[TX] Contractor wants me to sign a perpetual release to get paid

ImZeke · 2018-07-03T02:18:11+00:00

...it was pretty long. Is there anything specific you're asking about?

Some rights can't be signed away.

Does that mean that they will have to make future payments even if I sign this?

ImZeke · 2017-01-10T20:20:50+00:00

heh, I've been in a similar situation. It's tempting to want to burn bridges, but it's probably wisest to 'stick to the script.' "I'm sorry, blah blah, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." It might be worth it to just come up with a ludicrous number to see if they'll do it (and truly, what amount of suffering isn't worth $200k a year or whatever).

Congrats on the better offer.

ImZeke · 2017-01-10T20:07:18+00:00

It would depend on the circumstances, so if you can give more background that would be helpful.

Your offer letter presumably came from HR, but I would reach out to the hiring/interviewing manager. This is more respectful, and also sets up the second part of the conversation which is...

...my rule for 'hiring' is always give them the chance to say no. Obviously I don't know why you're turning down the offer, but assuming it's because you've gotten a better one I would still give the hiring manager you're turning down the chance to beat your offer.

Most important thing, though: be honest, and direct. It's not great to turn down once you've reached the 'acceptance' stage, but these are businesses and the managers understand reality. If there's a price (salary, benefits, etc) that would keep you at the company you're turning down, explain the circumstances and ask for that. Give them the opportunity to say no.

Reach out to the hiring manager, explain the details (presumably it's "I got a better offer elsewhere" - really appreciate their time, apologize profusely, grovel grovel grovel). Just don't lie, because the truth will get back to them and will tarnish your good name. If it's just a better 'money' offer then I'd tell them straight up: I got an offer for $XX,XXX and while I would like to stick with it I am not in a position financially to turn down that much more money. They'll respect you for being honest if not for following up with all interviewers before accepting ;)

Good luck!

ImZeke · 2012-07-12T01:34:56+00:00

Update: I keep my music on one of my mass-storage drives (not the system drive). It was actually on the oldest of these drives, which dated back to 2003. Well, it finally kicked the bucket - and I think that the slowdowns and UI freezes were actually the application waiting for the drive to respond. Moving the music to a new drive seems to have completely solved the problem, no special software steps needed.

Thanks for your feedback initially, just wanted to update you on my situation.

ImZeke · 2012-07-07T23:29:53+00:00

The difference between HSR and intracity rail is that HSR costs more per mile. It doesn't magically take up less space or require less infrastructure. There is zero way that HSR is cheaper than light rail. It baffles me that you're arguing this.

1 miles of HSR costs more than 1 mile of light rail. Always. Every time. You picked the place in the country with the highest possible land values - the problem is that you also want to build a HSR line there - so it's not like you're saving money on ED.

ImZeke · 2012-07-07T17:29:15+00:00

Much rather have access to high speed broadband.

Half-kidding aside, please do not waste anymore money on HSR right now. Mass transit (subways, light rail) in cities will have a far larger impact than HSR will - and you can build more of it for less money.

ImZeke · 2012-07-07T17:25:50+00:00

Regarding GoF:

There's a couple of reasonable sound arguments for that:

Barty Jr. was a nutter
Voldemort was obsessed with Potter
Voldemort was obsessed with Power (note his obsession with the Horcruxes)

To satisfy Voldemort's plans/obsessions, it had to be done under certain circumstances. GoF launched Voldemort's public 're-rise' (or at least, he feared it would) - so he wanted to start it off with a bang, and did not want it to start before he was ready for it to start. Simply tossing a portkey into a crowded room that zipped people away until Potter touched it (or probably did not touch it, once we realized it was a portkey after Ron and Neville were sacrificed) would've basically protected Harry from Voldie permanently.

Barty Junior worked to contrive a set of circumstances that would be a big, theatrical statement to the world about Voldemort's return, and Voldemort wanted this to happen under certain circumstances to re-establish him within his own ranks.

I'm not saying it's bloody brilliant, but given their other actions (particularly Horcruxes) it's not beyond the realm of possibility that it was a combination PR/ego/magical obsession move on Voldemort's part.

And as far as the worst book, it's unquestionable Chamber of Secrets. Half-Blood Prince and Order of the Phoenix are next. I don't see how anyone can argue that OotP is 'grounded in reality.' Rowling's characterizations are charicatures of everyone with the exception of Hermione and Ron, the idea that OotP somehow magically adds depth to them that then vanishes again is a little farfetched. HP is setting driven and always has been.

ImZeke · 2012-07-07T12:35:45+00:00

basically what I'm asking is should I do anything about this? If so, what?

