Cranky-D

Best Buy, here I come

As I noted earlier, I have been looking for work. At that time I had only had one interview, which was successful, and lead me to believe that it was all smooth sailing from then on. Hah!

Apparently, I really enjoy decieving myself. This time I was very good at it.

For that particular opportunity, I made it past round 1. However, personnell put up a roadblock when they wanted my undergraduate transcripts. Yeah, I have engineering and computer science degrees coming out my pores but they still needed proof that I had a sufficient math background. Luckily, photocopies of my transcripts were acceptable, and thanks to a kindhearted staff at my last institituion of higher learning, I was able to obtain copies of their records. I mailed them, and received confirmation that now I am in the queue.

Of course, I haven’t heard a peep from them since.

In the meantime, I had two more interviews lined up. One with the dark empire, the maker of evil operating systems and fussy writing/database/spreadsheet software, the other with a local company. To prepare for these, I went to the men’s wearhouse and bought a suit. I didn’t know where else to go to get something decent. I spent wayyy too much money on a suit, two shirts with ties, shoes, and various accessories.

After that painful credit-draining experience, I had to go to the liquor store to buy a case of beer. You must balance out these kinds of purchases to avoid feeling really bad. I also had to go home and buy more geekstuff™. I had no choice in the matter. These things simply must be done.

One week passes. I get the suit, and the alterations were all fine. The next day was interview day.

One good thing was that the interviews were both on the same day, with a 45 minute break in-between, and were done on campus. I discovered that my “wrinkle free non-iron” shirt required ironing, so the day of the interview, after going to the gym, I bought an iron and ironing board at Target. I spent about 20 minutes teaching myself how to iron by ironing the shirt. Then I ran around trying to get the suit on. Of course, I hadn’t done a test fit, so I had to adjust the suspenders on the fly and at the last minute. I did practice tying a tie the night before, so that went relatively okay.

I barely made it to the train station. I had to move fairly quickly. My shoes hurt my heels a bit. Also, I had to run from the train to the connecting bus. Luckily, the driver waited for me, though they hardly ever do.

A few interesting things occurred on that trip. As soon as I got on, a young guy made room in a seat for me. That never happens. After he got off, a woman sat down next to me. That never happens either. Of course, I was wearing a suit and tie, while normally I wear black jeans, a black shirt, and a leather jacket. That could have something to do with it.

Anyway, I was on-time for the interviews. I thought the first one went well. I went to my office to kill a few minutes, then went back for the dark empire interview. I thought that went okay, but I always have trouble immedialy wrapping my mind around new ideas, and I was tested on that basis. That interview went for an hour, so I thought it was okay.

I went home. Again, a woman sat next to me on the bus. It’s the clothes, baybee. Stylin’. I managed to get my friend to go out with me, since that was the start of a long weekend of debauchery (he took Friday and Monday off). We survived.

My heels, however, did not fare well. I have cuts on the backs of both heels, from the shoes. It has been almost two weeks since the incident, and they still hurt a bit. At least I can walk without limping.

A few days ago, I heard from the evil empire. I wasn’t surprised to learn that I wasn’t being considered further. Oh well, no big deal, I didn’t want the job anyway. Truth. Plus, I still had the local opportunity… .

Nope. Today they contacted me. No dice. I was surprised about that one. Apparently, there is something very wrong with me. I did my best, or so I thought, to sell myself to these guys.

I’m feeling a bit depressed about the whole thing. It’s time to do a blanket resume posting, I guess, and see what the next round looks like. It looks like option 2 is now enacted, which means I’m entering the channels everyone else uses to find work. Plus, the salary requirements have been downgraded significantly.

Costco is hiring seasonal help. I’m strongly considering that option to bridge the gap.

Well, unless that defense job pans out somehow, magically, I guess moving is no longer much of a concern. I can’t see the point in relocating for a job. A career is worth relocating for, but a job isn’t.

Of course, moving might just mean returning to home base in southern cali to lick my wounds. That’s always an option, but not a great one. However, it would probably be easier for me to find work there, since I have more contacts there. Not work in my field, perhaps, but paying the bills is increasingly a priority with me.

