15 years in the industry is not the same as 15 years in the same position.
And since I stated that I work for a large company (I/T is numbered in the thousands), being ONE OF can still be pretty elitest. I would have said "THE BEST" but refrained since my general view on the nature of the posters on/. (at least the quality posters) are that they are my equals. Anonomous Cowards and Frosty Trolls not included.
Not every one wants to be a basic programmer for the rest of their life
Pretty much all of the *GOOD* programmers *DO* want to program for the rest of their lives (while I wouldn't say "basic programmer"....most want to be Dev Lead / Architect type of coders, but coders none the less). And being Dev Lead / Architect is not the type of position that goes to the MBA grads.....MBAs are for people who want to go into Management / Project Management.
I've been in the industry since 1994 and am one of the top database developers in my company. And I don't see myself as being a manager any time soon. I enjoy programming too much. [This is in a large corporation where a manager is not a technical manager; small companies where "Dev Lead" equates to manager might be a different situation.]
One of these windbelt machines will light up only two 20 milliamp LEDs
That's only in the current configuration he's using.....
What happens if: 1) you put magnets at both ends, does it double the output? 2) you make coils "all along" the belt? Does that drastically increase output? 3) you lengthen or shorten the belt? It changes the harmonics, but how does it affect the output?
Other questions: He's using a desk fan *ON HIGH*. What are the wind requirements needed to generate what level of output? What is the minimum wind speed to initiate the harmonics (watching the video, you see simple vibration until a point where it breaks out into the full "tear up the bridge" mode). How does faster or slower wind affect it? Is there a point where too much wind causes it to lose the harmonic generation mode? Does a commercial system need to be able to adjust tension based on wind speed (added complexity and added cost).
It's a very good start of something, but there are a lot of things not really covered in the short video. I'd love to see this taken several steps more.
That's what Dell does with Ubuntu....install commercial code where no F/OSS product (worth having) exists. If customers expect to be able to do certain "basic" activities out of the box, a vendor needs to provide those facilities in what they sell.....otherwise, they are better off not selling it.
It does if they plugged everything into the LAN side and nothing in the WAN side......believe it or not, but I had a friend with a faulty Netgear set up this way.....and for some reason it sort of worked. I had her replace the Netgear with a D-Link when she started having weird problems where two computers couldn't be hitting the same web page at the same time......but everything else worked.
My cell phone "conveniently" wakes up and rings even if I have it turned off......even in "silent" mode the screen still lights up. The only way to go off-grid is to either be out of reception areas (harder and harder these days) or put it in "flight mode" or, as a last resort, take the battery out.
Unions themselves aren't "bad". They are just bad for all who aren't members.....
Business are hurt by unions because of higher pay demands, strikes, etc. Other businesses are hurt when they rely on businesses subject to unions (manufacturers impacted by shipping industry unions that are on strike). Customers are hurt by unions in that higher business costs are then transferred to them in terms of higher prices. Employees who aren't members are hurt by exclusion of job potential. The Union members benefit from higher pay, better benefits, etc. For them, Unions are good.
A lot of knowledge is gained by these types of endeavors. Even if they seem pointless.
Why do motor companies continue to invest in various forms of automotive racing? It isn't like they can sell F1 cars to very many people? They do it because they can learn things under extreme conditions. They learn about tire wear, aerodynamics, engine performance, etc. (and of course, they also get brand exposure, but that is a side benefit).
Setting the wind powered land speed record will aid in aerodynamics, harnessing wind (which could be useful in converting it to electricity) and I'm sure several other areas. And in the process, they get to put their names in the news (and possibly the book of world records).
And besides, have you ever written a program "because you can" or maybe modded a case "because you can" or built a robot "because you can"?
Even with life expectancy going up, people will eventually die......
The "baby boomer" group is hitting retirement age / dying age. Even if they live longer, there are lots of them. The population growth is about 1.0%....but that is COMPOUNDING. The death rate in 2007 was about 83 per 10,000. In cities with populations approaching 1M, that's 8300 per year. The birth rate in 2007 was about 142 per 10,000. Almost twice as many people being born as dying.
And it will be hard to outsource the job of funeral director to another country.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but your husband's remains were shipped SmartPost and won't be available for viewing for another two weeks. Please accept our condolences."
Median annual earnings for wage and salary funeral directors were $49,620 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,200 and $65,260. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,410 and the top 10 percent earned more than $91,800.
Salaries of funeral directors depend on the number of years of experience in funeral service, the number of services performed, the number of facilities operated, the area of the country, and the director's level of formal education. Funeral directors in large cities usually earn more than their counterparts in small towns and rural areas.
