Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with outside

How to work in software, outdoors?

mjg123 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:11:54 -0800

What kinds of jobs exist for software engineers who want to work outdoors? Rain, wind, sunshine, sleet, yes please!! I have about 10 years experience as a professional software engineer, mostly working for large companies and a bit as a contractor too. I enjoy it, and I always get good reports from clients and colleagues. But the desk/office lifestyle is getting me down, and I'd love to work outdoors.

Without abandoning the skills and salary that I've built up over the years, what kind of job could I get that would see me working outside for a considerable part of my time? I'm thinking of a minimum of one whole day outside every week, preferably more.

I really don't want to give up the software design aspect of my job, these are the problems that I love solving. But I suppose I could do without the actual programming part of it, so technical architect would be a nice job - if I could do it outside. Help me brainstorm this one, mefites!

When the options are endless, it's hard to think of them.

alona — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:19:10 -0800

Feeling a little bleh, and like I need to get out of the house for a bit. Problem: it's the middle of the night. Suggestions? It's 2:15am. I live in a small town and there's nothing open right now. I don't feel like caling anyone up. I'm itching to get outside but I have no idea what to do once I'm out my front door. FWIW, I'm a 40 min walk from the nearest decent city and a two hour walk from Tel Aviv proper, but I don't feel like an insanely long walk. Just, what will keep me occupied, other than bringing a book or my mp3 player?

Help me think of a new career.

speedoavenger — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:57:44 -0800

I feel like a career change. I need help brainstorming the possibilities. Which careers do you think may meet my skills and requirements? I'm currently working in a cubicle doing IT work in the Insurance industry, but I'd like to find a new position that better meets my interests.

I greatly enjoy working with computers. I would like a position that allows for more human interaction on a daily basis with a large variety of people. The position would need to have a direct, positive, noticeable impact on people. Lastly, is it possible to find a career that also allows for working outdoors part of the time? :-)

Here is my background

-Graduated with a 4 year degree in Management Information Systems
-Currently 25 years old
-Over 10 years experience working with computers, mostly doing Systems Administration and Help Desk Support type work

...and here is what I am looking for.

-I would like to be more social and interact with more people on a daily basis
-I would like to feel like I'm helping to bring about positive substantial changes to peoples lives.
-I would like to spend more time outside in the mountains and/or forests.
-I would like to make a significant difference in childrens/disadvantaged peoples lives
-I would like to live in the Phoenix area
-I would prefer a salary of at least $40,000, but I'm open to the idea of making less if I really enjoy the work.

Some possible career ideas that have crossed my mind include:

-teaching grade school kids about computers
-becoming an IT Volunteer in the Peace Corps
-becoming a Technical Trainer for a corporation
-Working for the federal, state, or local government as a trainer or advocate.
-Working at a job re-training center, assisting people who are training for a new career.
-working for a non-profit

I'll take any career ideas you've got, no matter how crazy they sound! ;-)

why i love the internet

sgt.serenity — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:20:06 -0800

how to watch bbc iplayer outside of the uk ? genuine uk resident and er... licence payer here - im in the us for three months so would want to watch some stuff from home but it wont let me even though i am incredibly legally entitled to watch - anyone who can lend a hand ?

________ing in a winter wonderland

aleahey — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:49:54 -0800

My fiancee and I are very outdoorsy. This summer we enjoyed hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. We're looking for some low-cost winter sports and outdoor activities so that we can continue to enjoy the great outdoors through the late fall, winter and early spring. So, outside of cross country skiing and snowshoeing, what do MeFites enjoy doing outside in the wintertime?

I freeze, you freeze, we all freeze for banh mi...s

soma lkzx — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:57:37 -0800

When you're in NYC and it's winter, where do you take your food to eat when the place you're buying from doesn't have seating? Yesterday I ended up sitting on a bench freezing to death for some banh mi, and figured there had to be another [read: warmer] way. Usually I run into this problem in the Chinatown/Little Italy area, but suggestions citywide are welcome.

Rubber shoes for all weathers?

Solomon — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:56:14 -0800

Please help me locate some rubber shoes. I want them to be completely rubber, so I can just rinse them clean under running water. They're not for what you think... ;) I'm looking for some shoes I can quickly slip on to my feet, and dash up the garden in. The main feature I'm looking for is to be able to get them on and off quickly. I want them to have no shoelaces. I want them to be completely rubber, so I can leave them out in all weather, and rinse them under the hose when they get dirty. Something that looks like a clog would be ideal - wellington boots are out. I want something that I can just poke my toes into and go, so I'd rather avoid something with a heel. Speed is of the essence (with regards to wearing them).

