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52 I was when I switched last. 49 before that. Took more than one application but not many. You can do it.
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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Fifty when I started here - took "only" three months (which was actually quite good at the time. But that was long enough ago where - as I said, it's a slightly early retirement. And perhaps some small local contracts. I could go on SS immediately if I've a mind to.
Luckily - I don't need the company for my benefits. That IS a big deal.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Why not apply for other stuff while still in the "safety" of your present place? You could think of it as a free lottery ticket. 
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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I to am an older programmer. I am 67 years old. I am being paid below market because there is real and active age discrimination in our profession.
I have done some contract work, and it is OK. Unfortunately, it is not really stable employment. As soon as you get settled and the job done, the contract is up and it is time to move on....
I do it (programming and development)because I love it. My pet line is that I work for free... I charge for the B.S. I have to put up with.
Good luck....
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Thanks for your good wishes.
I'm not sure I'll do contract work if they terminate me. More likely, teaching locally (Adult Ed, for example) and/or charitable work.
I've created a state of reasonable financial security - but I don't want my mind to rot away from stagnation (or excessive posting on CP).
As it turns out, I've been keeping a spreadsheet (since Hurricane Sandy) and know what my monthly (and thus annual) expenses are. Including vacation expenses, although there will be more of those.
My calm feeling, now that I see a possible precipice, is the mental test of whether or not I really believe in my preparations - I guess I do.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Agreed.
We're philosophical about power outages here. A.C. come, A.C. go.
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Prepare your escape plan now.
We're philosophical about power outages here. A.C. come, A.C. go.
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You essentially have two choices:
0) Tell them where they can put their "hard deadline" (and don't omit the depth or force of insertion requirements)
1) Work until they fire you and leave without so much as a whimper. Don't forget to thank them for the opportunity to get screwed on your way out the door.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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I can do most of (1). More likely than not, they'll discover the extent of the infrastructure I built, and commented though it is, if anything breaks their up to their ankles in sh*t: standing on their heads.
However, they gave me a position to begin with, so I have this caveat to your solution: they put food on my table for years.
I'm many things (check the soapbox) - but an ingrate is not one of them. The thought of . . . well it crossed my mind but I'll just pack my things and go.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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W∴ Balboos wrote: However, they gave me a position to begin with
They really didn't. They weren't operating as a charity; they saw something in you where you could provide the services they needed at a rate that was attractive to them.W∴ Balboos wrote: have this caveat to your solution: they put food on my table for years.
Again, they didn't. They paid you a rate that you both deemed in a fair range for you to provide them a service that they needed to make a profit.
Bottom line. Don't sell yourself short.
This space for rent
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What Pete and John said. Just as you are disposable to this company, so should they be to you. There's plenty of other jobs out there.
If it's no longer a good place for you to work, leave. Life's too short to have a job where you hate getting out of bed in the morning and dread going in.
You can make your reasons for leaving clear in an exit interview without being antagonistic. (I must admit I like John's advice though). If your description of these people is accurate, I doubt you'd get the chance, or they would ignore it.
It sounds as if it's you and one other developer, who you like. It might be worthwhile to feel that person out. Not so you both could leave in a blaze of glory, flipping off the new management as you go out the door (but that might be nice), but because you don't want to leave your friend in a bad place. Just let him/her know you're looking around, (s)he can react to that news however they see fit.
The point is, you don't owe them anything.
Best of luck.
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From the sounds of things, the ones making the unreasonable demands are not at all the people that you worked for over the years. You own them nothing.
If they're a proxy for an ownership/management that you're fond of, maybe their demands need to be mentioned upstream a bit.
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
- Benjamin Disraeli
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Nathan Minier wrote: From the sounds of things, the ones making the unreasonable demands are not at all the people that you worked for over the years. You own them nothing.
I think you mentioned aloud what I've kept in my mind's background processes. Perhaps they'll grow out of this phase before it's too late, but you're right: those who I feel indebted to are no longer part of the analysis.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I've burnt some bridges; you just chose which ones to burn.
More than once, someone who I had not thought of in that capacity, will call you up because thye are now at so-and-so and ask you if you would like to do a project for them...
My biggest project yet may be starting in just this way; and it was all done "remotely".
Tip: "desktop development" (SCADA; POS) is becoming a rare skill; all everyone else knows is POST and GET.
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then".
― Blaise Pascal
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Both. Kindof 'work', secretly find your ticket out of there and then give them a hard deadline.
The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a f***ing golf cart.
"I don't know, extraterrestrial?"
"You mean like from space?"
"No, from Canada."
If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.
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W∴ Balboos wrote: we do make this deadline. Now we've set a precdedent that the seriously understaffed development group can be intimidated into results
If you can do that you deserve to be sacked.
Sorry, it is your DUTY to the company to produce a quality product as fast as possible.
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Munchies_Matt wrote: it is your DUTY to the company to produce a quality product as fast as possible.
Yes, but within reason.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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He is paid to do a job, do it.
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Munchies_Matt wrote: He is paid to do a job, do it.
I agree. But if that job turns into "you must work 80 hour weeks" then I have no problem finding a more reasonable job. No good developer, at least in the US, should ever feel like they can't get another job.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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'If'
The fact is a lot of software can be produced faster, I have seen gross inefficiences in my career.
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Munchies_Matt wrote: I have seen gross inefficiences in my career.
True in any industry and very true in government.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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Another post of yours that deserves a rude comment.
Munchies_Matt wrote: If you can do that you deserve to be sacked.
Me and this other developer operate as a gestalt - we rebuilt half the companies software infrastructure in just a few years - almost every item extensible without limitations and fiercely reliable.
But - we can only hope you find yourself in a position where you're asked to do a job that requires half a dozen developers and you do it with one colleague (or in your case, you'd like work alone as who'd want to be stuck there).
A quality product - as fast as possible - WELL - which one is it to be?
If you want speed, hire an adequate headcount of qualified staff.
Your comment so much reminds me of Marie Antoinette's solution of what the poor should eat if they have no bread. I understand the people's response.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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W∴ Balboos wrote: Another post of yours that deserves a rude comment.
Why? I think you may be taking it too personal. His point is, if I may, that if you don't do your best work you should be fired. That's it. Wouldn't you agree that if you don't do your best work you could/should be fired?
W∴ Balboos wrote: A quality product - as fast as possible - WELL - which one is it to be?
They are not mutually exclusive. As fast as possible could mean 2 weeks or could mean 6 years. Again, all's he's saying, I believe, is to do a good job everyday. Period.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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In a nutshell, we're very understaffed in terms of developers. Of those here, several have a fixed project which they develop/maintain 100% of their time.
It really leaves two of us to rebuild - which requires very major integration with, and finally replacement of, legacy applications. Many very old. The amount of work produced in the last few years is several time that produced in the previous ten (as far back as my history goes).
The 'new kids' have not only no technical background, but not even rally a good business background. Sometime (like this time), someone gets rapidly put into high management due to - let us just say - connections. Qualifications? Not so much.
So - we do make very robust application - in massive amounts - but we're only partially superhuman.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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W∴ Balboos wrote: but we're only partially superhuman.
Exactly.
At my last job we had a Project Manager who only knew how to say "It must be done by this date." I would tell her there was no way that was happening. She would repeat, "It has to." I would say it won't. She didn't seem to understand that resources have limits. If you want it done sooner, increase resources and that might do it.
The challenge is getting others to understand what an appropriate time frame is. But don't quit over just this, many places will have the same problem.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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