I don't disagree that writing things down is an important memory jog, but obviously if the poster has to ask where he had lunch yesterday, he has gone beyond the occassional note taking and post-it reminders. Obviously "lunch yesterday" is a significant event and not just "daily life" because he was referring to journaling during his "holidays" (vacations to most Americans). Vacations are usually not taken at home (although stay-cations are popular this year thanks to increased travel costs), so meals usually involve a decision process (What's good around here? How do I get there? Do they take Brand X credit card? etc.) If the effort spent isn't enough to remember it a day later, there are likely memory issues (or alcohol).
I just spent about 10 minutes, and I can recall what I had all of my meals for the past week (obviously not posted due to it being boring). I had not written it down previously and I have no intention of committing it to long term memory. These were normal every day meals with no significance other than sustenance (except for twice eating out with friends -- last Wednesday and last night). Were I on a vacation, I could easily remember what and where I ate the prior day.
Your diary is actually contributing to the problem of having to ask people where you had lunch the day before. You've eliminated the need for your short term memory because it's all written down. So now, when you need to actually use your short term memory, it's performance is severely degraded over what it once was. This might even lead to further problems as you age.
Try to extend the length of time you can go without journaling and still retain the level of detail you desire. Nothing unreasonable, just long enough that you are not hampering your mental abilities.
Having 5 people work an extra 2 hours per day is actually cheaper than hiring another employee to share the load (benefits costs, payroll taxes, training, desk space, facilities, etc.). If the people you have will tolerate the increased hours (whether paid as OT or not), let them do it; it will save you in the long run.
Now, if you are asking for 4 or 5 more hours per day then you'll need to hire another person because at those levels, you are bound to run off at least one of your existing employees.
I've always held an exempt job and it's always been for internal IT. And believe it or not, I've still had to submit my time. They call it "project tracking". I call it "lying", but I've never hidden that fact. If they don't give me a bucket to log certain tasks, they'll get lumped in to whatever task I feel like padding that week. I don't really see how they can track projects at the level they want and get any sort of meaningful results.
But the point is, being exempt and not having billable hours, I still have to submit a timesheet. It just doesn't affect my paycheck.
I beat my wife all the time because she sucks at video games and most things athletic. If I ever stop beating her, then I will likely give up that hobby, but I don't really see that happening until I'm old and senile (and even then.....would I even know).
You posted anonomously, so you might not ever see this, but: when they do switch you to exempt, it's your chance to negotiate your rate. Go back several years and calculate how much you made in overtime vs regular time. Do market research on your job function and find out the salary range in your area as well as nationally. Do an honest evaluation of how you stack up to your co-workers.
If your regular time pay is about $35/hr (around $70k per year) but you received overtime pay (at time and a half, I assume - $52.5/hr) and worked about 10% more hours as overtime on average, you should target a salary in the 80k range. If your job function gets between 60k and 80k in your region, then expecting 80k might be unreasonable, so you'd have to target more like 75k. If you are better than every one of your peers, maybe that 80k isn't that unreasonable.
Regardless, what you negotiate now will actually affect you long term. Raises and bonuses are usually designated in percentages. You want as high a base as possible because most people only see a 3% raise annually. It will take 5 years worth of 3% raises to make up the 10k difference in my example numbers.
Only a handful of the ones around here are capable enough to help tune queries. Besides, I'm usually the one called in to work with other groups to help them tune their queries. A DBA normally uses the "throw indexes" at it approach whereas I try to understand the logic of the query and rewrite it. Sometimes an index is the right solution, but more often rewriting the query is more than adequate. Rewriting procedures is exactly what I do as a database developer. I understand T-SQL and PL/SQL (as well as SQL -- which are all different if you weren't aware); a DBA understands how the data is distributed among the many disks to improve reads and database settings that affect how reads are performed, etc.
The role I play is usually not a dedicated position in small companies (which is understandable), so the role falls to either the DBA or the App Dev team. Even within large companies, it isn't easy to find *good* database developers. And I rarely find anyone who thinks it's "cool" enough to learn......
Slashdot Mirror
15 years in the industry is not the same as 15 years in the same position.
And since I stated that I work for a large company (I/T is numbered in the thousands), being ONE OF can still be pretty elitest. I would have said "THE BEST" but refrained since my general view on the nature of the posters on /. (at least the quality posters) are that they are my equals. Anonomous Cowards and Frosty Trolls not included.
Layne
You sound like "The Most Interesting Man in the World": http://www.brentter.com/dos-equis-most-interesting-man/
Do you drink Dos Equis???
Layne
Many of them while good at what they do
Not every one wants to be a basic programmer for the rest of their life
Pretty much all of the *GOOD* programmers *DO* want to program for the rest of their lives (while I wouldn't say "basic programmer"....most want to be Dev Lead / Architect type of coders, but coders none the less). And being Dev Lead / Architect is not the type of position that goes to the MBA grads.....MBAs are for people who want to go into Management / Project Management.
