OS/2 programs on a shelf somewhere, though I'd be surprised if they were still readable.
I don't own a TV, I recommend you throw yours away too. If you are not willing for that (which is nearly everyone) I can't help you, though some of the above ideas might apply somehow.
Not exactly. 1% resistors use a different process from 5%. So you might get a 5% resistor that measures within 1% once in a while. Of course the whole point of the different process is when something (temperature, moisture...) changes, the value changes in that 5% resistor.
In general you are right. You just got a little too carried away.
Think something like the output from their electron microscope. Something just common enough that someone makes it (instead of building it in house), but not so common that enough people care to make an open version. I don't know if electron microscope is a good example, but think on those lines, not documents which are open standards.
Slashdot Mirror
The special interest groups are YOU! The NRA is not made up of some tiny group of rich people in a smoke filled back room, they are made up of millions of Americans who got together to promote a cause. There are other such groups. Perhaps you have heard of the AFL (American federation of Labor) which is a group who banded together to promote the cause of workers.
Now you might disagree with both groups, that is your rights. However by restricting them you also restrict the groups you agree with.
None of these groups take over speech. You do not have to listen! They can send you mail, but that costs money and you can throw it away unread like most people do. They can buy a commercial, but that only gets to you if you have the radio/TV on at the time, and even then they are supporting the program you enjoy.
Back in the 1700s freedom of the press was important because a printing press was now cheap enough that you could buy one without getting a grant from the king. Today printers are still cheap, and you can also get a website without a grant from the government. Appearently you don't have a website you care about. Some of us do though. Even if nobody reads our website we have at least tried.
No, even if you have the worst, easiest to break locks on your house, odds are your locks are still the strongest part of your home's security. Therefore it is stupid to upgrade them. Windows are easy to break (unless tempered glass, or such).
Would you accept the word of a locksmith telling you that your current locks aren't sufficient and that you should give him lots more money to put new locks on your house if he cannot SHOW you how easy it is for him to pick your current locks?
As a matter of fact any locksmith that tried to sell me new locks by picking them would get shown the door. There is no such thing as a lock that cannot be picked, and no good locksmith will sell locks based on his demonstration of their pickability.
Mind if my locks are really bad he might show me studies (if such exist) that show how bad my model lock is compared to the one he is selling. That is unlikely though, because unless I am really paranoid about security[1] the weak point on my house is not the locks no matter how easy to pick they are. The casual thief will find the door locked and go to an easier target. The professional thief won't even try the lock because there are easier way into the house.
[1]If I'm paranoid you can assume I have a monitored alarm system, glass breakage detectors, and motion sensors. The only thief who won't consider such a house a target is one who knows I have something worth his while, despite the security. Only the best theifs are good enough for this, and they would normally try to target vaults not houses.
If you can cash in, yes anyone with intelligence will cash in as soon as they can. If they like the company they will still sell the stock.
It is not a good idea to keep a both your income and most of your saving tied into the same thing, if the company goes down fast you might loose both your job and your savings. Diversify.
If you really like the company you can buy some of their stock back, but make sure it isn't a significant part of your savings. Also make sure you reserve enough to pay the taxes, a big mistake many people with options make.
Many rich people have left behind a foundation of money. Those who end up running the foundation often donate to political causes opposite of the ones the origional guy would have supported.
Sure today RMS is in charge and will keep the GPL pure. RMS will not live forever, in fact he could be dead now having been hit by a bus on the way to work, and in a few moment the story will make /. Unlikely, but it could happen. Once he is gone who is to say corporate interests won't take over and made a version 4 license that allows unlimited modification and distribution without making any source public. Linux is protected, while everything v2 or latter is not!
Of coruse Linux is taking the risk that something illegal will be found in the v2 license. That seems unlikely, but laws change all the time.
Sure if I could assure two girls to every guys. However my parents' generation gets to choose the ratio and might choose the opposite which I want nothing to do with.
They are tying like everything to ignore FireFox, while responding to the threat. They will be forced into the next step, but not until we get firefox a lot more popular.
I'm not helping though. I like Konqueror much more than firefox.
A parabolic array only matters when you are trying to focus a signal. The Greeks were only interested in energy, and had no concern for phases. Therefore they don't need anything other than clear line of sight to the target for everyone. Each person just has to figure out which of the (many) bright spots is the one they control, and keep that more or less on the target. So long as the average energy reaching the target spot is enough it doesn't matter if many are not on target at any particular moment.
