Doomstead

Well it has been 5 full months since my accident and I have recovered to the point that I can mostly walk without showing any indication of a limp, at least for a little while. The pain can be blistering but I can take it. I have decided to go back to work, I was not working before my accident for reasons but I need to earn, things are just getting more expensive and there are things I must finish doing to the house before I am to old.
 I have had a couple in person interviews and I know I lost my chance at the jobs when they seen my age, I look healthy enough, better than most my age but still I could see the disappointment they had. Another interview later this week. It is a big change from when I was A young man, got nearly every job I went for often hired on the spot back then. I can't hide this big bald head and the grey hairs.

They better get used to seeing old folks at interviews, given the falling number of younger demographics.

What kind of jobs are you applying for?

RE

Quote from: 18hammers on Feb 04, 2024, 06:44 PMWell it has been 5 full months since my accident and I have recovered to the point that I can mostly walk without showing any indication of a limp, at least for a little while. The pain can be blistering but I can take it. I have decided to go back to work, I was not working before my accident for reasons but I need to earn, things are just getting more expensive and there are things I must finish doing to the house before I am to old.
 I have had a couple in person interviews and I know I lost my chance at the jobs when they seen my age, I look healthy enough, better than most my age but still I could see the disappointment they had. Another interview later this week. It is a big change from when I was A young man, got nearly every job I went for often hired on the spot back then. I can't hide this big bald head and the grey hairs.

I don't bother with jobs in my former profession.  Part time professional jobs are hard to come by.  I work retail, and as long as I am in good physical shape getting a job is not hard despite my age.  I can tolerate the low pay since my expenses are also low and social security with the part time job puts me in good financial shape.

Young people have a hard time keeping jobs and showing up.  Employers know this.  A good work ethic comes with experience more than people care to admit.  There is age discrimination, but older employees are reliable employees.  Don't get discouraged.

Quote from: 18hammers on Feb 09, 2024, 09:53 PMIn for a second interview Monday, For the service tech job, mostly because It comes with a company truck that I get to drive home everyday, and that will save me just about 200km wear and tear on my trucks everyday. Plus saves me on fuel costs. I will be turning wrenches, I just don't know if the old body is up for it. I would like to get in a few years and that will set me up better.

Good luck, getting a few years in is nice.

Quote from: K-Dog on Feb 04, 2024, 09:32 PMI don't bother with jobs in my former profession.

Why didn't you stick with that one until the end? That's my plan, I like what I do, have no desire to be doing odds and ends later when I can do what I do best and have folks paying me for it until the bitter end. Or any time before that if I get cheesed off and want to go walk about. Health benefits and regular professional sized paychecks, inflow of interesting young folks to work with, etc etc.

Why bail early other than boredom, irritation at circumstances (always a good reason for an out), no need for the advantages of late in life professional benefits anymore?

Quote from: 18hammers on Feb 12, 2024, 06:58 PM

Quote from: K-Dog on Feb 10, 2024, 04:08 PM

Quote from: 18hammers on Feb 09, 2024, 09:53 PMIn for a second interview Monday, For the service tech job, mostly because It comes with a company truck that I get to drive home everyday, and that will save me just about 200km wear and tear on my trucks everyday. Plus saves me on fuel costs. I will be turning wrenches, I just don't know if the old body is up for it. I would like to get in a few years and that will set me up better.

Good luck, getting a few years in is nice.

Well the job is down to (old/experienced) me and a technically well educated ( young/less experienced) filipino fellow. I may know by Friday.

good luck

Quote from: 18hammers on Feb 13, 2024, 08:57 PMWoke up to a phone call from the western Canada area rep for this company I have interviewed with. He wanted  a over the computer face to face meeting with me. Gave me a couple hours notice. I suspect he just wanted to see how old I looked. I am sure I am the oldest candidate for the position they have had apply. Fortunately, while I cant hide my bald head and grey hairs I look fit and strong. They seem to be seriously considering me. I made big changes to my health years ago, I walk 3 to 5 km a day with the dogs, gave up booze years ago, don't  smoke and try to eat healthy. It has made a big difference. They will make up their minds this week.

