MONEY: The pension was a great benefit. Right!

Friday, May 26, 2006

One of the biggest awakenings I ever received was at ATT when I chatted with an actuary.

He disabused me of the notion that the ATT pension was a great benefit.

He pointed out that if they didn’t give me a pension and other benefits then they would have had to pay me more. At the time of the conversation, ATT put aside in the pension plan $8.43 per month per employee!

$8.43!!

They’d have had to pay a lot more in salary that that pittance. So, they weren’t doing me any BIG favor.

And, you wouldn’t want to guess how many people they fooled with the propaganda that the pension was an important benefit.

Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH: Microsoft welshes on the promised usb drive

Friday, May 26, 2006

What a bunch of hooey.

First, I really don't need their usb drive. I was going to use it to put a bootable Linux on it. (I have a perverse sense of humor!) 

Second, my request was in less than an hour after it was made. (Thanks to an email alert from Google!) So the supply ran out excuse is a bunch of Baraba Striesand.

Third, it an interesting piece of propaganda they're shoveling. "OEM operating system licenses live and die with each PC–they are not transferable." Oh really. And what defines a PC. The case? Where you stuck your tag. The COA? That comes as a book. I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. But isn't this an assertion after the contract is made. And further, isn't their relationship with Mister Dell. Whoa re they to tell me what my agreement with Dell is. Now let me understand this if I build my own box, buy all the aprts including the OS, then I can put my OS where I want it when I want it. But, if I buy the box from DELL and say the other board dies, then you expect me to buy another copy of the OS?

Wrong. Linux for me. Very shortly.

The mystery for me is why we put up with this in the first place. 

===

From: Microsoft [mailto:procurement@email.microsoft.com]
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 1:22 PM
To: reinkefjSubject: The mystery of the missing USB drive
Thank you for your interest in the Mystery Solved Windows® licensing promotion. We've received your request for more information to help clarify Microsoft® Windows Desktop Licensing pre-loaded on the USB drive. Unfortunately, this Mystery Solved promotion was available in the U.S. only and while supplies last. Supply is depleted at this time, so we encourage you to please utilize the online alternative today. Simply download* the Windows Desktop Licensing reference files directly at:www.microsoft.com/mysterysolved/corp

o help simplify Windows Desktop Licensing, keep these points in mind: 
There are two legal ways to acquire a full Windows Desktop license: through your hardware vendor (OEM/System Builder) or Full Packaged Product.
 
Volume licensing covers Windows Desktop operating system upgrades only.
 
OEM operating system licenses live and die with each PC–they are not transferable.

Again, thank you for your interest in Mystery Solved and for helping us spread the word about proper Windows licensing.

Sincerely,
Microsoft Corporation
     
*Internet connect time charges may apply. Offer available through June 30, 2006.

© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.      

 

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

WRITING: Squeeze out your “nuggets” in the wasted waiting time.

Friday, May 26, 2006

***Begin Quote***

I am trying o figure out where you find the time to post all these blogs?  
***End Quote***

My friend's question is an interesting one.

The answer is that I rip them off as quick hits. Or, I steal them from an email. Or, when I am collecting thoughts.

Some feel that a blog is a literary masterpiece. I'm just using it as a wastebasket for ideas. At the end of every week, I copy all the blog's posts into a text file on my LUGGABLE. It then is available for recycling as I need it.

Remember one of my regrets was to loose too many good ideas. This is one way of preventing that.

You want literature, but Steinbeck. You want stream of consciousness rambling, read my blog.

It's is relatively easy to catch stuff through out the day and them punch them in as time permits.  There is nothing saying that when you're sitting on an unstarted conference call listening to the same dumb music, that you can't take a mental vacation or bang out a few thoughts.

Oh, gotta go, the "leader" just arrived. Late as usual. Now onto the "inaction register". That's a project status document filled with  lame excuses of why people didn't do what they promised to do. :-) Another set of pet peeves!

Leave a Comment » | Writing | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Manage things;Lead people!

Friday, May 26, 2006

In my way of thinking, you manage things (e.g., budgets; computers; networks; projects) but you have to lead people (i.e., people are more like a mules with a mind of its own).

