Don't fully trust the cloud, but I use it

Google, the biggest company on the Internet and internet services, has a saying "don't be evil".  They try to act as this is their credo and they always follow that.  For the most part, to be honest, they have.  I say for the most part because as much good they do, don't forget they are a publicly held company, and have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders.  So they do some things that aren't cool.  An example came to my attention as I listened to the No Agenda Podcast (which I wish you who read this do as well. http://www.noagendashow.com).  The hosts were talking about the news letter they send out to people telling them what's going on with the show and preview what topics they are going to discuss.  The hosts were noticing less and less people were reading their newsletters (they use MailChimp, a mass emailing service and they can track how many open the email).  After a couple shows, people responded to them that the newsletter email was either automatically put by Google (or whatever web based email service) in the spam folder, or wasn't even delivered.  A little digging into the subject showed that Google and other web email providers (the free ones), take payments from marketing companies to promote their emails, while any other mass email won't be prioritized to be received by the people wanting it.  It's a sort of "hey, you want this delivered pay up".  It's a shady thing that most internet companies do.  Ever wonder why not all your Facebook or Twitter posts don't show up in your friends timeline, while ads surely do?  This is why.  It's a grimy way to monetize your product, and it's extortion if you are a small marketing company.

I've noticed that other companies emails or even people's emails I should get in my inbox either never show up or always end up in the spam folder.  Gmail, along with the other free email companies are a convenient thing, but "free" means you pay with allowing them to scan and advertise to you in your email and market you to marketing firms in order to advertise to you.  After a few times in the situation where certain emails are prioritized that shouldn't, I decided to not stay "all in" with Google or any cloud service.

What I am going to do is the following as far as my cloud services I use.  I will continue to use them, but in these ways:

Email: I will keep my Gmail account for access to other Google services, but also the "junk/spam" email account (and the one I give out to people I don't think deserve my new email account).  I"m going to my domain registrar and paying for an email account. 

Storage: I will use Google drive/docs for storage, but also keep local copies of whatever I have up there.

Pictures: I sync my phone's photos with Google+, but I'm going to download them to keep on my computer.  I'll also on occasion delete all the cloud ones 

Backup: I use Carbonite, but I also have a hard drive in my computer for backup and images.  Eventually I may try to make compressed drive images to keep on DVDs or USB sticks.

Media: I have local copies of my music.  I use Spotify for music discovery and eventually I'll buy the music I find and enjoy on there to have a copy on my PC. 

I don't fully trust cloud computing, but I see a some good with it.  I is a great idea, but I think people need to try to keep from depending on them for everything.  Just because it is free, means it isn't.  Look at any Terms of Service for most of the services, you "pay" by giving up a level of privacy and allow them to sell you to marketing firms.  If you are cool with that, then it shouldn't be an issue.  I don't really have a ton of issues with it: they got to make money somehow.  I want them more transparent with what they do behind the scenes as well as how much they will fight government requests for information.

I ask those who read this to think about what your use and put in cloud services, and try to figure out how comfortable you are with it.  I also hope you think about other alternatives and back up strategies should these services shut down suddenly or get bought and changed, or God forbid if someone steals your log in info.  Be smart and don't put your full trust in a "free" product or a "convenient" product or service.  That's all I ask.

Sexual orientation means nothing in politics

Articles like this bothers me. Who cares if someone's gay or straight, and why would that matter if this person can do the job or not. It amazes me when people say he's dodging the question. No, he's not. Its called "Mind your fucking business.". There are other issues to be worried about.

If he's gay so what? People bring out the "gays in politics will push the gay agenda.". The gay agenda is nothing more than gays wanting to live like everyone else with their much higher level of disposable income to spend in the economy. THAT'S the gay agenda, and if you are against that, you are a fool.

http://gawker.com/cory-booker-gay-or-not-gay-round-1-452-1215153879?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gawker%2Ffull+%28Gawker%29&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

Action park

I remember the ads for this place. Never went, but knew a few people who have. I heard many stories about the place. This piece sort of confirmed those stories

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/inside_action_park_the_worlds_most_dangerous_park.html

Senior encounter

I went to Archbishop Molloy High School.  It was ran by the Marist brothers.  They had a retreat house and complex in Esopus, NY. several times a year, they held weekend retreats for students to help them grow as people and their faith-though many went up to hangout with their friends.  They had a special retreat for seniors, called Encounters.  These were done a couple times a school year.  These were a little more special than the regular retreats, especially since it was usually the last one for seniors.   