Good luck!

It being Canada, what % of your paycheck do they let you keep nowadays?

That's great news.  I don't know how social security is in Canada, but making a fraction of what I used to make is working out ok for me.  My social security with the pittance I earn lets me slowly grow savings instead of drawing them down.  Which must happen eventually.

Finances aside, I hope it turns out to be a great bunch of people.

Sounds as though you have successfully reintegrated yourself as a cog in the great capitalist industrial machine.   :)   Kudos on being able to still use your skills and knowledge to keep a good supply of Dent Notes of Infinite Duration moving in your direction.  How many hours/week of wage slavery are you doing?

RE

Ouch.  If that is how you feel while still in training, after a couple of months you'll probably be ready to pull your hair out.

Remember. it's always easier to find a new job while you are still employed, rather than after you recently quit or got fired.  I suggest you be proactive and start sending out the resumes now.  Take this as advice from an expert at quitting jobs and being fired.  I think I held at least 15 different jobs over a 40 year working career.  The best time to start looking is the day after you get hired.

RE

Quote from: RE on Mar 25, 2024, 12:34 AMOuch. I think I held at least 15 different jobs over a 40 year working career.  The best time to start looking is the day after you get hired.

RE

Ouch indeed.  I've had 3 different jobs....each one a new career....in my 40+ working years. I think I'll retire from the 3rd one, don't have enough time left for a 4th career.

Quote from: 18hammers:I suspect I am already frowned upon, as I have not attended the Friday pizza supplied lunch. I told them and was not kidding that I don't eat shit, I really don't. If it was once a year, sure to be social I will choke down a couple oily artery clogging slices but every Friday? They can see the lunches I have brought, lean deer meat sandwiches , assortment of nuts, homemade muffins, and such.

Screw'im. They didn't hire you for your social skills anymore than anyone ever hired me for mine. Sounds like you are in the same game I am...we get paid to deliver results. In different arenas perhaps, but it is the same game. We weren't hired to talk about social media influencers, drink on Friday nights yacking about the boss, commiserate over someone's personal problems....nope. Once skills are recognized, results delivered, they tend to be appreciated, and it becomes terribly difficult to ever get rid of someone like that over not going out with the boss for drinks and that type of nonsense.

Have you sent out any resumes yet?  Maybe contact a headhunter?

RE

Why do you think the turnover is so high?  My experience is that turnover is high when hours burn people out and the employer tries to pay for as few of the extra hours as possible.

There are all kinds of businesses. A good one will value your skill and reliability and will try and make you happy and keep you because the combination is worth something.  But there are businesses built on a model of squeeze the employee, and get what you can because another waits outside the door.  Managers come in both flavors.

Currently my skill and reliability is appreciated.  The financial exploitation does not bother me because I have other income.  If I had to work forty hours and only live on the wage, things would not be so good for me.  I hope your situation works out or that you find one that does.

Quote from: 18hammers on Apr 05, 2024, 09:52 PMYes, I should start looking. I heard, or more correctly overheard the office number crunchers talking and if I heard correctly the turn over rate is in the 60 to 62 % range, and from what I have seen and gathered, I would not dispute that figure.
I was talking with one of the new hires, a younger kid. He was going on about how wonderful it was that the company insists on supplying all the tools (corporate policy), and I don't disagree with that but as a old guy with years of experience in this world I told him straight up to stop and think for a moment, look at the turn over. It means nothing of yours is on site or in the company trucks. So when they can your ass, and it is likely they will,  you have no reason to go back on or in company property to retrieve your stuff as none of it is yours. He just looked like a deer in the headlights when I told him. I hope he doesn't  take out any loans, or runs  up his visa thinking he can count on this job. 

