A new job, but not the real story

I started a new job today, but believe it or not its not the major story. No, the real story is how I've become part of the legion of businesses which cater to Americans' sense of rampant, runaway consumerism.

I'm now in the rent-to-own business. Electronics, appliances, furniture and TV rentals are now my stock and trade. As I looked around the showroom floor I saw every evidence of gross capitalism at work. Instead of a standard 20 inch tube TV set, we carry the 50 inch plus widescreen LCD's. Instead of a plain sofa and love seat we carry massive corner installations that require a lumbar truss to lift. We have front access washers AND dryers, since toploading models are so passe. And so it goes.

Far be it from me to pass judgement on what other people should or shouldn't have in their homes. Only a dyed in the wool socialist could demand that someone else conform to a "reasonable" standard of living and keep a straight face. I am many things, but not socialistic in my worldview at all.

Having had my own recent spate of money problems, its easy for me to spot the path that one trods on towards financial damnation. And that path is littered with the telltale signs of living beyond one's means.

But hey its a gig, and a well paying one at that. God Bless America!

Red Cross banners

The Red Cross needs your help to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. One way to help aside from monetary donations and hands on volunteering is free advertising for them on your webpages. The Red Cross has a nice selection of banners and ads at redcross.org.

Here's a sample of the banners available:

How and Where to Donate to Katrina Victims

Here's a small listing of charitable organizations who are working to relieve Katrina victims.

Donate cash to:

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish;

Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348

America’s Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070


Donate Cash to and Volunteer with:

Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171

Catholic Charities, USA
1-800-919-9338

Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818

Church World Service
1-800-297-1516

Convoy of Hope
417-823-8998

Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund
(202) 606-6718

Lutheran Disaster Response
800-638-3522

Mennonite Disaster Service
717-859-2210

Nazarene Disaster Response
888-256-5886

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
800-872-3283

Salvation Army
1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief
1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440

United Methodist Committee on Relief
1-800-554-8583

For further information: visit the website for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at: http://www.nvoad.org/.

Source: FEMA

May God have mercy on New Orleans

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina defies description. The carnage is so widespread, so profound that anyone watching it on television could easily believe its the latest incarnation of the classic Hollywood disaster flick. Unfortunately, it is real, and this tragedy has and will affected millions across this country.

I've been following the aftermath of Katrina in several ways. Amateur radio has been active in trying to set up communications in the affected areas. Right now, 7285khz LSB for emergency communications and 7290khz LSB for health and welfare coms have been active during the day. At night 3873khz LSB has emergency traffic with 3935khz LSB handling health and welfare concerns. All hams operating these frequencies are to be commended in their work to preserve life and piece of mind in the midst of this mess.

Several websites have been of interest in finding out what's happening on the Delta. The Times Picayune has a comprehensive site. neworleanswebsites.com
has a listing of New Orleans radio stations. WWL Channel 4 has an up to date site listing the latest news. The WWL Blog is for employees attempting to reach out to each other and let people know they're safe. Another WWL blog publishes the very latest news. Channel 6 WDSU's site has a message board for survivors. NPR and CNN are go-to sources of news for me.

The Perfect Wedding

I served as best man in my best friend's wedding this past Saturday. For once I was determined to set aside any fears or doubts I had about the whole thing and focus solely on making sure the wedding was executed flawlessly and painlessly.

Remarkably, that's exactly what happened.

Aside from minor glitches that are not worth mentioning, the wedding ceremony itself was perfect. The church was very hot the day before during the rehearsal dinner, but was tolerable the day of the wedding due to cooler weather and an overcast sky. I had expected the room to be a sweat shop. It was almost uncomfortable, but it wasn't the sauna I had feared.

The reception was lively, well planned and enjoyable. I had almost given up hope that wedding receptions could actually be fun. Now I have a different perspective. Aside from some hokey music choices at the beginning of the reception, the music was adequate. The DJ looked like he was waiting for someone to put him out of his misery, though. But hey, who cares what the hired help thinks anyway?

I heard several people remark that this wedding was the best they'd attended in some time. I can second that. After having been involved as a spectator in other ceremonies, and a groomsmen in another, I can honestly say I've never had a better experience. I wasn't the only person to make this wedding a success, but I'd like to think that my uncharacteristically positive attitude may have in some small way contributed to its success.

Dave and Tara, I wish you all the best. I know you had a good start with this wedding. Now its up both of you to go the distance.

On This Day in History

Today is my best friend Dave Thompson's wedding.

