A collection of rambling posts about gaming, running, and politics. (and, in 2009, photography.)

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Resumes

"Please accept my attached resume for your open I.T. position. I am currently not in Memphis but
wanting to return if I can gain employment there. Im the best computer engineer in or around Memphis
Im not bragging but thats the trueth, my experience speaks for itself and Id very much like the
chance to speak with you about your opening. Thank you"

The search continues...

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

French Dip

In lieu of a real post, you get this:

I have, for weeks now, been craving a French Dip.

Memphis has tons of great barbecue, good burgers, and some international cuisine, but I don't know where to go in order to get a good french dip. Huey's claims to have one, and I may go try it, Crescent City Cafe might have one.. I'm hesitant to try the O'Ruby Friday's places..

mmmm au jus.


-----------
edit: 9/2/07

So it turns out that Huey's has a poor French Dip (but totally get a burger there, its my #1 recommendation). Fox & the Hound didn't have one, Crescent City didn't have one, even TGIFridays didn't have one. Soon I'll be hitting McAllisters, which supposedly has a delicious one. I sure wish I could recall which eatery my terrific memory of a french dip comes from.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Interview Questions

Hey people, give me feedback:

So I'm going to be interviewing for an Assistant IT Director post. I've built a list of questions that I may use - but will not necessarily just run down in list format. Still, I'd love to get you clever people's feedback.. are there any questions that you'd strike from the list (and why?), or anything that you'd totally add?

*****************

What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?

What are your strengths, weaknesses, and interests?

How do you determine or evaluate success?

What qualities should a successful manager possess?

Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.

What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?

How do you work under pressure?

What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work?

Are you willing to travel?

Tell me about yourself.

Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses at work that tested your coping skills. What did you do?

Give me an example of a problem you faced on the job, and tell me how you solved it.

Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.

What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example.

Why did you leave your last job?

How long would you expect to work for us if hired?

What is your philosophy towards work?

Why should we hire you?

What irritates you about co-workers?

Tell me about a time when you “dropped the ball” and how you resolved the situation.

Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish and failed.

If a user tells you that their email is not working, explain to me the questions that you would ask them, and the steps that you would take to diagnose and correct the problem.

If you were hired, and six weeks later there were a complete IT systems failure, and I was hit by a bus on the way in to the office – how would you go about picking up the pieces?

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Quick update

No longer can I pencil the words "to the" in on my business card, between "Assistant" and "IT Director". (2 points for fans of 'The Office' who get my joke)

I got a promotion, and am now an IT Director. Yup, yup. No corner office or gold nameplate or anything yet, I'm afraid. And to be completely honest, the position came open when my boss (the former IT Director) got a promotion, but still, I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I'm excited.

In the last few days, knowing about it, but without knowing any details, I'd of course managed to convince myself how I'd now be making a jabillion dollars and would be given a gold BMW. Sadly, I did not get a BMW, gold or otherwise, and I did not get a jabillion dollars, but I did get a healthy payraise. Again - certainly not complaining, but yknow - one always hungers for more.

So that's my exciting news. Also in exciting news: me and the wife are headed to Virginia for the rest of the week for her dad's 50th birthday. It'll be a fun and relaxing trip.

Its simple really: two please

-----Original Message-----
From: me
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 12:40 PM
To: bill@vendor.com
Subject: RE: Aladdin with PGP


Bill,

This quote has an Aladdin EToken Pro64k USB for 59.06. I would like to have two USB Tokens for this security application. I assume that's what this item is. If so, I would like to go forward with this order, but with two of those tokens.

Thanks!

My PO# for this will be ABC123456

--------------------------


I receive a prompt reply with a quote for 1 of each item that I've asked for (not two, as indicated in the email above.)


-----Original Message-----
From: me
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 1:47 PM
To: bill@vendor.com
Subject: RE: Aladdin with PGP


Thanks Bill,

Just to be sure, I want to get 2 of the Aladdin EToken Pro64k, 1 Aladdin PKI Client Lic, 1 PGP Whole Disk Encry

--------------------------


I get a prompt reply:


-----Original Message-----
From: bill@vendor.com
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 1:53 PM
To: me
Subject: RE: Aladdin with PGP


Dear JEREMY:

OK,
So is this quote correct?
It has 2 of the Aladdin, 1 PKI client and 1 pgp.
thanks

--------------------------


But..... the quote that is attached has 1 Aladdin, 1 PKI client, and 1 PGP.


-----Original Message-----
From: me
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 1:55 PM
To: bill@vendor.com
Subject: RE: Aladdin with PGP


2 x 1027375,
1 x 953438,
1 x 1065634

--------------------------


And the reply:


-----Original Message-----
From: bill@vendor.com
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 2:03 PM
To: me
Subject: RE: Aladdin with PGP

Yep, that is what is on this quote.

Did you want me to order? If so, is there a PO #?

Thanks.

--------------------------



-----Original Message-----
From: me
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 2:07 PM
To: bill@vendor.com
Subject: RE: Aladdin with PGP


yes please, PO ABC123456

--------------------------


Three days later, I'm on the phone, ordering another Aladdin, because despite the conversation above, there is only one on the order.

