zapperdapper

9 ms·

31.
by zapperdapper 7y ago
'climate change' is quite a nebulous entity. I actually think software is unlikely to help anyway - the greatest changes are to be had in getting people to change their lifestyle. For example, reducing debt-fuelled consumption, re
32.
by zapperdapper 7y ago
What do you mean by "normal"?
33.
by zapperdapper 7y ago
I think this is a great idea. I would also offer in addition something like Technical Trainer or Developer Advocate, although with a youngster the travel could be seen as problematic. With a Technical Writer position you could do some code,
34.
by zapperdapper 7y ago
When you say "idea" these things rarely thrive in a vacuum. What is really key is 1) What is the problem being addressed? 2) Why is our approach unique, effective, more profitable etc. So I would say it is very important to be ver
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by zapperdapper 7y ago
I would go back to fundamentals. Do you have ONE customer that LOVES and NEEDS your solution? If not, start there.
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by zapperdapper 7y ago
Is copying an idea a moral issue? For example, is copying the idea of "a restaurant" or "a hotel" morally questionable?
37.
by zapperdapper 7y ago
You have a number of options but before taking the leap I would consider a few things. 1) Exactly why are you bored? 2) Will starting your own business really be that much different to what you are doing now? 3) Perhaps there is a third opt
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by zapperdapper 7y ago
Yes, tempting to hold in cash and wait for the market correction - if it ever comes.
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
I took a year sabbatical in 2017/2018. I was 55. Everyone I spoke to said I was mad, and that I'd never work again (I had been mostly contracting/freelancing over the previous 15 years). I am so glad I didn't listen to t
40.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
I will say ride sharing combined with EV tech. I am not bullish on self-driving cars - I think that will take longer than people think (more than ten years to become mainstream). I think EV combined with ride calling (Uber/Grab etc.) w
41.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
I think you got a lot right here. Don't get me wrong, I love my online banking as much as the next guy, but a lot of technology being produced has a very negative impact - look at social media.
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
Yes, I think a lot of people still aren't aware of this problem, which has been studied for many years now. Once the positive feedback loop takes hold it's game over.
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
Labourer on M25 motorway construction. Awesome gang of guys, hard physical work, operating/driving machines and tools, outside all day, great money...
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
Are you in Silicon Valley by any chance?
45.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
Finish your current contracts, then take a year off.
46.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
> Sounds like a dream job. Yeah, I thought that too. :) I would ride it out for as long as you can, saving as much as you can. The Cash Cushion you'd get would then give you a lot of options...
47.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
Generally it looks like: unstructured mess -> CSV -> database, or mess -> structured intermediate format -> whatever. Or database -> nicely formatted report that makes CEO look good. Even structured (weird XML) -> sort of
48.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
Good advice. I would almost be tempted to invest the 100k or whatever in long term index-linked investments and work on the side project on the weekends...
49.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
Great ideas. A lot of the freelance Python coding work I do is data transfer either from database to database, file to database, API to database, or some combination thereof.
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
Absolutely agree. Pretty much all the freelance Python coding work I've got has been through mining my existing network. I wouldn't touch UpWork with a bargepole frankly. Also, you need to be able to offer something unique if you
51.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
I love the XINU book. Just beautiful writing. Used it recently while building my own memory allocator. Will give you a lot of insight. The Thomas Anderson books are a multi-volume guide to OSs.
52.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
Yep, with the peer-peer lending, ratesetter.com specifically, you can get 6.1% for their five year plan right now. 5-10x gains are always hard to find unless you invest for the long term.
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
Boglehead here...;) Good answer, and you made me think of something with a bit more risk. There are these micro-loan companies now where you can lend out cash and get at least a higher rate of interest than most savings accounts.
54.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
That sounds more like speculating than investing. I always view investing as simply a hedge against inflation rather than a true money making venture. If you are investing put it in a low-cost index tracker sheltered in a tax efficient vehi
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
> How can I start, or be involved in, something more rewarding? Absolutely fascinating question, but sadly not one I personally have the answer to, because I think only you do. EDG looks very interesting - but I wonder how much business
56.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
Nice list. I was just leafing through Internetworking with TCP/IP Vol 2 by Comer. Excellent book and a good one to add to your list. A bit old now, with non-ANSI C code, but still very interesting!
57.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
Completely agree. My very real experience is a lack of a degree won't hold you back, a lack of passion will. It definitely sounds like there's a deeper issue in play here...
58.
by zapperdapper 8y ago
> I recently quit my job to travel and "find meaning to my life". Spoiler: I didn't. Wherever you go, there'll you be. > I always worry that my lack of degree will/does hurt my career I doubt it's that ho
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
> And if my resume is all contracting work, wouldn't it get harder to get a job as an employee later? No, not if you have the right skillset/attitude. Been in the biz 30+ years with a good mix of permie and long periods of cont
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by zapperdapper 8y ago
stevepavlina.com - It's not a patch on what it was in its heyday but I still check a few times a year. jamesaltucher.com - I can't say I've ever actually learned anything useful on the site, but I still enjoy James's wri

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