I've worked in an open office environment with about 250ish people for 8 years. I am a software developer / architect for our business systems. The office is shared with all departments from finance to IT to HR to Sales.... Here are my thoughts:
I generally am okay with the environment. I do feel it fosters better communication. I know everyone in the office, mostly by passers by stopping and saying hi. I do like this aspect if I'm not in the middle of something. I can see how this would slowly kill very introverted people.
When I really need to focus on a difficult problem and come up with a creative solution, I dislike this environment due to the distractions. I usually work from home when I need to do these tasks.
I work in the US. My company is HQ'd in Denmark, presumably where this idea came from as the HQ office is also open. After working in both places one thing is clear: We Americans are f*cking loud. Loud on the phone. Loud when conversing with people 50 feet away. Loud. The open environment may not be for us.
Execs still get offices with glass walls and doors. Conference rooms and even phone booths are very scarce. I often have to take private calls in my car, which is pretty ridiculous.
The HQ office does have more common areas for collaboration and private rooms for isolation. I think this setup is ideal. You cant simply be 100% open due to the need for both individual focused productivity as well as collaboration.
My desk has foot traffic around it on all sides. I have a standing desk. Needless to say I use a privacy guard on my monitors. Not surprisingly everyone wants the desks where your back is against a wall.
I use headphones when necessary. My coworker coined this "going under the knife", as people seem less inclined to interrupt. I often fake being on a phone call (with a headset) for the same effect. Hey it works.
(The answer, of course, is that the Republicans (and Democrats) are perfectly okay with totalitarianism.)
Actually this is the "this".
The Snowden saga and politicians' and media response to it prove that there aren't 2 teams in politics. Dems and Republicans are part of the same corporation that pays them handsomely with the public's money.
It's like any professional sport organization (NFL, etc). Sure the teams are competitive to a point, but at the end of they game most of them don't give a rip and are chuckling and hugging each other, meeting for drinks and dinner afterwards.... Because they all get paid millions of the public's money, regardless who "wins" a single game. Only the public cares about that single game.
Same with American politics...The debates about healthcare, abortion. The elections. The political news shows. It is all just to see which team is best funded by the special interests. The special interests have big plans for the public's money and/or social behavior. In this system the politicians are always paid, at the public's expense.
It is no wonder why no politician or politically bent media organization will tip this system. It is their cash cow. We Americans need to wake up.
I think the big shopping mall anchor stores (Macy's, JC Penney, etc) are all likely to fail in the next 20 years.
Department stores have one big advantage over online stores: fitting rooms.
Your home can be a fittting room...
Zappos.com (owned by Amazon) has free 2 day shipping and free returns both ways. I often order the same clothes in a few sizes from there, keep the one that fits and return the rest. They have videos of the clothes on people to help you decide, but failing that the return process is flawless. I am a tall size (6'4" / 1.9m) and shopping malls often don't carry odd sizes. Online usually does. Some prefer to touch before buying so I respect that.... I just hate malls.
Offtopic Big/Tall Protip: 6pm.com offers tall sizes for cheap because they typically are the last to sell. They however do not have Zappos excellent customer service and return policy (Even though they are owned by Zappos / Amazon)...they are the online no-return clearance rack.
This is an honest question...If you Google "who bid on healthcare.gov" several seemingly right-leaning sites say there was only one bid and it was won by Ms Obama's crony CGI.
Reuters and others say there were 4 total bids, although I cannot find who those other 3 bidders are or what their bids were. And the end of that article states "No other IT contractors have come forward to say they, too, bid on the contract to build Healthcare.gov."
So honest question: which is it? As the project sponsor (taxpayer) I'd like to know. As an IT Professional that runs web projects (in the private sector) I would get fired for not getting competing bids on a project with budgets order of magnitude less than this.
In some states its 10 cents! One time my friend Newman and I borrowed one of his USPS mail trucks from work to shuttle bottles collected here in New York (5 cent return) to return them to Michigan (10 cent return) for a cool profit. Hilarity ensued.
People build helicopters rather than lift-jets because moving a large volume of air slowly is more efficient than moving a small volume of air quickly. (force is goes as (M/s)*V, power as (M/s)*V^2).
