Other things you probably learned; Add a few thousand to the construction budget for those tools you probably won't ever use again; conduit bender, fish tape, staple gun, miter box, etc. Add two weeks to the project schedule just to account for all those extra trips back to the hardware store to buy that one little thing you forgot or ran out of.
Also, new nomenclature is learned like; "I love how I achieved wabi-sabi" (Zen aesthetic term centered on imperfection).
so tduds "on dominican" had this funny cop story....kid kicks down my fence mid day, monmouth county NJ. I am hanging with my 4 year old daughter at the time, i stare at him, dog licks him, he goes towards my front gate, i say "open the damn thing!", he apologizes as he leaves...............2 mins later some girl running down the street. i call the cops non 911 # and go "not really an emergency but some kid kicked down my fence from a neighbors yard, i guess i should report it.".......they send out a cop and the dog goes crazy, remember he licked the scared shitless kid.... cops asks "black or white?".....having lived a few years in Washington Heights(nyc) I go "Dominican." cop asks again "Black or white?"....i say"Can I say Brown?"......."sir, was he black?"........."no, Domican and black".....this goes on and on and I finally concede -"Ok black".....apparently his only option on the report?
i felt bad for the kid after that. he probably just broke up with his girlfriend, went out the backdoor and through my fence instead of the front door and my dog loved the kid and hated the cops.........but if you are Dominican you could be white right? fucked up man fucked up
What if he'd been Asian? The cop needs more options.
Jun 9, 16 6:08 pm ·
·
"One of my best friends was 'black'"
Oh, man. Did you just type that with a straight face?
and this quote from another:
Is he not black anymore? What a strange place to put a past tense.
No. It is because we haven't talked much directly since moving up to Astoria. Perhaps, I could say.... "is" but I haven't really talked with the friends I had in Los Angeles area that much at all. I put it in past tense because I haven't talked really talked to him in 20+ years.
The past tense is because Los Angeles is past tense in my life. It's like saying, "One of my favorite teachers in elementary school was ___________________." Where a name can be used. It was put in past tense because my life in Los Angeles area is in the past.
Los Angeles has another angel this week by the way. (I'm visiting.)
Jun 9, 16 7:05 pm ·
·
Josh,
I did lived in Carson, California to be more precise. It's in the Los Angeles area. I can point to references. I have a birth certificate from Santa Monica, California.
Living or lasting in a large city, I could. It isn't an issue of could or couldn't. It is more that I don't particularly like the big city culture where no one gives a shit about anybody but themselves. I'm talking about the total lack on human decency and care. When you go to a place where people actually care about other people, why would you go back to a place where the majority of people have no human soul. You are just another number in their eyes. The lack of humanity in large cities is the biggest issue about big cities that I don't have an interest in living my at.
If the only response you get for saying hello or hi or any other human decent greeting is a middle finger raised, what does that tell ya about social humanity of the big cities.
considering all the taxes I pay, you'd think they would be able to provide more options. BW only? No RGB? ...........to give you an idea though how bored they are where I live - one day my wife thinks there might be an electrical short and tells me the Gypsum ceiling is turning Brown. I am in NYC at least 1 hr way, I say call the non emergency line.......same shit, not emergency but 3 boroughs of 2 fire trucks each show up. my wife is mortified. she was shocked by static electricity and they made her get checked out by the EMT who just happened to be in her cross fit class. Fortunately one of my neighbors was a fireman and looked up at the wiring and said "chief, i have an old house like this one def. needs to be looked at."............high taxes with nothing do. I want RGB options when making a police report damnit, if 6 fire trucks show up for a non emergency call......
If anyone has been following PB80's thread asking for help on detailing a cantilever ... it makes me begin to see the benefit of IDP and the whole process of licensure based on internships/apprenticeship. Most of the time I like to complain about it, but in this case it begins to make a lot of sense as it seems they are lacking training. PB80's situation seems like they are a contract employee, getting jobs/tasks, but little to no instruction/mentorship. Looking at their post history, I'll admit they aren't in the 'traditional path' to licensure at the moment, but it seems like theirs is a perfect case for why we want older, more experienced architects mentoring young aspiring architects.