I've been in the industry since 1994 and am one of the top database developers in my company. And I don't see myself as being a manager any time soon. I enjoy programming too much. [This is in a large corporation where a manager is not a technical manager; small companies where "Dev Lead" equates to manager might be a different situation.]
Layne
If I lived in a house with all of that screaming, I'd probably be violent, too.....
Layne
One of these windbelt machines will light up only two 20 milliamp LEDs
That's only in the current configuration he's using.....
What happens if:
1) you put magnets at both ends, does it double the output?
2) you make coils "all along" the belt? Does that drastically increase output?
3) you lengthen or shorten the belt? It changes the harmonics, but how does it affect the output?
Other questions:
He's using a desk fan *ON HIGH*. What are the wind requirements needed to generate what level of output? What is the minimum wind speed to initiate the harmonics (watching the video, you see simple vibration until a point where it breaks out into the full "tear up the bridge" mode). How does faster or slower wind affect it? Is there a point where too much wind causes it to lose the harmonic generation mode? Does a commercial system need to be able to adjust tension based on wind speed (added complexity and added cost).
It's a very good start of something, but there are a lot of things not really covered in the short video. I'd love to see this taken several steps more.
Layne
That's what Dell does with Ubuntu....install commercial code where no F/OSS product (worth having) exists. If customers expect to be able to do certain "basic" activities out of the box, a vendor needs to provide those facilities in what they sell.....otherwise, they are better off not selling it.
Layne
It does if they plugged everything into the LAN side and nothing in the WAN side......believe it or not, but I had a friend with a faulty Netgear set up this way.....and for some reason it sort of worked. I had her replace the Netgear with a D-Link when she started having weird problems where two computers couldn't be hitting the same web page at the same time......but everything else worked.
Layne
And the games would never get out of the beta phase.....
Layne
My cell phone "conveniently" wakes up and rings even if I have it turned off......even in "silent" mode the screen still lights up. The only way to go off-grid is to either be out of reception areas (harder and harder these days) or put it in "flight mode" or, as a last resort, take the battery out.
Stupid electronic leashes.
Layne
Unions themselves aren't "bad". They are just bad for all who aren't members.....
Business are hurt by unions because of higher pay demands, strikes, etc.
Other businesses are hurt when they rely on businesses subject to unions (manufacturers impacted by shipping industry unions that are on strike).
Customers are hurt by unions in that higher business costs are then transferred to them in terms of higher prices.
Employees who aren't members are hurt by exclusion of job potential.
The Union members benefit from higher pay, better benefits, etc. For them, Unions are good.
Layne
going straight to MS
Which, incidentally, he should still be able to do, since he has not given up his license at this time. $260 is a lot better than $130. :D
Layne
A lot of knowledge is gained by these types of endeavors. Even if they seem pointless.
Why do motor companies continue to invest in various forms of automotive racing? It isn't like they can sell F1 cars to very many people? They do it because they can learn things under extreme conditions. They learn about tire wear, aerodynamics, engine performance, etc. (and of course, they also get brand exposure, but that is a side benefit).
Setting the wind powered land speed record will aid in aerodynamics, harnessing wind (which could be useful in converting it to electricity) and I'm sure several other areas. And in the process, they get to put their names in the news (and possibly the book of world records).
And besides, have you ever written a program "because you can" or maybe modded a case "because you can" or built a robot "because you can"?
Layne
3 was Profit, right?
Layne
Even with life expectancy going up, people will eventually die......
The "baby boomer" group is hitting retirement age / dying age. Even if they live longer, there are lots of them.
The population growth is about 1.0%....but that is COMPOUNDING.
The death rate in 2007 was about 83 per 10,000. In cities with populations approaching 1M, that's 8300 per year.
The birth rate in 2007 was about 142 per 10,000. Almost twice as many people being born as dying.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States
And it will be hard to outsource the job of funeral director to another country.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but your husband's remains were shipped SmartPost and won't be available for viewing for another two weeks. Please accept our condolences."
Layne
Funeral. Home. Director. (or Owner if you can get the seed capital together).
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos011.htm
Median annual earnings for wage and salary funeral directors were $49,620 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,200 and $65,260. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,410 and the top 10 percent earned more than $91,800.
Salaries of funeral directors depend on the number of years of experience in funeral service, the number of services performed, the number of facilities operated, the area of the country, and the director's level of formal education. Funeral directors in large cities usually earn more than their counterparts in small towns and rural areas.
There will always be people dying......
