Help / Advice Forum - Penny Arcade Forums

Financial advice after legal trouble

phillyguy — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:05:20 +0000

So I recently got into some legal trouble. Without going into too much info about the details of the case itself, I was arrested for DUI in Pennsylvania and I'm slated to go into the ARD program (a pre-trial intervention program for first-time offenders). Let me be clear: I've learned my lesson and don't need a lecture on drinking and driving. This is the first time I have been in trouble with the law. It will be the last time I am in trouble with the law. I learned my lesson the hard way. In short, I have made the decision to not drink anymore because of this incident and because of a family history of alcohol abuse. It's the right decision for me, but this post isn't about that. I would like to get some advice on how to proceed financially from this point forward.

I owe roughly $15K (5.6% to 6.8% APR) in student loans, $17K (2.2% APR) in auto loans, and have about $2300 (23.99% interest) in credit card debt. I make enough to pay every one of my bills on time (car payment, rent, cell phone, food, gas, entertainment), but I am not left with any money for savings at the end of the month. I have two credit cards I use: one card is for my monthly expenses, which I then pay down to zero every month, and the second (the one with $2300) is a card with a balance I've held for another 12 months because I needed a quick cash advance in 2012 to free the title of a car so I could sell it (the car cost me about $1200/month in repair fees). Because it was a cash advance, the interest rate is astronomical and I more or less keep the balance at that $2300 every month in interest payments.

After I was arrested, I was hit with a lodging fee and towing fee for my car (I have since paid both), but retaining my lawyer is going to cost me an additional $3000. He needs this quickly so he can start working for me. I believe this lawyer is charging a fair price because he has guaranteed my admission into the ARD program, knows the judge presiding over my case and will work me through the nuances of the program, community service, driving safety course, alcohol and drug courses, and including having my arrest record expunged. This is good. The ARD program itself in this county is about another $2200, which can be paid over a period of 9 months. I believe with my normal paycheck I can make monthly payments to the state and will be able to pay the amount off no problem.

The problem is getting the $3000. Should I take out a personal loan with my bank for the amount of retaining my lawyer, plus the amount needed for the ARD program and pay them in full? Should I ask for a cash advance from my credit card to pay my lawyer, and then secure a loan to pay that off? Keep in mind my lawyer needs $3000 to start working for me (this is the fee in full, he won't ask for any more money after that), while the $2200 can be paid later.

With the knowledge of my additional debt, should I consider also asking for additional money to knock out my credit card with a balance and its high interest rate? $3000 + $2200 + $2300 would put that loan at $7500.

I am sort of in a unique financial situation here (aren't we all?) and could use some help. Thank you to anyone who steps forward to offer me advice.

Starting My Own Tech Support Business

SeñorAmor — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:57:10 +0000

Bear with me here, please. This is likely going to be ramble-y and longish.

I am currently the sole IT person at my company. I wear many hats. I am a web developer, network and server admin, computer builder and fixer, and I go out and do any necessary programming for devices we sell and install.

Over the course of the many years I've worked here, I've frequently dealt with clients that either do not have, or do not need a full-time IT person. On countless occasions, I've been asked to help with some sort of computer or techie-related problem. If it wasn't too obscene a request, I've always tried my best to consult and help. Many times a client has commented that it would be nice to have me around to help when needed instead of using the 3rd party support service they currently use (and paying a sizable sum, to boot).

I have always wanted to work for myself and do consulting and/or IT work for companies who cannot afford to have an IT person on staff, and I've toyed with the idea for several years now.

My thought is to have each client pay a set amount each month to keep me on retainer (so to speak) and then pay a nominal hourly charge. As work is required, they would call me to schedule an appointment, at which time I would complete whatever task they have for me. I was thinking of having several (perhaps 3) different plans with different pricing. The higher the monthly charge, the less the hourly charge, with each plan including a set number of hours per month (before incurring any additional hourly fees).

My goal is to have a pricing structure that is low enough to entice customers to use me as their IT solution, thus guaranteeing me recurring monthly income.

As my talks have been with current clients, I have been very careful engage only in conversations that do not apply to work that I would normally perform with my current employer (e.g. we install product X, I would not perform any work on product X so as to not take money away from/burn bridges with my current employer). I believe there would be a significant amount of alternate work I could perform that wouldn't mean my stepping on any toes.

(Side note: several months ago I entertained an offer with another company, which ultimately did not pan out. Upon telling my current employers of my desire to leave, they actually suggested contracting me to do any necessary work they may need. I would actually like to find a way to have them be one of my clients, should I go through with this plan.)

With a wife and two kids, I'm scared to take a chance for fear that it wouldn't pan out and I'd be screwed financially for a little bit. We have a small sum in the form of savings, but no debt (aside from our mortgage). I wouldn't need to make too much of an investment: a laptop and perhaps some specialized tools.

I am, however, concerned about a few things:

- Managing my finances. Maybe something like Quickbooks would help me in that aspect?

- Insurance. My wife's insurance is crap. My current insurance is pretty decent. I guess I would need to look into providing my own insurance, but I've never had to do that before.

