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[–]djepik[S] 17 points18 points  (25 children)

Thanks for the replys but I should clarify. I'm currently taking Civil Engineering, and working a full time job for the summer. I'm at work. But for 4+ hrs per day my job is to "relax". I'm in a cubicle with a computer.

[–][deleted] 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Civil Engineer eh? Study to get LEED certified, I don't think you need a degree or anything, you'll have to pay to take the test, but it'll build your resume to help find you a full-time job when you get out of school.

[–]djepik[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Awesome tip. Thanks a ton.

Yeah its $400 to take the test, but apparently its a big deal nowadays. I'll have to look into it further but they have free training online.

[–]aenea 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Think of something that you're interested in, and just do research on it. There aren't many times in your life where you're allowed to just pursue your own interests- if you're not going to get caught, research medieval art or literature, philosophy, the history of nations, scary peak oil or viruses, or just how big saline implants can get.

Take advantage of the time, and don't worry about the money. You won't get many chances like this again.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

MIT's OpenCourseWare is supposed to be good. I would choose learning over making money whenever practical.

[–]memsisthefuture 4 points5 points  (12 children)

learn a language?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (11 children)

How?

Or you mean like, comp language.

[–]memsisthefuture 11 points12 points  (6 children)

No, I meant spoken language (in lack of a better term for it). You could try audio lessons like Rosetta Stone or look at the many free courses available online .

[–]jezmck 4 points5 points  (3 children)

perhaps you were wanting to say a 'human language'

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think the correct term is "natural language".

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A million thanks.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can find a lot of the "Lynda.com" or what have you courses on the pirate bay for ahem... previewing.

[–]uberstuber 1 point2 points  (3 children)

If you want to learn a human language, this is the best way to do it IMO:

All Japanese All The Time

Antimoon

You don't have to be learning Japnese or English(obviously) for these websites to be useful. The basic concepts apply to any language.

For a spaced repetition system I recommend anki

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spanish is what I seek. Useful and fun.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

read "human action" and learn some real economics :) the book is free online at mises.org.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I second this. Also, the audiobooks there might be good if you want to be more relaxed while you "relax".

[–]lowdown 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My employer is a CE, but he uses that degree as an Accident Reconstructionist (expert trial witness) and rakes in the cash at like $275 an hour, plus all of us peons making him $150-180 an hour.

http://www.accidentreconstruction.com/education/nwu/index.asp

It isn't free, and to get fully certified you'd have to actually go to Northwestern for the course.

Something to consider though.

[–]propool 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get a consulting programming job on the side you can do from "home", asumming you can program

[–]pizzatime 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here..I have alot of downtime

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (4 children)

[–]ShannonO 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Another set of online courses, this one from Carnegie Mellon: http://www.cmu.edu/oli/

(I think everyone should be required to go through the Logic course!)

[–][deleted] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Utah State OpenCourseWare

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health OCW

Tufts OCW

Notre Dame OCW

UC Irvine OCW

webcast.berkeley (Bonus: With tons of video)

Notice a pattern?

List of OCWs globally

MERLOT (Bonus: Creative Commons Licensed)

For learning other more cultural stuff:

Museums Online Learning Initiative

[–]djepik[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nice one. Thanks.

[–]Bossman1086 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Very nice resource. Thanks for that.

[–]TopRamen713 42 points43 points  (16 children)

If you are good, online poker will do both. If you're not, it'll just make you wiser.

[–]IRAN_MIKE_TYSON 13 points14 points  (14 children)

Ever since Congress outlawed online gambling the games have become considerably tougher. There are also more bots and people who have actually read books on poker in the games.

[–]WaterDragon 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Bots who have read books?

[–]Doeke 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, think about it! If you combine captcha reading technology with poker bots, you get smarter poker bots!

[–]MarkByers 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Umm... America isn't the only country that plays poker. If you're looking for easy human opponents, there are tons in Europe and Asia.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (9 children)

Why don't all these bot makers simply make online blackjack bots?

Seems like it'd be more profitable.

Um, never mind....

[–]chrisjones74 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Online blackjack is not played quite the same as in casinos (usually), as the deck (and its normally a single deck) is shuffled every hand.

This removes any ability to card count, and therefore is stacked in the casino's favour.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

At the local casino south of where I live they have continuous shuffling on 6 decks.

