Posts by Sir Runcible Spoon

It seems pretty fitting these days (at least in the UK).

95% of the 'young adults' I meet these days are pretty child-like in their emotional range. It's almost like they've been wrapped in cotton wool all their lives and not taken any risks (therefore not suffered any failures from which to learn).

" He ruefully admitted that everyone they had employed from those interviews had proved incompetent in the role."

I'm always happy to point out that the time I could have wasted getting a degree I was actually spending learning how to do things in the real-world.

A degree is a piece of paper that says you have the ability to learn (at least it used to) - there are other ways to prove that.

Re: Built in Timer

If the laptop is powered on in the hold and set to connect to a wi-fi hotpot (such as one on your phone that you turn on mid-flight) how is that detectable?

I'm assuming that the range would be sufficient etc.

Freelance job security

"and if that job had a chance to be more permanent, would have taken it."

Should have stayed contracting, best decision I ever made. I've had more job security since going freelance than I ever did as a permie, since it's all an illusion anyway. At least being freelance you know what the risks are and can mitigate them (which you typically do with a high day rate and only pay yourself a reasonable salary/dividend - that way your company always has money in it to pay you if you are between contracts).

You also know to have 6 months living costs in the bank, just in case.

All that extra money from being a contractor shouldn't really be used to fuel a rock-star lifestyle (unless you want it to end like one too) - it should be used to purchase safety nets.

The upshot of contracting is that you typically end up working on new projects (fixed budget/timelines) and often get to play with new toys and keep your skills up for free, which in turn makes you more employable which provides you with a solid reputation upon which to raise your rates.

Re: my relocation bundle

"nobody at the local council offices or the bank spoke a word of English"

I wouldn't be too certain of that :)

Re: €706,000 ($800,000)

Yeah, I do remember that - still have no idea where the money *actually* went. Directorships probably.

I'm talking about giving it to people who can *spend* it, or even pay off their debts so that they are paying less interest and therefore have more money left over to spend every month*.

*You know you're an alien when you don't have any debt (apart from the mortgage, which is a bastard to be honest).

Re: €706,000 ($800,000)

"£3.51

At least it will be, the way we're heading"

That would require a very strong pound, so strong in fact we could afford to print enough money to devalue the pound and give everyone £500k as a freebie

Re: “Because they're idiots, and the worst is yet to come.” Indeed it is, says I/US.

But you just know that they'll nuke the site from orbit the moment they feel they've actually lost.

No-one wins the race to the bottom.

Re: Good

Note entirely true :) Whilst I have spent a fair amount of time fixing other people's cock-ups I now get to create them :D

Re: Why is there a PRINCE2?

I don't have PRINCE2 training, but I have had a lot of success with IT projects and working out project plans etc.

The key is to simply imagine doing the task you are documenting and writing down all the factors that go into it. Once you have that, think of all the things that you need to be able to complete all those tasks.

Rinse & Repeat until you have something that looks like a plan. *Then* start putting in how long each task will take and who will *actually* do it - factor in 20% overhead for meetings - if it goes beyond that at any time during the project then cancel *all* meetings for 1 week before resuming normal service.

Keeping it sensible and cutting out the BS makes for very efficient projects in my experience. ymmv :)

Re: Time to go PaddyPower

5. Fridge hits, but passes through the asteroid since it's one of those rocks made up of pebbles

Re: How about if we stop making more terrorists in the first place?

To be fair they didn't actually nuke *people* (and thus turn the entire Laandsrad against them) - they just nuked the mountain that stood in their way :)

" 3 1/2 more years to go!"

This isn't down to the guy in charge*, just like in the UK it's all down to the people who pull the strings of the guy in charge.

Ever stop to wonder why so many policiticians change their tune once they get into office? They weren't *all* lying through their teeth to start with you know.

*Figurehead/Lightning-rod - choose your own description. See Douglas Adams-HHGTTG for more info (search - President/Zaphod/Cat)

Re: It's a new game

How about a second hard drive that is only activated with a hidden switch or bluetooth signal or similar?

That way you can let them have a look at vanilla desktop, and still have access to your system sans spyware when you get to your destination?