I was going through a bunch of papers and found an envelope.  Its an envelope full of letters I was given at the Encounter I went on.  The letters were written by those who knew you at the Encounter, those who were on a previous one this year that knew you were going on yours, and your parents.  In the letters were nothing but positive things and some intimate, personal thoughts (mind out of gutter, yes Molloy was an all boy school, but not that kind of intimate).     

I learned what some people have thought of me, and I remember at the time I remember being surprised.  I was surprised by not only so many people would take the time to write, but write more than like a formal "hey, you're doing good".  I remember the feelings it made me feel.  It was one of the high points in my high school time.     

Probably the more emotional part was my parents' letters.  They hit me in the heart most.  It especially hit me reading my dad's letter.  Partly because he's gone now, but also it showed me a side of him and his thoughts I didn't know about.   

I kept this envelope for a reason: its to help me remind me of who I am, though changed a little over the years, and I'm doing OK.  It also reminded me how good there was during high school, not just the BS and pain I had to go through during that period.         

Optimism

This week I've had a real sense of optimism and positivity. I can't put a finger on where it comes from, but I've felt like I'm in a good place lately. Could some things be better? Sure. But where I am now I am not only in a good place, but where God or whatever higher power wants me. From this place, I am not in a state of complacement, but I'm ready for whatever the next step is. What is the next step? Its the step wherever the wind blows and what my gut tells me. Its a good and exciting time. Good attitude and new beginnings in some aspects.

Oprah Winfrey

She claims she was discriminated at a store in Europe. She then today apologizes for the incident blowing up in the media. SHE PLAYED THE RACE CARD, WHAT THE HELL DID SHE EXPECT!?!?!? The scumbag profiteering media LOVES race stories. So the scum did what they usually do.

I question if Oprah was really discriminated against, given it just happened around her movie of race relations through time is coming out. Its funny when a movie, show, or book is about to come out, SOMETHING just happens to happen to someone involved with the book/movie/show/event.

Always question what is in the news when something happens to a "celebrity." I bet you 9 times out of 10 its close to their next project. If it is, discount it as a pathetic publicity stunt. That includes deaths of stars or something as extreme as that.

New York Cosmos thoughts

I watched the videos of the first two NY Cosmos games, as well as the old NASL archived stuff.  I like the idea of the Cosmos being around in the sense of having a team on Long Island.  It's a nice alternative to MLS.  The league is ran how I'd like a league to be ran (split seasons, where the "season" is played in halves, and the winners of the halves meet for the championship, autonomous teams).  Sure, the level of play isn't the worlds best, but it's still damn entertaining.   

It bugs me that some fans in the area dismiss it as "minor league", or have some sort of hatred to the Cosmos.  I don't get it where the fear of them comes from.  I don't have an issue with the team here, more soccer in the area the better, and I want to go see a game one Saturday.  My only issue is their using the pat as a crutch.  It's OK to acknowledge it, as they should, but they should not use it as the basis of their marketing.  First it's insulting to the current team and staff.  Second, this is a remake (or reboot as they put it), and using the history can lead to unattainable goals and expectations that could lead to some fans to be let down and stop following the team.  Look at the majority of remakes of movies where you have seen the original and the new one, and how disappointed you were with the new one.  I really hope they move from relying on their past and focus on the local players, and potential stars, on today's team.

I have followed soccer in this area for decades, and it's an exciting time these days.  I am a fan of the Red Bulls, and I may be a fan of the Cosmos also.  I will support local soccer in this area, something local Eurotrash or wannabe Eurotrash seem to not want to do.  I have tones of more respect for someone who would   come out and say they are RBNY and Cosmos fans, than saying they are "diehard" supporter some Eurotrash team.