Then again, the point might come where I’ll relocate just for a job. Give me another month, and I might be ready for that.

Looking for work sucks ass.

He should’ve stayed away from my food

My mouse roommate was especially active last night. He found a piece of uncooked pasta on the floor of the kitchen. You’d be amazed how much noise a piece of uncooked pasta can make as a mouse moves it across the floor and behind the stove. It also makes a lot of noise when said mouse tries to eat the pasta.

I chased him around one more time. Again, I couldn’t get him into the box, but I did pin him against the floor with it. Not my goal. Later that night, he was busy running around the floor by my computer desk while I was sitting at the desk. Yep, as long as I don’t move, he treats me like the furniture. I amused myself by clapping my hands together to watch him run.

However, squeaky has crossed the line. This morning, I noticed that the lid to my can of peanuts had been thoroughly chewed up. I don’t know how he got on the desk to get to the peanuts, but he managed. There was more than enough room for him to get into the can, so I know he was in there. Yuck. I still have the peanuts, but only for bait.

He’s getting one last chance. I bought two live capture traps, as well as two standard mousetraps. He gets a few days to take the peanut bait inside the live capture traps, and then I’ll move to the killing kind. If he’s smart, he’ll end up getting caught live and will end up moving outside to live out the rest of his short little life. Otherwise, he’s going to mouse heaven very soon.

It’s no longer funny when they get into the food. Then, they turn from mild annoyances to pests.

Just for the record:

I oppose the Miers nomination.

She is not the kind of person we need on the supreme court. I do not want anyone on the court who chooses an outcome and then finds a way to get to that outcome by warping the constitution to fit their choice.

We already know that she supports outcome-based policies with regard to race and gender. While this may not necessarily mean that she will take this approach on the bench, we cannot be sure, can we?

True constitutional conservatives want someone on the bench who will always view the constitution as the ultimate authority, without regard to politics and without regard to what “other countries think.” This is the only way to ensure a judiciary that does only its job and not the job of legistators.

More anon, maybe.

Update: Edited out a redundant sentence, changed the category

Jeff G. has a good roundup of links, both from his own site and from others, on why language matters. The left has been increasingly using language tricks against the right. Specifically, they tend to promote the idea that it doesn’t matter what the speaker intended to say, it only matters what the hearer thinks the speaker meant to say. I hope I don’t have to explain why this is dangerous.

Rather than regurgitate Jeff’s explanation of postmodernism, and why it is not being applied correctly, I would rather refer you to his site. I’m tempted to put this in the “draft” category and elaborate on it myself later, but my queue is already full of stuff that will probably never see the light of day. At least this way it sees the light of day, and perhaps I’ll say something more in the future on it.

Almost got him.

My mouse roommate has been getting much bolder lately. Tonight he was wandering around in plain site, not particularly worried about me at all. As long as I didn’t move too fast, he wasn’t afraid. He was sniffing at my beer bottles and the trash can while I watched from about 2 feet away. Not good.

For a change, I knew where he was. I herded him into the kitchen and he ran under the stove. I turned a box on its side along the wall where I knew he would try to get away (He usually escapes into the heating vent). Then I waited quietly.

It didn’t take long. He came out and I moved. He ran and followed the wall. I got to the box when he did. For a moment I had him trapped under the edge of the box, but he climbed out from under and ran into the box. Yay!

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a top for the box. He ran around inside a bit and then started jumping. Mice are pretty good jumpers. I tried to keep him rattled, but it didn’t work. He managed to jump out of the box, and he ran down the hallway into the closet. I was going to try to trap him in there, but the closet has a big gap inside. He disappeared into the wall.

Ah, well. I have a feeling that he won’t be quite so cavalier any more. However, if he does start making mistakes again, I have prepared a smaller box that I can insert a lid into. If successful, I will be able to release him outside.

If not, he’s going to mouse heaven very soon. You can only tolerate this stuff for so long. I hope the traps kill quickly.

