The Water Cooler

fredsbend

00:59

@JimG. No, I know what it takes as an amateur programmer myself. Cost of living in my area is one of the lowest in the country. I own a 2k sqft house for $750 per month. Lucky to get a one bedroom in most cities for that.

Even considering that, what do you recommend?

Jim G.

@fredsbend: I can appreciate the low cost of living in your locale, but does your locale have a ready supply of programmers looking for work?

@fredsbend: If not, then you'll have to pay the prevailing wage in a higher cost locale for a remote worker.

fredsbend

@JimG. I really don't know. Programming is really only part of it and I am content with an amateur like myself who can teach himself as I have.

Jim G.

@fredsbend: Also, consider that programmers who would agree to such a low rate would probably be 50% as productive and 50% of the quality of a regularly-priced programmer, so you'll end up paying one way or another.

fredsbend

Though I would prefer, out of all the things I listed, that his programming be better than mine so I can learn from him.

@JimG. Okay. So give me a number then. What should I offer?

Jim G.

@fredsbend: And FWIW: I'm not trying to be sharp with you, but I am trying to be direct because I've seen people who have an idea for "the next big thing" and think that they're just a "nerd" programmer away from riches.

fredsbend

01:05

@JimG. I prefer directness and transparency. You pretty much can't hurt my feelings. But I don't understand the last part of your last message.

Jim G.

@fredsbend: $30/hour is the absolute lowest I would offer, and even at that rate (without benefits), I'm not sure what that would fetch.

@fredsbend: OTOH, maybe your requirements aren't that complicated.

@fredsbend: But bear in mind that $30/hour usually fetches a junior level programmer who is either totally green or only useful when paired with a senior programmer who makes much more than that.

fredsbend

@JimG. Well, programming is my most desired skill, but I really need a very versatile tech worker. I feel like you think I am looking for a programmer. I'm looking for someone who likes doing all kinds of work (mostly computer related), learns quickly, adapts to changes, and happens to know some programming. I would be thrilled to hire a pro, but I don't want to give the impression that that is the only part of the job description.

Does my ad give that impression?

Jim G.

@fredsbend: OK. I mean really, who knows. Maybe you'll find a high school whiz kid who totally fits the bill. // I live in the Northeast in a relatively high-cost locale, and when people bargain-basement shop for programmers, they often have buyer's remorse after seeing poor results (or no results) after a few months.

fredsbend

@JimG. I know what you mean. That is my worst fear with this. I'll hire someone who I think is great then have to let them go after six months because it was a front.

I actually would have hired my cousin for this, but he has MS and can't do the physical parts of the job.

Jim G.

@fredsbend: Ah - That's another difference. Most employers that I work with need results within 1-2 months or they'll miss sales or contractual deadlines.

fredsbend

01:14

Someone suggested breaking down the task into two jobs. One more IT and the other more labor for in-office stuff.

@JimG. Well, there's no deadlines here that I haven't set myself. I can change them, but I don't want to.

Jim G.

@fredsbend: I think that's smart because that way, you might be able to hire an IT resource for 20 hours/week or something like that.

fredsbend

@JimG. Yeah. I'll have to investigate the best ways to transfer gigs of data between us if he is telecommute.

Jim G.

@fredsbend: I was just thinking - An ideal candidate for your position might be a stay at home mom programmer who recently left a full time job to care for a young child/children.

fredsbend

Gotta go now. Thanks for the input.

I have an ad in some local papers, so I will see what I get in the next week.

Jim G.

@fredsbend: Sure! Good luck, man! Let me know how it turns out.

fredsbend

01:18

If that is poop then I'll probably split it into two positions or increase the wage.

@JimG. Yep.

RhysW

08:47

The site designs look amazing!

CMW

09:08

Have we ever thought about a close reason like "(too) company specific"?

RhysW

We used to have too localized, it was one of the 5 across all sites but was removed in the close reasons redesign

CMW

Yeah, pretty much like that (though the term 'too localized' always confused me)

RhysW

I beleive there are some posts on meta here discussing whether or not we should have it back

-4

A: What tailored off-topic closure reasons do we want?

We are going to want "Too Localized" in some form. Perhaps, "Too localized, this question is so narrow in scope that it will be applicable only to the asker and of no value to future users. Try to focus on the generic problem with less focus on the details which apply to your situation."

Hugo Rocha

13:29

So much work to do, so little time to pass by here :|

RhysW

So get out of the chat room! :P

Also, hi

Hugo Rocha

Hello shepard

I mean

wrex

I mean... RhysW. Hi there!

CMW

14:18

le judge!

gnat

14:39

wow, 11 answers in less than an hour - this SO question is a hot bomb waiting to explode with a couple of extra upvotes!

17

Q: Pointer to pointer clarification

I was following this tutorial about how the "double pointer" works. Let me quote the relevant passage: int i = 5, j = 6, k = 7; int *ip1 = &i, *ip2 = &j; Now we can set ipp = &ip1; and ipp points to ip1 which points to i. *ipp is ip1, and **ipp is i, or 5. We can illustrate the s...

c pointers

RhysW

@HugoRocha Hah i seem to have gained nicknames!

Jim G.

@CMW Me too. Many people didn't understand that close reason.

Hugo Rocha

15:22

:D
Hello, @CMW. How was the week? Everything seems in order

CMW

@HugoRocha Hi! You missed a fun account creating/posting spree by a user, creating several accounts with the same name and posting the same question over and over because the first one was put on hold

(and all subsequent ones were marked as duplicate of the first one)

aside from that, all is well

jmac

Okay, what is going on. There are 9 people in here. That ain't normal.