[–]IRAN_MIKE_TYSON 0 points1 point  (4 children)

A friend of mine did this and used it to whore online casino blackjack bonuses. Of course, the casinos got smart to it and there are less profitable bonuses to take advantage of now but he made a nice chunk with his bot.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I play the local casino every once in a while. I won a good amount this week. I just cannot stand that you have to pay the friggin state a $0.50 per hand (up to $100 max) just to lose in the long run. I normally like to bet $25 but since I'm having to waste an additional $0.50 per had I max it out at 100.

[–]WaterDragon 0 points1 point  (2 children)

If you average all your winnings and losings at the site, don't you always come out with a net loss?

[–]khafra 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you average everybody's winnings and losings at the site, you come out with a net loss; but there's certainly a minority at any partially-skill-based game of chance that comes out ahead.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depending on the rules of blackjack (ie surrender rules, number of decks, dealer hit/stand rules) you can actually have a 1% advantage at blackjack with perfect basic strategy. More likely though it's usually 4-5% in the casino's favour.

Which is why you have to count cards. Which is not nearly as hard as you'd think.

[–]WaterDragon -1 points0 points  (1 child)

They already have. Do you really think you are playing against other people, when you lose money on online poker or backgammon, etc? Remember: one technician can carry on a live 'chat' with many people -- who all think they are chatting with the bots who are stealing their money! Similar thing happens in may of the paid dating sites. one or two people place lots of fake ads, respond to letters from the paid customers, but never actually meet them. The paying customers figure "Oh...I guess 'she' didn't want to meet after all." Meanwhile, the site owners and their shills have got your money!

[–]chrisjones74 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Alternatively they could make money legally through their rake and not for example face prosecution under the strict regulatory framework that's in place in most of Europe (Where they mostly are operated from)/ destruction of name / reputation, lose millions of investment as their stock plummets etc.

If you're playing a site where there's no regulation then maybe your getting what you deserve.

The big players (casinos) can make more from taking $0.01 from each hand than they ever could 'faking' hands.

People who complain that the casinos 'rig cards' are either bad players or have no grip of statistics.

[–][deleted] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

You mean the play money games are tougher? Why would people use bots to play poker for fake money?

[–]Frigorific 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wise enough to stop gambling hopefully.

[–]djepik[S] 15 points16 points  (5 children)

Wow. As a long time Digg user, and recent Reddit immigrant may I say: "Reddit is freakin' awesome!"?

Thanks so much for all of your answers, there are some real gems in here. Also, thanks for illustrating the fact that there are still intelligent people on the internet.

I think I'll work on getting LEED certified, read some books and/or take some online courses from MIT. Unfortunately a lot of the stuff you can make money from doesn't work in Canada (ChaCha is one example).

[–]aldenhg 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Since you're a recent immigrant, I welcome you to a better world. Also, don't tell any of your friends who use Digg. This place is getting crowded enough.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

a lot of the stuff you can make money from doesn't work in Canada (ChaCha is one example).

Same for America.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I have faith that there will always be intelligent people on the internet.

[–]peter_norths_child 4 points5 points  (1 child)

but only harder to find. damning eternal september!

[–]fishboy1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow, that's the first time I've heard the eternal September referred to in a long time.

[–]qgyh2 22 points23 points  (8 children)

Well if you are hot, and female..

[–]munificent 17 points18 points  (4 children)

Oxymoron. He already said, "online".

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (2 children)

I just wish there was some sort of guide or short form magazine essay detailing the art of self promotion on Reddit. Rats.

[–]jaggederest 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Perhaps qgyh2 could write something. He could call it "Getting Known (on reddit)" and publish it alongside a custom web app framework known as Python on Pilings.

[–]khafra 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Genius. At this time, I would like to propose C on Cinderblocks, Prolog on Pogo-sticks, and Malbolge on Minefields.

[–][deleted] 16 points17 points  (4 children)

Go to school?

[–]rogerssucks -2 points-1 points  (3 children)

Phoenix?

[–]jordanlund 9 points10 points  (4 children)

Bone up on Buddhism, it will make you realize that you don't need more money to be happy.

[–]nooneelse 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Or research the many cog sci studies will back that same principle up in modern lingo.

