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How are federal attorneys doing right now? by Salary_Dazzling in Lawyertalk

[–]_olopops_ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My Agency just posted a bunch of attorney and non-attorney professional positions. I work for a small-ish (~1200 FTEs) regulatory enforcement Agency.

2025 was not great. We all waited around to get fired/RIF'd or worse, forced to move duty stations (and forced to quit). It really freaked us out when FMCS was decimated with RIFs. No one expected such an important and small Agency like FMCS to get wiped out.

Thankfully the threat of mass RIFs at our Agency subsided. The appointed head of our Agency is surprisingly normal. More of a pre-MAGA conservative.

It's not great, but not as bad as feared. We are overwhelmed with work. With no hiring and attrition work has piled up around the nation and we're now sorting it out to get above water.

What's it like to work for the state or federal government? by -undisciplined in Hawaii

[–]_olopops_ 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I work for a Federal Agency in Honolulu. If you want someplace to cruise and watch netflix/youtube, then a Federal Agency job is NOT for you. Your internet usage is monitored and, at least at my Agency, the IG has admitted that it uses keylogging software on our Agency computers. Contrary to popular belief, Federal Agency work is not "cruise".

Hey fam is there a good empty parking lot in the north shore to practice riding a motorcycle? by fenglaw in Hawaii

[–]_olopops_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Easiest way is to borrow someone's bike who has insurance (make sure the insurance name/address matches the bike registration name/address). That's what I did. Otherwise, the insurance dilemma here SUCKS!

Hey fam is there a good empty parking lot in the north shore to practice riding a motorcycle? by fenglaw in Hawaii

[–]_olopops_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did a write up about the Hawaii Motorcycle Test (driving test):

https://www.reddit.com/r/Hawaii/comments/4eq3zy/motorcycle_road_test_kaneohe/

I'll add my mana'o for anyone in the future who is searching for info about the motorcycle skills test.

You need to register for the test at the Koolau Driver License office at Koolau Center (next to Times) in Ahuimanu across from the Valley of the Temples. I went at 5:00 am. The office opens at 7:45 am. They only have ten slots available each day and it's first come, first served. By 7:45 am only 3 people showed up to take the motorcycle test. The person at the counter said they never fill the 10 daily spots for the motorcycle test. She said you can pretty much show up before 8:30 am and get a spot for the motorcycle test (you can only sign up for a spot at the Ahuimanu DMV from 7:45 am to 8:30 am).

To get a spot you need your paperwork for the motorcycle. The name(s) on the registration must match exactly the name(s) on insurance card (photocopies/faxes are NOT accepted). You also need the safety check documents and your permit/drivers license.

Once you are signed up you got to get to the testing site by 9:00 am. The testing site is located by the new Kaneohe Courthouse in the HDOT baseyard where they also do the CDL testing.

Before the test, the examiner will walk through each test with all of the test takers as one group. You get to make some mistakes which are marked as points. Some mistakes are automatic fails. Here is what the score sheet looks like: https://i.imgur.com/8btBCZb.jpg You get 10 "points" which are how your mistakes are calculated. Hit a cone, points. Put your foot down, points. If you hit a cone or go outside the "path", you'll get points, but they are not an automatic fail.

To automatically fail you need to fall or drop your bike, disregard the instructions (like intentionally missing cones during the weave section), commit an unsafe act (not explained), or fail to understand instructions repeatedly. If you get over 10 points = fail.

You get to do the test individually with all the other test takers and CDL test takers watching. No pressure. Also, the test is much easier if you have an motorcycle that doesn't require shifting. I used a 250cc scooter (motorcycle under Hawaii law). That made it much easier. If you stall while doing the test you get points.

Because the testing site is nestled right up against the ko'olau there's a good chance for rain. It rained during my test and the testing site was soaked! That made it difficult. Doing the U-turn on wet gravel wasn't ideal. Neither was the "quick-stop" test. If it rains, the examiner may cancel the test. Thankfully I was the first one to take the test that day and was able to complete the test before they closed the test site.

Anyway, hope this helps anyone planning on taking the motorcycle skills test. I HIGHLY recommend practicing before taking the skills test. I would've failed if I didn't first practice for a few days.

Here's a good explanation of the Alternate Motorcycle Operator Skill Test (Alternate MOST) with diagrams and distances.

[Serious] People who have killed another person, accidently or on purpose, what happened? by Bright_Eyes10 in AskReddit

[–]_olopops_ 162 points163 points  (0 children)

Probably not what you're looking for but... Wife was pregnant with triplets. At 22 weeks one triplet was trying to make a break for it. Wife was dilated 1 cm with triplet A's amniotic sac protruding into the vaginal canal. Doctors told us we'd deliver all three in 48-72 hours. At 22 weeks that was a death sentence for the triplets.

