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Help Request: Laptop, Work, Assistance
32 points by wildlogic on July 2, 2023 | hide | past | favorite | 4 comments
HN,

I'm reaching out, hopeful to find some assistance during a challenging time in my life. This past year has been bad. I suffered a serious climbing accident that destroyed my tailbone and sacrum (the fused vertebrae above the tailbone) and severed many nerves in my left leg. This ordeal left me bedridden for four months, requiring me to relearn basic tasks such as walking and using the bathroom.

In the aftermath of my accident, I was featured on the cover of the digital edition of Climbing Magazine ("Anal Impalement Accident" made quite the enticing headline...) and in the publication "Accidents in North American Climbing". However, during my recovery, I suffered additional hardships. I lost my job at a disaster modeling company, a position I had held for eight years, and my spouse of twelve years left me while I was still bedridden. In an attempt to start anew, I relinquished our house and savings to my spouse, and purchased a 2021 Dodge Ram Promaster van to live and work from. Tragically, this van — and everything I owned — was stolen at gunpoint in Tacoma, Washington, leaving me destitute in an unfamiliar city.

Prior to these events, I had enjoyed consistent employment in the tech industry for sixteen years. Despite my current predicaments, I'm eager to get back to work. I have managed to secure a cheap car. However, I lack essential tools, such as a laptop or a tablet, to aid my job-seeking efforts.

For those unfamiliar with my work, I have extensive experience as a software developer and DevOps specialist. I'm proficient in automating software delivery, managing CI/CD pipelines, and handling cloud infrastructure. I've competed at DEFCON with ACME Pharm, landing a win one year. In my last role as a Staff Engineer, I managed the build, versioning, production delivery, cloud environments, and full-stack troubleshooting of several enterprise platforms, overseeing over 100 diverse software repositories. I'm well-versed in most common languages and paradigms and am comfortable in nearly any individual contributor role.

My professional experience spans both early-stage startups and large enterprise organizations. I've made significant contributions to two startups that each sold for over 2B. I pride myself on being a strong technical communicator with the ability to quickly grasp the technical aspects of large projects and make an immediate, positive impact.

I'm currently in dire need of a laptop to complete essential tasks such as updating my resume, writing cover letters and applying for jobs. If anyone has a spare laptop, it would greatly assist me in my current situation. A few other items would also make a significant difference: an inverter, a large battery pack, portable chargers, a jump box, a solar setup, clothing (shirts XL, underwear M, 32/32 pants), hygiene items, a sturdy water bottle, a thermos, and a hotplate or Jetboil stove. If you can provide or facilitate acquiring any of these items, please contact me at digiphilo (at) gmail.com. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I am currently seeking remote work opportunities. I'm a versatile professional, competent in frontend, backend, and full-stack web development, systems and database administration, DevOps, SRE, and cybersecurity. If you have employment opportunities, please reach out to digiphilo (at) gmail.com.

Despite the physical challenges caused by my accident, such as residual pain and difficulty with mobility, these issues do not impact my capabilities as a remote tech worker. The primary challenge I face is the circumstance I find myself in.

I humbly ask for your consideration. If you are able and willing to provide any form of financial assistance during this period while I'm seeking work, rest assured, any donation will go towards necessities such as a computer or motel ($330/wk).

Sincerely, B

BTC: bc1quvh2rf3hyffhrh0y6pzm36megqcyv30xru48rp ETH: 0x3b7aB64f7f12Dd6dfB807B3d31e107E4Ec1129D1 CashApp: $faceter




Based on experience, I suggesting finding your local missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist) and ask them to put you in contact with your current local ward bishop, wherever you are now, who has access to resources (including an employment agency, depending on whether it is set up in your area), and good, practical advice for your specific situation.

(Thoughtful comments appreciated with the downvotes; thank you.)


> In an attempt to start anew, I relinquished our house and savings to my spouse

This is bizarre to me, but I haven't been through a divorce and can't pretend to know if I might be tempted to do something similar in that situation. Regardless, have you asked your ex for assistance? I think they'd have to be pretty heartless not to help you out after taking everything from you


I will be reaching out by email, but this comment is made for both your benefit and others:

Have you applied for Social Security disability? If not, please consider doing so. I think you have a strong case, and a disability attorney will take on the case on a contingency basis if your claim is denied.

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/apply.html

Also, when applying for jobs, you should request any accommodations required, as an employer is required to accommodate your disability. Please do not be shy about this.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/program-areas/employers/ac...





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