Update: He is still around, I just saw him this afternoon. I guess the food is too good to pass up.

In which I try to steer this ship back away from personal journal territory into political waters

In this post at protein wisdom, Jeff G. notes that the United Nations wants to gain control of the internet. He references this post from the opinion journal, and Darleen in the comments to Jeff’s post gave us a link to this U.K. Guardian article on the same topic. If you want a media-driven introduction to the issues, I suggest you read both articles.

Where to begin?

This isn’t suprising, really. The U.N. is basically a body with no real power which nonetheless wishes to wrest power from the U.S. As noted in the comments of Jeff’s post, the real question is why, specifically, do they want to take control of the internet from the U.S. It’s not as if we’re screwing it up. In fact, I think the U.S. probably does a better job than anyone else could in running the internet. The primary servers are here. The primary switching is here. I don’t think there has ever been a general failure in the system, though it has a lot of redunancy and was designed from the beginning to be highly fault-tolerant, so that may not be a compelling argument.

Still, I doubt it would work as well if someone else took over, if that were even possible, which it isn’t. The infrastructure is a combination of private and, at the core, government funded equipment and connectivity structure. Just trying to ferret out who owns and runs what would be a severe problem. The only workable solution in the event that we somehow allowed this to happen would be a full government takeover of the whole thing.

Now, why do they want to do this? It’s fairly simple. They recognize that this is the information age and the he who controls the flow of information gets to set the agenda. Most of the countries in favor of the U.S. reliquinshing control of the internet are countries who have a tradition of supressing information (China, middle-eastern countries, some countries in Africa, Brazil, and so on). Their problems with the internet are that the U.S., being the most free country on the planet, often provides websites with information that some countries don’t want their citizens to have access to. France, for instance, doesn’t like the fact that its citizens can buy nazi memorabilia on U.S. based internet sites. I imagine the German government has problems with that as well. Those are minor opressions compared to what the other countries on the list do to their citizens.

Okay, so they want to control information. How do they plan to do this? Simple. They expect that all they need to do is pass a few resolutions and the U.S. will meekly hand over control of the internet. From the Guardian article:

Old allies in world politics, representatives from the UK and US sat just feet away from each other, but all looked straight ahead as Hendon explained the EU had decided to end the US government’s unilateral control of the internet and put in place a new body that would now run this revolutionary communications medium.

As Spock might say, interesting. Here’s the kicker:

But the refusal to budge only strengthened opposition, and now the world’s governments are expected to agree a deal to award themselves ultimate control. It will be officially raised at a UN summit of world leaders next month and, faced with international consensus, there is little the US government can do but acquiesce.

When I first read this, I almost got worried for a microsecond. But I got over it. The guy who wrote this is on some kind of drug, and I don’t want any of it. There is “… little the US government can do but acquiesce?” He is high. There are many things we can do. We can tell them to piss up a rope, for instance, or suggest that playing in traffic is a mighty fine thing to do. I’m in favor of telling them to fuck off. It’s short, sweet, and to the point.

Do we truly give a damn what the rest of the world thinks? I certainly don’t, and neither do my fellow travelers with a similar political bent (think anti-transnational-progressive). They can all find something else to do with their noses and private parts rather than sticking them in my business, and in the business of this country. These guys don’t realize that we don’t need their approval for what we do. It’s nice when they like what we do, but that happens so rarely that it’s more of a novelty than anything else.

So, they can tell us that they now run the internet. Fine. How do they propose to do that? The only way to force us would be to conquer us. I wish them luck. By the time we’re through with any nation that tries that tactic, they won’t care about the internet since just surviving day to day will be enough of a problem for them.

We have a few options here. As Darleen suggested, why not cut off their internet access for a few hours? I suggest that we make it a few weeks, or until they cry “Uncle” and promise to never bring up trying to take control of the internet again. This would be a very effective tactic. For instance, I’ve heard from very reliable sources that UNISYS servers, located in Minnesota, contain the booking information of half the world’s airlines, many of which are, of course, located in foreign countries. I wonder what would happen if that were suddenly cut off because those countries decided they should be running things? I imagine many other businesses are running on servers located in the U.S. Think of the revenue they would lose. It makes me laugh just to think of it.

