JayPeaEm | 4 years ago | on: Home ownership is the West’s biggest economic-policy mistake
JayPeaEm's comments
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: Everyone is still terrible at creating software at scale
Wow this is a great resource.
I found so many parallels in what I've done while scaling up. Only thing I did differently was starting with MongoDB and changing to SQL later; huh.
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: Chrome’s address bar will use https:// by default
A protocol downgrade goes to http still, so MITM attacks could still happen :(
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: On the Experience of Being Poor-Ish, for People Who Aren't
Grew up homel
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: The Downside to Life in a Supertall Tower: Leaks, Creaks, Breaks
> How is that even legal?
It's not legal.
I work in an industry that monitors such things and recommends Banks/Lenders not pay if/when these discrepancies arise (Construction Risk Management).
The appropriate party will make revisions and then prove that that change won't affect the overall project.
> Let alone technically possible?
On larger projects, Subcontractors of Subcontractors of Subcontractors can become lazy, use materials not rated for their intended use, someone doesn't double check it since they're lazy, clicks a checkbox and calls it done; out of sight out of mind.
> How does construction of these monsters work?
Preconstruction Due Diligence, Funding via Banks, Approval/Contract Signing, Mobilization to Site, Construction of Building, Final Inspections & Warranties transfered, a Certificate of Occupancy issued, and people move in.
With mega projects, you have so many moving parts that something will fall through the cracks. Some material got substituted, the pent house staircase dimensions are 2-inches off creating a variance approval, but that dimension now affects the elevator machine room, they used Cast Iron Pipe on Floors 1-10 then PVC at 11-40 and there's issues at the different pipe connections; it just cascades. This is the main reason I also work in Building Information Modeling (BIM) to mitigate such problems.
The whole point of my industry is to act as a third party between the Developer & Bank/Lender, opine on the Preconstruction Documents (Contracts, Geotech, Budget, Schedule), document the Construction each month via photos, attend Meetings, review the application for payment, and flag the bank when something changes (No Energy Star appliances suddenly? Variance? Certain brand of vinyl flooring stock low so substitute it with vinyl tile? Change Orders about to deplete the Contingency?)
It becomes such an undertaking after a certain budget size or apartment unit amount. Eventually, people get stretched thing or get lazy, they're over budget, they've gone way past their scheduled completion date and just don't care since their next project is starting up and Permits are taking way longer to get; just happens.
Hope this gives a little perspective.
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: Camouflaged Military Bunkers of Switzerland (2015)
Speak of the devil, as of December 2020, Mitholz is preparing for evacuation right now [1].
[1] - https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-villagers-face-10-year-ev...
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: Camouflaged Military Bunkers of Switzerland (2015)
I've heard those trap doors referred to as leichenluke
Many of my older neighbors said pre-1990, these bunkers were used in a drill and everyone realized how cramped things were; I believe they've been retrofit for far less occupants now.
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: The Prestige Trap: finance, big tech, and consulting
> I don't think a lot of people know what they want.
> Just a lack of other goals for which to substitute.
Ding ding.
I've mentored students/grads from aforementioned prestigious Universities and most of them just genuinely don't know what they want
After a few drinks, many have voiced a fear of there being so many options in life and not knowing which would be more fulfilling for them.
Many reach a goal (graduation~), don't know what's really next, look around at nearby peers/family, and simply emulate what they see.
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: On finally learning to program at the age of 40
- Sounds about right. Few friends (Engineering/Tree Lawyers) say you can get a bit more depending on your niche.
- Many Lawyers under bill for fear of losing/surrendering their license [1] or squeeze in their Model Rule 6.1 hours [2]
- I'm seeing more lawyers amass some wealth, get burnt out, and then jump over to more creative or altruistic endeavours with less stress; can't blame them.
[1] https://www.thelawforlawyerstoday.com/2019/12/4739/
[2] https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources...
_k1yh | 5 years ago | on: Bogleheads
I do exactly this! VTSAX,VBTLX, and have a fun account.
My fun account has made me much more aware of global scientific news and research as I see my stocks jump up or level off; really neat understanding why.
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: Independently Poor: A Twist on FU Money – a.k.a. “FU, Money”
Fun Fact: Switzerland is not part of the EU.
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: Sustainable engineers Kenoteq are reinventing the brick
As a Civil Engineer & Software Engineer, we're always limited by the Construction Budget; no matter how cool something is.
Even brick masonry now is split-face and limited to at-grade elevations.
Speaking of reinventing, I'm still waiting on Elon Musk's eco-bricks [1] and whenever foamed metals [2] become popular.
[1] - https://interestingengineering.com/boring-companys-eco-brick...
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: I open sourced my game along with a tutorial on how to make it using Lua
Same here!
SQL, Lua, C++, and HTML all around 2006 to host private World of WarCraft servers.
Great talking point at my previous interviews.
JayPeaEm | 5 years ago | on: The Death of Couchsurfing?
I've had nothing but amazing experiences with CouchSurfing.
New Years Party in Budapest;
A haunted house trip in Philadelphia turned into being a pretend boyfriend for a girl in Ürümqi and a week later flying to Maldives with her best friend;
Playing ice hockey with the President of Finland;
Having a fling with a famous Japanese MMA Fighter;
I even started my website www.uncivil.engineer because of it; sad to see.
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I think they're only looking at it from a financial freedom point of view. But I, too, don't see a 30-year keeps-with-inflation anchor as freedom.