Layne
I don't disagree that writing things down is an important memory jog, but obviously if the poster has to ask where he had lunch yesterday, he has gone beyond the occassional note taking and post-it reminders. Obviously "lunch yesterday" is a significant event and not just "daily life" because he was referring to journaling during his "holidays" (vacations to most Americans). Vacations are usually not taken at home (although stay-cations are popular this year thanks to increased travel costs), so meals usually involve a decision process (What's good around here? How do I get there? Do they take Brand X credit card? etc.) If the effort spent isn't enough to remember it a day later, there are likely memory issues (or alcohol).
I just spent about 10 minutes, and I can recall what I had all of my meals for the past week (obviously not posted due to it being boring). I had not written it down previously and I have no intention of committing it to long term memory. These were normal every day meals with no significance other than sustenance (except for twice eating out with friends -- last Wednesday and last night). Were I on a vacation, I could easily remember what and where I ate the prior day.
Layne
Your diary is actually contributing to the problem of having to ask people where you had lunch the day before. You've eliminated the need for your short term memory because it's all written down. So now, when you need to actually use your short term memory, it's performance is severely degraded over what it once was. This might even lead to further problems as you age.
Whether you started the diary for enjoyment or due to brain injury or whatever, if you have the ability, you should probably start working on short term memory exercises before it gets too bad. Play "memory" games, get Brain Age, read this: http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Memory and probably this http://www.wikihow.com/Cope-With-Short-Term-Memory-Problems
Try to extend the length of time you can go without journaling and still retain the level of detail you desire. Nothing unreasonable, just long enough that you are not hampering your mental abilities.
Layne
I'm not as worried about the readers as I am about the ones who post (esp. the editors who don't edit).
Layne
Here's you explaination: http://www.funnyhumor.com/jokes/575.php
Layne
To the outer planets? The mass of Jupiter, Saturn, etc. captured the material that was removed from this proto-Earth?
Just an idea.
Layne
Having 5 people work an extra 2 hours per day is actually cheaper than hiring another employee to share the load (benefits costs, payroll taxes, training, desk space, facilities, etc.). If the people you have will tolerate the increased hours (whether paid as OT or not), let them do it; it will save you in the long run.
Now, if you are asking for 4 or 5 more hours per day then you'll need to hire another person because at those levels, you are bound to run off at least one of your existing employees.
Layne
I've always held an exempt job and it's always been for internal IT. And believe it or not, I've still had to submit my time. They call it "project tracking". I call it "lying", but I've never hidden that fact. If they don't give me a bucket to log certain tasks, they'll get lumped in to whatever task I feel like padding that week. I don't really see how they can track projects at the level they want and get any sort of meaningful results.
But the point is, being exempt and not having billable hours, I still have to submit a timesheet. It just doesn't affect my paycheck.
Layne
I beat my wife all the time because she sucks at video games and most things athletic. If I ever stop beating her, then I will likely give up that hobby, but I don't really see that happening until I'm old and senile (and even then.....would I even know).
Layne
You posted anonomously, so you might not ever see this, but: when they do switch you to exempt, it's your chance to negotiate your rate. Go back several years and calculate how much you made in overtime vs regular time. Do market research on your job function and find out the salary range in your area as well as nationally. Do an honest evaluation of how you stack up to your co-workers.
If your regular time pay is about $35/hr (around $70k per year) but you received overtime pay (at time and a half, I assume - $52.5/hr) and worked about 10% more hours as overtime on average, you should target a salary in the 80k range. If your job function gets between 60k and 80k in your region, then expecting 80k might be unreasonable, so you'd have to target more like 75k. If you are better than every one of your peers, maybe that 80k isn't that unreasonable.
Regardless, what you negotiate now will actually affect you long term. Raises and bonuses are usually designated in percentages. You want as high a base as possible because most people only see a 3% raise annually. It will take 5 years worth of 3% raises to make up the 10k difference in my example numbers.
Layne
Only a handful of the ones around here are capable enough to help tune queries. Besides, I'm usually the one called in to work with other groups to help them tune their queries. A DBA normally uses the "throw indexes" at it approach whereas I try to understand the logic of the query and rewrite it. Sometimes an index is the right solution, but more often rewriting the query is more than adequate. Rewriting procedures is exactly what I do as a database developer. I understand T-SQL and PL/SQL (as well as SQL -- which are all different if you weren't aware); a DBA understands how the data is distributed among the many disks to improve reads and database settings that affect how reads are performed, etc.
The role I play is usually not a dedicated position in small companies (which is understandable), so the role falls to either the DBA or the App Dev team. Even within large companies, it isn't easy to find *good* database developers. And I rarely find anyone who thinks it's "cool" enough to learn......
Layne