Current Brainstorms
Monday, April 29, 2002
You know, it's really funny. Just having someone remember who you are and feel comfortable recommending you for a job can really brighten your day. It's a shame they aren't hiring at the moment.
And now for something completely different.
Star Wars Action Figures are HERE!!!
I have a few favorites
Duel Lightsabre Anakin - Oh YEAH!!!
Yoda with a Lightsabre - I understand Yoda has been completely digitized for this movie (as opposed to animatronics), but it's supposed to look really good.
Padme Amidala - Sadly I have as of yet been unable to locate on of these. Every other 20 something must have the same ideas I do. It's the whole Lara Croft attitude portrayed in the action figure. Plus a midriff.
Oh... and this one is really cool too
Chewie and Han
2:01 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Saturday, April 27, 2002
A lot has happened over the past week. None of it particularly exciting. I think the exciting thing I've heard today came from the news about a fight between the Hell's Angels and Mongols in a casino. Details
here
I went back to my parents place for the past few days. I pretty much took a few days off of the job search. There was a lot more I could be doing in Dallas, but it was good to be home. Unfortunately we had a real sad part of our week. Matilda Jane Rollins was put to sleep last Friday. She had been a member of our family for 14 years. She was part Australian Shepard and part Rottweiler. Tillie was a mean looking dog but she'd only lick you to death. She'd been having a lot of medical problems and was in pain. We'll miss her.
9:42 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Tuesday, April 23, 2002
The Aggie Network
The Texas A&M Club - Dallas has
roundtable business discussions every Wednesday at 7:30 AM at Romano's Macaroni Grill at 5858 Northwest Highway (Southeast corner of Northwest Highway and the Tollway). The cost is $5.00 per person per meeting and the net proceeds go to fund Dallas A&M Club scholarships for students from the area who want to attend Texas A&M University.
12:32 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Monday, April 22, 2002
I have a new ally in the fight to entertain me cheaply. Now I'm easily amused to begin with, but every once in a while the rest of the world needs my company. I have a real "Dollar" Theatre right down the road. 50 cents on shows before 6:00 and 1 dollar after that. You can't rent movies for that most of the time.
Tonight I saw
Black Hawk Down. First I must say, this movie is intense. Imagine the opening scenes of
Saving Private Ryan but throughout the entire 2 hour movie. I don't know the facts. I don't know what has been exagerated for the sake of artistic liberties. I do know that I walked away from that movie ashamed of U.S. politics, but with an incredible respect for the people who willing choose to server our country in the infantry and calvary. They may all be crazy, but they sure do make me proud. However, I do think
Delta Force is crazier than most.
11:42 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Sunday, April 21, 2002
Any one interested in a position with Lockheed Martin working on the Joint Strike Fighter should check out the
open house Monday and Tuesday of this week.
Also...
Southwest Airlines career info
12:57 AM Posted by Big Dave
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Saturday, April 20, 2002
Well I haven't said anything for a couple of days. I'm at a friend's party, and for some reason I decided I needed to post something.
After sitting in class for Wednesday and Thursday, I learned not to use the internet because it's absolutely flooded and it's better for the job search to call people directly and get in their face.
I've had a laid back weekend so far. I took friday completly off and went to see Van Wilder with Lisa and Jeff. Very funny movie. Well I guess I'll go back to being social. Laters.
11:38 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Wednesday, April 17, 2002
On a note that's not so sharp...
I have been visiting the outplacment center attending a seminar hosted by
Lee Hecht Harrison. As such I'm revising my resume for the 20th time at least this month. They have lots of suggestions, but I'm interested to see what they really have to offer in the way of placement. One thing they did advise was to avoid the internet b/c it is already flooded. I found this very interesting since most of my time has been spent directing resumes based on information I gleaned from job postings or company data. Hopefully I'll learn something more. I plan to go back to Abilene next week and let mom baby me. Or at least feed me.
11:37 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Sorry, I'm on a kick.
How can you define failure when you can't define success.
How is it possible for someone to sit there and tell you that's not what they want when they never gave you any requirements. I've actually been told, you gave me exactly what I asked for, but that's not what I needed. Hmmm... This is after 30 minutes of pointing out that it was indeed exactly what he had asked for.
11:32 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Manager Speak
Why don't you just do what you think is right.
Translation
Two words: "plausible deniability"
8:49 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Tuesday, April 16, 2002
You know, I was grateful to see that the
Texas Employment Commission has embraced technology. They have an automated phone in system to do you checking in. You can also fill out all the paperwork either on-line or by the phone. What a great relief. I was not looking forward to dealing with the lines and bureaucracy that I was expecting. I guess even the government can make things easier on people once in a great while.
1:52 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Sunday, April 14, 2002
I really don't have anything to say. I can't imagine why. I spent an enjoyable weekend in College Station. It was parents weekend. I didn't know that until we were fixing to leave. We arrived and went out for a few drinks. Well... some more than others. We went to Denny's to eat something and sober up slightly. It seems like we ate an awful lot this weekend. We'd go somewhere and then go back and let it digest for a bit. It was good to see everyone, but I got to be in a really grumpy mood this afternoon. I don't know why, but I wish it would have waited until we were long gone from College Station. I got to see my friend Kay. She gave me a some pictures from last years Ring Dance. I don't particularly like them, but everyone else said they were pretty good.
