metalslug

Our (South African) company's experience of affirmative action, which is still a new and fashionable thing here, has seen the term "most qualified" take an interesting spin; When interviewing potential candidates for a skilled position, many black applicants submit outstanding resume's, in some cases better than their white counterparts. What is disappointing, however, is that the expected practical evidence of these credentials is seldom present during the interview. When candidates are asked random 'spot' questions regarding certifications, skills and knowledge as claimed in their resume's, they very often answer incorrectly or simply don't understand the questions. Our conclusions from this is that the candidate has either submitted a fraudulent resume, or obtained the qualifications illicitly, or has a poor memory of skills learned, neither of which make them the best candidate for the position, even if the paperwork presents itself as "most qualified".

Jack and Jill went up the hill They each had a penny and a quarter Jill came down with half a crown Do you think they went for water ? (Old english currency: 5 pennies = 1 crown)

I was curious about that too. How much snow does the Vancouver area get anyway? I have never been there before but I was told that being near a warm(ish) ocean current significantly reduces the annual snowfall there.

No, admittedly I have not. I avoided Vista due to poor reviews and user dissatisfaction, and so never really knew all its features. If this feature is good enough for everyday practical use, or has been improved in Windows 7, then that's great! As per my previous post I believe that this is an important direction for Microsoft to be taking.

As big as Microsoft is, they will always be spread too thinly to produce the absolute best in every area. As a simple example; SQL Server is a widely used Microsoft database product, but is inferior to Oracle in almost every way. IMO, this is because Oracle have dedicated their entire business focus on database software for years, whereas for MS it was just another product line of many. As mentioned in the article, MS Windows and Office still rule their markets. I believe Microsoft's competitors use this fact to focus on competing in other products that MS do not yet have a monopoly on, with the hope that this dedicated focus will produce superior products which will grab the market in a similar way that Oracle has done with databases. Microsoft said years ago that they wanted to bring the home computer to the masses. Unfortunately, "the masses" consist of many computer illiterate people; children, the elderly, the blind, the handicapped and the intellectually challenged. These are potential users who currently believe that computers and tablets are only for business execs and young yuppies because they are just too complicated to learn and use. I believe that Microsoft's angle in the market should be to "dumb down" their software even further to cater for this largely untapped market. Voice recognition software and text-to-speech should be perfected and expanded in Windows. My 95 year old grandmother is going blind and currently relies on me to send email to her friends and read the replies. What a treat it would be for us both for her to switch on a PC and "talk" to it: "Email .. Outbox... Dear Gwen, how u doing... Send" or "Email .. Inbox .. Read all new mail ..." etc.

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Dude, were you sober when you typed this ? I just need to be sure that you intended this to be a serious thread ? ...

AWG ? again ? Dude....

I'm not in favor of whale hunting, but I do believe the Japanese version of this incident. The smaller boat positioned itself to be rammed, either deliberately or accidentally. AFAIK, groups like these have been 'stalking' whaling boats for years. Is it an effective tactic ? Has there been evidence to suggest that fewer whales were killed as a result of this type of 'sea stalking' ? Anyone perhaps know ?

Dexter the Pekingese...

I send an Allmark card...

Sex, as with most other parts of a relationship, should involve a little compromise, which means it might not always be about what you like. For guys to keep in mind is that many really good women are like Italian sports cars, there are some things that you just should not do when 'driving' them. Accept that, or drive something less exotic. It depends on what you're willing to compromise on, I guess. Partners can be 'bad' in bed for different reasons. The only dealbreakers for me (at the moment) are (1) less than once a week (2) unattractive/obese partner. I've been happy for many years with a partner who will not do many things, but that definitely does not mean that Rosy Palm is a better option. To me, she is smokin' hot and then some. That, for me, has made all the difference.

"Invest yourself" ? It's a date, it's not marriage. I think it's quite possible to like, and to get to know, two or more people at the same time, up until you decide which one you like the most. The early stages of dating is not that much different than social engagements with platonic friends. You're still learning about each other from each encounter until you know enough to mutually agree to take it to the next level, and only then would it become a conflict of interest. I think the question really depends on what level the relationships are at, at the time of dating.

Peanut butter typically does not support bacteria and/or mold growth because of its low moisture content (less than 1%) and high oil content. However, the oils can become rancid over time. When peanut butter become rancid, it develops an odd, oily flavor and odor. There are several factors that contribute to the time it takes for peanut butter to become rancid (i.e temperature, additives, oxygen availability). Basically, if it still tastes and smells okay, its probably still safe to consume, but most peanut butters start to turn rancid after 9 to 12 months under normal conditions. Refrigeration does help in slowing the rate of rancidity.

It's a tricky business if you're only getting into it now, because a lot is dependent on experience. My wife has been co-owner of an antique business for 15 years, which includes some artworks. Spotting an original as compared to a reproduction, estimating the age and fair value of an item, etc. is not something one can cover in a paragraph on a forum. A client's knowledge of art is often just as important as your knowledge of art. Many buyers will pay hundreds of dollars (or more) for something that they really want on their wall, regardless of the artist or the age of the work. Conversely, an art 'masterpiece' by a renowned artist can stand idle in a gallery for years, because clients do not recognise it's investment value or simply won't pay a fortune for something 'ugly' regardless of it's supposed market value. Attend a few art auctions and you will see this trend demonstrated over and over. Attending art auctions (but don't buy anything yet!) is probably the best way to get a feel for art retail; to see what sells and what doesn't, to get ideas on pricing, availability, origins, etc. It's also a place to meet both buyers and sellers of art, to establish contacts. Another option is to apprentice yourself to a successful dealer for a few months until you are confident. I must quickly add that my wife doesn't make even half as much money as most doctors do. It's an unpredictable business, there is no guaranteed supply and no guaranteed demand. Some months are good and some months are really bad. If you're serious about this career move then you should consult one of your colleagues regarding your mental health.

