Category: Deep Thoughts

Maybe B Started Something?

It all started with this picture…

 
Bomb Wal-Mart
Originally uploaded by Editor B.

Editor B shooting footage of people at a peace rally, I believe, with a piece of paper attached to his camera with the question, “Bomb Wal-Mart?”

Today somebody took that thought provoking question one step further and called in a bomb threat to the local Wal-Mart.  The first thing that came to my mind was the picture above.

The matter was taken very seriously, and the place was evacuated.  The employees were sent to the Murphy USA gas station nearby (good place to go when there is a possible bomb).  The store has now been closed for almost 6 hours, with word that it will re-open “within the hour.”

“Lunch Hour Shopper” left a comment on the Herald-Times website that I found quite interesting.  It states that, “I was there when it happened. They came over the intercom and said “attention all associates and customers, we have a code blue. thank you” and that was it! Like we all know what a code blue is.  Doesn’t that mean a sale at KMart! Some employees just left their cash registers with customers standing there. Then some other associates started telling people to leave.”

So I take it that it’s Wal-Mart’s policy to not give a damn about their customers during a emergency situation.

As a Wal-Mart shopper (I’m not a fan, just doing what I gotta do.) it seems like a good thing to do with the weak US economy today.  Wal-Mart is now nothing more than the quickest way to get to China or in some cases Vietnam.

No I don’t think it’s B’s fault, but that question brings up very serious philosophical questions.  Especially in financially trying times like these.

Continue reading “Maybe B Started Something?”

Opportunity or Not?

While making dinner this evening, I received a phone call.  The phone was ringing like crazy today, but this one was way out of left field.

It was the Herald-Times, asking me if I was interested in becoming a paper carrier.  I had sent them my resume about a month ago when a carrier position opened up.  It just happens that the carrier for “my” area quit.

I’ve agreed to go on a “test” run tomorrow morning, bright and early at 4:15.

This is something that I would love to do, but a 7 day a week commitment is tough for a young individual like myself.  We occasionally spend the night at friends and family members homes.  I wouldn’t want to be grounded.

In other job seeking news, I had an interview at the VA clinic in town, and got another call for an interview with what seems to be a general contracting company in town.

The interview at the VA clinic went well.  It’s a position in their front office, I’m just worried that my lack of experience in a medical office setting puts me at a disadvantage.

It would definitely be exciting to work for a general contractor again, but my back isn’t what it used to be.

Due to these concerns, I’m giving this some serious consideration.

I don’t want to work for KFC again, anything but fast food.

Primarily Undecided

For the first time in my lifetime, the Indiana Primary has become an important step in the process of deciding who will become the next president of the United States.

The hardest part, for this household anyway is deciding on who to vote for.  We are not “hardline” party voters.  We instead vote for the issues that are more important to us, and try to make an effort to vote for a person who will do their job, and do it well.

Since G.W.’s administration has made everything under the sun a nightmare, we are voting Democratic this time.  One point I have been making since it has become a Obama vs. Clinton showdown is that history will be made no matter who wins the nomination.

Both canidates have made appearances in Bloomington.
Obama showed up for the Little 500, and was here last night.  He gave a speech at Assembly Hall with a crowd of 13,000 present.  I sat comfortably at home and watched it via a live feed on the Herald-Times website.
Hillary, Chelsea and Bill Clinton have all made appearances here.  While I have not gotten a chance to see any of them speak, I haven’t heard much buzz regarding those appearances either.

When all of this began I was leaning towards voting for Hillary, but I have changed my mind, I think.  The turning point for me was last night when Obama said that, his entire campaign was funded by the american people, one $25 check at a time.”

Last night, we went to my grandmothers for dinner.  We have to drive by the airport to get there, and saw a large plane.  It had an american flag and “The United States” printed on the sides of it.  We knew it was for Obama.  While there, we were watching the news and they had a live feed from Indianapolis.  He was there speaking.  About 11pm, long after his speech here was over, we felt that plane leave.  It was an experience unto itself.

This country needs a change, and while I see it happening with either canidate, I see it happening better with Obama behind the wheel.

She’s Being Hooded

Friday that is.

That’s right, this Friday my wife Rachel is going through that ritual of rituals, graduation.  This will be her third.

