Jorbs
(The R is on purpose. It’s a Homestar reference.)
I’ve been thinking about jobs again because so many interests are out to take away my money, and no one seems to want to give me any to make up for it.
My car is the first of many players out to kill my bank account. In preparation for my trip to Oregon last weekend I got new tires (mine where kind of bald), got my oil changed, and had a rattle investigated. The tires cost $330, and the oil change/rattle investigation cost $440. The rattle turned out to be something in my timing belt, so while it sucked monetarily to fix, it was probably for the best.
On my way to Oregon I also got a speeding ticket. I guess that wasn’t my car’s fault, but I’m still not happy about it. Still in the car talking my money vain, after returning from my trip I discovered a photo-enforcement red-light-running ticket in my pile of mail. The red light ticket is $360. For those of you keeping track that’s $1050, plus the fine for the speeding, which is as of now, still unknown.
Two other key players in my anti-money conspiracy are the EDD and Best Buy. EDD has been paying me my unemployment benefits up until this week. They’ve stopped now because they asked Best Buy if I had been laid off and Best Buy said that no I hadn’t, and that I still work there. There are several problems with this. 1) I never told the EDD I had been laid off from best buy. I was laid off from Lavezzo Designs, which employed me after I quit working at Best Buy. 2) I quit working at Best Buy in August. If I still work there, I’ve been missing out on a lot of money.
So here are the future options I’ve been considering:
-Going back to get a masters in something. I’m not sure about which subject. Electrical Engineering? Nuclear Engineering? Something that will instantly get me a job when I’m done. Any ideas?
-Selling used books out of a rolly suitcase at, or near the airport. It seems like one could make money that way considering the price of the in-airport bookstores as long as I didn’t get myself arrested.
-Busking.
The last two don’t seem like they have big earning potential, and the first one involves spending more money that I have and moving away from everything fun. So seriously, there’s a comment section so you readers can tell me how to be independently wealty. Use it.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Salty
It’s nice to know the public is so comfortable with me. Or conversely, perhaps it’s unsettling to know that I’m invisible. I was walking from Kristin’s house to my car when I passed a guy who was picking his nose. He was really going for it: digging way up in there to find a tasty little nugget. I guess he found it, because after inspecting his archeological treasure, he ate it.
Yum.
It’s nice to know the public is so comfortable with me. Or conversely, perhaps it’s unsettling to know that I’m invisible. I was walking from Kristin’s house to my car when I passed a guy who was picking his nose. He was really going for it: digging way up in there to find a tasty little nugget. I guess he found it, because after inspecting his archeological treasure, he ate it.
Yum.
Monday, March 08, 2004
Even Cold November Rain
Instead of going to sleep, which is what I really should be doing, I’m going to write about graffiti. The graffiti in question was spray painted in large black letters on the side of the Beauty Bar on 19th and Mission here, in my fair city, San Francisco (or Fran, for short.)
I took that picture after my girlfriend, Kristin, (or Knife, for short) saw the quality verbiage and pointed it out to me. The reason she wanted a picture is because of the graffiti’s apparent lack of grammar. Or, failing that, it’s missing word(s). It needs a "looks like," or a "needs," or perhaps a "is not a complete sentence on its own."
So I took this picture and, being the huge computer nerd that I am, did an in-quotes google search for the text of the graffiti. Among the 51 results are a couple references to a song called "This Is What Your Face (Bicyclist)," and one called "This Is What Your Face (November Rain)." According to the website, both, um, songs(?) fall into the genre of Noise/Paincore.
Noise/Paincore seems to be really loud, unpleasant, tuneless, rhythmless (or crappy, for short) noise. These two noise tracks, available on Gynormis 5’s album "Girls Don’t Fight Back," somehow inspired the graffiti. Also, according to the website, Gynormis 5 did a 25 minute dance show in front of the Beauty Bar. Maybe it was permanent spraypaint advertising. An excellent idea if they had followed it with a web address, and aren't worried about being blamed for it. I’m willing to bet that most people just think the person who wrote it is dumb.
I know what the back-story is, and I still think the person who wrote it is dumb.