I've been working my network of friends and relatives. So far nothing solid has appeared, but I'm still working on it. I'm going to go to church tommorrow morning. They have a support/placement group for unemployed people. Then I get to face the Texas Employment Commission. The only other time I've been there I felt like I was being herded. Mooo!!!! I hope they have improved somewhat. I doubt it. Of course the last time I was there was to get a job as a construction worker. That's some hard work. Two weeks. That's how long I was on the job before the contract was fullfilled. Just as well. I'm not sure how much longer I would have lasted. Those kinds of positions don't reward a work ethic.
8:22 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Tuesday, April 09, 2002
I guess my last post sounds bitter. I'm really not. I'm going to miss the people I worked with, but I am glad to get out from under the constant threat of layoffs. People have been absolutely amazing. I've had people call, drop by, and email me with their encouragement. I feel very loved. Thank you all for your amazing support. It's great to know you have friends. Even when you don't keep in touch with them as well as you would like.
11:09 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Let us pause a moment and reflect upon the loss of my job.
.....
Ok, enough of that. Moving on.
If you have any job tips for a web programmer/Java programmer, please
let me know.
6:29 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Monday, April 08, 2002
You're latin lesson for today.
iuguolo : to cut the throat, butcher, kill, destroy.
Can you tell what kind of mood I'm in?
3:01 PM Posted by Big Dave
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I was going to say more about the Coffee House and the Micro Event with DFW Blogs. So here goes.
Coffee House: The kids ended up raising over $2,000. The acts were great. I volunteered to help with some of the behind the scenes work. I was trying to help with the sound and stage setup between acts. Everything went fine, but I was very uptight. I want things to go flawlessly. Even if no one else knows, I know and it bugs me. When the speakers went out during one of the acts, I was very frustrated. But it all went over quite well.
Micro Event: Leia has been asking me at just about every event if I wanted to go to something for the Bloggers. I decided this was going to be my time to go. We went to an authentic German style restraunt. They had a little polka band going and some body singing in the little shorts and suspenders. The place was packed. Well by the time we had been seated and all eaten the place was virtually deserted. Some of the bloggers had entered a couple of requests. Including one for Lauren's birthday. Well imagine a bunch of geeky people doing the Chicken Dance, a Polka, and the Limbo. I think you'll get a pretty good idea of the hilarity that ensued. I think I'm just going to leave it at that.
10:03 AM Posted by Big Dave
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I know several people who remember their dreams very well. I on the other hand hardly ever remember what I dream about. Recently I have been having some very unusual dreams and happen to remember them. This last one involved me in a Real World vs. Road Rules Challenge that turns into a real "Survivor" because someone is killing all the contestants. We're stranded out in the woods and I make it back to civilization with a buddy of mine. My boss who had been the judge and has the grand prize money picks us up and we ride off. Theoretically splitting the grand prize money between the three of us. Odd huh?
I could go into further details, but they are unimportant.
9:49 AM Posted by Big Dave
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Sunday, April 07, 2002
A couple of items and them I'm going to bed. I'll fill in more of the details tommorrow.
Youth Talent Show/Coffee House went very well and we raised over $1200 to go toward the youth mission trip.
I attened my first ever
DFW Blogs event. Everyone was nice, but I wasn't being very chatty. I must say though, that
Leia was in fine form.
Josh just sort of echoed her energy. It made for an interesting eveinng.
On the way home I thought of an improvement to my comments system. This is only a note to self. Use javascript to put browser date into a hidden form field. If it doesn't exist, use current assignment method.
12:32 AM Posted by Big Dave
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Friday, April 05, 2002
I am a musically oriented person. I work better when I have the radio or a CD blaring that in total piece and quite. I think I get less distracted that way. Sounds odd doesn't it? I'll put in some really upbeat music when I start to crank out code. My tastes vary daily, but I thought I would list some of my favorite coding music.
Top 5 Coding Albums
Hooray for Boobies -
Bloodhound Gang
Choclate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water -
Limp Bizkit
Infest -
Papa Roach
The Replacements Soundtrack
Satellite -
P.O.D. [Payable On Death] (Christian Punk Rock)
Top 5 Coding Songs (not on previous albums)
Jesus Freak -
DC Talk - album Jesus Freak
One Girl Revolution -
Superchic[k] - album Karaoke Superstars
Bonus Track -
Great Big Sea - album Rant and Roar
Can't Fight the Moonlight -
LeAnn Rimes - album Coyote Ugly Soundtrack
Crush It -
Pushmonkey - Maize
Honorable Mention
Best Remix: Brain Stew (Godzilla Remix) - Green Day
Best Song to Restore Relative Sanity: Wild Thing - Muppets
1:00 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Thursday, April 04, 2002
Believe it or not, I have actually been doing "work" at work so I haven't taken the time to update this page in a while. Anyway here are some fun links I've been saving.
How DNS Servers work - You know you're curious
A Designer's Guide to Making Your Own Stock Photography (for non-photographers)
EVHead.com - the President/CEO of Pyra Labs (makers of blogger)
Miniature Putt-Putt - Work Distractions
News on the coming layoffs has not been forth-coming. Hmmm...
11:24 AM Posted by Big Dave
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Tuesday, April 02, 2002
In case you missed it yesterday,
Google has finally announced the secret behind their incredible search results and ranking.
Pigeon Ranking It was a fun april fools article.
I think the one page that I actually noticed the was
2600.com - The Hackers Quarterly redirecting to
CyberCrime.gov
12:52 PM Posted by Big Dave
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Monday, April 01, 2002
Irony of ironies:
High-profile anti-Unix site runs Unix
12:50 PM Posted by Big Dave
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