HN user
Retired software engineer
I used to work for a company that basically merged USPS and Census Bureau data on a monthly basis. The output would be a roadbase that was optimized for address ranges on road segments. ZIP Codes were extra fun to work with.
Starlink
Liken it to working on a crossword puzzle
Since there are so many knowledgeable people here right now, I'd like to hijack a bit. I am retiring and moving to the Ozarks, where I bought an older home (mid - 60s) in the mountains that was framed in rough cut white oak. From what I understand, this is largely termite - resistant and of course very hard wood. Are there any downsides, other than being difficult to sink a nail into this stuff?
I can't give you direct knowledge, but my brother had two artificial heart valves. He needed them due to a virus he contracted while in the army, either in Korea or Viet Nam in the mid-60s. He became ill suddenly in his 20s, had the first valve replaced when he was 27 or 28. The second one was replaced when he was in his 40s. All done by the VA.
His first valve ticked noticeably, but I could not hear it. There were multiple occasions when I was out and about with him, and somebody would comment on the watch-ticking noise. Didn't seem to bother him.
He was on blood thinners and anticoagulants. This made wounds extra concerning, but it didn't seem to affect his quality of life too much.
He passed away in 2021 at the age of 74, due to a series of strokes, quite possibly brought about by the COVID vaccine.
I am a software engineer at a commercial HVAC company (system controls and building automation systems), and the product engineers here are the smartest people in the building, in my opinion. Very customer - focused people that know the tech inside and out and how it's applied in the field.
Commercial HVAC controls and Building Automation Systems
So, the author, a "business columnist" knows the complete truth about vaccines and COVID. Maybe he should debate RFK, Jr. Since he's a "quack", it ought to be easy.
People with a background in music always seemed to make good programmers. Their education background didn't seem to matter. PhDs that I've worked with, in whatever field, have been a mixed bag. Some were great, a couple of them were barely tolerable gas bags.
Pre-lockdown, when standup meetings were actual meetings, I had a tough time dealing with them because of my hearing loss. Our meetings are engineer - only, led by a project manager. In the olden days they were literally people standing around a block of cubicles, talking (or mumbling) to their shoes. I got absolutely nothing out of them, couldn't hear a thing. When I told my manager that, his response was "too bad, attend anyway". The meetings are now virtual, and work much, much better for me.
I wear hearing aids, so I use q-tips every day after I shower to dry and clean my outer ear. Never had any problem with wax compaction, but I have scratched my ear canal which resulted in an infection a couple of times. You have to be gentle, don't grind away like you're brushing your teeth in a big hurry.
Many years ago as a part time undergrad student (I went to a "nontraditional" university) I took an Interpersonal Communications class, which was very good. I told the instructor that I had fear of public speaking and wanted to know if she had any recommendations for overcoming it. She strongly recommended a class called "Acting for Non-Actors". She practically guaranteed it would cure me. Alas, I was never able to fit that class into my schedule, wish I had.
I'm a software engineer, recently started going back to the office, by choice. The two years of lockdown turned my pleasant home office from a place to relax and listen to music to a cage. Minnesota cabin fever, all year long.
Being stuck at home also negatively impacted many of my hobbies, so my mental health took a hit from that as well. I feel like I'm starting to crawl out of a hole.
I do think my employer could have been supportive of working from home, pre - covid, but no way. Too much freedom and autonomy for the worker bees.
Martial arts gyms, seriously. Best people I've ever met were BJJ practitioners. You can't get any more up-close-and-personal than learning grappling. Plus, you learn a lot about yourself in the process.