as a long time self employed person of the so called "gen X" grouping I have never expected anything but ham fisted exploitation from an employer. Loyalty from them or myself seemed to have been discarded before I joined the workforce. On the trades front it makes sense to provide tools to an employee as it assures your guys can do the work while cynically understanding most trades people are horrible with money. When I ran a crew I used to do a tool allowance where you paid $1 an hour dedicated to tool and consumables purchases and trusted them to have what they needed ... It rarely worked well. I was far from an exploiter of labour but the pulls of consumer society would have tradies driving shiny trucks with ATVs and sleds in garages while slinging a rounded hammer on a broken down tool belt. I gave up that practice for the onsite tool trailer and the seasonal home Depot gift card for personals. It's never a black and white situation. I gave up running a crew as it was professionally unrewarding and I have much more fun as a high skilled consultant and trouble shooter in solar and construction. I do miss having manpower though. If I was starting out I'm not sure how I would do it. If I was smart I would search out a high skilled specialist operation preferably that does a lot of different things and bust my hump to gain street cred. As a senior hire it would be harder of course since hump busting hurts more physically and the life commitments are more essential then they were at a younger age. I like Small personally even if there is a renumeration hit involved I think. That balances out with time though. I hope you can find a better niche. I know in my work competence and a broad skill set has never been as well rewarded or sought out as it is right now.
Cheers,
NF

QuoteTo many reasons to name but the largest single reason is the company does not understand the nature of the people in the position I am, the front line workers competent with electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic. I have found the good ones to largely be self motivated, self organizing, and would have what today would be called non neurotypical thinking.

I'm working in retail part time.  The  company will schedule me for five hours a day, Sometimes four and a half, sometimes even four.  But I think they know that pisses me off, so not so much.  I just worked six days in a row to get 31 hours.  My proletarian undercover work tells me unions should be mandatory.  I hope your sick worker gets well.

When I am at work the young managers I work with who are actually great guys can get in the way of my self-motivated, self-organizing style.  The company just opened store number 1500 and to earn my McWage I have to follow recipes for everything.  Every day I have to do ten minutes of training video.  Cubicle workers in California figure out the 'best' way to do things and everybody learns over time how to do things the 'right' way.

No business ever succeeds without some workers just plain figuring out what their job is supposed to be and then just takes it upon themselves to do it.  But getting off script too much begs for trouble.  Not getting off script at all does not deal with the reality of every situation.

It is an ass-kissing pyramid, but I am lucky to work with a bunch of great guys.  We all work hard and look after each other. 

The company is huge and takes advantage of every opportunity to run the operation at low prices.  In WA State lunch is unpaid, but you have to take the time off.  And you must be given a half hour lunch if you work more than five hours.  This turns into pressure to cut my time.  On top of that there is heavy pressure to get things done and 'close early'.  Every pay pereiond the walls echo with 'too many hours'  'we have to cut hours'.  This does not reward good work but over a few months the company manages to screw me out of a couple of hundred.  Wage theft is part of low prices.

Some states have better employment laws, WA state is one of the states that is 'out to lunch'.  Telling an employer they must pay for all of an employees time is somehow construed to mean that an employee's civil rights are somehow being violated if you pay them by the rules of their own game.  Capitalism.  Capitalism pays for time.  WA is a 'right to work state'.

I wind up feeling like a full time worker and I currently bask in two days off in a row after working six days in a row.  For half the actual work, and of course half of full time pay.  But 100% of a full time commitment.  My social security is essentially subsidizing the company.  Without it I could not get by, and I could not be there.  I'd need more hours.  It is not would not, it is could not.  I have asked myself, 'you are doing this why' a few times in the last few days.

All power to the Soviets.  For the time being my undercover proletarian explorations will continue.  I have been undercover studying this companys' capitalism for going on three years now. 

* A "right to work" state is a state in the United States that has laws prohibiting contracts between employers and labor unions which require all employees in a unionized workplace to become union members and pay union dues.   In right-to-work states, employees are not required to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment, even if their workplace is unionized. These laws are intended to protect workers' freedom of association and choice regarding union membership.  In the old days even being hit up on the side of the head by a police baton was not enough to discourage union membership. Scabs had to be legalized and protected.  In 'right to work' states, workers have few rights, but scabs and exploiters do. 