- Formal training. I am completely self-taught. I've been working on and with computers for over 20 years. I know my way around pretty much everything relating to computers, but I don't have the piece of paper that says so. Ideally, I would like to get certifications, but I'm afraid people are looking for the paper regardless of whether or not I can prove I know what I'm doing.

I would appreciate any advice you guys care to provide. I'm sure I left a lot unanswered, so please ask questions.

Thanks in advance.

Should I buy a condo or pay rent for another year?

The_Spaniard — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:28:32 +0000

I currently live in Tustin, CA, but I work in LA. It's an hour to an hour and a half drive each way every day, and I spend about 4-500 bucks a month in gas. My boyfriend also works in the LA area, just not as far north as I have to drive every day. We both got our current jobs after moving to Tustin, so this horrible commute was not a conscious choice. As you could imagine we would like to move ASAP.

Looking at places to rent vs buy, a mortgage would be about a third (if not more) cheaper than paying rent for a similar place. We have a price range, problem is that we'd be looking at a down-payment of about 40-50 thousand depending on where we want to move if we wanted to buy. I have about 20 grand in the bank saved, and my boyfriend doesn't have much, but with support from my family I might be able to scrape the difference together. I've never purchased a home before (was in the beginning stages once, but that's a story for Trenches), and I want to make sure I'm looking at all the angles and variables in this situation. Would it be wiser to just move to an apartment closer to work for a year, until we are more financially stable, and pay hundreds of dollars more in rent, while saving more towards that down payment? Or strike while the iron is hot and prices are down, considering that the housing market is just starting to shift back upwards. I'd hate to wait and then see prices jump over the next year for whatever reason.

Extra info to help out:
We both work full time and make about a combined 80k a year before taxes.
We are looking to spend a maximum of 250k with a 20% down-payment.
I have no dept what so ever, and my car is completely paid off.
No children until buttbabies become a viable option, just 2 cats.

Any advice would be appreciated, I'm just mulling over the possibilities since regardless of what we end up choosing we are moving one way or another.

Accessing the rest of my 3TB HDD.

Drez — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:16:52 +0000

So I have Windows 7 and a relatively new motherboard (Gigabyte Z77 UD5H).

I have a 3TB HDD which Windows 7 is installed on. It's MBR not GPT.

I cannot seem to do anything with the unallocated space (MBR only supports up to 2 TB). In Disk Management, I cannot seem to allocate the space or create a logical drive or anything with it.

1) Can I access it without third party software? If so, how?
2) Can I convert the drive to GPT without it erasing everything?

And before anyone suggests it, yes, I know, my setup is inefficient and I would benefit from getting an SSD and installing Windows on that and so on but I'm not ready to do that so what can I do with my current setup?

Increasing Sexual Stamina

Nocren — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:58:17 +0000

So I'm looking for ways to increase the amount of activity I can do in bed before I pop off.
I'm big on foreplay and love doing that but as soon as we get to the actual act, I can only last a few minutes.

So is there anything I can do to help with this that doesn't involve pills? (Not looking to spend any or very little money).

Is there any exercises I can do?

Maybe I should get some more practice with my friend? :winky:

Job offered in NYC - I hope you can help me with some information

12gauge — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:05:22 +0000

So, my work offered me to move to NYC for one year, with an offer of slightly above 100K per year. The workplace would be around the corner of 5th Avenue and 42nd street.

Is there a webpage where I can easily calculate how much taxes I would need to pay?
I would likely need to keep my current apartment, which costs me around 950 bucks a month, so I assume that I would not be able to afford a prime location in Manhattan to live. Luckily though, I am debt free and do not need much space - 250ft would be very much enough. What would be good location? Commuting by public transport for up to 30 minutes one way is fine, I rather not have a car.

What would be good place to look for an apartment (in terms of location of the apartment and actual place to find rentable apartments) and what kind of costs would I need to expect (deposit and I don't really have an american credit history - I do use credit cards and do fine there - again no debt)? Is NYC livable on my budget with these restrictions?

Lucid Dreaming

glithert — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:32:53 +0000

Does anyone have any experience with it? I've been doing it more and more frequently, but when I realize I am dreaming I can't actually control what's happening. The only difference between it and a regular dream is that it feels like playing a video game instead of watching a movie. What can I do to change this?

recommend a tablet

WingedWeasel — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:33:41 +0000

Wifey has become interested in getting a tablet for herself rather than use my HP touchpad. However outside of an iPad or surface which is well outside our range currently I am unsure what valid options there are. Old threads her brought up the nexus 7 but we were looking at things more in the 10 inch range. The transformer prime was also mentioned but quick Google searches claim it is awful?

Preferably I want something <= $250 but I am not sure if that is mutually exclusive with the size. Any suggestions?

Beginner electric guitar

Darkewolfe — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:03:02 +0000

I actually posted about this first in the games forum because of the Rocksmith game, but truth be told that's only tangentially related.

