I've read nearly a hundred posts in this thread, but I think many people are missing the point. Does it matter in the real world if you're one of the top 100 coders? NO! When you're a professional developer/systems architect, there are many points that are essential to your success, and coding ability is only one of them. First and foremost, you need good communications skills. Without them, you don't understand the problem and you won't come up with the correct solution, regardless of skills. Then you need to understand the business processes behind what you're doing. While this may not apply to someone developing a kernel, I'm guessing most coders are developing custom software to support a business or a particular business unit. Then you have to realize that business is very short-sighted. Most companies won't care if the solution isn't implemented in a particular manner as long as the solution WORKS. This is why more than a few companies are moving their outsourcing solutions back the the US and Europe. Communication barriers (not just language) and a lack of understanding of business processes in the western world can lead to increasing development costs and time.
Mod me down, but after 10 years of development I realize its never the best coder that gets paid the most.
Whenever something happens in nature its attributed to global warming. Could it be scientists just looking to grab the next headline to secure a grant? While I believe in global warming and do think we need to take measures to curb it (I think its too late to stop it...just my opinion), it gets blamed every time something happens. In that respect its kinda like smoking. I never realized smoking could cause foot fungus, but I'm sure theres a moron who made that link too.
I'm not trolling, but it seems the cliff has gone off the deep end in this politically correct world.
How does the parent get a +5 Interesting mod score, when that act happened in 2002 for about 15 days! Wait, was that on Slashdots front page yesterday?
When many analysts agree, then they're probably on to something.
I disagree. Look at Enron. Every analyst with the exception of two (one of which got fired for his opinion) said Enron was doing great. It was the few who actually bothered to look at something other than the party line that were on to something. With Sonys PS3 launch delayed, I can believe 360s will do much better than previously anticipated.
...indicate that Greenland's glaciers have been dumping ice into the Atlantic Ocean at a rate that's doubled over the past five years. Greenland Ice Sheet's annual loss has risen from 21.6 cubic miles in 1996 to 36 cubic miles in 2005.
How is this a doubling in 5 years. This is an increase of a factor of 1.67 (67%) in 9 years. Please note, I don't have a problem with the data, just the combination of poor English and piss poor math. If the data above doesn't represent the whole truth, then include the data that does.
I don't know about the Eastern US, but last winter was one of the top 5 coldest in Wisconsin, while this one is one of the top 5 warmest. Shit happens.
There have been countless studies based on far more opinion that show that young kids behavior is heavily effected negativley by video game and TV media of a violent nature... Kids watching power rangers do nothing but fight with each other and when those fights turn violent they are using the "techniques" used on power rangers to fight. (attempted karate i guess you could call it) Kids who watch Barney (as silly and sad as it is) are much calmer, they share with each other, and generally get along well.
While this may be true (you haven't given any links to these studies and their methodologies, but I'll take your word for it), I think it misses an important point. Kids have natural tendancies. Some are calm, some are hyper. I would think hyper kids would be bored as hell by Barney and gravitate towards Power Rangers. Relation doesn't equal causation. Perhaps the studies took this into account, but without more info I'll view it with a great deal of skepticism. For all I know, it could have been undertaken by the Parents Television Council (you remember, those who are afraid of 'the nipple').
Speaking from experience, don't leave one job for something you presume would be more interesting, because it may turn out to be dull as hell after a few months (personal experience). Having said that, one of the nice things about startups is they offer more opportunity for growth and advancement, something I am sorely missing at my current job. All the same, I wouldn't go back to a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle no matter how interesting or promising the job was.
On a side note, this is why everyone needs a sugar momma/daddy.
How about you start by looking at the department of labor statistics for current employment trends for January 2006 (here).