Things lend themselves well to being "managed". There are no hard feelings when you cut a budget. You can be totally analytical and blunt with "things".

People need to be lead. My first exposure to "leadership" was the mythical telephone lineman litho that was "required" in every Bell lobby anywhere. He was joined by the equally mythical board operator running her station as the flood waters rose. They  were inspiring. You were part of something that was huge and that made a difference in people's lives.  I learned that if you motivate someone, in their own mind, they will drive themselves harder than you ever can with a club. By the same token, you can have all the whip and clubs you want over people and you can't make them do squat if they don't want to. That mule is just a metaphor. If you want to have something really screwed up, just order people to do something. In a perverse sense of humor, they will do EXACTLY what you instruct and may the Intelligent Designer help you when they do. 

Just a pet peeve. I want to be "lead" not "managed". 

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

LIBERTY: Free to … … watch what you are told to watch!

Friday, May 26, 2006

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/271473_echostar25.html

***Begin Quote***

"Consumers are free to choose to read The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle or any other newspaper regardless of where in the United States they live," EchoStar said in a statement. "Broadcasters successfully orchestrated passage of special-interest legislation which prohibits consumers from watching network channels originating in other markets."
***End Quote***

I have some first hand experience with this issue. Being half way between NYC and Philly, we "get" both channels over the air. But when you sign up with cable or satellite service, you can't get the Philly NBC affiliate. Now, it just so happened that a show that Frau Reinke wanted to watch on a regular basis was "on" in Philly but not NY. Too bad, Frau Reinke! Your government will dictate what you can and can not watch.

A plague on all their houses.

Copyright law is a joke. Law is a joke. Unfortuantely the joke is on us!

Where is the common sense? If I can get it from an antenna, then why can I get it off the bird or the wire?

That darn gang with the guns making me a serf! 

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

LIBERTY: The “war on poverty” and the “war on drugs” has had “some” unintended consequences!

Friday, May 26, 2006

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50377

***Begin Quote***

I recently learned a shocking statistic. Before 1965, the year in which President Johnson launched his war-on-poverty government handout campaign, 82 percent of black American families were two-parent households. Today, 83 percent of all black children are born out of wedlock and grow up fatherless. This contributes to high crime, poverty, drug abuse and illegitimate births in the black community. What destroyed the black family? Without question, the home wrecker is liberalism. 

***End Quote***

No question that the "war on poverty" and the "war on drugs" has had "some" unintended consequences. Although I'm sure there are conspiricy buffs out there who would claim it was all planned, I think it's just the UI in action! Time to end all these "wars" that do nothing for us but hurt us. imho

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TECH: Hibernate isn’t foolproof

Friday, May 26, 2006

Interesting that every so often, like this morning, LUGGABLE didn't really awake from hibernation correctly. It was so slow as to be unusable. Outlook was complaining about not being shutdown correctly. Interesting also that I had to do a restart and everything is now hunky dorey. So perhaps, XPPROSP2 for the laptop needs soem further testing? I'll have to start to try and measure the affect or just do a hard stop when I shif locations. It can be rather useful to just pick up where one left off. But, this morning, I'd guesstimate I waste a good hour before throwing in the towel. Hmmm?

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

NBC News President: ‘Any Fool with a Laptop’ Can be a Journalist

Thursday, May 25, 2006

http://newsbusters.org/node/5533

***Begin Quote***

Steve Capus, president of NBC News, said, "In this age when any fool with a laptop can call themselves a journalist, I believe it is important to demonstrate to Americans what it means to be a true journalist."
***End Quote***

Gee, he forgot to mention the liberal bias that is required in order to be a "true journalist".

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Calling all turkeys: Create your empire of one!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

http://www.impactlab.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8313

Empire of One Defined
***Begin Quote***

An Empire of One business is a one-person (sometimes married couple) business with far reaching spheres of influence.  Typically the business out-sources everything – information products marketed and sold online, or products manufactured in China or India, sent to a distribution center in the US, with customers in the UK and Brazil.  Manufacturing, marketing, bookkeeping, accounting, legal, and operations are all out-sourced to other businesses around the world. 