I think there is also a discussion in there about independent contractors vs. employees and the future of architecture where, at least anecdotally, it seems like independent contracting has been on the rise. It becomes even more apparent if you reference recent threads (like this, or this) about new rules for overtime and comments about making interns/aspiring architects contract employees (i.e. 1099) to avoid paying it.
EI, I just completed IDP (as in, 1 week ago) so I wouldn't say I"m that far ahead of anyone...
You can finish IDP and pass the ARE's and still be clueless... just like 3/4 of the people I know with Ivy League educations. You can be a 10 or 20 year project manager and be clueless.
I think in general, professional licensure is a good thing, and in general people with 20 years experience know what they are doing... but I'm still consistently surprised! And that works in the other direction also - some people fresh out of school have other types of experience and just know how to build.
Completely agree archanonymous. My intent is NOT to say that IDP is foolproof or even a good method. But seeing situations like the one that PB80 is in, I can see some value.
I'm consistently surprised myself at the lack of knowledge and understanding in the profession ... I work with many clueless architects of all ages and experience levels. Myself, I'm probably one of those types that came out of school knowing how to build and I've largely viewed IDP as a waste of time. However, I still had/have a lot to learn.
Congrats on finishing IDP! I'm around 90% done with the IDP hours myself. That will change to around 98% done when the AXP restructuring happens at the end of the month. With the hours I have yet to report for the last few months, I might even be done once the change happens.
EI; Just FYI... I'm a 1099 independent contract employee. There are benefits to doing it this way if the circumstances are right and with the right employer.
Example; My wife is a Fed and has excellent health insurance coverage. Instead of workmans comp, I've got a full disability insurance (which means I'm covered regardless of whether it was on the job or not and covers my full salary). I've also got a good accountant who excels at writeoffs etc., so my taxes aren't harsh and aren't so arbitrarily set. Other little benefits is that while I have a poaching clause, there isn't a non-compete, which means I have a fully incorporated architecture firm running in the background and can take on additional work outside my current employer if I want. My employer is also generous; they've been paying me for holiday closing, "research", and some fairly vague non-billable hours without complaint (Revit, In-design, various software 'playing, 'mentoring', staff lunches, etc.).
Just understand that I'm 48 and have been in the business since I was 14 (Dad owned a firm). So you can say I have a lot of experience... yet I'm still learning things here. It's always beneficial to be surrounded by peers and co-workers. Architecture has a lot of verbal and experience sharing you can't really find on your own or reading tech manuals. Exposure is critical to continue your knowledge base.
EI - thanks! Congrats to you too. Its a great feeling to be done.
I'm actually in a very similar situation to you. If I was to send out for my license (finished with ARE also) prior to June 28, I would need like 28 more hours in CD's... if I wait, I'm totally finished. Considering I am not in a hurry and it gets significantly less expensive on June 28th, i'll probably just wait while continuing to log hours.
Mightyaa, yeah... I don't think EI was talking about 1099'ing experienced people who are experienced consulting experts. More like the office whipping boy who's on a 1099 and doesn't know to ask for double the normal hourly rate because of taxes.
^correct, I was referring to interns and aspiring architects who are being taken advantage of because they don't know any better. If you know what you're getting into, being an independent contractor can be a really good thing. My first real job ever was as an independent contractor. Of course, I was only 12 or 13 at the time and delivering newspapers out of bags on my bicycle's handlebars ... so probably getting taken advantage of a little bit as well.
archanonymous, I've got your extra 28 hours in CDs right here, plus an extra 1000 if you want them. I don't really need them (actually I do to get the total hours needed for my jurisdiction). You got any pre-design hours you can spare? We could both be done before the 28th.
