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Pro Tips for Life

Text Editor Power User Tips

If you hold alt you can do a "box select" in most text editors. It is extremely useful for copy/pasting blocks of text. If you hold control you can quickly scroll through, select, and erase entire words instead of letters. Those seem like minor things until you get used to it and use an editor without those features.

deadbeef said:
That's pretty cool, but I think a notebook designed for holding CDs is a little better because you can store it on a shelf and not take up very much space. That thing looks kind of awkward.
Well, the main benefit is random access. You can look at your catalog list and move the dial to the exact game you want instead of flipping through a book of cds. The other benefit is that thieves are less likely to take it because it looks like a piece of office equipment instead of a media holder.
 
Protip: If you got wolf spiders in your house, place chestnuts around your window sills, and door ways. They'll keep the spiders out. Spiders also hate lemon. Spray Lemon Pledge on your sills and that will keep them away too.

This is especially useful now that winter is here. Spiders tend to try and get into warmer places (IE your house).
 
Meloche said:
You seem to have used this thread as an outlet -- outlets are good -- but maybe I can give you some advice anyways. The nice thing about the internet and anonymity is that you can take it or leave it and it doesn't matter.

Anyways, I can relate to bits of what you seem to be going through. Like me, you like to plan things out, and you like to know what you're getting into before you do it. The problem is that you'll never know enough.

Most people have no idea what they want to do either; I can't tell you how many times I've heard from successful speakers who, when asked how they managed to get where they are today basically just said they have no idea because they just did one thing they liked doing, which lead to an opportunity doing something else they wanted to try, which lead to further opportunities, until they ended up running some company.

Understand this: You will NEVER be 100% certain that what you're doing is the best thing for you or ultimately what you should be doing. What you are requiring of yourself is to be able to 100% accurately predict the future. That's an impossible standard to meet, and you're doing yourself a disservice by doing so. Telling you to just do something isn't bad advice, but like me, you probably need a little context to understand why.

Things will never be perfect -- don't expect yourself to wake up one day with a perfect vision of what your life will be like. Some people are blessed in that they know exactly what they want to do and how to go about doing that from an early age, but most aren't (a friend of mine knew he wanted to be a CPA when he was like 12, and so it's no surprise that he's well on his way on that very defined process). Instead, just make it your mission to find things that you like doing. If you don't know what you like doing, TRY NEW THINGS. Volunteer for various organizations, go take night classes in weird subjects, play sports, meet people and talk to them about what they like doing to see if it's something you may enjoy as well. The point is that without any experiences to fall back on, all that sitting around and thinking you're doing is just going to bring up how much you hate your boring job because you haven't experienced anything else.

You need to live, you need to eat. Most people's feeling of self-worth is tied to what they feel they've accomplished, and being out of work for 2 years probably doesn't help. I have no idea what your background is, so if it's just job-hunting tips you need I suggest reading "What Color is Your Parachute" by Richard Bolles, otherwise you may be stuck with those boring entry level jobs (for now) just so you can keep going. Then while you're working, start exploring other things (aforementioned volunteering, education, sports, anything that is even remotely interesting to you and that gets you meeting people that can further help you find out what you like). I can't imagine that you don't have any interests at all, so there should be at least something you like doing. Hell you're on neogaf, so you probably at least like videogames-- go work for a videogame company.

The point is that you just need to start, it doesn't matter what. Don't worry about picking the wrong thing and having to start over: first of all, learning what you don't like to do is valuable, and chances are you'll gain some knowledge/transferable skills that you can use doing something else (even if it's totally unrelated). Once you are doing things, and involved in all sorts of areas outside of work, you'll find things start to happen. One of the guys on the board of the charity you're working for that you start getting along great with happens to also run a business and he has a job for you because he's impressed with your work ethic. Or you play basketball at nights with a chef for a fancy restaurant and the more you guys talk, the more you realize how much you love to cook food. Or WHATEVER. It doesn't fucking matter what it is, just realize that the more you get yourself out there, meeting people, doing new things, the more likely it is that you'll find what you want to be doing with your life. And surprise, you'll also find that because of all this stuff you've been doing you're so much more than just an entry-level data entry guy because you have all this other experience and knowledge, and because of that you get the job.

