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trønderen wrote: How to make it absolutely foolproof. If my memory is correct, the second stage cost three times as much to realize as the first stage.
I can't remember the full passage in Mostly Harmless, but Douglas Adams wrote Quote: A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
He then went on to explain a company's brand new HVAC unit that was so completely foolproof that they sealed all the windows shut. He went on to say that when something that is completely foolproof *does* fail, it is impossible to fix. The inevitable failure of the HVAC unit led to riots.
Anyway, you made me think of that, and then that made me smile. I have nothing to offer in the way of help, other than a gentle suggestion to give Mostly Harmless a read some time, if nothing else because it's funny.
Real programmers use butterflies
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And then there's this about Ken Olsen --
In 1977, referring to computers used in home automation at the dawn of the home computer era, Olsen is quoted as saying "There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home."
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There was a similar series in Byte at about the same time - look up Steve Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.
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I guess that makes the rest of us Customer Failure Generalists?
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Marc Clifton wrote: Customer Failure Generalists
Only a double negative. What you want is
Supplier Failure Generalists
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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That sounds like it has to be a euphemism for something.
I wonder what kind of person applies for such a position?
Real programmers use butterflies
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Or in the case of a small town:
Someone’s lover.
That way you have the town paying for the love nest!
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honey the codewitch wrote: I wonder what kind of person applies for such a position?
Very oddly, he has a degree in geography (one can get a degree in that???) from University of Alberta, speaking of Canada. 
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I guess you must have hard headed customers?
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Thanks god. This will change everything! 
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So you hired someone to handle the support calls?
If you can't laugh at yourself - ask me and I will do it for you.
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Code words for "do it yourself".
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
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Have heard of a post called "Customer Happiness Officer".
The opposite of this is "Employee Sadness Officer".
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Amarnath S wrote: "Employee Sadness Officer".
This is also known as a Manager a.k.a. Pointy Haired Boss.
Kelly Herald
Software Developer
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Or HR droid, AKA Catbert.
(Usually Catberta)
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
-- 6079 Smith W.
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For various reasons, I'm considering moving north to Canada in coming years. I don't have a timeline prepared but things are slowly moving in that direction.
I live fairly close to the southern border of Canada anyway, and know many Canadians. I even dated one years ago.
Because of that, and because of my many visits, I know there's a lot to like about it.
But when I'm making a serious purchase, I like to know what people *don't like* about a product, and I'm thinking along similar lines here.
What's your *least favorite* part about living in Canada, for those of you that do or have?
I'm not looking to dish on your lovely country, so much as to get a fuller picture.
Real programmers use butterflies
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honey the codewitch wrote: For various reasons, I'm considering moving north to Canada
Have you considered Ottawa? I see your U.S. domestic mail is already being forwarded there. 
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Income taxes are higher here. You're in a state with no state income tax and have what, an 8.5% sales tax? Let's say you move to BC. Your federal tax will be about the same as now, but your provincial tax will be about 50% of that amount, and your sales tax will be 12%. Plus higher taxes on gas and liquor.
Then there's medical care. You might pay a flat $750, but expect to wait, for months or worse, if you need elective surgery or a non-urgent consultation with a specialist.
If you want to order stuff from the US, shipping can be significantly higher, depending on who you're ordering from. In some cases, they won't ship to Canada at all.
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I expect the tax burden but by my estimation over all our standard of living will increase slightly up there, despite our buying power.
The medical stuff is a concern, but honestly? Most of what I need help with here the US is at least as bad with as it would be there.
Private practice mental health specialists do not treat people like me - that is, people with conditions like mine. We're "no fun". It's easier and more profitable to treat middle class people with depression than people with serious conditions that require ongoing monitoring and care. All of the people that will deal with someone like me are working under the public health care umbrella anyway, and they get paid dirt and move on into private practice as soon as they can. In Canada presumably, these professionals get paid a little more than the folks working for a community mental health clinic in my neck of the woods here in the US, and may actually have appropriate training, which you can't find here, unless you have Michael Jackson money. Seriously. Upper middle class people have a hard time with this. There's a huge hole in the mental health treatment in this country, among those that need the most help. /rant
Anyway, my point with the above rant is I'll take my chances with Canada. It can't be worse in that regard.
The shipping stuff I expected, but half of what I want I have to order out of Asia anyway.
But all this is good to know, because it's what I expected.
Thanks!
Real programmers use butterflies
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A couple of things that I forgot, but which may be even more important.
First, on the off chance you don't know this, you can't just "move to Canada" any more than an alien can legally move to the US. I believe you're working on contract, but you may actually need to have an offer of employment to move to Canada unless there are other avenues that I'm not familiar with that would allow you in. There's also the question of how your partner would immigrate. I believe that Canada would recognize your domestic partnership and allow your partner to come with you, but you need to be certain.
Second, you'll still have to file a US tax return. The US is the only country, other than (gag) Eritrea, that taxes citizens on their worldwide income even when non-resident. Doing a US non-resident return is a total buttpain.
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My partner is the one that would be primarily applying, as he knows three languages (and is learning French now), and has multiple degrees, including in nursing which is in demand there. I know it's not as simple as moving. This is a process we've been actively working toward, and we're familiar with how it works at least in broad strokes given where we're currently at in the process. He will have no trouble finding work in Canada. I work entirely remotely, and for people in the US, regardless of where I live, but I'll work that out when the time comes.
My income is just extra money. I'm not the primary breadwinner and nothing I earn is counted on because I do not work steadily throughout the year.
Real programmers use butterflies
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And here I was, thinking your partner was a Mixtec translator! Not much demand for that up here.
There's definitely a demand for nurses. Around the time that I moved to the US (mid 90s), many doctors and nurses were moving to NC because they could get better pay and were tired of the system here. A lot like the British brain drain back in the day.
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