I'm a machinist, so I use a huge variety of tools (setting fixturing, looking at prints and diagrams, fine measurements and gauges, CAD and CAM software, manual machine tools, etc.) The most important? Eye protection. I have excellent vision and would never jeopordize it to whatever extent possible and reasonable. I use safety glasses so often now for scenarios even outside of work, I forget to take them off when eating until halfway through a meal. Maybe I should be worried about the broccoli, though. You can never be too careful.

No, I did not. I started college right out of high school, with a focus on architectural engineering, but dropped out after a single semester for a number of reasons. My parents needed me to work full time to help pay for the house (even though I was moved out and trying to pay for most things on my own already). I couldn't juggle all the responsibility that entailed between helping family, more than full time employment, and school. I had to cut one of those things out, but figured I would go back to school after things became balanced. While working a number of jobs from food service, manufacturing, security, and construction, I gained promotions and made some decent pay, so I just never picked the torch back up in 15 years. I gained some unique and diversified skills through my experiences, and now I work in a machine shop running manual and CNC lathes. It's the kind of applied science I imagined when I was initially interested in engineering, and it is low stress and I'm not struggling financially (mostly, ha). I'd still like to go to school, but not just to get ahead in my career or make more money. I really enjoy learning and I spend as much of my free time reading and trying to understand new concepts as my brain can handle, everything from geology to calculus to music theory to critical theory. I'm all over the place. Definitely not as good as a dedicated education, though.

First thing I thought about.

Wonder what the proportion of WVnians to others is. Maybe it's frequency bias, but I've been surprised that I've encountered people not just from the state, but even the same county as me...

Wow, I was there just this past weekend. Didn't expect to see this scrolling on Lemmy. Nice!

I like the niddy noddy, but I prefer the naughty knitty

3/4 cars I've owned (all bought after 2010) have been 1999, the other being a '94. I'm still driving one of them. If I'm going to own a car, it's my preferred year. The best of computer tech and mechanical simplicity.

1994 Honda Accord 1999 Chevy Malibu 1999 Toyota 4Runner 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ

Not that anything I've owned has been super special, just what a good fuckin' year, man.

Depends on where you're at in life, what your home responsibilities are. I recently had a big life change and if I knew it was legitimate, I would consider it, just for the adventure, with a couple caveats. But a year ago? It just wouldn't have worked. I would really have to weigh my situation against the supposed financial benefit. Also, I have a big priority in comfort at this point in my life. I've done things like this in the past, and it wore me to the bone. I was smiling at my bank account, but I missed out on a lot going on back at home. If I couldn't guarantee a decent space for myself while I was away and a way to regularly connect to home, it would be a no. The pay and hours may be at the expense of these comforts. If that doesn't bother you and you don't have a ton going on other than your current work, I'd say go for it. Also, ensure you have something to come back to. I would think my current job would welcome me back after two months away, but that isn't common in my experience.