All children age 12 and under should be buckled up in the rear seat of the vehicle.
Children should ride in an appropriate child safety seat until 8 years of age, unless they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh 80 pounds.
Holding a child in your lap provides no additional safety. An unrestrained 10-pound infant would instantly be ripped from an adult’s arms in a 30-mph collision.
Don’t place a single seat belt over yourself and a child. In a front-end collision, the child could be crushed by your body.
A seat belt must be adjusted to the size of a child. As with adults, the lap belt should cross the child’s upper thighs and the diagonal belt should cross the upper chest and a point between the neck and the center of the shoulder.
Children should continue to use a belt-positioning booster until the lap and shoulder belts fit properly and the child’s legs are long enough to bend at the edge of the seat.
Child Safety Seat Tips
Safety requirements change as children grow. Learn the basic facts for proper use of child safety seats.
Infants — From birth to 1 year and less than 20 pounds, infants should be placed in rear-facing child safety seats in the back seat of the car. The harness straps should be at or below shoulder level.
Toddlers — From 1 year and at least 20 to 40 pounds, toddlers should be placed in forward-facing child safety seats in the back seat of the car. The harness straps should be at or above the shoulders. Children who are less than 1 year but weigh more than 20 pounds should ride in restraint seats approved for higher rear-facing weights.
Young children — Children more than 40 pounds but less than 4 feet 9 inches tall should be placed in forward-facing booster seats in the back seat of the car. Lap belts should fit low and tight across the thighs, and shoulder belts should fit snugly across the chest and shoulder to prevent abdominal injuries.
It is important to know that your child passenger safety devices are working properly at all times. For up-to-date notifications of the latest recalls on child safety devices, you can subscribe to RSS feeds and email notifications offered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Child Passenger Safety Facts
Motor vehicle crashes cause about one of every three injury deaths among children, according to a 2002 report from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
(Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety , 2003)
According to a 2003 report, 59 percent of children ages 0 to 4 were unrestrained when the driver of a passenger vehicle was unrestrained. When a driver was restrained, 80 percent of children ages 0 to 4 also were restrained.
(Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis , 2003)
Car accident fatalities for children under 5 dropped from 706 in 2000 to 668 in 2001. The number of fatalities for children ages 5 to 15 dropped from 2,105 to 1,990 in 2001.
(Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , 2003)
Have you heard that Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”? I have to ask the question, why is it the most wonderful time of the year? At least in Chicago, it’s the beginning of winter and anyone who hates the snow will probably think that it ISN’T the most wonderful time of the year. Look out your car window while driving around downtown, spot a homeless guy that is freezing and tell him that this is the most wonderful time of the year. What about the people who all got laid off from their jobs right before the holidays, or the families that didn’t make enough to afford anything for their children. Maybe the families that is breaking up, or the families that just can’t seem to get along. Tell them, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
What makes this time of the year so wonderful is the generosity that is felt from one person to another and the reminder of the greatest gift of all – Jesus! Maybe that wealthy person found it in his heart to help the homeless guy out. Or the person who had much gave of their gifts to the family that didn’t have any gifts for their children. Maybe the person laid off from their job – was given a new opportunity that seemed all the better or maybe they now had more time to spend with their family. In some cases, families could actually come together and allow their differences to be forgiven and reconnect.
This is a time to remember things like generosity, compassion, love, family, and Christ. The rest of the year, it seems that these things go on the wayside, but still remains this makes for the most wonderful time of the year. So I pray that your Christmas was just that, if you have story of this Christmas I would love to hear it.
For those of you who don’t know, I’m planning on going to South Korea next year to teach English. If any of you followed American Crumpets, this probably won’t surprise you. I caught the travel bug when I was studying abroad. I caught it bad.
I’ve decided to do this because I don’t know what I want to do with my life yet. I do know I want to explore and see the world. I want to learn about other cultures and see interesting things and eat interesting food. I have no loans or debt, no house, no boyfriend. There is nothing stopping me from picking up after graduation and going to the east.
As graduation gets closer and closer, my plans have been materializing. A friend of mine came over a few nights ago and we got to talking about Asia. After I had explained the reasons I wanted to take the trip, she leaned in close and asked me a question.
Her: So Emma, do you think Asian guys are hott?
Me: I think all guys are hott.
We talked for awhile about cultural perceptions of Asian males, both of us having taken classes in colonialism, post-colonialism, imperialism, World War II (pacific), etc. etc. They’re not sexualized like Asian women, who represent the erotic freedom of the East (at least in stereotype). In this model, Asian women sleep with American G.I.s and rich business men and travelers living out their fantasies. I started getting worried that all American men that would be teaching English in Korea would only want Asian women. Maybe they will. Maybe they won’t. But then I remembered: who do the Asian men sleep with?
We ran an internet image search of “Hot Asian Guys” and came up with some pretty nice results. Hopefully the next time searches “Hot Asian Guys” this blog comes up and other ladies are able to get some photos all at once! I think I’ll be very happy living in Asia.
