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There are many more, but the fact that engineer's safety concerns were side stepped rarely sees light of the day after disaster strikes. Also it doesn't have to be a catastrophic failure. Sometimes the reduction of life span of a structure is cause of not taking care of all the concerns.

Also this does not stops with construction. Have you not heard about problems in cars or other engineering projects where safety concerns were ignored. If not, I have to ask you how old you are.

phakdingon Software development requires servant leaders

Structural engineers do not work primarily with other SEs. They have to collaborate with architects. Architects tend to take lot of artistic freedoms when designing a structure. We get to tell them to shove it as implementing some of their artistic designs would involve defying gravity and other laws of physics. Although that doesn't work and then you get failed/delayed/extremely over budget project

SEs also work with civil engineers/site supervisors etc.

No there's no veto resides in hands of engineers in any industry. There's a reason why bridges collapse and buildings need to be tore down for safety. It's not because engineers got to decide what's right.

phakdingon Ask HN: Advice on finding an entry level job in NYC?

> yes I know Chicago has a train, but it's not super convenient

This is as far from truth as it gets. Having a car in Chicago is a liability and one can go anywhere from anywhere within city limits and even to suburbs with public transport.

I have seen the chicago public transport being put above NYC in many rankings

phakdingon Ask HN: Advice on finding an entry level job in NYC?

As a student on F-1 visa, there are multiple ways one can work. On campus of the university that they are enrolled into in any job. The hours must not collide with the enrolled classes. As an unpaid intern (volunteer). Or as a co-op for two semesters at the most, as full time and get paid.

phakdingon Software development requires servant leaders

If you are choosing multiple languages for a single project or Keeping your project "incredibly open-ended" no amount of methodologies is going to stop you from going over the cliff.

phakdingon Software development requires servant leaders

This was the only comment you made in 8 months. I feel honored!

phakdingon Software development requires servant leaders

Why does software industry keep coming up with this sort of thing all the time? I worked as structural engineer before becoming software engineer and we never had to invent different kind of leadership and procedures or change office floor plans or hire outsider non-engineers as our (scrum) masters, or talk about the client as stake holders etc.

Sorry about hurting your agile feelings!

phakdingon What documentaries would you recommend watching and why?

Three from top of my head: 1. The square - it was on Netflix, may still be 2. The known unknown 3. Jesus camp

phakdingon Ask HN: What's your hobby?

Traveling, hiking, running, lifting, photography, fixing stuff (car, home improvement)

phakdingon Ask HN: I'm depressed, what should I do?

I could never learn coding by just learning coding. The way I learn coding is by creating something. If you want to learn Java for example, think of a small project that might interest you and then build it. You will learn to use the tool (Java in this case) as you go along.

I have observed in myself that I am happier when I have goals. Getting over depression is probably not a goal in itself. I set goals for myself and then work on them. The journey becomes more enjoyable than achieving goals. To give you an example, last year I had two goals, to run half marathon and trek to Mt Everest base camp. Took me over 6 months of preparation. I probably spent 2-3 hours everyday thinking, scheming, working out etc. I achieved both of those, but I enjoyed the obsession more.

phakdingon How intermittent breaks in interaction improve collective intelligence

Ha! Field of software programmers act like a hive mind. People latch on to something and then it becomes their religion. Any criticism causes hurt feelings.

I've been programming for long time and have seen these trends come and go. Right from xml being the best thing since invention of wheel to micro services being elixir to all programming woes.

phakdingon To Fix Back Pain, You Might Have To Change The Way You Sit

I enjoy reading the storytelling if it is for an article based on the events. For example, there were few articles I read about Steele dossier. The articles did lot of flash back into Steele's early life as MI6 agent and his harassment in the hands of FSB etc etc. That was a fascinating read. In an article about science though, I am not looking for a story, I am looking for data and the conclusions/recommendations.

phakdingon To Fix Back Pain, You Might Have To Change The Way You Sit

I never did any weight training till I was 31 years old. To start with, I looked up beginer's lifting schedule on Internet. I started with one day of lifting and one day of running.

As you go along, you will develop your own ideas and know what works for you, so you can modify the program to suit your own needs.

What you can do also depend on what equipment you have easy access to. Harder/longer it is to get to the place of workout, harder it is to get into habit of working out.

phakdingon How intermittent breaks in interaction improve collective intelligence

So pair programming is a bad idea?

phakdingon To Fix Back Pain, You Might Have To Change The Way You Sit

I thought I was the only one. Almost every article I read is way longer than it is necessary. Some information is repeated and the gist is tucked away someplace at the bottom.

phakdingon Ask HN: What are you reading?

