June 29, 2009
Fetch me a Porcupine and a Banana STAT!
Rand Simberg links to
this very good piece on 5 fallacies of happiness.
Read the whole thing. It tangentially segues into the content below the fold...which is just diary stuff.
more...
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
07:47 PM
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1
I had a similar thing happen to me, I transferred into a college with a mix of AP credits, courses taken at another university, courses taken at a community college, and some military training that counted as course credits. I then worked on a BS in computer science while doing various part time jobs, in my 'junior' and 'senior' years I was doing actual software development at a startup tech firm and learning far more there than in classes (of course).
It all ended when I was faced with a pretty much terminal scheduling conflict, I had two 400 level courses that between them blocked every other course I needed, they were only available at the same time, and that time was right in the middle of the work day. While I was trying to figure out a way to get those courses and not lose my job, my pre-graduation advisor review turned up all sorts of problems with the credits I'd transferred in with, to the point that I went from needing about 18 units to graduating, to more like 70. For me, it was then a no-brainer that I stick with the job.
I'm sure that was the right choice at the time, but now I'm one of those 10% of the people that doesn't have a job, and it's amazing how many of the jobs that are at a similar level to what I've been doing for the last five years want tens years of software development experience AND a BS in computer science, no substitutes accepted, and oh by the way your competitors mostly have masters degrees. It's to the point that while it's pretty much inconcievable that I'll learn much of any use (at least as far as programming, some of the gen ed stuff might be fun), I'm almost going to have to go back to school to get my degree, and of course since I'm in a different state and it's been over nine years, I imagine very little is going to transfer this time.
Posted by: David at Tue Jun 30 02:48:58 2009 (n/RK7)
2
To continue the wall of text, in your place I'd probably suck it up and finish things off. I've certainly had moments where I wished I'd managed to finish off my degree, just to have that item checked off on my personal "things I've done" list. And of course in a job market like we have now (and probably will have for another two years), every competitive advantage you can get helps.
More and more recent studies are coming to the conclusion that a higher ed degree doesn't pay off in terms of time and money, but those studies are now going to be out of date as the market toughens, and of course you've already made most of the investment in both terms so the balance should be swinging in favor of completing it. But I'd certainly look at taking your forced extra time to pick the most useful courses you can, both in terms of what they will teach you personally, and what will look good on an eventual resume.
Posted by: David at Tue Jun 30 02:55:40 2009 (n/RK7)
3
This is terrible news. I can't tell you how sorry I am.
Posted by: Colleen at Tue Jun 30 21:19:24 2009 (+PoXK)
4
I almost recommend going in again and bleeding all over their rug. My college career stretched from 1971 to 1996 and included three different universities but, by enlisting the support of my departmental chairman and having thorough documentation of everything, managed to persuade the deities at central records to accept absolutely everything and permit me to graduate with a EE. It definitely helped that the final chapter occured at a private college--don't think a public university would have been nearly so willing to give ground on transfer credits. Still, if you can get enough big guns on your side, I think it is worth the effort. BTW, the company I work for sold off their Electronic Division six months after I got my degrees--so I've never actually worked as a EE at all. But still, having an engineering degree in an engineering company has opened many doors previously closed. It was worth the trouble. Keep at it!
Posted by: go-daigo at Tue Jun 30 21:51:33 2009 (IQN7J)
5
so there's now room for a weekly game in your schedule, right ?
Posted by: ELD at Fri Jul 3 13:44:01 2009 (EMDFf)
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June 20, 2009
Found in the middle of the highway...
Ravenous little monster ate half a can of Vienna sausages.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
03:54 AM
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1
I can't tell what it is from your picture. A cat?
Posted by: Steven Den Beste at Sat Jun 20 04:37:12 2009 (+rSRq)
2
Ohnoes....photography fail!
It's a baby robin.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Sat Jun 20 05:05:03 2009 (1PS4p)
3
A carnivorous robin?
Kill it!
Kill it with fire!
Posted by: Mitch H. at Mon Jun 22 16:02:00 2009 (jwKxK)
4
Sadly no fire was necessary. I came home from work early so I could t take him to the bird rehab place in York County.