...An convenient illustration of this is the Atlas Human Powered Helicopter which uses massive slow-moving rotors to compensate for a human's puny power output.
There is something about the US television coverage of this story that i find... odd. Ive seen coverage on several networks, and the anti-Snowden bias of the coverage is almost universal. Honestly Jon Stewart's daily show seems to be the only one NOT taking the "He's a traitor" stance. CNN, Fox... Even Letterman seem to be treading very lightly and no one wants to side with Snowden even though he presents a reasonably logical and convincing case against the government. It's like the expected righty, lefty bias is out the door and there is now universal pro government bias. I find this really unsettling.
I have season tickets to an NFL team. The stadium security staff "scans" everyone entering using hand-held devices (metal detectors?) that I believe to be fake.
They have been using these for a few years, I have never once seen anyone stopped after a scanning. No one is asked to empty pockets. The devices do not appear to omit any audible or visual feedback....even when going over cell phones, keys, or flasks of whiskey.
If it helps some people feel more secure, I'm ok with that I guess.
Regardless, I don't understand why some people want their device to "kill" the competition. Must be some sort of self-identity complex that I am not smart enough to understand. Competition breeds innovation. Ideally these 2 companies will start one-upping each other and consumers on both sides will win.
The approach of handling phone "spam" like email spam seems like a logical approach, minus one thing: Email spam is still rampant.
There are countless tools and email spam filters that heuristically identify spam and allow people to flag spam. In the US there exists legislation against email spam (CAN SPAM ACT) with stiff penalties.
Why would this be approach successful for telephone communication?
I converted to a permanent standing desk a few months ago and I really like it. The first week was pretty tough to get through, but after that it has been great. I recommend an anti-fatigue mat to stand on and some decent insoles like PowerSteps. Some co-workers also have a high stool for when they get tired. I do admit that I look forward to sitting during lunch and after work, but I would never go back. I haven't seen a single co-worker go back to sitting, and more are converting to standing.
At my company HQ (different office) all desks are motorized and can raise or lower with a button. These are awesome and are the ideal (albeit expensive) solution. Most of the HQ employees both stand and sit for a few hours per day, as do I when visiting.
Of course YMMV based on your physical health and body type. FWIW I am 6'4" 185lb software developer in decent shape...work for 8-9 hours / day 90% of the time at my desk.
This is like Dad getting fed up with his 2 brat kids fighting in the back seat of the car. "You two kids get along right NOW... or I'll turn this car around right now and NO ONE will get ice cream!".
The story you linked is supposed to be funny. It is satirical take on the media's generally terrible explanations of the Higgs Boson. The author is a known satire writer.
“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
They can usually come up with something good to say about events most of us understand. But they can't understand the Higgs boson
Oh I see what you did there. You do get satire!... Right?
$0 for not having an Xbox 360 at all. That's the option I'm going for.
Wow...that is a +5 insightful comment if I have ever seen one! You are truly a gifted individual that thinks outside the box. I'd like to get into your head and try to bottle some of that ingenuity. You must tell us more of your insightful personal preferences that add nothing to the conversation. Please continue, this is fascinating....
This is a job hazard and you have have to accept that, if it wasn't you wouldn't be paid as much.
Players aren't highly paid because American football is dangerous. The players are highly paid for the same reasons other elite athletes are highly paid: Their sports leagues are hugely popular and hugely profitable. This goes for tennis, basketball, baseball, real football (aka soccer), etc.
The contention is that the NFL knew about the long-term head injury risks and has downplayed them. Now players are starting to realize getting your bell rung is more than a temporary thing.
When I played US Football in high school (Mid 90's) I wasn't payed, nor was anyone else at that level. I wasn't very good, but It was just a fun sport to play. Had I known what I know now about head injuries I probably wouldn't have participated. Due to head injury awareness, parents are starting to think twice about allowing their kids to play American football.
If i have a boy that likes football, that will be a tough choice.
If they are so familiar with the topic, then why do they side with crazy so frequently?
One theory I've heard is this "industry" is a huge boon for the town. All the local businesses (false fronts and not) setting up shop, all the lawyers flying in and out of town...this puts big $$ into the local economy. The region knows they own this niche market, and want the customers to return.