Ultimately, it's up to you. Your situation WILL NOT CHANGE unless you own up and take complete responsibility for it, and that's not something I or anyone can force you to do. But you may want to consider that obviously what you're doing right now isn't working, and so considering what other people have to say may be a good idea. And if you decide to ignore everything I've said, do me a favour, pick up reading as a hobby. Mix it up between classics, non-fiction, and quality fiction covering all kinds of topics. It's not the same as experiencing, but at least you'll still be exposed to a multitude of new perspectives and eventually something may stick with you. Gaf's monthly 'what are you reading' thread is a pretty good place to get recommendations from people with (probably) similar tastes to you, or just browse amazon in interesting categories. Make a goal to read one book a week and stick to it.

well said.
 
After you're done cutting off the green parts on scallions (green onions), if you you take the roots, put them in water, and give them sunlight they will grow back.

The small extra pocket found on the right side of most blue jeans was originally intended for pocket watches, which you could pull out using the chain. It's also pretty good at holding your chapstick and some people use it for change.
 
Hey GAF, I'm really stressing out and need some advice badly.

I've been working in a restaurant now for about a year or so, and while initially I enjoyed my time there and developed some great relationships. Lately...and probably since the beginning when I was looking at the job more romantically, things have been falling apart.

Let me get the specifics out of the way. It's a big restaurant and is always highly frantic from between 4-9, usually the hours I work. Now I enjoy the rush, running around and preparing meals and so forth. But recently corporate cut hours in order to save money and left us with usually three to four people a night! And that is to work the entire kitchen! mind you, serving 300+ guests average a night and ~1000 a day, multiply that twice for weekends and holidays.

Initially it wasn't so bad because most of us are rather experienced and know our way around. However it's usually requested that the managers provide us kitchen staff with information on how many guests they're averaging, how many standing in line and so forth so that we can prepare and change positions if needed. All they need to do is come to the kitchen and say "X tables open, X standing" simple and at least once every 30 minutes. This has not been happening at all. Now when I first started this wasn't really a problem since we'd have about 6-7 people a night and redundancies were common. The chefs still requested it though as they were always busy and needed to know how to arrange their cooks, platers and so forth. Cut to the last two months with reduced personnel and tensions started rising.

Last Sunday it all came to a head and four line personnel finished their jobs for the night, cleaned up and said they were not coming back. A couple of the guys got into a verbal war with two of the managers on duty for ignoring their pleas for table calls, server arrangements and a general lack of communication...something that has been going on since forever. One of the managers was all nonchalant about the situation and while laughing asked if they were serious; this only further aggravated the situation and they all left for real.

I didn't work that day but soon after closing time my cellphone was ablaze with a steady stream of calls and texts from the people who'd just quit. I was in shock because everyone in the kitchen had become good friends on and off work, and to suddenly find out that they were not returning was a big deal. Monday morning came and the general manager called all those who'd walked off in for an interview, along with me and everyone in the kitchen. Only two of the people who'd quit showed up. We talked for about an hour about work conditions, the lack of communication, respect and so forth. Notes were taken by the GM, and the GM offered many incentives for the people who'd quit to stay. None of them took up the offer.

Eventually the GM pulled me to the side and asked me if I was planing to stay or leave as well. I told them that I honestly didn't know and that losing all those guys left a massive void in their ability to serve guests and that morale had dropped from everyone I'd talked to. Several moments of awkwardness later between now ex employees and management followed before everyone went their separate ways.

Now here is where it changes from me being a bystander to wanting to walk out tonight. One of the managers came to me last week and asked if I could work mothers day(This Sunday) now I usually don't work on Sundays and this was mothers day as well. I said "Yes" anyway since at the time I expected to work with all the other guys and have an enjoyable time pushing meals together. Well we know how that turned out...Anyway today I checked my schedule and she put me in DISH for mothers day...when the **** have I worked dish!? Sure I did it several times as a favour to friends and management when the dishwashers were really backed up, but it isn't my job.

Anyway I swallowed my tongue and said "Whatever, it's just mothers day" fast forward to today and I double check my shift tomorrow only to find out that they ADDED an extra shift stealthily to my schedule without even asking me! Now I print my schedules out every Sunday night so I know what I can or can't do during the week, and I was so not scheduled to work at ******* morning and again at 4Pm tomorrow! I double checked with some others and found out that their shifts had also been changed stealthily in the past as well. And here is my main point of contention apart from all the rest; I was given my review three weeks ago and they went: "Oh you're so awesome, always willing to help. Don't talk back to management, friendly and have pride in your work...BUT we can't give you a raise lolz" All of the sudden I got a dollar raise yesterday for "being a loyal and hard working employee" when I wasn't at the time of my review?