The unemployment rates for adult men (4.3 percent), adult women (4.5 per-cent), whites (4.3 percent), and Hispanics or Latinos (6.0 percent) showed little or no change in December. The jobless rates for teenagers (15.2 per-cent) and blacks (9.3 percent) declined over the month; the rate for black teenagers had an unusual large decline and fell to 24.4 percent. The unemployment rate for Asians was 3.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
Clearly I was wrong. Blacks and whites are discriminated against in favor of Asians. On the other hand, most Asians I've known have either been hard workers or intelligent or both, while I've known plenty of lazy and stupid black and white people. Also note that while the unemployment rate among blacks is over twice that of whites, large numbers of those are in the inner cities which have poor economies and are losing jobs at much higher rates than the national average (Heres an associated press newspaper story since you're so keen on them).
So lets take the inner city out of the equation by looking at the geographical and skill data (here). Conclusions? I would say things aren't far off when the statistical margin of error is taken into consideration. And further its obvious those in the more highly skilled professions have much lower unemployment rates, regardless of race.
And this was just in 10 minutes. Research grasshopper. I stopped believing stats from newspapers when they started quoting blogs as informational sources on a regular basis. Just because they get it right 99% of the time doesn't mean I'm going to trust them 100%,especially when my life experience has taught me otherwise.
Now would be a good time to provide newspaper accounts of such things.
Newspaper accounts? That's like saying if you see it on tv, it must be true. I'm not saying everything in the newspaper is false, but come on.
While you're digging that up (no, angry bloggers don't count) perhaps you'd like to read the socialist-communist-worker's party's political organ, Businessweek, whose 2001 article claimed "in an increasingly multicultural U.S., harassment of minorities is on the rise".
Same goes for magazines. You can choose to trust them, but I would research the topic first. The same way I would if I were reading a blog. Bottom line is, the only thing I trust is personal experience, and I don't see this bias towards minorities in the workplace. I do see a bias towards lazy and stupid, which anyone can be.
And on a side note, why are we asking for proof when the topic in questions was brought up because someone claimed some recruiter told him minorities are discriminated against? For all we know, the original poster is nothing more than a troll.
I don't doubt some people are discriminated against, the same as I don't doubt minorities get preferencial treatment at some companies. I'm just saying I have yet to see either happening on a scale worth my time to think about during a bowel movement.
Well the shock factor is amusing, it sounds to me like he's watching too many movies. We're going to be living in a Mad Max world, and we should make a guidebook ala Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Take the advice of the latter. Don't Panic.
On a side note, I think it would have been a more interesting read if he'd mixed in the plots of Army of Darkness and Debbie Does Dallas.
Well, lets see. You have the email addresses of millions of kids in a single location (well, a single location for each state at least). Anyone can get the list, otherwise small legit companies won't know who to exclude. Then my friend in Nigeria gets them, and cons kids into giving out mommy and daddy's credit card info. What a great idea.
Border travel? Why would you want to leave the US?....What? You say Cheney is running....Oh CANADA!
Mod me offtopic. The midget with seltzer said its ok.
Not to start a flame war, but I don't want to fly with ANY pilot that relies exclusively on GPS for navigation. What if his receiver breaks? We crash. Sounds like a pretty bad pilot to me.
While I agree with your sentiment, having lived in Europe for over a year, I think things are a little too regulated in most countries. This has now extended to international business, and it will come back to bite you in the butt. Already, sentiment in the US against EU regulators is growing. It has been since the GE/Honeywell deal fell through due to EU interference (read - protecting Airbus and their other golden boys). Now you have the whole "lipstick debacle". MS doesn't have to look far when they want to find anti-EU sentiment, and they'll use everything they can to their advantage. Down the line I see the EU using regulation to hurt US businesses, and the US doing the same in retaliation. This is only going to lead to a pissing contest where everyone loses. While MS isn't without fault here, I can only wonder if there is a better solution.
I don't hate Christians, but I am confused. I've tried to live my life by the examples set in 'the good book', but I have trouble figuring out what Neal Stephenson was trying to get at in Snow Crash.