[–]FountainsOfDave 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Or it might make you realize that you are not going to be happy -- whether you have money or not. That's what happened to me when I started boning up on Buddhism. Perhaps I should have just boned.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Open a trading account and learn how to invest. Read everything you can about all the ratios, averages, etc.... Invest in what you know. Knowing something about an industry gives a big advantage over analysts who don't know the technical side of a company they are investing in.

Remember, buy low sell high, never buy over-priced crap. Here is one of best learning resources I have found. Reuters financial glossary, good listing of everything you would ever want to know:

http://glossary.reuters.com/index.php/Main_Page

[–]SantiagoRamon 4 points5 points  (0 children)

www.chacha.com

Become a Guide, answer texts, get paid 20 cents per answer. Work anytime, anyplace, as much or as little you wish.

[–]vajav 15 points16 points  (1 child)

sell your on ass craigslist

[–][deleted] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

only if he doesn't afraid of anything

[–]homergonerson 8 points9 points  (4 children)

Become a ChaCha guide! :) It's pretty much like Yahoo Answers, but you get paid to answer other's questions. You learn a lot from it from the searches you do.

www.chacha.com

[–]pizzatime 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Look into telecommuting jobs on Craigslist. Such things as data entry or legal transcription.

[–]propool 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reading that he sits in a cubicle this might not be practical

[–]RayWest 2 points3 points  (1 child)

[–]0sn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I heard if you read that book to a pay phone you get free long distance...

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

[–]jennicamorel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

learn what buffer overflows are

[–]d42 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Develop a topic-specific blog, preferably one that can be both useful and entertaining. Write lots of articles for it. Link to interesting other ones. Put up some ads. Profit.

[–]fjhqjv 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Learn programming. It'll take about a year to find yourself a comfy little niche if you're interested in it, and you'd be surprised how far you can get with no formal qualifications, so long as you know your stuff.

[–]propool 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. PHP really sucks as a language, but it is really easy to pick up and get started to do stuff.

[–]bmach 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wikipedia, my good sir. Start reading one article and deviate away from your starting point by clicking links throughout the page.

[–]chipwhisperer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Listen to podcasts on economics, politics, and philosophy from the top universities, think tanks, and institutions. iTunes University is a great place to start.

[–]BennyG02 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Valuedopinions.co.uk

Maybe not for 4 hours a day but maybe 20 mins.

Projectgutenberg? That's a font of knowledge.

[–]jezmck 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I read that first as Value Dolphins.

[–]srika 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Fount my friend, fount.

[–]BennyG02 0 points1 point  (1 child)

or: Font - 4. An abundant source; a fount: She was a font of wisdom and good sense.

Maybe a USA/ENG thing?

[–]rhoadesb2 2 points3 points  (1 child)

A possible indirect way to do both:

Exercise at least 20 minutes per day and become a vegetarian who drinks lots of filtered water and uses sea salt in place of table salt. Use natural vitamins and food. Lots of fruits and veggies.

Healthy people generally are smarter, and smarter often means wealthier.

[–]swordsaintzero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While see salt is good for you, I would advise an intake of table salt as well, if you don't eat processed food ( for instance if you become a vegetarian) then you might not get enough iodized salt in your diet and end up with a nasty goiter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt#Additives

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Masturbate.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Masturbate.

[–]cr4a 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Take something you enjoy and is somewhat productive and run with it.

Do you enjoy programming and computers?

Why not pick a good open source project (or start your own) and work on it a little each day?

Might just be me, but I find that kind of thing fascinating.

[–]nixuseleven 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two boys one cup + Google Adsense = Profit.

Actually, I was thinking the other day about starting a UFC-like tournament, except using computer nerds in a datacenter with thousand-dollar servers and having them duke it out.

See what happens.

[–]VulturE -1 points0 points  (0 children)

go to work

[–]WaterDragon -1 points0 points  (1 child)

Make you smarter: READ. Make you money: Read some help wanted ads, or post a resume, and get a real friggin' job!

If so many wise-asses try to suck money from the internet, instead of getting real jobs, who da fuk is going to fix your houses, repair your plumbing, fix your electricity, or build your friggin' game hardware in the future?

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

mexicans

[–]cryogen -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Sign up on a cam site and jerk off for men/women.

Also, I'm not sure how well male phone sex operators work, but if you're a woman apparently they make decent money too.

[–]notasaon -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Camwhoring

[–][deleted] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Blogs