***End Quote***

Interesting that today I was corresponding with an exec search fellow who has gone on his own. I suggested that he'd have to be ready to burn the candle on five ends? I wrote about my experience here at: http://tinyurl.com/j873h; not that it contains any great words of wisdom.

Wish I could have thought of cuff links. The only think that I've come up with is my unfufilled desire to buy high quality underwear on the web like I used to get at Sears! 

Leave a Comment » | JOBSEARCH | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

UK raises retirement age; Coming here soon?

Thursday, May 25, 2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5015928.stm

Thursday, 25 May 2006, 11:39 GMT 12:39 UK
State pension age to rise to 68
***Begin Quote***

The state pension age is to rise to 68 from 2044, as part of government proposals to strengthen pension provision in the UK.

The link between the state pension and earnings will also be restored within the next Parliament, Pensions Secretary John Hutton said.

A new savings scheme will be set up with automatic enrolment for staff and compulsory employers' contributions. 
***End Quote***

Well the UK is addressing its Ponzi scheme. Soon it'll be "our" turn. What a joke. Chile can figure it out despite a huge illiteracy rate. BUT, Socialists won't give up on their impractical dreams without a fight.

How will you feel when they tell you the terms of the biggest "bet" of your life has changed?

If an insurance company or a bank did it, then all the execs would be off to prison. Politicians do it and they are lauded for making the "tough choices". See the politicians that made those promises are not around when the bill comes due. And the ones in office now say "We never said that"! And, we get left holding the bag.

And guess what's in the bag. Poop!

Don't even think about what all that "social security insurance" could be worth if it was just put in bank certificates of deposit. It's a sunk cost. The politicians have been taking the contributions and putting an iou in the "lockbox". Lockbox? What a joke!  

Poof, there goes your retirement, sucker! 

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY, MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Calling all turkeys: Open positions with IBM

Thursday, May 25, 2006

***Begin Quote***

Feel free to steer any of your clients to our website (http://www.beyourbestinc.com) to peruse our job openings; we have hundreds of perm positions with IBM. Tell them to mention that they were sent by you and we will gladly pay you a referral fee if they land a job.
***End Quote***

Of course, I always try to avoid any hint of conflict of interest. Should I earn a fee, I'll happily send it to the Salvation Army. Not trying to be disrespectful of the offer. I just don't want anyone to think I have conflicted loyalties when I "help". ;-)

Leave a Comment » | JOBSEARCH | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Hospital autopsies a dying science … … but maybe “we” need them?

Thursday, May 25, 2006

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B5CF8F14F%2D1E24%2D4BD1%2D9272%2D7C42AE101C24%7D&siteid=mktw&dist=nwhpf

VITAL SIGNS
Hospital autopsies a dying science
Private firms pick up slack as boomers seek answers; $3,500 postmortems
By Kristen Gerencher, MarketWatch
Last Update: 10:09 PM ET May 24, 2006
***Begin Quote***

The limited kind is less expensive, starting at $700 at PathServe, he said. Lung-tissue samples can be outsourced to pulmonologists to test for asbestos while brain work-ups go to neuropathology experts who look for diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, he said."The next of kin are quite interested in if it's Alzheimer's or not and what kind of Alzheimer's," Karp said.

The Alzheimer's Association in Chicago doesn't take a position on autopsies, said Dr. Maria Carrillo, director of medical and scientific relations.
Diagnosis of the early-onset form of Alzheimer's disease is fairly clear-cut, and family members can have genetic tests to see if they have a particular mutation, she said.
But the sporadic form that typically occurs after 65 is often more mysterious, Carrillo said. In that case, would she want an autopsy if it were someone in her family? "If I could afford the expense I would be interested in a definitive diagnosis because sometimes you can gain some additional information in the slight chance it was misdiagnosed."
What's more, Alzheimer's patients who participate in clinical trials often can get beneficial treatment while they're living and an exam for the family after they die, she said. "Many studies will offer an autopsy upon death because they would like to know definitively what the person's diagnosis was." 
***End Quote***

Interesting. Just recently, I heard about a freind's wife being diagnoses with the Big A. Seems like to save a few bucks we are collectively getting dumb.

