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Am I being played for a sucka?
I have this client, we met over LinkedIn last October, and my business guy (as a nerd, I am not that business savvy) advised me. They paid for a $1000 letter of intent for a task, which we did and they loved, and then a $1500 letter of intent and we performed the work, and now they are working on writing a grant proposal and my business guy, who I respect because he is a former U.S. Marine, 20+ years experience, used to work on the top floors of the TransAmerica Pyramid etc etc., and I've been friends with him for nine years, has been insisting we do pro bono advisory for them on their grant proposal to "build relationship" and he tells me "there will be oh so much money rolling in if they win it."
Me, I am not so sure. As a physicist, I view the future as a complete uncertainty, except for probabilities. There is no 100% guarantee they will win the grant, and as such, I feel it is important to, as a profit-making enterprise, charge money for their use of my Ph.D. education to advise them (it's a grant from the government to work on spacecraft).
So we've been doing this for a couple of months now, and my business guy has not been charging me (he's a contractor to my little LLC) and so of course I've not been charging my client, but just last Friday, the CEO gets on the line for our tag up and brags to me about his new office he's opened up in Titusville, FL. And a further while back I heard from their CTO that they are constrained on budget but before that call, the CEO calls me up and tells me that he just won a $300,000 funding round. I also saw a LinkedIn post about how they just opened up a new mfg facility and the CTO had told me about how they have $92M in pre sales. They are even engaging with a vendor who, I presume, they are paying to help them write the grant. So where is the piece of the action for my company?
My business guy says, "Provide them free services for now to 'build relationship' and 'make them like you' in hopes they will pay later. My thinking is, "They are going to get an inch and then take a mile."
Call me naive, but as a PhD astrophysicist who worshipped Mr. Spock growing up, I am confused. I idolized Mr. Spock because, in my mind, he thought (mostly) that all humans were idiots and emotions were stupid (which I agreed with at 12 years old and my life since then has more or less confirmed). I also thought a bit about logic and thought, Mr. Spock knows what he is talking about. "If p, then q." Makes perfect sense to just think about the universe in terms of logic propositions. So then I get older and I actually do get some therapy and learn more about the emotional spectrum from Green Lantern and realize that human emotions aren't completely stupid, but I still basically have a Kindergarden level understanding of them.
This is where i come from into the business world. Either things make sense, or they do not. Correct me if I am wrong, but if I go into the convenience store, grab a soda out of the fridge, and then walk out the door without paying for it, that's stealing. I doubt the store proprietor is going to give it to me for free to "build relationship with me in hopes that I return someday as a paying customer." No, it's theft, straight up.
So why in the technology consulting world is it even slightly reasonable to give away the experience, knowledge, expertise, and thought leadership I've spent many a grueling year building up and putting up with a lot of crap for, for free? That seems highly illogical, Captain -- as Mr. Spock would say. Yet, my business guy says give them a little bit for free so that they pay later hopefully.
Is my business guy's advice logical? Am I being played by my client? Am I a sap who is just so focused on hugging teddy bears and wanting to make the world a better place that I am being taken advantage of? This weekend, learning about the office pushed me over the edge. So I told my business guy he isn't making any sense, I told the CEO and CTO that our pro bono services will continue until 12:01 AM on Saturday June 8, and then they need to pay for everything -- every task, every deliverable, and every meeting beyond that.
Here I am, waiting for kookaburra over here, and I am all like, "I am a total sucker." Am I correct, to insist on valuable monetary compensation from my client or does my business guy have a point?
Okay....go!
modified 5 mins ago.
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I used QCAD software designed my drawings and export it into PDF file.
but when I give it to print shop, they ask for .cdr format since they use CorelDraw software. (I bought my license to get this .cdr format).
So I wonder how this .cdr format is used to print out my drawings?
I have several more drawings to print out, so try to get understanding of this printing process in print shop in large scale print work.
Thanks a million.
diligent hands rule....
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First thoughts are that a print shop that can't work directly with PDF files is not worthy of being called a print shop. If a print shop told me they needed a .cdr file, I'd ask if that was their only alternative, or if they can accept other formats. Your best bet is to talk to the print shop, and not a bunch of programmers who know nothing about their printing process.
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there is a chance that millions of programmers in CP can have all kinds of brilliant ideas![Rose | [Rose]](https://www.codeproject.com/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
diligent hands rule....
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There is very little chance that one of these programmers has experience dealing with your print shop. If you want the input of anyone who might, you should give the name and location of that print shop.
