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Comment There's many but one would make my day (Score 1) 889

Skype (Because not all remote teams will use Hangouts), While you're at it.. Facetime for completeness
iTunes
Sketchup
Adobe Creative suite (But at least the Mac crowd can work with this better than Windows)

And something still completely surprising to me:

Scanning software like the one included in the ScanSnap products ... These device can be used from Linux, but the automatic side/colour/size detection with automatic feedback (for jams and misfeeds) from the scanner AND automatic OCR really make it worthwhile to launch virtual box to use it.

But all in all, just the Blizzard games (SC2) would be still make my day.

Comment We need a Professional Org more than a Union (Score 1) 761

It's a little disconcerting to see talk of a Union where it'd make more sense to have a Professional body.

I, for one, would prefer to have a model like Engineers, Doctors, Accountants, than a model that supports factory workers. Make it a whole lot harder for "just anyone" to call themselves "a programming rock star", and a level of respect for the profession will rise as the acknowledged skill set of the group is better (Even if some individuals are still just as bad).

Unfortunately this will only happen when developers and companies get sued for their truly abysmal software, and lawsuits become common. (After all, this is why doctors and engineers are controlled by their professional organizations).

Image

Scientists Say a Dirty Child Is a Healthy Child 331

Researchers from the School of Medicine at the University of California have shown that the more germs a child is exposed to, the better their immune system in later life. Their study found that keeping a child's skin too clean impaired the skin's ability to heal itself. From the article: "'These germs are actually good for us,' said Professor Richard Gallo, who led the research. Common bacterial species, known as staphylococci, which can cause inflammation when under the skin, are 'good bacteria' when on the surface, where they can reduce inflammation."
Space

Submission + - Are Sunspots Different During This Solar Minimum? (leif.org)

PhreakOfTime writes: "According to Bill Livingston and Matt Penn of the National Solar Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, sunspot magnetic fields are waning. The two respected solar astronomers have been measuring solar magnetism since 1992. Their technique is based on Zeeman splitting of infrared spectral lines emitted by iron atoms in the vicinity of sunspots. Extrapolating their data into the future suggests that sunspots could completely disappear within decades."

Comment Expect it to be hard, Until you get here/there (Score 1) 450

I've done this myself, but it was from Brissie to Calgary. (I was born in Melbourne, so don't draw too many conclusions, they'd probably all be wrong).

You haven't indicated if you're coming in as a landed immigrant or just on a work Visa.

First thing you need is a SIN number (Social Insurance Number), it functions as a Tax Number.

Second thing you need to know is that until you're available to work, there's very few who will take the time to talk to you.

Third. The Canadian Revenue agency "encourages" arms length relationships with end clients, so there's many recruiting houses prepared to take 25% or more off the top for your services. If you approach the clients directly, you can often find the same work with only a $3-$5 cut.

Forth. Everything which is different is small. You'll handle the big issues like driving on the right simply. It's all the cultural quirks that'll take the time to work out and you'll offend people without even realizing it, and they won't tell you you've done it (Aussie's are used to this service). Luckily your Aussie accent will help get you some slack and most Canadians are pretty friendly.

Oh, yeah... Expect to suffer the loss of many things you didn't realize you would miss... 4n20's timtams (mentioned above), Almost any of the decent dessert snacks you're used to, Decent pavlova, Weet-bix, Vegemite(Now that the Americans have banned it, it's not being shipped to North America)

Finally just expect everything to be different and you'll cope alright. Watch the slang, and any expressions you've picked up from home, sometimes they just don't translate (Cigarettes, and Erasers for two well known examples).

Good luck and enjoy

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