He was dead.
He had eaten quite a bit, 7 worms and several Vienna sausages, cut into strips. I don't know what happened, I assume he killed himself trying to fly out of the box.
Robins are a dime a dozen and there are truly dreadful things happening in this world as I type this, but the fact that I couldn't keep this little bird I found on the interstate alive long enough to get him to the rehab place really tears me up for some reason.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Mon Jun 22 20:02:49 2009 (V5zw/)
Posted by: Mitch H. at Tue Jun 23 14:16:04 2009 (jwKxK)
6
Oh, sorry to hear that. Small animals are hostages to fortune, sadly enough. They survive by the laws of large numbers.
Posted by: Mitch H. at Tue Jun 23 14:18:51 2009 (jwKxK)
7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H5N1
then I washed my hands vigorously for 12 minutes with LAVA soap and turpentine.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Tue Jun 23 17:24:03 2009 (1PS4p)
8
I'm being sock puppeted.... Comment #7 was not made by me.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Tue Jun 23 20:29:08 2009 (V5zw/)
9
It looks like I'll have to require registration to comment from now on.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Tue Jun 23 20:29:49 2009 (V5zw/)
10
If I install virus protection, won't it stop H5N1 ?
Posted by: Brickmuppet at Wed Jun 24 14:37:23 2009 (1PS4p)
11
#10 wasn't me either it was a random internet dick. I've had to set comments to registered users only.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at Wed Jun 24 15:27:22 2009 (XoDYH)
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June 16, 2009
Pizza by The Slice....Alas No
So I had to run out to my mobile home today to pay my lot-rent and cut the grass.The latter was thwarted by rain but I stopped for lunch at a new Greek Cafe on Jefferson Avenue next to the
Asian Grocery near the
What A Burger.
I ordered a slice of pizza only to be told that the store did not sell pizza by the slice...one had to buy the whole pizza! The proprietor, for whom English was obviously not his first language, seemed perplexed that people kept coming in asking for slices.
I pointed out the sign that said "Pizza by the slice" and explained that that did not mean the whole pizza was pre-sliced.
So I ordered a gyro...
...which was one of the best I've ever had. The slices of gyro meat were waaay thicker than usual, the olives were fresh and the thing was spiced differently than I was accustomed to..but better.
My weight loss scheme precluded me from partaking of the baklava
The place the
Greek Cafe and Food Mart is fantastic find. It's also a tobacco shop, has a hookah booth and sells hookahs. I don't smoke, but I applaud anyone with the balls to open a hookah shop in Newport News.
Next time I'm over there I'll try some of their kebabs...or I'll take home some of their pizza...I hear its pre-sliced.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
09:40 PM
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June 02, 2009
Status Report
Mom met with both surgeons yesterday. The prognosis is dismaying. She requires a total mastectomy and the surgery will take over 8 hours. There is a nontrivial chance that she won't wake up. The surgery date is not set YET as she wants to talk to the Oncologist again...but it will be in the next two weeks. After the surgery its going to be rough indeed. As mentioned previously, I've moved into the
sewing room at my folks and there is going to be a lot of help required around their
house for the next few months. I talked with the manager at UPS today and informed him of the situation. I must say they are being very supportive.
Any prayers are appreciated.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
09:01 PM
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1
I can't help with prayers, but you have my best wishes.
Posted by: Steven Den Beste at Tue Jun 2 21:13:29 2009 (+rSRq)
2
What Steven said, pal. If there's anything I can do...
Posted by: Wonderduck at Tue Jun 2 21:24:19 2009 (Duio9)
Posted by: Avatar_exADV at Wed Jun 3 00:47:01 2009 (vGfoR)
4
Hopes and prayers from Lori and I both. Let us know if we can do anything to help.
Posted by: Brian Flanagan at Wed Jun 3 06:09:04 2009 (eytER)
5
You'll be in my thoughts, hope all goes well
Posted by: Andy Janes at Wed Jun 3 13:22:18 2009 (fk7dT)
6
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Ken.
Posted by: Marina at Fri Jun 5 15:53:45 2009 (S2qjO)
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