When? soonish.
Unemployed comes from not wanting to work a job that's trying I'm likely to get injured/killed doing if even with the compensation I can't afford to live anywhere but the back of my car (which will probably get towed anyways unless I can fix the plates).
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Glow Sticks
So I cannot bring my flashlight to work... alternatives for seeing in a fucking dark truck? Glowsticks...
They cost about 40cents each in bulk, and I don't think I'll need one Every day. They seem to come with necklace things (though I'll probably duct-tape them to my shoulder or something.)
More later. -Evan
They cost about 40cents each in bulk, and I don't think I'll need one Every day. They seem to come with necklace things (though I'll probably duct-tape them to my shoulder or something.)
More later. -Evan
Monday, November 13, 2006
Things bothering me right now
Susan, I need to call her today... and I really don't know what my goal of any conflict with her will be.
Work: back to getting crushed. yay.
Car: Plates expired, and I don't have any liquid assets to renew them 'till I get paid by GIS or for a CAD job I'm doing (she'll be back in town Thursday).
Rent: I promised Tim rent by the 15th, and I don't know if I'll get paid enough from Fedex. I really don't feel like ending up homeless.
Friends: there's a couple good friends I simply cannot stand to hang out with at the moment, either because they seem to drag me down or because there's some tension regarding what we usually do when we hang out.
Money: I don't see how I can sustain myself... I don't even know where to start cutting corners.
-Evan
Edit: Car insurance is up too. :(
Work: back to getting crushed. yay.
Car: Plates expired, and I don't have any liquid assets to renew them 'till I get paid by GIS or for a CAD job I'm doing (she'll be back in town Thursday).
Rent: I promised Tim rent by the 15th, and I don't know if I'll get paid enough from Fedex. I really don't feel like ending up homeless.
Friends: there's a couple good friends I simply cannot stand to hang out with at the moment, either because they seem to drag me down or because there's some tension regarding what we usually do when we hang out.
Money: I don't see how I can sustain myself... I don't even know where to start cutting corners.
-Evan
Edit: Car insurance is up too. :(
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Foot in mouth disease
I say things that sometimes need clarification... for instance, when I meant to say that I was looking to continue on as permanant on my job and possibly advance to a non-package handling position in the company, I instead said "'till I find something else".
I think the question had to do with how long I was planning on staying on for... an indirect asking of "do you want to stay on after the season".
I need to clarify that on monday...
I think the question had to do with how long I was planning on staying on for... an indirect asking of "do you want to stay on after the season".
I need to clarify that on monday...
Things so important they cannot be spoken of...
Unwritten rules.
I'm trying to find an example of the system by which homework at my former school was completed (It involved sections like "Known", "Problem", "Given", "Solution", "Conclusion/Discussion").
I've been searching their websites, and while I seem to have found a lot of information on answers to homework, hints and the like. I find no procedural information for doing the homework. (which is really not surprising, as we only found out there was a sytem after we started getting half our points knocked off for not following "the proceedure")
---
This acutally has a lot to do with why I'm so pissed at my current employer, as a lot of what we need to know about doing the job is simply not discussed... like moving about the truck, what to do when you can't see shit and are about to get crushed to death... that kind of thing.
---
But getting back to the reason I'm talking about this, I was trying to write up an argument for rules clarifiation/ammendment to the Frag rules... having to do with the tracking of damage and suggesting a wounds based accounting system rather than the health accounting that happens now.
---
Anyways, Long story ended... I'm pissed because so many places take for granted such very essential and arcane things (and it generally falls to the workers/students to piece things together).
I'm trying to find an example of the system by which homework at my former school was completed (It involved sections like "Known", "Problem", "Given", "Solution", "Conclusion/Discussion").
I've been searching their websites, and while I seem to have found a lot of information on answers to homework, hints and the like. I find no procedural information for doing the homework. (which is really not surprising, as we only found out there was a sytem after we started getting half our points knocked off for not following "the proceedure")
---
This acutally has a lot to do with why I'm so pissed at my current employer, as a lot of what we need to know about doing the job is simply not discussed... like moving about the truck, what to do when you can't see shit and are about to get crushed to death... that kind of thing.
---
But getting back to the reason I'm talking about this, I was trying to write up an argument for rules clarifiation/ammendment to the Frag rules... having to do with the tracking of damage and suggesting a wounds based accounting system rather than the health accounting that happens now.
---
Anyways, Long story ended... I'm pissed because so many places take for granted such very essential and arcane things (and it generally falls to the workers/students to piece things together).
I don't blame Susan for my misery in this situation, or for the fact that I cannot see how anyone can support themselves on $20/day... But I do blame her for something.