I encourage you to go support the local soccer team, be it an MLS, NASL, USL, or any team.  Get involved with the local soccer community.  Stop trying to be Eurotrash, and be proud of soccer in this country and do your part to make it grow. 

The Grand Funk Railroad of world soccer

MLS is an American league. Its a shame many in this country aren't proud of it, or at least appreciative of it. I've watched this league since its birth, and its somewhat of a miracle It's still going strong.

Recently some American players have returned to play in it after some time overseas. They had opportunities to play at some major teams in Europe, but the wanted to come back. Some have complained that MLS teams shouldn't pay big bucks for them, and should get some washed up Eurotrash instead.

That bothers me as much as the MLS "All star' game being MLS all stars against some Eurotrash team, like the entire MLS is weaker than one Euro team. Teams do games like this in their world nations for a quick paycheck and an easy training session. Well the US is not a third world country, and MLS is not a third rate league. I find it insulting that MLS goes that route.

Another irksome thing is the fact that a good number of the teams are foreign owned, or not locally owned. To me that isn't good when a team's owners are not a part of the community, or at least won't hire locally. It kills me seeing so many ex-MLS players who want to be coaches in this league get passed over by someone who does not know anything about MLS or American players.

Above all, I hate how the fans and people in the American soccer scene wants it like Europe. Last I checked, we are GODDAMN Americans, Europe-especially the UK-would be nothing but a rest stop for the Germans if Americans didn't do the hard work for them. But this country has some sick "I wish they were our daddy" attitude. It is disgusting.

I want American soccer distinctly American. I want some of the old MLS and NASL rules, like no ties-after 90 mins there is a shootout. I want a best of three playoff format, not a boring "aggregate goal" format. Accepting ties in a game is a world thing, and the world is mediocre and never going for the win.

FTW, WE ARE THE MIGHTY US. let's do things out way.

My PC

  So its been a while since I built my PC. I took it apart to see if there is any dust or dirt in it, given how much venting there is,  I decided to take some pictures, since I forgot to when I built.

First here's the specs of it:
Case: Corsair Carbide Series 200r Motherboard: Gigabyte z77x-d3h
Cpu: Intel i5-3570k
RAM: 8GB Corsair
Hard drives: 2 Seagate 7200 500 GB
GPU: evga Geforce GTX 660
Power supply: corsair CX 600
DVD drive: LG
WIFI CARD 

For the most part, the build went well, aside the mother board I first got, an AsRock motherboard, was shot.  Actually the pins where the processor was bent,  I spent a day going through every situation I could think of that could be wrong. Once I got an new motherboard, everything worked.   

So far I'm loving it.  It plays games at almost, if not at, the highest graphical settings.  It runs quiet and cool, and every task I throw at it, its done well.     

Figured out a path

After last week's taste of interviewing for a help desk job, as well as my experience building my computer, I want to walk that path. I hope to hear back from the place I interviewed with, but if not I'm going to keep trying for that type of role.

Memory of Gold Cup 2009 and the BS I got for saving a kid's life

I said on social media the other day that the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the regions soccer championship, brought up a memory that still sours me.  I said I was going to write about it so here it goes.

The Gold Cup 2009 Quarterfinals was scheduled in Philadelphia, and the US was playing there.  I went down with some members of the Empire Supporters Club to watch the game.  After some time traveling to Philly from NYC (taking NJ transit to the regional line, to the subway to the stadium) , we were in the parking lot with other US fans tailgating.  As usual, people were drinking, and it was a really hot day.  I was drinking that much because I hate being drunk in the heat.  Now, the ESC has one kid, who I'll call the self-hating Jew (he often says he sides with the Nazis and yells out anti-Semitic stuff when he's drunk), who all he does is gets drunk,. acts a fool, and somehow isn't kicked out for his behavior.  

