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Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

gavinray97.github.io

71–80 of 452 posts

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#71
post #2

I love such stories. Right now, a lot of folks I know are struggling to find jobs, so I read the part about how he got a job the first day he was out of jail with some astonishment and nostalgia for the simpler days, when showing interest was often enough to land the job! Now, hoop number 1, the AI resume filter, is a strange obstacle that one has to jump through first.

The job market is rough. My wife went back to school for audio/sound design, finished the program + got a bunch of certifications. She's been trying to get anything, even an unpaid internship, doing sound design, going to local meetups, online conferences, and hasn't had much luck. But I told her: it's just a matter of persistence and time. If you're agreeable to be around, passionate about something, and just show u…

Without a portfolio it will be difficult.

Would recommend joining a local film club, and get a few small projects done. Additionally, volunteer with local church events, or regular city music festivals.

Also, could join the local union intake for the production studios. It will be awful until one gets the base hours completed, but it is a feast or famine kind of work schedule some can tolerate. Fine work if you are still a kid.

Finding stuff online is usually a fools errand these days mostly due to "AI" data mining operations, or outright cons. Best of luck =3

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#72
post #55

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

You could make a similar argument for bicycles. Apparently the numbers for bicycles are a bit better, even in adjusted terms, but still. They're very unsafe in general.

It's a lot easier to ride recklessly on a motorcycle than an ordinary bike. I suppose mopeds/motor scooters (especially electric ones) are the sensible middle-of-the-road option.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#73

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

[dead]

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#75
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Writing articles by hand isn’t just smart— it’s important. No shortcuts. No filler. No excuses. Key insight: relying on AI for writing assistance helps neither the author nor the audience.

Ironically saying "isn’t just smart— it’s important" (complete with em-dash!) and "No shortcuts. No filler. No excuses." sounds very AI-generated. Not saying it is, just pointing out how messed up the world we live in now is. But... was it?

It reads as clear ironic AI speak.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stay safe, young grasshopper. You can be the best rider in the world and still have a bad day/week/month/year/life.

Can never predict your future. Enjoy what you will, when you can. I was in a motorcycle accident in 2021, TBI, hospitalized for 3mo, induced coma, and rehab for 9 months after. I am back on the horse. It is just a zen and still relaxing time, albeit more anxiety while riding, than before. Thankful I can still ride, and I do.

Safest travels. Glad to hear you humped back on 'er.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#77
post #58

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

Have you ever been on a motorcycle? Closest feeling you can get to flying and a helluva lot cheaper. Bike costs are line noise, (cheap!) planes I fly are better part of $200 an hour. I get what you're saying though. Barely been on bike since latest baby and wondering if I should just sell them for now. As much as I miss riding and wife misses riding with me, if the worst were to happen, yikes.

> Closest feeling you can get to flying

I’d say this is a strong case against getting one for anyone who has struggled with addiction. In my experience a part of the constant battle is a difficult relationship with sources of stimulation.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The job market is rough. My wife went back to school for audio/sound design, finished the program + got a bunch of certifications. She's been trying to get anything, even an unpaid internship, doing sound design, going to local meetups, online conferences, and hasn't had much luck. But I told her: it's just a matter of persistence and time. If you're agreeable to be around, passionate about something, and just show u…

Without a portfolio it will be difficult. Would recommend joining a local film club, and get a few small projects done. Additionally, volunteer with local church events, or regular city music festivals. Also, could join the local union intake for the production studios. It will be awful until one gets the base hours completed, but it is a feast or famine kind of work schedule some can tolerate. Fine work if you are s…

The key, for me, was to get a computer. Once I had that, the world opened up.

It allowed me to "get my hands dirty," and experiment, as well as build a portfolio.

To this day, I have a large amount of public code. It's a habit that I've had, all my adult life.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#80
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The wrecklessness which brings some people into prison, is what brings them & others lusting towards motorcycle culture, often shortly upon release. Something something something anti-social something. I'm just offering real-world advice after witnessing all the broken bones and jerked roadrash upon this tattoo'd convict's broken body. Shouldn't be alive.

Billions of people have a motorcycle globally... Some anecdote from a chronically motorcycle adverse culture (US) doesn't mean a whole mean of transport is invalid...

> chronically adverse culture

That's the thing. On a bike you can do everything right and still lose.

California is one of the safer places to ride given how many bikes are here and I've still had too many near misses as a trained, experienced, and conservative rider.

Most people put 1-2k miles a year on their bikes, when I was riding often I put on 2-3k/ month.

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