Every time we talked she would duckspeak the same little dance about how it will feel good to have a job and that will make thing easier... And if that were it, I'd be ok with it, but she'd go on for hours if I didn't tell her that she sounded drunk and was repeating herself.
And now, all that sugar coating has turned to vinegar. And I really dislike that particular taste. But this is metaphor, so it doesn't matter. Anyways, now every memory of her blathering on how this would be a good thing seeps caustic liquid, and adds that much needed spice of insult to this already terrible injury (figurative).
---
I just spent 24hrs asleep after my second shift of moving things.
They sat us through 3 days of training, which they neglected to tell us many things that would be useful (I suspect because there's no answer, that if given as policy, would not get them sued). [Example: How do I get to the belly of the truck when the side by me is filled with boxes and the only way to the other side is by sliding along the rollers?]
I am glad I purchased gloves. They've already saved me from what would be nasty cuts twice (once in the previous example..). Knee pads were another good investment...
I cannot bring in a flashlight (because of their theft policies), so I'm thinking of getting a case of glowsticks... (I'm undecided if I'm going to become a raver in order to use the excess...)
---
It seems that every time I turn around there's another tiny little dagger in my back. The person running the applications/orientation did not mention that we'd all be seasonal until late into the orientation (3rd day of the process). It would not be such a terrible thing if he hadn't been praising and pushing the benefits that he knew we would not get.
And every time thereafter that someone mentions a benefit that is delayed/lost due to this "seasonal" label, I feel that little tinge of betrayal.
Add to this that we were made to sit and watch training videos and stuff for three days, and when we finally got around to doing the work it became apparent that not only does nobody else use any of the rules we were taught, but if we try and abide from them we will be BURIED ALIVE*.
*In our first week of handling, we were to be expected to move no more than about 100 packages an hour. This "expectation" however, does not stop the flow of boxes into our trucks... and when we're in the belly section, there is really no other place for the boxes to go than on top of our heads.
---
Oh well, the last job hunt was moved along by emotional suffering and ultimatums... let's see if physical pain can help the next search...
-Evan
Every time we talked she would duckspeak the same little dance about how it will feel good to have a job and that will make thing easier... And if that were it, I'd be ok with it, but she'd go on for hours if I didn't tell her that she sounded drunk and was repeating herself.
And now, all that sugar coating has turned to vinegar. And I really dislike that particular taste. But this is metaphor, so it doesn't matter. Anyways, now every memory of her blathering on how this would be a good thing seeps caustic liquid, and adds that much needed spice of insult to this already terrible injury (figurative).
---
I just spent 24hrs asleep after my second shift of moving things.
They sat us through 3 days of training, which they neglected to tell us many things that would be useful (I suspect because there's no answer, that if given as policy, would not get them sued). [Example: How do I get to the belly of the truck when the side by me is filled with boxes and the only way to the other side is by sliding along the rollers?]
I am glad I purchased gloves. They've already saved me from what would be nasty cuts twice (once in the previous example..). Knee pads were another good investment...
I cannot bring in a flashlight (because of their theft policies), so I'm thinking of getting a case of glowsticks... (I'm undecided if I'm going to become a raver in order to use the excess...)
---
It seems that every time I turn around there's another tiny little dagger in my back. The person running the applications/orientation did not mention that we'd all be seasonal until late into the orientation (3rd day of the process). It would not be such a terrible thing if he hadn't been praising and pushing the benefits that he knew we would not get.
And every time thereafter that someone mentions a benefit that is delayed/lost due to this "seasonal" label, I feel that little tinge of betrayal.
Add to this that we were made to sit and watch training videos and stuff for three days, and when we finally got around to doing the work it became apparent that not only does nobody else use any of the rules we were taught, but if we try and abide from them we will be BURIED ALIVE*.
*In our first week of handling, we were to be expected to move no more than about 100 packages an hour. This "expectation" however, does not stop the flow of boxes into our trucks... and when we're in the belly section, there is really no other place for the boxes to go than on top of our heads.
---
Oh well, the last job hunt was moved along by emotional suffering and ultimatums... let's see if physical pain can help the next search...
-Evan
Friday, November 10, 2006
Don't ask the experts,
...Because they're what's wrong with the situation.
I've been developing a new philosophy over the past few weeks... The nutshell description is that our world has taken the specialization of labor so far it has led to a great deal of dysfunction, which is meerly taken as "the way things are" rather than being seen as a problem.
Experts have no incentive, and in fact disinsentive, to making their work usable to the masses. This leads to a bunch of disparate groups in their ivory towers trying to build them ever higher. And while these advances are not bad things (and are even found to be marketable to "the masses" from time to time), the tools they use should be simple enough for everyone to pick up... or at the very least, they should not throw away the old tools that were simple enough for everyone to use...
