Dear God, I have a lot of crap. Getting ready to move and having the luxury to go through it all really makes that point clear.
Most of it is stuff that I don't need and could give away without a second thought. But it is stuff that I like having around, no matter how outdated or tattered they are.
I wonder how quickly freecycle, eBay, Craigslist or the Salvation Army can pick crap up that I'm trying to get rid of?
Showing posts with label Boston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston. Show all posts
June 2, 2009
April 15, 2009
Join the Impact's rally
Much smaller, hard to find but better organized: better sound, funnier lines, nicer costumes and (at least for me) less threatening.
I wonder how much better this could have been with more publicity and a better location.
And at least this is something I agree with.
Angry teabaggers
I can't help but notice how many ignore speakers to get close to the cameras. Though that is made easier by inadequate sound systems.
I wonder how many know about the policies they're railing against.
Checking in...
Not much to report...
Still looking for work. Have a phone screen for a tech support job in another 45 minutes. Yeah, I know, but after 6 months, money coming in will be worth answering phones.
In other avenues of interest, took an iPhone Boot Camp class a couple of weekend's ago and got a lot out of it. I'm working on my second app and working with Apple to clear up the certificate problem, so that I can actually test my apps on a real device.
I also rolled out a new mobile blog: jp4mobile.blogspot.com, which will also have a jp4mobile.com web site once I have time and money to set up the web site to go with it.
I have some app reviews, etc...
Going forward, not quickly, but seem to be starting to get some traction, which feels good.
Still looking for work. Have a phone screen for a tech support job in another 45 minutes. Yeah, I know, but after 6 months, money coming in will be worth answering phones.
In other avenues of interest, took an iPhone Boot Camp class a couple of weekend's ago and got a lot out of it. I'm working on my second app and working with Apple to clear up the certificate problem, so that I can actually test my apps on a real device.
I also rolled out a new mobile blog: jp4mobile.blogspot.com, which will also have a jp4mobile.com web site once I have time and money to set up the web site to go with it.
I have some app reviews, etc...
Going forward, not quickly, but seem to be starting to get some traction, which feels good.
March 10, 2009
Medical Experimentation Is A No Go...
A few weeks ago, I told you about a testosterone study that I was trying to get into. Unfortunately, I didn't pass the re-test.
Does that make me not man enough, because my testosterone levels are low-normal? Eh...
Oh well, another job that didn't work out.
Back to studying mobile programming to create my own job.
Does that make me not man enough, because my testosterone levels are low-normal? Eh...
Oh well, another job that didn't work out.
Back to studying mobile programming to create my own job.
February 24, 2009
Idealist Job Fair
I haven't been to a job fair in almost thirty years, since I was an undergrad at Northeastern. Not much has changed. Picture an empty hall packed with rows and rows of tables, each table staffed with one or two earnest looking people and in a few cases a flag, some take-aways and a standing display of some sort.
What really surprised me was the sheer amount of people. When the doors opened, we were backlogged for about ten minutes to even get in due to the number of people. This wasn't just kids, but I noticed a lot of grey-heads in suits with leather satchels in hand.
This was a career fair for jobs in the non-profit sector. But the only word that mattered to a lot of us was jobs.
Meg from Idealist.org gave a great presentation on looking for jobs in this sector for both new workers and mid-career sector switchers. She pointed out the percentage of growth for jobs in non-profit space and shared some strategies as well as outlining some of the realities. (She also recommended their downloadable career guides.)
I hadn't really been scared before. I guess I've been optimistically sure that something will work out. I've got my plan, the skills I need to acquire and the sector that I need to break into, so I haven't been really dealing with this at the ground level. There's a palpable whiff of desperation and it's hard not to be affected by that. Especially when you see job after job for entry- or mid-level positions only in my own search.
Posted with LifeCast
What really surprised me was the sheer amount of people. When the doors opened, we were backlogged for about ten minutes to even get in due to the number of people. This wasn't just kids, but I noticed a lot of grey-heads in suits with leather satchels in hand.
This was a career fair for jobs in the non-profit sector. But the only word that mattered to a lot of us was jobs.
Meg from Idealist.org gave a great presentation on looking for jobs in this sector for both new workers and mid-career sector switchers. She pointed out the percentage of growth for jobs in non-profit space and shared some strategies as well as outlining some of the realities. (She also recommended their downloadable career guides.)
I hadn't really been scared before. I guess I've been optimistically sure that something will work out. I've got my plan, the skills I need to acquire and the sector that I need to break into, so I haven't been really dealing with this at the ground level. There's a palpable whiff of desperation and it's hard not to be affected by that. Especially when you see job after job for entry- or mid-level positions only in my own search.
Posted with LifeCast
A nonprofit job fair at BU
February 23, 2009
February 11, 2009
I Love This Bridge
I found this picture, while searching for Boston backgrounds on the iPhone. The Zakim bridge really is spectacular, especially at night.Posted with LifeCast
February 7, 2009
February 2, 2009
Alas, Didn't Make the Cut...