Sigh.  

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

A Blue Frog sucessor. Eliminate or minimize the centralized control of anti-spam reprisals

Thursday, May 25, 2006

http://www.okopipi.org/

***Begin Quote***

In the meantime:

    * Okopipi-announce The announce list (very low traffic)
    * Okopipi-discuss General discussion the Okopipi project
    * Okopipi-dev A discussion of Okopipi's development
    * Okopipi-press Okopipi in the press
    * The Okopipi Wiki
    * The Okopipi IRC channel Hosted by the folks over at freenode. Also accessible over the web here.

***End Quote***

I'll be keeping tabs on this effort. The Blue Forg team had credentials. People that I recognized and respected. Hopefully this effort will attract the same type people.

I like the idea of going after the spammers by cutting off the money. I would be interested in hearing, now the Blue Frog quit, exactly how they forensically tied spam to beneficiary. It's all about the Benjamins. If we can't get to the beneficiary web site or phone number, how about the ISPs and Hosting Companies? There has to be a tie between the spam and the profiteer. Else it's just clog in the pipe.

Maybe email can't be free? But, I'd hate to give it up without a fight! 

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Zamily is a social networking site that connects families together.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

http://www.zamily.com 

***Begin Quote***

What is Zamily?

Zamily is a social networking site that connects families together. You can use this site to connect with family, share stories, recipes, news, events, and keep in touch with loved ones.

***End Quote***

Pretty sad. And, what if different wings of your family doesn't get along? :-)  Pretty sad. 

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Hey Governor Corzine … … still wanna hear about state cars an speeding? (continued) … …

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

… …. TOO BAD!

I really appreciate TWO state police cars, one behind the other, ten feet apart, yesterday whizzing by on I295 yesterday around 4PM. They went by sooo fast in the outside lane I couldn't even read their tags. I'm sure they were hustling to "protect and serve" someone. One of these days they are going to "surprise" some one into an accident. The fellow I saw "passed" almost dropped his cell phone!

AND then this moring that big state police suv, spa175a @ milepost 65 on i295 at 0706 edst, was "only" going by at about 80. Guess he was conserving gas for us serfs! 

So if you want to get the state budget under control, then why not ask your state police to slow down. After all if the lights aren't on, then why are they "speeding". Oh yeah, that's right. There are different rules for the slaves and the masters.

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Google Desktop has some problems

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

(1) Solid case of not finding a text string in a text file.

(2) General feel like it has "downgraded" it's search capability. When it first came out, I never had it fail to find what I was looking for. Now, it does. Interesting? 

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

How about the concept of a “persistent draft” or form letter for blogging?

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

FEEDBACK FILED TO THE WORDPRESS GODS 

Let me start by saying. Great job. In using this, an idea comes to mind that would make it more useful to me. That's doesn't mean that it deserves great consideration, but you asked for ideas. I tend to blog on the same topic. My personal hot button is "state cars". For some reason, a commuting state employee in a car that I am paying for just drives my bp up to stroke level. Any way, how about having a "persistent draft". Basically a form, that the blogger can write into and publish to their blog. So for example, in Outlook, I have form emails. Basically I made a draft email and then copy and pasted it a bunch of times. So when I want to communicate in a constant style I can. So to when I blog about state cars, it would be easy to open up my "state car" draft, filling in the details, and press the BLOG button (publish). Instead of, as now, that draft being "gone", if I designated it a "persistent draft", the next blank for would be there, available for my next rant. FWIW, reinkefj facing life

Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

My 21 Money Rules (Learned the hard way.)

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

(01) Spend less than you earn! Save max in tax advantaged forms.

(02) Emergency fund equals a six month run rate.

(03) Save 10% for yourself; give 10% to charity.

(04) Insure the risks you can't afford to absorb.

(05) Separate your employment from your insurances, if possible.

(06) Understand your taxes that are deducted from your paycheck and the hidden ones like inflation.

(07) Value your benefits correctly. They may not be worth what you think

(08) If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. Don't buy it!