An example of this would be how the auto industry integrated computers into every system, creating the situation where while thirty years ago, a hobbiest might be able to repair/maintain/and perhaps modify their car, that would be impossible today (in part due to the cost assosciated with specialized equipment such as OBD scanners and things)
This leads me to wonder as well if a durable, easy to repair, simple to understand car would sell well today? Merely because it gives people the option to empower themselves and take control of the device.
But I digress.
-Evan
I've been developing a new philosophy over the past few weeks... The nutshell description is that our world has taken the specialization of labor so far it has led to a great deal of dysfunction, which is meerly taken as "the way things are" rather than being seen as a problem.
Experts have no incentive, and in fact disinsentive, to making their work usable to the masses. This leads to a bunch of disparate groups in their ivory towers trying to build them ever higher. And while these advances are not bad things (and are even found to be marketable to "the masses" from time to time), the tools they use should be simple enough for everyone to pick up... or at the very least, they should not throw away the old tools that were simple enough for everyone to use...
An example of this would be how the auto industry integrated computers into every system, creating the situation where while thirty years ago, a hobbiest might be able to repair/maintain/and perhaps modify their car, that would be impossible today (in part due to the cost assosciated with specialized equipment such as OBD scanners and things)
This leads me to wonder as well if a durable, easy to repair, simple to understand car would sell well today? Merely because it gives people the option to empower themselves and take control of the device.
But I digress.
-Evan
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Cooking, pants optional
PANCAKES!
MOTHERFUCKIN' PANCAKES!
and EGGS!
So I made breakfast today... I made some nice and chewy and sweet and fluffy pancakes (motherfuckin'), and then I made some eggs... scrambled and folded rather well.
Around noon I made the rest of the batter to feed a friend and then went and tried to make an apple pancake... So I cut up an apple like a spastic retard and tossed it ontop of the pancake... then I put some cinnamon sugar on it...
It turned out a little undercooked in the center but tasted really good.
and now I have pants, yay pants.
MOTHERFUCKIN' PANCAKES!
and EGGS!
So I made breakfast today... I made some nice and chewy and sweet and fluffy pancakes (motherfuckin'), and then I made some eggs... scrambled and folded rather well.
Around noon I made the rest of the batter to feed a friend and then went and tried to make an apple pancake... So I cut up an apple like a spastic retard and tossed it ontop of the pancake... then I put some cinnamon sugar on it...
It turned out a little undercooked in the center but tasted really good.
and now I have pants, yay pants.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Ma's stir fry recipe
Foods:
Chicken (I use boneless/skinless breasts because I'm lazy, one per person)
Veggies (again, I'm lazy, so I usually buy some bag of mixed/cut/washed stuff)
Marinade:
1 Tbsp Oil
3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
3 Tbsp Sake (or dry sherry)
1" Ginger, minced
1 Clove garlic
Sauce:
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tsp cornstarch
1 1/2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
Marinade meat for about a half hour then stir fry until browned.
Set meat aside and stir fry veggies for a minute, then add chicken and sauce. Continue cooking for a few minutes until the sauce thickens a little, the veggies get slightly tender, and stop before the chicken gets rubbery.
Check the biggest piece of chicken you can find to see if it's cooked through (I'm paranoid). If it is, serve the food, eat over rice. Yum.
Chicken (I use boneless/skinless breasts because I'm lazy, one per person)
Veggies (again, I'm lazy, so I usually buy some bag of mixed/cut/washed stuff)
Marinade:
1 Tbsp Oil
3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
3 Tbsp Sake (or dry sherry)
1" Ginger, minced
1 Clove garlic
Sauce:
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tsp cornstarch
1 1/2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
Marinade meat for about a half hour then stir fry until browned.
Set meat aside and stir fry veggies for a minute, then add chicken and sauce. Continue cooking for a few minutes until the sauce thickens a little, the veggies get slightly tender, and stop before the chicken gets rubbery.
Check the biggest piece of chicken you can find to see if it's cooked through (I'm paranoid). If it is, serve the food, eat over rice. Yum.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Moenchies
Inspiration or plagiarism? Such a fine line separates them.
For some time I've had the idea to create Munchies, a cafe/diner place that serves... well... a variety of foods so wide that the hungry pothead would be hard pressed to come up with something we couldn't make. I'm thinking of Huge bags of chips, pizzas, deep-fried anything, burgers and sammiches, or even fries a'la mode (chocolate ice cream of course).
Anyways, over the past month or so, I've been reading the works of one who loves cake and refining my concept in light of some of his stories and ideas. Well today, much to my surprise, he posted a description strikingly similar to the one that developed in my brain.
It's always interesting (and frightening) to see someone thinking the same thing as you.
