Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with stability

The Tortoise and the Ant and the ...?

Nonce — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:15:10 -0800

If you wanted a stable, boring (but really only boring in scare quotes), modest life, what career paths would you take? Emphasis on path; I want to come out of this post with a course of action. If you get a masters of library sciences, can you reasonably expect to get a job starting out in the high 20s/low 30s in a place where that's sufficient to be comfortable, with pay increases and advancement on the horizon? Or are there too many people competing for the same jobs for that to be the standard path? Is the digital age cutting funding for libraries, or increasing opportunity? Are archivists able to get work?

I'd love detailed responses from the perspective of work and life that is possible for a liberal arts (English lit degree) college grad who does not want to take on the world, but rather live in it, enjoy it, have space to be aware of his (feel free to substitute her) own thoughts, and avoid any races that center on rodents rather than on the sheer joy of running.

I'd really like special attention paid to practicality and stability. Also, interaction with the public is not a negative at all. In fact, I'd love to avoid interacting with a computer all day, as good at that as I may be. Light exercise and some sun could only improve the equation.

I'd like to assess myself, and my options, and then head in a direction that, barring any black swans, will bear steady fruit I am comfortable with while allowing me to grow in whatever direction it winds up I grow, rather than trading my mental and physical health for high pay.

Is there a way to cheat at life? To wind up doing something that refreshes your soul for eight hours a day, and leaves you more you at the end rather than less? Or at least pays the bills while you fill the rest of your time with art, literature, travel, and companionship (frugally, of course)?

I could see myself building trails, leading tours, researching, tagging, and photographing for the park service, and never feeling like I'd sold a second of my time doing anything I wouldn't have done for free. If I get a master's degree in conservation or forest management, would it be difficult to find a position in the park service a few years from now?

I cannot stress how much I don't want to gamble. Nothing is certain in this life, but there is a certain difference in job prospects between getting that MFA in creative writing so you can teach college and getting that state teaching certificate so you can teach high school. Not that taking a detour to get an MFA precludes anything else at all--but I'm sure you get the picture.

Or at least I hope you do, because I sure don't and I could use a hand.

Does electronic stability control help out in winter driving conditions?

puritycontrol — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:57:13 -0800

Will I need electronic stability control for winter driving? Please help this California native and recent Texas resident decide on a car to buy before my first "real" winter in northern Illinois begins. Having been lucky enough to spend my life so far in the warmer areas of the country that don't believe in seasons, we've just moved to the DeKalb area and I'm faced with the daunting prospect of driving in snowy and icy conditions. I've been told that roads are generally quick to be plowed/iced when the snow falls, so I'm wondering if stability and/or traction control are realistically going to add that much benefit during winter if I stick to paved, well-traveled roads and highways (and drive carefully). Sites I've seen on the internet say that both are must-haves, but I'm more interested in your real world experiences with winter driving.

In case you're curious, we're looking to replace our '95 Accord V-6 with a pre-owned 2005-2007 Accord (I've gone this route because of brand loyalty, gas mileage, and budgetary reasons). From what I've gathered, only the trims with a V-6 from these years come equipped with stability control (and NOT traction control). 2008+ Accords come with stability and traction standard on all trims, although they are a bit outside of our budget range. I've also played with the idea of getting a newer CR-V, but again, it's skirting the limits of our budget. The car will be used primarily to get me to and from work; we have an Odyssey to haul the family around in. Other car suggestions are welcome.

You can ALWAYS come home...

greekphilosophy — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:17:24 -0800

Please share your re-nesting experience. Help me avoid getting sucked into the vortex of hometown life. I am strongly considering re-nesting.

Five years ago, I moved across the country for law school. Leaving home was a great decision and it has served me well. I have much more appropriate boundaries with my parents and I'm a little older, a little wiser and a lot healthier. But I'm a lot more in debt.

I love my adopted city (Philadelphia, PA) but I am not moving forward professionally or financially. Actually, I'm backsliding ever so slightly. For a year now, my father has suggested I move home, live at little or no cost, and use that time to get settled into adulthood by getting into a routine with my student loans, rehabbing my credit, getting some savings put together, and even taking the bar exam. Despite my aversion to living in my hometown (Galveston, TX), I think I am ready to accept that it is my best option. The low cost of living back home, coupled with my father's generosity, means that I can do significantly more - even staying at the $30k that I currently make.