I guess this is my fault really, the last email in this thread should have read as follows:


-----Original Message-----
From: me
Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 2:15 PM
To: bill@vendor.com
Subject: RE: Aladdin with PGP


Bill,

What you are telling me in email and what is on the quote you have sent me is not the same. The quote is *still* for 1 Aladdin. I need two. Please look at the quote again, update it, send it to me, and we can get this order going.

--------------------------

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Retail is tough

Man, retail is tough.

To compare apples and meatloaf: I work hard at my retail job. And for some pretty sad wages. At the end of a 7 hour shift my feet hurt, I'm tired, and ready to have 3 or 4 or 5 rum or jack daniels & coke zero beverages. I just can't help but think, while "recovering" the store (which I used to call Fronting, just pulling everything forward, cleaning up, etc), that is is hard freaking work. I mean, it's not breaking rocks or anything, but it's tedious, menial, and, well, boring. At my "real" job, I work hard, but.... well, I work smart. I do a fair amount of slacking/Wiki'ing. So its alot of difference. Imagine if you had a formula that figured out what 1 unit of "work was", and what 1 unit of "pay was", well at my retail job we're talking a work/pay ratio of about 70/5, while at my "real" job, we're talking a work/pay ratio of 40/65. It's just a vast difference.

Also, changes are a'coming. Good ones, I think. I'll be out of town the latter half of next week, driving to Virginia, so if you need anything picked up in D.C. or northern virginia, now is the time to get your request in.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Some people are so hateful

And surprising ones too. I'm always a little surprised when Good Christian Folk send me hateful or racist or repugnant or stupid stuff. Or all four. Like this.



THESE FACTS?
I SURE DIDNT TILL NOW

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this.....

Very interesting, read until the end.....
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):


"Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
For whatsoever a man soweth,
That shall he also reap.


Here are some men and women
Who mocked God :


John Lennon (Singer):

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine,
he
said:

"Christianity will end, it will disappear.
I do not have to argue about
That. I am certain.

Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, Today we are more
famous
than Him" (1966).

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus
Christ,
was shot six times.


Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil ):
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from
his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.

Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made
President, then he died.



Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):


During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ),

While smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the
air
and said: "God, that's for you."

He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.


The man who built the Titanic

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the
Titanic would be.

With an ironic tone he said:
"Not even God can sink it"

The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic .


Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.
He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:
"I don't need your Jesus".

A week later, she was found dead in her apartment .

Bon Scott (Singer)
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
"Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell".

On the 19th of February 1980 , Bon Scott was found dead, he had
been
choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005)
In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a
friend.....
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the
drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her
hand,
who was already seated in the car:

"My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.."
She responded: "Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside
Here.....It's Already Full "

Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal
accident, everyone had died,
The car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but
surprisingly, the trunk was intact.

The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact.
To
their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken
.

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) said the Bible
(Word of God) was the worst book ever written.

In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor
vehicle
.

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name
that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.

Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still
alive
.

"Jesus"

P.S: If it was a joke, you would have sent it to everyone. So are you
going to have courage to send this?.

I have done my part, Jesus said

"If you are embarrassed about me,

I will also be embarrassed about you before my father."


You are my 8 in 8 seconds. I am not breaking this. No way!

I'M TOLD THIS WORKS!!!!! Bishop T.D. Jakes "8 Second Prayer." Just
repeat
this prayer and see how God moves!!


"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my
family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen."

Pass this message to 8 people {EXCEPT YOU AND ME}. You will receive a
miracle tomorrow. I Hope that you don't ignore and let God bless you .


The New War

Scooped from

Bush's New War!

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Which way to go?

Sadly, I am lacking in the ability to create an actual poll, so instead, I invite suggestions via comments. Which way should I go?

Exits:
North : jungle (59,27) in Preetsome, contains Nimthielanfel [city].
Northeast : plain (22,20) in Larok, contains Fo-rhes [city].
Southeast : mountain (45,37) in Deugrande, contains Rodmosa [city].
South : swamp (52,22) in Endinmar, contains Volburg [city].
Southwest : mountain (56,44) in Iaortai, contains Meqiville [city].
Northwest : forest (12,44) in Greverre, contains Ingaik't [city].


Important Note:

The Fallen Angels (11) writes:

Greetings all factions.
The Dark Brotherhood will continue their dominance into this new world, and to that end we have claimed the forest starting city of Ingaik't.

The city of Ingaik't, which is NW of the Nexus, belongs to the Dark Brotherhood and we will actively protect our land (as we have always done). Any ruler who is foolish enough to test our resolve will meet harsh resistance... any faction which enters the world by the city of Ingaik't will be marked as enemies of the Dark Brotherhood and will be hunted without mercy. We will lay our full efforts to war against such enemy factions, who will be slaughtered until they are removed from the world.

Do not tempt the Dark Brotherhood.

In addition to this, it has been brought to my attention that there are some new Leaders who have no experience with the worlds of Atlantis and the Dark Brotherhood. Due to this, we have decided to allow a short amnesty for any faction who unwittingly enraged the Dark Brotherhood by entering Ingaik't (perhaps they did not know of our claims). If you are in Ingaik't and you feel you do not deserve to be hunted and slaughtered, please send a brief email to [address removed] and explain your situation. I will read each message and grant mercy where it is appropriate. Failure to contact us or any attempt to depart without this grant of mercy will be met with heavy resistance.