If that is the limit of the reasoning behind dress codes in U.S. schools, then I accept your argument and I will support this student's position. However, if a dress code is also an extension of a school's image, then that needs to be considered. If you look at the yearbooks of the more 'prestigious' schools and universities from around the world, you are unlikely to find crossdresser portraits. Some dress codes can be compared to etiquette. Poor etiquette is everyone's legal right, protected by the constitution, but it usually won't do well for the reputation of the institution that allows poor etiquette by individuals. It is therefore understandable that schools can feel uncomfortable regarding this student's wishes.

"You die first, get it? Your friends might get me in a rush, but not before I make your head into a canoe. You understand me?"

I think this may be more of a dress code issue than a gay rights issue. If a male student wanted his yearbook photo taken while wearing a ladies evening gown and stilettos, would that be OK too? There are many schools in other parts of the world that have a uniform dress code, specific styles and specific colors representative of the school. If a gay male at my old school decided to wear a girls uniform, complete with skirt, because he felt a constitutional right to express his effeminate nature, I'm pretty sure it would have been a serious problem. So how does it work in the US? How much authority does a school have to enforce a specific dress code? "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Many Africans were proud of Caster Semenya's victory in the IAAF 800m, but was she really the deserved winner? Some notable politicians openly labeled those who questioned her victory as "unpatriotic". Patriotism should be tempered with objective reasoning. Some American ideas on patriotism seem preferable to some African ideas on patriotism.

I did a 7 day cruise in April earlier this year on Royal Caribbean, to the Western Caribbean, round trip from Miami. I strongly advise you to take the insurance. It's usually not expensive and it can save you a bundle if you should need it. As an example; a ship's doctor consultation is not cheap and your regular medical insurance might not cover it. Many passengers were at the medical offices for sunburn, stomach bugs and a whole range of things that you might not consider would happen to you on a cruise. A single consultation can easily cost you $200. That was more than what I paid for the insurance and I later claimed back the entire amount. Speaking of sunburn; if you're going to the tropics then wear a hat and use tan lotion. Lots of tourists from less sunny parts of the world forget what the sun can do to them, and realize too late. Taking booze onboard is risky; if security finds it, they will confiscate it, guaranteed. You are also not allowed to keep bottles of booze in your stateroom. The exceptions are room service wines and single drinks which are delivered. You are, however, welcome to buy bottles of booze onboard the ship on the last day of your cruise and take it with you when you disembark. Some cruise lines offer a "drinks package" which you pay on the first day of the cruise or during your booking. The packages range from wine to sodas. Get one. They are worth it. The wine and sodas are expensive onboard and paying for them one at a time works out to much more than a package deal.

I like Obama, but to award this to a president less than nine months into his first term, who has yet to score a major foreign policy success, seems very odd. Of course, I can only criticize if I have someone in mind who deserves it more. My vote for this year would be Morgan Tsvangirai

I realise that your post was referring to the USA, but it was also referring to racial profiling as a concept. Would it surprise you to know that South African law enforcement still performs certain types of racial profiling, even under a black administration ? The President, the Minister of Safety & Security, the Commissioner of Police, most policemen, and most of the nation's citizens are black. However, due to the remaining economic divides, the majority of drivers on public roads are white. The largest contingent of black drivers on the road here are the taxi industry and company logistics vehicles (truckers, delivery drivers, couriers). The taxi industry in particular is almost entirely black owned and has been linked to countless crimes, from serious traffic offences to murder. At every roadblock that I have passed through within the last 5 years, there has been a consistently disproportionate number of black drivers being stopped and detained, and by black cops no less. Would this suggest to you that South African law enforcement is racist towards "it's own people" ? ...or could it suggest that racial profiling has some merit, that law enforcement should focus it's efforts according to actual crime intelligence, as they appear to be doing here. Despite clear evidence, in some cases, of crime statistics linked to racial demographics, it seems all too easy for racial minorities in any country to claim discrimination, in lieu of a valid argument, on the simple principle that law enforcement authorities will (quite obviously) consist of a majority racial demographic.

Most IQ testing authorities are encouraged to keep individual test scores confidential, even from the examinee. MENSA, for one, has a such a policy, and here's why: Logically, as an average, approximately half of all tested individuals will score below 100 and the other half will score above 100. Most examinees will want to know their results. The options for disclosing results are therefore: (1) Deny the results to all examinees. (2) Tell all examinees that they scored above average so as to allow them to feel good. (3) Candidly reveal the exact results to all examinees, thereby also informing below average examinees of their disadvantage. Anyone familiar with psychology or guidance counselling will know that option (3) has little constructive merit, and is therefore almost never done. Have you ever met a person who knows that they scored below 100? Neither have I. Why is that? ...and where might these people be ? In probability, they either: - Don't know their score (most likely). - Pretend to have an inflated score. - Falsely believe that they have an inflated score due to the testing policy of the testing authority. Perhaps something to consider if you should find that most people that you encounter in life are claiming an above average score.

Only if it can make donations to the church. They have a business to run, y'know.

I played for a few years. I've recently bought the 4th edition 3 book set (2 Guides & MM). I have not played in a group for years, I read the books for fictional interest and for a little bit of nostalgia. D&D can be good fun but often things just run a bit slow. Rolling dice, adding modifiers, checking area of effect vs character positions, etc. A battle that should last about 10 minutes can drag out into 30 minutes. I've fallen victim to the computer game revolution myself, for exactly this reason.