The many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXI

[Syno]

It sounds like you're making a good start. So the important thing is to keep your determination up.

You've said you have health problems, can you say how disabled you are or anything about what jobs you may or may not be able to do? A year or so back Whomp was saying that many truck driver jobs were going begging, and the companies would train people. You don't mind spending most of your time alone, so that may suit you if you can get it.

No license, unfortunately. I've been busting my behind the past seven months trying to get as physically capable as possible. Right now I know that I am proven to be able to be on my feet for five hours, but actual manual labour is probably... An hour? It's a little disconcerting but it's significantly better than where I used to be. Job would need to have a couple breaks just so I can sit down. It does unfortunately limit me a little bit, but I'm working with the best I have.

 

[Cutlass]

No license, unfortunately. I've been busting my behind the past seven months trying to get as physically capable as possible. Right now I know that I am proven to be able to be on my feet for five hours, but actual manual labour is probably... An hour? It's a little disconcerting but it's significantly better than where I used to be. Job would need to have a couple breaks just so I can sit down. It does unfortunately limit me a little bit, but I'm working with the best I have.

Well, you understand your limits. So you understand what you have to overcome. Maybe look for more than one job, a morning 4 hour shift and an evening 4 hour shift, so you can rest for a while between them? And spend all the free time you can trying to gain some skills that will help you work your way to better jobs. Some cities have free night classes. Or, if and when you can afford them, correspondence schools. Lots of online courses available, some cost, some don't.

 

[ace99]

If I want to store apples and bread longer, should I keep them in the fridge? Should I freeze bread? What about oranges? Spinach?

 

[NedimNapoleon]

No that doesn't work....best way to store bread is in a bag in a cool and dark area. Fruit in general is easiest to store by actually not washing it and also putting it in a cool and dark area.

 

[Syno]

Well, you understand your limits. So you understand what you have to overcome. Maybe look for more than one job, a morning 4 hour shift and an evening 4 hour shift, so you can rest for a while between them? And spend all the free time you can trying to gain some skills that will help you work your way to better jobs. Some cities have free night classes. Or, if and when you can afford them, correspondence schools. Lots of online courses available, some cost, some don't.

I start college in May. I'm also considering investing some money into courses for child care and first aid so that maybe I can do babysitting on the side. I've done it my whole life, volunteered at a daycare, know an experienced au pair, etc so it's certainly something I could do, but I'm a little apprehensive over spending so much money on something that would only at best get me $50 a week. In the long term, it would pay itself off within a month but I also only have three months to save up enough so if I get less than $50 a week, then it would take the duration of the three month period for it to pay itself off, which would have made it a poor investment at the time.

Yeah, I would love to get two jobs that allow me to have static schedules. It's why I befriended people in the hotel business in particular, because housekeepers and the like are on a static schedule. Having a routine for my body will really help once it gets over the hardest two weeks. The problem with a McDonalds or Walmart around here is that I would inevitably have no control over when I work and I couldn't work another job to really get experience and a different taste of something. Are there any jobs you know of in particular that usually offer the same shift every time? I'm definitely open to ideas that I may not know of.

 

[nc-1701]

Algebra (though given that I haven't been in a math class in a long time, I suspect that may have atrophied over the years). As for physics, I have the basics down (including what happens in a fission/fusion reaction).


I am unemployed.

Then you need about two years of math before you can touch the physics you'll need.
The math you'll need looks something vaguelly like this...
Trigonometry, Calculus (I, II, and III usually a semester each), Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and I'm guessing for really serious physics stuff you'll want Partial Differential Equations and Real Analysis though I'm not too sure on that... Alos possibly a second semesters worth of Linear Algebra.

Don't like people and have spent my entire life entirely alone IRL, so that aspect won't change.

Not to be disrespectful, but you can' be poor and antisocial, that's a luxury for people with skills. One of the only things you have is getting people to like you enough to hire you and give you chances. You need to make friends and network to do that, especially if you don't have any real skills you can get noticed for.
I know it's hard and I don't know if I could do it, I'm lucky enough to be good at math and had a chance to go to college so I haven't had to work the social game as much, but that's just me getting lucky...