This day was no different.  He was doing his usual drunken bullshit, but this time he decided at one point to take a ton of soccer scarves and wrap them around him.  Again, it's hot as Hell in this lot and he is putting think scarves around himself.  Some people where there telling him to stop, but no one was doing anything.  One of the Capos of the ESC who was there asked me to help.  He said we have to get them off him.  So I said I"d help.  As people where there talking, doing nothing to help really, I walked up, and started to rip them off him, which led to him falling out of his chair.  As soon as he hit the floor, people jumped in to pull me off, and I was pulled away from the situation.  I was then told I was too rough and in short scolded for trying to save this guys life.  At that point, I was so fed up with this accepted BS culture at soccer games of "he's drunk and breaking club runes, but he's funny so it's OK", I blurted out loudly "Fuck him then, let him die!" and walked off.  The Capo again came to defend the Self-hating Jew, and then ran to the ESC leader to tell him what happened.  

Later on, I had a meeting with the leaders of the ESC where I was told I was close to being banned form the club over the incident.  No one had my back or defended me over it, especially this Capo.  I laughed over this since the leaders and this capo tried to sabotage the Philly group leaders as far as US songs/chants during the game (rule is whoever is the local Supporters Club runs the section as far as songs and stuff).  They did more to sully the ESC name, but me being asked to help save a guys health from himself is the bigger problem.  After this was when the relationship with me and the ESC leaders turned not good.

I pissed me off, as it does now, that I am asked to do something then yelled at because I got the job done in a way someone is upset about it.  I have a job to do, I will do it my way unless told how someone wants it done, and I don't care who is upset.  The job is done, shut up.  I'm just irritated I have to deal with a backlash  over it.  

That's the story.

Job search update.

I decided to put my stress and nerves on the side for a bit to address some of you about my job search. I'll put it in simple terms: I'm in the "fucked" category. I have experience, but its too much and makes me overqualified for some, or not enough for others. I also am of the generation where I will not have a job define my life, where I live to work for someone. I only work to live. I want to get my hours in, leave when I am done, and do what I want without anything hanging over me. Seems like people these days are happy to be slaves and have their life dictated by someone else. I'm not. Let me answer a couple questions I have been getting:

"Are you trying hard enough?"

First off, FUCK YOU if you don't think I am. I spend my mornings and nights on Craigslist, Linkedin, careerbuilder, monster, Indeed, and God knows what other sites looking at postings and responding. On average, my resume goes to 40-60 job postings A DAY. So its not lack of trying on my part.

"Why not try for a lower level position to get a foot in the door?"

I have been, that's where I'm told I'm "overqualified" by people. See, people are afraid I'll leave when something better comes along, but its a simple fix: make me want to stay. Why would I look elsewhere if I'm happy where I am. There's also the situation the person hiring won't hire me because they are afraid I'll replace them. Fair point, since if they are afraid means they are right. I'd probably do better than them and get their job.

At first I didn't want to try for a lower position, since last company I worked for I did that, and they took advantage of that. But I'm grasping for anything.

"Have you tried Stop and Shop, Home Depot, *insert large retailer*?"

Yes, again I'm overqualified. Again they are afraid of me leaving if something else comes along. I also won't be hired because I won't agree to have open availability for every shift. I have other interests and I want to be able to do them. I don't want my free time dictated like they would want to. The money they are "offering" isn't at the level where they should even have the right to ask for that concession.

Also not to sound like an asshole, but I went to college to NOT end up in a job like that. I endured college and worked my ass off to not having to settle for a job like that. I also know that I am not mentally or physically damaged, which puts me at a disadvantage to get hired (these companies like to hire the "special" people to try to not look heartless).

"Have you tried friends or family to see if they can get you a job?"

Yes, and some people have been more than helpful. But some either have helped and their bosses said no (again, overqualified), or some haven't bothered but said they have. Whatever, people choose to do what they want to do.

Some help I haven't accepted because I want to "earn my spot" and earn my job. See one of my other entries about that.

"Have you thought of going back to school?"

Did some, but time to make money. Can't keep staying out of the market. Its apparently harmed me now, any longer may make worse. May look at volunteering work, but I want a paying job.

"Why not try and see if your old job will take you back?"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

That ship passed, and to tell you how much they wanted me and how much they said they valued me. NOT ONE phone call or anything from them since I left.

