If you are given a choice always take cash over a title. With a fancy title, and a couple of bucks you can get a coffee at Starbucks - without the title but with the cash, that coffee costs exactly the same. I have had lots of titles. Some companies gave them to get out of giving a raise.

She sounds a lot like my congressman. But looks a lot better.

Lifelong geek - Been working in electronics since 1964 and on computers since 1978 - I have a SB degree in computer science and have worked as a programmer.

Then you run into the manager who will always ask how long will this take? And then demand you cut 25% off of your estimate because he would add 25% if he was asked the same thing. Then gets up in your face because your project did not meet his unrealistic demand - claiming that it was You who set that deadline by…

I once worked for a company that didn't want you to put up anything. They had paid a decorator to decide on a plant that would sit in your cube, a picture on the wall, and a cutesy faux leather desk set just like everyone else's. There was not supposed to be anything on your desk that you were not working on at that…

Not 'everyone' at MS knows anything about computers - this was a bash thrown by the marketing people - who are notoriously clueless anyway. Hassling a journalist that you invited with the intent that he would write something nice about the new toybox - Not really bright.

It is usually cheaper to just pay the fine. Most insurance companies will not raise your rate on one speeding violation (some will though so ask) If you really want to fight it - go to court and you will be allowed about 2 minutes to present your case to a bored judge who has heard it all before. If you are lucky the…

I have been driving for a very long time - and have had several jobs where daily driving of as much as averaging 100 miles a day was a part of the job - far beyond a simple commute. I have a grand total of ONE speeding ticket in 50 years of driving. I typically drive around 5 mph over on most roads. I do make it a…

The last 3 jobs I had I never interviewed with anyone from HR at all. I found who at the company really had the authority to hire - And called them directly to ask about a job. The entire purpose of the HR interview is to cut down on the number of people they pass on to the next level. HR has no clue what my…

I like the new tabs - And each tab does show how many new messages you have under that tab. Very handy for segregating the important messages from the purely social and those dumb advertisements disguised as newsletters you subscribed to and just haven't managed to unsubscribing from because it's just too easy to…

I do like chili, and like many have my own recipe. I make it with or without beans - depends on how I feel at the time. However, as a southerner, I don't particularly care for the 'Cincinnati' style with cinnamon added. (They use it as spaghetti sauce!) Although I did find the people of Cincinnati to be friendly…

Love it - that was just the attitude I ran into. In 1971 I was fresh out of a highly regimented job where the proper uniform for every activity was spelled out in detail (USMC) and had no desire to join one where a uniform was required, but you had to figure it out on your own. - BTW, the IBM job I applied for was…

My first experience with corporate culture

Simplest and cheapest is still x10 - it's been around for over 20 years. Every light in my house is on x10. I can control them independently with one of the palm pad controllers. I have a timer that can turn specific lights (or other devices ) on or off at specific times. I have an all lights off/on wall switch at my…

I have an old customer who refuses to give up on MSDos So I have to keep a copy around to troubleshoot problems several times a year. The old programs he uses still work fine for what he needs so he sees no reason to change.

I actually did get a repositioning flight some years ago - but there was no ticket price reduction. It was an early morning Piedmont Airlines flight. I was flying out of Charlotte - which was their main base and repair center. They had oversold a flight by 4. They put all four of us and our checked luggage on a…

In my experience you can make up as many pocket tool kits as you want, and will not have it when you need it. Or, you can carry a very small Swiss army knife. Mine is the exact size as the tiny Swiss Army Classic SD gentleman's knife that you see nearly everywhere. But it has one more blade that adds a bottle opener…

Does this mean - since kinect is always on - I f I get up to get a beer from the kitchen during a commercial break I won't get my achievement for watching the Stupor Bowl? (Can't say Super Bowl because that's 'patented' by NFL)

Agree - ask the barkeep 'What is it most like?' and they will likely be able to relate it to something you are familiar with - and nearly every place I have been in will give a sample to help you decide.

One of my favorites is a temporary car wash - during a part of the early spring we get a lot - LOT!! of yellow pollen. and it covers the car. It took me a couple of hours to rig a frame that I could drive through, with a remote (used X10 motion sensor & salvaged washing machine water valve) to turn the water on & off…