I've got some weak points to brush up, key word tools especially, since those are a large part of what these guys do--but I have a strong grasp of design, and I can do javascript, which is what they're actually looking for.
Soooo... I might get the job. I really want this one. Fingers crossed.
I have so much that I can't say anything about right now, it's drivin' me nuts. Like a pirate with a steering wheel built into his crotch.
On the bright side, I put out a few job applications recently and got a MASSIVE response. Apparently, I am not in an industry that is suffering the way everyone else is. I've been saying that for a while, but now I have proof.
I need a plan. A good plan. Something that gives me a clear and guiding light to the future.
Ok, so the latest blog on The Gringo Gentile is covering the latest buzz--an appearance by Sarah Palin that makes her look 'idiotic.'
Please... PLEASE explain to me how this video makes Sarah Palin look like an idiot.
I just don't get it. How--HOW--is this stupid?
She's asked about her statement, "John McCain will reform Wall Street." But the question is then misinterpreted to mean, "How will John McCain get the government more involved in Wall Street oversight," to which Palin replies that McCain pretty much isn't doing that. (He tends to want to get the government OUT of Wall Street, because it keeps fucking up the program. I'm with him on that.) Then the reporter presses the issue, and Palin, who has had how many weeks since she got a phone call? Said, 'I'll find out and get back to you.' Frankly, I'd much rather see a politician admit that they don't know than try to bluff through something, as I HAVE seen Obama do. That sort of behavior tends to make me not trust a candidate.
But here's the big bulletin point:
YES. JOHN MCCAIN HAS CONSISTENTLY TRIED TO REDUCE REGULATIONS ON WALL STREET, BECAUSE THE REGULATIONS WE HAVE ARE FUCKING MORONIC AND CAUSED THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
We have consistently prevented speculators from getting damaged from their own stupidity. We have allowed people with inadequate incomes to take unfortunate risks in buying homes--insisted on it, as the 'right' of the American people. The 'regulations' and 'oversight' ends up protecting us in the short term, but tremendously damaging us in the long term. Eventually, the gauze that we use to cover these financial wounds causes economic sepsis, and that's exactly what happened.
Really, has anyone talked to a credit issuer lately about why they think this might have happened? It's because it's not the Government's job to play at being merchants, and they should stay. the fuck. out of it.
If I wasn't sure of my vote before this nonsense--I am now. May the hate mail begin.
"Schwa" is a word that means that upside-down e in cyrillic. It represents 'neutral' vowels, like pretty much most two or more syllable words have. like the 'ble' in 'syllable'. the 'ri' in 'cyrillic' the 're' in 'pretty'... you get the idea. Try saying 'pratty' or 'preety', then say it faster and faster, and eventually, if you're not watching, the vowel loses its a or E sound for an 'eh'. That's what neutral means.
Neat, huh? ok, maybe it's just boredom. Here's a pic.
The paradox of fetishes
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Blogging
I LOVE XKCD. Anyway, this comic does more to illuminate paradoxes than I could say in a thousand words. Witness:
Fucking BRILLIANT.
In other news, today I had a phillyshwarma sub. It's not nearly as bad as it sounds.
It was in a sub and gyro place called Salem's Gyros. The franchise is getting pretty popular in these parts, and for good reason: it's a strange mix of exotic and comfortable, fast food and soul food, and the drive-throughs have been springing up like mushrooms around Tampa. They have a universally slick, clean, McDonald's style feel to them. But. The one I went to, down the road from my house, is one that doesn't follow the rule; it's sitting inside the corner of a beat-up older city brownstone (it's white, actually, but you get the idea) that looks like the rest of the building was an auto parts warehouse or something.
I had to ask the proprietor how long it'd been there. He says, "22 years. And this is the worst business year we've ever had." Can you believe that? The worst year ever for them.
Pretty much anyone living in America can recognize the difference between the slick burger joint versus the city-style corner hangout. The first type is a sterile, surrounded by asphalt fast food joint that seems to have no comfort to it; purely business, optimized to move food as fast as possible. The second is dissappearing, with zoning restrictions and property prices rising every year, and I'm sad to see them go.