(the spelling of the title is for if Munchies opens in Terre Haute... It's a joke on a building name at Rose)
For some time I've had the idea to create Munchies, a cafe/diner place that serves... well... a variety of foods so wide that the hungry pothead would be hard pressed to come up with something we couldn't make. I'm thinking of Huge bags of chips, pizzas, deep-fried anything, burgers and sammiches, or even fries a'la mode (chocolate ice cream of course).
Anyways, over the past month or so, I've been reading the works of one who loves cake and refining my concept in light of some of his stories and ideas. Well today, much to my surprise, he posted a description strikingly similar to the one that developed in my brain.
It's always interesting (and frightening) to see someone thinking the same thing as you.
(the spelling of the title is for if Munchies opens in Terre Haute... It's a joke on a building name at Rose)
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Sketchup
So I've decided to start practicing sketchup (at about 3am this morning) and I created this for their weekly competition thing (though it was late).
This is a left handed touchpad media player, the pad is based of of those found on laptops, but I think it may have to look different if it's going to be a thumb-pad.
Here's some links to the competition and the sketchup model:
Sketchup Page
Forum Post
Img with title block
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Dr. Dvorak
Pocketmod had a new page when I started printing out my planners again this week, it had a page with a Dvorak keyboard layout, and a link to http://dvzine.org/.
It has a wonderful little comic about the rise of QWERTY and a lot of painful frustration as to its continued existance.
It has a wonderful little comic about the rise of QWERTY and a lot of painful frustration as to its continued existance.
Breakfast and Lunch
For breakfast I made Apple Cinnamon Pancakes; which consist of pancake mix, applesauce, and cinnamon sugar all mixed together. (I didn't measure since it was the first experiment on the matter).
They turned out tasty, but they were very hard to cook properly due to the added structure that the apples gave the batter. Next time I'll have to use a more liquid mix, and make one cake at a time from the center of the pan.
---
Lunch: Turkey Sandwich, Salad, Sliced Apple, and Chips. (nothing fancy or original, I just wanted a multiple course lunch.)
---
I'll probably keep working on the Thai stir fry stuff tonight. I should invite people over.
They turned out tasty, but they were very hard to cook properly due to the added structure that the apples gave the batter. Next time I'll have to use a more liquid mix, and make one cake at a time from the center of the pan.
---
Lunch: Turkey Sandwich, Salad, Sliced Apple, and Chips. (nothing fancy or original, I just wanted a multiple course lunch.)
---
I'll probably keep working on the Thai stir fry stuff tonight. I should invite people over.
UoEP
So I've decided that I need to devote set times to the study of the different subjects I've committed myself to learning (but cannot sit down and read the books for).
I don't know yet how the time frame will breakdown (hr/day/subject?) (2hrs/subject/MWForTH).
Subjects include:
That's it for now.
I don't know yet how the time frame will breakdown (hr/day/subject?) (2hrs/subject/MWForTH).
Subjects include:
- Marketing
- Comp. Sci.
- Nutrition
- Literature
- Career Studies
That's it for now.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
The unwasted day
I managed to get a lot done today:
So I'm doing good. yay me.
- Picked up my meds
- Ate lunch
- Purchased produce
- and got phone numbers from the library for my sales thing.
So I'm doing good. yay me.
The waste of a day
I slept about a day straight yesterday (from about 5am to 5am).
Today I need to get my meds updated (out since Wednesday) and probably should hit the library.
My limbs feel atrophied. (sigh).
-Evan
Today I need to get my meds updated (out since Wednesday) and probably should hit the library.
My limbs feel atrophied. (sigh).
-Evan
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
After dinner...
So dinner went well, but after dinner I came downstairs to find that rain had seeped into the basement... so in a panic I took everything that was on the floor and elevated it. Made a token attempt to mop up what had come in already... and finally resigned the issue to a force more powerfull than my patience and stamina.
I'm thinking of making Pad Khing next. I had it once at the Thai restraunt in Terre Haute and it was very delicious if a little spicy.
I'm thinking of making Pad Khing next. I had it once at the Thai restraunt in Terre Haute and it was very delicious if a little spicy.
Lard nar
When I was awoken to create food, I decided I'd be nice and make something tim had wanted the other day, but could not get:
I couldn't fry the rice noodles correctly still (I either need a lot more heat or need to make a lot less noodles), and since I used too many noodles, I did not have enough sauce; However, it did turn out tasty. I served everything in the bowls my aunt gave me oh so long ago (when I went to college).
Also, the recipe does not mention beef, despite calling for you to cook it. I used an almost-half-pound bottom round steak, sliced thin across the grain (with cheap meat [$1.35], this is more important than how you cook it as you want as small of tissue fiber as possible; this way, even if it's rubber, it will still be edible). Other substitutions I made were Tapioca Starch for Cornstarch; Peanut Oil as cooking oil; and I did not have any mushrooms.