If this really starts to get noisy, we’ll have another option. Those countries who don’t have a problem with us continuing to run the internet will still be connected to us. Those who do have a problem can disconnect and start their own progressive internet. I wish them luck. I doubt it’ll be up more than half the time, since a beaurocracy(sp?) will be running the thing. I imagine they would disconnect and then take years just to decide how to proceed. Just figuring out how to do IP addresses will tax the intellect of most of those wackos at the UN.

However, I have another idea for them. If they don’t like our content, they can set up firewall servers at every access point to their country and control the flow of information that way, just like China does right now. Let them filter whatever they want to. I really don’t care. We’ll continue to generate whatever content we wish to generate, and they can accept or reject it at their whim.

The funny thing about setting up filters is that everyone knows they are there. The people will know that their access to information is being limited by their government, and most of them will not like it. Filters will increase the dissatisfaction of their citizens, as opposed to keeping them more sheep-like, which is the ultimate goal of a censor. Unrest will grow rather than shrink. People will demand more. People will leave the oppressing countries if they can. Some will come to the U.S. I will welcome all who wish to embrace all our freedoms, and allow others to their otherness.

No more UTI posts for a while. I’ve stopped purchasing anything other than beer for the time being. I get full before I get buzzed, especially when I’ve been eating goldfish crackers.

Anyway, my alma mater had a job fair for geeks last week. I met a few prospective employers and handed out resumes. I did the “Hey, glad to meet you,” stuff you’re supposed to do, even though it goes against my natural tendency to clam up when around strangers. Wallflowers at job fairs do not get job offers.

I already had a first-round interview last week. At the end, the guy said he was going to recommend that they follow up with me. That was nice, since I haven’t made it past round 1 yet with anyone. The big difference with this job is that I am pretty sure I want to do it. It is not a research position, and I don’t know if it’s a possible software engineering job, either. It would probably entail me returning to doing engineering, which has a strong appeal. I really liked engineering when we were actually making stuff. I went to computer science because I am very good at programming, and I do enjoy developing new code, but engineering was my first passion.

What’s really cool about the job is that for your first year to year and a half, you get to tour various positions to sample what the jobs are like. Then, at the end of your tour, you get to choose where you want to go. I already told the guy that I would probably make sure to do the computer science job, and wanted to try some of the engineering jobs as well. Also, it’s a defense job, which means I would not be outsourced. Finally, it’s a government job, which means that all important job security is there for anyone who does a decent job. And they don’t beat you up with overtime. All overtime is comped. Perfect. I don’t want to work more hours to make more money, I want to shift time around to get more days off. And the work is scheduled so that you have a three day weekend every other week, which is very cool. You just have to work some 9 hour days, which is no big deal since most places require that anyway.

One downside is that the job is located in a small town in California, population of around 29,000. I have always lived in cities, and am used to having many entertainment options, whether I indulge them or not. I would be stuck with not a lot to do. An upside is that I would be close enough to my dad’s place to drive there often.
Also, I don’t like California’s gun laws. They don’t have concealed carry there, and it is very unlikely to change. From a constitutional standpoint, moving there is wrong. Reality is like that sometimes.

The big downside is that I would have to leave my home. Where I live now is home, not where I came from when I moved here 10 years ago. And my home has a few friends I don’t want to part with. I have a hard enough time making friends, I certainly don’t want to lose any. There would be opportunities to visit, but you know how that goes. People end up being too busy.

I guess it’s fortunate that I haven’t met any women here who are interested in me, beyond one who passed through my life years ago, since that might be enough to keep me from leaving. It would be a tough decision, since I would have to make sure I could live with the decision and not ever bring up my “sacrifice” since that road leads to failed relationships. I doubt many people here would want to move to the middle of nowhere in a California desert.