Roasted in the shell, of course
Everytime I get a new machine at work I need to spend a little time setting it up. Doesn't matter if it is FreeBSD, Linux, or Ms Windows, I have to spend some time making it work like I like it.
Companies replace computers often. Generally every 2-3 years, though some go much longer. Companies upgrade Windows often, mixing Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, and XP on the desktop is more pain than it is worth, so they standardize on one (or two), and every once in a while migrate everyone to the new one as the old OS looses support for new machines. Once again time is taken setting up those machines.
If you call 911 often as practice you are correct. However calling 911 once is not a prank, it is a very important test of your emergency procedures and something you should do. Make sure when you run this test that you tell the operator that this is a test right away! Then hold on until the operator can talk to you. (often they will put you on hold for a minute while they take care of something else)
Well not now as in today, we don't want to slashdot 911. However if you have VOIP service and 911 should be enabled, call 911, tell the operator it is a test (sometimes they will put you on hold until they are not busy, just wait) then ask the operator to verify that they have your correct address.
It is legal to call 911 for purposes of testing, but you should only do so when you need to test something. A voip phone is good reason to test 911.
It is easy to do. Everyone should do it once in their life just so they have an idea what will happen when 911 answers. Just remember that you are low priority, don't get mad when they leave you suddenly. If there is an emergency you want them to take care of that first.
As one who sides with the "should have done PostgreSQL instead" crowd:
Microsoft Office --> TeX
ASP.NET --> python and php.
Rational Rose --> Umbrello
I'm not sure what PeopleSoft does, but I suspect there are better alternatives. I've been told there is a nice web based tool for accounting that works well, but I forget what it is. Though the double entry bookkeeping of GnuCash is a good choice, better than MySql as a replacement for MSSQL.
Not that my first two choices are better. (TeX once you learn it does much better layout, and python is a nice scripting language overall)
Lots of good advice. I won't repeat it.
What I would do though is give my email to your replacement. (not your boss, though he likely has it anyway, your replacement) Professional courtesy is to answer simple questions after he can't figure it out. Shouldn't happen often, more than 4 times and you should start thinking about billing rates. Once in a while though the next guy gets stuck and it is handy to be able to ask "Joe, do you remember how to simulate a critical over temperature test without damaging the parts?" or some other question that you just can't figure out.
Your answer should be as complete as you can make it in a few minutes. Brain dump what you remember. Don't work too hard though. Don't spend more than a few minutes unless they are paying you.
This is something you do, because sometime you will have to ask the guy you replaced. At least when he is alive - I know more than one critical person who died in the middle of a solo project. That is a different story though
Check with a lawyer if this really is important...
As I understand the law, you are not required to give 2 weeks. However if you give less than 2 weeks it is considered walking off the job, and for unemployment purposes you were fired with cause and thus get nothing.
It also means the when called about a reference the boss says you were fired for cause, where if you gave the full 2 weeks no boss in his right mind would say anything less than "He started on some date, and left in good standing on date." This can make a big difference, as it is hard to hide keep past employers off your resume, and some companies will check. I've known people who gave two weeks and left one day short, and they lost the reference.
Note that you can sometimes come to an agreement with the old company to leave after less time. I know more than one person who gave two weeks and only worked 1 because the company was as ready as they ever could be for them to leave. I know one person who gave two weeks and was escorted to the door and told his last pay check would arrive in the mail. (that is they paid him for those 2 weeks to sit at home and do nothing)
Except that Apple does not dare change too often. People are not willing to upgrade software all the time. If every day you had to download a new version of iTunes you will soon give up, not worth it.
People still used Windows 95!
Just specify in your contracts that you get all specifications needed to create drivers, along with rights to publicly disclose them.
Have a lawyer write the relevant parts, but that is the idea. Just make sure there is no requirement for a NDA.
Once you have the specifications you put them on your website and inform some developers. If you can afford it, send a demo a developer of at least FreeBSD and linux (depending on your target there are other FOSS operating systems to target). Shouldn't be too much, and can go a long way to helping.
You forget that /. readers are much more likely than average to be in IT (or go into IT in the near future), and thus will have some input. When we say no Adaptec, even for MS Windows machines that does make a difference. Only if we apply it though.
Read my reply again. I specificly noted that the difference between investing the difference between your rent a a housepayment tends to be just as good an investment as the house. Sure the house goes up long term, but stocks tend to go up more, so even though the investment is less, the end result is the same.