I hate being treated as if I'm a pushover just because I bend over so far for other people. I don't have too, I could do my part and not help anyone else at all, but that's not the type of person I am. So when I put my foot forward to lend a hand I don't expect to do the whole damn job by myself! I am so spent right now both mentally and physically. the reason I don't tell managers to go F themselves is because I have respect for others and can bite my tongue through anything. But this has gone way too ****** far. I like my job, the people I work with are great but the ridiculousness of the management is really testing my patience. Even after all the things we talked about, nothing has changed at all! We got table calls today for about an hour before the manager tonight wandered off and never came back to the kitchen again the entire night!

Argh. I want to quit, I want to quit so bad it's not even funny. But here's the problem once more! My bleeding heart won't let me do it...even though they're using me at this point, for some reason I keep thinking "If I quit they'll be screwed" on the inside. Yet a part of me is saying "Who cares!? Their loss". If I quit they'll only have 3 people left in the entire restaurant kitchen :lol The GM has been rifling through resumes like made for the last couple of days trying to replace the four they lost. I don't blame them for quitting......I come home at night everyday around 12 or 1am and just sit there for like an hour, trying to sort my feelings out and...it's just so silly to have to feel this way over a job. It's three in the morning and here I am once again...

What should I do? I'm so lost. God I wish I was done school!
 
Russell said:
Okay, I'm gonna be honest here: Some of these posts are making me really angry.

Esp. this post:


I don't need anyone to tell me this shit. I'm about 10-12 years older than the average GAF poster.

I've been out of work for almost two years now. Honestly, I'm sick of the low-paying, entry-level, meaningless data entry office temp jobs I've held most of my adult life. I'm not looking forward to going back to this shit. Don't fucking tell me I need to "act," because, honestly -- and I mean HONESTLY -- I don't know what the fuck I want to do with my life. I already know that I need to be doing something that's productive, stimulating, and rewarding (good pay).

Don't fucking tell me that complaining about it, thinking about it (<--- esp. this), talking about it, or wishing it isn't going to change my situation. Goddamn, I feel like I want to hurt someone. FUCK!

[lol, I think you triggered one of my emotional buttons.]

But seriously, don't ever tell me I need to "act" (you don't think I already know this?), because I don't know what I want to do.

And believe me -- oooh, BELIEVE ME -- I must have spent thousands of hours just THINKING about what the hell I want to do with my life (income-wise).

Please don't be mad at me, as I don't like conflict.

And please don't tell me to seek "help", as in psychiatric counseling or some such shit -- because I'll just tell you to f--- off. I'm sick of hearing it. I'm not that stupid.

Eh, I think I'm calming down a bit. I'm a very calm, passive person in real life. I NEVER show anger at people, and I don't like it when people get angry or judgemental or critical of me, because it makes me feel like I want to hurt them, even though I never would. I'm a vegan for chrissakes. I'm extremely anti-violent.

I just wish I knew -- with one hundred percent absolute certainty (not 99.99%, but 100%) -- what I wanted to do. But I don't. I feel like I'm fucking dying from lack of a productive, stimulating, and rewarding activity. I really, REALLY fucking wish I knew what I want to do. I just wish it would fucking come to me somehow.

Fucking $13-$14/hour -- even $15/hr -- doesn't seem that much to me, maybe 2-3 years ago it would have.

Just a few days ago I was thinking to myself, Am I fucking LAZY?! FUCK!! I don't like to think I am. I mean, I REALLY don't like to think I am. Being lazy is just despicable. I have no respect for slackers, especially after seeing that movie for the first time last year. God, I felt like I wanted to beat the shit out of some of those people in that movie.

Thanks for reading. I needed some kind of outlet to type out what's going on in my mind.

But don't ever, EVER fault me for complaining, thinking, talking, or wishing. If I knew with 100-percent certainty what I wanted to do, I'd be doing it in a fucking second.
Read the first sentence of every paragraph and you sound a little schizophrenic
 
I will like to add reading has been good to me, it hasn't made me an expert but various books have giving me enough knowledge that i can hold my own when discussing a certain subject. A few years ago i would have been the guy in the background who never says anything or had an opinion about anything.

