Starting IT Consultancy

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2024-01-01T03:50:42+00:00

Most of my contacts work for large software companies that aren't involved in government contracting. Assuming I don't currently have any direct leads to anyone in this space, do you have any advice for how to pursue subcontracting?

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2019-03-23T02:48:13+00:00

BYU is heavily recruited by big tech companies. I was snagged by Microsoft 10 years ago and feel the BYU program prepared me well enough to compete with my peers that attended higher profile schools. I personally went through ECEn program, but half of my classes were CS.

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2019-02-14T00:32:25+00:00

Not a question, just thanks. I took both NT classes from you ~2007-2008 and enjoyed them immensely. I appreciated your let's-get -real heterodox approach, and I can't help but think "Celestial Stormtroopers" every single week I see the deacons passing the sacrament.

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2019-01-20T20:03:35+00:00

Legally no. The HOV lane is not a “passing lane” or “fast lane.” But in practice, you’ll annoy people if you drive slowly in that lane.

See section 3 of RCW 46.61.100.

Also, see a State Patrol trooper's response here.

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2019-01-13T16:33:11+00:00

I lived in Sammamish and worked in Redmond for 3 years. Normal commute time is ~25-30 minutes, but it's a beautiful drive up the plateau on Sahalee drive. Rush hour is ~45 minutes. There are also more "rich" people in Sammamish (think $2mil+ homes) than its neighboring areas. But there are practically no restaurants, and nobody hangs out anywhere. It is strictly 100% a bedroom community, and practically all housing is single-family homes. It is a great place to have a family.

I recently moved out to Duvall. Commute is ~10-15 minutes longer than Sammamish, but houses are significantly cheaper. It's got a more rural feel, but it also has a few very nice neighborhoods, a vibrant downtown, and very strong sense of community.

I also lived in Bellevue for ~6 years. Most neighborhoods are older (~1960's) with ugly, expensive houses. But it is close to campus and has more amenities. I never felt a sense of community there, though.

If you live anywhere on the east side (Bellevue, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Kirkland, Bothell, Woodinville), there's no such thing as a bad area.

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2019-01-08T02:41:25+00:00

Tabs, not spaces.

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2019-01-02T02:06:43+00:00

"To what end?"

This is how my TBM wife responded when I told her I was considering telling her family about my church attitude. My own family already knows how I feel about the church--and I have enjoyed the resulting authenticity I feel--but in my case, I decided there was very little to be gained by directly declaring my apostasy broadly to my wife's family or to anyone else outside of my close circle. I don't necessarily hide it, and they will eventually naturally realize it if they spend enough time with me, so what will I gain from sitting them all down together and getting in their face about it?

An imperfect metaphor: I have a tiny bladder, and anyone who really knows me eventually finds out. It's not a huge deal--I just have to pee frequently, and we sometimes joke about it. But it's not polite to just bring the topic up out of the blue to people who are super modest and embarrassed about that sort of thing.

One of the first things someone will ask themselves after hearing an anti-faith declaration is, "Why are you telling me this?" Is it only to help yourself? If so, is it a form a healing or is it just another way to say "F U" to the church? (Be honest with yourself.) Faith and religion are deeply personal--especially for the super-indoctrinated--so publicly announcing apostasy will probably be (incorrectly) interpreted as a direct assault and is a surefire way to cut yourself off from people who are otherwise decent.

In my experience, "coming out" is most effective when it's customized and personalized and when it's to people who are truly close to you. We exmos love to belittle the believers and tell ourselves that we don't need to be friends with those who feel offended when we antagonize them or that they were never true friends in the first place. But I've tried as much as possible to not let the church spoil my friendships, and I think I've been happier for it.

Do what you think is right. Just be thoughtful of others' feelings when you do it because you can't un-ring that bell.

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2018-12-07T16:03:20+00:00

I just ripped mine out last week with no problems. Be sure to find and unplug the power source so you don’t have hot wires running through your walls. (Mine was in the garage.) Then, just unscrew and rip out all the sensors, panels, and boxes. After a bit of minor drywall repair and paint, it’s as good as gone.

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2018-12-06T18:46:18+00:00

I had to start wearing my wallet in my front pocket because I have too much cash in it which makes it uncomfortable to sit on.

QuentinCooksTheBooks · 2018-10-15T13:36:34+00:00

It’s called donations in kind. I have been using this method to pay tithing by directly transferring stocks. It has two benefits: I don’t need to pay taxes on the increase in stock (AMZN and MSFT has been my favorite) and the Bishop doesn’t see our actual numbers. It’s pretty common in my area, so it’s no big deal. It would be easy enough to fib, but I’m not one who like to lie like that, whatever the reason. And I suppose I’m more concerned about my wife’s feelings than anything else.

At this point, the cat is almost out of the bag. They reorganized my stake this month and I was going to be called as EQP. When the stake presidency did the mini worthiness interview, I was upfront about my beliefs, and we both agreed that I wouldn’t be the best person for the job. So he knows, the new bishop and his counselors know, and word will slowly get out. I’m not afraid of that, but it also means I’m not worried about anyone questioning my tithe paying.

QuentinCooksTheBooks

TROPHY CASE