I really want to pick up a stringed instrument. I don't have any fantasies about being in a band or even being particularly good, I've just always found playing music to be relaxing. I haven't mucked about in a long time, and I've set my heart on strings. I entertained the idea that I'd learn to fiddle for awhile, but I think I'm ready to let that one go just because it's less practical and more complicated to start, plus there's a lot more resources for something a simple as the guitar. Rocksmith is gamification of guitar learning, and that's ridiculously awesome and would probably help me build some structure into practicing chords when I want a break from practicing off the sheet.

Anyway, I'm also not fooling myself. There's a reasonable chance I won't stick with this, or at least dedicate enough time to it to really get anything out of it. As a result, I'm shying away from doing something like investing $500+ in a real guitar and an amp from the get go. I've been looking at beginner packs, and these two are at the top of my list so far. I'd love to hear any suggestions, either between these two or regarding something else I should consider:

Rockmaster Limited by Peavey

Fender Starcaster

Movies/documentaries about NZ Māori

Reznik — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:58:58 +0000

Hullo. Next on my list of random topics I want to learn about is the Māori of New Zealand. Movie/doc recommendations, please? In my brief search "Once Were Warriors" keeps popping up, so I found a copy of that though I haven't watched it yet. I have a particular interest in religion/folklore/mythology, so if there's anything that focuses a little more on that aspect it would be super cool, but really I'll take anything.

Thanks!

Pinched Nerve

PierceNeck — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:28:48 +0000

I did an admittedly quick and not so thorough search for this and didn't see anything posted previously. But if it has, please forgive me, and close this.

Oh, also, point me in it's direction.

Anyways,

I believe, and so does my doctor, that I have a pinched nerve somewhere in my neck. Which is causing excruciating pain in my right arm. It’s hard to describe the pain, because I haven’t felt it before. Like, I’ve broken my hip and wrist, have small pebbles permanently in my elbow, and suffer migraines on a regular basis, and none of those hurt like this. It’s like a really sharp ache, combined with bouts of burning, and stabbing sensations, deep in my upper arm. My elbow feels like someones driving a screw driver through it. Same for the area between my spine and my upper shoulder.

Sometimes it doesn’t hurt at all, and comes and goes during the day in waves. But at night, it’s pretty constant and at it’s strongest. So I’ve only been getting like 2 hours of sleep a night, with maybe another 2 hours of semi-conicious-just-about-to-pass-out-but-i-dont sleep.

I’m exhausted.

So I’ve been dealing with this for the past 2 1/2 weeks, and finally got an MRI scheduled in about 6 days because everything takes forever with an HMO. And I can’t even get in to see the doctor again for another 4 days after that.

Anyways, on to the point of this post.

The Vicodin/Norco (5/500mg for the Vic, 5/325mg for the Norco) I’ve been prescribed works marginally well. Maybe giving relief for an hour or so, sometimes 5 hours. But that’s during the day. At night it’s almost useless. Ibuprofen works a little, but only in conjunction with the Vicodin/Norco, not by itself. Heat from heating pads does nothing. Hot showers seem to help, but only while I’m in there. The pain comes back pretty rapidly when I get out. Plus, I can’t afford the hot water to be in there constantly. I was also given Prednisone to help with any possible inflammation, but that was just a 5 day treatment. They also gave me a shot of something, which may or may not have helped for a day. I couldn’t really tell, because the pain varies pretty wildly throughout the day. I have a neck brace they gave me, but that’s not really doing anything either.

So my question…. Does anyone have any possible suggestion for how to deal with the pain? I can handle it during the day but at night it’s crazy and I really need some sleep.

Any home remedies? Do they even have those for nerve pain?

A Game Recommendation

Wonfis — Mon, 06 May 2013 20:10:29 +0000

Hi guys, I wonder if you could help me with a game recommendation. I'll give you a little context:

The game is for my father. He's mid-sixties and about 13 years ago, when I was 11, he suffered a stroke that left his entire left side paralysed. After a couple of years he and my mother separated (amicably) and we moved away. Since then my sister and I have been visiting regularly, but we've been finding increasingly less to share with him and the time between trips is growing.

He lives in a small village and knows a lot of people, but all the activities that held his interest (cricket, golf, carpentry) are now only available to him vicariously. He can't travel easily and relies on the family for financial support. He spends most of his days in front of the TV, nodding off, and when we visit it's starting to consist of much the same, plus one of us in the corner reading a book or checking e-mails. It feels like a chore now; I loathe this feeling, but I cannot help it.

He owns a very old PC running Windows 2000, which he uses to run AOL (for his e-mail) and play Solitaire. I've been tempted to buy him a new machine, but why? His current set-up suits him perfectly. This got me thinking.

I spend a decent amount of time gaming. A lot of my good friends are gamers and if you let me I will extol the virtues of the pastime for many hours. I can't help but feel that introducing him to a game would help me reconnect with my father and get him more mentally active, a little more engaged with the larger world. It's just the medium to fit his state.

So what I'm looking for is a noob-friendly PC game you can play with one hand. I know there are some quality games out there with simple interfaces. Don't worry about the hardware; I'll take my laptop up to gauge interest first. Ideally, I want something that I can play with him but that he can also explore on his own, too.

Got any ideas?