Remember though this is long term, at least 30 years. Your brother way lucky. Sometimes that will happen. However I know people who bought land for $3000/acre in the '80s, and 5 years latter it was worth $800/acre. I'm not sure where things stand today. Sometimes an investment will go up like happened to your brother, but sometimes it will go down. (Of course if your brother had planned on this, then it might not be pure luck, but from the way you stated it I'm guessing it is)
Look really close before you buy. If you take the difference between rent and a housepayment and invest it, you are likely to come out even with buying a house.
The first year you own a house your payment is about $100/month, with the rest of the money interest. That $100 is the investment, the rest is money thrown away.
The advantage is you own the house after 30 years and don't have to pay rent again. IF you don't keep moving to bigger and better. If you live that long. If...
Personally I decided buying a house is right. However I lack flexability. I drive 1 hour (55 miles each way) to work now because I'm stuck with a house here, and the only good job I can find is there. Now the question is do I move? If so I'm taking the chance that they won't go out of business. (They are a start up that hasn't made money yet) I also depend on someone buying my house because otherwise I still have to make payments even after I live elsewhere. (AT least I could afford to rent an apartment elsewhere....)
Don't forget that as a renter you do not have to remodel. I can't move right now because I'm in the middle of a few projects. Eventually the house will be worth more (normally less than I invested, though I think I will come out even b4 my sweat), but for now it is a mess that nobody will buy. This cost isn't included in your rent/house payment, but you still pay it.
With a house you have to maintain it. I have to mow the lawn, sometimes weekly. (I hate lawns, but I still have to mow the dumb thing) When the water softener quit it was my job to fix it. (which may mean paying someone) I have to worry about my sewer (I don't have city sewer, most houses do so might not be a concern, but it illustrates things that you have to deal with that as a renter you don't think about)
There are two advantages of owning a house: tax benefits (at least in the US), and less restrictions. I have a big dog at my feet as I type this. The cats are sleeping somewhere around here though I can't see them.
I like owning a house. However it isn't for everyone. Don't let someone talk you into a situation that isn't right for you based on only part of the story.
Math is one of the few classes where you can learn something truly beautiful that is also useful. Few classes are more useful in day to day life. (reading, perhaps grammar)
Find a good math instructor. In grade school and somewhat in high school, teachers are people who hate math, and so they are unwilling to show you just how much fun it really is.
IF you don't run too many calls at once, a mini-itx system might fit your bill. They can be very low power, and the single PCI slot is likely enough for most purposes. Look close at that site, they sell (or at least have sold) 12 power adapters, so you can use a car battery as your power supply, and have a very long lasting UPS (perhaps changed from solar panels) just like the real telcos. Well not quite, real telcos use 48volts, but I have seem some of the smaller ones use 4 car batteries to get that power.
I make copies of all my CDs, and leave the originals in the jewel case at home on a bookshelf. I don't bother to index them because I rarely look for one in that mess.
I keep the copies in small binders (I like the 72 disk ones, which work for me) in the car. I keep an assortment in each, and just take one binder at a time. It might not always have the exact disk I'm looking for when I want a particular one, but normally I just want music so it doesn't matter so long as there is a variety.
I have a 60 disk changer for my music in the living room. Not enough, but still useful, I just stock it with my long term favorites and live with the selection. (I don't use that stereo much so it isn't too big a deal)
I'm considering ripping everything to a server, and sharing things, but so far I haven't bothered. Still I dream of a nice box on my stereo that will play any of my music. (I even bought one once, but I returned it after I read the software license agreement)
I run only FreeBSD so all my software comes from ports. If I loose it I just download a new copy from the net. Someplace I have a few OS/2 programs on a shelf somewhere, though I'd be surprised if they were still readable.
I don't own a TV, I recommend you throw yours away too. If you are not willing for that (which is nearly everyone) I can't help you, though some of the above ideas might apply somehow.
Not exactly. 1% resistors use a different process from 5%. So you might get a 5% resistor that measures within 1% once in a while. Of course the whole point of the different process is when something (temperature, moisture...) changes, the value changes in that 5% resistor.
In general you are right. You just got a little too carried away.
Think something like the output from their electron microscope. Something just common enough that someone makes it (instead of building it in house), but not so common that enough people care to make an open version. I don't know if electron microscope is a good example, but think on those lines, not documents which are open standards.