"Maybe you should sacrifice a bit more..."

No, NO! This is what's wrong with society today. Sacrificing too much for others and then they get screwed because of it. I refuse to sacrifice more than I have. I refuse to sacrifice for a job, I give an inch they will take a mile. Trust me, in this climate people should look out for themselves more, and forget the "team" or "family" they are supposedly a part of, that "team" or "family" will easily go for your neck the second things get bad (been there, done that).

I hope this gives you a picture of what's going on. I've been honest with potential employers, and now I have been with you.

I'm still not ready to go to a soccer game

As stupid as it sounds, I'm mentally not ready to handle going to a game. My girlfriend has asked me why I haven't gone to a game for so long, and I tell her its difficult to say why. Some of the people I hung out with at games have also asked me, and I couldn't give a good answer.

I think I haven't gone to a game in over a season and a half. The last time I went, I couldn't shake the feelings about why I stopped going. I couldn't shake the treatment I got from some supporter club leaders years ago when they in short told me to go fuck myself in their passive-aggressive way. I responded by telling them to go fuck themselves and their lackeys, though that also affected others I didn't intend to. Over time I have gotten passed the anger, especially since those people I had issues with no longer are in charge, but there is still a bitter taste. Also there are some who have decided to wrap their lives around the team and club, they took how I left as a "you're not welcome anymore, quitter" and seem to keep that toxic atmosphere that I wanted to get away from alive. I'm not talking about one specific group, its all of them.

Recently one person I know came out and talked about his demons he's trying to overcome. First off he has my respect and prayers to get through his problems. After knowing what he's going through, I thought of myself and when I decided to change my life for the good. Now, I am not comparing my issues with what he is going through, but I see slight parallels. When I was going to soccer games, I was always a cynical, negative person. Mostly because of who I hung out with. The supporters section is still filled with this element, and that bothers me. I wish leaders would try to move forward from it, maybe throw out some of the trash, but I know I'd be asking for a lot. I remember at one game saying "What am I doing?" and decided to change myself. I tried to keep things positive and low stress, but in a cesspool of negativity it doesn't really work. That's one reason I stopped going to games, and I feel so much better for it.

I also found BJJ, and all the good-the feeling I get and people I have met-blows away what I was getting going to soccer games. What I get out of what I invest in BJJ is so much more rewarding and better for me. It sucks that soccer got to the point it did for me, and I wish things could go back to when the club was smaller and just a bunch of guys wanting to have fun. I know that won't happen, as well as most of those I did enjoyed hanging out with are either not going to games or not as much as they used to.

I wanted to write this to get it out. It sucks I can't get myself to go to a game. I loved going in the past, why not now?

I need help, I suck at asking for it

Last week I was at the supermarket and as I was at the check out line, I noticed the bag person. He was either completely blind or really hard of sight. I noticed how he was bagging stuff, and he had a little struggle doing it and putting the bags into the cart. He got it done, but he had a little difficult time finishing it.

I didn't help him. It wasn't a reason of I'm above him or anything. It was a reason some may not understand. I didn't want to help because I was not sure if he wanted it. He may not want someone helping him and taking away a sense of power and purpose. He has enough that was taken away from him, why take another thing away?

I know this really well. I was blind once, and I felt I had a lot of a "normal" life taken away from it. I had people do a lot to help me because of it, but a good amount of those times I didn't want or need it. I didn't want it because I didn't want to be reminded I had a problem, and any "success" or feeling of accomplishment to me would feel hollow because I had help, where others may not have. I also didn't want to be treated or felt like I was different. Its not a good feeling to be singled out that way.

That's probably why I am where I am now. I haven't really asked for much to get work. I did the same the blast time I was out of work. I want to accomplish it, but I feel I should by myself. I know its stupid of me not to ask, as well as frustrating to those around me that I don't or haven't asked. I know I need help, I know some of you guys who read this could and can help me somehow, I just suck at asking, and to be honest I am uncomfortable asking, almost admitting I cant do it myself.

I need help, how do I ask?

