Assembly is not taught as a requirement at our local college. Regular BASIC isn't either. Real Programmers know more than one language and can fairly easily move from one to the other. They also are able to pick up new languages since they understand the basics of programming. Today, someone will throw a PHP web page together and call themselves a programmer. To truly be good at programming you not only need to know the language and it's syntax, but also what that syntax is actually doing in the machine. A mechanic woudl not be a mechanic if all he did was pump your gas and changed your oil, right? He/She needs to understand why you change the oil and what happens to it within the engine.

Southwest doesn't have a first class section. From Oakland to Burbank, the route he was taking, is an hour flight. It's like a commuter flight, like taking a bus. He was just in town for the day.

He always buys two tickets so he doesn't have to sit next to someone, not because of his size. He was able to put both armrests down and buckle his seatbelt without an extender. If you listen to his podcast (named Smodcast), you will get the entire story. He was seated and buckling in when they removed him. He had been recognized by several people around him. There was a guy fatter than him a few rows back that they did not remove. Then when he got on the next flight, an overweight woman sat in the aisle seat of his row. He had bought two tickets so he was near the window. They took this woman aside and told her that next time she should consider buying two tickets. That was just rude and unnecessary. Unless they have a clear guideline, "you must be able to fit between these two bars while seated", and they implement it consistently, he has every right to complain. He isn't that big. Yeah he says he is fat. That's his self-image, and he is willing to own that and be responsible for it. The way the situation was handled was more of the issue. Some people really are not in control of their weight. Many diseases can cause you to gain body mass. Also many medications will do that as well. My mother was on steroids for her lung disease and that made her balloon out. Once she went off the steroids she went back to her normal size. I try not to judge people or label them. This world would be a much better place if people were less judgmental and more compassionate.

The only thing that makes them our "employees" is that they get paid by our tax money. Many things that are illegal in this country was not decided upon by the general public. The majority doesn't even vote. A good example of this is Tylenol with Codeine (300/30) commonly known as 3s, these are 300 mg of tylenol (acetaminophen) to 30 mg of codeine. Now Codiene is classified as an opiate though unlike true opiates, it does not pass the blood/brain barrier. it is metabolized in the body. In the small dosage of 30mg, the buzz you may get is similar to that of Nyquil or a shot of alcohol, both perfectly legal. In the United States this so-called drug is classified as a Schedule III narcotic and heavily regulated. My doctor is not allowed to set it to have refills, I have to get approval from her each time to have it refilled. But I can go to Canada or Mexico and this same drug is sold over the counter. Australia and New Zealand too. In the UK it is also available over the counter. Here in the United States they now regulate the active ingredient in Sudafed since it has been used to cut methamphetamine with. I have to ask for it from the pharmacist and show my driver's license. It is then recorded in a book that I have purchased it. I would prefer to not have to feel like some kind of drug addict because I have a stuffy nose and sudafed is all that works. Or because I have menstrual cramps and codeine is the only thing that will bring me relief.

I worked in an office environment where I was the only programmer and the rest of our side of the building were customer support/help desk types of people. Combine this with them all being 20 somethings and it was so distracting to work. I couldn't concentrate. Not that I care who is winning on American Idol but conversations are harder to tune out than background music. I like the Talking Heads. Nice and loud!!

They are merchants. Definition of a merchant: a trader, especially wholesale, in goods of a particular kind Even the people who provide the free and cheaper items are merchants. Now you could have an argument about whether or not they are a valid business, However, many of them have impressive incomes from their Second Lives. It is estimated that from the listing fees alone (10 linden per item which is approximately 4 cents US) Linden Lab will pull in over $20K USD a month. Thats a good chunk of change for doing...ummm... nothing but hosting a website. They bought out an existing site and did very little to improve or change it. In fact they made the color scheme rather unpleasant. It isn;t about the free stuff, it's about making more money and getting into bed with their "elite merchants" who are the top 5% sellers. Let me ask you this, are you required to report and pay taxes on your earnings from posting here? Or from any other "liesure" internet activity? Yeah I thought not!