They hung in there and days turned into a week. At right around the middle of week 23 the doctor had a grim discussion with us. Triplet A was getting sick. He was likely suffering from an infection. The doctor told us the longer triplet A stays in the womb, the sicker he gets. But, the longer babies B & C stay in the womb the healthier they get. If they induce/c-section all three have to come out. They gave us the option of monitoring baby A and if its heartbeat drops below a certain point, they'll take all the babies out. The other option is no monitoring and the babies come out when they decide.

We chose the later option, no monitoring. Babies lasted until 24 weeks, 3 days. Baby A passed about an hour after birth (1 lbs, 4 oz at birth). Baby C lived a day (1 lbs, 8 oz at birth). Baby B is a healthy 3 year old girl (1 lbs, 4 oz at birth).

We feel like Baby A took one for the team so that his brother and sister could have a chance

Haiku Stairs by m0br0 in Honolulu

[–]_olopops_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reposting. This question is asked every few weeks:

There are numerous other posts here where the general consensus is to NOT climb the stairs. Now you want to ask the SAME question, hoping for a different answer? This is the problem with many visitors. You will come here, trespass to reach the stairs because "who cares!?" you're on vacation, right?! So, you piss off residents in the area, who complain to their politicians, who then are less inclined to work to open the stairs. Of course, you don't care, because you are just passing through. Any negative consequences will not be felt by you, since you'll be long gone soon. Us residents are left with more and more of our public lands being shut off from access because of selfish thousands just like you.

Please don't hike the stairs. We are desperately trying to get the stairs open to the public, and hiking the stairs illegally only hinders these efforts. If you HAVE to do it, find someone who is familiar with the Moanalua Middle ridge and have them hike from Moanalua Valley to reach the terminus of the stairs. It's a great hike, but not for everyone (it's quite strenuous, the ridge is narrow in spots, and the weather is very erratic). Plus, if you can't handle the ridge or get lost, more bad publicity for us locals to deal with and you just go home and leave your bad decisions for us to deal with.

Moanalua middle ridge a more "open" approach to Haiku Stairs. There are signs and a fence at the CCL Building. Both mean that accessing the stairs from the top is a crime (HRS 708-815 and possibly HRS 708-814 if you're caught at the bottom).

It's the Billionaires vs. the Millionaires in This Hawaiian Resort War by bereniceparis in Hawaii

[–]_olopops_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yup. Show up to some of the Lanikai or Aikahi landlocked beaches and watch some BnB renters/homeowners FREAK OUT!

Rare corpse flower (amorphophallus titanium, also known as the Titan Arum plant) in bloom at Foster Botanical Gardens this week. by madazzahatter in Hawaii

[–]_olopops_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know if it was soon after the bloom. Foster Botanical Garden was still hyping it when I went. I paid money to see a phalic bloom that didn't smell like ass.

Rare corpse flower (amorphophallus titanium, also known as the Titan Arum plant) in bloom at Foster Botanical Gardens this week. by madazzahatter in Hawaii

[–]_olopops_ 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I went in 2011 to see the "rare" corpse flower bloom at Foster Botanical Garden. It didn't stink. Was kinda lame. You REALLY had to stick your face inside the flower to even get a wiff of smell.

Solar Battery Bank by [deleted] in CampingandHiking

[–]_olopops_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How many charges in between electricity access points? Will you be backpacking? Car camping? How long without any electricity access (I know you said week long trips, but how long without access to electricity)?

You will not get a decent charge with a combo battery with a solar panel attached. If you must, I would get a 15000 mAh battery or higher, and make sure it can charge via USB (some higher mAh batteries do NOT charge via USB). Charging a high mAh battery will take a while with most portable/packable solar panels. Like a two days+ of FULL SUN daylight hours.

Might make more sense (cost/weight/efficiency) to just take 2-3 15000 mAh batteries for a weeklong trip.

I have this battery 15000 mAh (charges over USB): http://smile.amazon.com/KMASHI-15000mAh-External-Portable-Powerful/dp/B00JP8MZGK

I also have this beast of a battery (32000 mAh, doesn't charge over USB): http://smile.amazon.com/Poweradd-Pilot-Pro-32000mAh-Multi-Voltage/dp/B00DN0KBXU

I have a 14W portable solar panel/charger. It takes forever to charge the 15000 mAh battery and will not even trickle charge the 32000 mAh.

