I know names are kind of trivial, but "Plasma" and "TV" aren't really current concepts any more.

It's not like they built a bitcoin wallet into LibreOffice. Sounds like it's just a formatting code that has a symbol and is treated as a currency value.

It is as bad as it sounds. If you triggered it at the right time you could cause a derailment as the brakes applied full across the entire train. This is only likely if the train is moving at relatively high speed on bad track, though.

Trains use an air brake system with glad hand connections so that if a coupler fails (or more likely, wasn't correctly secured) the pressure is released and the brakes set on the entire train. The device we're talking about, which is known as FRED (on railroads the F is considered to be an F-Bomb) replaced the caboose in the 1980s. It monitors brake system pressure to ensure that it is in the operating range, and can also release the system pressure from the rear. This is needed so that the train brakes more from the rear than the front, although there is not much difference in timing unless the train is very long because the hoses are fairly high diameter.

It really ought to allow the user to just add new currencies of their choice.

BTC does make sense for inclusion, though, since it is popular.

They have always run firmware. I don't think it was always Java, but it has been for a long time.

Lick harder, I see some leather left on the wealthy's collective boots. Surely they will reward you richly!

If he wanted to help me with that he could have made the phone call, which either also would not have helped or would have done. He also didn't offer to call when I told him what happened, he acted like it was my fault.

Yeah I'm aware he was a shit father but there's lots of those

The only rational extension of this, then, is to get into that business.

Get experience welding/fabricating/cement work/construction, and figure out where that tech is going. Build a small nestegg as you rent and be intentionally poor.

Start a business doing what you now know, but automated - and ask your parents to help with collateral. Get investments and funding. Buy into a franchise making future-looking technology that can do the trade you now know.

The 3d printed structure equipment is one such vertical I can think of. Being able to run cable in those structures? You're going to need to learn how to do that, or hire someone to do it, because that's sometime off from being automated. There are still human elements which will remain such for the foreseeable future.

This will, unfortunately, undercut most people who do not have a combination of an IQ over 110-120, drive, and grit - which includes most of the people who are currently "programmers", unfortunately.

Recognizing the need to improve is the first step. Next is America has to want to change.

Before or after you bought it? If it's afterwards, it's an agreement made under duress.

Business and authoritarianism working hand in hand. That's nothing new.

Once you get experience under your belt, and make contacts....incorporate yourself and go into contracting!!!

If you incorporate yourself can do B-2-B contracting and it can be quite lucrative and you do get to make your own hours, etc.

If you can get into Federal or DoD contracting, that's steady and VERY good bill rates....if you can get a security clearance....VERY VERY good bill rates.

This requires either full time work, and jobs will dry up, or making one's own business which requires paperwork and keeping track of money. This paperwork is handled by a "worthless" degree.

Incorporating yourself and forming your own LLC or S-Corp company and doing a little paperwork is not rocket surgery and everyone that is an adult should be able to handle basic finances.

None of that requires a degree.

Yes, compete with people here illegally who will work for cheap. Sounds like a good idea.

Well, to be fair...we're in the process of throwing those folks here illegally out of the US and making it harder for them to work here.

These jobs should and would go to US citizens if the artificial lowering of wages you describe did not exist.