Oh, Let Me Count the Careers I'm Not Able

I don't know who to blame this on. I am able a good number of careers that I don't qualify and am not physically capable of. Tell me what good it is for civilization, and the individuals themselves, to train youngsters in careers that will flatline? I'm willing to argue that a good chunk of American population has been fed to 1 revolving door or another, without the slightest inkling of whether it benefits the individual, or the individuals community. I may sound bitter, I'm not. In fact I have less compassion for these folks than most. And that's why I feel they are being killed, royally, without good reason, and should be helped more than they are.

Anything Done on Computer, Can Do Without

Here's the deal. Anything that can be done on, with, or to a computer, can be done without.

Let me illustrate. A spreadsheet is simply a list or graphing paper at worst. An app is nothing but a brand new toy. Facebook is a little more complicated, it was, once upon a time, the very fabric of how we functioned, smoke signals and promises, yet now has been reduced to a login and post-a-meme. I'd argue that the people that function best within society, use facebook, and computers, very little.

Again, I'm not a purist, I use the computer. Yet, everything that I've done, and anyone for that matter, has done, with a computer, has the option of completing that task without. I guess this is my way of saying they haven't taken over just yet. But then again, my independence day is being typed, stored, and printed, with computer technology.

The real question I should be asking, and please tell me if you know the answer, is how do I turn an Associates degree in Computer Science into something that can be done without computers?

Why Pay for Business School?

I'm updating my Recipes and soon stock picks on versaglobe.com along with an increased advertising campaign I've got high hopes for my internet sales. Sales are tough in any arena and the internet is worse than the rest. I have a unique product that lends well to multiple buyer markets. The biggest trouble I foresee is that the American consumer is relentlessly frugal and may not be willing to spend the money on baseball cards and books. This is the risk I have to take. Without expanding my means, I've got a good handle on the book and trading card market, and have room to grow. My technology background lends itself especially well to the feature ridden services I employ on the internet. Besides the strides I'm making in an internet presence, I've been noticing the external architecture that goes into making daily life possible. A drainage pipe here, a mural on a brick wall there. A school bus. Things that bring together a community, if only for a moment.

Magic the Gathering House Rule - Face Down Cards are Colorless Lands

I've been cooking up a house rule for Magic the Gathering that would be fun in some of the modern General, Commander, EDH, and Highlander games. While following the 1 land per turn rule. You may place any card face down. This card counts toward your 1 land per turn. It can produce 1 colorless mana when tapped. That's it...haven't figured out what to call the rule maybe Face Down Lands, Colorless Land Rule, something like that. Maybe the Down Land rule.

This rule allows for some level of versatility when playing with large creatures that is typical of Commander games. Say you have 3 creature cards in hand, 4 land available, and would like to cast a creature spell for 5. Then, following the Down Land rule, you may put 1 of the creature cards from your hand face down with your land on the battlefield. Now you have the 5 mana necessary to cast a creature.

The new game mechanic of Morph, Megamorph, and Manifest got me thinking about it. It's just a way of balancing, speeding up, and otherwise making the game fun. I don't think I would play this rule as a blanket house rule, but would consider it under certain circumstances.

UPDATE: The rule is called Landfall. Not to be confused with a Fastbond House Rule which would allow players to play any number of lands on any turn.

Another Life I was Amish

Now, I'm a very worldly man. I have, expensive taste, simply from living and loving modern life. I spend too damn much time with a computer in front of me, but that's another problem. The Amish life is so appealing to me not as an elitist, but as a simple working man.

The Amish pray regularly and attend church, they do not use substances or alcohol, They lead a much simpler lifestyle that includes simpler clothes, they don't look at buildings, and cars, and other "luxuries" of modern life. They have more time with nature, their family, and their means. I am saying that the Amish life is not only simpler. It is easier than modern living. It's less taxing, stressful, painful, problematic, troublesome, and in other words better.

It's better in a plain sort of way. I love living with my family, and spend the better half of my life drowning in a computer, yet there's a way that doesn't cost as much, the Amish. I'm not going to convert, I'm a bad example, I've spent too long dwelling on the materialistic. From a very young age I've been exposed to science and technology. The list goes on and on. But, the Amish have something that is very valuable. And, I think they would agree it's a better and easier way.