Looking for the name of a horror movie SOLVED

Zombiemambo — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:16:14 +0000

The movie is about a couple who visit Japan. They get lost out near a small, remote village. When they go and ask for directions, they either can't find anyone or are told shit's about to go down, I can't recall. Anyway, eventually they are attacked by zombie-like creatures. They manage to avoid getting caught for most of the night, but the girl is kidnapped and taken to a cave. Her husband/boyfriend enters the cave to rescue her and it is suggested that they have both entered the underworld. He eventually finds her but it's too late and she has become one of the creatures. He escapes the cave and I believe the movie ends there.

Any ideas?

Wacom Tablets for Personal and Professional use

Dr. Phibbs McAthey — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:02:53 +0000

If this could be better posted in an existing thread, lock and let me know!
So, having worked in graphic design for a few years now, but never having access to the fancy tools I see many, many artists using online, I've decided it's time I invest in myself and pick one up.
However, my budget is a bit strained, so I'm wondering about the advantages of an Intuos5 v. Bamboo v. Cintiq v. just getting a damn Surface Pro (as an aside, is there a less expensive answer to a Pro?).
Another avenue I have the chance to explore is getting my work to purchase one for me, and for all intents and purposes it would be mine as long as I'm at the company. In this case price could be less of an issue. The problem is having to justify it. Seeing how the large part of my work is doing layouts for manuals and product bulletins in InDesign with the all-too-frequent cleaning up of technical diagrams and engineering drawings in Photoshop and Illustrator, I have a hard time coming up with any justification that would significantly increase productivity. So I turn to you guys!

It's another [Resume Thread]

noir_blood — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:22:53 +0000

Hey all,

So yep, just like the title says, I'm building a resume, and since it's been a while since I last did one (seven years or so), I have a couple of questions I hope you guys can give me advice on.

1) Does the old standard of it just being 1 page still apply?

2) For the last seven years I worked for the same company. Started as a phone agent and moved my way up through several positions. Do I include all it one list, or, as they are different positions with different tasks, do I separate them?

3) Should I go any farther than that when it comes to my past jobs?

4) I had to leave my job in January so I could focus and finish school. I'm worried that it'll look weird for there to be this four month gap in my resume where I don't have a job. Is there any way to explain this on the resume itself?

5) And finally kind of the big one-- As I said, I've been in school for the last four months getting both a degree and teaching certification. Right now, I'm certified to teach English. HOWEVER, I unfortunately don't think that I'm cut out for a teacher, and I don't plan to look for a teaching job, at least right now. Should I make a mention of my teaching certification? I feel like I have learned quite a bit, especially during the fifteen weeks of student teaching I did that would look nice in an application, but I'm worried that employers will look at it and think to themselves "Well, he's just doing this till he can find a teaching job", which at this point I'm really not. Should I leave it out then?

Job Switching etiquette...

ShadowBlade — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:55:23 +0000

Morning all,

Long time reader, infrequent poster, but this group has never steered me wrong.

THE STORY:
I recently received a job offer. It would be the same basic job I have now, likely with much less "work", definitely less stress, same pay (benefits are up in the air so I may make less if i have to take that on myself, but that is not really the consideration here.), I will still get to work from home (which I do now), and my boss would be a man I like and respect.

I have been with the company I work for presently for more than 10 years, but 3 years ago the company was acquired by a larger firm, off site, in the same industry. The former CEO, my former boss and the man who hired me and allowed me to leave the on site location to work from home, left the company through the acquisition.
While I still have strong ties and work daily with everyone who works in the factory I design for, I have zero connection with my current actual employers. They have never given me any sign that they understand, let alone appreciate the value I bring to the company. I barely have any contact with them what so ever. While this makes my "job" easier in many ways, it does nothing to endear them to me. The company is also so large, that while I do not BELIEVE they can replace me easily, I have never been given any indication that I have any true security within the new structure.

I like my job in a lot of ways, but there are a number of things that make my day needlessly stressful. I like a good portion of the people I work with at the factory, but the client base can be very difficult. While much of what I do still stimulates me, I OFTEN think I would do better in my "work" with a "change of scenery".

THE QUESTIONS:
Should I decide to take the job offer, having been with the company for so long, I intend to be very reasonable and respectful when discussing the timing of my departure. I am a very key player and a revenue generator for my company. One of only two who have a measurable positive financial impact on the business. This would lead most to believe that were I to make such a plan known to those who sign my cheques that they would genuinely make offers to keep me. Sadly, I would actually find this highly unlikely. My co-worker, the only other revenue maker, attempted to leave the company a year or two ago. He did not have an offer, he was just looking for something new. The current owners did nothing to convince him to stay. The management at the factory had to step in, and I think he was talked down with vague promises. All that said, they could still make me some kind of offer. What do I do if they do?

The man I am considering going to work for is a small, but successful business. If I "accept" his offer, I would feel terrible to turn it down after. Do I talk to my bosses before accepting the offer? What if i do not want to do that?

The people I work with, on site, will be hit with a great challenge should I leave. There is literally no one to replace me within the current structure. They do not pay me though, and have no influence on those that do. I work WITH these people. I do not even have a boss among them. Should my loyalty to them have any influence on this considering I have no loyalty to the actual employers?

I am not happy in my current position. I have not been for at least 4 years now. I am not sure that anything I could negotiate for would change this.
More money would be nice as I have not had a raise in 5 years.
Security, a "solid" contract, is something I do not have currently and will be getting with the new job.
If my current employers made these offers to me that were superior to the offer on the table, what am I supposed to do if I have already accepted the new job? The job offer as it stands now has little room for negotiation. Smaller business.

Would I be insulting the man looking to hire me by declining after accepting?

What if none of this will actually make me as happy as I could have been in the new job?

What if I stay and the security and communication NEVER actually improve?
The industry I am in now is also on a bit of a decline. It is business wide and kind of a trend, but I have heard rumors and seen signs that there is a distinct possibility that the factory I work for now could be shut down within a few years. They are building a new facility closer to the home office. There could very likely be no place for me after a change like that.

Any help with all these questions would be greatly appreciated!

Learning R and doing econometrics

Solvent — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:28:37 +0000

Send me your helpful links about getting started with R. Bonus points if they have an econometrics slant. Also! Provide me with your own advice and anecdotes.

Full info:
I don't really do any econometrics at my job but would like to try to learn some more hardcore data manipulation in the hope of eventually winding up with a better one (job, that is). At uni I only ever used Stata, but that was several years ago. R is attractive because of its freeness. And it has that whole open-source, hacker vibe.

Also desirable are links to data sets that are useful for learning and messing around with. I will accept all links but ones with a more micro vibe would be beneficial (education, health, crime etc.). Macro data is relatively easy to find.

Tell me about major appliances

conquerorw0rm — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:08:42 +0000

My partner and I recently bought a house that is being built (ready in September), and the builder has allotted us 4500 plus tax (in Canadian funds, prices may be more expensive up here) to buy all of our appliances. What's not so simple is that I know almost nothing about appliances. We need to cover a fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave, washer and dryer with that money, and we're limited to the little small-town Sears outlet in town for where we can buy. Obviously, I plan on going to the store to talk to someone at some point, but I'd definitely like to hear other people's experiences with different appliance brands, front-load vs top load washers, top-freezer/bottom-freezer/no-freezer (why are fridges so complicated?), and, of course, anything else we might have forgotten to consider. This is all new to me, and I'd like to pick something attractive and functional that I won't feel like throwing out a window in the span of a week.

Cry Havok and let loose the dogs of the [Military Thread]

Jokerman — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:01:15 +0000

MILITARY THREAD
So you wanna be all you can be?

or get yelled at like this guy,

or feel the need for speed?

or go toe to toe with the Ruskies

or even look like this guy,

You're in the right place.
Inquires into foriegn branches are welcome as well.

NOTICE
Depression\Suicide\Deployment Stress counseling is available confidentialy by PMing either me (Jokerman) or Rent.
We all understand, and want to help. So if you're having thoughts of hurting yourself or others, please
don't be afraid to ask for help.

A QUICK WORD ABOUT THE RULES

Spoiler:

Only two main rules as everyone in here is pretty classy;
1. Keep it civil, Keep Rivalries to a minimum.
2. Be careful not to violate OPSEC or any other SEC for that matter.
and of course, as a sidenote, be sure to inform me of anything that should be added to the OP.

BRANCHES
Note: Under each branch I've listed a few member who have voluntered to answer personal questions though PM's. Any of these people will be more then happy to help you, but by all means don't be afraid to post your question in the thread. It's participation that keeps it alive.

ARMY

Spoiler:

The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven uniformed services.
The primary mission of the Army is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities ... in support of the National Security and Defense Strategies". The Regular Army reported a strength of 539,675 soldiers; the Army National Guard (ARNG) reported 360,351 and the United States Army Reserve (USAR) reported 197,024 putting the combined component strength total 1,097,050 soldiers (2008 Financial Year).[3]

@Laemkral (CPT, Transportation)
@Sky (E-5, Journalism School, Airborne School)
@Rent (E-4, Artillery (Depression\Suicide\Deployment Stress counseling via PM))
@Jean Claude Van Calm (NCO, Infantry-Training)
@Taranis (E-4, Infantry)
@Feels Good Man (E-4, Medic)
@Jokerman (E-1, Artillery(Depression\Suicide counseling via PM)
@Waffen (O-1, Armor Officer\ROTC)

MARINE CORP.
(U.S.M.C.)

Spoiler:

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States. In the civilian leadership structure of the United States military, the Marine Corps is a component of the Department of the Navy, often working closely with U.S. naval forces for training, transportation and logistic purposes; however, in the military leadership structure the Marine Corps is a separate branch. The U.S.M.C. includes just over 203,000 active duty Marines and just under 40,000 reserve Marines. It is the smallest of the United States' armed forces in the Department of Defense. The Marine Corps is nonetheless larger than the entire armed forces of many significant military powers; for example, it is larger than the active duty Israel Defense Forces or the whole of the British Army.

