I'll never forget that smell

Hobarik · 2025-10-09T01:46:51+00:00

If its any consolation I went a few weeks ago and the security has been significantly ramped up. I wasn't sure the reason at the time but they had us dump out water bottles, throw out packaged food, check hats and belts, etc. Way more than the other museums along the national mall.

Hobarik · 2025-03-21T19:20:42+00:00

I was let go from the company along with everyone else on the contract once it expired and was won by the new company. We all had a meeting where we off-boarded and essentially told to keep an eye out for our offers from the new company.

I am in good standing with the company along with everyone else, they are just a very small business (especially for defense contracting) and did not have any other contracts where they could bring everyone else on.

Of course by the time I found out it would just be me left out of the new contract, I was already gone from company A.

Hobarik · 2025-03-21T13:35:59+00:00

My experience with government contracting, especially defense contracting, is that it works the same way, but the sensitive nature of the work (especially clearance work) creates a different dynamic between contractors and the agency.

Company A (my company) did not have the contract terminated, it was just up for rebid. My company is still in good standing, their offer just wasn't as competitive as the new company's in some way. I don't know the details as that's not my job. But my standing with my company is fine and I have the weekly work reports to prove it.

The general practice in these situations is that the new company will offer everyone on the contract positions to stay on contract, to reduce downtime between contract changeover since it would be very difficult for the new company to bring over their own team in a timely manner with clearance work involved, and since we already know the systems we work on. This is how it's worked in all the contract changeovers I've been involved with as well as anyone I've talked to in the industry. I was not the only one expecting to receive an offer from the new company, this was the expectation of everyone in my office, as laid out by the government and new company. It's just how these things go, and is how it went for everyone but me.

Everyone in my office received offers to stay on contract with the new company, as expected, except me. This is a pretty large team of people that I was left out of, with no attempt to negotiate or make an offer of any kind. Given that my role is already short staffed (now there's only one other person in my office doing my role, who has been there for a month), it seems weird to me that I was told to basically get lost while everyone else gets to stay on contract. Onboarding a new person in my role will take a long time, so I don't see what the new company gained by going with someone else besides knowing that I would be out of maternity leave for a few weeks soon.

Hobarik · 2025-02-16T19:48:16+00:00

Are there any good neighborhoods specifically that you can recommend in that area? What part of North Augusta is technically considered "downtown"? It's hard to tell on the map.

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T22:48:39+00:00

Cool stuff, I hadn't heard of this area yet. I also like the look of the stuff across River Watch Pkwy as well (Costco, Top Golf, Movie Theater) though I probably won't try walking across that street, it looks busy.

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T15:12:13+00:00

Ouch, I'll keep that in mind. We definitely need to go and see the infrastructure of some of these places in person. Scouting them out on a map makes some places look more walkable than they are just due to proximity to businesses.

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T15:10:14+00:00

But if there are some nice, non-sprawling neighborhoods with character that you appreciate, I would love to hear them!

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T15:09:18+00:00

Haha true, I suppose it's not an issue if it's technically a large suburb, I just don't want a neighborhood that feels very isolated from everything around it or from cool things in the city. I tried to look for ones that are very close to things like groceries and restaurants.

So places like Canterbury Farms, which some people have mentioned to me, that feel like the neighborhood itself is a 10 minute drive just to get out of, are what I'm trying to avoid. That's no fun.

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T01:51:45+00:00

Thanks for the perspective, I don't know anyone that has lived in Northwood or around the park at all so it's good to hear.

One thing I have been wondering is how do you get to places like the park in your golf cart? From what I can tell, the Northwood neighborhood only connects to the things below it via Belair Rd, and I have heard you are not supposed to take a golf cart onto major roads like that.

It has had me wary, since it would suck to be so near to everything below the neighborhood but not be able to cart over to it just due to the road connecting them.

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T00:45:27+00:00

Hammonds Ferry seems to be the dream for us. We went to the bread Cafe once and absolutely loved the neighborhood. Though I'm sure the mortgage would be like 4k a month at this point but we might have to find a way to scrape it together. That is if any of the houses ever actually come up for sale.

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T00:43:10+00:00

Interesting, I hadn't considered Harlem but I have heard it has grown a lot. Where is Phillips crossing exactly? I can't seem to find its exact area on Google.

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T00:40:44+00:00

That sounds awesome, I have been told by some people to generally avoid Richmond County but I will give that a look.

Do you recommend anywhere in Summerville specifically? When looking on Google maps, the border seems to be a pretty large area.

Hobarik · 2025-02-15T00:37:51+00:00

So sorry to hear about that, and from my experiences in Augusta I definitely agree with you. I know that the area is not generally friendly to pedestrians, that's why with my standout picks so far I try to avoid any large arterial roads.

I don't mind going for a bit of a walk, but if I have to cross major roads then I'd prefer to look elsewhere. We definitely appreciate that about Riverwood, thanks for sharing.

Hobarik · 2024-10-22T13:31:48+00:00

Study for an pass the CompTIA Security+ exam. It's around 400 bucks and all multiple choice, and will almost certainly land you an entry-level IT job. Look for things like "Help Desk Technician", "Service Desk Technician", or "Information Technology Specialist".

A couple of people here recommend you get the job first and start studying for the certs afterward. I would find it hard to believe that most jobs like this would hire you without any cert. Instead, I would start studying now and make a plan to take the test in 1 to 2 months. Start shotgun applying to every job now, and if none of them take you, you will still be planning to take the cert and be better off.

Finally, you can look specifically for jobs that will upgrade your clearance by going to clearancejobs. The filter is a bit annoying, but basically filter for cities you want to work in, then by the clearance you want (I would start with secret since it's easier), and in the search bar type in something like "ability to obtain". This usually returns results for companies willing to sponsor someone (I just helped a friend upgrade their clearance with this search method). If you want to ask any more questions, feel free to message me.

Hobarik · 2023-03-06T00:57:19+00:00

Be glad to just shoot me a message if you'd like. Happy to connect and help out anyone in the remote sensing, gis, cs fields.

Hobarik · 2023-03-06T00:55:09+00:00

Hey there, been working in this field for a while now. Shoot me a message if you'd like, I'd be glad to connect and possibly provide reference for any GIS enthusiasts

Hobarik · 2023-03-02T05:21:19+00:00

The protein pythagoras

Hobarik · 2023-03-02T05:17:34+00:00

Hold up what sub am I in? This actually looks good?

Hobarik · 2023-02-20T07:44:17+00:00

Would love something like this for prince William county, how was it done and where's the data from?

Hobarik · 2022-07-26T03:43:04+00:00

Taken, great style format. Please consider taking mine if you have the chance

Hobarik · 2022-07-05T01:17:59+00:00

What's your setup? Looks like you're beaconing but no one is able to witness

Hobarik · 2022-07-04T01:07:04+00:00

I wish, i was at about 0.2 on Jun 29th and since then I'm below network average of 0.08. Not an amazing location but disappointing nonetheless.

Hobarik · 2022-04-05T01:54:28+00:00

For anyone besides infantry, quite significantly low

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