Also make it a habit to read books that interest you.
 
Russel, I really feel for you. I STILL didn't know what I wanted to do with my life until I turned 35.

Having said that, I think if I died tomorrow I would have lived a relatively interesting life.

I've lived and worked in Taiwan and Thailand, and visited 6 or 7 other countries for extended holidays. I don't like to just visit somewhere - I meet the locals and do stuff off the beaten track.

I've lost count of the different jobs that I've done. Eco-builder, T shirt designer, Radio presenter, Disability carer, Drug dealer, Cartoonist, Call centre drone, IT tester, Cafe manager, Bookshop owner, English teacher, Courier driver, Student... etc etc

I spent about 8 years as a drug fucked unemployed artist/bum back in the early 90s which was probably a huge waste of time, but it's too late to change it now.

But at the end of the day, I have no debt, no responsibility and very little stress.

However, I do regret not studying and getting a 'real' job. I'm in the same position as you now. I'm back in Australia after working in rural Thailand for 4 months and the only work I can get here is mind numbing call centre/data entry roles. Even that hasn't worked out for me yet.. No job after applying for the last 7 weeks.

So now I'm studying an IT diploma (web design) and selling framed illustrations at the weekend market to get some extra $. Life isn't so good at the moment, but I try to always keep some goal in mind. Now my goal is to finish my diploma ASAP and go back to Taiwan and teach English again.

Some advice to young folks..

1. Try drugs, have some fun but don't end up one of those boring potheads that let a drug define their life (ie: what I was like for 8 + years). You WILL regret it when you hit your middle age years.

2. Don't be scared. Just do it. I was terrified before I first went to Asia to try a new life. It's the best thing I ever did. Don't think you are too old, or too dumb or too poor. Just fuckin' do it! What's the worst that can happen?

3.Just keep trying stuff until you find something that you like. I tried English teaching in 2007 and love it! I'll do that until I retire now.
 
CrushDance said:
Hey GAF, I'm really stressing out and need some advice badly.
...
What should I do? I'm so lost. God I wish I was done school!
You know what you have to do. I just think you don't like to be confrontational so you've been avoiding it. And to make things worse, the people who would have backed you up are gone.

Basically, you have to stand up for yourself and tell them to stop scheduling you for days without consulting you first, and to stop giving you duties you didn't sign on for. They will either concede or push back. But you will have at least made your point of view known.

The Power of a Positive No has helped some people I know in similar situations. You might want to give it a read.
 
Norwegian Wood said:
I will like to add reading has been good to me, it hasn't made me an expert but various books have giving me enough knowledge that i can hold my own when discussing a certain subject. A few years ago i would have been the guy in the background who never says anything or had an opinion about anything.

Also make it a habit to read books that interest you.

Is Norweigan Wood a happy coincidence?
 
pubba said:
Russel, I really feel for you. I STILL didn't know what I wanted to do with my life until I turned 35.

Having said that, I think if I died tomorrow I would have lived a relatively interesting life.

I've lived and worked in Taiwan and Thailand, and visited 6 or 7 other countries for extended holidays. I don't like to just visit somewhere - I meet the locals and do stuff off the beaten track.

I've lost count of the different jobs that I've done. Eco-builder, T shirt designer, Radio presenter, Disability carer, Drug dealer, Cartoonist, Call centre drone, IT tester, Cafe manager, Bookshop owner, English teacher, Courier driver, Student... etc etc

I spent about 8 years as a drug fucked unemployed artist/bum back in the early 90s which was probably a huge waste of time, but it's too late to change it now.

But at the end of the day, I have no debt, no responsibility and very little stress.

However, I do regret not studying and getting a 'real' job. I'm in the same position as you now. I'm back in Australia after working in rural Thailand for 4 months and the only work I can get here is mind numbing call centre/data entry roles. Even that hasn't worked out for me yet.. No job after applying for the last 7 weeks.

So now I'm studying an IT diploma (web design) and selling framed illustrations at the weekend market to get some extra $. Life isn't so good at the moment, but I try to always keep some goal in mind. Now my goal is to finish my diploma ASAP and go back to Taiwan and teach English again.

Some advice to young folks..

1. Try drugs, have some fun but don't end up one of those boring potheads that let a drug define their life (ie: what I was like for 8 + years). You WILL regret it when you hit your middle age years.

