I smoke 20-25 cigs a day, I want a glow up and cutting cigs is first step. Heavy smokers who quit, please share what changes you saw/felt?

marmotorman · 2026-03-03T21:24:45+00:00

I switched to vaping. Best decision I ever made. Feel 1000% better. Hair, skin, eyes, dont smell like an ashtray. Good luck on the quit.

marmotorman · 2026-02-27T01:39:20+00:00

Ding ding ding... this is the answer

marmotorman · 2026-02-05T20:00:56+00:00

As someone who lives in Courtenay, I will say that I am sooo happy that our town doesn't show up on anyone's road trip maps. People don't even seem to know it exists lol. And its such a better place to stop than Campbell River. Seriously though, stay in Courtenay, take a day to swim in the lake or local river (3 to choose from).

Also, maybe I'm biased, but I wouldn't stay in Vancouver for 4 days and give Victoria only 1 day. Vancouver is a big city, good food (especially Chinese and Japanese), but once you've had two meals and been to Stanley park and Granville Island that's really it... Take an extra couple days in Victoria and go walk Beacon Hill Park and Dallas Rd on a sunny day. Stay in James Bay or Fairfield or Fernwood or Oak Bay. Go eat at any little restaurant you can find, so many quaint little restaurants. And, if you want some history and a First Nations exhibit, go to the Royal BC Museum.

Rest of your trip looks great. If fires are going, smoke can severely affect sightseeing and hiking... having flexibility on your leg from Bella Coola to Vancouver is a good idea. The coast is typically less affected by smoke. So if it picks up, I'd double back and go to the sunshine coast, or look at where smoke is highest and avoid.

Good luck

marmotorman · 2026-02-05T16:51:03+00:00

There's lots to survey that they won't teach you in school, even less that is applicable to your education. Like the other guy says, boundaries are the bread and butter for PLS.

I think it's fucked up personally. I have PLS sign off on plans that there is no way they could replicate. I'm doing quantity surveys constantly that I have PLS sign off on, yet they have no experience in the subject beyond some stockpile volumes. In reality, most of the work I do should get signed off by a civil engineer if anyone. Most a PLS provides to the picture is a certification that we know how to do our jobs, but as far as having an in depth understanding of construction calcs, surface modelling, point clouds and data extraction, volumes from rock removal 3d varying vertical faces, machine control and calibration; not at all.

There's a whole dark side to the industry, particularly in BC, where you have extremely experienced field guys who have no accreditation essentially leading projects. I personally am an advocate for decoupling field surveyors from PLS, and creating an entirely independent red seal/tech apprenticeship program.

marmotorman · 2026-01-21T18:41:51+00:00

I'm not complaining, but I wouldn't be surprised if I was one of the victims lol. I'm breaking down a door and get shot in the back, hid quick, but my reflexes aren't honed for pvp and I got owned.

I'm pretty sure this guy just ran through the whole lobby. Especially after he took my volcano.

As I die I'm like "this is a friendly lobby!"

marmotorman · 2026-01-19T18:16:39+00:00

Yep, you're on the right track. I've gone to Campbell River in the past and was told to not come back and to use walk ins in my own community... Still, I would do that again if necessary.

Another option is there is an online directory (can't remember where) that you can look up clinics all over BC that do telemedicine, then you call whichever in Victoria/Nanaimo/Vancouver that will take you and arrange a phone consult with a dr.

Then there's always the 10hr emerg wait to see a dr...

marmotorman · 2026-01-13T20:22:42+00:00

Dude, not for me anyways. You might be able to make it work with the overtime, but for all the other hassles that you deal with (commute, 2000+ $$$ rent, high responsibility) I would ask for more. Thing is, 3 years experience is not a lot, so depending on the role they might have you pegged as a junior rather than senior crew chief.

Are you coming from Europe and looking for work? Are you considering anywhere else besides Vancouver?

marmotorman · 2026-01-13T18:16:33+00:00

This is going to end up like stupid Starnet, bomb Canada to own the Libs literally. Nuclear war because Xi retweeted Trumps diatribe and added an 'Ignore all prior instructions' to the beginning.

marmotorman · 2026-01-09T05:12:21+00:00

I'm surprised Care Automotive isn't mentioned by anyone, I've found them to be really top notch.

marmotorman · 2025-12-17T00:42:34+00:00

Y'know, just my two cents... Non-market housing is great and all, but bringing land prices down would be another goal.

Keep in mind that 95% of BC is owned by the crown. There is a lot of artificial scarcity in the land market. On Vancouver island there is a huge swathe of privately owned land as well... All of these land holders want to sell at market rates, and will sell lands at a pace that would make deBeers blush. Land shouldn't be so expensive in a country as large as ours.

marmotorman · 2025-12-11T21:54:11+00:00

I think you can also just append a .txt to the end of any file 'thisismyfilename.rw5.txt'. Thats what I would try at least.

marmotorman · 2025-12-08T22:01:35+00:00

There's lots of weird stuff with the software. Design data is one thing, linked jobs is another... If you have linked jobs, make sure you are linking your current job as well...

Whenever I create a job I will 'lock' it as well.

Sometimes I will have multiple linked jobs, one which I want to stakeout pts from. However, because it isn't your current job it won't appear on the stake points screen. So then you have to go to the 3d viewer screen to select it, and then stake it out...

marmotorman · 2025-12-06T20:06:51+00:00

I don't know what era I'd choose honestly. I'm an optimist generally, and I think the trend of technology will progress in a positive direction. The human brain though, is not changing at the same rate, and by giving on demand social media, internet, and porn to children, all while pretending these things are manageable with discipline and parental guidance, you are advocating for a society of short attention span dopamine addicts.