Its no different than locals supporting regional activities that could be questionable to the big picture....such as for argument's sake, big oil, coal mining, big corn, improper fishing, etc.
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah, I hate these binary people, the truth is that the world is ternary.
I agree. Some people seem to classify others based on little information, and use extreme classifications such as"hate".
(The answer, of course, is that the Republicans (and Democrats) are perfectly okay with totalitarianism.)
Actually this is the "this".
The Snowden saga and politicians' and media response to it prove that there aren't 2 teams in politics. Dems and Republicans are part of the same corporation that pays them handsomely with the public's money.
It's like any professional sport organization (NFL, etc). Sure the teams are competitive to a point, but at the end of they game most of them don't give a rip and are chuckling and hugging each other, meeting for drinks and dinner afterwards.... Because they all get paid millions of the public's money, regardless who "wins" a single game. Only the public cares about that single game.
Same with American politics...The debates about healthcare, abortion. The elections. The political news shows. It is all just to see which team is best funded by the special interests. The special interests have big plans for the public's money and/or social behavior. In this system the politicians are always paid, at the public's expense.
It is no wonder why no politician or politically bent media organization will tip this system. It is their cash cow. We Americans need to wake up.
I think the big shopping mall anchor stores (Macy's, JC Penney, etc) are all likely to fail in the next 20 years.
Department stores have one big advantage over online stores: fitting rooms.
Your home can be a fittting room...
Zappos.com (owned by Amazon) has free 2 day shipping and free returns both ways. I often order the same clothes in a few sizes from there, keep the one that fits and return the rest. They have videos of the clothes on people to help you decide, but failing that the return process is flawless. I am a tall size (6'4" / 1.9m) and shopping malls often don't carry odd sizes. Online usually does. Some prefer to touch before buying so I respect that.... I just hate malls.
Offtopic Big/Tall Protip: 6pm.com offers tall sizes for cheap because they typically are the last to sell. They however do not have Zappos excellent customer service and return policy (Even though they are owned by Zappos / Amazon)...they are the online no-return clearance rack.
Lowest bidder, or only bidder?
This is an honest question...If you Google "who bid on healthcare.gov" several seemingly right-leaning sites say there was only one bid and it was won by Ms Obama's crony CGI.
Reuters and others say there were 4 total bids, although I cannot find who those other 3 bidders are or what their bids were. And the end of that article states "No other IT contractors have come forward to say they, too, bid on the contract to build Healthcare.gov."
So honest question: which is it? As the project sponsor (taxpayer) I'd like to know. As an IT Professional that runs web projects (in the private sector) I would get fired for not getting competing bids on a project with budgets order of magnitude less than this.
In some states its 10 cents! One time my friend Newman and I borrowed one of his USPS mail trucks from work to shuttle bottles collected here in New York (5 cent return) to return them to Michigan (10 cent return) for a cool profit. Hilarity ensued.
People build helicopters rather than lift-jets because moving a large volume of air slowly is more efficient than moving a small volume of air quickly. (force is goes as (M/s)*V, power as (M/s)*V^2).
...An convenient illustration of this is the Atlas Human Powered Helicopter which uses massive slow-moving rotors to compensate for a human's puny power output.
There is something about the US television coverage of this story that i find... odd. Ive seen coverage on several networks, and the anti-Snowden bias of the coverage is almost universal. Honestly Jon Stewart's daily show seems to be the only one NOT taking the "He's a traitor" stance. CNN, Fox ... Even Letterman seem to be treading very lightly and no one wants to side with Snowden even though he presents a reasonably logical and convincing case against the government. It's like the expected righty, lefty bias is out the door and there is now universal pro government bias. I find this really unsettling.
Somewhere, D James Bidzos just got a massive boner.
I agree with the "appearance of security" bit.
I have season tickets to an NFL team. The stadium security staff "scans" everyone entering using hand-held devices (metal detectors?) that I believe to be fake.
They have been using these for a few years, I have never once seen anyone stopped after a scanning. No one is asked to empty pockets. The devices do not appear to omit any audible or visual feedback....even when going over cell phones, keys, or flasks of whiskey.
