Reserve Pilots.... Time Killing Ideas

[dasleben]

I do freelance writing work for a company called Demand Studios. They pay $15 for a good 400-500 word article, and I usually average one article per hour with the research and sourcing included. I personally really enjoy it; you write about all sorts of different topics, and the hourly rate isn't bad at all. The only real downside is that they're picky; god help you if you write in passive voice, forget AP style, or use an Oxford comma (I've used one in this post, *gasp* ).

I'm pulling in an extra $300 per week doing it.

 

[TUCKnTRUCK]

I do freelance writing work for a company called Demand Studios. They pay $15 for a good 400-500 word article, and I usually average one article per hour with the research and sourcing included. I personally really enjoy it; you write about all sorts of different topics, and the hourly rate isn't bad at all. The only real downside is that they're picky; god help you if you write in passive voice, forget AP style, or use an Oxford comma (I've used one in this post, *gasp* ).

I'm pulling in an extra $300 per week doing it.

If you can work a soldering iron, make wire harnesses to sell on ebay. rc guys, car guys etc buy that stuff. led strips and things, you know?

 

[Polar742]

Volunteer on a union committee.

Do the work while the you're on the company clock.

 

[N519AT]

Volunteer on a union committee.

Do the work while the you're on the company clock.

Stickin' it to the man.

 

[dasleben]

I like the Rosetta Stone stuff. Just focus on one language at a time. You'll get tired of seeing those damn pictures of cats, dogs, planes and horses.

I liked Rosetta Stone, but I felt that it wasn't conversational enough. All I learned was this:

Die Junge springt über dem Tisch.
Der Mann liegt unter dem Baum.
Das Mädchen steigt die Straßenbahnwagen ein. (Even though "Straßenbahnwagen" is fun to say...it's fun to say saaalsa.)

After that I moved over to old Foreign Service Institute tapes, which were much better. They're quite dry but they really are excellent. You start off learning conversational skills at a native speed. In fact, when I went to Germany a few months ago I was able to get around just fine (Well, at least in Berlin; Münchners speak in that sing-songy Bavarian accent that's hard to understand!).

Volunteer on a union committee.

Do the work while the you're on the company clock.

I'm not on reserve, but done and done.

 

[kellwolf]

Yeah, there's not much conversation wise. It gives you a good grasp. I'm also one of those guys that likes to dig into grammar and verb tenses. If you don't have a good grasp of verb tense in Russian, you're gonna sound like a 4 year old when you talk.

I just try to find someone else that's fluent and have conversations with them. Not only do I get the practice, but I get constructive criticism.

 

[Polar742]

(Well, at least in Berlin; Münchners speak in that sing-songy Bavarian accent that's hard to understand!).

There are no problems with Bavarian accents.

Just so you know.

 

[dasleben]

There are no problems with Bavarian accents.

Just so you know.

Nope, not at all! I rather like the Bavarian accent. I just find it hard to understand compared to the sharp and clipped Berliner accent. I was also in Switzerland for a couple days and I could barely order a meal there. Schweizerdeutsch...no way.