Other notable events to happen on this day in history:


1787 - The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia began. The articles of the U.S. Constitution draft were to be debated.

1890 - The electric chair was used for the first time when Auburn State Prison in New York executed convicted murderer William Kemmler.

1914 - Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia. Serbia declared war against Germany.

1945 - The American B-29 bomber, known as the Enola Gay, dropped the first atomic bomb on an inhabited area. The bomb named "Little Boy" was dropped over the center of Hiroshima, Japan. An estimated 140,000 people were killed.

1952 - Satchel Paige, at age 46, became the oldest pitcher to complete a major league baseball game.

1965 - Beatles release "Help" album.

1969 - The first fair ball to be hit completely out of Dodger Stadium occurred. Willie "Pops" Stargell, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, hit the ball 506 feet from home plate.

1969 - Sharon Tate, wife of director Roman Polanski, and four others were murdered by members of Charles Manson's "family."

1981 - Fire fighters in Indianapolis, IN, answered a false alarm. When they returned to their station it was ablaze due to a grease fire.

1986 - Timothy Dalton became the fourth actor to be named "James Bond."

1998 - Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky spent 8 1/2 hours testifying before a grand jury about her relationship with U.S. President Clinton.

2003 - Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy to replace Gray Davis as governor of California to Jay Leno on the Tonight Show.

Famous birthdays on this day:
1911 - Lucille Ball Jamestown NY, comedienne/actress (I Love Lucy, Mame)
1917 - Robert Mitchum Bridgeport Ct, actor (Winds of War, North & South)
1927 - Andy Warhol pop artist
1976 - Soleil Moon Frye actress (Punky Brewster)

Famous deaths on this day:
1978 - Pope Paul VI dies of heart attack at summer residence at 80
1991 - Harry Reasoner died at the age of 68. He was a newsman for CBS-TV.

Thought for the day :
"The average woman would rather be beautiful than smart because the average man can see better than he can think."

The Way South: The Exodus of Northeast Ohio

I have decided to write something about how people from Canton, Cleveland, Akron and points north of Guernsey county have decided to move south into my neck of the woods. I have preconceived notions about why they're leaving the cities and moving into this relatively rural area, but in writing this article (or whatever it ends up being) I hope to learn more about this migration out of northeast Ohio.

As for people who have moved down here, I seem to encounter them every day. I work with quite a few of them, and I seem to see them patronize the store frequently too. I've never considered myself a journalist, but in order to cover this story and write it up true and proper I'm going to have to call upon a few journalism courses I took in college.

When mentioned as a possible career path, I always used to shrug off journalism because I 'didn't want to bother people'. In hindsight, its hard to believe I could've felt so naive and reclusive. Alas, I hadn't learned that life is the ultimate source of stress, not the people you interact with.

So, I will slowly try to put together this story if I can screw up the courage to play a role I've been reluctant to assume. I've come up with a framework to the story and a list of possible sources, so the story may actually write itself once I decide to make it happen.

Falling off the edge of current trends

I'm just starting to crack the spine of The World Is Flat, the new book by Thomas L. Friedman. Friedman is one of the few reasons to keep reading The New York Times these days. Actually, his column is syndicated in almost every major newspaper in America, so go ahead and cancel that subscription right now.

I enjoy reading Friedman and watching him in his specials for the Discovery Times channel. The hallmark of his work is that every sentence, almost every word seems imbued with a deep level of understanding and intelligence. Its comforting to read the work of someone who keeps the big picture in mind and can write thematically without losing focus.

The World Is Flat is an examination of how the digital age is collapsing the walls of business, social class and even military hierarchy. The book describes Friedman's journeys around the world documenting the effects of business outsourcing from both sides. Again, his use of context and history in tackling this subject matter makes for very thoughtful and provoking reading. Friedman's fundamental argument is that change is inevitable and that change is good for some people, bad for others. Read the book to find out which group you're in.

Shortwave: Still tops with dial-up sufferers

I'm listening to the BBC Worldservice on shortwave as I type this for the latest news on the London commuter bombings. Yes, I know, I could listen to it through its website but old fashioned shortwave will have to do since my blazing fast 33.6 connect speed isn't quite up to the job. A note to the BBC: please don't eliminate your shortwave service entirely. The digital divide still forces people in developed nations to use it.

I find it somehow comforting that in the midst of this unspeakable tragedy, the world has united behind the United Kingdom in much the same way that they did during the September 11 attacks here in the United States. In my view, the UK government has every right to raise some serious hell in tracking down the people responsible for this monstrosity. The people of London need and deserve a rapid, decisive and accurate administration of justice. I hope they get it, and I hope the US government does everything it can to help in this work. As President Bush said succinctly, "The war on terror continues."

