patrick.net

komputodo says

I see coding, IT, engineering, programmers, office stuff....does anybody work with their hands anymore?

I kind of work with my hands. It's categorized as labor. Thing is I don't "need" the job and it's seasonal. We're a small school district but have 3 schools with about 30 acres of land a piece. I mow the lawns and it's flexible so I take care of the kids and house when not working. I get the winters off, we don't have to hire anyone to deal with the kids and I'm paying into the retirement system here.

You could categorize it as semi-retired. In season I deal with no humans outside of shop talk with the bus barn. Gets me out of the house and covers our current mortgage for the year. I get winters off. After 15 years in RE managing a brokerage for a child boss I'm done with service industries and having a "boss" that cares. Grass is cut and trimmed you don't have a boss at that point.

Wife works in road building sales without getting into details as it would dox me. She's known nationally... which is annoying. I'm a fucking spoiled human basically is what I'm getting at because of her work. I get to jam out to my favorite bands, make the schools look like a country club, get a tan, don't have to deal with people, and the commute is 1-8 minutes to the schools.

I did originally build the website for the wife's company. It's not an industry that needs a flashy website, but what they had was pure shit. Either way a $1M company is worth $30-40M now and I've helped a lot with that. Been a crazy ride.

komputodo says

I see coding, IT, engineering, programmers, office stuff....does anybody work with their hands anymore?

I tried working with my hands for pay. I fell off a ladder painting and the other time the foreman of the framing company fired me because I couldn't handle the Texas heat with hauling lumber to the carpenters. I think construction isn't my forte.

I have cooked for pay...that was fun.

Back in IT.

1337irr says

I fell off a ladder painting and the other time the foreman of the framing company fired me because I couldn't handle the Texas heat with hauling lumber to the carpenters.

Fuck ladders. I can handle heights, but all it takes is a foot cramp and you're on the ground. One of our agents back in the day was working on his primary home and fell 2 stories off a ladder. Was in the hospital for two weeks and ended up with permanent scarring on his face. Xmas lights on the gutter freak me out every year if I'm being honest.

Nothing. Retired.

Some Snarkey Bay Area Hipster may "Gotcha!" me for sharing my status when I wrote on a different thread that we charge my plug in hybrid EV at the workplace

If you say so, homie, - whatever. I am retired but not everyone in my household is retired.

mell says

I have seen this or similar thoughts posted frequently now and I somewhat disagree. SW (and hardware) will be one of the strongest fields for many decades, automation and automated processes and improvements will continue, there is still so much out there that needs to be automated. Then there is AI, self-driving cars, healthcare wearables etc. etc. Sure there will be a nice demand for good, healthy and mostly organically farmed food, however don't think you can just do this without being harassed at every step by big govt., esp. the leftoids. If you have a nice local support network with enough clients to buy from you directly you may circumvent some of those hassles, but as soon as you rely on larger grocery chains you will likely be their bitch. I remember when they phased out raw milk from most grocery stores under obummer and his shit legacy, xiden is not any better. I have known many who went into farming and it was brutally hard to make a living. I would love to do the same, but...

What would be your advice to a freshman in Computer Science at Ohio State University?

gabbar says

mell says

I have seen this or similar thoughts posted frequently now and I somewhat disagree. SW (and hardware) will be one of the strongest fields for many decades, automation and automated processes and improvements will continue, there is still so much out there that needs to be automated. Then there is AI, self-driving cars, healthcare wearables etc. etc. Sure there will be a nice demand for good, healthy and mostly organically farmed food, however don't think you can just do this without being harassed at every step by big govt., esp. the leftoids. If you have a nice local support network with enough clients to buy from you directly you may circumvent some of those hassles, but as soon as you rely on larger grocery chains you will likely be their bitch. I remember when they phased out raw milk from most grocery stores under obummer and his shit legacy, xiden is not any better. I have known man...

If you want to work in SW engineering, always do hobby work at home and at least one side gig if possible, with different technologies. The most important aspect is breadth, don't specialize unless it's something you know will be in high demand for many years to come. The landscape is shifting so fast these days that you have to be at least somewhat familiar with everything. Probably - unless you go into an academical career - 80% of the work experience useful to get you hired comes from outside the university.

WookieMan says

Xmas lights on the gutter freak me out every year if I'm being honest.

I would recommend not installing lights and using a ground based Christmas light projector if you feel the need to decorate.

I also do my own roof repairs, but I have a roof access panel (2nd floor) and a flat roof.

1337irr says

komputodo says

I see coding, IT, engineering, programmers, office stuff....does anybody work with their hands anymore?

I tried working with my hands for pay. I fell off a ladder painting and the other time the foreman of the framing company fired me because I couldn't handle the Texas heat with hauling lumber to the carpenters. I think construction isn't my forte.

I have cooked for pay...that was fun.

Back in IT.

lol same. I did an internship at a restoration/painting co. which also does some construction many years ago. After using an electric grinder for 2 days making my body reverberate, toppling over freshly painted blinds, and other fun stuff, I decided after the 2 weeks were over that vocational work may not be in my skill set. I can do crude work, heavy lifting and stuff, but when it comes to house stuff where you need skilled hands I just do the bare minimum, rest is done by contractor. I prefer manual tools over electric ones, e.g. drills (though I occasionally use them), and I assemble all the furniture we buy. I don't touch electrical wiring although theoretically I should know how to do it. I used to assemble computers occasionally back then, but I feel much better suited for software than hardware. Over the years though I have at least increased my vocational skills to be able to do small work here and there in the house when necessary ;)

komputodo says

I see coding, IT, engineering, programmers, office stuff....does anybody work with their hands anymore?

I am definitely not working with my feet. Noone pays for footjobs anymore behind Wendys

I think the incentives in America are all wrong. The most money goes to those who put others out of work or even those who peddle debt. It just feels wrong but, I guess...Welcome to the Jungle.

GNL says

I think the incentives in America are all wrong. The most money goes to those who put others out of work or even those who peddle debt. It just feels wrong but, I guess...Welcome to the Jungle.

de industrialization made a lot of that. cheap labor overseas coveted by greed, we sold our businesses to China. that is flaw in the system where the golden calf is worshipped.