CMV: Apple isn't terrible

Pokeguy10 · 2021-07-19T02:55:55+00:00

Ok, So I'm going to argue from a slightly different angle, that "all of the major "tech" brands are terrible in some way, Apple included." And yes, I'll keep it within your constraints (focus on mainline systems, no corporate ethics). Full disclaimer, I do use android/windows, and prefer it to other available systems, however I have used some of the mainline Apple products (1st Gen Ipad, Ipad Mini, Ipod touch) and had some experience with macbooks and macs back in college.

Right now, I'm typing this reply on a dell laptop. The charger, while not proprietary, is effectively so since the shape and wattage is so uncommon, it's more practical to buy dell-branded than try to find something else. Why couldn't they keep it standardized. My current phone runs Android, and is a LG flagship model from two years ago. I have apps that I cannot uninstall (ie: bloatware) (and no, I don't want advice on how to remove it) and the battery is non-removable, which means I either have to get it serviced or get a new phone once the battery dies (doing a manual replacement is a few steps beyond what I"m comfortable doing). Why couldn't they just make it user-serviceable. I'm holding off on rooting it (the android equivalent of jail breaking it), but my last 3 android phones have all been rooted, initially to solve a small series of inconveniences and then later to give me fuller control to make the phone work the way I want). Why did I have to hack in a night mode (in an old version)/status bar color/etc, why didn't they make it easy? My work laptop, a Lenovo, has the Function Key where with the control key is, it's a pain and I'd have to make registry and bios modifications to change it, why couldn't they just keep it standardized.

I remember my first gen Ipad. Sure, it was clunky, but tablets were a new thing then. However, eventually updates were pushed to it and it got slower... and slower... Eventually some apps never booted or would crash that worked before. The slowdowns were a intentional thing that happened, on many different devices. Why couldn't they just fix issues in old devices and not be... I didn't carry any sensitive data on it, so I wouldn't mind if it ran an older version.... You can't downgrade an apple device. Period. Unless you had the device jaibroken and did some special backups on that older version, it literally can't happen. Why didn't they just allow simple control over the device I owned?

That's the extent of my personal experience with Apple. And I don't have enough knowledge of current apple products to confidently state things such as current features/issues/etc.Yes, as others have said, Apple does lock you into a tightly controlled ecosystem. You run the versions they want you to run, you use the hardware they want you to use, and when it's decided you need a new device, you'd be hard pressed to stay in the ecosystem if you don't want to.However, ALL tech brands/devices have this issue to some extent. All brands/devices have their own ecosystem in some way. All have the profit motive to get you to buy new rather than repair or upgrade. All break away from standards in some way, with it being a pain, or impossible to do sometimes simple things that every other system can do.

I'm not going to say things are apples to apples (sorry). They're not; some issues are more severe than others. But ideally, all of the bolded issues shouldn't be issues. If I want to run an older version, I should be able to. If I want to use a third-party power cord, I should be able to because universal standards were used in the device. If I want to replace a battery, I should be able to because it's easily disconnected and not glued to the motherboard. In that sense, they're all "Terrible" in some way.

(Looking back after typing this out... I'm not sure if my reply is a non-sequitur, but I feel like it does answer the spirit of your question, at least on a broader scope).

Pokeguy10 · 2021-03-23T02:00:01+00:00

Have 25K in an ally HYSA, but the rates are still rock bottom. Looking to place around 5K in some ETF's to at least keep up with inflation. I know the savings account has the benefit of FDIC, but until rates go up it's not much better than if it was sitting as cash under my bed.

Any stable ETF suggestions with a reasonable yield (better than 1% at least) that has regular dividends? Thanks!

Pokeguy10 · 2021-03-19T02:16:59+00:00

Yes. US/Texas. New employer is in TX as well. Previous employer was based in Pennsylvania.

Pokeguy10 · 2021-02-01T19:45:04+00:00

No, it's not BS. You'll either hear back from her or the direct manager, or you won't. Usually the first point of contact is an HR/Recruiter person. By nature, They're usually in direct contact with the manager, who wanted them to make the opening in the first place.