Audioblogging: A fad or here to stay?

This new feature I've been toying with has serious potential. Posting an .mp3 file using the phone is so easy that as a dial-up user I can no longer stave off a post because I'm too lazy to connect to the internet. So, what's the point of continuing to use text if posting via phone is so easy? I suppose conventional blogging will continue in the face of this voice alternative, just as newspapers and magazines continued long after the popularization of radio broadcasting. Audioblogging is just another trick in the bag to play with when the occasion strikes.

I was surprised to hear that the finished product sounded good. I figured that the combination of a long distance call and computer encoding would make it sound muddy or distorted, but it didn't. AudioBlogger records .mp3 files in 64kbps bit rate and 22khz sample rate. These are acceptable parameters considering its telephone quality voice. The end product is something I don't feel bad about other people on the web hearing.

A mother of a day OR A redhead to remember

It's not often that I spot attractive women at my place of work. Approximately 90% of my customers are male, and for that 1 in 100 that are of the opposite sex very few appeal to me. That's why it was such a pleasant surprise to see a beautiful young redhead flirt with me.

She pulled up on a faulty diesel pump in her jet black Volkswagen and managed to pump less than two gallons before she realized it wasn't going to work for her. She came in to find out about the problem was.

I was taken by her immediately. She had cute face, shapely body and a dynamite smile. She was wearing a very attractive flower print dress that complimented her nice legs. It was a bright, sunny day and she gave the sun a run for its money in terms of sheer radiance. I was animated with her, anticipating her questions and helping her in the most polite and gentlemanly way I could. I was really attracted to her, but there was none of the hesitation or the anxiety I usually encounter when feeling attraction to a woman.

She went back out to pull her car around to the proper pump and finished topping off her tank. Meanwhile, I engaged my co-workers in witty banter of a non-specific nature. Then one of the highlights of our encounter was when she bent forward from the waist over her passenger seat to find her purse. I had a pure, unobstructed view of this beautiful woman's proffered rear. Normally in these situations I get called away to pay attention to someone wanting to pay for gas or groceries, but not this time. No, she took her time looking for her purse and I savored every last second of it. I would like to think she did it on purpose, but only she knows for sure.

Finally she got her pocketbook and came inside. I made sure I opened the door for her. Trust me when I say I NEVER open the door at work for anyone, EVER. As she paid with a credit card we chatted about nonsensical things such as how sticky diesel fuel can be. She seemed flustered. Ah, now we're getting somewhere. She kept making gestures with her hands, as if the fuel on her hands could be scrubbed off by the air. "The ladies room is down the hall," I said, before she could ask. She flashed her million candlepower smile and left to wash up.

Now, there are a lot of things I could've done when she came back. I could've stopped her in a casual way and asked for her phone and/or email address. I could've slapped a GPS locator on her car and tracked her via a Java applet on the web. I also could've poured flourescent orange paint on myself and begged for her love on my knees.

Alas, all I did was smile and hold the door open once more as she passed me by, into her car where she drove back into her life and out of mine. Sigh. . .

'El Jefe' among celebs coming to Hoppy Fest

Here's breaking news from the pages of the Daily Jeffersonian. Its good to see the locals reaching out to different audiences in their quest to draw tourism dollars to the community. 

Take me out to the ballgame

We are two weeks into the 2005 baseball season and for some reason I can't explain I actually care. Specifically, I find myself interested in the Cleveland Indians this year. They look a little uneven but they may be playoff bound if the managers play their cards right. One of their best starting pitchers C.C. Sabathia is looking good after being on the disabled list for a while. That's good news for Tribe fans, since his pitching is the backbone of the Cleveland bullpen.

In chasing my baseball fascination this year I've done several things I haven't done in previous years. First, I printed out the schedule for the Indians at www.clevelandindians.com. I've been following the Indians even during spring training by listening to 93.5 WBNV out of Barnesville, Ohio. When I'm at home I watch them on Fox Sports Ohio.

Also, I bought MLB 2K5 for Playstation 2. Its a game that has great play mechanics and is infinitely customizable. For me it was initially frustrating to get the settings the way I wanted. Once I did I've found the game to be riveting and fast paced. Unlike some of the games in real life. This game is also playable online against real human beings across the internet. I'm not sure but I believe that there's no fees for playing beyond the cost of the internet connection. This game is a steal at $19.99 new.

