The OT thread V1

[Pump Scout]

What's your line of work again?

I'm looking for something new, been at it for a year but the geotech stuff isn't really up my ally.

Real estate title examiner. I've done that for a pretty long time at this point, and done it in a wide range of counties in my area. My experience is significant compared to others who do this, but I'm not sure I still want to do this. The real estate industry in this area is somewhat bat-crap crazy.

Still think the best job I ever had was running the rental shop at a marina. The pay sucked, but I was in the business of selling a day of fun to people, I was on the water, nobody screwed with me, it was a good life. Damn shame the owners drove that place into the ground.

[PBSteve]

Left side is millions of 'workers participating'. Right side is millions for Unemployment applications. Bottom is year.

It's not percentages? Would have figured a rate would be a percentage...

[Lurker27]

Would have figured a rate would be a percentage...

This is clearly correct.

[pbjosh]

It is percentage. Ugh. Too much work. I need a break.

[PBSteve]

Man, fuck compaction testing.

I'm working on a landfill right now, and we're installing a layer of compacted clay to reduce the chance of substances permeating the topsoil. For me that means following a vibratory compactor around with a nuclear gauge, sticking a radioactive specimen in the ground and measuring the counts to get an idea of the soil density.

Working on a 7 acre slab of dirt in 90 degrees dehydrates you in half a second.

[tyronejk]

That doesn't sound like a job they need a physicist to do, as long as they know what numbers to look for.

[PBSteve]

They don't, but it kinda pays the bills for now.

#underemployed

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a.../recursion.gif

[ironyusa]

What kind of job would you be passionate about, Steve? I have had pretty good luck networking into circles and then waiting for that to spawn opportunities. You don't seem the type to be strongly motivated by money (within reason).

[PBSteve]

I enjoy doing things with a big workspace. With a fairly well-defined end goal, but not a lot of constraints on how to get there. I work better with other people interacting on a project than alone.

I do really enjoy optics and electronics, if you're looking for subject matter. That's the current goal, to eventually get back into that.

[new ion?]

How do people move cross country without first flying there to see places? Holy hell this is frustrating.