I also made ramen noodle soup in a style close to the Dork Tower comic featuring Iron Chef: Ramen.
I really missed cooking, and I wish I had willing company more often. I suppose I could try cooking for friends/etc and have everyone throw in 5 bucks. But I don't know many people around Evergreen Park. A shame really.
Fried Noodle in Creamy Sauce (Lard Nar)
Ingredients
- 2 cup rice noodles (soaked in water)
- 1 1/2 cup broccoli sliced
- 3-4 shiitake mushroom (soaked over night)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
Cook'em!!
- In frying pan, heat oil and brown garlic.
- Add noodles, stir well for 3 minutes.
- Place on serving plate. Heat remaining oil, add beef, broccoli and shiitake mushrooms.
- Stir until no pink in beef.
- Add water and bring to boil. (about 1/2 cup water)
- Add oyster sauce, fish sauce and sugar.
- Add cornstarch and stir until thicken.
- Spoon over the noodle.
- Serve with a slice of lemon will be good.
- Enjoy it!
By: Jew
I couldn't fry the rice noodles correctly still (I either need a lot more heat or need to make a lot less noodles), and since I used too many noodles, I did not have enough sauce; However, it did turn out tasty. I served everything in the bowls my aunt gave me oh so long ago (when I went to college).
Also, the recipe does not mention beef, despite calling for you to cook it. I used an almost-half-pound bottom round steak, sliced thin across the grain (with cheap meat [$1.35], this is more important than how you cook it as you want as small of tissue fiber as possible; this way, even if it's rubber, it will still be edible). Other substitutions I made were Tapioca Starch for Cornstarch; Peanut Oil as cooking oil; and I did not have any mushrooms.
I also made ramen noodle soup in a style close to the Dork Tower comic featuring Iron Chef: Ramen.
I really missed cooking, and I wish I had willing company more often. I suppose I could try cooking for friends/etc and have everyone throw in 5 bucks. But I don't know many people around Evergreen Park. A shame really.
Another Useless Day
Today I woke up, checked my email, and discovered that my benefactor's rat had escaped and was in the basement with me. The rat was stuck in the laundry room, with the only exit being where there was a break in the wall by the foundation. So I put some paper there and went bout my business listening attentively for the sound or rat hitting paper.
The rat came out, and ran around for a bit before I lost it again. But I assumed it was in the main area of the basement where my computer was (and not much to hide behind besides the futon), so I figured I'd find her eventually... except the door to my room was open. (stupid)
I made a quick visual scan under all the furniture in my room and assumed she wasn't in there (she was hiding in my dresser, which she can jump in from beneath the drawers)... I later heard her in the room and proceeded to have an exhausting game of Catch the fucking rat before I finally caught her and she bit my finger.
Then I spent most of the day feeling terribly tired and not getting anything done (it was about 2pm at this point, having spent a good 3 to 4 hours in pursuit of the escapee, then cleaning up afterwards).
If this ever happens again I'm calling over Mr. Black to have a little playtime with the misplaced pets.
Then I was awoken at about midnight because Tim and John had the munchies. I will continue the story in the next post.
The rat came out, and ran around for a bit before I lost it again. But I assumed it was in the main area of the basement where my computer was (and not much to hide behind besides the futon), so I figured I'd find her eventually... except the door to my room was open. (stupid)
I made a quick visual scan under all the furniture in my room and assumed she wasn't in there (she was hiding in my dresser, which she can jump in from beneath the drawers)... I later heard her in the room and proceeded to have an exhausting game of Catch the fucking rat before I finally caught her and she bit my finger.
Then I spent most of the day feeling terribly tired and not getting anything done (it was about 2pm at this point, having spent a good 3 to 4 hours in pursuit of the escapee, then cleaning up afterwards).
If this ever happens again I'm calling over Mr. Black to have a little playtime with the misplaced pets.
Then I was awoken at about midnight because Tim and John had the munchies. I will continue the story in the next post.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Today
Here's to five years of cock-blocking any meaningful investigation and turning a tragedy into new age nationalism.
Cheers.
*mutters* ...I still think we sunk the maine again.
Cheers.
*mutters* ...I still think we sunk the maine again.
Organization
I was awakened at 1am today (slept from about 6pm yesterday) and since then I've been doing a lot of organizing.
I've created a system to track job leads and the tasks associated with each one.
I've gone and organized the My Documents folder (now I just need to do the desktop)
I've set up a section of my dry erase board to track my debts to various people.
I've cards to prompt me to call people and cover various items of business with them.
What I really need to do still is organize my desktop and figure some system by which I can portion my days into various tasks that need doing (reading for example, pleasure and practical purposes). I also need to set up my file cabinet [crate] system so I can deal with paperwork; as a corollary to that I need a system for going through mail.