I’ll probably take the job if I get an even remotely decent offer. If they like what my first interviewer had to say about me, I still have some email and phone conversations to survive, and if I make it through that, an on-site visit. Only then will an offer be given.

However, the job may not pan out, so I’m moving forward with other prospects. I have another interview next week with a local company, and this Friday is an open house within my department where more people will be recruiting. More chatting and resume pimping to come, where I get to pretend I want the job.

I’ve decided that if I’m going to take a job that’s just a job, I’m going to lean towards positions that are local. If I get equivalent offers with equivalent prospects, I’ll stay where I am if possible. If it’s a research position, I’m much more likely to consider relocation.

The only job I’ve seen so far that excites me is the defense job. I haven’t found myself that interested in anything since I was introduced to evolutionary programming in 1992. Hopefully my interest will show through, and will be enough to get me an offer.

Topic

“Don’t run with scissors.” His mother’s voice seemed to echo with a sound remembered but not heard.

All his thoughts were fuzzy, his brain seemed to be wrapped in gauze. His consciousness hovered a few inches behind the back of his head.

Distantly, he felt the cold metal buried in his gut. Whenever he tried to move, he slammed back inside his own head due to the increased pain.

He felt something warm and wet in the front of his pants. “Always wear clean underwear,” he heard his mother say, “in case you’re in an accident.”

“Doesn’t matter now, mom.”

Topic is welcome home.

The back door squeaks when I open it. Once inside the kitchen, I see the stuff piled on the kitchen table, with enough space cleaned off for a couple of dinner plates.

Like always.

Into the living room. More stuff. The accumulation of years of living, with not much thought given to disposal of things no longer required. I guess none of the things are required, really.

Mom would never have tolerated the mess.

The cat sees me and runs away. Actually, meanders away. She’s getting pretty old.

“The sinks are plugged again,” says my father.

Big surprise.

I’m home.

Well, it may actually be the finale. Probably not. There is always something else out there to buy, you know. However, right now I’ve managed to secure the items I was looking for. In a few cases, I saved some money over current highly inflated retail. In one case which will live in personal infamy, I spent way too much money for a geekitem™.

However, there is a source of entertainment in just doing searches and queueing up items in a watch list. I’m waiting for the price to drop on the geekitem™ to the point that I can get another one cheap. So, I’ll keep checking in to see what’s what, and trying to get it cheap at the last minute.

They way I should’ve done it in the first place.

Topic was what you’d say to people at your high-school reunion

High school reunion. Sounds like a great time. Really.

I don’t want a reunion. I want a union of certain people’s skulls with a baseball bat. Then we can have a reunion immediately if it’s called for.

I don’t need to say anything else to them. “The Slugger” does all my talking. Too bad it’s probably too late to take them out before they bred. By now, if they haven’t spawned, they probably won’t.

Let’s face it. They were people of limited imagination and limited abilities. They’re probably selling insurance or used cars. Their sad little lives are punishment enough.

Santa has decided it’s time to start posting at the Christmas site. Cranky the backup reindeer has taken the cue and may be posting on a semi-regular basis.

Sure, it’s a bit early, but the decorations are already in the stores. You may as well bow to the inevitible. Either way, you’ll be dealing with this crap for the next 3 months.

Topic was something that happens at sundown.

“What will happen when the sun disappears?” Even now, it was low on the horizon. It would soon be gone.

Every being in his race emerged fully formed and completely knowledgeable about the world around them and their place in it. However, no one living knew anything but sunlight.

“No one knows. The priests say it will be then end of all life.”

They watched, and waited. The sun sank. Soon it was dark, and the stars appeared.

Suddendly, they knew there was such a thing as male and female, and that they had to soon mate before they died.

Topic was useless superpower.

I can read women’s minds.

The guys out there might think that’s a good thing. It isn’t. Believe me, even if you know what they want you to do, most of the time they aren’t happy with that, either. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a woman think, “I wish he’d open the door for me,” and then when I do it, give me hell for it, saying, “I can take care of myself.”

Trust me, you don’t want to know what they’re thinking.

I finally had to withdraw from society. I can’t stop reading their minds.