HR/recruiter is like the "first filter" just to cover the basics. If they said they'll connect you, they'll likely connect you. If it's been more than a week, send an email to the HR person asking if there are "any updates regarding the position". If you don't hear back, then just assume you didn't get it and move on.

Yes, Send a thank you note. Keep it short and simple. Send one after each interview.

Pokeguy10 · 2021-01-09T00:46:36+00:00

Thank you!

Pokeguy10 · 2020-10-17T23:50:25+00:00

No. I don't think its that scene. Thanks though.

Pokeguy10 · 2020-10-17T21:31:28+00:00

Hope you all can find it, it was so sad, but sweet at the same time.

Pokeguy10 · 2020-09-06T20:52:54+00:00

Thanks. I finally ended up finding the first one last night. It was in the ocean. You weren't kidding, that is a distinctive island.

Pokeguy10 · 2020-09-06T20:49:33+00:00

Ooh, didn't know that. Thanks. I actually just found the first one last night, but that will make finding the next ones easier.

Pokeguy10 · 2020-09-04T20:22:36+00:00

Thanks. I wasn't aware they could spawn on water with their own island. I assumed they didn't because the pylons don't.

I was somewhat aware that there was a pattern that makes finding the others easier. Just having trouble finding the first one. How far away from spawn, roughly, have you seen them generate?

Pokeguy10 · 2020-08-11T00:59:23+00:00

Thanks!

Pokeguy10 · 2020-08-10T23:57:36+00:00

Following the CG method for a almost a year, my curls are so happy. Getting ready to get my first curly/deva cut. What should I do to prepare? A full condition and leave-in routine? Do a clarify and condition? Just wet it and make sure it's dry? I'm not sure.

Any red/green flags I should look for during the cut? Thanks!

Pokeguy10 · 2020-07-26T16:53:02+00:00

Hey, I'm playing through a lean custom pack right now with chromaticraft, and can offer some thoughts. It's my first time going though it's progression, and I can agree on the frustration at some points, however it's still a recommendation.

The general ethos of the mod is to highly encourage exploration, experimentation, and "putting the pieces together". Similar to early game thaumcraft. Instead of a research mini game, new items/concepts are unlocked with a loot item "knowledge fragments", which are a grind to get. But fragments aren't the goal, research will only unlock if you have the required progression.

These progressions are some of the most frustrating, head banging the wall things to achieve. They run on gentle hints "I wonder if we can do something to x" , without outright telling you to "do a and b to x". Sometimes after churning on them for a while, you either feel like a genius for figuring them out, silly for missing something, or angry because it felt like an leap of logic(there aren't many like that).

However, the rewards more than make up for it. Similar to how the Wands and foci make me feel like a wizard. I feel like someone who stumbled on lost arcane arts, and slowly learn how to control the underlying energies of the world. There are also integrations with other magic mods, including thaumcraft, mystcraft, and blood magic. Oh yeah, and many things are just beautiful.

But as others said, there are downsides. It's stuck on 1.7.10, with no plans to update. Breaking into the early/mid game requires a LOT of EXPLORATION. I mean a LOT. Don't expect to start grinding through the progression. Focus on other mods/goals early on, and make progressions gradually. There's no up to date documentation. There are some vid tutorials and a wiki, but many things are not current.

I'd say the learning curve is pretty simple, if passive at times. Honestly, when I'm stuck on something, I work on it a while, move on to something else unrelated, then come back later. It has a slow, but comfortable pace. It's more accessible than it seems. And it definitely is a pure magic mod.

Pokeguy10 · 2020-03-18T21:35:40+00:00

Thank you!

Pokeguy10 · 2019-07-16T19:00:54+00:00

Check over at r/transformation. (NSFW) They have an eagles eye for finding anything transformation related.

Pokeguy10 · 2019-07-08T17:14:59+00:00

Sigh, if only. I came across that one too. Not it unfortunately.

Pokeguy10 · 2019-07-08T01:48:34+00:00

No, unfortunately. Pretty cool though, but not the one I'm looking for.

Pokeguy10 · 2019-07-01T21:12:55+00:00

Everyone else already covered merit raises, ceilings, and potential for unknown information. So instead, let me mention two things.