(or is it? I am usually asleep at this time)

@jcmeloni, you used to be a mod, right? That something you planning on doing again, or did you leave as it didn't suit you?

And @jmort, you interested in becoming a mod post tempore as well?

CMW

right, it's crowded around the watercooler wiggles into the queue

RhysW

@CMW yeah that was fun :P

@jmac Seems like the whole gang (Plus Jin (Hi Jin))

CMW

Hey Jin :)

Hey Gang :D

jmac

15:31

@RhysW It's like a Japanese train during rush hour. Is it my stop yet?

Yes. 12:31am. Looks like it's bedtime.

RhysW

@jmac Um sure! As long as you get off to answer a question of mine about japanese culture :D

its a short one i swear!

jmac

@Rhys, you going to be available more often again? Planning on modding?

Sure, what's up @Rhys?

RhysW

@jmac I've been here vrey frequently since settling in at work, plan to keep it that way! :)

@jmac Got a friend going to Japan, he wants to know if the bow thing happens and if he does it will it be a sign of respect, or will it be taken insultingly and stereotypical?

jmac

He going as a tourist?

RhysW

Yes

for about 2 weeks i think

jmac

15:34

If so, he can bow or not bow as he pleases. Bowing will be done wrong, but they'll love it anyway. Not bowing won't be insulting because they just won't think he knows better.

Tell him to have a blast, ignore Tokyo (it sucks), and let me know if he heads to Kobe, I'll show him a bar or three.

RhysW

Tis awesome news, thanks, ill let you sleep :P

enderland

@CMW ant no one got time for dat!

RhysW

@enderland aint nobody got time fo dat*

CMW

;D

RhysW

I do like that this place is noticeably busier now though

enderland

15:46

@RhysW no I think the user was something ant

CMW

@enderland Ant a very dedicated one, too

RhysW

@enderland I didnt even notice you wrote ant!

enderland

haha

RhysW

@CMW sigh

enderland

you know you have an awesome pun when... it's completely not noticed

2

CMW

15:47

@RhysW chuckle

RhysW

all these jokes have ruptured my apundix :/

enderland

good thing I dont have one

CMW

@RhysW so time for an a-pun-dect-oh-my?

(yeah, I know, I'm getting ridiculous. I'll stop)

RhysW

hah! that was pun in a million!

youre giving up so soon?

i thought youd have an apundance of these

CMW

Nah, for me it's about time to make it like a tree

RhysW

15:53

and split?

wait wrong joke

CMW

nah

leaf

RhysW

;)

CMW

:)

5pm already

RhysW

lucky

cya!

enderland

I'm home sick, can't decide if that's good or bad

Questions which are "what should I do?" are generally difficult to answer. You're essentially asking, "what do you all think I should do" instead of having an answerable question. — enderland 15 secs ago

CMW

15:55

@enderland Depends on whether DedicatedAnt is going to make another appreance

:D

RhysW

@enderland You didnt use y'all, i dont think you are actually american

now im doubting if you ever said you were american in the first place

now im doubting if im digging myself into a stereotypical hole

now im wondering if i should stop narrating what im doing

I hate running out of delete votes

enderland

I can't find content to delete anymore

there needs to be a way to sort questions by votes + "have I delete voted yet"

RhysW

I imagine you are therefore one of the poeple who has bumped lots of the current up for deletions to the second vote

enderland

0

Q: Taking sick leaves on behalf of wife/husband during notice period

I agreed to give two weeks notice to my current employer in California. There are 4 days of sick leave that I can take without advanced notice. I have a few questions regarding this. Are there any issues with taking sick leaves during your notice period? Is it possible to take sick leaves where...

united-states vacation sickness

I edited this and voted to reopen

RhysW

today i was the 3rd vote on all 7 of my votes

@enderland nice edit, have a vote

@enderland threw a title edit at it too, think it could be made simpler once more though

enderland

16:09

I always forget to edit titles

I am asking for advice for a field in which I am not known in. I am asking people who I think are more experienced in this field (workplace community) for advice in what people think is the best option for me to do. As there are CEO's active here and people who got a job from an internship. Simply put, people who have experience in something which I have not. How is that an unaswerable question? — Ajaxkevi 9 mins ago

sigh

RhysW

I like to make sure they use words which other people are likely to google with as that usually means the title is simple and still accurate

@enderland want me to get this one? :P

enderland

sure

I already posted above it

RhysW

whaddya think?

enderland

yeah you're a lot more diplomatic than me, lol

RhysW

Practice :L

(not an instruction, lol)

jcmeloni

16:22

@jmac correct, I was a mod. Very specific reason I resigned, that hasn't changed, and won't be running.

RhysW

no, bad enderland

enderland

also in light of previous conversation @CMW @RhysW

Like spelling 'dammit' correctly -- with two m's -- it's a troll that works best on the most literate.

RhysW

@enderland haha oh dear i actually do this

@jcmeloni you used to be a mod? i dont think i was around for that period

enderland

moderating on Workplace is like survivor - can you survive having to deal with a specific situation???? only time can tell!

RhysW

@enderland Surely the same as other sites then? :P

you don't need to be so hard on yourself :(

enderland

16:33

LOL.

RhysW

kidding of course, just in case you took me seriously :P

enderland

hah. I'm assuming you know what I meant

RhysW

I guess, though i didnt think it was still like that

RhysW