Other Is Bindi no longer an employee of bit-tech?

Ah, well now I do understand it better. About the career move, not the assassination

It sounds like you've had a fantastic run with bit-tech! I'd love to be a journalist and travel like that. Some people have actually told me it's in my blood... which is worrying since I'm an electronic engineer But as you have said, as long as you have an enthusiasm for technology then you can write about it. You never know, a move to London could be on the cards for me in a couple of years time

 

Flibblebot wasn't staff, he was a freelancer. He's been quiet for a few years actually, since journalism was only a side interest for him.

Gareth too was a freelancer (albeit long-term and on-contract), but he's now taken a full-time role somewhere else.

Bindi, as he's said, is moving out of journalism and has found a job in Taiwan. His new role provides a certain conflict of interest with the site, so he was de-modded. He chose and asked us not to make a big deal or announcement about it.

This has, of course, happened over several months. We've taken on Ben Hardwidge as a freelance Features Editor on-contract and are looking for a new hire to compensate - http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2011/02/22/come-work-for-us-2011a/1

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Good luck Bindi, I'm going to miss you even more

 

For all we know, the two could very well be related.

 

You've hit the nail on the head mate. I know I've thanked you many times over for everything you did while we worked together, but it was a true pleasure to work with you. Not only a great employee, but a true friend - I can't wait to catch up with you later this year. Best of luck with the new job & career

 

I'm a materials scientist by qualification, but that didn't stop me giving up any salary promises to become a technology journalist halfway through my second degree. It's a lifestyle choice and there are so many opportunities to not only get paid to do your hobby (look at Joe, he gets paid to play games all day!), but also get to travel the world.

I forget exactly where I've been over the years, but I went to San Francisco (many times), New York, Chicago, LA, Seattle, Las Vegas (many times), Sweden, Taiwan (countless trips, I've pretty much toured the whole island - if you go, I demand that get out of Taipei), Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Germany (many times), France, Spain (many times), Holland, Italy (many times) and probably more as a result of working for Bit in some capacity for close to 8 years. I got to the point where I was flying at least once every two months, but sometimes more often.

 

I CARED

 

me too

 

I, on the other hand, have been to Germany twice, Paris once and New York once. I could have travelled further on a paper aeroplane

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Obv there are other benefits though. When I was in Paris I got a private midnight tour of the Louvre!

 

BINDI, I AM DISAPPOINT!

Best of luck in your new travels around ze interweb's sir! *offers you a travellers hat and a suitcase* sir's equipment should he require it!

 

If you're into travelling around that sounds great.

Personally I really don't care about "tourism". I really hated the travelling when I was working for a financial corporation. My mother made a trip (to mention just one) along the silk road and made a huge box of photos from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan, photos of cities abandoned thousand of years ago, of buildings covered in ancient blue ceramics tiles,...
However, there are books in the library with excellent photos and the whole historical background, if someone gets interested in such remote places.

For me it's more important to feel and understand the society, its priorities, its aspirations, the people behind it and to interact with them if I can find them close to my own conceptions. The States were terrible and they are close to our European culture; the wast majority is so close minded, militant, hyped, prone to mass hysteria, without long term society development goals, "grab now", the health system is a nightmare, exploitation of each other is classified under "team work", the society is not organized to help and stimulate but to dominate with rules, fear and (witch)hunting.

 

I knew you were racking up the hours in MC, Bindi, but I didn't realise it had come to this!

Congrats to you, commiseration to all who lose a valued member of the team. Well done for all your hard work gone by and best of luck in all your future endeavours.

 

Photos do NOTHING to give you the real feeling of somewhere. I can understand if you don't like the stress of travelling but it really does broaden the mind to understand how others live and how their local situation affects their lives and makes certain things important to them. For example: all the websites that commented on Foxconn's treatment of workers in China, yet, I bet NONE of them have actually been to a Chinese factory to understand how these people live and why they were committing suicide etc.

WRT the States; It depends where you go, not everywhere is like that, but again you have to travel there and meet people to understand why. Compared to most of the world that the US has exported its democratic capitalism to, Europe is HUGELY left wing. Yes, we enjoy its social benefits and don't let corporations run our lives, but it certainly doesn't fit all cultures, how people personally handle their money and the national economic situations. Japan is about as close as it gets, yet its national debt is stratastrophic! The Taiwanese work on the American model - much to my dismay (worker rights, parental support, housing for families vs investors) - but I accept it has some benefits (personal accountability, very low tax and entrepreneurship).

@Tim *MANHUGS*

Unicorn - Electronics Engineer would be a perfect degree for tech!! Not only do you understand HOW things work but you'll get to learn WHY those decisions were made. It would make you invaluable to companies out here honestly.

 

Hmm, industrial espionage. The plot thickens!

(sorry, i didn't get a lot of sleep and i'm feeling kooky)

 

In my current position I am often in Chinese factories working with design and sourcing. Some are good, some are bad. We choose to not work with the bad. I haven't been to Foxconn's factory, but I do know what you are talking about. . .

Bindi, you will be missed. So long, and thanks for the fish!

 

So Bindi, what you doing that's such a threat to Bit that they stripped you of your mod powers?

/being nosey...

 

We cannot improve the social concept here in Europe with the knowledge about the societies in Latin Americas, Africa, Middle East, India, Pacific,..
It's like improving a Mercedes by adding a cart wheel. So, the only value is more of an ethnic, turistic, anthropological interest of curiosity.

The core European values are not left; there are politicians buying elections with throwing money at the wide masses, however such spending does not improve services that really matter; the health system, justice, prisons (mirror of the society) and universities are not the cost factor.
The huge mass of state budget leachers are in completely other areas; left wing for sure, but not necessary.

 

You make a very good case! Hmm, now you've really got me thinking!

All this talk about technology journalism has also reminded me that I was supposed to finish off a draft of the Folding Chimps Challenge (or, FCC as I like to call it ) introduction/call to arms for next months mag today... must get that sorted and sent

 

So Bindi is "leaving", and suddenly Emzay reappears?


Bindi=Emzay? He is a bit girly, after all.

 

Yup, like all places of work; some good some bad. Foxconn gets a lot of press spotlight - local and international - because Terry Guo is Taiwanese so the Chinese have to balance the need to make an example of him while also realising he employs more people than anyone else.

 

All the best with whatever it is you choose to do Bind, don't forget us you hear!