I’m so proud of her, as she has practically devoted the last 4 years of her life to this degree, the Higher Education & Student Affairs Masters program.

She has also devoted her career, and much of her life on education.  Which is very interesting because I’m almost the exact opposite.  I guess opposites really do attract.

The only question now is if she will someday take that next, final step and go for the doctorate degree?  We have been discussing it, and at the same rate she has taken the masters program, it would take her 10 years to accomplish the required credits needed for the doctorate.

Perhaps when she’s had a chance to breathe for a while.

Anyway you cut it, I’m very proud.  (It’s not easy with the distractions I seem to bring along)

Feast or Famine

I have been steadily applying for new positions, even though I currently have 2 jobs.

I would generally get an interview here, or a callback there, but nothing really panned out.

For the past couple of nights, when we’ve gotten home there has been at least 1 message on our answering machine asking me for an interview.

Great news, right?  There’s two sides to that coin.

My current positons are academic year only, meaning they generally end once the academic year is over.  Although, I get a feeling that I may be asked to work significantly more hours next semester or even this summer at my job at the Kelley School of Business.

I have had a few interviews lately, but it seems like I’m un-something.  I guess I’m not wanted, or my skills lie in between what they are seeking and what person I’m interviewing with have.

I’m a likable guy, I don’t know what the problem is.

So I have a job interview today, tomorrow and perhaps another one within a week or so.  Two of those interviews are for “real” full time jobs.

People always say it’s easier to get a new job when you have a job, but I don’t really see it that way.  It’s a PITA for me, especially since when I’m at one job, I can barely send an email, let alone talk on the phone, and while I’m at the other I cannot speak on the phone.

This frustrates me to a point where sometimes I wish I could just crawl into a hole and not come out…

100k is a Magic Number

My truck surpassed an automotive milestone on the way back from Muncie last Saturday night, the odometer turned over 100,000 miles.  Yes, I took this picture while driving.  Illegal perhaps, but it only happens once.

For some strange reason, I am taking pride in it.  This is the first vehicle I have purchased, and not wrecked beyond repair.  I did not buy it new, but this truck is me.  I plan on keeping it until the wheels fall off.  It’s paid for, why spend more money?

For those of you who don’t know the specifics, my truck is a 1997 Chevrolet S-10 Extended Cab 4X4 with a 4.3L V6.  I have tried to make it as fuel effecient as possible, and it does get better gas mileage (17/25) than the norm, 15/19.

We have taken it to Oklahoma, The Great Smoky Mountains, Niagara Falls and driven through Canada.  It’s been reliable and more importantly, comfortable for trips.

With the price of fuel these days, it’s becoming more and more expensive to feed it’s hunger.  When I filled her up last Saturday night it cost $42, for 12 and some odd gallons.  That’s only 3/4 of a tank!

So for the meantime, this truck is mainly driven when needed, or to lubricate the engine parts.  Rachels’ Kia is much more eco-friendly.  Yesterday the price of gas jumped 22 cents a gallon!  It went from $3.24 to $3.46, ouch!

That Empty Feeling

Since I’ve started taking Chantix, and quit smoking.  I have this strange feeling, it’s like I’m empty inside now.

While non smokers may not understand what I’m talking about, its more mental than physical and in my case has deep implications.

When you smoke, that’s always your out, or “thing” to do.  Some smokers, like me, always try to “do” something like smoke.  It helps pass the time.

Now that I’m not enjoying my habit, my life feels empty.  It’s very strange, and I’m still getting used to it.

To help, I have been making trips to the nearest gas stations every night to get a pop or ice cream, etc.  It makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something.  Others think I’m just using it as an excuse to smoke, but I’m staying true this time.

Giving Up The Monster

I have attempted to quit smoking many times.  I have used the patch, gum and lozenges.

This time I’m taking a more pharmaceutical try.  Last Tuesday, I had an appointment with my physician who I hadn’t seen in almost 10 years.  He prescribed Chantix, an interesting drug.

This drug works in a very interesting manner, and there are other drugs which work the same way, just on different drugs.

It works by blocking and eventually killing the receptors in the brain that crave and cause a person to desire nicotine.  I worked on a similar drug at Baxter that did the same thing regarding alcohol.  There is another one I know of that works with morphine.

