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Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 25, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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some (like me) who didn't become programmers have to make some decent money before getting married

Why?

I'm working as a chef not making much money and I don't have the hang of the language yet. I've got a purely French speaking job lined up in April and a network of chefs who'd give me better work if I can prove myself some more but for now it's too precarious. I'd want to at least be able to promise that I will stay in the country instead of going back to Ireland to look for work after all.

My girlfriend works in nuclear physics where they have 2 year contracts, she couldn't really follow me to Ireland anytime soon.

My girlfriend works in nuclear physics

Like in a power plant? Have ye seen this film? Highly recommended.

No I haven't, thanks for the recommendation.

She's not working in a power plant, more research/engineering on detecting subatomic particles. I never studied physics so a lot of it is beyond me, but the projects seem more on the practical side. Stuff like building reliable detectors for different particles with limited resources, helping the Japanese with Fukushima etc. There was one person there who figured out how to use phone screens to triage radiation doses in a nuclear accident or attack.

Wow, so she's a genius? Fair play.