Slashdot Mirror
I've read nearly a hundred posts in this thread, but I think many people are missing the point. Does it matter in the real world if you're one of the top 100 coders? NO! When you're a professional developer/systems architect, there are many points that are essential to your success, and coding ability is only one of them. First and foremost, you need good communications skills. Without them, you don't understand the problem and you won't come up with the correct solution, regardless of skills. Then you need to understand the business processes behind what you're doing. While this may not apply to someone developing a kernel, I'm guessing most coders are developing custom software to support a business or a particular business unit. Then you have to realize that business is very short-sighted. Most companies won't care if the solution isn't implemented in a particular manner as long as the solution WORKS. This is why more than a few companies are moving their outsourcing solutions back the the US and Europe. Communication barriers (not just language) and a lack of understanding of business processes in the western world can lead to increasing development costs and time.
Mod me down, but after 10 years of development I realize its never the best coder that gets paid the most.
Related to Chinese censorship, now they have students policing eachother.
Internation Herald Tribune - Students put China's spin on Web
Just thought it was related, interesting read.
Whenever something happens in nature its attributed to global warming. Could it be scientists just looking to grab the next headline to secure a grant? While I believe in global warming and do think we need to take measures to curb it (I think its too late to stop it...just my opinion), it gets blamed every time something happens. In that respect its kinda like smoking. I never realized smoking could cause foot fungus, but I'm sure theres a moron who made that link too.
I'm not trolling, but it seems the cliff has gone off the deep end in this politically correct world.
How does the parent get a +5 Interesting mod score, when that act happened in 2002 for about 15 days! Wait, was that on Slashdots front page yesterday?
Smart people = also a very small minority of the population
Its worse than you think. Almost half of all people in this country have a below-average intelligence.
When many analysts agree, then they're probably on to something.
I disagree. Look at Enron. Every analyst with the exception of two (one of which got fired for his opinion) said Enron was doing great. It was the few who actually bothered to look at something other than the party line that were on to something. With Sonys PS3 launch delayed, I can believe 360s will do much better than previously anticipated.
About three weeks ago I met some guys I had first encountered on Slashdot, and was gang raped.
Two weeks ago I went back, but they were gone.
How is this a doubling in 5 years. This is an increase of a factor of 1.67 (67%) in 9 years. Please note, I don't have a problem with the data, just the combination of poor English and piss poor math. If the data above doesn't represent the whole truth, then include the data that does.
I don't know about the Eastern US, but last winter was one of the top 5 coldest in Wisconsin, while this one is one of the top 5 warmest. Shit happens.
In the uneducated, you just can't tell the difference.
that they read my email to osama@goingtoblowupamericalikeamotherfuckerandbush isandasshole.com?
There have been countless studies based on far more opinion that show that young kids behavior is heavily effected negativley by video game and TV media of a violent nature... Kids watching power rangers do nothing but fight with each other and when those fights turn violent they are using the "techniques" used on power rangers to fight. (attempted karate i guess you could call it) Kids who watch Barney (as silly and sad as it is) are much calmer, they share with each other, and generally get along well.
While this may be true (you haven't given any links to these studies and their methodologies, but I'll take your word for it), I think it misses an important point. Kids have natural tendancies. Some are calm, some are hyper. I would think hyper kids would be bored as hell by Barney and gravitate towards Power Rangers. Relation doesn't equal causation. Perhaps the studies took this into account, but without more info I'll view it with a great deal of skepticism. For all I know, it could have been undertaken by the Parents Television Council (you remember, those who are afraid of 'the nipple').
Speaking from experience, don't leave one job for something you presume would be more interesting, because it may turn out to be dull as hell after a few months (personal experience). Having said that, one of the nice things about startups is they offer more opportunity for growth and advancement, something I am sorely missing at my current job. All the same, I wouldn't go back to a paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle no matter how interesting or promising the job was.
On a side note, this is why everyone needs a sugar momma/daddy.
How about you start by looking at the department of labor statistics for current employment trends for January 2006 (here).