(09) Pay off credit cards every month. If you can't, you can't afford what you bought. Take it back or sell it!

(10) Rent apartment if you have; buy a single family home as soon as you can.

(11) Buy your house to last a lifetime; pay it off in 20 years; no helocs; no refinance.

(12) Plan for your car to have at least a six year life; eight or ten is better.

(13) Finance that car if you have to for no more than three years; don't prepay it (rule of 78).

(14) Pay for six; first three to the credit union; after that to an earmarked savings account.

(15) That savings account is the maximum purchase price of the next one.

(16) Investments are not the emergency fund; not lotto tickets.

(17) Never invest in anything you can't explain to a child. Don't bet against the trend.

(18) No more than 5% in any one investment type, individual stock, or custodian.

(19) Special care if you buy your employer's stock; going belly up takes your paycheck and investment.

(20) When investing worry about roi first, taxes second, and risk third.

(21) Spend according to a lifetime plan; don't die too rich; don't enjoy life to save; you only go around once!

Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MarketSafe Gold Bullion CD from EverBank … some thoughts?

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

http://www.everbank.com/main.asp?idpage=pro_mscd&affid=eb&referID=11808

Ahhh, ain't gold wonderful. Bit not all that glitters is gold.

Take for example, the Everbank MarketSafeSM Gold Bullion CD

***Begin Quote***

A CD made of Gold. Invest by June 20, 2006.
Diversify, seek higher yields, and safely invest in Gold Bullion market returns. You can do it all with the new MarketSafeSM Gold Bullion CD from EverBank®.

This is the latest addition to EverBank's popular line of MarketSafe CDs. You'll enjoy many of the same great features and protections as the rest of the line, including 100% principal protection, market-driven upside potential, no account fees, and FDIC insurance.

A conservative investment with great reward potential, the MarketSafe Gold Bullion CD is a smart new way to invest in the Gold market. 
***End Quote***

It's really has no relation to a CD in the traditional banking sense.

Stodgy old traditional bank CDs pay a paltry amount of interest for locking up your money for some term. This, on the other hand, appears to be a straight gold play combined with a put at the current price at no cost with FDIC insurance?

So they get the use of your money for the price of a put and a call at the current price. Hmmm?

Thus, to the extent that whatever they earn with your money exceeds the cost of the put and call, they are a "winner".
Why wouldn't I just buy the put and the underlying coins myself?

Plus does the FDIC know they are insuring commodity trades?

AND, having worked on the Street, what about trading partner breaks, market discontinuities, and bankruptcies?

In short, all that glitters isn't, imho. 

2 Comments | MONEY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Technology’s challenge: Easy to use! Understandable?

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

http://news.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBO3GM5INE.html

***Begin Quote***

Mike Palazzolo said he routinely faxes his daily special to regular customers. When a couple of them asked to be taken off his mailing list this year, the manager said he was unable to remove the numbers from his fax machine's speed dialer and instead entered a long series of identical digits in their place. He assumed those numbers would be meaningless, but they turned out to be Ebsary's fax number. 

***End Quote***

Now I am not sure if I believe the excuse. But it does point out that the side of technology that faces humans is often cryptic, forgettable, and the documentation stinks. I have about five cheap remotes at home whose instruction books are probably in some recycling landfill somewhere (don't distract me with that rant!). I can't program them but I can't part with them. So, I can empathize with this fellow. I see some hidden assumptions in this that make this little morality play even more interesting: (1) government "laws" that interfere; (2) free local calls; (3) Lawyers in general; (4) the fax machine maker (i.e., I sold it that end my problem. Now go ahead and use it. I dare you!); and (5)  an incomprehensible user interface. Dontcha just love it.

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

a spurious battle against an abstract noun … “war on drugs”

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/floyd4.html

***Begin Quote***

The main engine of this mass incarceration has been the 35-year "war on drugs": a spurious battle against an abstract noun that provides an endless fount of profits, payoffs and power for the politically connected while only worsening the problem it purports to address – just like the "war on terror." The "war on drugs" has in fact been the most effective assault on an underclass since Stalin's campaign against the kulaks. 