@Gung-Ho (E-4, Infantry)
@Cls Corwin (E-5, Supply)
@Godmode (E-4, Comms-Civil affairs)
@Turkson (E-5, Intel Analyst/Foreign Military Trainer)

NAVY

Spoiler:

The United States Navy (USN) is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 284 ships in active service and more than 3,700 aircraft. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S. Navy also has the world's largest carrier fleet, with 11 in service and one under construction. The 21st century United States Navy maintains a sizable global presence, deploying in such areas as East Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. It is a blue water navy with the ability to project force onto the littoral regions of the world, engage in forward areas during peacetime, and rapidly respond to regional crises, making it an active player in American foreign and defense policy.

@Limp Moose (Officer, Pilot (deploys frequently))
@Quid (Enlisted, Linguist)

AIRFORCE

Spoiler:

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial warfare, space warfare, and cyberwarfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is the most recent branch of the U.S. military to be formed. In its 2009 Posture Statement the USAF articulates its primary goals as "Global Vigilance, Global Reach, and Global Power".

As of 2009 the USAF operates 5,573 manned aircraft in service (3,990 USAF; 1,213 Air National Guard; and 370 Air Force Reserve); approximately 180 unmanned combat air vehicles, 2,130 air-launched cruise missiles, and 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The USAF has 327,452 personnel on active duty, 115,299 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 106,700 in the Air National Guard as of September 2008. In addition, the USAF employs 171,313 civilian personnel, and has 57,000 auxiliary members in the Civil Air Patrol.

@VeritasVR (O1, Acquisitions/Engineering)
@Iceman.USAF (O2, Civil Engineer)
@Spookymuffin (E5, Air Transportation)

COAST GUARD

Spoiler:

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of seven uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction both domestically and in international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President or Congress during time of war.

@RUNN1NGMAN

Scared healthy and am at a loss where to begin.

Xaquin — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:46:14 +0000

This may be rambling incoherency ....

So yesterday I had what turned out to be an anxiety attack. I thought for the life of me I was having a heart attack though. I went directly to the Doctor and they hooked me up to the blood oxygen thing on your finger and did an EKG and gave me the all clear (woohoo!)

It got me thinking though about getting a bit (a lot) healthier. I'm 6'-2" and 250 lbs (sadly, all of the extra resides below my chest and above my legs)
I want to eat a lot more fruits and vegetables, but since I'm not the richest fellow, I want to make sure I'm buying the right ones. Google searches for things like 'healthiest fruits and vegetables' seem to pop up things like "THIS HOUSEWIFE LOST 500 POUNDS WITH THIS SECRET FRUIT FROM MADAGASCAR" or "Pomegranate may reverse clogged arteries (this study has not been scientifically proven)" etc. etc.

I'm starting an exercise regimen (is that the right word?). I figure Taebo or something low key and then moving on to something tougher like p90 or something.

I was hoping some of you fine folks could point me to either another thread on these forums or some websites that are actual legitimate websites and not roundabout ads for the amazing powers of fish oil.

tldr: fatty got scared into being healthy, wants to drop 30-40 lbs, and clear those arteries

Teaching ESL

altzilla — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:28:23 +0000

I've always wanted to try teaching abroad, and I have quite a bit of experience working with both kids and at risk youth, but I lack a degree because of one sob story or another. Now, I know that some ESL recruiters these days don't necessarily require a degree, though from what research I've done that tends to equal more hours for less pay. Does anyone know if some of the better quality places that normally only recruit people with a bachelors will take someone without a degree if they've got a year or two of ESL experience? As in, work for one of the lower paying companies for a while, get some experience, and then trade up? Thanks for any input!

Medicine, side-effects, and differences in Time-Released medicines.

Polecat — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:23:34 +0000

Hey there helpers,

looking for advice, preferable from a pharmacist/pharm student if there are any out there.

So, I've been on Allegra-d 24hr for years. I recently changed insurance, and with Allegra-d being available w/o a script, I just want to the local pharmacy and bought some. They only had the 12 hour in stock at the moment, so I bought them.

After a few days, I can't sleep, and I'm literally angry all the time. I can only assume its from the new pills.

So my question is this: Is there that big of a difference on how much medicine is released in a 12-hour compared to a 24 hour? I would assume there is more sudafed (sp?) in the 24, but it has never hit me like this.

Thoughts?

Finding Friends in Chicago with Similar Interests [Athletic Groups]

Waffen — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:53:31 +0000

I'm gonna keep it as short as possible. Basically I left home years ago to go to college and I stayed down there permanently. While I was there I developed new interests and hobbies that are focused into the "healthy & fit life style". Returning home the few friends I have left in the home town don't share those interests and maintaining that healthy relationship with those clubs isn't possible due to distance. As a result I'm basically sitting around at home with not a whole lot to do (besides go to the gym every day & jog every other day) and want to change that. I started looking around on Google for various running clubs in the southern Chicago area, but Google only gets you so far. My overall question is if any PA Members know of any websites or groups within the region that meet up regularly that either do the whole running/work out think and also serve as social functions for people to meet others with similar interests?

