Author: Baldy

An interesting view on tax – which I can almost agree with

Lindani Gumede writes on News24 that we should scrap the current PAYE (Pay as you earn) tax system for a Pay as you can tax system.  Where people pay more or less tax based on their circumstances instead of the size of their salary.  So if you have fewer basic services, like people living in rural areas vs people living in cities, you pay less.  If you can prove that you're doing enough for your kids not to be a burden on the state later, you pay less tax now.

This is a brilliant idea, but will still only affect the people who are currently paying tax.

Continue reading An interesting view on tax – which I can almost agree with

Coining my own law

I've decided to coin my own law.  Now now, this is not a law, as in what the police are supposed to uphold.  This is a law describing the working of the universe.  Like Moore's law or Bell's Law.

So, without further ado, here's Baldy's Law:

You will never get rich by programming computers for a living.  You could, however, get rich by applying computer programming to a very specific problem.

If only we could all strive towards code perfection

I’ve found two views out there about writing good excellent code, that I absolutely have to agree with.

One is on CodingHorror, by Jeff Atwood, saying that writing code is just like writing, ultimately your co-software developers have to understand what your meaning was, and if they cannot figure it out, you’re doing it wrong.

In Jeff’s post there is reference to this post by Ned Batchelder, which basically gives you THE rule about removing dead code, which I have to admit, I’ve been breaking a big percentage of the time.  From now on, in my quest for personal improvement, I will definitely be following both these guidelines.

What are your thoughts on writing good code?

Jonas gaan vir sy lisensie

Jonas gaan vir die hernuwing van sy Swaarvoertuig Bestuurderslisensie.

TOETSBEAMPTE: Goed Jonas, kom ons toets jou algemene kennis – Jy ry teen ‘n afdraend af en voor jou is ‘n ander vragmotor, Jy wil verby gaan – Wat doen jy ?

JONAS: Is reg, Mener. Ek kyk hom die left mirror, die pad is skoon, dan kyk hom die right mirror, die pad is skoon – Dan ek slaan die indicator, trap die petrol, kom buitekant, ek gaan verby.

TOETSBEAMPTE: Toe jy nou so besig is om verby te gaan, kom daar ‘n ander vragmotor van voor af, Wat doen jy dan?

JONAS: Is nie mulakeit nie, Mener, weer ek check die left mirror, es skoon, kyk die right mirror, es skoon, dan sit hom die indicator to the left, vang biekie briek, dan steek ek die neus agter die ander lorry in.

TOETSBEAMPTE:  Raait, maar toe jy nou in die spieel kyk, het ‘n ander trok van agter die gaping toegemaak, Wat maak jy nou ?

JONAS: Aitsa bra, Dan maak ek mar my assistant Petros wakker.

TOETSBEAMPTE: Nou hoekom wil jy vir Petros wakker maak?

JONAS: Ek,  ek dink nie Petros hy het al so moerse ongeluk gasien nie.