***End Quote***

Well, I think we demonstrated the failure of yet another gummamint program.

Unless we don't understand that the "true purpose" of any gummamint program is to give more power to Father State and to get the serfs (what would you call people who have more than half of their earnings stolen by the ruling class?) to run to Mommy Government crying for "protection".

Interesting that the rate of addiction appears to be pretty consistent across human history. Interesting that we have given Father State our tacit approval to "discipline" ourselves. Like we couldn't decide what was in our own best interest. Clearly we didn't learn anything with the national experiment with Prohibition.

And, when it comes right down to destroying "drugs", the FDA has doen a fine job of making drugs expensive, unavailable, and dangerous. ("Dangerous" in that, unless the drug is SO SAFE as to be virtually worthless, it has zero chance of getting thru the regulatory process.) Like you and your doctor are too dumb to figure out what you need? And, the FDA has created a corporate protection welfare scheme that the big drug makers couldn't have created without the gummmint's help.

Note to self, when elected President: (1) End the unconstitutional wars (i.e., drugs, Iraq, Afghanistan, porn, etc. etc. etc. etc.); (2) Pardon all non-violent drug offenders; (3) Close the FDA; (4) Cut the Federal budget and taxes by the amount of the FDA; AND (5) Propose Constitutional Amendment forbidding Federalization of anything based on the mythical interpretation of the "commerce" or "general welfare" clauses.

Shouldn't the Federal Government restrict all of its "doings" to the fifty States? That's its constituents. Why should they interact with individual citizens? The Dead Old White Guys missed an opportunity to put another chain on the beast! Hard for them to imagine how stupid we could be. I can hear the conversation now "Tom (Jefferson), do you think we need to jot down that the Federal Government can't directly legislate to other than the fifty States? Nah, James (Madison), nobody would listen to them anyway. Like that restricting the general welfare clause you were talking about, we can save some ink because nobody would ever think of having everything run form New York (the original capitol)!" Yup, they must be stunned at what a mess we have made of it.

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY, Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

I received a “free” email from my “other” alma mater … … BUT … …

Monday, May 22, 2006

… … I discovered how to break it. Tried to use it. :-)  I basically tried to send email from one alumni id to another. AND it broke. (I've never seen that before.) So I dropped an email to both schools techies. 

Dear Help: In attempting to send an email over to Manhattan College, I received a bounce. In consulting with an old friend, who happens to supervise their datacenter, we think that the problem may be inside your "cloud". Care to advise? After all, email should be able to flow between my two alma maters. I did. ;-)  Just thought you might want to be aware of the problem, FjohnR 

The support guy at FDU is looking into it.

Just doing my "job" as alpha / beta tester aka polish minesweeper without equal! You give me a freebie and I can break it. After all who tries to send email to themselves. :-) 

Leave a Comment » | ALUMNI, Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

STRATEGY: Ready for Consulting? or how full is your bank account BEFORE you start?

Monday, May 22, 2006

[L=http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7BF7C9C985%2D4275%2D48AC%2D8B0B%2D14896B169724%7D&siteid=mktw&dist=nwhpf]http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7BF7C9C985%2D4275%2D48AC%2D8B0B%2D14896B169724%7D&siteid=mktw&dist=nwhpf[/L]

***Begin Quote***
 
Do you have financial security for soft spells?

***End Quote***

Having done it twice, first time was much more successful (i.e., lucrative) than the second, I KNOW that you don't go into it with a thin bank account. I had my original severance from AT&T that I had kept aside intact growing that I intended for retirement which was more than TWO years of my run rate. So, I didn't have to sweat selling, delivering, and COLLECTING on my invoices. I had a GREAT lady who was shilling for me. So, it really was never in doubt that I'd be OK. The Frau never sweated. She did the books for me so that was one less thing I had to do. Unpaid staff is great!

My take away was that you wind up with FIVE equally important "tasks":

(1) selling engagements (no sales; no paychecks);

(2) delivering results (no results; no paychecks);

(3) collecting on invoices (no dunning; no paychecks);

(4) creating new offerings (nothing new; declining markets to sell into);

(5) figuring out trends to get / keep out in front (don't have wisdom; no mindshare)

Try burning any candle at FIVE ends!

