I studied Religious Studies in college, but have always loved coding (started with Basic, Pascal, C, into others) in my free time.
One of my favorite jobs early on was where the lead of the department took the time to teach the department perl. It helped frame some of the basics of web-app development for me, and ultimately helped to pave the way to exploring other technologies.
Having since moved to the bay area, I feel like this sentiment is shared, but hardly practiced. I've interviewed at a few startups, and can answer the typical fizz-buzz-baz problem. However, I feel like that potential is overlooked for someone that can hit the ground running. (Granted, there's probably a slew of other reasons for not getting an offer).
Overall, would love to be mentored and am pursuing such a relationship now with my current employer.
Sometimes I get some pretty bad headaches from staring so intently at the screen. I've found that taking breaks every few hours or so, going outside, taking a breath of fresh air, and then staring at something in the distance helps. Not only do I feel rejuvenated from being outside, but it also helps to relieve the eye strain.
I'm not from an EE background, but I would imagine that the questions I like to ask would also apply to you to help gauge a possible employer.
1) What's your day like?
2) What would you say are some of the biggest challenges you face today?
3) ( Maybe this is more IT oriented ) How does work come in? by Project? Ticketing system?
So far, my experience with odesk.com has been pretty positive. I haven't used it for hiring programmers, but I do see many profiles there you can peruse.
"Systems engineers often have to depend on intuition to locate the source of trouble. Excellent engineers can't explain why they are good, it's very similar to chess."
A quote that hit close to home for me is one by Calvin Coolidge (I think I read in a comment here on another thread):
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race"
Still getting started, something that I had always "ignored" (not necessarily scared me) was using my own day-job money to hire someone. I always figured, "make a logo? Sure, I can do that." As an aspiring hacker, I was always certain I could learn that skill enough to do something productive.
Then I hit a brickwall in my current project. I found a problem that I could not overcome with internet savvy-ness. The only solution I could come up with was to try and hire someone to do it.
Needless to say--and saving the learnings from my experience into a different post--it was a great experience, almost addictive. I just set up a contract with one of the online freelance websites, and waited for the end result to come in.
I love blank books. I feel like there's so much potential to fill it with random thoughts, ideas, doodles. Most of all, I have a greater appreciation for just being able to exercise my handwriting. I feel like that is the one skill I have taken for granted since school. Granted it's much faster to type down my thoughts, but I take greater pleasure in trying to decipher--if not improve--my handwriting.
Aside from bills, maybe also consider some kind of personal renting app? For example, if my neighbor wants to borrow my lawnmower, your app could help set up the due date, automate the reminders, and maybe even take care of compensation?
Along the same train of thought, if someone owes you money, maybe have this handle the amount, terms, and reminders for the borrower (small amounts)?
Personally, I'm not the type of person to hound someone for either of the aforementioned items. I think that'd be a neat service.
I consider myself a religious man, and always find myself getting frustrated with protesters/sign holders/judges like the ones in the video. Not only for their blatant disregard for--in this case--the Gospel, but their incredible insensitivity.
Not sure if the OP is the father in the video, but to you, good sir, I tip my hat. If I were in such a position, I know I would not have been as calm, and would probably have included far more curse words for my own good. To the couple in the video, I wish you the best in trying for your next child.