I live in this greater west coast free trade zone.

I would not mind being out of work for a while.  My 'part time' job almost steals my time like I work full time.  It is not unusual to get six days in a row with five hour shifts being the longest. 

Employees don't get a lot of say about how scheduling goes.  There is always pressure from corporate to cut hours.  It adds to their bottom line and takes away from mine. 

Currently we have new people and the company is not getting as much bang for the employment buck as usual.  When the crew has experience, the company can cut our hours more easily.  Good work winds up being rewarded with less pay in a paradoxical way.

Tonight we had a beautiful orange sunset.  There was light at 9 PM.  It would be a good time to give up my proletarian undercover work for a while.  But.  I'm banking all of my 401K is nice to say. 

Many people as old as I am don't have a body that lets them work.  I'm lucky, if I don't take a job that kills me continuing to work seems to be good for my health.  It also lets me live a little better as you can see.

If I had more faith in my future, I'd stop for a while.  But if I work the longer it will be before I am poor.

* The gold Donald Trump initials in the black granite over the door behind me are hard to see.  The coffee was decent.

Quote from: 18hammers on May 26, 2024, 09:51 PMThis week two more great motors came home with me, likely my last, notice given. I will be out of work.

Didn't figure that slave job would last too long.  Based on your description, I wouldn't have lasted a month.

My RT (CNA who watches me lift dumbells to keep from atrophying too fast) does Instacart shopping for Xtra money.  Her hubby who is a Mr Mom does it as his main job.  Low stress, make your own hours, quit whenever you want.  Probably only be a couple of bucks/hr less.

RE

Quote from: K-Dog on May 26, 2024, 11:36 PMI would not mind being out of work for a while.  My 'part time' job almost steals my time like I work full time.  It is not unusual to get six days in a row with five hour shifts being the longest. 

You talk about your post-retirement job as though you aren't thrilled with it. So why did you give up your real one to go for a shittier deal?

The wife says I won't retire, because then people won't pay me to do what I would do for free anyway. Don't see much point in walking away even if I can no longer walk, gotta do something in retirement. No point in taking a 90% pay cut to be hassled by management drones of the world and for what? Just to keep busy? Not a chance. I'd hand out food at the homeless shelter for free just because it would be doing something useful, meet some folks, etc etc. Habitat for Humanity perhaps? More options available than I can count probably.

Quote from: TDoS on May 27, 2024, 02:53 PM

Quote from: K-Dog on May 26, 2024, 11:36 PMI would not mind being out of work for a while.  My 'part time' job almost steals my time like I work full time.  It is not unusual to get six days in a row with five hour shifts being the longest. 

You talk about your post-retirement job as though you aren't thrilled with it. So why did you give up your real one to go for a shittier deal?

After Paul Allen died, his heirs did not have the same enthusiasm for Computer History and restoration of the old computers that Kdog was uniquely qualified to do.  They eliminated the position at the Museum.  Finding a cool job that was fun after it, not so EZ.

RE

Quote from: 18hammers on May 28, 2024, 09:11 PMI am going to miss getting these motors.

What do you use them for?

RE

Quote from: RE on May 29, 2024, 01:20 AM

Quote from: TDoS on May 27, 2024, 02:53 PM

Quote from: K-Dog on May 26, 2024, 11:36 PMI would not mind being out of work for a while.  My 'part time' job almost steals my time like I work full time.  It is not unusual to get six days in a row with five hour shifts being the longest. 

You talk about your post-retirement job as though you aren't thrilled with it. So why did you give up your real one to go for a shittier deal?

After Paul Allen died, his heirs did not have the same enthusiasm for Computer History and restoration of the old computers that Kdog was uniquely qualified to do.  They eliminated the position at the Museum.  Finding a cool job that was fun after it, not so EZ.

RE

I thought k-Dog was an EE? That seems like far more innate capability than being a history buff or messing with old PCs.