I am looking forward to the savings on the NCARB certificate application. I think need to renew my NCARB record sometime in July. I think I can save $10 if I do it now rather than waiting.
EI, yeah I started as an independent contractor also... it was 2010, the market was terrible, and I was happy to just have a job.
I'll definitely trade with you - maybe we can get NCARB to allow that in the next version of IDP. They seem intent on making every other aspect of it less rigorous.
Your hours situation makes me realize what a crapshoot early career is... some people work only in schematic design before it gets handed off to someone.... some people work only on CD's and technical stuff.
I've never had what I would call a great mentor, at least since I started working after school. Built every manner of thing growing up, father was/is a general and finish carpenter and casework guy... helped him frame all manner of building... dimensional wood, heavy timber, light gauge steel, cabinets, countertops, trim, mouldings, veneer panels, etc... then worked at a steel shop for several years. If I hadn't I would feel so uncomfortable drawing buildings... I'm one of the ones that was relegated to concept and schematic design for the past 3 years, never getting to take a building through CD's.
I wonder if this dynamic is part of feedback loop - employees don't stay because they don't get good mentorship, good benefits, and good treatment. Since employees don't stick around, management has no reason to offer good mentorship or benefits. Therefore, employees don't stay around....
Transferred yesterday morning to a special children's hospital unfortunately. Heart rate needs monitoring for the next 24-48hrs so our homecoming plans need to be pushed back.
I'm waiting for updates from the dr. team. Thanks for checking in. Besides the elevated heart-rate, nothing else is of a concern thou.
Aw, Non Sequitur, I'm sorry you're having to push back the homecoming date. I'm sure you're eager to get that baby home! Good luck with heart rate getting to where it needs to be and everything else continuing to move in a good direction!
Thanks Donna. Wife is waiting for specialists while I'm in the office trying to tie-up all my projects so that when the time does come, I can escape knowing I won't come back to a gong-show.
I've been musing lately how much these lasts three weeks would have cost if not for my free healthcare: 3 different hospitals, extended stay in private room, various consultants & specialists but medical teams for transport... etc. Sure makes it hard to argue th $14/day parking fee.
my wife works for the hospital, so we have pretty good insurance, baby cost us so far (bills take awhile to come in) about $1,000. That's for a scheduled c-section and 3 night stay.
First few days in the new "real" office w/2 interns. They seem smart and are doing real work w/o too much of my oversight. This is awesome. Fingers crossed for the next few weeks. Excited about growing my biz.
And that stupid jerk in Orlando. Stupid guns. I've had enough. Can we invent a door that lets gun fools through then drops them into a pit full of mad vipers?
Thread Central
So....is so unnecessary.
I'm guilty of it. It's kind of like using like every other like work. Like seriously, I can't even. Oh a funny facebook post? Like!
"One of my best friends was 'black'"
Oh, man. Did you just type that with a straight face?
Read this sentence and answer me this:
Why Weren’t Rem Koolhaas’ Remarks at the AIA Not Widely Covered?
based on that sentence, were Rem's remarks covered, or not? Am I taking crazy pills?
Donna,
yeah, double negative.
Although I don't think that's what they were trying to say - i didn't see much coverage of them.
Is he not black anymore? What a strange place to put a past tense.
'black' (African American)
I was more bothered by the need to clarify with the parenthetical...
He could have been Dominican.
He could have been a coal mine worker Balkins and you didnt know better...did you're "best friend" have a canary?
Sounds like the echo chamber of neoliberalism rearing its ugly head.
Yep, I was just thinking this problem isn't unique to architecture.
couple things i've learned on my basement project -
no faced batt insulation unless drywall is tight to the facing, but the facing comes off pretty easily
don't lose the approved plans
no locks on a bedroom door if that is the path of egress
interconnected fire alarms are required unless almost impossible for renovation projects
inspectors have no problem "forgetting" things they accepted the day before
hold the fire blocking foam upside down or it won't empty properly
dogs hate powder actuated tools
digging holes and cutting holes in concrete are good jobs for someone else
lol shuelimi...