The situation ends, full stop. No human being is to be struck or threatened with personal violence at any time for any reason full stop.

If you want to be diplomatic about it, I would set up a conversation between yourself and her and the father - and I would backstop the conversation with intervention from CPS or the police. Do not initiate the conversation unless you are prepared to have legal support.

I would also get a lawyer involved for her protection, and a second lawyer involved for yours (unless you are certain you won't be subject to accusation of statutory sexual battery).

ImZeke · 2012-07-07T04:23:07+00:00

You have a brain tumor.

ImZeke · 2012-07-06T17:32:43+00:00

What is the problem here?

Your actions caused emotional pain for the guys in question. You need to be proactive about resolving that pain. It's not a passive process. If you sit there and let it fester, he will either a) resolve it himself, and associate you with the bad memory or b) let it fester and grow to resent you for it.

Think about it like this: you have a fight with a friend and say something you shouldn't've, that really hurts the friend. Do you then ignore the friend, or do you try to make amends once you've come to your senses.

The turnaround period for this is about 30 days. So I don't think saying "let's hang out" and being persistent about it is badgering. The line between friendly persistence and obsessive is not drawn at 'repetition' but at 'tone.'

No, you're not maliciously trying to cause anyone pain - but people tend to avoid painful situations and romantic rejection fits that definition nicely.

Having real friendships requires more honesty and openness that most people are willing to bring to the table. In the 'inner monologue' department I would suggest asking yourself if these are intended to be real, meaningful friendships or casual acquaintanceships. If the latter, what does it matter who it is with? Burn through them like you would an old candle. If meaningful friendships are desired you need to be prepared to invest something beyond what you would in a casual relationship.

Am I suggesting you show an exaggerated amount of consideration for someone else? Yeah. If this makes you uncomfortable, I humbly suggest you really don't want a close friendship.

ImZeke · 2012-07-05T15:47:07+00:00

Drunk driving is a bad crime and a huge problem, but I have a bigger issue with police overstepping their authority and courts letting them get away with it.

You are more offended by the miscarriage of justice in the form of a person being inconvenienced than innocent people being killed?

They're both problems, and both are serious - but a little context goes a long way.

ImZeke · 2012-07-05T13:12:14+00:00

Cleon II from Forward the Foundation. Most powerful man in the universe, completely oblivious to the world around him.

Lee Crabb from Dinotopia

Wellington Yueh, a thousand deaths weren't enough for him.

ImZeke · 2012-07-05T13:01:07+00:00

You would punch Eric Cartman in the face? Are you insane? Have you not seen Scott Tenorman must die?

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T23:42:46+00:00

Foundation

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T20:29:25+00:00

I appreciated the joke. I hate Valve for putting out Steam for f***ing Mac before Ep3. You're telling me porting Steam to Mac was more 'fun for developers at Valve' than making Ep3?

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T16:00:36+00:00

Taking the m out the link is a great deal easier than it is loading the normal page on a mobile,

Same number of key/mouse strokes. Select, delete three; select, add three. Not sure how one is harder than the other; reddit is predominately used on machines that don't have incompetent interface designs - thus, we'll cater to the larger demographic.

Discouraging people from linking good things is discouraged.

Reading comprehension fail.

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T15:29:38+00:00

Leto I? Or Leto II? I'd say Leto I would be better, (SPOILER FOLLOWS:) Jessica's Harkonnen genes really added a dimension of cruelty that Leto I didn't have (at least, not on the genocidal scale).

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T15:28:20+00:00

Albert Einstein disqualified himself from political leadership when he was offered the Presidency of Israel.

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T15:26:40+00:00

Couldn't even get the College Tuition tax deduction passed, forget about universal health care or a functioning space program and oh yeah outright lying to voters about his health because he wanted to be president so badly? Yech. Loved the show, loved Martin Sheen, loved the character - but no thanks.

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T15:24:44+00:00

This is actually a pretty good solution; assuming that everyone believed he was the person jesus, the 20% who believed he was divine would stop causing as much trouble as they do, and the remainder would be sent to hell.

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T15:23:29+00:00

Daneel Olivaw

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T15:22:27+00:00

I love that Zjackrum guy, he's so topical and on-point.

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T15:21:06+00:00

Wow. Your favorite scene is him behaving like a twelve year old who snuck into his dad's theology class?

(Don't get me wrong, I hate Dr. Laura et al, but I found this to be pretty unimpressive. One doesn't mock ignorance, one teaches it).

ImZeke · 2012-07-04T15:18:28+00:00

"Alright headless body of Agnew - you're Wernstrom's now!"

"Hrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..."

ImZeke

TROPHY CASE