Area #5 was the most stressful for me. I had a lot of offerings and still felt the pressure to innovate. Eventually I burnt out. As a one man band, I was under incredible pressure by your Customers to have more bandwidth. That means expansion and then the problems really begin.

IMHO you have to start down this path when you are young and dumb. Once you've gotten used to the corporate regular check, it is TOO hard to transition. You're addicted to Ebeneezer's "security".

FWIW YMMV
FjohnR
The Big Turkey

Leave a Comment » | JOBSEARCH | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Mayor Bloomberg’s ridiculous ban on cell phones in New York City public schools

Monday, May 22, 2006

http://gearlog.com/blogs/gearlog/archive/2006/05/22/12456.aspx

posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 4:27 PM
When a Cell Phone is Like a Gun
***Begin Quote***

It is pretty safe to assume that as a gadget-lovin' Gearlogger I am going to come down against Mayor Bloomberg's ridiculous ban on cell phones in New York City public schools, but as a step-father with an 11-year-old riding the city bus to school, my opposition borders on outrage. The ban itself has been around a long time (1987, I think), but it has always been enforced with an appropriate amount of laxness. Show it, you lose it. Evidently, that wasn't good enough. Now kids are being patted down for telecommunication devices. Why? According to the Gotham Gazette:

Klein and Bloomberg say cell phones make it easier for kids to cheat on tests, take pictures in locker room and bathrooms, arrange drug deals or call in reinforcements for schoolyard fights. In a radio address, the mayor likened cell phones to guns and knives.

***End Quote***

Well, if you send your child to the gummamint reeducation camps, then why would you be surprised when they are treated like prisioners?

If they can't keep drugs and weapons out of their prisons and skoolz, then you don't have to worry. The lawless will have guns, drugs, AND cell phones.

The socialists didn't learn their lessons from the old Soviet Union. Government can't run "education" any more than it can do anything else.

As the boys at Free Talk Live (http://www.freetalklive.com) ask all the time: "Name ONE government program that works?" Haven't heard one yet.

So I'll sign your petition for all the good that it will do. 

1 Comment | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

The carpenter with the nail in his brain

Monday, May 22, 2006

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/book_week.shtml

Monday  22 – Friday 26 May 2006
Brain Matters
By Katrina Firlik, abridged by Doreen Estall, read by Vicki Simon
***Begin Quote***

Katrina Firlik, a young American neurosurgeon, is one of the scarce females from a rare species in medicine. She describes her fascination for the brain and its workings and malfunctions, and tells of the chief moments of her long training as a neurosurgeon. Through cases she has encountered: the carpenter with the nail in his brain, the schoolboy who is thrown out of his car and has a blood clot on the brain which grows before her eyes, the child with raging bacterial meningitis, the teenage girl with severe epilepsy, she reveals the astonishing achievements and the limitations of neurosurgery.
***End Quote***

An absolutely "neat" listen.  

 

Leave a Comment » | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Personal Branding for Technology Professionals

Sunday, May 21, 2006

http://tutorials.lockergnome.com/library/20060521_personal_branding_for_technology_professionals.phtml 

Click to access PBTP.pdf

***Begin Quote***

Author Rajesh Setty examines the idea of building a peronal brand through his latest ebook, Personal Branding for Technology Professionals, including strategies for making yourself an invaluable part of the workplace no matter what high tech field has your focus. 
***End Quote***

He has some interesting ideas.

Isn't "branding" for cerial, muscle cars, and soap?

How can I brand a human being? I like Heinlein's quote:

 “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, pitch manure, solve equations, analyze a new problem, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

I think that branding works to imply value among alternatives. It's good when the choice has to be made without in-depth knowledge. I pick a Ford over a Chevy because I'm convinced that Fords are better than Chevys. I'm not sure that this is the case in "personal branding". There aren't the Big Turkeys, the Old Turkeys, and Svelete Turkeys for a hiring manager to choose from. 

I'd be interested in others' thinking. 

2 Comments | JOBSEARCH | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »