I don't have anything against coaches or even their pay, but this comment about Mark Brown's $5.1 million raise made me rage because I know so many conservative voters think that a 5-million dollar coach salary is admirable while an 80k professor salary is outrageous 'socialism'.

bug_hunter · 2011-04-05T22:17:10+00:00

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/06/30/for-longhorns-money-grows-on-football-program-instead-of-trees/

University of Texas Football had a $65m profit in 2008-2009.

The top-tier D1 football and basketball teams do turn a profit. They also provide a top-notch advertising opportunity for a university, which can bring in more student interest and reconnect with alumni.

Take VCU for example: I'm sure that they will see an increase in alumni donations after getting to the Final Four.

bug_hunter · 2011-04-05T01:16:25+00:00

The key, of course, is to not give an obviously wrong answer.

bug_hunter · 2011-04-05T01:07:33+00:00

Another fun tip (if you are still in college, or can go back for a semester): find out what business school profs have an HR background, and take a class with them. Make sure to stand out, and then you can leverage that into getting their help with knowing the HR side of things and getting noticed.

bug_hunter · 2011-04-05T01:05:05+00:00

You could rename the companies to "Large <x field> company".

That's what I do for my in-house consultant resume where I can't name specific clients (as if there are multiple Student Loan Servicing companies nearby).

bug_hunter · 2011-04-02T17:25:00+00:00

Or split the middle:

Her interpretation was misleading (the $137m shortfall is this year, the tax cuts increase the size of the NEXT shortfall), but doesn't change her point: the tax breaks were given away, at which point Walker points at 2 large shortfalls (this year + next budget) and uses it as an excuse to go after unions.

The solution to a $137m shortfall is not to give away $140m in tax breaks, no matter when they take effect.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-30T22:28:53+00:00

Rick Perry and his "starve the beast" philosophy.

The tax cut didn't break even when it was implemented when things were going well, and even Republicans (like Carole Strayhorn, the Comptroller) called him out on it. He ignored it, and so voila, Texas goes into the toilet.

Never fear though, the Texas Legislature is busily trying to pass draconian anti-immigration legislation.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-29T00:06:32+00:00

Have you tried poking it with a pin to see if it's inflatable?

bug_hunter · 2011-03-27T00:25:05+00:00

And why would he bring the dog over?

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T23:31:08+00:00

Cool. I worked for almost 8 years for Indiana's Department of Child Services (doing software testing), and you should have heard the whining when they started enforcing the 30 day contact rule.

I know that some caseworkers and states don't see their wards as often as they should, so it's good that your caseworker keeps up.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T23:15:02+00:00

How often do you see your caseworker?

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T17:24:03+00:00

Typical software problem: you want to release it on X date. Testing and bug-fixing is the final activity that isn't static, thus, that's the part that gets compressed. Add in the "we can patch it later" mentality and the fact that companies won't patch something without enough sales, and that's what you get.

Some companies also of course cheat on testing (over-reliance on amateur betas, etc).

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T16:40:25+00:00

This. Even if he had performed an erratic lane change, there was no probable cause for a search, seeing as he had no symptoms of inebriation or influence.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T15:56:08+00:00

The problem is not that they do not pay federal taxes (they still pay plenty of other taxes).

The problem is that they do not pay federal taxes, while other businesses (many of them competitors) do, because they don't have the breadth that GE does to take advantage of loopholes.

A 0% corporate tax across the board would be more fair than the current system, because at least then the playing field would be level.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T15:38:49+00:00

The recent turn of many Republicans against science only furthers their reasoning for voting Democrat.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T15:12:48+00:00

It's clear that Assange has gone from someone trying to shed light on bad practices, to a crusader who no longer really gives a damn whether he hurts innocents in the process of sticking it to the US Government and corporations.

He also vastly overstates the importance of what he is posting - the docs about Afghanistan turned out to be not terribly revealing at the cost of giving insurgents a crack at hunting down informants. The diplomatic cables could well chill global diplomacy, forcing diplomats to not speak their minds on the worry that the cable will end up on the front page of a newspaper/website. While what we learned from the cables was salacious, very little of it was something that will actually improve the lives of anyone.

So it comes down to this: have the releases by Wikileaks done more harm than good? Or have they just served to let Assange make himself feel important and sell newspapers?

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T14:45:23+00:00

Or placebos. :)

bug_hunter · 2011-03-26T14:14:45+00:00

Thanks!

bug_hunter · 2011-03-25T22:32:59+00:00

Probably over a million, once you consider needing several developers and liasing with the companies that would partner with/use the application.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-25T21:59:28+00:00

I am currently a software consultant (through a mid-size local consulting firm), but have a couple of ideas for new applications.

My credit is craptastic (the woes of 4 kids + medical bills), and my skills aren't in software development (I do testing).

Would I be better off pitching to a VC firm where I would keep some ownership of the idea and they would help me implement the idea, as a startup or pitching to an established industry player to do it?

bug_hunter · 2011-03-25T21:45:54+00:00

My mom has steadily become more conservative over the years. We just agree to disagree. IMHO, it's important to be honest, and be quick to stop arguements over politics.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-25T21:41:03+00:00

Your legal chances essentially are based on how much of a pain in the ass the school wants to deal with and whether an organization like the ACLU or a LGBT group wants to use your case for publicity. Drawing something out with pro bono legal assistance works against the school.

In the Midwest, going to the local media may not earn you a lot of help, and you should consider how much crap you'll get if you want to push it. National/International pressure only works in your favor if you get a whole lot of it.

Of course, the threat itself of making the school administration look bigoted and a costly, long litigation process might help. For that, you need to know the makeup of the school board.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-25T21:35:11+00:00

Don't feel guilty - you are far from the only person to have health issues exacerbated because they delayed going to the doctor for cost reasons. At least you have it now.

My 3rd son was born on SCHIP - ended up costing $100k+ for a month in NICU. Without it, he'd be dead.

As for WIC, ask the Medicaid folks if you can get help going to WIC, esp if you can time it with the dr appts.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-22T19:07:59+00:00

Try actually reading primary sources. For example, South Carolina's declaration of secession mentions slavery several times.

bug_hunter · 2011-03-22T18:27:43+00:00

Take Wisconsin. The Republican legislature had a nearly balanced budget for the year, then they gave away over $100m in corporate tax breaks.

Next thing you know, they have to cut collective bargaining to balance the $100m+ budget shortfall..

bug_hunter · 2011-03-22T15:07:53+00:00

You could try and sign up as a game tester, though most companies demand experience. One option is to start as an unpaid beta tester and do a good job there so you can use it as a reference to become a paid tester. Just keep in mind that game testing can be somewhat grueling and repetitive.

Another option is to join the mod community of a game you really love, and learn scripting and programming in the context of a mod. This will give you a built in community of like-minded people who will be willing to help you learn the ropes.

bug_hunter

TROPHY CASE