My job hopes/wishes/dreams

Since I am still without permanent employment, I wanted to write down what my goals are for my next job and what I want out of it:

I want to work to live, not live to work.  I don't want a position where I have to think about the job when I'm not there.  Unless I have a piece of the company or own it, I'm just there to do my job and go home

 I want a job where I am able to make enough money so I can afford to move in with my girlfriend and move our relationship forward. 

I want a schedule where I am able to do my BJJ training.  Outside of my girlfriend, my friends, and my family, it's the most positive, healthy thing I have in my life these days.

I would like a job where I am challenged creatively, and where I feel like I accomplished something.   

I'd like a job where I go in in the morning, and at the end of the day I can leave without people trying to guilt me into staying longer "for the team" 

Above all, i want a job where I feel happy and feel like I'm at my "spot" in this world.

WIndows 8

For the past couple weeks I have been using Windows 8 mostly.  I have it installed on my 2008 iMac, and have been running it via VMWare Fusion.  So far, for a 5 year old computer that is slowly dying, it's running pretty good.  The Windows score is piss poor, but on the hardware I have, it's running OK.  I tried running 8 as it was supposed to, but after a couple days, I had to put on the "classic shell" add-on, and it made it able to use a start menu again and it boots to desktop directly, not what Microsoft changed the start menu to.

I don't hate how Microsoft re-did Windows 8, I sort of get the plan-unite all the UIs to make it seamless from a desktop to mobile, but seeing that touch monitors and the general concensus is that what Microsoft was doing was fine (I think 7 was the best operating system out there-even better than OSX), its a tough thing to do.  If the OS had options to set it up for the hardware it's installed, and gave a level of customization so maybe people who want to try the more mobile setup on their desktop can, I think people wouldn't have been so critical.  

Most of what I am doing is getting used to Windows again.  I also am planning on down the road to build my next computer, one for a daily driver, gaming, and media in the living room.  I wanted to get re accustomed to the OS, and I miss playing around with it. As much as I am using Windows, I'm not really keeping too much on the "hard drive".  Most of what I used is cloud based now, and what I do have is backed up on the Mac side.  This is a temporary computer on my Mac, and when I do build my PC, most of what is on this computer-PC and Mac side-will be transferred to it.

Test Entry (beta)

Testing out making audio entries, not just written ones. I did this on my phone with the hands free mic as I was walking yesterday.  Please note its still a beta project (where it most likely is crap, but I'm woking on it). Let me know what you think

Rant for today after reading countless tip articles written by "experts"

Is it wrong to think most of the articles about "how to get a job at any company" are BS, and are propagating the meme that if you want to work, you have to sacrifice YOUR life for the better good of the company hiring you? More and more companies seem to do that while scare people with the "you are replaceable" fear mongering.

I personally just want a job, and am only loyal to an employer beyond my paycheck. If I am not getting a piece of the company, I'm just a mercenary there to do the job by any means necessary. I'm not one who will jump through hoops for people who want me to live to work, not work to live.

Between companies adopting the "coal miner town" mentality of give your life to us for some crumbs, and the perpetual "work number of hours just below benefits line," on top of the memes that because I don't count in the official jobless numbers, I'm lazy and gave up, its hard to not have a massive chip on the shoulder and aggressive outlook to the job hunt.

Just needed to get this out.

My recent trip

First let me say I was close to, for the Hell of it, recording this and putting it as an audio file instead of writing it. I chose not to since I was in a writing mood, but I may do some audio stuff just to try it out. So instead of reading the ramblings of a madman, you'll get to hear the ramblings of a madman.

Last week I spent it at a resort that was in the Dominican Republic. I don't say I was in DR, because I wasn't in the REAL DR. The resort was great, but it was a "whitewash" of the country. I didn't get to experience the true nation. One day I'd like to. My girlfriend's mom and many of my friends are from DR and I'd love to see where they are from.

I won't bore you with getting to and from there, since I already had posted my thoughts on the running joke that is security. I will tell you about two things I have learned and what has stuck with me since the trip.

