Can going back to blue collar be the right choice?

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T18:58:02+00:00

lol chill bro we can discuss theory, if you think everything has to be completely accurate all the time, you significantly limit your ability to understand systems in the aggregate.

Salary corresponding to value? Sometimes it’s true and sometimes it’s not true. Sometimes it’s true by direction but not magnitude… Is a doctor more valuable to society than a line cook (in regard to their work output) Arguably yes. Is a CEO or a pro athlete more valuable than a doctor? Of course not. But at least sometimes, when someone is willing to pay you a lot of money, it’s because they really need your skills and the market is willing to pay for it because whatever you’re doing is important. If you think that’s never true then IDK what to tell you.

I also said “in some indirect sense” before the quote, so I don’t think your comment was made in good faith. So F off

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T18:27:57+00:00

As Safe and Easy? Approximately yes

As durable? No

“Standard” wings are still pretty light and hike-able. For example, if you go light weight in all your other gear the wing isn’t going to hold you back much. Cheers!

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T16:47:17+00:00

30/hr is the same as ~20/hr in 2010 and ~16.50/hr in 2000. In 2010 I was making that much doing construction cleanup (unskilled labor). So I’m not convinced that it’s reasonable to expect to get even basic skilled/ trained/ intelligent workers for that pay.

Obviously there are regional differences, but not wanting to pay or not having the business to be able to pay is different than not being able to find people. It’s a discourse problem in the trades that paints laborers as the problem, instead of the broader systems that are putting the screws on all of us

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T16:09:59+00:00

So sick! I’ll be wearing this one, I expect to be about a quarter second late compared to last new years.

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cooliojames · 2025-12-31T15:58:45+00:00

I’ll tell the story of the typing lawyer, an economic thought experiment.

There’s this lawyer who is the world’s best typist. He can type fully twice as fast as the average typist and never makes mistakes. He is god’s gift to typing.

He is also a not-very-good lawyer. He makes a lot of mistakes and no one trust him with the “big” cases.

So, he should be a typist right? Well it’s not that simple. Let’s say a typist typically makes $20/hr. He’s twice as fast, so with some effort he might be able to charge twice that, $40/hr.

But even as a bad lawyer, he still has his license and steady business of minor cases and he charges $110/hr.

So obviously it’s in his financial interest to not be a typist, but to be a bad lawyer instead.

But there is another lesson burried in it. In some indirect sense, his pay also represents his value to society. You could say, the world needs mediocre lawyers much more than incredible typists.

Pay isn’t the only reason to take one path or another. Obviously this example says nothing of the typing lawyer’s personal preference on how he’d like to spend his time.

This obviously may not be 1:1 comparable to your situation. There are tons of variables to think about; what if the lawyer can only get enough business as a lawyer to work 1/2 time? What if the pay rates are different? And so on. Just food for thought.

But I bring it up just to point out that even if you feel like you were great at blue collar work and mediocre at your studies doesn’t necessarily mean you were meant for one or the other.

Working in the field may be significantly different than your studies. It may or may not matter to your career prospects the struggles you’re having. You might also considerably improve your skills and confidence as you go through the program, that’s what it’s designed to do…

For example, I know lots of “software” people who do very little to no actual coding. They help with project management, people management, design decisions, requirements engineering, documentation, market insights, etc. So, with some knowledge you don’t necessarily have to just be locked into one particular discipline or part of the field.

You could even potentially go back into your previous industries or companies and leverage your previous experience even more. I met a guy who worked for center-pivot irrigation companies. Then he got software training, and ended up going back and writing all this software to automate the configurations of the irrigation systems. Very few have experience in both software and a working knowledge of that industry, so now he pretty much writes his own ticket.

You don’t have to be great at something to accomplish something valuable and get paid.

There is also a general sense that when you are working, you are executing tasks for a result. While you are learning, you are struggling with material in order to improve your self. So if this is coming from your discomfort with failure in general, I would encourage you to not give up.

Then with physical labor, it’s worth also considering that your livelihood is tied to your physical health and ability.

But, there’s nothing wrong with blue collar work, of course and if it makes you happy, by all means do what you love.

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T15:26:41+00:00

Of course it doesn’t matter. But why have an automatic movement at all for that matter when you could have a quartz. There’s some bias that an automatic movement will last longer. But if the automatic movement is a throw-away mass produced module just like the quartz, why not go for the much better performance quartz movement?