Other things you probably learned; Add a few thousand to the construction budget for those tools you probably won't ever use again; conduit bender, fish tape, staple gun, miter box, etc. Add two weeks to the project schedule just to account for all those extra trips back to the hardware store to buy that one little thing you forgot or ran out of.
Also, new nomenclature is learned like; "I love how I achieved wabi-sabi" (Zen aesthetic term centered on imperfection).
so tduds "on dominican" had this funny cop story....kid kicks down my fence mid day, monmouth county NJ. I am hanging with my 4 year old daughter at the time, i stare at him, dog licks him, he goes towards my front gate, i say "open the damn thing!", he apologizes as he leaves...............2 mins later some girl running down the street. i call the cops non 911 # and go "not really an emergency but some kid kicked down my fence from a neighbors yard, i guess i should report it.".......they send out a cop and the dog goes crazy, remember he licked the scared shitless kid.... cops asks "black or white?".....having lived a few years in Washington Heights(nyc) I go "Dominican." cop asks again "Black or white?"....i say"Can I say Brown?"......."sir, was he black?"........."no, Domican and black".....this goes on and on and I finally concede -"Ok black".....apparently his only option on the report?
"White or Black?" is code for "Handcuffs or Gun?"
i felt bad for the kid after that. he probably just broke up with his girlfriend, went out the backdoor and through my fence instead of the front door and my dog loved the kid and hated the cops.........but if you are Dominican you could be white right? fucked up man fucked up
What if he'd been Asian? The cop needs more options.
"One of my best friends was 'black'"
Oh, man. Did you just type that with a straight face?
and this quote from another:
Is he not black anymore? What a strange place to put a past tense.
No. It is because we haven't talked much directly since moving up to Astoria. Perhaps, I could say.... "is" but I haven't really talked with the friends I had in Los Angeles area that much at all. I put it in past tense because I haven't talked really talked to him in 20+ years.
The past tense is because Los Angeles is past tense in my life. It's like saying, "One of my favorite teachers in elementary school was ___________________." Where a name can be used. It was put in past tense because my life in Los Angeles area is in the past.
I thought tduds was a lady. Oops.
I just can't see you in Los Angeles. This has to be a lie. You wouldn't last two weeks in a large city.
I'm flattered.
Stop talking to Balkins. I think we should all agree on that.
Los Angeles has another angel this week by the way. (I'm visiting.)
Josh,
I did lived in Carson, California to be more precise. It's in the Los Angeles area. I can point to references. I have a birth certificate from Santa Monica, California.
Living or lasting in a large city, I could. It isn't an issue of could or couldn't. It is more that I don't particularly like the big city culture where no one gives a shit about anybody but themselves. I'm talking about the total lack on human decency and care. When you go to a place where people actually care about other people, why would you go back to a place where the majority of people have no human soul. You are just another number in their eyes. The lack of humanity in large cities is the biggest issue about big cities that I don't have an interest in living my at.
If the only response you get for saying hello or hi or any other human decent greeting is a middle finger raised, what does that tell ya about social humanity of the big cities.
Do you ever chuckle as you speak? I know I chuckle as I read. The irony is DELICIOUS.
well tduds, if brown is not an option than neither will be yellow....just sayin'.......just being logical, if my choices are colors.
Are Asians white then?