Mistah Thompson, He Dead.

One of the great counterculture icons slash journalist slash sports analyst Hunter S. Thompson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Sunday. Just hours after his demise the newspapers, bloggers and news media outlets are rushing to spin their take on what is undoubtedly a harsh and sickening time for the Thompson family. Naturally, I must participate.

Of all the things Thompson did in his life, his work did the most to expose the hypocrisy in a artificial and stale social world that the United States had become after the torment and violence of the late sixties. When he decried the death of the American Dream in his books, it seemed obvious to everyone. But it took Hunter to put the pieces together.

Thompson was the most avid of critics when it came to his own profession. Stripping away at the professional veneer that journalism had enjoyed for so long was a pastime of his, enjoyed with the same sort of relish that the average American enjoys a cheeseburger. He simply loved to bite the hand that fed him. In his own way it was this paradoxical self-loathing that made an indelible mark on the work that sustained his fame.

Some will denounce Hunter S. Thompson as the poster child of the hippie culture. The last standing monument to a burned-out, dead end scene that siphoned the soul straight from its participants. But he wasn't the legacy of failure that he made himself out to be. If anything, he was living proof that while the American Dream may be barely breathing, it sure as hell isn't dead. After all, if the Dream was over, how could a man like Hunter exist? How could he be allowed to go on his merry way, drinking, indulging in illicit substances and shooting anything that moved? No, the Dream was alive. IS alive. But Hunter isn't. To quote an oft-used reference in his works to the passing of his fellow travelers, "Mistah Thompson, he dead."

Thompson realized that the news operates in cycles. As a continual cycle of birth, death and decomposition, it is forever consuming itself in order to bring new information into the world. Now that he has passed, and in such a dramatic and tragic fashion, his death becomes the story as his life once did. The endless, relentless 24 hour news cycle will consume this story and digest it in the vain hope of distilling some sense of meaning or hope out of this meaningless and hopeless event. It will chew and gnaw on the story like a teething child, attempting to break open the significance of his brutal act of self-implosion. But it will fail. And long before the cycle becomes aware of this failure, it will have moved on to something equally void of meaning.

Hunter knew this. He also knew that, for reasons that are his own, he couldn't face the light of another day. He is with us no longer. But I have his books and his articles, and that will have to do. In his absence, how many new writers and journalists will attempt to fill his void? The number can't be known. Wherever he may be right now I think he knows just how ironic it is for a man who loathed journalism so much to have inspired so many.

Ask not why the Wonderfalls. . .

Ever heard of a television show called Wonderfalls? Chances are you haven't, since it only aired four episodes on Fox in March of 2004. Now, instead of being the domain of grainy VHS and .MPG copies on the internet, you can view this great series on DVD.

This show is wickedly funny and quirky enough to appeal to a hardcore cynic like myself. The series follows the adventures of slacker twenty-something Jaye as she does the bidding of souvenir animals. No kidding.

The great thing about this show is that it uses the talking animals to delve into larger, more complex issues. Instead of tackling social concerns like Star Trek, Wonderfalls chooses to deal with how people affect each others lives in unique ways. Another charming aspect of the show is that Jaye is drug kicking and screaming into interacting with people in ways she wouldn't have bothered to before. It is a journey of self-discovery that she has been avoiding all her life.

The show has been compared many times to Joan of Arcadia. I find Wonderfalls to be much more palatable, in part because I identify so strongly with Jaye's character. She's every bit the cynic I am if not more so. She puts up walls between herself and others, even her family. That certainly sounds familiar. . .

The Sony Walkman still rules portable audio

If you're looking for a well built CD player that plays MP3's and has a AM/FM radio in it, look no further than Sony's D-NF400. This player is well built, has a radio that isn't deaf and isn't made in China. This little gem can be had at my local Wal-Mart for $68. I bought mine at Amazon for $76 shipped before I realized I could've bought it cheaper. The player also receives audio from TV channels 2-13 and NOAA weather radio. My experience has been that it doesn't hear very well on those two bands, but that could be because I live in a fringe area that's quite hilly and unfavorable to radio signals in general. In a highly populated area, I think you'd have no problems picking up stations.

I find that the MP3's I play on this unit sound identical to CD's. There are a number of DSP audio presets to choose from, or you can customize the frequency response with a primitive equalizer built into the dot-matrix display. One feature that I love is the sleep timer, since I love listening to music in the quiet of night. There are many other cool little tricks the player will do. Consult the manual for more details about this marvel of modern audio technology.