Yes, I have this problem too. Things taste bad if I eat them too much consecutively. I will only have a small motel fridge at my disposal however, so buying in bulk is not an option for me. I do have the benefit of having a crock pot, though, so every time I make something I'll have three meals. I reckon rice and vegetables that are on sale will be the primary make up of my diet.

Grits is another cheap meal, and it doesn't need to be refrigerated. Eggs are super cheap protein as well...

Judging from where I was seven months ago, nothing that happens after I move will bring me lower than that. Sleep might be a problem, bathing won't be. I've gone through the lack of hygiene phase of depression, I know enough now to never return to that.

Overall it sounds like you have the right attitude, I do think you should look harder for a cheap apartment. Perhaps where you live is more expensive, but I would think you could get one for under $500 if you weren't picky. Also I'de advise finding a roommate as fast as possible. It sounds problematic and can be, but a good roommate is very helpful from a social support stand point and cuts down the costs a lot. Another idea is to find someone who'll rent a room in a house to you (try Craigslist), when my family moved some time ago my Dad moved first (for work) while we waited for our house to sell. He was able to rent a room for $150/month iirc, that kind of deal would put you in a much better situation financially and it sounds like you could deal with it just fine. food for thought...

 

[Syno]

Not to be disrespectful, but you can' be poor and antisocial, that's a luxury for people with skills. One of the only things you have is getting people to like you enough to hire you and give you chances. You need to make friends and network to do that, especially if you don't have any real skills you can get noticed for.
I know it's hard and I don't know if I could do it, I'm lucky enough to be good at math and had a chance to go to college so I haven't had to work the social game as much, but that's just me getting lucky...

That's a fair enough point and opinion. I'm aware of the networking requirement. I thought you were speaking about actual friendship.

Overall it sounds like you have the right attitude, I do think you should look harder for a cheap apartment. Perhaps where you live is more expensive, but I would think you could get one for under $500 if you weren't picky. Also I'de advise finding a roommate as fast as possible. It sounds problematic and can be, but a good roommate is very helpful from a social support stand point and cuts down the costs a lot. Another idea is to find someone who'll rent a room in a house to you (try Craigslist), when my family moved some time ago my Dad moved first (for work) while we waited for our house to sell. He was able to rent a room for $150/month iirc, that kind of deal would put you in a much better situation financially and it sounds like you could deal with it just fine. food for thought...

Yeah, there's no apartment you can get here for less than $500 unless it is a student room (keyword: room) or a duplex that is falling apart. I'm all for cheap living but not for endangering my safety or health. A room rental is at least $350 here. Canada is a little bit more expensive than America.

Roommate is not an option. If it were, I'd simply live in a student house off campus. Thank you for the recommendation, regardless.

 

[Cutlass]

I start college in May. I'm also considering investing some money into courses for child care and first aid so that maybe I can do babysitting on the side. I've done it my whole life, volunteered at a daycare, know an experienced au pair, etc so it's certainly something I could do, but I'm a little apprehensive over spending so much money on something that would only at best get me $50 a week. In the long term, it would pay itself off within a month but I also only have three months to save up enough so if I get less than $50 a week, then it would take the duration of the three month period for it to pay itself off, which would have made it a poor investment at the time.

Yeah, I would love to get two jobs that allow me to have static schedules. It's why I befriended people in the hotel business in particular, because housekeepers and the like are on a static schedule. Having a routine for my body will really help once it gets over the hardest two weeks. The problem with a McDonalds or Walmart around here is that I would inevitably have no control over when I work and I couldn't work another job to really get experience and a different taste of something. Are there any jobs you know of in particular that usually offer the same shift every time? I'm definitely open to ideas that I may not know of.

One job that comes to mind, if you can get it, is the night desk clerk at hotels, motels, or some other businesses. They need someone to man the desks in the shifts after most of the work is done, but they still may have walk in people. So someone has to be there, and answer phones and such, but it's not actually a lot of work. Some places may even allow you to study. They also need overnight and evening shift people as cashiers at self serve gas stations. You just have to be there for the shifts others don't want. Call center phone people is also a job that has little physical demands, but you need to talk to a lot of people. And some of it is off shift. In fact, if you don't have a problem working late shifts, there are a number of jobs you might look for that other people take only as a last resort.

