No, you can't always find another job. You're wrong. You must live in an area where jobs that pay enough to support a family are plentiful, and anyone with any skill set will be hired for these jobs. They don't have to relocate, and they don't have to sell their old house. They don't have to worry about protecting their family. This is the part where you go into a rant about, "blah blah blah your fault blah blah blah you should have went to college blah blah blah investments blah blah blah".

And tell me, how do you SAVE money if there's nothing left over since you're already living paycheck to paycheck? (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/us-usa-survey-paycheck-idUSBRE88I1BE20120919)

See, here's your problem. It's obvious from everything you've said, that you've never had to truly struggle. You have this view that everyone has the same life and opportunity as you did, and if they aren't as successful as you, they must have done something wrong... like it's their fault. News flash, not everyone gets the same treatment in life, nor the same opportunities. As a society, we do what we can to reduce that gap in opportunity, and help those less fortunate than us.

I am successful, my wife is successful, we have no problems with money. We are very lucky. I'm not stupid enough to say that the problems most Americans face with finding jobs and getting by financially, would just go away if they had worked harder.

No, sir. You can't always find another job. But I'm sure you will Mr. Romney.

No, you can't always get another job. Are you in the US? Are you aware of the unemployment problems? Those aren't just high school drop outs that can't find jobs. There are many college graduates in that line too. And you can't just get a job at the local Gas-Quick-Mart if you're trying to keep your house and raise 2 children.

No, you can't always save your money. If your wife is diagnosed with cancer, or perhaps you're in a car accident with extreme medical bills, your savings would go to that. Then you're living paycheck to paycheck, making ends meet.

Yo AC,
Read his post again. I think you're the one who's missing something here.

Crazyjj is making a point that the problem is the stress caused by having to WORK way more than our fellow affluent countries. While I don't know if this is accurate, I do seem to recall articles stating the more relaxed work atmospheres and the large amount of vacation available in some European countries.

Most people in the US are lucky to get 2 weeks of paid vacation per year... INCLUDING THE HIGH INCOME PEOPLE. And if they do, they're too scared to take it because their employers make it seem like if you do, you're not a "dedicated employee".

Before everyone else starts in on the "Well he should just find another job..." Quit yellin that BS. If you have a job now, you're lucky. So you take what you can get and do the best you can. It doesn't mean you're not allowed to complain if it's difficult to change your current position.

I get 3 weeks of vacation, and 5 sick days. The 3 weeks of vacation, I had to work here for 10 years to get.

So what about the uninteresting projects... who has to do those?

For me, when it comes to comments, is it's about who wrote them.

There are people I work with, who, no matter how much commenting they do, I still don't trust they knew what they were doing. So I'll always step through and analyze what the code is doing myself. Could that be classified as "Don't judge a book by it's cover." ?

Here's a question, if the code is written well... doesn't it document itself? I mean, as a developer/programmer, shouldn't I be able to read/speak that language fluently enough that I don't need a full english translation?

Remember that show Video Power? Where the contestant could run around the maze attaching games to himself with velcro?

They always picked the worst games to get...

I've always just use a spreadsheet to track my personal projects. (Excel, Google Docs, OpenOffice).

But since you didn't list much for requirements, I'm not sure if something like that would work for you.

If you need reporting tools, and the ability to allow users to enter in their own tickets... then obviously a spreadsheet would be next to useless.

Very good points.

I'm not 100% sure how they're doing what they're doing.

But how feasible would it be for something to take a, let's say, Raspberry Pi... beef it up a little. Make a casing, pre-install some software, a neat looking UI, and throw in a controller.

How much would that cost?

Agreed 100%.

At $99 it's cheaper than... well, any gaming platform, right? (Android Phone, iPhone, Nintendo DS, Wii, PS3, Xbox360)

So if it can offer the same type of entertainment options... (Netflix, HBOGo... etc), why not give it a try?

All they need is some developers who know to focus on the FUN factor of games. I'm tired of the industry rating games on graphics and realism. I want games that are fun, with a high replayability factor. I have enough realism from 8-5. I don't need to see individual hairs on the back of my character's neck stand up when he gets shot in the face.

I love that song!

Is this it?

Don't get all butt hurt Lil AC. Please tell me all about your favorite hip hop artist and how they compare to Michaelangelo.

I'm probably not doing it because I feel like all that music is generic and it could be computer generated. So why would I waste time on it? Didn't you read my post? The part where I said "IMO"? Oh wait, you thought your opinion would change mine? Sorry. I enjoy rap and hip/hop as much as the next guy, but I take it for what it's worth.

Sure it is... the article was from a guy who wants Reason, but the open source (free) version of it. If he wanted to pay, he already would have.

Remember, this guy wants this so he can teach his beginner class on how to make practical beats. He's not talking about some serious producer affording $99 and up software. So, in your experience, do you really think in 14 weeks, maybe 6 hours a week, a newbie will master all of the basics of making a beat, and using all of the functionality in something like LMMS, or any of the other options people listed here? I doubt it.

Let's call this what it is... he found OpenOffice and GIMP, and doesn't want to pay for commercial quality software anymore. So he's trying to get other people to make Reason for him... rather than picking up a book and learning how to develop himself. Agreed? Agreed.

It's free... if you can afford Cubase/Pro Tools. Then yes... use those. But this guy doesn't want to pay... so why would something like LMMS not be good enough to teach someone to make a beat? We're not talking about producing a track for Dr. Diddy, or Jay Snoop.

Why does it seem like, when it comes to software, people don't apply the "beggars can't be choosers" mentality?

"I don't want to pay for it."
"Ok, here you go. I did this in my spare time!"
"That's not what I wanted... this sucks. Spend more of your free time and make it better."
" ... ?"

Is LMMS not good enough?

IMO, that type of music is so generic anymore, I'm surprised some mathematician hasn't created an algorithm to generate hit songs on command.

You know, something like (BPM / Key + Attractiveness of Prospective Performer) = $$$