I suppose this is a good time to make a motto out of this: "If you have no idea what to do next: organize."
I've created a system to track job leads and the tasks associated with each one.
I've gone and organized the My Documents folder (now I just need to do the desktop)
I've set up a section of my dry erase board to track my debts to various people.
I've cards to prompt me to call people and cover various items of business with them.
What I really need to do still is organize my desktop and figure some system by which I can portion my days into various tasks that need doing (reading for example, pleasure and practical purposes). I also need to set up my file cabinet [crate] system so I can deal with paperwork; as a corollary to that I need a system for going through mail.
I suppose this is a good time to make a motto out of this: "If you have no idea what to do next: organize."
Saturday, September 09, 2006
AS
Additonally, I qualify for my Assosiates Degree... I think that I decided not to turn in the petition back in '03 because I couldn't afford it at the time. However, the missing class was PH110, intro to logic, which was removed from the list of qualifying courses in '05 or '04. But I can petition under an earlier degree.
Oh well. I need to try at least... Perhaps monday.
Oh well. I need to try at least... Perhaps monday.
Downward Musings
So tell me how you're supposed to get out of this cycle:
I feel like shit because I have no job, no money, no confidence, and no will to go on.
I need confidence to sell myself to an employer, and resilience to keep going through all the rejection.
Rejection makes me feel more like shit. Repeat.
Add to this mix random interjections of the people I care about questioning my choices and my very being a person without actually helping. And I can't get mad at them because they think they're helping and understand just enough to do a lot of damage.
Feh. oh well, 2 applications out today. One more to go. (Shrink recommended I shoot for 3/day, sounds like a good idea... some small goal to hit before I collapse.)
PS: The blogger beta's spellchecker rocks
I feel like shit because I have no job, no money, no confidence, and no will to go on.
I need confidence to sell myself to an employer, and resilience to keep going through all the rejection.
Rejection makes me feel more like shit. Repeat.
Add to this mix random interjections of the people I care about questioning my choices and my very being a person without actually helping. And I can't get mad at them because they think they're helping and understand just enough to do a lot of damage.
Feh. oh well, 2 applications out today. One more to go. (Shrink recommended I shoot for 3/day, sounds like a good idea... some small goal to hit before I collapse.)
PS: The blogger beta's spellchecker rocks
Friday, September 01, 2006
Back to Moraine Valley
I went back to the community college I attended today to both apply for a position and to check their job postings. I managed to pick up a lot of CAD job leads and I've an appointment to see a career councilor tomorrow at 9am about my resume and job hunt.
I think I'm missing one class before I can get my associates (I hadn't cared about it since I was transferring to a four year college at the time). So I can either take a class or try and find something else that would count for a humanities credit.
Four decent leads to follow up on tomorrow after my appointment with the job placement center. And I have the info for two CAD placement agencies.
additionally, tomorrow I've some freelance work with one of tim's clients. FTP stuff, should be interesting. I suppose I should research/prepare for it though.
I think I'm missing one class before I can get my associates (I hadn't cared about it since I was transferring to a four year college at the time). So I can either take a class or try and find something else that would count for a humanities credit.
Four decent leads to follow up on tomorrow after my appointment with the job placement center. And I have the info for two CAD placement agencies.
additionally, tomorrow I've some freelance work with one of tim's clients. FTP stuff, should be interesting. I suppose I should research/prepare for it though.
The hunt is on.
So I've been looking for a job for a while (the Gordie's job didn't pay enough to support me). Anyways, I was offered a job repairing tanning machines; 25k + use of the company van and training. So I took it, gave the instructor gig 2 weeks notice, and started using my days off to follow the contractor they hired around and pick up the ropes...
A week after I was told I had the job, I called back asking if they needed any more information from me (drivers license number, SS, things like that). And the guy I talked to said they were interviewing other people.
Then they stopped returning calls. After gordie's found a replacement.
This was back around July 18th + a week...
A week after I was told I had the job, I called back asking if they needed any more information from me (drivers license number, SS, things like that). And the guy I talked to said they were interviewing other people.
Then they stopped returning calls. After gordie's found a replacement.
This was back around July 18th + a week...
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Finishing up the resume tutorial
I realize I should be posting these tutorials online for all to lambast... Perhaps I will (and I'll see if crypto can set me up another directory)...
That's all for now.
That's all for now.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Spreadsheets again
Today I re-enter the Intro to Spreadsheets lesson... I wrote it before, but I forgot where.
Need to keep the big picture in mind... I wish I had a box full of assignment ideas I could give people, but I don't...
-TLG
Need to keep the big picture in mind... I wish I had a box full of assignment ideas I could give people, but I don't...