If it helps some people feel more secure, I'm ok with that I guess.
I had no idea this topic was so polarizing.
Yes. He is this guy.
Didn't iPhone sales slow Q3 in anticipation of the iPhone 5?
Regardless, I don't understand why some people want their device to "kill" the competition. Must be some sort of self-identity complex that I am not smart enough to understand. Competition breeds innovation. Ideally these 2 companies will start one-upping each other and consumers on both sides will win.
The approach of handling phone "spam" like email spam seems like a logical approach, minus one thing: Email spam is still rampant.
There are countless tools and email spam filters that heuristically identify spam and allow people to flag spam. In the US there exists legislation against email spam (CAN SPAM ACT) with stiff penalties.
Why would this be approach successful for telephone communication?
Sounds like my "friend", Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo.
I converted to a permanent standing desk a few months ago and I really like it. The first week was pretty tough to get through, but after that it has been great. I recommend an anti-fatigue mat to stand on and some decent insoles like PowerSteps. Some co-workers also have a high stool for when they get tired. I do admit that I look forward to sitting during lunch and after work, but I would never go back. I haven't seen a single co-worker go back to sitting, and more are converting to standing.
At my company HQ (different office) all desks are motorized and can raise or lower with a button. These are awesome and are the ideal (albeit expensive) solution. Most of the HQ employees both stand and sit for a few hours per day, as do I when visiting.
The extra calories burned while standing is pretty compelling. Also there are recent studies that advise against sitting all day.
Of course YMMV based on your physical health and body type. FWIW I am 6'4" 185lb software developer in decent shape...work for 8-9 hours / day 90% of the time at my desk.
This is like Dad getting fed up with his 2 brat kids fighting in the back seat of the car. "You two kids get along right NOW... or I'll turn this car around right now and NO ONE will get ice cream!".
(Yes that qualifies for +5 Car Analogy)
“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
They can usually come up with something good to say about events most of us understand. But they can't understand the Higgs boson
Oh I see what you did there. You do get satire! ... Right?
$0 for not having an Xbox 360 at all. That's the option I'm going for.
Wow...that is a +5 insightful comment if I have ever seen one! You are truly a gifted individual that thinks outside the box. I'd like to get into your head and try to bottle some of that ingenuity. You must tell us more of your insightful personal preferences that add nothing to the conversation. Please continue, this is fascinating....
This is a job hazard and you have have to accept that, if it wasn't you wouldn't be paid as much.
Players aren't highly paid because American football is dangerous. The players are highly paid for the same reasons other elite athletes are highly paid: Their sports leagues are hugely popular and hugely profitable. This goes for tennis, basketball, baseball, real football (aka soccer), etc.
The contention is that the NFL knew about the long-term head injury risks and has downplayed them. Now players are starting to realize getting your bell rung is more than a temporary thing.
When I played US Football in high school (Mid 90's) I wasn't payed, nor was anyone else at that level. I wasn't very good, but It was just a fun sport to play. Had I known what I know now about head injuries I probably wouldn't have participated. Due to head injury awareness, parents are starting to think twice about allowing their kids to play American football.
If i have a boy that likes football, that will be a tough choice.
is there some device i'm missing that i just have to have? do i really need a wearable computer?
You are putting the cart before the horse. First Apple (re)invents a device, and THEN, you can't live without it. Get with the program. :-)
Especially since it is the first hit on Bing, too
Not suprising, as Bing basically regurgitates Google results
If they are so familiar with the topic, then why do they side with crazy so frequently?
One theory I've heard is this "industry" is a huge boon for the town. All the local businesses (false fronts and not) setting up shop, all the lawyers flying in and out of town...this puts big $$ into the local economy. The region knows they own this niche market, and want the customers to return.
Its no different than locals supporting regional activities that could be questionable to the big picture....such as for argument's sake, big oil, coal mining, big corn, improper fishing, etc.
Now Ward has resurfaced as a partner in his son's law firm. http://www.judicialhellholes.org/2012/01/25/retired-texas-judge-to-argue-patent-cases-in-his-old-court/
You can't really argue that a rag-tag militia can compete with a trained army in these aspects
Try again. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War