They aren't very useful for much besides hobby projects. Modern hardware is more energy efficient and will be cheaper in the long run compared to anything that would be considered e-waste. The only advantage an old laptop has is the initial cost, so it makes sense for a small home server.
I might be mixing her up with someone else, but I think she's a progressive activist and has never been involved in running the company. She's not an exec, she's an heiress.
There are a lot of other hobbies though, and not many other careers that pay as well as comp sci. If you can turn a programming hobby into a career, you should. You'll have enough money to find another hobby.
Helpful by sharing information they believed to be true, that they thought you might not have heard/known. I don't see any malice in their post or any expectation that you change what you're doing.
Leaving your job qualifies as a "life changing event" and allows you to sign up for private insurance under ACA. You don't need to wait for open enrollment.
You know, you can pay for private health insurance if you don't have a job. And if you have an emergency fund or (micro) retirement fund, it should include funds for health insurance.
Salary depends heavily on where the worker is located, not so much the employer. American companies don't pay overseas workers as much as they pay American workers.
They aren't very useful for much besides hobby projects. Modern hardware is more energy efficient and will be cheaper in the long run compared to anything that would be considered e-waste. The only advantage an old laptop has is the initial cost, so it makes sense for a small home server.