-TLG
Typography for dummies
It is a shame that every student learning office software must go through a phase that resembles a three year old with a box of crayons, coloring everything in ways that don't make the documents readable or sensible.
One of my students has discovered color and images in Writer, and intends to apply them to everything, whether the text above them is readable or not. I hope to find some way to discourage this. Perhaps I should start grading assingments... But first I'd have to make a rubric and assignments to be graded.
Too much to write, read, etc... Not enough time between classes.
-TLG
Edit:
So what I wanted to mention was I got a few books on Graphic Design and Typography that I'm running through in the hopes to boil down some advice for my students on fonts, styles, and such.
More info when I have it...
One of my students has discovered color and images in Writer, and intends to apply them to everything, whether the text above them is readable or not. I hope to find some way to discourage this. Perhaps I should start grading assingments... But first I'd have to make a rubric and assignments to be graded.
Too much to write, read, etc... Not enough time between classes.
-TLG
Edit:
So what I wanted to mention was I got a few books on Graphic Design and Typography that I'm running through in the hopes to boil down some advice for my students on fonts, styles, and such.
More info when I have it...
Friday, June 30, 2006
On books and other problems
Well I've given notice that I'm having trouble surviving while teaching this class (and that it requires work beyond the time I'm allowed in class each day). And in response I was told that he'd see what he can do (my boss that is) and that I should look into a textbook so that I don't need to type all the lessons myself.
Which would be understandable, except I don't exactally have any money to buy a book at the moment.
So here I am left with a quandary of what to do. Well, not really. I'm reviewing various book trials for OpenOffice (http://www.conciseconceptsinc.com/, http://oooauthors.org/en/authors/userguide2) and trying to see how much it would cost to print the books (if I use the oooauthors one for instance).
Which means that the lessons for Styles are on hold until I either finish researching or give up on the idea...
Which would be understandable, except I don't exactally have any money to buy a book at the moment.
So here I am left with a quandary of what to do. Well, not really. I'm reviewing various book trials for OpenOffice (http://www.conciseconceptsinc.com/, http://oooauthors.org/en/authors/userguide2) and trying to see how much it would cost to print the books (if I use the oooauthors one for instance).
Which means that the lessons for Styles are on hold until I either finish researching or give up on the idea...
Friday, June 09, 2006
Where is this class going?
Ok, I need to take a step back for a second and figure where I many the students to be when they leave the class, and how they're supposed to get there.
I've been running my students through the Tutorials For OpenOffice in addition to my own writings, but this just seems like busywork without a goal.
What are the goals of the class?
For the student to be prepared to use a computer in whatever work they happen to find.
To achieve this goal they must have a working understanding of Word Processing software and Spreadsheet software.
At what point does a person have a working understanding?
Well, they must be able to both create, and edit any type of document they are required to produce. Examples include but are not limited to: Letters, Resumes, Timesheets, Invoices, Reports with pictures and data, and Fliers/promotional items.
Well limited is the problem word, isn't it? We must decide what this limit is, set it firmly, and work to that end.
Umm... that's not really a question. But I agree.
Then how do we find the limit?
We research what skills are needed for each of the above documents and find the most common elements. And focusing on the common elements, we teach the course stretching to include the lesser used skills for each task.
I've been running my students through the Tutorials For OpenOffice in addition to my own writings, but this just seems like busywork without a goal.
What are the goals of the class?
For the student to be prepared to use a computer in whatever work they happen to find.
To achieve this goal they must have a working understanding of Word Processing software and Spreadsheet software.
At what point does a person have a working understanding?
Well, they must be able to both create, and edit any type of document they are required to produce. Examples include but are not limited to: Letters, Resumes, Timesheets, Invoices, Reports with pictures and data, and Fliers/promotional items.
Well limited is the problem word, isn't it? We must decide what this limit is, set it firmly, and work to that end.
Umm... that's not really a question. But I agree.
Then how do we find the limit?
We research what skills are needed for each of the above documents and find the most common elements. And focusing on the common elements, we teach the course stretching to include the lesser used skills for each task.
Friday, May 19, 2006
The job goes on
This is the plan:
I write a bunch of tutorials (or if I get desperate, beg/borrow/steal them) and give them to the students to do. Then I hover about (or sit at my laptop and continue writing/stealing more tutorials) and assist as needed.
The benefits of this method is that the entire class doesn't have to be on the same page. Which is going to happen because of the way enrollment goes in this class.
Now what I need to work on, aside from the lessons themselves, is a timetable of what the students should achive at each week or so in the class (it's supposed to run for 12 weeks). Perhaps I should write seperate goals for different ablilities, for instance if someone comes in never having touched a computer versus someone who's had previous training.
But I need to get a more "big picture" look at what I'm doing. Ask What are my goals? and How can each of those goals be achieved?.
