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Recent graduate looking for advice

I wouldn't worry about wasting peoples time. Most companies with openings end up screening tons of candidates. It's just part of their job. The only person who loses is you if you don't put yourself out there. As for benefits, most mid-large sized companies will have very similar packages. At...
- patrick409
- Post #17
- Mar 14, 2013
- Forum: Programming
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Recent graduate looking for advice

The entry level salaries at mid/smaller size companies may be more competitive than you think. Apply for jobs with them and find out. At worst you're getting some interview experience. You will also get a much better feel for the market prices in general. Not everyone can(or wants) to work for...
- patrick409
- Post #15
- Mar 14, 2013
- Forum: Programming
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Recent graduate looking for advice

Does UW have career counseling/recruitment resources you can use? Usually larger companies that hire entry level positions for their analyst level programs will post those openings at various schools' career websites. That's how I (and pretty much all my undergrad classmates) got my first job...
- patrick409
- Post #6
- Mar 13, 2013
- Forum: Programming
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Foodies in Chicago: what's new, what's still worth checking out?

The last time I was at Publican for brunch they had a pork schnitzel BLT of sorts. An entire table of strangers stared at me as I ate it. It was delicious. I think they only have brunch on Sundays though. If you like celebrity chefs, you can try Frontera Grill. If you're going to be in the...
- patrick409
- Post #43
- Feb 4, 2013
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Foodies in Chicago: what's new, what's still worth checking out?

Try Franks 'n Dawgs for hot dogs if you don't want to trek out to doug's. Their truffle fries and fried pickles are excellent as well. For burgers I really like Lockdown and Bad Apple. Edit: If you like ramen definitely try out the spicy garlic miso ramen at Wasabi near Logan Sq. Publican...
- patrick409
- Post #26
- Feb 4, 2013
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Favorite B/W eReader?

The light is always on, but at the lowest brightness setting you can barely tell it's on. If you're in daylight the screen will look like any other non-lit ereader if you turn the brightness down.
- patrick409
- Post #19
- Jan 15, 2013
- Forum: Mobile Devices
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Favorite B/W eReader?

Agree on the light. I have a Kindle Paperwhite and the light is a HUGE plus. Definitely pick a reader with a built in light.
- patrick409
- Post #18
- Jan 15, 2013
- Forum: Mobile Devices
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Best $200 Android 4.x for StraightTalk?

If you can wait for the Nexus 4, I think it's worth it. I managed to get an 8gb Nexus 4 in the initial release and I've been loving it. The experience is extremely fast and lag free. 8gb of storage is kinda low, but I don't play games on it and I tend to rotate my music so space hasn't been a...
- patrick409
- Post #43
- Dec 7, 2012
- Forum: Mobile Devices
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1 Month with my new car. I love this thing. :)

Awesome! I bought a 2012 base Black GTI this past April. I actually wanted the shadow blue but they didn't have any base models in stock anywhere nearby, so I settled for black instead of waiting. I still get a smile on my face whenever I go for a drive. Did you get 6MT or the DSG?
- patrick409
- Post #8
- Nov 30, 2012
- Forum: The Garage
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Take the job offer or no?

Hmm in that case I think you should talk to the hiring manager and see if he'll allow you to start with your class in Jan, but take the 4 weeks off anyways. Otherwise I will vote for declining the job and taking the trip for the following reasons. 1) You like your current job. They like you...
- patrick409
- Post #43
- Nov 29, 2012
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Take the job offer or no?

Is the trip all or nothing? I.e if you talk to the manager/starting manager maybe you can negotiate where you only take a 2 week trip instead of 4 weeks? That way you get to join your friends for at least part of the trip. Personally I think these huge multi week trips are an experience of a...
- patrick409
- Post #28
- Nov 29, 2012
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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school me on buying an apartment

I haven't looked into agents yet, but the condo I'm looking at was constructed in 2009 and I'd be buying a new unoccupied apartment directly from the realty company. Do you still recommend getting an agent? Or would talking directly to the realty company be more advantageous to me?
- patrick409
- Post #6
- Nov 27, 2012
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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school me on buying an apartment

I had to google Mello Roos. This seems to be a California thing? I don't think Illinois does something similar, so I only have to worry about property taxes (around 1.5% for the apt I'm looking at). HOA - Depends on the building I guess, but I'll use one specific condo I'm looking at for my...
- patrick409
- Post #4
- Nov 27, 2012
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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school me on buying an apartment

Hi ATOT, I'm planning on buying a condo early next year (prob Apr/May). Anyone bought recently and would like to share their experiences? School me on what I should know? Some facts: - location is Chicago (specifically somewhere in the Loop for the Chicagoans) - 2BR apartment in a high rise...
- patrick409
- Thread
- Nov 27, 2012
- Replies: 6
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Anyone ever eat at the Heart Attack Grill?

