thePhytochemist

Yes, the electrical shocks are very annoying! I don't know if it's related to an older/failing battery but I've certainly noticed this on an old Macbook Pro. Thanks for mentioning this - I guess at 24VDC it isn't a regulatory issue but it really does feel like a small insect sting or something and it's irritating.

My newer Air doesn't seem to have this problem. Also the screen is brighter, together with a mat finish it is better for using outside.

I totally agree - the article misses this point in a very conspicuous way. It suggests that Alice and Bob will both graduate at the same level.

What may well happen instead is that Bob publishes two papers. He then outcompetes Alice based on the insistence that others have on "publish or perish". Alice becomes unemployed and struggles, having been pushed out.

The person who puts the time and effort in doesn't just sit at the same level and they don't both just find decent employment. Competition happens and the authentic learning is considered a waste of time, which leads to real and often life threatening consequences (like being homeless after being unable to find employment).

Love the attempt, but after giving it a good image and letting it run for a while it's totally off. I measure my heartbeat at 100 bpm and it's reading around 50. I see some cool looking UI stuff but the actual measurement isn't accurate.

Consider laboratory automation?

I work in that now. I am going through the same issue as you after studying science (there are many of us!). Jobs rarely overlap, wanting both skillsets. Am I ever going to do this scientific work I learned about? I feel entering this area has been progress.

I'm on the 'science' side right now, after doing CAD, software and firmware for a few years. The previous robots I made were not for scientific work. Now I make liquid handling robots for laboratories and I hope that my scientific skills will be valued in the workplace.

In the workplace, people mostly seem to want you to choose a box and stay in it rather than using a varied skillset. Right now I can say I "make robots" but mostly I take parts, put them in the machine we make and use them for a bit then send them on their way as tested items. The robot is largely a black box - I'm not allowed to see the CAD, software or firmware it runs, certainly not use my skills in those areas. But I'll keep trying - to bring value to the employer and find more interesting/valued work using the skills I've gained over the years. Entering a workplace for whatever they want then moving within it over time is a time tested strategy, especially in government because they are unionized and very rarely fire anyone.

Keep in mind funding sources during your search. In Canada we have SRED, which is a tax rebate for scientific work and easy to get. People, even if they studied science, seem to perceive scientific work as expensive and mostly useless so subsidies like this really help. Since it's a rebate that means you must work for a company that already has revenue, not a small startup. Look for a company with at least a room they call a lab and they will keep time sheets for all "R&D" work.

This is a crucial point. Freelancers who are asked to edit AI generated content should be charging more per hour, not less. A lot more - something that ends up with the client saving money, and ALSO them saving time and making money. If automation is implemented like this, both parties can win and somehow split the difference.

However, we live in a world where people have to compete to survive. Since a major portion of the task is automated, all of a sudden there are many available copywriting editors looking for work. The abundance tends to drive down the wage on sites like Fiverr.

And that's why unions are so important!

I see a lot of musing and wondering here about the cause of poverty.

One thing that's missing that I have seen a fair bit is crime and scams. People who are victims of crime can get dumped into the poverty trap through no fault of their own. For a while I was living in my car because my signature was forged by and an employer decided to simply opt out of payment. I took the employer to arbitration and won but that took 2.5 years - that's obviously a structural problem when eviction happens in 30 days.

That's a really good point about the free stuff people with wealth get.

Free objects are an easy to understand example. If you're in an expensive neighborhood you can walk down the street and really good get free stuff because people are throwing it out - like the nice 42" Samsung screen I'm using right now. In a poorer neighborhood that just doesn't happen.

I would also love to read a 2 year follow-up story that gives us an update.

This article reminds me of my own attempt to transition into software from chemistry and agriculture. Four years later I'm worried that I've poured a lot of time and effort into yet another educational program which will not help find employment. That's after two science degrees and a bunch of learning about digital design and rapid prototyping.

I see a lot of optimism in this post about how it's all going to be worth it. But I'm afraid that may not be the case as I face the cold while sleeping in my car again this fall.

Yes! I've seen people with some very striking white teeth in India which is a place where people often do have horrible teeth (often from betel nut use). So the twig users sometimes really stand out. The Wikipedia article has a good point about frequent use though - some people clean their teeth with these twigs almost like a nervous habit and are very intense about it.

What the article doesn't mention is the salivation that Neem twigs cause! Neem trees also produce a biocide called azadirachtin and although the concentration is low in twigs maybe it helps clean the teeth when used a lot?

Gun control is the main reason we have less violent crime in Canada. There is still violent crime here though, it's not a safe wonderland.

There is often impunity given to certain people for serious but nonviolent crime like identity theft and selling schedule 1 narcotics (the most illegal kind of drug in Canada). They simply keep what they steal or the profit and are allowed to carry on even if there is clear proof in possession by law enforcement. I don't think an authoritarian response is really what we need but it does make a mockery of the criminal system when this is the policy. And the damage is real, with the victims left to just put the pieces back together on their own.

Lol, I agree it's a good example of an odd reporter metric. How about 30 times around the earth, isn't that impressive too?

I live in Canada as well. As far as I can tell there is basically no access to psychologists under the public healthcare system. You're just supposed to pay cash at about $150/hr to talk to a therapist (if you know differently please tell us!). For some people that's fine, but it's an absurd situation if, for example, you're underemployed/poor and facing related mental health challenges. Obviously paying that much to talk to someone can just aggravate the underlying problem.

Some people can access mental health care in the public system through their family doctor. But most people do not have access to this because there are not enough of this type of doctor. As far as I know the only other way is to wait until some sort of crisis then enter the hospital and there -might- be a chance to talk to a psychiatrist.

There have been some hilarious and unfortunate disasters using introduced populations for pest control. But coyotes are not introduced. They are native to the area which means there are many checks and balances in place.

Rat control is not just a nice bonus option to reduce an irritation - we need to take it seriously in light of the Black Death. The fact of the matter is I see people having trouble with rat control in my area and we could use help to manage something that is potentially a lot more dangerous than coyotes.

Thanks for posting this, such a nice story and writeup!

Where I live in Vancouver the coyotes have been very noticeable this year. I love to hang out with them in the park and garden, and hear them howl with the cop cars at night. They are not pets though - I always keep my distance and keep aware of the possibility that they might sneak up on me.

I take care of an outdoor cat in the neighborhood, and yes it's possible that a coyote will eat a cat or small dog. I worry about her but there are many fences, she is smart as well as a good climber. There are many hazards in the city that don't have the positive sides that coyotes do, and I think it's important that we learn to live with them and honour what they bring to our lives. That includes rat control, which we rather need here.