How do I achieve the goals of re-nesting (extreme savings and financial rehab coupled with professional development on the order of taking and passing the bar exam) without getting sucked into hometown life AND without undermining my success by spending my way out of potential hometown blues? What timeline should I be looking at? What rules should I set for myself to make this the most pleasant/productive/positive experience possible? How do I deal with my grief over leaving behind a life (and friends!) I truly enjoy to do what I know, deep down, is the right thing? What do you wish you had known before you (or your children) re-nested? What are your favorite re-nesting resources?

Change job, or stay in iffy situation?

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:37:05 -0800

I like the job I have right now, but I have the gut feeling our company is hurting for business. We probably over hired last year, which is painful especially as a small business in this climate. The upside is that I was just offered a new job at different small business. Because I really enjoy almost everything about my current job, how do I go about asking my current employer how financially stable the company is without looking suspicious? Current job details:
1. Love my city & work
2. Unsure about stability of the company (negative)
3. Get along will the owners & coworkers
4. Been there longer than most
5. Had a good review in December
6. Am one of many in the same role (negative)
7. Great hours (9-5)
8. Most coworkers have better resumes than I do for what it's worth

Potential new job:
1. In a new city not nearly as livable, but closer to family
2. I'm positive the company is growing
3. Hit it off with owner, culture seems ok
4. I'd be the only person in my role (big positive)
5. Hours are longer
6. I'd get a significant raise

Other details:
1. I've had my ears to the ground but have not heard anything, although I'm generally oblivious to subtleties.
2. Changing location will be costly.

Main question is still: how do I ask my current employer about the financial stability of the company without looking suspicious? Gentle feelers? Blunt honesty?

I can navigate the other details intellectually mostly on my own, but they're here for reference in case you feel like providing insight I may have overlooked.

How does selling weapons promote peace?

knapah — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:06:44 -0800

How do its proponents argue that the arms trade contributes to peace/stability? I'm pretty conscious of the arguments against the arms trade, and I understand the general economic arguments about maintaining a national defence industrial base (and how it keeps workers in jobs etc). But I have heard it claimed that the arms trade contributes to peace and stability which I am struggling to get my head around.

If you have recommendations of websites or articles (I have wide journal access through my university) that deal with this subject I'd love to know about them.

New MacBook Pro - Help me extend its life as long as possible

yellowbinder — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:57:29 -0800

Just got a new MacBook Pro - What do I need to do to make sure this pricey investment lasts me a long time? Got laid off this week, and talked them into applying my severance paycheques towards a new MacBook Pro. It is very sweet and taking the edge off, plus finally provides me with a machine I can do freelance work on.

I work in video editing, and I've already loaded it up with all the programs I need. Most of the work I'll be doing is HDV video in Final Cut and After Effects.

I want to be sure I don't do anything that will fuck up this lovely machine. Is there anything specific I should avoid? It's the new 2.53 Ghz 15 inch with 4 gigs RAM.

I like games, but I'll go without them if it will wear the machine out. I want this to last a number of years before needing an upgrade/replacement. I mention games because I've done a bit of editing already and everything went smoothly, but an hour of Sim City 4 resulted in a very hot computer and some ingame slowdown (was fine a few minutes after quitting).

Thanks in advance!

Is that grass really greener?

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:34:30 -0800

Job dilemma. I just started job A in a field I have no passion for and I'm miserable. Do I do a u-turn and ask about the offer I previously rejected? A while ago I asked this question:

I took the sensible option and went for the good job with big wage hike. The people are nice, the place is gorgeous and historic, the structure is robust, the benefits are great. And I've never felt so uninspired.

I don't regret turning down job B, but after that whole decision was made, another offer came, for a job that wasn't even advertised, with a third organisation who were previously my dream employers (big natural history museum). They got in touch and offered me a job similar to the rejected one, but way cooler on a two-year contract with the intention of becoming permanent. I despaired and in the end after much soul-searching, I felt I had to turn them down, job A seeming like the most practical option in these recession be-dimmed times. They were dissappointed and told me to get in touch if job A didn't work out.