I’m still smoking, my official quit date is Monday.  Chantix is taken for a week while you smoke, to build up the drugs level in your system.

I deeply hope I’m able to drop this habit.  My health isn’t as good as it should be, at $4 to $5 a pack, it’s not a cheap habit.  We guesstimate that it’s costing between $1000 and $1500 a year.

Wish me luck!

Last Birthday

Today, my wife is celebrating her last birthday.  According to her anyway.

There are many things I believe that she wanted to do before she turns a certain age, I think she feels dissapointed that she hasn’t done some of these things so far.

She has accomplished so many other things that she should be proud of though.  I’ll list a few here.

She:

Is a Homeowner
Is almost finished with her masters degree in Higher Education
Is married to the kindest, sweetest man in the world who loves her forever 🙂

Something she needs to remember is that some people don’t achieve these things in their entire life.

We’ve only just begun my dear, just remember that.

Uncharted Territory

My business has just received two new jobs which are uncharted territory to me.  I have never done anything like this before, to some point it’s frightening.  It’s also something new that I can add to my list of products and services offered.

My aunt Laura, whom I’ve been emailing with quite frequently lately had a request for me.  As her nephew, I was more than honored to do it for her, even at no cost.  When she offered to pay me, it just made things better.  She has 13, 8 track cassettes she wants transferred to CD.  Why you say?  They must have some sentimental value to her, which I understand completely.  I miss that tape of ABC (Another Bad Creation) that I had when I was 10 or so.

The first step was acquiring equipment to handle the task.  I searched on eBay and contacted other family members to see if they had working 8 track players.  eBay can be a scary place if you’re not 100% sure on what you need.  I found a standalone player for sale by the original owner.  That’s always been the most reliable source of items in my case.  There are many re-sellers that don’t know the history behind a item, which is good to know when that item is 30+ years old.

It’s a Realistic brand (sold by Radio-Shack) in very nice condition.  I have no tapes to actually test it, but if physical condition shows anything, it’s pristine.

The tapes should be on their way from Oklahoma soon, after I finish a job which has a precise timeline, I will start on those.  I’ll write an update on completion.

The second job, I highly regard.  I have been trying to become an independent contractor for Indiana University for a while.  I put a bid in at the Kelley School of Business MBA Program a year ago.  I was asked again for a bid last week.

This project originally was to transfer 160 VHS tapes to AVI format to be then put onto DVD’s.  It was then discovered that the tapes were actually DVCAM and BetaCam SP tapes.

I immediately thought that I had lost this chance due to the high cost associated with the equipment.  DVCAM and BetaCam SP are professional grade formats, which come with a professional price.  For the price of 2 players, you can purchase a nice car.  I looked into renting, but that was almost as bad.  $75 per day for DVCAM and $250 per day for BetaCam SP.

I was reassured by the person requesting the bid that I didn’t have to put in a bid since the scope of the project had changed, but I didn’t want to tuck my tail between my legs and run.  So I calculated the prices of renting the equipment for the time I would need it and other associated costs and sent my bid.

I was in shock and awe when 2 days later she said she wanted to proceed with my bid.  I’ve finally succeeded with getting my foot in the door, but will I perform when my business and reputation are on the line?

 

 

I’ve been working on a few technical issues regarding this.  I found and purchased a brand new BetaCam SP Player for $500 today on eBay.  The MSRP on this model is $6200!  Far cheaper than renting one, I just hope I didn’t get duped.  One unknown is how long each one of these tapes are, and they want them in AVI format.  I’ve been working with some test files to see the best way to make ’em fit onto 4.7 GB DVDs.  It’s been unsuccessful to say the least.  It seems the more I try, the larger the file size gets.  I’ve been working in a range of 10 gigs to 60 gigs, for the same file!

I’ve decided to use a test file (ROX #41) and render in different formats and codecs.  I’m going to furnish this list of information and let them decide exactly what they want.  I don’t use AVI that much, and I believe it’s highly inferior to QuickTime format.  Hopefully I can get them to come around.

In the end, I hope to deliver what my new client wants and more.  I hope this can build a reputation for me, and in the end, expand more.