Ate at the one by Vegas. Food wasn't that great. The hostess/waitresses all wore sexy nurse outfits though.
- patrick409
- Post #7
- Nov 27, 2012
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Need a new daily driver <$25k

Yeah the plaid tends to be fairly love/hate from anyone who has seen it. Fwiw, it's not nearly as "loud" in person. The cloth is darker than the pictures show. I wasn't too big a fan either when I was car shopping online, but once I got a chance to sit in the car they grew on me pretty quick...
- patrick409
- Post #51
- Aug 14, 2012
- Forum: The Garage
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Need a new daily driver <$25k

I have a 2012 vw GTI and I'm pretty happy with it so far. The interiors of the GTI are far superior to the regular Jettas. Soft touch materials everywhere and chrome accents in all the right places. There are no reliability issues to watch out for with the mk6 gtis that I know of. Some data...
- patrick409
- Post #46
- Aug 14, 2012
- Forum: The Garage
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New car shopping, looking for suggestions.

Vw Golf tdi? (more refined and prob bit more fun than the jetta tdi) or vw gti/jetta gli for more power.
- patrick409
- Post #17
- May 9, 2012
- Forum: The Garage
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What do you keep in your car?

and what containers, if any, do you use to hold everything? Just bought my very first car (yay!). Just wondering what you guys see as necessities to keep in your car. More curiously though, what containers(if any) do you put it in? i.e. I'm sure you're not throwing the emergency...
- patrick409
- Thread
- Apr 22, 2012
- Replies: 36
- Forum: The Garage
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GTI, Mini Cooper or.. Something else?

I just bought a 2012 GTI. Oh man, what a great car. I think this guy's video review sums it up pretty well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akpdx-6IbVU I'd pick the GTI over a base Golf/Mini. You probably won't be able to really fly in day to day driving in the city, but I think you'll...
- patrick409
- Post #29
- Apr 20, 2012
- Forum: The Garage
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Ever quit unemployed?

If you quit cold turkey, are you going to immediately start looking for jobs or will you take some time off? I kinda did something similar, but my situation wasn't the same as you. I quit a job I had spent 7 years at and took a 6 month vacation. I was also single, had plenty of savings, and the...
- patrick409
- Post #28
- Apr 11, 2012
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Time for a new car....

I'm not in the same life situation as you, but I am also looking at getting a new car in the coming month or so. For me the choice was to go "cheap" with a mazda3/focus/impreza, or splurge a little more and get a GTI. In the end I think I'm gonna get a GTI. It's probably the most "fun" car out...
- patrick409
- Post #29
- Mar 2, 2012
- Forum: The Garage
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Rage - Impressions inside...

anyone get motion sickness from playing this? (I have the 360 version) I've only played about an hour but I had to stop because it gave me a huge headache/stomach churning feeling. I hate it when games do the head bob when walking.
- patrick409
- Post #26
- Oct 11, 2011
- Forum: Console Gaming
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Anyone live in downtown NYC?

I live downtown and can see the Manhattan/Brooklyn Bridges from my window. There were fireworks last night a bit south of the Seaport.
- patrick409
- Post #42
- Sep 28, 2011
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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any Computer Science people among y'all?

I have a BS in Computer Science. I have no plans to go for a MS in CS. I currently work as a software developer. I was hired straight out of school to an entry level "IT Analyst" program at my current company, and gradually transitioned to more senior software development as I got more...
- patrick409
- Post #52
- Sep 12, 2011
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Best travel lens for Canon 7D?

I have the Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 version of this lens, and it's usually my must-have lens when I go on vacation abroad. I like it because it's wide enough to cover most scenes, and at 20mm it's good enough for taking pictures of people I'm traveling with without distorting things too much. The...
- patrick409
- Post #29
- Feb 17, 2011
- Forum: Digital Cameras and Video
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Recommend some games for girlfriend

Seconded on PixelJunk Monsters. I can't even remember how many hours I spent on co-op mode trying to get all the rainbows.
- patrick409
- Post #19
- Feb 9, 2011
- Forum: Console Gaming
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Tips on being comfortable in an airplane seat?