Someone better put in a call to the Monmouth County Sherrif to settle this.
considering all the taxes I pay, you'd think they would be able to provide more options. BW only? No RGB? ...........to give you an idea though how bored they are where I live - one day my wife thinks there might be an electrical short and tells me the Gypsum ceiling is turning Brown. I am in NYC at least 1 hr way, I say call the non emergency line.......same shit, not emergency but 3 boroughs of 2 fire trucks each show up. my wife is mortified. she was shocked by static electricity and they made her get checked out by the EMT who just happened to be in her cross fit class. Fortunately one of my neighbors was a fireman and looked up at the wiring and said "chief, i have an old house like this one def. needs to be looked at."............high taxes with nothing do. I want RGB options when making a police report damnit, if 6 fire trucks show up for a non emergency call......
the Gypsum ceiling is turning Brown
You didn't ask her to clarify Black or White?
hahaha....good point good point.
So ... (just kidding Wood Guy)
If anyone has been following PB80's thread asking for help on detailing a cantilever ... it makes me begin to see the benefit of IDP and the whole process of licensure based on internships/apprenticeship. Most of the time I like to complain about it, but in this case it begins to make a lot of sense as it seems they are lacking training. PB80's situation seems like they are a contract employee, getting jobs/tasks, but little to no instruction/mentorship. Looking at their post history, I'll admit they aren't in the 'traditional path' to licensure at the moment, but it seems like theirs is a perfect case for why we want older, more experienced architects mentoring young aspiring architects.
I think there is also a discussion in there about independent contractors vs. employees and the future of architecture where, at least anecdotally, it seems like independent contracting has been on the rise. It becomes even more apparent if you reference recent threads (like this, or this) about new rules for overtime and comments about making interns/aspiring architects contract employees (i.e. 1099) to avoid paying it.
Thoughts from the TC crew?
P.s. Happy Friday!
EI, I just completed IDP (as in, 1 week ago) so I wouldn't say I"m that far ahead of anyone...
You can finish IDP and pass the ARE's and still be clueless... just like 3/4 of the people I know with Ivy League educations. You can be a 10 or 20 year project manager and be clueless.
I think in general, professional licensure is a good thing, and in general people with 20 years experience know what they are doing... but I'm still consistently surprised! And that works in the other direction also - some people fresh out of school have other types of experience and just know how to build.
Completely agree archanonymous. My intent is NOT to say that IDP is foolproof or even a good method. But seeing situations like the one that PB80 is in, I can see some value.
I'm consistently surprised myself at the lack of knowledge and understanding in the profession ... I work with many clueless architects of all ages and experience levels. Myself, I'm probably one of those types that came out of school knowing how to build and I've largely viewed IDP as a waste of time. However, I still had/have a lot to learn.
Congrats on finishing IDP! I'm around 90% done with the IDP hours myself. That will change to around 98% done when the AXP restructuring happens at the end of the month. With the hours I have yet to report for the last few months, I might even be done once the change happens.
EI; Just FYI... I'm a 1099 independent contract employee. There are benefits to doing it this way if the circumstances are right and with the right employer.
Example; My wife is a Fed and has excellent health insurance coverage. Instead of workmans comp, I've got a full disability insurance (which means I'm covered regardless of whether it was on the job or not and covers my full salary). I've also got a good accountant who excels at writeoffs etc., so my taxes aren't harsh and aren't so arbitrarily set. Other little benefits is that while I have a poaching clause, there isn't a non-compete, which means I have a fully incorporated architecture firm running in the background and can take on additional work outside my current employer if I want. My employer is also generous; they've been paying me for holiday closing, "research", and some fairly vague non-billable hours without complaint (Revit, In-design, various software 'playing, 'mentoring', staff lunches, etc.).
Just understand that I'm 48 and have been in the business since I was 14 (Dad owned a firm). So you can say I have a lot of experience... yet I'm still learning things here. It's always beneficial to be surrounded by peers and co-workers. Architecture has a lot of verbal and experience sharing you can't really find on your own or reading tech manuals. Exposure is critical to continue your knowledge base.
EI - thanks! Congrats to you too. Its a great feeling to be done.