Music composer for a short film?

Bubby — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:32:42 +0000

Anyone know where I could find someone to do some music for a short film I just recently finished shooting and editing? My music budget is up to $150 and I know pretty specifically what I want. Hopefully this is the right place to ask about something like this. Thanks.

Move to Portland or Seattle for gaming geek?

Fr0sstr0n — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:31:18 +0000

Hey guys, new here so I could ask this and hopefully get some advice .Ok, I'll try to keep this short and to the point. I've been really looking into getting outa my home state of Montana now for some time now, especially within the last year. I'm a computer, video game geek that also specializes in the IT industry and I'm trying to sort out my options were I could move to to start the next stage od my early 30s bachelor hood in a city that has a lot more gaming, computer, hipster and essential nerds that I can meet up with, make new friends and hopefully find that special geek gal as well.

I've been set on Portland since my college days back in 2000 as its a real nice balance of a huge city but not huge and crazy like Seattle, there are a lot more opportunities for a gamer geek like me in his early 30's to hook up with other gamers and meet to new people and friends and maybe even find that special geek gal as well. Its a very pretty looking city and its also still in the Northwest so I can still be close to my family in the Yakima area as pretty much everyone in my immediate family is leaving Montana. I'm single white male, back to being a bachelor after a failed 5 relationship ended over 2 years ago, i'm debt free other then my lovely Civic coupe and im trying to find an answer of where should I go that I will be happy to start the next section of my single, geeky lifestyle that has more of everything then I can find after being born and raised in Montana all my life, and im just sick and tired of it. Sadly, the more I researched into it, the more iv'e found that Portland is in a real state of lack of anything decent of a job market, let alone in IT.

However, I keep hearing more information indicating that Seattle's economy and job market all around is stronger all around vs Portland with many more opportunities vs Portlands current state the more I look into. The big worry is that Seattles traffic is pretty horrid and not getting better. My sister and brother in law lived in the residential neighborhood overlooking the main shipping yards and only last a few years before the traffic and bad crime forced them to move back to Yakima.

What are the outlying towns like in regards to traffic and getting around vs if lived and or worked in the core area of Seattle? Whats the apartment rental pricing situation like outside of Seattle vs being in the main city? Is there more chances of finding a company with open public casting for IT jobs vs the apparent very close inner networking of Portlands jobs that very rarely hit the public that arn't already taken up? I'm also partial to the Portland/Vancouver area as I do have family and friends to help me move and get settled in vs the Seattle area i'd be all alone though my sister has a lot of friends that could help me out in the Seattle area.

I've heard ALL the horror stories about the even more depressing weather up in Seattle and how it can get to you. Honestly, after spending my whole life in Montana with its completely erratic and unpredictable weather systems, a constant weather system of even rain and overcast would be a welcome change and I don't see it as much of an issue as I'm not much of a outdoors person anymore after years of doing it in a Montana for . At this point, I wanna secure myself a job in the area, e ven if its in Tacoma or Redmond area or whatever and to hell with the damn weather, I need to get outa this state and start the next section of my life.

My current company I work is a very large investment firm spread across the globe and apparently, the Seattle market especially in the Bellavue area is growing rapidly vs the Portland area is completely stagnet so there is a chance I could get relocated but I also have to plan for option B and secure work from another company before I move over.

Oh and I especially have a big fondness for Asian ladies all my life and apparently Seattle has a lot of And yes, I do love visiting coffee shops and trying out different things, I am not a bar/club person, it bores me and i'd I hate spending my money on overpriced alcohol around shallow people that I have little in common with and or desire to meet, hence why I want a more geek/nerd gaming/comic/Anime crowd as I can easily mesh with them and meet new people and form new friendships through our shared enjoyment of those hobbies. That simply just does not exist in Montana and I need a change, badly.

I also have no desire to have children for many personal reasons I won't go into here. Suffice to say, I wanna move to back larger city where there are more woman who also don't desire to have kids as Montana dating is mostly geared for woman who beans to have families and that makes my dating scene pretty hard for a 32 year old bachelor geek with no desire whatsoever to have kids.

In the end, I'm trying to find a new home with a really great geek/nerd population I can meet like minded people like myself, finally be able to attend all those cool conventions like PAX, Quakecon, E3, Bronycons, Cosplay and huge LAN parties. I wanna have a bigger selection of woman that don't wanna raise family and are more career oriented and just wanna explore the world and have fun with someone, and if more of a bonus if she's a geek herself.

Gift / dropping hints advice

spacekungfuman — Sat, 11 May 2013 14:39:56 +0000

My fifth anniversary is approaching, and I already got my wife her gift (a gold bracelet) but she has started asking me about things I could want. I normally don't like saying what I would like because that makes gifts less fun IMO, but she has been on bed rest (in connection with a complicated pregnancy) so I do want to make it easier for her, especially since she has t been able to get out to stores to think of ideas. The problem is I really can't think of anything I need. For my birthday this year the bought me a whole new work wardrobe and then surprised me at dinner with some really nice casual clothing/a jacket. Last anniversary she bought me two designer wallets and let me pick which I wanted which was fun. So I am looking for advice on two things here:

1. Suggestions for things I might want and

2. Suggestions on how to subtly drop hints to make it easier for her to choose things (or get ideas) without outright saying "I really would like an x"

Thanks for any suggestions.