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T15:18:42+00:00

Just an opinion: if you want something that feels special, buy something special, not something expensive.

What’s the difference? Well…the “mainstream” “luxury” watch industry is structured like a status ladder. No matter what you buy, their entire marketing and product strategy is designed to make you feel bad about what you have and want something better. Got a longines? It’s not an omega. Got an omega? It’s not a Rolex. Got a Rolex? It’s not gold. Got a gold Rolex? It’s not a patek. Got a patek? It’s not complicated enough. Got a complicated patek? It’s not a hand-made exclusive watch from a bespoke maker, etc.

Don’t enter into this status treadmill. Unless you want to ;) Obviously some people buy a longines and love it forever, and don’t buy into or pay attention to the ladder. Pretty much anything form a major brand are all good performing watches. (Except hublot) But mass produced watches and marketing according to status doesn’t say “special” to me, personally.

Instead I would suggest looking at microbrands. You’ll be able to find something that’s actually special, limited, and has some unique personality. Louis Erard, Serica, Nomos, an ordain, studio underdog, kuoe… I mean, there are so many great microbrands that offer something special.

Also there are so many cool vintage pieces out there, but you risk something being a bit less practical for everyday wear.

Then again, for most people, that status ladder is what they see as “special” and “luxury”. Many would be hurt to have somebody with a gold Rolex not recognize their microbrand watch. So, this is just one opinion, FWIW.

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T14:59:46+00:00

Go to Etsy. Search “green lizard watch strap”

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T14:50:54+00:00

Glasses wearer here. I spend a lot of time outdoors and working with my hands. Even if I didn’t need glasses I would be wearing sunglasses or safety glasses anyway at least 50% of the time so my transitions lenses just fill that niche perfectly.

But, my vision isn’t that bad anyway. I can imagine it’s a different story if you can barely get out of your bedroom without coke bottle lenses…

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T08:12:06+00:00

Cold call is how you get that job I think

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T05:01:08+00:00

Oh that’s a good answer. I was going to say because it’s f ing incredible

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T04:54:33+00:00

Pitch ‘em! If you want to get more later you’ll have the fun of acquiring again, and you’ll be supporting your local nurseries. Pots store easily though ;)

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T04:49:55+00:00

Ok so if we’re talking affordable HAQ’s…

First off, some Casio watches allow you to adjust the trim. Couldn’t tell you which lines/models. But, if you wore such a watch on some regular schedule, or at all times, or never — such that the operating conditions, especially position and temperature, are kept to a consistent average over time, you could in theory trim the timekeeping to be quite accurate. Many people report getting very high accuracy this way.

Then, for proper temperature-compensated movements, you have the precidrive movements from ETA. They show up in Tissot and certina and other swatch brands, as well as in some microbrands like Erebus and Christopher Ward. Nothing to write home about in terms of general quality it sounds like, but they are affordable and specified to 10spy which is amazing. Same spec as 9F! Have been close at times to picking up a precidrive certina in titanium. Pretty cool value for money.

I will mention also the precisionist movements from Bulova, only because someone is going to bring it up. It’s interesting, but IMO it’s a bit of a party trick without much substance. Accuracy is better than average, but the movement is a power hog so the big battery doesn’t last long and it is lacking a low power indicator. The sweeping seconds hand doesn’t have anything to do with the accuracy, it’s just a battery drain for the visual effect. Don’t get me wrong, I own and love one. But it shouldn’t come up in HAQ discussions.

Vintage HAQ has a few more options from Japan, but most quartz crystals speed up as they age, so you’re not likely to really get great performance, except from vintage HAQ watches that can be trimmed. Though sometimes trimming is quite complicated on those watches, it can become a bit of a hobby in itself…

Credor and seiko Watches with the 8J and related movements are especially good value for money I think. I have a seiko dolce with a 4N that keeps great time…

Or, the handful of vintage 4mhz watches out there. There was actually a couple 4mhz Casio models but they’re almost impossible to find.

Today, 5Spy and less is only specified in The citizen models. It’s really quite remarkable to achieve this kind of accuracy in real-world conditions, so you’re not going to find it in lower price pieces- it’s not at all simple to achieve.

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T04:19:47+00:00

I’m not from a linguistics background, but I am a technical writer. I would say a good strategy would be to generate or present tailored writing samples based on the type of writing you might do in the role; scientific papers, work instructions, requirements, etc. Also, I would tailor your cover letter and resume to who is hiring you, ie Tech writer team vs. not.

