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Amy,
 
Thanks for the link. HuffPo’s non news sections are so often polluted with celebrity gossip and psuedoscience new agey fake health news crap that it makes me happy when something awesome like this gets in.
 
I totally agree with the premis here that LA needs some sort of strong publically visible crit in order to really establish itself as…[Read more]

Why don’t you start up your own firm?

There is a fine line between patience and urgency. Yours is urgency.
 
Lots of things to weigh. I only have one child, but your plight is one I follow closely as someone who lived where you live, got my degree where you did, landscaped where you do, and want to return to live where you live at some point.
 
You don’t live in an area that s…[Read more]

You can also try working oversees.

Well I am in a funny position…I went back to school as a non-traditional student so am not a young kid but am a recent graduate…32 at the time. The traditional students I was in were anything but self involved. One class mate in particular pretty much worked her way through college in the universities kitchen…some weeks 40+ hours…and still…[Read more]

I think when you get to that point it’s time to start thinking about opening your own practice. There are a lot of members here who will say that you need several more decades of experience, but I don’t necessarily agree.
 
If you are confident that you can offer equal or better service at equal or lesser cost, then why not hang a shingle? It’s…[Read more]

easy–they make it rain. if not, then I dont know.
getting work done comes in a distant second to getting work.

“There are just as many mid-senior levels out there that can’t do either very well.”
 
Don’t you think that can be said in any profession? You have to wonder what it is that their employer thinks these folks bring to the table that you and I don’t see. It seems that when these situations occur and you wind up seeing enough of what is going on for…[Read more]

I think you could argue that a lot of the new grads and junior levels have disproportionately far greater technical capability than design and construction knowledge. Then again, I tend to agree with nr. There are just as many mid-senior levels out there that can’t do either very well.

Speculation or actual observation? I don’t get out enough to know whose behind the desks, whose in the unemployment line, who is gutting it out in lesser jobs to stay productive, and whose in their mom’s basement?
 
Is there a need for technical capability out there that is stronger than other needs? I’m skeptical, but I really don’t know. I’m…[Read more]

http://www.m-color.com/
 
 
There used to be a program called ‘MColor’ that did all this for you. EDAW used it at one point.
I prefer rendering in Adobe software.

I would say that many of the younger job seekers have the advantage in that they tend to have more technical capability, cheaper, and more mobile, right? Along with a sense of idealistic entitlement and overt pessimism, gen x and y are doing just fine. People over 40 grew up in the Reagan error under the ‘greed is good’ mantra and have a whole…[Read more]

I’ve never had luck printing w/ transparency? tried on a few pools…

Hi Thomas,
As I understand it the one thing the Revit has no provisions to deal with is Curbs.  And what about all of the civil stuff?  That is still handled beter in AutoCad than anywhere else.  Regardless of Autodesk’s desire for you to go and spend twice the money for Civil3D. 
 
s.

Much of your software decision may rest with the style of project you undertake, this is largely determined by the client:

• One type of client, usually a group or government agency hires you to design, document and permit a project, typically through a drawing/specification package which is then turned over to a contractor to build with minimal…

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Computer meltdown – I don’t get frustrated, since nothing can be done about it.  I just shake my head and get cracking on redrawing whatever data was lost.  In the future I become more diligent about hitting that control+s.
Deadline madness – I can’t get frustrated if it’s my fault that I am hurrying near a deadline.  If it’s a superior’s fault th…[Read more]

I’ve always been able to get work done in a reasonable 8-9 hour day. I’ve been working +/- 40 hours/week for the last three employers. I know other people at other offices around me are working 60 hours plus.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with going home at the end of the day.

He also does not want to pay over time or burn anyone out. But, yes, I do have a boss of great character and generosity. … and we are the busiest office of our type anywhere near us. Coincidence? … I think not.
 
Chaotic and fast paced? Absolutely. Fun and interesting? Not so much.
 
The tough jobs are the ones that pay well and have a h…[Read more]

Muhlenbergia capilaris
 
Aristida purpurea