I've only been in the new job for a few days but feel like I made a mistake, and I don't know how to deal with it. I want to get back in touch with dream employer to see if Job C is still open, but only if I'm sure I want to take it so as not to mess them around in any way. But is it madness to take a $20K wage drop, suck up the lengthy and painful commute and difficult management structure to work on Job C with no guarantee of permanent status, just because I'm crazy about the work they do?

Or do i stick with job A, which is considerably saner as an institute, (but rather conservative with content I find dull), because it affords me greater time, headspace and financial resource for a life outside work, (including, ironically, be able to continue my part-time degree in a science subject deeply relevant to job C but completely unrelated to Job A).

My sensible head is telling me to stick out job A for at least three months to see whether or not I'll fit in and grow to enjoy the work, but my fear is that it's a long shot and by the time I'm fully done it will be too late for job C. Should I stop fantasising and just get on with the job I accepted like a proper grown up, or do I take advantage of the current situation (I'm early 30s, renting, no debt or dependents) and go for broke? Or is there a third option I'm not aware of?

As I've already driven friends and family mad with the first decison, I'm turning to you lovely people for further perspective!

Unhappy job at a stable company, or better job at a takeover target?

Anonymous — Sat, 24 May 2008 09:08:34 -0800

Should I move from an unsatisfying job at a stable company, to a better job at a company that might soon be sold? I'm not happy at my current job, and have just been offered a better position elsewhere. The problem is, the company that's trying to hire me is on the auction block, and will probably be sold in less than a year. The two jobs are fairly similar, but the new one has more responsibility, a better group of workmates, and would let me learn more than I'm learning at the current job. Let's say the pay would be identical.

I guess my main worries are:
1) Given that the job market in this industry isn't too saturated, should I worry too much about being laid off in an acquisition? Would it reflect badly on me in the future?

2) Under what circumstances would it be better to stay in my current job, and wait for another offer?

Thanks, hive mind - and sorry about the lack of details...

Throwaway email: shouldigoorshouldistay@gmail.com

Booting to SOLID and STABLE mode for live performance?

Alabaster — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 14:55:41 -0800

Looking to do live music performance with my laptop, how can I make sure it's rock solid and stable during performance sessions? This laptop is also my general-use everyday PC with lots of software and accessories running. I would like to boot to a "performance mode" which automatically disables all but essential software, drivers, and processes. I'd also be interested in considering:

-A solid, STABLE shell replacement that requires bare minimum resources
-Dual booting options? (how?)
-Any other suggestions

I'd like to do this all in a simple, 1-step way if possible, so that I can switch between "general" and "performance" modes with a few clicks and a reboot. Any tips?

(I already use Startup Cop Pro but am interested in considering alternatives)

Thanks

P.S. I have invested a few thousands of dollars worth of professional music software and am NOT looking to switch to linux at this point.

What is making this Windows ME laptop freeze every time you plug in the ethernet and the Windows Shell runs?

delfuego — Sun, 08 Aug 2004 14:51:17 -0800

I consider myself a reasonably good computer person, so the fact that I'm having this problem angers me. I'm working on a laptop for a friend -- a Toshiba Satellite 1805-S253 -- that runs Windows ME. When she gave it to me, it had a trivial problem with the Content Advisor, which I fixed; it also ran fine on a network. Now, 28 critical updates later, it runs fine off the network (which is the way she uses it), but the minute you plug a network cable into its built-in ethernet port and then try to run anything which uses the Windows Shell (e.g., Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer, any open/save dialog box), it freezes solid, and you have to manually quit the Explorer process in order to recover it. I've tried everything -- deleted all the clients in the Network control panel, plugged it into three different Ethernet switches, updated every single driver and/or BIOS that I could, prayed to the Holy Gods Of Built-In Hardware -- to no avail. Any ideas?

Why Does Musical Taste Change?

feelinglistless — Sun, 14 Dec 2003 04:00:16 -0800

Why does a person's musical taste keep changing? I'm suddenly listening to lot's of Paris Cafe music, the likes of Charles Trenet, Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker. How did that happen? Why do some people's tastes never seem to change?