What do you do?

[Dinobabe]

Brooke, if I may ask you a professional question...
Why, as more cars enter a highway, does the speed of the traffic on the highway slow down, causing more backup?  It seems to me if traffic kept a constant pace, say the speed limit, all traffic would move at that speed and backups wouldn't be created.
Or is it human nature to cause problems?

Human nature to cause problems!

Here is a good example I always remember from when I was in marching band (military people will recognize this).  When the block formation takes the first step EVERYONE must take a full step.  There is always that one person that never does, usually in the front, and then everyone behind gets backed up even if all of them took a full step.  It only takes one!

[Rogue Hidesmith]

My mundane job is  web development (primarily LAMP stack, Drupal and WordPress among others). I've been in my field since college, so about 7 years now. 

My fun job (or hobby, whatevs) is leather crafting (mainly masks but also some carving & faire related work).

[Alaric]

My mundane job is  web development (primarily LAMP stack, Drupal and WordPress among others). I've been in my field since college, so about 7 years now. 

My fun job (or hobby, whatevs) is leather crafting (mainly masks but also some carving & faire related work).

I am a web Developer / Designer also.  (Lamp) I build a lot of Custom CMS. I do everything from writing content, designing, scripting, SEO, email marketing, user training and pay per click advertising.  I also do a lot of Graphic Design.    I am starting to get burnt out on it - I also do support for over 40 websites (updates, email support, you name it).

For my hobby I play guitar. I have played guitar for over 30 years  \m/

[Hoowil]

Currently I manage a cafe. Been doing that for a couple years now. Prior to that I've done all kinds of work, from ASE certified automechanic to apprentice pyrotechnician to civilian grounds personell for an army MWR facility, to the athletic programs director for a small town parks and rec. You name it, I've probably tried it at one point. If wishes were fishes, I'd fit school into work and being a parent and finish my BA in history, and teach.

[brooke]

Brooke, if I may ask you a professional question...
Why, as more cars enter a highway, does the speed of the traffic on the highway slow down, causing more backup?  It seems to me if traffic kept a constant pace, say the speed limit, all traffic would move at that speed and backups wouldn't be created.
Or is it human nature to cause problems?

Human nature to cause problems!

Here is a good example I always remember from when I was in marching band (military people will recognize this).  When the block formation takes the first step EVERYONE must take a full step.  There is always that one person that never does, usually in the front, and then everyone behind gets backed up even if all of them took a full step.  It only takes one!

Perfect example of why it all slows down!  Because we can't all go the exact same speed all the time, need to change lanes or enter exit the highway so there is "turbulence" in the flow.  Not to mention all the people who speed up and then get to close to car in front so they slow down, then they are the slow car so person behind them has the same problem, and repeat through traffic.  Human nature can't work as systematically as we would hope 

[Dustin]

Just revisited this thread, and some things have changed since my last post. I said then that I was probably on track to be management at some point. Well, September of last year, I was promoted to department supervisor in the baby gear department. Then, in April of this year I was moved into the human resources department supervisor position. I'm not getting ready to do our seasonal hiring, where we'll go from about 45 employees up to over 120. I'm in charge of screening applicants, scheduling interviews, running background checks, and training the new people. Lots of work, but great experience.

[LadyAsh]

I've been working part time at Panera Bread for about three years now. The hours are pretty good, but they do like putting me on the weekends a lot. I mostly work on the registers, but occasionally they will put me on dining room duty. After January, however, I want to plan to look for a new job. I would love to work in a bookstore of some sort!

[Ginette]

I'm an administrative assistant for the great state of Texas.  Nothing fun or exciting but I get to have dinner and weekends with my kids.

[Celtic_Fae]

I'm currently a student working toward my AS in Paralegal Studies, with plans to get my Bachelor's of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology.

Eeesh..."shows to go" (goes to show) how plans can change. I'm now a CNA and nursing student!

[mehan]

I am pretty lucky to still be doing something I find really fascinating.  I am a medical transcriptionist who is still really transcribing and not editing. Imagine listening to doctors dictate at what seems to be the speed of light while you decipher what they say, selecting the right similar sounding word (dysphagia or dysphasia) correct their grammar (without changing their meaning) and spelling everything correctly at 95-105 words per minute. 

All this, not to mention the really unusual things you get to hear about.  I have been in pathology for the last 15 years - everyone just thinks about autopsies, but actually if it is taken out of you in a hospital or outpatient setting, it has to come through us and be examined.   I have typed reports of Miller High Life and Miller Lite bottle caps (53 of them swallowed) Lincoln head pennies (placed in the nose)  and way too many corncobs (I will let you sort that one out) than I would have liked, ugh. 

To soon it will all be voice recognition and underpaid editors.  Then you will see more reports like the consult from a large university hospital system I just received.   "No evidence of Methodists"  indeed.  Pretty sure they meant metastasis, but what's that harmless little mistake eh when they saved all that money by not hiring an educated professional?

[Merlin the Elder]

I didn't know that Methodists were fatal...that's funny!

[markste]

My name is Mark Sr. History Researcher. I like very much renaissance fest.

[Sir Ironhead]

I didn't know that Methodists were fatal...that's funny!

Don't think they are fatal, just chronic

[Lady Alecia]

Currently nursing student, soon to be RN! Previously nanny to two precious handicap children and their 3 energetic siblings, and in high school working in the family Mill (wood stakes and planks) which showed me quickly how much I wanted an air conditioned job (without the sawdust). 

[Hoowil]

After next week, I'll know. The cafe I've run for nearly 4 years just got sold. The new owners are supposed to tell me next Thursday if I still have a job.