Quote from: TDoS on May 29, 2024, 03:16 PMI thought k-Dog was an EE? That seems like far more innate capability than being a history buff or messing with old PCs.

He is an EE.  One of the few around who still knows enough about older computers to be able to get them working again.  One of the ones he restored was an original Cray supercomputer as I recall from my tour of the museum.  They also had old IBM mainframes with the tape drives and an Apple IIe desktop with the floppy disk drives.  Old CRT displays, etc.  Just finding the parts to make them function was a challenge, then the old languages they run on aren't used anymore either.  Fun job for a tinkerer like Kdog.

RE

Quote from: RE on May 31, 2024, 12:30 PM

Quote from: TDoS on May 29, 2024, 03:16 PMI thought k-Dog was an EE? That seems like far more innate capability than being a history buff or messing with old PCs.

He is an EE.  One of the few around who still knows enough about older computers to be able to get them working again.  One of the ones he restored was an original Cray supercomputer as I recall from my tour of the museum.  They also had old IBM mainframes with the tape drives and an Apple IIe desktop with the floppy disk drives.  Old CRT displays, etc.  Just finding the parts to make them function was a challenge, then the old languages they run on aren't used anymore either.  Fun job for a tinkerer like Kdog.

RE

It gave me the background to reverse engineer DYNAMO into JavaScript.  Dynamo ran the Limits to growth Model on an IBM mainframe. 

Work is proceeding well.  There will be a website where graphs can be generated at the touch of a button from model equations.  The original program was 10,000 lines of IBM assembly code.  600 man hours of labor.  I hope my effort will not require the same investment.  But beyond the code I also have to become an expert dynamic modeler.  So when all is said and done, I'll have a chunk of time invested no matter how I cut the cheese.

Duplicating the standard run is the first goal.  A user will be able to press a button to copy the standard run equations to a clipboard and then they paste the equations into a file.

Then buttons in the dynamo simulator load and run the file to produce the graphs.

I won't be making the procedure any simpler.  Making users create the equation file could mean they will get an idea of what is going on.  Which is why I'll endure this pain.

Quote from: K-Dog on May 31, 2024, 05:55 PMI won't be making the procedure any simpler.  Making users create the equation file could mean they will get an idea of what is going on.  Which is why I'll endure this pain.

I think you should add some parameters like be able to break down "resources" into some categories, substitute energy sources and break down Pollution to categories like CO₂ emissions, groundwater contamination, microplastics etc.  Try to add detail to make it more realistic, and be able to incorporate new data like the falling fertility rate.

RE

Yes, but the first milestone will be getting it to run.

Quote from: K-Dog on May 31, 2024, 06:26 PMYes, but the first milestone will be getting it to run.

You have my full confidence!  Don't forget to make an App to run on your Android phone!  Sell on Google Play for $1 and we can do top quality high production value vids complete with custom CGI special effects and hire a REALLY HOT spokesmodel!  I suggest Anya Taylor-Joy from the Furiosa Mad Max movie.  ;D

RE

Instead of getting a job, why not start your own bizness?  Sounds like you have equipment for a good metal shop.  How about turning out replacement parts for old engines and farm equipment?  You could set up a website and do custom work making assemblies for hard to find out of stock old items.  Or maybe make wind generators with that new design I put up a while back?  Maybe you could license the patent and do it legally, or bootleg to other doomers on the QT?

https://26011849.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/26011849/Aeromine%20Website/downloads/Aeromine%20cut%20sheet%20231004.pdf


RE

Quote from: K-Dog on May 31, 2024, 05:55 PMBut beyond the code I also have to become an expert dynamic modeler.

If you have the code, was it annotated or obvious as to which equations handle the non-linear relationships between the various parts and pieces? Fossil use increases, knock on pollution effects occur, recycling kicks in to mitigate pollution, etc etc.

Anything obvious?

As far as what expert dynamic modelers do nowadays, if you find their explicit estimates of uncertainty on at least the input resource volumes, then they would have certainly be ahead of their time. And any annotation there would be a fantastic find.