I have very little printing experience, but everywhere I've printed has wanted and used flattened PDF files. The fact that your printer doesn't seem to doesn't speak very highly of them. Your best bet will still be to talk to the printer and ask them about your options as to what they can accept, and why the PDF you submitted is unacceptable.
Have you talked to them about using a flattened PDF?
> So I wonder how this .cdr format is used to print out my drawings?
Obviously, they open it in CorelDraw and print from there. No great mystery.
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I'm about to wipe my iPhone 11XR something or other I got "free" from Sprint as part of their bundled offering, yada yada. You know the drill. To be honest, I would be completely happy with a flip phone. I use computers, I do not do face time on my phone and the vast majority of my calls/text messages are 2FA. The calls I get are 90% or more spam. The only other useful feature is being able to take a picture before I take something apart. I could do that with a $20 camera.
The cheapest phone I Can find on Amazon is $499. wtf?
Going out to buy lottery tickets. $500 for a phone plus $40/month give or take for service. This is absurd.
Back to shopping.
Charlie Gilley
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
Has never been more appropriate.
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charlieg wrote: The cheapest phone I Can find on Amazon is $499. wtf?
Searching on Amazon for "NUU A23Plus Basic Cell Phone" returns quite a few less than $200. That search string is for a specific one.
charlieg wrote: completely happy with a flip phone
Pretty sure they have issued some new flip phones. Calls and text. Although my first flip phone only did calls.
Searching on Amazon with following produced even cheaper deals than prior one: "Senior Flip Phone Unlocked"
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I got an old S4 Galaxy from son, years ago, had a broken screen that cost me $165 to have fixed and had it until they no longer supported it.
Funny story I went to Wally World to get a protector for it and I asked the associate if they had any. He asked what I had and when I told him he called to the other associate in the store and said; "look you ever seen one of these". 
So I upgraded to a S19 that I bought used online for $200, not sure exact price. I had it for about 4 years and then Verizon offered a free upgrade to an S23, that ended up costing $100 but was a good upgrade. I'll keep it until I die or they stop supporting it.
I'm like you I rarely use the thing, so it doesn't pay for me to spend a bunch of money on one. It was different when I ran my own business, but the S4 served me fine for many years.
If you can't find time to do it right the first time, how are you going to find time to do it again?
PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - Release Version 1.4.0 (Many new features) JaxCoder.com
Latest Article: EventAggregator
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Samsung Galaxy A20e. < $50. Prepayed, no abo. I use it 99% only as an alarm clock  
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Samsung Galaxy J2 Core (2020)[^]
I like it because it's small and light and it runs a not too old (as of yet) version of Android. (I'm a Win/Android C# developer).
/ravi
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I'm not really an old white guy, but I am phone averse.
I got a little $40 e-moto on prepaid and I liked it fine until updates slowed it down to the point of being unusable after a few years. It was indestructible though.
I now have a $100 Samsung Galaxy A25. I like it okay. Samsung's android extensions can be a bit annoying, like it notifies you a bit more than I'd like, but other than that, the phone is snappy, the camera is nice. It feels well constructed, all of that.
Check out my IoT graphics library here:
https://honeythecodewitch.com/gfx
And my IoT UI/User Experience library here:
https://honeythecodewitch.com/uix
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Probably going against the tide here but I'm an old white guy with an iPhone 12. Got it 4 years ago and I'm quite happy with it. I use computers for complicated, work related stuff so I want a phone that, as much as possible, just works: makes phone calls that are sufficiently clear, receives texts and email and takes a few pictures when I'm out in the field. I don't want/care to root my phone, get to alternate stores compile stuff or what not. I still have the old fashioned concept that a phone is (mostly) for phoning.
In the interest of complete disclosure, I also have a Apple family plan that I share with kids. In return they let me play with grand-kids  . If you are going to call me an Apple fanboy, I'm going to say that I also have a Microsoft 365 subscription (also shared with family) so at least I'm not partial to only one big tech company 
Mircea
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Old guy in UK here. I had an ancient Samsung Young (oh the irony) that I purchased from the O2 store for £9.99 about 12 years ago. On pay-as-you-go, spent about £10 every two months. But it was on Android4 and eventually didn't support security protocols that almost any website used (via WiFi).
So last year reluctantly bought a Pixel 7a from Tesco. £12/month for two years for the phone, plus £12/month for data (10gb/month) and very happy with it. Use it as much as the laptop now, and good camera.
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Motorola One. After having two Motorola Droids prior.
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iPhone 15, free upgrade, business account. Mostly, I get free hand-me-downs. I stick with iPhones because my hearing aids have all been MFI (made for iPhone) for many years. Many HA's now work with Android.
