Archive for the ‘employment’ Category

Sunday Random thoughts

Posted: February 22, 2009 by datechguy in baseball, employment, fun, gaming, personal
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I have a job interview tomorrow. The big grey beard is now gone so perhaps the extra 10 years it seems to add to me being shed will help.

Also got a letter from somewhere that I interviewed back in December. Was expecting a straight rejection but instead was informed the position was placed on hold. With endowments drying up I expect a lot more of this.

Today is Washington’s Birthday. Powerline reminds us of a person who actually deserved the amazing praise a nation gave him looks like.

Was at the dollar store day before yesterday picked up The Stark Truth a book on the most over and underrated players in Baseball history. It appears to be the best buck I’ve ever spent on a hardcover book.

Today’s sermon at Mass was one of the most solid I’ve heard in a while. It was on how Christianity is the religion of positive affirmation not waffling. You are obliged not to waffle on belief and morality. Christians and Catholics sometimes forget this.

Romano’s Market has finally entered the 21st century as their web site has gone up written by the young lady at the register who is majoring at Com Si at a local college.

Speaking of Romano’s they are getting ready for the annual St. Patrick’s day Corned Beef rush. That little place will go though thousands of pounds of corned beef and they work like dogs to get it all ready.

Next door to Romano’s is the Ole Time Luncheonette. I mentioned this place before, it actually opened it the middle of the power outages and the ice storms. The last three days they have been packed. The two ladies and their husband that run the place are there seven days. Drive 25 miles to get there and work hard. I sure hope this keeps up. They deserve it.

And their Fish and chips is the best in town. Just in time for Lent.

Speaking of Restaurants, one of my favorites the Boarder Bar and Grille in Leominster. I was informed by a friend that their appetizers (with minor exceptions) are half price weekdays between 3-6 p.m. and after 9 p.m. as well. As they are rather filling I think this will be the way we manage to hit the place every now and then with money tight.

Do you know the sound the plastic container of Hershey Syrup makes when my son is trying to squeeze the last bit out is exactly the same as the sound of my cat coughing up a hairball? We never had that problem with the old cans.

This story at Gateway Pundit about Witchcraft being the fastest growing religion in the country reminded me of this quote from the Screwtape letters:

I have high hopes that we shall learn in due time how to emotionalise and mythologise their science to such an extent that what is, in effect, belief in us, (though not under that name) will creep in while the human mind remains closed to the Enemy [God]. The “Life Force,” the worship of sex, and some aspects of Psychoanalysis may here prove useful. If once we can produce our perfect work–the Materialist Magician, the man, not using, but veritably worshipping, what he vaguely calls “Forces” while denying the existence of “spirits”–then the end of the war will be in sight.

My witch friends (and I mean that literally) might dispute this; but a lot of people are making large mistakes that they will regret for the rest of their deaths.

And if you like Screwtape and John Cleese you just have to find his reading of the Screwtape letters on tape. He is perfect in the role. We sampled it on this post. Four of them on youtube here.

Speaking of error not two days after my son decided on Fitchburg State College we were surprised to get a letter from the Bishop of Worcester recommending Anna Maria. In view of my visit I was astounded and have typed a response. I’ll post it in full after it is mailed and received. I will give you a taste:

We were very excited when Sam was accepted at Anna Maria and even more excited when they offered the largest (in dollars) scholarship of any of the nine colleges that have accepted and attempted to recruit him. We looked forward to the visit to the college and felt pleased that it would expand both his faith and his educational horizons.

Then we actually visited the college.

The rest they say is history.

We are coming closer and closer to the opening of the baseball season. We are also two weeks away from the World baseball classic. I think I must be the only guy who thinks the latter is worthwhile.

The Red Sox open against the Devil Rays. Two years ago that wouldn’t be much of a deal. Now this has a chance to grow to a mini-Sox Yankees as these teams just plain don’t like each other.

And wasn’t that series in the playoffs just first rate?

Played a game called In a Pickle. It was cute but I wouldn’t recommend it with 8 as it is rated for 6. It’s not a bad party game but I don’t think I’d buy it.

And I have a bigotry against games that de-emphasize winning in the rules.

I don’t think I will ever get sick of watching Ken Burns series “The Civil War.”

I don’t think I will ever not be sick of reality TV. If I wanted reality I get plenty of it every day.

And finally we’ve had days of the media nonsense attacking the New York Post on a cartoon that has absolutely nothing to do with race. Now the NAACP has gotten involved and are talking real nonsense. There was a time when the NAACP was the one of the most respected organizations in the US. Their hyperbole shows that those days are long gone.

Tech Services #3 Setup Service

Posted: February 13, 2009 by datechguy in employment, tech
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Continuing my posts on the tech services I offer. This page will be permanently linked at the tech services link to the right.

The setup service is used to get a new computer started on the right foot, here are the details….

So you have a new system, maybe the grandchildren picked it up for you or you finally decided to give Vista a try. Did you buy a system for your parents or grandparents and they need help getting it started? Let DaTechGuy help you get it all set up.

What I will do:

* I will take control of your system
* I will clean out temp files
* I will increase your virtual memory
* I will install an anti-virus if you already have one or install a free one if you don’t
* I will tweak your Internet Explorer for better protection and efficiency
* I will run system updates
* I will INFORM you if I see signs of a virus’ or spyware on your system
* I will if necessary install a secondary browser
* I will configure your e-mail program
* I will if you provide the dvd’s create the recovery dvd’s for your system if it has that option
* I will install up to two other programs for you if you have the disks for them
* I will on request download a word processor for you.
* I will setup multiple accounts and parental protection at your request
* If you have already backed up files from an old system to a hard drive or thumb drive I will move the files to the new system
* I will attempt to install a local usb printer and will set it up for sharing if you wish

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What I won’t do:
(more…)

Ouch! There goes the exchange rate again

Posted: February 9, 2009 by datechguy in doctor who, employment, hobbies
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Was looking at some items at eBay and noticed the British Pound exchange rate had gone back up to about 40% rather than the 30 it had been. Went to the Big Finish site to check and sure enough subscriptions in US dollars for a year went from $192 to $208 for the main series and about $6 higher for the companion chronicles.

It’s a tad frustrating when you think that you could have gotten it cheaper if you just gave it and purchased when the price is lower but then again $5 when you are unemployed is a lot more expensive than $10 when you are working.

Selling some services this week

Posted: February 8, 2009 by datechguy in employment, personal, tech
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Well the job picture isn’t getting much brighter but the services I’m offering are doing better. I made enough last week to pay for logmein for the month and part of the eBay fees. If I can sell two of each of the services I offer per week I can completely replace the income from my job and do this full time. (Maybe even take on a 10 hour a week intern!) If I can do half of that I can replace unemployment.

That’s likely farther down the road and if an appealing full time job comes then I’d only do this part time since the license won’t expire for 16 months.

Either way we will see and not to sound too mercenary but if you have computer issue remember I’m simply an e-mail and an online connection away.