Instead of going to sleep, which is what I really should be doing, I’m going to write about graffiti. The graffiti in question was spray painted in large black letters on the side of the Beauty Bar on 19th and Mission here, in my fair city, San Francisco (or Fran, for short.)
I took that picture after my girlfriend, Kristin, (or Knife, for short) saw the quality verbiage and pointed it out to me. The reason she wanted a picture is because of the graffiti’s apparent lack of grammar. Or, failing that, it’s missing word(s). It needs a "looks like," or a "needs," or perhaps a "is not a complete sentence on its own."
So I took this picture and, being the huge computer nerd that I am, did an in-quotes google search for the text of the graffiti. Among the 51 results are a couple references to a song called "This Is What Your Face (Bicyclist)," and one called "This Is What Your Face (November Rain)." According to the website, both, um, songs(?) fall into the genre of Noise/Paincore.
Noise/Paincore seems to be really loud, unpleasant, tuneless, rhythmless (or crappy, for short) noise. These two noise tracks, available on Gynormis 5’s album "Girls Don’t Fight Back," somehow inspired the graffiti. Also, according to the website, Gynormis 5 did a 25 minute dance show in front of the Beauty Bar. Maybe it was permanent spraypaint advertising. An excellent idea if they had followed it with a web address, and aren't worried about being blamed for it. I’m willing to bet that most people just think the person who wrote it is dumb.
I know what the back-story is, and I still think the person who wrote it is dumb.
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Got Job?
I’m thinking about jobs today. I moved to the bay area right when the economy crapped out, so the enthusiastic job prognostication of all my engineering teachers didn’t even come close to coming true. Post B.S. in Electrical Engineering, I’ve been a temp worker, an employee of The Gap and Best Buy, a valet (very briefly), and a metalworker. Currently I’m unemployed.
Being a metal worker was by far the most fun. I didn’t have to dress up for work, there where no customers, I got to build things, and best of all, I got to set things on fire on a regular basis. If I could find a job that incorporated all those aspects again, I would be a very happy camper. But as I set out on about my 6th week of unemployment I’m not nearly so picky. However, I am still trying with all my might to avoid retail.
In my search for jobs I’ve applied to a vast variety: Toy Designer, Computer Help Desk, Quality Assurance, Private Investigator/Decoy (I’m not sure about the decoy aspect), Entry Level Firmware Engineer, Computer Tech/Sales (which is retail, but the store seemed nice), Production Assistant for Tech TV, and Gallery Assistant. There are actually more than that, but you get the drift.
I hate applying for jobs. You spend time looking for them, typing up a cover letter, making sure you didn’t accidentally spell your name wrong, sending out your resumé, and then hearing nothing. It’s a huge void. I’ve heard back from exactly two submissions. The first was Tech TV, which actually gave me a phone interview. It was a good start, or so I thought, but I haven’t heard a peep since. The second was the Toy Designer position, which was at least nice enough to send me an automated email saying they got my info. Most places don’t even do that. Does anyone know how to get into the field of being independently wealthy? Or how about setting things on fire for money? I have an excellent picture of a flaming sink to sell.
For many a birthday or a passing of 11:11 I would wish to be in a band, have a girlfriend, and have a job. I had them all for roughly 30 seconds. It was a nice 30 seconds, but I guess two out of three isn't too bad.
I’m thinking about jobs today. I moved to the bay area right when the economy crapped out, so the enthusiastic job prognostication of all my engineering teachers didn’t even come close to coming true. Post B.S. in Electrical Engineering, I’ve been a temp worker, an employee of The Gap and Best Buy, a valet (very briefly), and a metalworker. Currently I’m unemployed.
Being a metal worker was by far the most fun. I didn’t have to dress up for work, there where no customers, I got to build things, and best of all, I got to set things on fire on a regular basis. If I could find a job that incorporated all those aspects again, I would be a very happy camper. But as I set out on about my 6th week of unemployment I’m not nearly so picky. However, I am still trying with all my might to avoid retail.
In my search for jobs I’ve applied to a vast variety: Toy Designer, Computer Help Desk, Quality Assurance, Private Investigator/Decoy (I’m not sure about the decoy aspect), Entry Level Firmware Engineer, Computer Tech/Sales (which is retail, but the store seemed nice), Production Assistant for Tech TV, and Gallery Assistant. There are actually more than that, but you get the drift.