The unemployment rates for adult men (4.3 percent), adult women (4.5 per-cent), whites (4.3 percent), and Hispanics or Latinos (6.0 percent) showed little or no change in December. The jobless rates for teenagers (15.2 per-cent) and blacks (9.3 percent) declined over the month; the rate for black teenagers had an unusual large decline and fell to 24.4 percent. The unemployment rate for Asians was 3.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
Clearly I was wrong. Blacks and whites are discriminated against in favor of Asians. On the other hand, most Asians I've known have either been hard workers or intelligent or both, while I've known plenty of lazy and stupid black and white people. Also note that while the unemployment rate among blacks is over twice that of whites, large numbers of those are in the inner cities which have poor economies and are losing jobs at much higher rates than the national average (Heres an associated press newspaper story since you're so keen on them).
So lets take the inner city out of the equation by looking at the geographical and skill data (here). Conclusions? I would say things aren't far off when the statistical margin of error is taken into consideration. And further its obvious those in the more highly skilled professions have much lower unemployment rates, regardless of race.
And this was just in 10 minutes. Research grasshopper. I stopped believing stats from newspapers when they started quoting blogs as informational sources on a regular basis. Just because they get it right 99% of the time doesn't mean I'm going to trust them 100%,especially when my life experience has taught me otherwise.
Now would be a good time to provide newspaper accounts of such things.
Newspaper accounts? That's like saying if you see it on tv, it must be true. I'm not saying everything in the newspaper is false, but come on.
While you're digging that up (no, angry bloggers don't count) perhaps you'd like to read the socialist-communist-worker's party's political organ, Businessweek, whose 2001 article claimed "in an increasingly multicultural U.S., harassment of minorities is on the rise".
Same goes for magazines. You can choose to trust them, but I would research the topic first. The same way I would if I were reading a blog. Bottom line is, the only thing I trust is personal experience, and I don't see this bias towards minorities in the workplace. I do see a bias towards lazy and stupid, which anyone can be.
And on a side note, why are we asking for proof when the topic in questions was brought up because someone claimed some recruiter told him minorities are discriminated against? For all we know, the original poster is nothing more than a troll.
I don't doubt some people are discriminated against, the same as I don't doubt minorities get preferencial treatment at some companies. I'm just saying I have yet to see either happening on a scale worth my time to think about during a bowel movement.
Well the shock factor is amusing, it sounds to me like he's watching too many movies. We're going to be living in a Mad Max world, and we should make a guidebook ala Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Take the advice of the latter. Don't Panic.
On a side note, I think it would have been a more interesting read if he'd mixed in the plots of Army of Darkness and Debbie Does Dallas.
That's why I drink and smoke. Computers! When do I get to sue Microsoft and use the money for stress-relieving hookers?!
If its a hit, only 15 months until we get a crappy, watered-down version of our own! And the peasants rejoice.
Well, lets see. You have the email addresses of millions of kids in a single location (well, a single location for each state at least). Anyone can get the list, otherwise small legit companies won't know who to exclude. Then my friend in Nigeria gets them, and cons kids into giving out mommy and daddy's credit card info. What a great idea.
Border travel? Why would you want to leave the US? ....What? You say Cheney is running....Oh CANADA!
Mod me offtopic. The midget with seltzer said its ok.
Did you get the memo?
Not to start a flame war, but I don't want to fly with ANY pilot that relies exclusively on GPS for navigation. What if his receiver breaks? We crash. Sounds like a pretty bad pilot to me.
While I agree with your sentiment, having lived in Europe for over a year, I think things are a little too regulated in most countries. This has now extended to international business, and it will come back to bite you in the butt. Already, sentiment in the US against EU regulators is growing. It has been since the GE/Honeywell deal fell through due to EU interference (read - protecting Airbus and their other golden boys). Now you have the whole "lipstick debacle". MS doesn't have to look far when they want to find anti-EU sentiment, and they'll use everything they can to their advantage. Down the line I see the EU using regulation to hurt US businesses, and the US doing the same in retaliation. This is only going to lead to a pissing contest where everyone loses. While MS isn't without fault here, I can only wonder if there is a better solution.
I don't hate Christians, but I am confused. I've tried to live my life by the examples set in 'the good book', but I have trouble figuring out what Neal Stephenson was trying to get at in Snow Crash.