Big Boss's leather jacket... what type/make?

winter_combat_knight — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:20:43 +0000

Lamearse thread, but wondering if anyone knows the name of this 80s styled motorcycle jacket? Looks badass, fitted and haven't see them worn over here.

Things to do In Boston and New York (plus Washington DC and Philadelphia)

Alistair Hutton — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:29:44 +0000

So, my wife and I are going on holiday to the east coast of America at the end of May/beginning of June we'll have several days in Boston and several more in New York plus a full day each in Washington DC and Philadelphia. I thought given that PAX east happens in Boston forumers here would be well versed in the ways of the city.

For Washington we were planning on just taking in all the big monuments, you know, like the tourists that we are. There's also a bunch of obvious things to see and do in New York but are there any gems, odd museums or hidden away parks that forumers would recommend? For Boston and Philly we are more at a loss - what are the good tourist attractions that people have been to in Boston? I've got a dodgy knee so ultra-extreme-whitewater-invert-rock-climbing type activities are unfortunately out. I can walk around fine, I just can't do sports like activity on it.

How to gently tell someone to STFU at movies

Cultural Geek Girl — Sun, 12 May 2013 10:06:13 +0000

So I have a friend. Of my local friends she shares more of my interests than anyone else, she's really nice, and we're planning on becoming roommates soon. There's just one problem.

She talks during movies. Loud enough that anyone sitting in a 2-3 seat radius can hear her, though not loud enough to disturb the whole theater. She also talks during serious TV shows and sometimes makes me miss dialogue. It's sometimes MST-wannabe stuff... like "Aw, that was my favorite robot!" in a recent movie where a robot falls into the ocean. The thing is, I know how awful it is to be at the movies when someone is talking, and even quietly shushing her every time she said something during the movie didn't do anything. Eventually, the guy sitting next to her actually moved a seat away.

Other times it's just commentary, reactions to things that use spoken words rather than just audible gasps or laughter. Like if something awesome happens, she'll say "awwwww yeah, you go girl." I wouldn't begrudge her this at home when not watching something serious, but whenever it's something highly engaging and dramatic that benefits from suspension of disbelief, it really bothers me. And in public? Quel horreur.

I'm not sure what to do. I mean, the obvious solution is to say "hey, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't talk during this," but if I say that every time we watch anything, I'm worried that I'll come off like a jerk, especially when we're watching stuff at home. Getting her to not talk in the theater is the first step, but I'd like to have a greater conversation about this later on, especially if we're going to be roommates.

Thoughts?

Considering a tablet, need some help

Vastlyapparent — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:22:51 +0000

New to the PA forums, and I've got an odd ball inquiry!

I've been considering getting a tablet for quite awhile, and currently the Surface Pro looks to be my best bet. Specifically I'm interested in the Wacom tech in it's touch display + pen, the versatility offered by the combination of tablet + graphic arts tool is my main draw here. My point of contention currently lies in how I'd go about using it with my current version of Photoshop. I don't really want the table to become my primary graphic arts hub, I want it to complement my desktop which I've already invested into as my primary device (multiple large screens, decent graphics card, etc..)

What I was thinking I could do is to use something like splashtop to stream my desktop onto the Surface Pro, and use it more like a traditional Wacom tablet, and when not doing art use it as one would traditionally use a tablet. Is this possible? Would the Wacom tech even work properly with a streamed desktop/remote desktop setup? Is there anyone with a Surface Pro, some free time, and is willing to give it a try? Or is there a simpler/easier way to go about what I'm trying to accomplish?

Thanks in advance for any and all insight!

Help / Advice Forum - Penny Arcade Forums

Financial advice after legal trouble

Starting My Own Tech Support Business

Should I buy a condo or pay rent for another year?

Accessing the rest of my 3TB HDD.

Increasing Sexual Stamina

Job offered in NYC - I hope you can help me with some information

Lucid Dreaming

recommend a tablet

Beginner electric guitar

Movies/documentaries about NZ Māori

Pinched Nerve

A Game Recommendation

Looking for the name of a horror movie *SOLVED*

Wacom Tablets for Personal and Professional use

It's another [Resume Thread]

Job Switching etiquette...

Learning R and doing econometrics

Tell me about major appliances

Cry Havok and let loose the dogs of the [Military Thread]

Scared healthy and am at a loss where to begin.

Teaching ESL

Medicine, side-effects, and differences in Time-Released medicines.

Finding Friends in Chicago with Similar Interests [Athletic Groups]

Music composer for a short film?

Move to Portland or Seattle for gaming geek?

Gift / dropping hints advice

Big Boss's leather jacket... what type/make?

Things to do In Boston and New York (plus Washington DC and Philadelphia)

How to gently tell someone to STFU at movies

Considering a tablet, need some help

Looking for the name of a horror movie SOLVED