...what was never in place.

"Feingold's opponent attempted to reschedule the ads until a later date, but was unable to stop them from airing on at least three stations"

Like I try to reach for the elevator's "open" button when somebody's running. Half-heartedly.

Hmmm... that's weird. I've got my budget open and there's this line item for "Training and Conferences". I hope I didn't make a mistake when I used that to pay for training some staffers in mobile development this year...

That Camaro - it's junk if it won't haul gravel! It's useless.

Interviews, downselection, possible second interviews, verbal offer with requirement of passing background and reference checks, checks performed, written offer. Then start date set, usually two weeks or more out.

That's why it takes so much time.

Yes, but the verbal offer is explicitly contingent on passing the background check.

Brought on three software developers in the last four months. Once the verbal offer is accepted it's about a month for our company. Background checks, references verifications, etc make it a lengthy process indeed. I just agreed to bring on a contractor who already has a background check, and he won't land for three weeks even though he's on the bench.

I'm going to make the case that your obsolence argument is invalid.

iOS 8.3 still supports the iPhone 4s, which was released in 2011, 4 years ago. (I know there are locked-in android models where manufacturers have denied devices updates, though.) A two year old phone isn't even obsolete by capability anymore either. Nearly any app will work on a model made in 2013.

Ditching your phone just because the battery doesn't hold a charge is a bit shortsighted... the batteries are cheap, and service can be had every hundred feet in a lot of malls. If my iPhone 5 battery needs replacement it'll cost me all of $20, installed. The most expensive service you can buy in a local repair shop for my phone is $89, parts and labour included. That's a full screen replacement without having to send the thing away.

So I question the idea that a phone has a 2 year lifespan.

In order for there to be a union, you need specific job descriptions that are uniform across an industry. You need to define performance in a way that makes it very clear if somebody is fulfilling their job .Remember, performance analysis must be agreed on by all parties. The business, the employees, the unions... and there's no way in hell they would ever all get on board. As long as there's some "art" involved in judging that, it will never fly - and there's loads of art.

For instance, you have one guy who wrote a highly elegant, important application component in 5000 lines of code while somebody else created 50 thousand lines, most of it fragile auto-generated xml he neither understands, nor can troubleshoot. Assuming their profiles are essentially identical, who is performing, and who is not? If you just state that both are performing, and they are compensated in a close known band, it will eventually drive the talented one out the door. The exodus of the gifted will leave an ocean of mediocrity.

Software development as a profession just isn't in a state of maturation where unions could operate. Everything is just too damn fuzzy.

I could turn around and create a post with identical vitriol describing every last developer as cowboys trying in vain to defend their commoditized skillsets and high salaries, and who know nothing of how to run a business.

It would be as dismissive as yours and equally wrong. I've been a developer 17 years, and I do not have an MBA. But I know plenty of talented business types who move the wheels of organizations to make it possible for development to happen.

One has already landed - she's in her forties. Strong, diverse skillset, Already proving herself to be the right choice after only a couple of weeks. I'm also offering to a specific contractor a conversion to employee. He's also in his forties, and has proven himself over and over in a very long project with us. These people aren't cheap, by any means. My budget is straining, but was able to make the case to my leadership.

I just interviewed three people for my last posting, A junior developer. Looking at three years in the industry with some operational support background. I had a huge number of resumes from people far further along in their careers, but I'm not considering them. Mine is a small team - just six people, soon to be 7. I need a less... developed... developer.

I like to think we're on the right track.

It would be rather ridiculous for some fully formed adult to have arrived at completely divesting themselves of any computer, and adopting an tablet, only to be surprised at the limitations. And if they manage that, they deserve to have sticker shock.

Most people would go the path of finding their computer used less and less. Only the ones who can truly get by with a tablet would go the final step.

I skip each second generation. My mom has my last one, my nephew has my original one. I'm on a three and a half hour bus ride two days a week as I work with teams in two cities, and I love having my iPad. On Sunday night I watched "Princess Mononoke", played scrabble, briefed myself on project materials, laid out some slides for the CIO, and listened to Quirks and Quarks. When I got to the hotel I hijacked HDMI from the back of the hotel tv box, and watched Guardians of the Galaxy. Then I used Microsoft's excellent IOS RDP client to do some work I needed Windows for. I use the RSA software fob and Cisco AnyConnect to get on the corporate network. In short, my iPad meets nearly all of my regular needs. The only thing I wish is that iOS browsers were better supported by Confluence.

It's how most people insure themselves in the short term in case the airline loses their main luggage.