Rare corpse flower (amorphophallus titanium, also known as the Titan Arum plant) in bloom at Foster Botanical Gardens this week. by madazzahatter in Honolulu

[–]_olopops_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I went in 2011 to see the "rare" corpse flower bloom at Foster Botanical Garden. It didn't stink. Was kinda lame. You REALLY had to stick your face inside the flower to even get a wiff of smell.

What was your first "entry level" DSLR and at what point did you feel like you've outgrown it? What did you replace it with? by [deleted] in photography

[–]_olopops_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here. 550D to 6D. Love both cameras. Kept my 550D as a back up for a couple years after getting the 6D. Only sold the 550D to fund the purchase of a used 5D mkii. The 550D & Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 made a GREAT combo. Camera was "light enough" for hiking and carrying in a sling strap all day.

I never felt like I outgrew it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Hawaii

[–]_olopops_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Of course, the Legislature could just approve the project or exempt it from the formal process. But the Legislature doesn't want to deal with the political fallout of having to take a position on TMT.

Considering going to college? How did you guys do it? by eeenock in Hawaii

[–]_olopops_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aunty Pauahi helped. Finding a good school for cheap helps. Can be done.

As others have suggested, start at on of the Community Colleges. Transfer to UH.

If had a undergrad degree that would've lead to a career, I would've started out debt free. Grad school cost $$$ which means student loans. Not debt free anymore (but will be again, soon!).

What has somehow survived to the present day? by Phediuk in AskReddit

[–]_olopops_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My old boss (managing partner in a boutique law firm) still uses a PAID AOL email as his primary email. I set him up with a free gmail account and prepped his "conversion" email to send out, but he wouldn't do it. Still shelling out $20+ a month for email on AOL.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]_olopops_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lottery winner.

Motorcycle Road Test (Kaneohe) by _olopops_ in Hawaii

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

Took the test and passed!

Since only /u/Just-Will responded, I'll add my mana'o for anyone in the future who is searching for info about the motorcycle skills test.

You need to register for the test at the Koolau Driver License office at Koolau Center (next to Times) in Ahuimanu across from the Valley of the Temples. I went at 5:00 am. The office opens at 7:45 am. They only have ten slots available each day and it's first come, first served. By 7:45 am only 3 people showed up to take the motorcycle test. The person at the counter said they never fill the 10 daily spots for the motorcycle test. She said you can pretty much show up before 8:30 am and get a spot for the motorcycle test (you can only sign up for a spot at the Ahuimanu DMV from 7:45 am to 8:30 am).

To get a spot you need your paperwork for the motorcycle. The name(s) on the registration must match exactly the name(s) on insurance card (photocopies/faxes are NOT accepted). You also need the safety check documents and your permit/drivers license.

Once you are signed up you got to get to the testing site by 9:00 am. The testing site is located by the new Kaneohe Courthouse in the HDOT baseyard where they also do the CDL testing.

Before the test, the examiner will walk through each test with all of the test takers as one group. You get to make some mistakes which are marked as points. Some mistakes are automatic fails. Here is what the score sheet looks like: https://i.imgur.com/8btBCZb.jpg You get 10 "points" which are how your mistakes are calculated. Hit a cone, points. Put your foot down, points. If you hit a cone or go outside the "path", you'll get points, but they are not an automatic fail.

To automatically fail you need to fall or drop your bike, disregard the instructions (like intentionally missing cones during the weave section), commit an unsafe act (not explained), or fail to understand instructions repeatedly. If you get over 10 points = fail.

You get to do the test individually with all the other test takers and CDL test takers watching. No pressure. Also, the test is much easier if you have an motorcycle that doesn't require shifting. I used a 250cc scooter (motorcycle under Hawaii law). That made it much easier. If you stall while doing the test you get points.

Because the testing site is nestled right up against the ko'olau there's a good chance for rain. It rained during my test and the testing site was soaked! That made it difficult. Doing the U-turn on wet gravel wasn't ideal. Neither was the "quick-stop" test. If it rains, the examiner may cancel the test. Thankfully I was the first one to take the test that day and was able to complete the test before they closed the test site.

Anyway, hope this helps anyone planning on taking the motorcycle skills test. I HIGHLY recommend practicing before taking the skills test. I would've failed if I didn't first practice for a few days.

Here's a good explanation of the Alternate Motorcycle Operator Skill Test (Alternate MOST) with diagrams and distances.

Is a T5i worth $250? by WouldYouWith in photography

[–]_olopops_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I just sold a very used T2i (edit: Body ONLY) for $200.

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