I need a whiteboard. Or a cork board... Use some color cards for the goals and some other for the methods, lessons, etc.
-TheLoneGoldfish
I write a bunch of tutorials (or if I get desperate, beg/borrow/steal them) and give them to the students to do. Then I hover about (or sit at my laptop and continue writing/stealing more tutorials) and assist as needed.
The benefits of this method is that the entire class doesn't have to be on the same page. Which is going to happen because of the way enrollment goes in this class.
Now what I need to work on, aside from the lessons themselves, is a timetable of what the students should achive at each week or so in the class (it's supposed to run for 12 weeks). Perhaps I should write seperate goals for different ablilities, for instance if someone comes in never having touched a computer versus someone who's had previous training.
But I need to get a more "big picture" look at what I'm doing. Ask What are my goals? and How can each of those goals be achieved?.
I need a whiteboard. Or a cork board... Use some color cards for the goals and some other for the methods, lessons, etc.
-TheLoneGoldfish
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Teacher Takes Time to Talk
I am at school. I managed to get one more computer to run OpenOffice.org in addition to loading the software on the one fully functional computer we had, bringing our total to two. Except the computer does not have a working disk drive, so the students cannot move their work or get it printed.
There's not much going on with construction today, but there's also not much going on in the class either. One prospective student came in early, but was dismayed when I related the state of our computers (he had taken MS Office training previously and just needed to practice). Later another student showed up, and is currently going through the typing tutor again.
I did find some interesting links today though.
http://www.zefrank.com/
Video: Powerpuff Girls Z trailer
We went through the American Kennel Club website looking for Dovermen rescue sites, and doing general research on local breeder/rescue resources. The students could have at least that to do in here if we had the wireless cards that we were supposed to get.
Anyways, enough bitching for today.
There's not much going on with construction today, but there's also not much going on in the class either. One prospective student came in early, but was dismayed when I related the state of our computers (he had taken MS Office training previously and just needed to practice). Later another student showed up, and is currently going through the typing tutor again.
I did find some interesting links today though.
http://www.zefrank.com/
Video: Powerpuff Girls Z trailer
We went through the American Kennel Club website looking for Dovermen rescue sites, and doing general research on local breeder/rescue resources. The students could have at least that to do in here if we had the wireless cards that we were supposed to get.
Anyways, enough bitching for today.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Possible solutions
I can go home tonight and buy some blank cd's and burn one with OOo-Dev. And I can suggest Gordie's work out something with computers for schools. But these alternatives take time, and both my students and I are getting a little frustrated at the moment.
Fish teaches typing
I've been teaching a computer software applications class (Word, Excel, etc) to ex-offenders at a community center in Chicago for three weeks now. I've come in on Monday of week four and everything has gone to shit, so I thought I'd write about it to help get my thoughts together.
I've had 4 students in the course, one has gone AWOL, while one just enrolled today.
The materials I have to work with include six computers in various states of repair, all five to nine years old. One computer only has a disk drive for media input while some have CDroms, network cards, and USB ports too. One of the machines can be considered "fully functional", i.e. has MS Office and a working disk drive (I'm not asking for much here)
I've been trying to get Open Office on the machines so I would have some software to teach the students on. Last week I tried to run a network between my laptop and the computers, in order to copy the files, but I was met with failure and futility. This morning I purchased a USB drive and assumed I could get the files through that way.
Apparently windows 98 and 95 don't auto-detect usb drives (kind of makes sense for 95, but I'd think that 98 would download the driver from the device... no such luck).
So in the process of installing OOo-Dev on two of the machines, I restarted them and got locked out. Now I'm down to 2 computers that at least have the typing tutor program on them. At least only 2 students have shown up today.
So now I need to get a USB thumb drive driver for 98 or install CD roms in some of these blasted things...
I've had 4 students in the course, one has gone AWOL, while one just enrolled today.
The materials I have to work with include six computers in various states of repair, all five to nine years old. One computer only has a disk drive for media input while some have CDroms, network cards, and USB ports too. One of the machines can be considered "fully functional", i.e. has MS Office and a working disk drive (I'm not asking for much here)
I've been trying to get Open Office on the machines so I would have some software to teach the students on. Last week I tried to run a network between my laptop and the computers, in order to copy the files, but I was met with failure and futility. This morning I purchased a USB drive and assumed I could get the files through that way.
Apparently windows 98 and 95 don't auto-detect usb drives (kind of makes sense for 95, but I'd think that 98 would download the driver from the device... no such luck).
So in the process of installing OOo-Dev on two of the machines, I restarted them and got locked out. Now I'm down to 2 computers that at least have the typing tutor program on them. At least only 2 students have shown up today.
So now I need to get a USB thumb drive driver for 98 or install CD roms in some of these blasted things...
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