 

[Syno]

One job that comes to mind, if you can get it, is the night desk clerk at hotels, motels, or some other businesses. They need someone to man the desks in the shifts after most of the work is done, but they still may have walk in people. So someone has to be there, and answer phones and such, but it's not actually a lot of work. Some places may even allow you to study. They also need overnight and evening shift people as cashiers at self serve gas stations. You just have to be there for the shifts others don't want. Call center phone people is also a job that has little physical demands, but you need to talk to a lot of people. And some of it is off shift. In fact, if you don't have a problem working late shifts, there are a number of jobs you might look for that other people take only as a last resort.

That is certainly an option. I have no qualms with working nights as long as it's static. I will definitely look into overnight positions. My only worry is that public transportation in the Niagara region runs from 7:30AM to 8:30PM, though I'm unsure about the transit in Niagara Falls itself. I know during the summer the buses run 24/7 but during the winter I have no clue. It's definitely something I'll need to look into.

Do places typically advertise that they're looking for overnight/night workers or do you need to walk in and ask? Most of the listings I see online are for day shift and I have little experience in walking into places with a "Help Wanted" sign since I come from a town where everyone went to the city for work so I could never really work.

 

[Cutlass]

In your situation, you can't afford to not take all the routes towards finding a job. Online, newspaper or other print ads, and simply walking around and walking into every business and asking for an application and to talk to whoever does the hiring.

 

[shadowplay]

I bought Crysis 2 via Gamersgate, I've just downloaded and installed it. Now when I try to play it, it's giving me some speel about having to install Origin. Is that an error? It seems strange to be forced to download another digital distribution platform that isn't the one I purchased it off of in the first place.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

I bought Crysis 2 via Gamersgate, I've just downloaded and installed it. Now when I try to play it, it's giving me some speel about having to install Origin. Is that an error? It seems strange to be forced to download another digital distribution platform that isn't the one I purchased it off of in the first place.

If it's a recent EA game, then it needs Origin. It's the same thing you have to do if you buy a game on Gamersgate that needs Steam.

 

[ELITEOFWARMAN8]

Thinking about buying a super duper $2,000 gaming computer.


I am thinking about getting BF3, the new COD game and Guild Wars 2. I am mostly interested in online gaming because of my limited time, I can't do online and singleplayer like I use to, so if anyone have good online games for me tell me but I am willing to try a singleplayer game to !

 

[ace99]

Alienware.

 

[Farm Boy]

Thinking about buying a super duper $2,000 gaming computer.


I am thinking about getting BF3, the new COD game and Guild Wars 2. I am mostly interested in online gaming because of my limited time, I can't do online and singleplayer like I use to, so if anyone have good online games for me tell me but I am willing to try a singleplayer game to !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bard's_Tale_(1985_video_game)

 

[NedimNapoleon]

Zork is the best.

 

[really]

There's a new SimCity out in a month.

 

[Syno]

Thinking about buying a super duper $2,000 gaming computer.


I am thinking about getting BF3, the new COD game and Guild Wars 2. I am mostly interested in online gaming because of my limited time, I can't do online and singleplayer like I use to, so if anyone have good online games for me tell me but I am willing to try a singleplayer game to !

Jeez, there are quite a few games. Dawn of War, Alien Swarm, Spacestation 13, Minecraft, Terraria, Civilization (of course), Total War (Shogun 2 and beyond, for the co-op campaign), Rise of Nations, Empire Earth 2, Age of Empires, etc.

 

[ELITEOFWARMAN8]

I am trying to expand my Hall of Fame career .

 

[Farm Boy]

I am trying to expand my Hall of Fame career .

I don't think you could beat The Bard's Tale(1985) without cheating and looking up the maps. I lack faith in the Hall of Fame'ers of today. <taunt taunt poke prod>