Unfortunately, I was just short of the cut off for the medical study. In four weeks or so, I should be able to try again. I'm supposed to take multiple vitamins to try to get my vitamin and (hopefully) my enzyme levels up to what they should be. They'll test me again in another four weeks, if I still want to go forward with the trial.
*shrug* Don't see why not.
I can take a daily multi-vitamin that I probably should have been taking anyway.
*shrug* Don't see why not.
I can take a daily multi-vitamin that I probably should have been taking anyway.
January 28, 2009
More on the Medical Experimentation Front...
Today was interesting. Rushed out in the cold and the miserable to head over to the hospital to meet people at the MGH research building to find out more about this study. Read through the paperwork and offered up my arm for the blood samples that they'll need, before they can officially say whether that I'm eligible for the study or not.
The money seems nice, it doesn't seem like it'll take long and the downside seems minimal. And as an added bonus, I get something to write about, so it's win win all around.
The money seems nice, it doesn't seem like it'll take long and the downside seems minimal. And as an added bonus, I get something to write about, so it's win win all around.
January 27, 2009
I'm afraid I have no choice but to sell you all for medical experiments.
Last night, I was looking into the wonderful world of medical experimentation as an alternative monetary source. Today a few called back.
One was for a study on PTSD. They're looking for people that either have or don't have PTSD, and surprisingly I fit into that pool of possible subjects. They called back today and we talked about some of the less savory aspects of my formative years. I think the most disturbing thing for me was all of the times that I had to say 'Yes, but...' to questions about how I might be dealing with stress in a manner that was similar to PTSD. Unfortunately, I didn't make it into that study.
The other call was for a study on the effects of testosterone on bone density. I get to go to the hospital and talk to people about that tomorrow and get some blood taken. It might be interesting to see what happens with that.
And in other news, I had another phone interview and a request for a face to face interview. Finally, things seem to be turning around.
One was for a study on PTSD. They're looking for people that either have or don't have PTSD, and surprisingly I fit into that pool of possible subjects. They called back today and we talked about some of the less savory aspects of my formative years. I think the most disturbing thing for me was all of the times that I had to say 'Yes, but...' to questions about how I might be dealing with stress in a manner that was similar to PTSD. Unfortunately, I didn't make it into that study.
The other call was for a study on the effects of testosterone on bone density. I get to go to the hospital and talk to people about that tomorrow and get some blood taken. It might be interesting to see what happens with that.
And in other news, I had another phone interview and a request for a face to face interview. Finally, things seem to be turning around.
January 26, 2009
Why I hate buying crap...
Last week, I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond. I needed a couple of things for the apartment and they were easier to get to than Target. All I needed was an absorbent rug for the bathroom, because I was sick of the puddles of water after I got out of the shower and a laundry bag with a strap for the long cold walk to the laundromat. I ended up also buying an electric kettle to make hot tea, because I like tea and hate microwaving the whole damned cup to make a hot cup.
The rug worked perfectly. It lays on the floor, it sucks up water, and it even hangs nicely and dries. I can't say enough good things about it. Of course, I'm not sure how the hell they could have screwed it up. And considering how well everything else worked, I'm sure they tried.
The rest of it all has to be returned. I used the laundry bag for the first time this morning and when I closed it up to keep my socks and underwear from making a run for it, while I was running to wash them, the whole thing split along the seam. The split only got worse, when I repacked the damned thing after washing my clothes.
So I ran to Bed, Bath and Beyond so I could return it. Replaced the nylon one with a canvas one, hoping against hope that it might be more robust. And then before settling in to my computer to try to get more done, I decided that a cup of tea would be in order to help me relax. No luck, the kettle doesn't actually heat the damned water. So now that's going to have to be returned some time this week, too.
How is it so difficult to sell people things that actually work as advertised? Didn't there used to be pride in production? Writing an angry letter to Krups and then back to trying to get some crap done.
The rug worked perfectly. It lays on the floor, it sucks up water, and it even hangs nicely and dries. I can't say enough good things about it. Of course, I'm not sure how the hell they could have screwed it up. And considering how well everything else worked, I'm sure they tried.
The rest of it all has to be returned. I used the laundry bag for the first time this morning and when I closed it up to keep my socks and underwear from making a run for it, while I was running to wash them, the whole thing split along the seam. The split only got worse, when I repacked the damned thing after washing my clothes.
So I ran to Bed, Bath and Beyond so I could return it. Replaced the nylon one with a canvas one, hoping against hope that it might be more robust. And then before settling in to my computer to try to get more done, I decided that a cup of tea would be in order to help me relax. No luck, the kettle doesn't actually heat the damned water. So now that's going to have to be returned some time this week, too.
How is it so difficult to sell people things that actually work as advertised? Didn't there used to be pride in production? Writing an angry letter to Krups and then back to trying to get some crap done.
January 18, 2009
December 28, 2008
November 5, 2008
Police line to keep the party in control
November 4, 2008
Victory Rally in Copley
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
