mauiBob

The best landscape architecture software is what you can get the most out of it. I was with a firm early in my career that had 3D Studio, but nobody in the office knew how to use it beyond beginner level!! Its like keeping a Hummer H1 vehicle in your garage for only a 2 mile, grocery store trip on paved roads. In order:
 
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Trace,
Brother Thomas has answered many of the things I wanted to say. This is the problem with the general public that doesn’t educate itself with the markets. They only see and read those high profile scams on the news. First of, there is a HUGE difference between what I do and giving your money to an investment manager like Bernie Madoof or…[Read more]

Whoa there brother Thomas! No one suggested listening to Jim Cramer (with a C) on a daily basis. I also didn’t recommend reading any of his books. You are right, Jim is entertainment and so is Rush Limblah! I prefer “Squawk Box” who discuss the markets without actually giving you advice on what to buy or sell. They just deliver you the information…[Read more]

Chup, What is a living Gargoyle doing in cold Alaska? The creature lurks in the desert climate. Natural gas is a long term buy! A must on any financial portfolio. You and anyone 45 yrs or younger can’t afford to not invest. Social Security and Medicare will not be there in 30 yrs.

YES!! Thomas, now that’s what I’m talking about! Discuss real issues, the financial markets and not landscape architecture. The problem with 401k is lack of freedom to purchase individual stocks. They offer you a list of mostly horrible losers such as American Growth Fund. We’ve had this discussion before and you mentioned you had no money to…[Read more]

It sounds like you’ve already made up your mind, so what’s the point of this questionaire? Trying to find validation for the decision? Here’s a story. You are floating out there in the middle of the ocean and clinging to a tire tube for survival. A Chinese boat comes by and offers help to pick you up and take you to a temporary shelter. You…[Read more]

Jelena, this would be a nice niche for landscape architects. Be the “Go To” expert on cemetary designs in the country. Not too many firms out there who are leaders in the field. I know there’s a lot of federal and state red tape regarding permits and plans in the United States. Or maybe, you just need to bury this idea and find another student project.

A huge difference between the casual investor, like myself who does it for long term benefits than someone who monitors daily activities of Wall street.

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather Part III.
 
It’s what I keep telling landscape architecture students: find a niche or specialize in something else on top of an LA degree. Environmental Planning or Engineering will be huge and so will Urban Planning due to population growth in worldwide…[Read more]

Thomas, dude you sure have plenty of free time on your hands!! The employer doesn’t want someone who is a pushover and can’t stand on their own belief. What about the question, Do we hire the short or the tall guy?
 
FYI: Unfortunately, you didn’t get the job because of the beard thing. They thought you didn’t fit in with the group…because you…[Read more]

Jessyca, there’s always room in this profession for people who have the passion for it. Don’t ever forget that. Any career has it’s up and down cycles. If I could do this all over again, I would have chosen Business Finance…not that I lack the passion for LA, but its a personal choice. And then, still market my love to do renderings and graphics…[Read more]

Hey hey, its Russell again. Aloha my fellow Arizonian! You ever run or hike up Camelback mountain? I loved that workout while I lived in Scottsdale! Did they expand the parking lot yet.
Boy-ohh-boy, what’s with some of you guys? Very sensitive attitudes in today’s economy. I understand. You try to give out a friendly advice and get hammered!…[Read more]

Contrary…I was responding to YOU and the “timing the market” comment. I gave her advice on career choices (look further down) and she’s not unemployed. Boy-ohh-boy, you try to help some folks out and this is what you get.
I’m debating on whether or not to keep my comment posted. On Fool.com, I strongly advised people to purchase stocks back in…[Read more]

This is my 12th year in the profession and there’s been plenty of highs and lows! From what I’ve seen in the U.S. economy as a whole, recessions come in cycles every 10 to 15 years. The economy will pick up again before you graduate in 2 years and then, it will have another recession in a decade or less. As a student, you have to really ask…[Read more]

Sending out “a gazillion resumes” is never a good idea in my humble opinion. You are wasting time! Why send a resume to a firm in Alaska or Minnesota when no way on God’s green earth would I ever consider living there? Better to post an online resume on Monster or ASLA than mass mailing. Instead, target regions of where you would prefer to…[Read more]

Evocative in overall planting design, but provocative in use of certain species of plants! The provocative plants are your specimen or focal points in the landscape.

Read my comment in the UILA Vandal message board in regards to making money other than landscape architecture. You and nrschimd’s conversations veered off the subject. Ahh yes…the old “I wanna change the world” attitude often said from recent graduates. Been there, done that. In 10 years, ask yourself that question again. All of your goals can…[Read more]

My fellow Vandals,
Let me give you a quote from one of my favorite movies: “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.” – Shawshank Redemption. I’m sure we all have our own stories to tell and others here already offered some great advice. I started out in the profession charting through rough waters! My first…[Read more]

Yes! Pass it all the first time with your employer’s money rather than your own! Be like me and the 2% or less that passed them all on one shot. It was pure luck and flipped a coin on answering some of the questions! It’s NEVER good to fail a section and that means you are now paying for it.
Let me be blunt once again: I really think the main…[Read more]