I won't beat on you because I don't know exactly "how" you attempted to get a job in your field, or what your requirements were. Maybe you couldn't move very far or something. Let me continue my advice for others... and maybe, maybe you, if you're looking to start over again.

I will say this. Getting a job is a very _human_ endeavor. I find a lot of younger technology oriented people, especially in technology fields, want to land a job the same way they get everything else. Online. This can work for someone with all the right experience, and just the "right" resume. sure it can. However, if you want to beat that guy with your lesser resume, you walk in the front door. You network with current employees. ( Use online information to find them. ) Build rappor. You call HR, you ask if there are any short term contract type positions available so you can see if the company would be a good fit for you. If they say no, or, we don't do that, you say, "Oh, you should ask your technology managers if they could use a program like that. You get a lot of value for your money, and it almost eliminates bad full time hires."

If you are capable of software development, why the hell are you working a job with manual labor for $10 an hour? There are lots of software development jobs open out there. Go beat the pavement. Walk right in the front door with your resume dressed up. Make it happen. I'm not sure if this article is about "IT" or "Development", the media tends to confuse those things. However, if you are capable programmer, go make a living out of it.

Now, you might have a bit of learning curve to go from "coding" to getting the skills to be a good developer. However, you can find a place that will pay you less to start since you have no real world experience. Learn fast, and move up. It's not going to happen unless you try!

Just as an aside, "Plumber" hourly wages are a little different then an employee's hourly wage. It's like a car mechanic garage's "hourly rate". It's a business rate, out of that comes expenses before anyone gets paid. That said, they make a good living.

Not really. There are just a lot schools teaching a curriculum now that they call "CS", that isn't CS. I graduated in 2002 and my experience with college appears to be similar to yours.

When I'm filtering applicants. I first make sure their degree is from a place that actually teaches CS. Then I move on to experience if it's not an entry level position. An applicant isn't likely to make it past the interview if they don't have an outside interest in technology or programming. Even with the CS degree, I need people who never stop self teaching.

Is that you're programming in Ruby on Rails...

That would be how corporations behave in a perfect world, yes. However, the board of directors are likely other executives of other companies. The CEO is on their boards. They also travel in the same social circles, and are members of the same country club. They are getting the most money possible for their "friend", just like he'll do for them. It has nothing to do with ability anymore.

Very likely true. HEPA certified shop vacs can now be found for a "reasonable" cost because they are required for lead paint removal by the EPA now. I own one. It was 400 dollars. I would run a shroud around the blade that is hooked up to the HEPA vac. Try to process as much exhaust as possible through the vacuum. Also where a P100 mask ( HEPA rating used for masks, they are pink. ) and put a fan in a window or do it all outside.

It doesn't say it in this article, so I can't RTFA you ;) but in others that I've read it's stated that 90% of the energy goes back into the grid. The plant itself is very "green".

Most state governments have huge deficits because of health care costs these days. Extra revenue from speeding with the added benefit as a deterrent seems like a win-win to me. It's like being able to choose to not pay your taxes. Drive safe, and you get more money to spend, drive like a moron, give up some cash. I also think speeding fines should be factored by kinetic energy. That dicates possible damage, and would increase the fine at all speed levels for recreational tank, errr, SUV drivers. I see far too many people being very very careless on the road. In the US over 10,000 people die on the roads every year. If you are under the age of 50 in the US and you die, you will be killed in a car. Driving in your car is the most dangerous thing you will ever do in your life by a factor of 1000. I will never understand how people can act so carelessly when so many lives depend on their actions.