I am (sort of) brand agnostic. I have an old (very old) StinkPad, and almost as old (2014) MacBookPro, an iPad (hearing aids again) and my main system runs Debian with Windows and Linux virtual machines for the little development I still do.
Got a second Dell workstation running ESXi, mirroring a clients set up and hosting surveillance cameras (NVR). A third, really old Dell Workstation running TrueNAS (only powered on for backups).
Most of it works better than I do. I get a small discount on Apple stuff and think they make great hardware if you can get past the price. I use the iPad to VPN into the client's network and I can manage the ESXi system and the cameras from afar.
Not to mention a drawer full of Pi's.
Mostly, on the phone, I get superfluous texts from grandchildren and spam calls forwarded from Google vice (that I don't answer). I do use it to check cameras via VPN. I like it to keep in touch with children/grand children.
Oops, make that Google Voice. I am too old for Vice.
>64
It’s weird being the same age as old people. Live every day like it is your last; one day, it will be.
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My SO found this this morning and thought it worth passing on.
1. Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.
2. We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.
3. I take my wife everywhere...but she keeps finding her way back.
4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. "Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said. So I suggested the kitchen.
5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said "There are too many gadgets and no place to sit down!" .. So I bought her an electric chair.
7. My wife told me the car wasn't running well because there was water in the carburator. I asked where the car was; she told me "In the lake."
8. She got a mud pack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling "Am I too late for the garbage?" .... The driver said "No, jump in!"
10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.
11. I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.
12. I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her.
13. The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked "What's on the TV?" I said "Dust!"
If you can't find time to do it right the first time, how are you going to find time to do it again?
PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - Release Version 1.4.0 (Many new features) JaxCoder.com
Latest Article: EventAggregator
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good comedy requires a bit of truth in it so your audience can identify.
i am not sharing this with my wife.  I miss red
Charlie Gilley
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
Has never been more appropriate.
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charlieg wrote: I miss red
Me too.
If you can't find time to do it right the first time, how are you going to find time to do it again?
PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - Release Version 1.4.0 (Many new features) JaxCoder.com
Latest Article: EventAggregator
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you youngsters out there - how many of you know who Red Skelton is?
Charlie Gilley
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
Has never been more appropriate.
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Me, Me. Oh, wait.
He could entertain and keep it SFW.
I don't think I missed any of his movies back in the day.
>64
It’s weird being the same age as old people. Live every day like it is your last; one day, it will be.
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so I've never been a fan of stupidity, mine or anyone elses', and Microsoft seems to have staff meetings to escalate theirs.
Enter Apple.
I really don't watch much TV, maybe 1 or 2 football games a year (never soccer) and some ice hockey now and then, but I discovered I can see game re-caps on youtube, so good enough for me. I'm simply not going to pay $75/month for the right to turn off garbage tv. So Spielberg and Hanks FINALLY came out with Masters of the Air which was mostly utter nonsense with the exception of the US Army Airforce crews being slaughtered until the P51 Mustang became available. The German pilots were mean SOBs - no offense intended. So, I subscribed to Apple TV to catch the episodes, and with the last episode, I canceled my subscription. Or so I thought.
Checking credit card statements, they have continued to charge me, and on their web site make it nigh impossible to cancel. Canceled it twice, still being charged. Cannot get anyone to help me - they claim they do, but the charges kept coming. Okay, want to play this game? Created a virtual credit card # with a $1/day max amount, swapped the apple tv <-- this is my mistake here -- to that account #. I also refused the charges on my account. Do you think Apple might contact me? I've had an iPhone for 6+ years, etc. Nope.
My iPhone will no longer allow me access to the app store (all I tried to do was update a free app).
This is why I DESPISE single login. It is 8am on the east coast of America, 6/2/2024. I will now start a gambling pool for when all $hit breaks loose from my wife, older daughter, younger daughter who are all on my account.
Charlie Gilley
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
Has never been more appropriate.
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Quote: I canceled my subscription. Or so I thought.
1. you can't win
2. you can't break even.
3. you can't get out of the game
So, what's new? 
>64
It’s weird being the same age as old people. Live every day like it is your last; one day, it will be.
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shut up old guy  said from an old guy....
Charlie Gilley
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
Has never been more appropriate.
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Yup, these days I shake my head a lot.
Now I understand what my grandfather meant when he said something about a hand basket.
(every hundred years, all new people)
>64
It’s weird being the same age as old people. Live every day like it is your last; one day, it will be.
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File a complaint with the FTC.
The "Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act" is supposed to make that easy. The FTC is now attempting to put more rules into place to force companies to make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up.
If feeling snarky you might also send a letter afterwards to them telling them you have filed a complaint.
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