So this is as far as I’ve gotten in one of my projects. It just sets up the character of the main character, so there’s not much happening.
————————-
Tyler Reese woke to complete darkness and the incessant beeping of an alarm clock. He sighed and rose from his bed. Shivering, Reese reached for a threadbare jacket. He looked at the alarm clock. 10 PM. That left one hour until work. Sighing, he turned off the alarm and shuffled out of his bedroom and into the connected bathroom.
The bathroom was small, yellow, and smelled vaguely of mildew. Reese slid the dirty frosted glass shower screen and stepped into the shower. He turned on the water, wincing at the initial cold blast. The water didn’t turn hot for a couple seconds longer than would be normal, evidence of the cold weather outside. Tyler eased as the hot water washed over him. He picked up a light bottle of shampoo, tried to squeeze out the last bits of liquid, and only managed to eke out two small drops. Reese sighed and palmed it into his hair. He finished washing and turned the water off. He stepped out of the shower, shivering slightly in the cold air. Once dressed, Tyler looked at himself in the mirror. He fingered his longish dark-brown/almost-black hair. It needed a cut. His brown eyes looked back pensively at himself. His hand then moved to his jaw, feeling several day’s worth of stubble. He frowned and began to shave and brush his teeth. Once finished, Reese grabbed a black T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans from a basket of clothes and pulled them on. They were a bit wrinkled, but they still smelled all right, so Reese decided it was alright to wear.
Reese’s apartment was small, neat, and contained, if only because there wasn’t much in it. There was an old, boxy TV set on top of two blocks of cement. An assortment of
Old magazines and library books were stacked haphazardly on and around the coffee table. There was a small kitchen. He walked across his apartment and pulled a box of instant mac and cheese and a clean bowl from the kitchen cabinet. He poured some milk into the bowl and added a packet of dehydrated pasta and whatever the cheese powder was made of before putting the entire thing into the microwave and started cooking.
Reese heard his cell phone ring. He walked into his living room and picked up his phone from the coffee table. The caller ID read “unknown”. Reese sighed and placed the phone to his ear.
“Hello?”
“Do you have the package?”
Reese frowned. “Who is this?”
There was sharp intake of breath. Then the phone went dead. Reese shrugged and put the phone into his pocket. “Wrong number, I guess,” he muttered.
He heard the microwave ding, and went back to the kitchen to eat his mac and cheese.
Reese pulled on a dark gray sweatshirt with the word “CHICAGO” printed across the chest and then added a heavy black coat. It was old and worn, but it was comfortable and familiar. Reese checked to make sure that he had his phone and his keys before leaving his apartment and started to look the door behind him. He stopped. Reese felt an odd feeling of unease and looked up and down the hallway. There wasn’t anyone there. Reese shook his head a couple times, locked his door, and moved down the hallway to the stairwell. He passed by several doors. This late at night, most people would’ve expected silence. Instead, Reese could hear the shouting of domestic disputes, things shattering against walls, and muffled sex moans and grunts. People who wanted silence should’ve paid more for better soundproofed walls. Used to it, Reese ignored the noise and made his way down the stairs and out through the security doors of his apartment building.
The South Side of Chicago wasn’t exactly the best part of Chicago. Aside from a more affluent bubble around the University of Chicago, the South Side was dirty, smelly, and although there wasn’t as much crime as there once was, it didn’t stop Reese from being worried about being mugged. Certainly not the best place to live, but that’s what made it cheap, and Reese liked cheap. Or rather, he could afford cheap.
Reese didn’t always live in Chicago. Originally, he had lived in the New England area, so he was used to cold, but there was difference between cold and Chicago cold. It was the wind, really. Reese grimaced as the wind whipped between the buildings, biting through his coat and sweatshirt. Reese didn’t have a car, so he had to take the bus or L train to work every night. Luckily, he could usually time it so that he didn’t have to wait long. A white bus rounded the corner and stopped right in front of Reese. The door opened. Reese pulled his transit card from his wallet and swiped it across the checker before sitting down.
The people who lived in the South Side weren’t much better. For the most part, they kept to themselves and didn’t bother each other, but there was always a sort of quiet desperation on their face. It got worse at night. Reese saw two women resting against each other, obviously in a drunk stupor. Both of them looked pale and sickly. Across the aisle from them, Reese saw a ragged old man dressed in mismatching clothes who was watching them intently. The old man looked up at Reese and Reese turned away to look forward again. Aside from them and the driver, there wasn’t anyone else there.
—————————–
Anyway, so that’s it. A bit boring, I know. There’s not much happening in it just yet, but there will be soon, I think.