I'm not bothered by colour (though I'd prefer not to have fuchsia pink ones) or toe protection or anything like that. The shoes shown on this site are sort of what I'm looking for, but they have a heel, and the lining looks to be some kind of fur. I can just imagine myself rinsing them, and then getting a wet sock next time I put them on.

What are your experiences with such footwear, and where can I order some from (preferably from a UK based web company)? Any particular brand I should go for? Anything I should look out for when ordering, such as the size?

My cat won't stop demanding to be let out. Ever.

Ambrosia Voyeur — Mon, 07 May 2007 09:53:02 -0800

Help me break my cat's spirit. I love my wittole kitty, but he's realized that he's my prisoner and he makes vocal protests continually. He loudly, but eloquently, makes original and compelling catlanguage arguments. He's very smart and expressive, this one. Sometimes he bumrushes the open door and sometimes he takes a swipe at my ankles, especially in cases where I bring him back inside after an escape.

I have let him outside (our front door faces an essentially unfenced back yard) under my supervision, for visits, because I am a softie. He loves to eat grass and catch tossed mulch chips and roll around in the sunlit dirt. He has a field day. He's easy to catch, though once he did get out of sight long enough to be gone for two days. That terrified me. When inside, I play with him, with feathertoys and laser pointers, but possibly not often enough.

He and his brother were feral kittens, and the trap-and-spay agency we adopted them from 4 years ago was very clear and insistent that they be indoor-only cats. I am behind this because I've lost to the great outdoors 3 out of 4 previous cats. His little brother has almost no expressed desire to go outside.

The meowing and nagging is nearing constance. Anytime I'm in the living room at all. I have tried pushing him away when he comes yelling "HEY! FREE MEEE!" with my hand on his nose, or with my foot. I have tried keeping a spray bottle by the door and squirting him, but it just makes him indignant; nothing sways him from his cause. I want to stop feeling hassled! It's making me resent him! My partner would like to build an outdoor pen for them, but I'm concerned this will only exacerbate the problem.

How can I subdue the feline insurgency?

Man, I wish i still had those knockoff BluBlockers...

dino terror — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:39:39 -0800

Would something like Blu Blocker sunglasses help me see my laptop screen better outside and cut down the glare from the aluminum case at the same time? I am sitting on my back porch right now writing this, the sun is overhead, I've got the brightness on my Core 2 Duo Macbook Pro turned all the way up, and it's just barely workable vision-wise. Adding insult to injury is the glare coming off the silver aluminum shell of the laptop. I'm wearing a baseball cap because I figured out that cupping my hands around my eyes helps me see the screen better, so the cap helps simulate that effect. I just tried my 10 dollar yellow-tinted sunglasses, but that didn't do anything. Normal sunglasses of course would cut down the glare but render the screen too dark to see. Would those old Blu Blockers or something like them help me at all? I remember the idea was that they cut down the glare without reducing visibility. But I don't know if they would actually work or be good for my eyes for use with a laptop.

can I take kitty outside safely?

entropy — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 18:21:44 -0800

Is it dangerous to let a cat outside supervised? I occasionally let our cats outdoors for some fresh air, sunshine, and grass. They are always supervised, so I am not concerned with predators. However I have seen other, presumably stray, cats in our yard and I am concerned about disease. I am wondering if by doing this I could unintentionally expose them to disease and what the likelihood of doing so would be. They seem to really love going outside, but I do not want to unnecessarily endanger their lives. BTW, I do plan on stopping the outdoor visits when avian flu arrives here bird as cats are susceptible to infection.

Cold Air Refrigeration

ParisParamus — Mon, 26 Dec 2005 11:19:17 -0800

Using Cold Outside Air to Reduce Refrigeration Costs: Why isn't this done? Why has it not become architectural and kitchen appliance practice to use the cold air of fall, winter and spring to reduce home energy costs? In other words, why not create duct work and refrigerator/freezers that suck in cold outside air to cut down on electric refrigeration costs? Mass produced, such would not seem like it would add much cost to applicances, and over the years, it would more than pay for itself, and then some. Yes, Floridians or residents of Italy might not benefit, but still...