I hate applying for jobs. You spend time looking for them, typing up a cover letter, making sure you didn’t accidentally spell your name wrong, sending out your resumé, and then hearing nothing. It’s a huge void. I’ve heard back from exactly two submissions. The first was Tech TV, which actually gave me a phone interview. It was a good start, or so I thought, but I haven’t heard a peep since. The second was the Toy Designer position, which was at least nice enough to send me an automated email saying they got my info. Most places don’t even do that. Does anyone know how to get into the field of being independently wealthy? Or how about setting things on fire for money? I have an excellent picture of a flaming sink to sell.
For many a birthday or a passing of 11:11 I would wish to be in a band, have a girlfriend, and have a job. I had them all for roughly 30 seconds. It was a nice 30 seconds, but I guess two out of three isn't too bad.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
McEtiquette
Don’t yell at the drive through system. You don’t have to do it. If you speak at a regular conversational volume, the person at the register will understand that you want your coke with extra ice and your burgers pickle-free. I know this because I take it upon myself to speak to the drive through speaker/microphone as I would if I were talking to a person standing next to my car. My voice is quiet enough that some phones will filter me out because they think I’m background noise, and yet, I still get my burgers and drinks just the way I want them.
Today I went to get an ice cream. After I was done ordering a guy in a minivan pulled up to the ordering console. I drove around the corner of the building to pay, and the guy behind me was yelling his order so loud the girl behind the register could have just listened out the window. It was as if he thought the drive through was at the airport on a busy runway. The only distractions were the sound of cars idling (quiet), the scuffling of the grease-addict pigeons, (fairly quiet), and a sign that says don’t feed the homeless, (Completely silent). Order from others, as you would have others order from you.
Don’t yell at the drive through system. You don’t have to do it. If you speak at a regular conversational volume, the person at the register will understand that you want your coke with extra ice and your burgers pickle-free. I know this because I take it upon myself to speak to the drive through speaker/microphone as I would if I were talking to a person standing next to my car. My voice is quiet enough that some phones will filter me out because they think I’m background noise, and yet, I still get my burgers and drinks just the way I want them.
Today I went to get an ice cream. After I was done ordering a guy in a minivan pulled up to the ordering console. I drove around the corner of the building to pay, and the guy behind me was yelling his order so loud the girl behind the register could have just listened out the window. It was as if he thought the drive through was at the airport on a busy runway. The only distractions were the sound of cars idling (quiet), the scuffling of the grease-addict pigeons, (fairly quiet), and a sign that says don’t feed the homeless, (Completely silent). Order from others, as you would have others order from you.
Killing Me Softly with Its Song
Websites don’t need music. I guess some do - maybe a band’s website, or a page dedicated to MIDI files - but most do not. I have just been to a website which explains some key phrases in American Sign Language (ASL). While I understand what the song is trying to say, I don’t need to hear "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" while I’m trying to figure out if a certain sign means “I love you.” I imagine it doesn’t do the deaf any good either. It also insures that I will never aim that particular sign at the person who made that page.
My best guess is that the page in question was designed circa ’98 when everyone and their mother had a website. [My website is www.spiralkid.com and my mom’s is www.pattykadel.com.] I’ve seen web pages with MIDI music in them, and they are almost always annoying. However, they usually come with an off button, and that makes them better. Now no one uses MIDI and everyone has a blog. Get with the times people. Start an ASL blog.
Websites don’t need music. I guess some do - maybe a band’s website, or a page dedicated to MIDI files - but most do not. I have just been to a website which explains some key phrases in American Sign Language (ASL). While I understand what the song is trying to say, I don’t need to hear "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" while I’m trying to figure out if a certain sign means “I love you.” I imagine it doesn’t do the deaf any good either. It also insures that I will never aim that particular sign at the person who made that page.
My best guess is that the page in question was designed circa ’98 when everyone and their mother had a website. [My website is www.spiralkid.com and my mom’s is www.pattykadel.com.] I’ve seen web pages with MIDI music in them, and they are almost always annoying. However, they usually come with an off button, and that makes them better. Now no one uses MIDI and everyone has a blog. Get with the times people. Start an ASL blog.
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