First, even small environments (single digit employee rolls) have politics. That aside, the best way to avoid politics is from the top down. The people on the bottom of the totem pole tend to emulate those above them (it's actually printed in books that you should do this to advance and succeed in the workplace). So if your CEO, administration, managers and supervisors are all acting relatively politic-free, your environment will benefit from the same. The best manager I had kept politics above him invisible to his reports. When he came in, it was simply, "Captain on Deck. Status reports and concerns people." He was very kind, he listened and was very understanding. In a company of several thousand employees (Lockheed Martin), I never felt the politics that went on in the company until I transferred to another manager who was not quite as good.

This is a dual edged sword. I actually think this "pricing-scheme" is still faulty for the matter at hand. On one edge, I don't care for this type of sell through and don't use it. I'm happy with imeem, pandora and the other streaming audio sites, and I do own about 250 CDs (which I got for $5-10 each from retailers on sale). I am a bargain hunter as shown by my frugal price for purchased cds. I probably would pay $.25 per song, but it still feels wrong to me. On the other edge, a better form of sell through needs to be found. I've always felt like these things should be "given" to the public. But clearly the artist/author should be compensated. The question is, what would a system that offered both look like? I think Trent Reznor has the right idea with his recent ventures into online distribution. I don't really care for his music, but I applaud his paradigm. I was highly motivated by a recent article related to "free software" and I think it is relevant here: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/shouldbefree.html[^]

It can be very useful and powerful. And it can allow for configuration of objects that is truly transcendent. Unfortunately, it can be a maintenance nightmare. Trying to track down where, how and why an object is used can be at best difficult and at worst nearly impossible if everything is Injected. Interfaces are the true evil here. While interfaces can be used for good, in my opinion DI uses them for evil. Pure rotten evil. If you have a system of sufficient size (say over 100KLOC), try to avoid DI, it will only cause confusion and delay in the development and more importantly maintenance of your software. I think DI is excellent for prototypes and games, though.

Oh, and for my money's worth, I always preferred Watcom to Borland and Microsoft.

1. It isn't about the money. Software Should be Free[^] 2. Doesn't Eclipse support .NET?

My son learned sign language from tv. I don't know sign language and I couldn't afford a private tutor. I think that's money well spent, eh?

Older LCDs have something of a viewing angle problem and don't display blacks very well. Plasma's display blacks beautifully, but don't have the contrast necessary to be used in sun lit rooms (there is tremendous glare). As noted by others, most LCDs and Plasmas cannot deliver the quality of picture that a CRT can, essentially because they cannot refresh quickly enough, so they have to compensate for lost frame rate. Newer LCDs with 120 or even 240HZ refresh rates mostly eliminate the difference from CRTs. And with newer LCDs using LED back-lighting instead of fluorescent, you get much higher contrast rations (1million:1 or higher) which leads to blacker blacks, brighter colors and being able to watch a picture with even direct sunlight on the tv. The best of the best of the new LCDs are the OLEDs, which frankly are amazing. The one I saw put the best CRT to shame. Unfortunately they are prohibitively expensive. I am in the market for a new tv. I am likely to get either the Samsung 120Hz or Sony Bravia 120Hz with LED backlight for best compromise between cost and quality. On another note, Plasmas run VERY HOT, so they can affect your cooling bill (an interesting side affect not many people are cognizant of).

They laughed at Tesla when he suggested it. Can't wait until they build the wireless electricity broadcast towers :)

Hrm... I think either "The End" or "When the Music's Over" by the Doors.

Either teach, farm or do building construction. Teaching would be the most psychologically satisfying, the other two are for more physical needs.

Jonathan C Dickinson wrote:

I have a few gripes with GOF. OOP isn't the only paradigm available (just look at Erlang success: it's a freaken actor pattern!!!), you then have AOP which is improving the quality and maintainability at the same rate the GOF did when they published their OOP patterns.

Functional languages are deep and ancient. I suspect Erlang's success can be attributed to the Kult of the New. People like being different. That's why you can still participate in coding contests on TRS-80s.

New Guy Windows Vista wrote:

You say there is some legal reason that he cannot ask more details about the time off?

HIPAA, which ensures your insurability, also includes a privacy clause which prevents an employer from disclosing or requiring private health related information.

Many teachers in the US have a 188 day work year. Most software developers have a 250 day work year. I was much less stressed as a teacher than a software developer. I think that says something about the need for time off. On the other side, I think teachers get too much time off, by a factor of 2 weeks.

If I had to do it again, I'd get my PhD so I could teach at a University with a nice tenured cushion.

The classics: Fifth Element The Matrix Star Wars (IV-VI) Blade Runner Alien (and Aliens) The controversies: Logan's Run Iron Man Underworld City of Lost Children Starship Troopers TRON I have a serious geek-on for TR2N and The Watchmen, watch for them, I'm sure they will please.

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote:

Obviously you didn't run fast enough! Poke tongue

Well, I would have tried them fancy Olympic clothes they use to run faster, but they don't make them in 3XL...

I tried running, but the dog got sick of catching me. *rim shot* Actually I did try running, but I injured my ankle after about 15 minutes. Now I limp for 30 minutes a day.

when I first read the header, I thought about that episode of Brainiacs (BBC) where they tested if it was better to be wired or tired. In general, it's better to be tired than wired. Great show if you like things like Mythbusters, by the way!

MrPlankton wrote:

In the south I would say if you are looking for truly ugly women, go to any Steak n'Shake or CeCe's Pizza.

mmmm steak n' shake. I miss steak n' shake.

Wjousts wrote:

The real problem is that i tend to like to sit with one or both legs tucked under me (i.e. Indian style),

You clearly have the wrong chair then. My roommate in college turned me onto these: Kneeling Chair[^] That is what I use at home. (Actually I have the $400 tempurpedic one)