First off, this trip is the first time I've really experienced "white guilt". Its the guilt that has eroded society and, as I've seen it, worsened race relations. I've not been one to feel for minorities beyond moments of BS and injustice. I was told to treat people as the same, so why should I feel bad for someone's "plight"? In DR, that was different.

Seeing the workers and their hustle, is felt odd that they were there to please the tourists. Seeing how the morons who also were there and how they treated the workers like servants, it was just off putting. Not just the foreign tourists, but Dominicans from the country who were either upper class snobs, or like the family in Florida on vacation spending the week being assholes because "we get to dish out what we get all year". I was nice and respectful to the staff, did my best to speak in Spanish to them, and just was the guy on vacation happy to have a good staff at the resort. At one point, one worker asked if I was Dutch or German, because how cool and respectful I was. I said I was American, and it seemed to surprised him. I told him I was just not an asshole like most of the ones there.

Once I got back to the US, that guilt feeling left, but what I did feel has stayed with me. What the experience has also done has led me to realize one more thing....

Americans, and Canadians from what I saw, are ASSHOLES on vacations. Its always the gag of the "ugly American", but holy shit did I see that first hand. The sheer disrespect I saw to the staff, other tourists, and the place itself was eye opening. Drunken ramblings, verbal fights, sense of entitlement, and just sheer ignorance was almost irritating. Canadians are horrible drunks, and really turn into psychos. Don't get me wrong, there were many decent people on vacation, but there were just as many jagoffs as well. Sort of sad to be stuck with those dummies in the eyes of some of the locals.

I'm bothered these days

I'm bothered by a couple things.  First is the trampling of civil rights in this country, especially when there's an incident.  It's bad enough citizens are now treated by common criminals under the BS excuse of freedom, but when an incident like in Boston happens the thuggery of the authorities really comes out.  Of course they claim it's done to protect us, but as citizens we have rights.  We shouldn't be put under martial law (though it's not called that, that's EXACTLY what it was) whee military comes into town.  Panic gives a lot of people a lot of reasons to push their agenda, like trying to ban guns after a shooting, damn near strip searches when something happens at an airport, or civil lockdown and restriction of movement when there's a bombing.  

Why are the innocent punished by having a lot of their rights, many guaranteed by the Constitution,​ taken away by authorities-who failed in their part because of the incident happening in the first place.  Let's take security for example.  You have the GED all-stars (who I doubt really got one in the first place) at airports or in buildings, thinking and telling you "I have Powah, I haz powah" and not doing their job right.  First of all, they are glorified actors there to LOOK like they have the place in control.  They are poorly trained (if at all), and are paid almost nothing.  It seems the jobs where security is the main goal, no one wants to pay them well.  Maybe if there was a decent payscale, better, smarter, more qualified people would be there and less issues would happen.  But now you have a bunch of either 

-foreigners who cant read, speak, or write.

-some parts of the country, a dumbass redneck

​-or in the cities, some shmuck who failed out of their job at McDonalds or the drug, rap, or basketball game.

These are the people who are given the responsibility in most areas to protect the innocent.  But, hey, it's for freedom so it's justified.​

My other problem came up this morning, when I read an article about people like me-the long term unemployed   Apparently the longer you are out, the less likely your resume or application is even looked at, let alone ​you would get called for an interview. To say it put me in a bad mood would be an understatement.  I"ve been sending my resume and cover letter out everyday, and barely get any response.  I've tried getting work through friends, and that hasn't worked.  I have tried all the options i have and they have not worked.  The problem is that companies are white-collar versions of mines, where they will hire someone, grind them down, then toss them aside to get a younger cheaper person.  When there's a job opening, 150-200 people apply in minutes. I got a few things on the side, but not enough to say it's a full-time thing.  My one project I will put into high gear soon, and who knows what will happen to that. I want a steady paycheck where I'm not compromising my pay (did that already and never got back to what I was making before that)

I'm not at that point, but I get people who mull ending things or straight up crime.  Especially when all your options are not there, especially when you have been fed the bullshit of "work your ass off in college, you will get your job".  College degrees are the new high school diploma-dime a dozen and means almost nothing.

​I'm in a mood today, it sucks but I really have to get my spirits up.