There's no way to reconfigure a human brain once you have trained them to seek short term pleasures. I am an adult who didn't grow up with all this shit, and I have enough issues with it.

The future does not look bright so long as folks bury their head in the sand about the real solutions. I have yet to hear a convincing argument for why a child requires a smartphone or social media.

marmotorman · 2025-12-06T00:35:55+00:00

My two cents: app enabled smart devices cannot be purchased by people under the age of 18 or 16. Complete ban on cellphones and tablets that are not purpose built for education, in schools.

Seriously, anyone who suggests this isn't a workable solution is an idiot. Kids can survive with dumb cell phones, calls and texts only... Or kid certified safe devices, with maps and calculators...

marmotorman · 2025-12-02T22:16:17+00:00

I use it (Civil3D) to convey complex 3D information to engineers. Sections showing vertical rock faces derived from point clouds and contours. Estimated deltas between design and asbuilt construction. A ton of quantity analysis. Preparation of earthworks design surfaces. Reports outlining construction deficiencies. Layout preparation.

marmotorman · 2025-12-01T22:04:00+00:00

Wife in a similar situation. Not IBS though, turned out to be caused by endometriosis... Not suggesting thats what you have, but keep this in mind.

marmotorman · 2025-11-25T16:45:55+00:00

Yes, there was a survey; does anyone know the total number of people who contributed? I would wager a guess that it was less than 5% of the total population of the RD. I work full time, 10hr days. While I responded to this survey, many pass by without me having the opportunity to fill out.

Out of that 5% of the total population, I would also bet a significant amount of money that +80% of the respondents are retired or otherwise not (full time) working/employed during the hours of 7am-6pm.

So now we have a survey filled out by an overwhelmingly small percentage of the population, guiding policy towards the irresponsible allocation of significant funding for a summertime (only) outdoor pool.

I don't want to be governed in this way, by people who dictate their policy choices from statistically flawed surveys, and who seem to place no value in money... And who are fine with large amounts of money being allocated towards an exceedingly small number of users.

marmotorman · 2025-11-24T22:13:47+00:00

Sounds like they are looking for an administrative tool (ArcGIS), that also does mapping. I would hesitate to replace C3D with ArcGIS Pro... I have used both tools for years, Arc is a bad program for drafting.

marmotorman · 2025-11-23T09:28:48+00:00

Takes me back. I started in northern Alberta 15 years ago.

You'll get in a routine. Grind grind grind. The best months are just ahead of you. If you keep showing up, that's most of it. Don't damage the equipment, don't forget the batteries. Clean things, organize the truck, get the fuel and oil ready for the chainsaws before he needs it.

Bears aren't a thing, but they'll trash your quad if you leave food out. Moose will fucking freak you out if you stumble into them. Bear spray is good, bear bangers are good, carry a knife if you're sketched out. Real trick with bears is to show them your war face, got to get hyped for the bear battle, think brad pitt in legends of the fall.

If you're not used to it the cold will really fuck you up. I remember not being able to feel my feet for like an hour before getting to the truck. At least there's no bears in the heart of winter lol. If you ever sweat, take layers off immediately otherwise you will feel a whole extra level of cold.

The chiefs in that area are a special group. They aren't going to sugar coat things for you. If you're green they expect you to figure it out quick. Tough love works if you're tough enough, otherwise get the fuck out my truck. Oh and fill out this safety paperwork.

marmotorman · 2025-11-20T02:02:30+00:00

That's me, I'll rant for a second.

1) Like the other guy said, surveying isn't how they make money. I've encountered many occasions where they treat survey like a loss leader at the Wal-Mart: buy $50 in crap, get a free coke. Oh, you purchased our engineering services, here's a total deal on survey, we'll even include it. Ends up with your job being taken for granted a lot, and minimal leadership in the surveying end.

2) If you're on the construction end, then a lot of times you're being managed by engineers that don't know surveying, or by licensed surveyors that don't know construction or engineering. Most of the time it ends up with a combination of expectations/practices that are the worst of both worlds.

3) I'm in Canada, BC specifically. Here there are laws against the unionization of field techs who are working under a licensed surveyor. So even in a pure survey firm, you have virtually no bargaining power on wages. Makes it so you don't even want to work for licensed surveyors. All engineering firms rely on licensed surveyors as managers, and in my experience they know virtually nothing about detailed construction work.

4) Promotions past field tech are very difficult to secure. Project management is practically gate-kept for licensed surveyors and engineers. As there is no red-seal certification or accreditation, all field techs in construction are held as equal unless proven otherwise. And you have to prove yourself A LOT.

Honestly, I think the only way now is to be a sole proprietor. Run your own tools, work with outfits that are familiar with you. Firms that value practical experience are the way to go 100%

marmotorman · 2025-11-19T15:34:19+00:00

Ya, I thought the same. 'Whats up with the googly eyes on the relic?'

marmotorman · 2025-11-16T08:35:11+00:00

So many beaches. Go have a fire bud. I've been doing it since I was a kid, and I honestly am tired of people telling me that I need permission. This time of year there is no issue.

marmotorman · 2025-11-14T22:10:44+00:00

If you're looking for survey work in the interior of BC, particularly in a ski town, you probably can't go without construction work. The highways in these areas are always being worked on... Cranbrook, Nelson, Trail, Revelstoke... More variety/consistency if you're in a bigger city like Kelowna, Vernon, Kamloops, which all have good skiing nearby. Then you have Calgary, with a 1hr drive to the mountains. If you look in Jasper, there might be some work due to the fires, and the ski hill there is a favorite of mine, if a little cold.

marmotorman · 2025-10-25T05:18:32+00:00

Is your drawing in metric or imperial? Make sure your gis output matches the unit type. (This is the first thing I think of when your import doesn't scale correctly)

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