I’m voting for McCain
Current mood: Politicized
Category: Politicized Blogging
This is Don talking. I'm not reposting some pundit's words, this is what I truly believe. Take heed.
As a libertarian, my political philosophy is simple: have the least amount of government necessary to prevent another, worse, governing body from forming. This could mean a business monopoly, or the street gang on the corner; or another country invading and taking over. It is the government's job to keep those other dogs down.
Or to put it more simply, the less government the better. Freedom isn't just something that sounds nice, it's got a proven record of improving the quality of life for those that enjoy it; it's just common sense to fight for less government. Hong Kong became the richest city in the world, based on that principle. The quality of life there is simply amazing, or was before China took over...
The amazing economy we have, was built within an environment of freedom, and is melting down under an environment of over-regulation. The health care system has become progressively worse with every new regulation. The housing market has become progressively less in touch with our income base due to regulations that create artificial, hothouse-garden style spending environments. Banks did not recieve *less* oversight when they bought all of those junk bonds; they were recieving *more*, under the Fair Housing Act, and the banking regulations these days are self-contradictory and somewhat insane. Barack proposes more regulation of banks to solve this, and McCain proposes removing irrational regulation as a solution. Guess which one gets my vote?
McCain exemplifies that philosophy of less government better than Obama does. Even if Obama is not an 'insider' (which is not true; he's spent his entire life in politics, and has a longer and stronger political record than most people think), he does have a make-laws-make-regulations mentality, which while comforting on the surface has proven to be disastrous in history time and time again. Simple as that. Me personally, I'd kinda like having a black president in our lifetime, and Obama will probably win anyway based on sheer charisma, but based on the past two months I've been spending on researching both candidates, I have finally today come to the conclusion that McCain is the proper choice. I'm voting for him, and I'm confident it's the right call.
He wants to deregulate health care. He wants to deregulate banking and get the government's hands out of the honey pot. He wants to remove unreasonable federal restrictions on trade that benefit foreign countries.
Barack: Wants to socialize health care. Wants more government regulation of banks. Wants to increase trade restrictions.
Given the choice between making a new law or removing an old one, over almost his entire political career McCain's fought for the latter, sometimes at great political expense.
Obama is, overall, a good candidate as well, and I won't cry if he's elected. But McCain's voting record speaks to me much more than Obama's does.
Stress and Drama
Current mood: bummed
Category: Blogging
It's official. I have missed Talk Like a Pirate Day for three years in a row. This just will not do.
I'm going to set up like 15 calendars to remind me next year. I will flood my email inbox, I will create a Talk Like A Pirate profile and give it a birthday so I see it on Myspace, I will have Marty McFly and Doc Brown send a ninja note from the future in a Delorian. (Is that spelled right?)
Anyway, I've got a neat Piratical video for you here: the guy that started the tradition of Talk Like a Pirate Day did a wife swap: his pirate wench for a suburbanite's hash dream of the ultimate Stepford wife. Words fail me; I laughed, I cringed, I could not speak. Here you go:
The new memory sticks are in. The laptop is BLAZING FAST.
I can now get to my blog page in under a minute. Adobe Illustrator actually loads in less than a week, and I could probably run WOW or something on this thing, finally.
There's a neighborhood cat that showed up a week or two ago; it was in a sad state, red eyes, too skinny, but as sweet as could be. Well, except to Dallas's dog, but otherwise very sweet.
We had to kick it out when it was time to sleep, since we didn't have any litter; but the next day litter and food are brought in by a good Samaritan, and we anxiously awaited the reappearance of kitty.
Well, he showed up again today.
The fact is, I don't know what to do with him. He's too weak to jump through the window on the back porch I've kept open for him, and he's too sick to safely keep near the pit bull when I'm not home. (Dogs eat cat shit; I've learned this.) I can't afford a vet trip, and I don't want to take him to the pound. I also don't want to see him die on the streets. This sucks.
Right now I've got him "caged" in the back porch, until he figures out what a cat door does, with some food and water. Maybe a bit of care will sharpen him up.
hungry
catalyzed
breezy
angry
contemplative
bummed
bouncy