I'm actually in a very similar situation to you. If I was to send out for my license (finished with ARE also) prior to June 28, I would need like 28 more hours in CD's... if I wait, I'm totally finished. Considering I am not in a hurry and it gets significantly less expensive on June 28th, i'll probably just wait while continuing to log hours.
Mightyaa, yeah... I don't think EI was talking about 1099'ing experienced people who are experienced consulting experts. More like the office whipping boy who's on a 1099 and doesn't know to ask for double the normal hourly rate because of taxes.
Sounds like you have a pretty sweet setup.
^correct, I was referring to interns and aspiring architects who are being taken advantage of because they don't know any better. If you know what you're getting into, being an independent contractor can be a really good thing. My first real job ever was as an independent contractor. Of course, I was only 12 or 13 at the time and delivering newspapers out of bags on my bicycle's handlebars ... so probably getting taken advantage of a little bit as well.
archanonymous, I've got your extra 28 hours in CDs right here, plus an extra 1000 if you want them. I don't really need them (actually I do to get the total hours needed for my jurisdiction). You got any pre-design hours you can spare? We could both be done before the 28th.
I am looking forward to the savings on the NCARB certificate application. I think need to renew my NCARB record sometime in July. I think I can save $10 if I do it now rather than waiting.
EI, yeah I started as an independent contractor also... it was 2010, the market was terrible, and I was happy to just have a job.
I'll definitely trade with you - maybe we can get NCARB to allow that in the next version of IDP. They seem intent on making every other aspect of it less rigorous.
Your hours situation makes me realize what a crapshoot early career is... some people work only in schematic design before it gets handed off to someone.... some people work only on CD's and technical stuff.
I've never had what I would call a great mentor, at least since I started working after school. Built every manner of thing growing up, father was/is a general and finish carpenter and casework guy... helped him frame all manner of building... dimensional wood, heavy timber, light gauge steel, cabinets, countertops, trim, mouldings, veneer panels, etc... then worked at a steel shop for several years. If I hadn't I would feel so uncomfortable drawing buildings... I'm one of the ones that was relegated to concept and schematic design for the past 3 years, never getting to take a building through CD's.
I wonder if this dynamic is part of feedback loop - employees don't stay because they don't get good mentorship, good benefits, and good treatment. Since employees don't stick around, management has no reason to offer good mentorship or benefits. Therefore, employees don't stay around....
Here we are again, drowning in sadness and feeling fragile as a society because of some dumbass with an automatic weapon.
Fuck.
dumbass with dumb ideas and access to dumb guns due to ass-fuckingly dumb gun laws.
Non Seq, how's the babe?
Transferred yesterday morning to a special children's hospital unfortunately. Heart rate needs monitoring for the next 24-48hrs so our homecoming plans need to be pushed back.
I'm waiting for updates from the dr. team. Thanks for checking in. Besides the elevated heart-rate, nothing else is of a concern thou.
good luck non!
Thanks Shue.
Aw, Non Sequitur, I'm sorry you're having to push back the homecoming date. I'm sure you're eager to get that baby home! Good luck with heart rate getting to where it needs to be and everything else continuing to move in a good direction!
Thanks Donna. Wife is waiting for specialists while I'm in the office trying to tie-up all my projects so that when the time does come, I can escape knowing I won't come back to a gong-show.
I've been musing lately how much these lasts three weeks would have cost if not for my free healthcare: 3 different hospitals, extended stay in private room, various consultants & specialists but medical teams for transport... etc. Sure makes it hard to argue th $14/day parking fee.
my wife works for the hospital, so we have pretty good insurance, baby cost us so far (bills take awhile to come in) about $1,000. That's for a scheduled c-section and 3 night stay.
I imagine your cost here would be astronomical!
Maybe dr. balkins can figure it out?
I dread trying to figure out what a baby will end up costing us.
And that stupid jerk in Orlando. Stupid guns. I've had enough. Can we invent a door that lets gun fools through then drops them into a pit full of mad vipers?
Could guns have an architectural solution?
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