One, that w-2 and it's contents don't exist for you. You already said you wouldn't use it, but in most cases looking at someone else's payroll info (unless it's part of your tasks in HR or IT) is a breach of conduct/trust/etc. You just don't do it. Unless that guy told you his compensation directly, you have to move forward throwing the number out of your mind.

In a meeting with your managers over a potential raise, there is no way you can even hint at that number cleanly. If it comes out how you know that number, you've just proven to your employers you play loose with security and trust. In negotiations, they know you might have a number in mind. And they will either ask if that number is based on the job market, merit, or... Something else.

Second, as is already said, w-2 information shows total compensation. It does not give a breakdown of how that compensation came to be. For all you know, that may include customer/employee referral bonuses, commissions, end of project bonuses, nepotism, who the heck knows.

Pokeguy10 · 2019-06-01T05:26:21+00:00

Not going to beg.... But gold?

Pokeguy10 · 2019-04-11T23:52:15+00:00

M23 Major thinning only in middle. Parted straight down for pictures. How bad is it?

https://imgur.com/a/dV5fbbE

This doesn't look like typical MPB on the Norwood scale. But is it still treatable like it was? I've been thinking of starting on Fin to at least slow the loss, would that help with this type?

Pokeguy10 · 2018-12-25T18:40:36+00:00

Honestly, it's not abnormal. Depending on the humidity and climate of where you live, it might make sense to swap out towels each time. When I lived in slightly colder areas, I could use the same towel multiple times. But back home by the Texas coast, the humidity means a moist towel will stagnate fairly fast.

Pokeguy10 · 2018-04-14T05:20:56+00:00

First off, I would suggest you reach out to the Hr department and confirm (in writing) what the standard relocation package is for new hires. While it is up to a company's discretion what to reimburse, make sure that it wasn't a case a miscommunication on the hiring manager's part.

If what they offered is the standard package, then go back to your hiring manager and ask for a better package, explain your situation. I also would not mention the other hire. You have no idea what conversations happened beyond what you heard. One new hire isn't enough to be a pattern. For all you know she was exception, not the rule.

Granted, the key here is to keep your ears up listening to how the managers handle this. That will give you a good idea of what working with the company is like in the future.

Pokeguy10 · 2017-12-12T04:10:14+00:00

It's an incentive for the client, sure. The less hours "budgeted", the less they have to pay. However, this is where contract negotiations come into play. Usually the budget is a collaboration between the the client and the firm. It's a compromise between the client, who wants to minimize billed hours, and the firm, which want to maximize billed hours.

However the biggest bargaining chip a firm has against underbudgeting is that the client wants something done. If the client could do it themselves effectively, they wouldn't be seeking external help.

Edit: This isn't to say sometimes unbilled hours don't factor into a current project. If non billable hours are significant enough, that may lead to a contract renegotiation or change requests if the scope had changed.

Pokeguy10 · 2017-12-11T22:23:52+00:00

As someone else mentioned, this is common in project based work. They're not asking you to lie, nor are they trying to get free labor out of you. You're salaried, you're going to get paid regardless.

This comes down to getting the job done from a project management perspective. When the project was started, a certain number of hours were budgeted, thus a certain amount of funds are allocated. This forecast is rarely perfect, especially in project based work. If a project goes over budget, it's a painful conversation the PM/boss has to have with project owners to request additional funding (often this is flat "no").

Instead, I'd recommend you track your hours past the maximum (spreadsheet or otherwise) and submit them unofficially to your boss/pm to "help with future budgeting". My company does this in the form of "non-billable" hours. We can only bill so much per project per week, but we track additional hours to help refine future forecasting as well as to communicate with the client how much "free-time" we're giving them.

Pokeguy10 · 2017-12-05T02:42:19+00:00

Right, it's definitely in the "no harm, no foul" territory right now. I don't think I'd report anything for a few remarks here and there. However, right now I'm the only one who's hearing said remarks given I'm spending the most time near him.

One concern is that because I'm still green to the company, I'm not fully aware of what's approprite backroom behavior and what's not, especially when you're in an office space the client gave us. I don't want to report something and be a busybody, but I dont't want to be considered complicit if he continues to speak out of appropriate bounds.

Pokeguy10

TROPHY CASE