2. Don't be scared. Just do it. I was terrified before I first went to Asia to try a new life. It's the best thing I ever did. Don't think you are too old, or too dumb or too poor. Just fuckin' do it! What's the worst that can happen?

3.Just keep trying stuff until you find something that you like. I tried English teaching in 2007 and love it! I'll do that until I retire now.
I like posts like this.

Out of curiosity, how old are you?
 
Always have enough money in savings that you can tell your boss to go fuck themselves if the arises.

But don't say that exactly because while it will feel awesome, you'll want their reference later.

Still, save money.
 
Protip: To slow down the process of cheddar cheese (the real kind, not that processed crap) moulding in your fridge, wrap a paper towel around it before placing it in the package.

The paper towel will absorb moisture and make your cheese last longer.
Works for crackerbarrel slices, and pre-grated cheese too.

demon said:
I like posts like this.

Out of curiosity, how old are you?

It says in the first line that he's 35. I'm guessing that he's 36 now, since this thread is like, a year old.

Re-subscribing to this thread. Forgot how wonderful it is. Keep it alive people!
 
Ettenra said:
Always have enough money in savings that you can tell your boss to go fuck themselves if the arises.

But don't say that exactly because while it will feel awesome, you'll want their reference later.

Still, save money.

i swear my math professor told me this verbatim maybe a month ago
 
Health tips:


Hamilton's take, which is supported by a growing body of research, is that the amount of time you exercise and the amount of time you spend on your butt are completely separate factors for heart-disease risk. New evidence suggests, in fact, that the more hours a day you sit, the greater your likelihood of dying an earlier death regardless of how much you exercise or how lean you are. That's right: Even a sculpted six-pack can't protect you from your chair.

  • Healthy between meal snacks are a good way to boost your metabolism.
  • Running with thin soled shoes can help reduce the risk of injuries by letting you feel the feedback necessary to improve your running form.
  • Bright light at night, like the kind coming from a tv or computer monitor, can mess with your sleep cycle. Turn the brightness down, use high contrast themes, or, better yet, turn them off altogether before bed.

Frisca Yan-Go, director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center in Santa Monica, told the LA Times that really, you shouldn't be playing with light-emitting gadgets before bed.

"The take-home lesson is that insomnia and electronics gadgets emitting light should not [be] mixed before bedtime," he told the paper in an e-mail. "Kindle is better for your sleep," he said later.
 
Here's my protip: Don't make me come over there.

I'm just saying.

Hey, easy sport lol

Mine would be buy household cleaning stuff at the dollar store. You can also find good deals on toothpaste and stuff there, name brands. You’ll save some dough.
 
Health tips:

[*]Healthy between meal snacks are a good way to boost your metabolism.

Snacks are actually a terrible idea and this "health tip" needs to stop being peddled about by people who don't understand science.

Eating spikes insulin. Insulin promotes fat storage which in turn slows your metabolism. So snacking is actually detrimental to you. Stick to main meals and don't snack in between.
The longer your insulin stays lower, the more insulin sensitive you become and the milder your spikes become.

It's why fasting has become popular in recent times, because longer periods of low insulin promote fat mobilisation, an increase in HGH and an easy way to keep calories down while still enjoying normal meals later in the day.

Also breakfast is NOT the most important meal. In fact, it's not even necessary as you generally have plenty of energy in the morning.

ed- Oh this was 6 years ago. Well let's hope this myth is a bit less prevalent now.
 
When you do this do you also tell them things like "You look down and see a tortoise laying on it's back, it's belly baking in the hot sun. It tries to right itself but it can't, not without your help but you're not helping it" ?

This. But be sure that you don't ask about the person's mother.
 
Snacks are actually a terrible idea and this "health tip" needs to stop being peddled about by people who don't understand science.

[...]

ed- Oh this was 6 years ago. Well let's hope this myth is a bit less prevalent now.

Replying to a post that was 6.5 years old...
 
Don’t be a dick to people for no reason but also don’t subscribe to the “Respect everyone’s opinion” shit. Some people are ignorant, awful human beings who disguise truly primitive, demonstrably false and straight up inhumane viewpoints as just a difference of opinion. Not how the world works. Call pieces of shit for what they are.
 
Not mind blowing, but the back of kitchen shears with the ridges help open quite a few things with stuck on lids.

Edit: Damn. I didn't realize how old this thread was.
 
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