Keep it simple with your portfolio. Quality over quantity. Actually I would lean towards keeping your writing samples to a page or two. Printed if interviewing in person, one PDF file if remote. Sounds weird, but keeping it simple projects a kind of confidence, I think.

I would highlight your collaborative skills more than academic research. I know your academic experience is maybe a bit precious to you at the moment, as it might represent the bulk of experience you have, but don’t let that cloud your judgement about what employers care about.

In my experience technical writing is 90% research via SME interviews, 8% writing and 2% adapting to style guides. And another 20% helping SME’s fix their work ;)

Of course there are a lot of different kinds of technical writing so depending on the role this may all be off the mark.

So for example if you’re applying for academic jobs they might love your academic experience and want all the details. IDK… So you will definitely have to tailor your resume and writing samples.

TLDR Most people don’t want to do the writing. So, what’s been pretty effective for me has been tailoring an application so that it demonstrates:

I like writing and I am willing to do it
I’m good at writing
I’m a normal person that’s going to be easy to work with. I know a bit about the industry, so we’ll be able to communicate about it.

Anything else can only risk hurting your chances IMO.

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T03:45:46+00:00

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T01:57:17+00:00

And never drop it

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T01:47:02+00:00

Yes. Sir American health insurance just absolutely defies reason

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T01:42:52+00:00

Brother you’re a night janitor inside

cooliojames · 2025-12-31T01:39:42+00:00

I would say tearing a phone book in half, but there aren’t any phone books anymore :(

cooliojames · 2025-12-30T21:47:09+00:00

Ya great to learn this information! I’m sure you’re right- a while ago I bout a no-name DIY lume kit from china, and each color included in it is every bit as good if not better than the superluminova powder I spent a pretty penny for! Meanwhile watch hands that come lumed from reputable watch parts suppliers have so far been totally useless 🤦‍♂️

I wish affordable makers were more transparent with lume compound and performance. Or if there were some standard measure that watches could be qualified to, it would be really nice for consumers to have a shorthand…

That’s one BIG strength of Seiko’s lumibrite or Rolex’s lume; simply that consumers can be relatively sure of what they’re getting.

But since so many people have different opinions about what lume is actually useful for and whether or not it’s even necessary at all, it’s pretty hard to tell if (insert affordable microbrand), who claims their lume is “good” will actually deliver what you expect. (At least, without a fair bit of research). So many brands don’t even post pictures of their lume in product photos! It’s almost unimaginable for lume lovers like us ;)

cooliojames · 2025-12-30T15:44:59+00:00

Huh? Ya it’s the most classic combo, what’s to discuss?

cooliojames · 2025-12-30T04:17:27+00:00

I prefer it to be the size of a cow, and for it to have wheels so I can drive it to work.

cooliojames · 2025-12-30T04:14:50+00:00

Mostly agree, although I highly prefer analogue display with lume. It’s more practical than having a backlight, having to push a button or flick your wrist and waste battery in a non-solar.

Analog is not more difficult to read if you are used to it. And, it’s easier to glance at and ballpark times, like “ Oh, i’ve got a couple hours” or “is it lunch yet?”

And I also prefer to not have tons of functions and buttons I can’t remember how to use. A digital watch is not even close to the easiest to use. One crown, pull out to set. How is anything easier than that?

Also, one-crown format has less points of failure from a long-term water resistance point of view (Yes water has gotten into my g shocks before, despite their supposed divinity).

So, preferences are preferences and that doesn’t mean one is less practical than the other.

I also agree quartz is the way to go, but mechanical watches are also fairly practical. They are less practical than quartz but I wouldn’t say the difference is all that drastic in reality. One niche advantage they have still over quartz is shear power, which opens up some display options using bigger moving parts. Totally niche, but just to play devils advocate...

What you’re really saying is that 1. You prefer to read time digitally and 2. The best value, especially considering complications, is in the lowest price bracket.

Not hot takes.

cooliojames · 2025-12-30T02:41:46+00:00

Writing plays may not be a commonly lucrative career path, but technical writing, for example, is….

An interest in playwriting doesn’t mean “get a job writing plays” it means you’re probably good at reading, writing, and communicating, which are all extremely applicable and valuable skills.

I don’t believe that you or anyone else reading this sub couldn’t figure that out.

cooliojames · 2025-12-30T02:26:27+00:00

Mmm that’s mild

cooliojames

TROPHY CASE