Fire and Fury

phakdingon Ask HN: I lost interest, what should I do?

I've no experience with your situation. However, when I am burned out, I travel to mountains to hike/trek. I disable all communication apps on phone including email. Funny thing is, after I come back, sometimes I forget passwords. That's how I know I have been totally out of it.

I would suggest you take some time off and do something that you enjoy. Something different from what you do everyday.

phakdingon Ask HN: Side income while still highly invested in full time job?

:) No, I am not. I trekked to Mt Everest base camp last year and I stayed there the first night after starting at Lukla.

Are you from Nepal?

phakdingon Ask HN: Wondering if any of you still frequent slashdot

Ditto for me. Too libertarian, too toxic, too uppity.

phakdingon Ask HN: Side income while still highly invested in full time job?

Day trading, Landlording, freelancing : some of the things I do.

But if you have young family, you might want to invest your time in the family and build a solid foundation. That could help you spend more time away from them being ambitious in the future.

phakdingon Ask HN: What will you be working on this weekend?

Myself.

phakdingon Dude, She’s (Exactly 25 Percent) Out of Your League

TFA doesn't mention the race, but if I remember correctly from the okcupid article, race affects the dating way more compared to everything else.

phakdingon Association between physical exercise and mental health: a cross-sectional study

I totally agree with you. I go to gym and weight train 3 days a week and I spend one day running as far as I possibly can (8-10 mile range). If someone asked me to go for a walk, I would just slouch down in my sofa and ignore them. I hate walking without purpose and as an exercise it does pretty much nothing.

phakdingon Ask HN: New boss I respect, same company. Should I stay?

If I were in your position, I would think either this VP has got something personal against me or may be they think I am not suitable for this position. You've been stepped over thrice now. Why not just have a heart to heart with this VP or his boss and directly ask them. Then decide what to do based on the answer.

Personally, I would have left after the company failed to keep their word the first time.

phakdingon Ask HN: What is going on?

> Then I realized the detractors had a point and basically switched sides.

Just curious: you switched sides based on buggy website and "bureaucracy"? Did the fact that ACA disallowed insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre existing conditions or gap between coverage, got rid of insane life time max limit of $1 million and brought millions of more Americans under insurance coverage mean nothing to you?

phakdingon Ask HN: What is going on?

Majority of people attach themselves to a viewpoint based on either emotions or because someone they trust and respect told them so. And once they do, they can't separate themselves from their views. If you try to attack their beliefs, they take it as affront to themselves. When that happens, no amounts of facts will change their mind. Instead they will just shut you out and their beliefs will now be more firm.

I would love to tell you an alternative approach, but I don't know of any.

I have just given up. I just nod and say ok or change the topic. It's not my job to change people's minds.

phakdingon Ask HN: Recommendation for noise cancelling headphones?

If you do not want to spend upwards of $300 on headphones, I would recommend cowin E7. I am using one everyday for last year or so, and I love them.

https://www.amazon.com/Cancelling-Bluetooth-Headphones-Micro...

phakdingon Ask HN: Which roleplaying games do you play apart from Dungeons and Dragons?

I stopped playing games 20 years ago. Mostly for lack of time.

I am curious though. If you are a gamer, how old are you? Do you have a spouse and kid(s)? How long is your commute? When do you typically play?

phakdingon Ask HN: My team mate took credit for my work. What do I do

I would go talk to both your team mate and your boss, in that order. I would also be very cordial and professional. Learn why the teammate took the credit or may be the boss is just mistaken. Find out the truth and then set the story straight with the boss without bad mouthing the teammate.

If this happens again, then you can be little more direct.

It would also behoove you to mention your accomplishments in passing to your boss during a casual chat in the morning while you are talking about weather or current events. Bosses for most parts don't have all the minute details of who is doing what.

phakdingon Ask HN: What were/are you doing at age 25? What would you change?

I started working out when I was 33 and I am in better shape now than I ever was including my teens and twenties. I can run for miles, lift for hour and half and hike for 12 hours straight. It's never too late.

I have read real world stories of people starting running at the age of 60+ and finishing marathons.

I urge you to get off your ass and embrace active lifestyle. You will not regret it.