I'd suggest doing some research on the exit rows of the airline/plane model before picking an exit row seat. I flew on a Delta 737 and 757 last week and picked the front exit row in economy. They don't recline and have a fixed armrest, so it wasn't all that comfortable. Extra leg room doesn't...
- patrick409
- Post #16
- Sep 21, 2010
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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T2i vs 7D

I was looking to replace my Rebel XTi, and my choice also came down to the T2i versus the 7D. I ended up going with the 7D based on the following reasons. 1) Viewfinder size. This was by far the #1 reason for me to pick the 7D. I usually wear glasses, and the xti's relatively tiny viewfinder...
- patrick409
- Post #11
- Apr 23, 2010
- Forum: Digital Cameras and Video
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SD1100 IS 8.0 MP vs SD770 IS 10 MP

I was trying to make the same choice as you recently. dpreview has a pretty nifty comparison tool you can use to compare their features: link The biggest difference is probably the length of the zoom 35-105 vs 38-114, and the megapixels. If you do any cropping at all, having the 2 extra...
- patrick409
- Post #12
- Dec 4, 2008
- Forum: Digital Cameras and Video
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PS3 Blu-Ray Drive Dead

Interesting. I took it as meaning if I bought it Dec 07, and it breaks Jan 08, the warranty on the replacement would only last until Mar 08. I figured the 1 year warranty would only apply to the original system. I'll have to go home and read it again, I just kinda glanced over it. Your...
- patrick409
- Post #15
- Jan 29, 2008
- Forum: Console Gaming
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PS3 Blu-Ray Drive Dead

My PS3 died mid December and it took about 3 weeks from when I called to when I got it back. I called them on a Saturday, I got the box the following Friday and mailed it out the same day. Came back after a week and a half. This was wrapped around Christmas and New Years though, so it might...
- patrick409
- Post #13
- Jan 29, 2008
- Forum: Console Gaming
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2007 *Registered* Lurker Thread

look at me!
- patrick409
- Post #114
- Feb 6, 2007
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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A Question for Those of You Working in IT

What's with all these NYU Econ majors not being able to find jobs? Most of the people I know from NYU who did Econ ended up in something completely non related :P What kinda IT jobs are you looking for? You might be able to get an entry level application support job somewhere, but you better...
- patrick409
- Post #5
- Jan 27, 2007
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Learning Chinese?

Cantonese or Mandarin? It depends on how dedicated you are. IMO Chinese is a language you MUST have a live person teach you. It's not something you can learn from books and tapes. I'm not sure where you're from, but here in NYC Chinatown they offer beginner classes to anyone and it's not too...
- patrick409
- Post #3
- Nov 1, 2006
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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So my g/f got me a 360 for our anniversery...

Ghost Recon A.W. takes up most of the game time at our place.. We also have Table Tennis and that's excellent.
- patrick409
- Post #54
- Sep 19, 2006
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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ASUS M2N-E

righto, 2 ide devices. Not sure about the overclocking though. I dont intend on overclocking, but I think there's another thread on the mobo forums right now where someone was having trouble overclocking the K9N the way he wants. Might want to look at that.
- patrick409
- Post #19
- Aug 14, 2006
- Forum: Motherboards
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ASUS M2N-E

I have: MSI K9N Platinum AMD X2 4600 1GB Corsair ddr800 forton ax450 evga 7600GT KO 1 pata 120 seagate 1 sata 300 seagate old lite on dvdrw antec slk 3000b Pretty much plugged it all in and turned it on. I dont overclock, I dont tweak, and I haven't run any extensive benchmark...
- patrick409
- Post #12
- Aug 13, 2006
- Forum: Motherboards
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for the young & single crowd

in cash/mm? 1-2k. much more in investments though, if i really needed it.
- patrick409
- Post #26
- Jul 27, 2006
- Forum: OT Discussion Club
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Nintendo DS lite vs PSP?

I have a PSP. It's great if you want to watch videos on it. I brought it on a cross country flight and watched prison break all the way there. :) The built in browser on it is a joke though. It's slow as all hell and many pages dont load due to not enough memory. The games are ok I guess...
- patrick409
- Post #65
- Jun 23, 2006
- Forum: OT Discussion Club

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