Print this, show it to an Amish person, get their opinion.

They Get What They Want

Ok, when I say this it's really my way of saying that I want to be younger and I'm feeling older. There isn't much more to it than that. When I squarely insert my foot in my mouth, it's more often than not, part of a rag-tag day that sorta makes sense. Like when I tell the employee here at Broadway Awards she must look at my webpage.

First off, I pride myself in my little office here in Robbinsdale. I make a point of staying out of the way, unless I'm working.

Secondly, I don't love the computer so much that I really care whether she looks at my cooking article. But, by the way, there's a new cooking article in the What's Cookin' section of VersaGlobe.com.

Over my Bad Hair Day

I'm done with that sore business. I went to bed early after a light dinner and I'm feeling refreshed today. The weather still sucks, but it's not as bad when you keep your chin up. I've got a lot of writing to do, for this blog and my website, http://www.versaglobe.com Curious side note, the pawn shop where I buy Dvds is hiring. I think working for a pawn shop would be a decent job. New and used product, buy and sell, deal in precious metal. The only thing is my hours would have to be exactly 8:30am to 4:30pm cause of my commute. I just wish I could get excited by the prospect of having a 9 to 5, but I don't. The ether is standing in my way, and I ain't killing for a job, sorry I won't do it.

Pain Causes Hallucinations and Bad Hair Days

I'm really sore, this dark dreary weather is for the birds. And I'm sure they don't like it either. Jesus, my body is killing me. Why doesn't it act like a normal human being?!

Price of Candy

Candy is, in itself, an indulgence. It's a little extra to get us through our day. I'm a Weight Watcher so I don't eat as much candy as I would like to. I would love to eat a 3 Muskateers bar or a Hershey's chocolate bar, but I want to be thin so I don't. That doesn't change an important trend in candy. The price is going up. This is certainly an indulgance of the candy companies and retailers who think that everything should be measured in dollars, forgetting the change. Just a simple inflation on the middle class consumer. A candy bar, whether Skittles or Milky Way, should cost no more than 50 cents per bar, and often considerably less. It's not the past, or a quaint historical appeal, it's economics. For the simple indulgance of a candy bar we should pay with cents not bucks. I don't pretend to eat candy, and I don't have a real interest in the candy market 1 way or another, but I do know that candy should cost less. Maybe when we live in an inflation (re-)adjusted world, we'll feel better, and markets will run smoother. I'm not an economist, I'm a candy consumer.

Art Critic - Claude Monet - Sailboat

This is a bright painting of Claude Monet, despite the water theme and broad face of the junket. At first observation the theme seems dull and lifeless. A watery grave so to speak. But after a short delay the vibrant contrast of the blues and background colors comes to light. Fading again and coming into light, drawing the observer into the painting. The rendering of the junket is spot on in its watery place, but makes me question whether Monet would have an interest in such a ship. While the painting draws the observer in, has excellent composition and color, it's junket is still a prop in an otherwise calm sea. I love how the depth of the painting is ever so thinly veiled by the composition of the blues. The junket is alive at sea. The small tree in the right-background helps to frame the composition of the left. Monet seems very comfortable in his composition and working within his own boundaries, as evidenced in many of his paintings. The "shading," of the foreground into the background gives a sense of forward motion, though the ship is in contrast to that direction, it creates a sense of motion throughout. I don't know if Monet intends for his Sailboat to be vibrant, or if it's a side effect of the motion alluded to. The white clouds, red buildings, and deep blue sea, bring an otherwise telltale junket into motion.

Would You like Cheese with Your Whine?

I don't drink, so this isn't an invite to a wine tasting. This is a, I don't know where I'm heading, I can't manage my time, things just aren't quite right, blog entry. Don't get me wrong; I  am more than happy with the things I do manage.

Like leftover "Taco Soup." I'm thrilled with that.

The things I can't handle are... Managing my money, Calling my family, Holding a relationship, Holding a job, Figuring a daily routine, Directing the meager business I do with VersaGlobe, Getting started when my body hurts, Getting things working when my belongings hurt.

Frankly, I'm having trouble making due, and it sux. Maybe I'll win the lottery and everything will become more simple. Maybe I'll meet someone and everything will become more complicated.

Maybe I'll enjoy "Taco Soup" for lunch today. Yeah, that's it.