get the job done

[ultranos]

Let's try actually using this thing more, because god knows we're all going to need each other.

As something of another chapter in the ongoing clusterfuck that is my life, I've been trying to figure out my next move. (the description of this year as a backgammon game where you always make the best possible move but the dice fucking hate you remains as apt as ever)

I will admit that there's a large part of me that is starting to run on anger and spite. Mostly in the form of if the people who voted for destroying my future can sleep easy, then I'm gonna turn around and spend my life tearing down everything they love. And, you know, in the process make the world better because fuck them.

So I've been poking around non-profits and advocacy groups for clean energy, clean water, affordable medical technologies, etc. I've got this collection of technical knowledge, and I want to feel useful. It's never been about the money, beyond "have enough to survive". But the more I think about this idea, the more I really like the idea of throwing myself into this world, even if it's taking technical papers and work and translating that into workable lay-speak. I'm stumbling around semi-blindly, since my previous experience in non-profit has been on "R&D for military applications" side of things, which...well, you can understand my hesitance in that when I don't trust the people in charge less far than I can throw them. Anyone have any ideas of where might need an engineer, that'd be great.

Comments

[abyssinia]

Maybe chat with Engineers without Borders?

Also, in the earth and environmental sciences groups there are several paid internships for scientists who want to get involved in policy and/or media relations - check your engineering professional organizations for what they might have?

Get Tesla to hire you?

[ultranos]

Yeah, I went to go talk to an advocacy group for networking purposes on Friday. There's work being done that might need an engineer, but I'm still casting the net. And I talked to the career center person for the engineering school on Thursday.

Hey, if I'm going to do this, might as well do it right.

[splinteredstar]

engineers without borders was the first thing I thought of, yeah. also engineeraid. habitat for humanity probably uses more civils... maybe education groups, on the "translate engineer speak into not-engineer speak" angle. Help teach kids about engineering.

one thing you might want to start looking into - you know infosec, right? make sure that your local immigration and voter's rights groups do too.

I know some people who do non profit stuff, I'll ask around

[splinteredstar]

friend #1 (genderqueer, does non profit work in chicago, the only person I know who's as angry at the world as you) seconds the info sec, and also possibly stem education for young girls. I looked around online for what groups would be local for you, but I couldn't find any off hand. I know some focus on education for immigrant girls. Even without interacting with the podlings in person, you could check over the engineering and make sure it's solid.

friend #2 (nyc, has done anti-poverty activism for 20+ years) has not gotten back with me, but I will let you know when she does.

[ultranos]

Thanks.

Re: infosec

I'm not specifically trained, but I probably know more than the average person, at least from the social engineering side. Can't stop someone from hacking a computer, but I could probably flag someone trying to hack a person. (I picked up a bunch from running spy games like a psychological experiment and hang out with way too many security devOps people.)

For computer infosec, I'm at the level of "oh my god, use fucking Tor and a VPN and get rid of your trackers".

[havocthecat]

So, uh, do you have recommendations for reasonably priced VPNs? I mean, I'm not bitcoin-literate, I couldn't pay for it in virtual currency (I hear that's the ultimate secure way to go), but I'd be curious as to a trusted friend's rec as to something for the average-ish user.

[havocthecat]

Make the world better for everyone. Go for it.

(If there's an apocalypse, I want you in my camp. I've already mentally staffed it out with various people in a dream scenario where we get enough warning to get everyone travelling in time to hunker down in someone's rural fortress and stockpile supplies. I read science fiction; I have weird - for some values of weird - mental scenarios.)