Over break, I downloaded a bunch of new music and the entire “Honey & Clover” and “Cowboy Bebop” anime series. I’m currently watching episode 4 of “Honey & Clover”, a series about a group of art college students in Japan and their interactions with each other. It also has a really cool opening live-action sequence that manipulates food to act like human parts or people. I’ve read that the story progresses really slowly, but for someone who doesn’t have anything in particular to do (like me), it’s the perfect series revolving around real, human interactions. I quite like it. “Cowboy Bebop” is more well known, but I’ve never actually seen it, so I thought that since I’m still on break, it’d be nice to watch. Both series are only about 25-26 episodes long, and each episode is less than a half hour, so I can watch 2 or 3 episodes a day, and I’d probably be able to finish both by the end of break.
Incidentally, break ends for me on January 10th, which is the day I go back. I don’t know if I’m looking forward to going back. It’s quite nice to not have to do anything. It’s a feeling of… relaxation. I haven’t felt it for quite some time.
Anyway, I’m hoping to get a job during spring break. When I do, the first vaguely expensive thing I want to buy is either a black peacoat OR a pocket watch. Neither of those two are particularly practical, but I really want a pocket watch for some reason. Here are some of the ones I want.
It seems like a decent pocket watch will run me about $40 to $60, plus shipment. I’ve seen some that are cheaper at around $20 to $30, but I couldn’t find anything that I like in that price range.
I also have a rather strange wish to have a regular flip phone like this:
I have an iPhone and I like how it can do a bunch of stuff, but for some reason I think I’d rather have a flip phone. I’m not really sure of the source of this wish, but oh well.
Anyway, that’s about it. There’s not much I have to say at the moment… haha… this post is a bit long.
It is time to sit down and write. It never ceases to amaze me how I struggle with my blog post. That is until I sit down and start to write. It just comes out. I write a title and somehow the words find me!
My last two weeks have been hard because I have been sick with the flu and my wisdom teeth are moving. Bad combination. It has been hard to stay on top of everything but it does remind me that being out of work is a blessing.
Next week will mark the end of my third month without a job and I am fine with that. A year ago I would not have been but times are different now. Who I am is not my job. I have been working on that statement for years and now I think I can say it and mean it.
I am a Project Manager but it isn’t my only “title”. I organize, I facilitate, I empower, and I am whatever I need to be. I can adjust to what is needed to do a job. For pay or not.
This is what I do….
develop processes
work with people
observe people
team leadership
yoga therapist
crazy reader of everything
shooting instructor
social media
mange projects & programs
soccer coach
youth soccer club organizer
trainer
mentor
dog trainer
cook
etc
This is not a complete list of what I do but do you see how hard it would be to describe myself to a potential employer? Especially with these job boards. You are to put down the title of the job you are looking for? Am I the only one that see this to be an issue? How can I say the industry that I want to work in when the options are so open? How do you market yourself? How do you make sure that the “right” people see you?
Today, as well as the last two weeks, I have been in a real mood to bitch and complain about every last thing. I have managed, thus far, to steer clear of writing a scathing blog post everyday…but I’ve also managed to roll all these frustrations into one big gnarly, dirty, pissed-on snowball that is festering and eating at my soul. So in an effort to relieve myself of these angers, here is my post…the molten gob of evil I have kept to myself for the last two weeks.
Nobody at any company that I owe money gives one forty-eighth of a shit about how the SM and I haven’t had the money over the last six months to send to them. I went to get my car registered with my first “real” paycheck and they wouldn’t give it to me because I didn’t have some power of attorney from my leinholder. When I called the leinholder, I was told because I was behind on my car payments, they would not write me a power of attorney. So now, after saving up to pay my property taxes of $164, I am still riding dirty with expired tags until I can pay two more months of back car notes. I lost my mind on the phone, crying and complaining about how we’re doing the best we can to get the payments there now..and before this last stint of a few months, I never had one late payment for the 2.5 years I have had my car. The lady on the phone said she’d have to talk to her superior and call me back with my options.
I haven’t heard a thing. Still ridin’ dirty.
I missed half a day of work because of all the paperwork I didn’t bring to the DMV that was not listed on the “getting your registration in SC” website, and talking to Snatchy McRudigan on the phone about paperwork they will not give me.
Maybe I’ll call them back 8-10 times a day like they do me when I miss a payment, despite telling them EVERY time to note my account that I am not able to make the payments. Maybe I’ll be excessively uppity like they are when they call me, with an atrocious attitude to strike fear into them for not calling me back.
I also hate companies that refuse to accept my cancellation of their services and call me everyday, several times, to get my new debit card number for the automatic debit (after I cut mine up after being charged incessantly despite my cancellation letter). Peak Fitness/ABC Financial and all of the people associated with them are pigs and annoying and evidently 100% completely brainless. On top of getting the calls regarding my cancellation from May on when I left Charlotte, I get calls once a month from a new trainer at my old gym location asking if I’d like to come in and work out, because they saw my personal training contract was still valid. WHAT PLANET AM I ON?!
It frustrates me when things happen within the context of one’s relationships that one person believes shouldn’t be discussed outside the relationship. Everyone has their comfort levels and mistakes happen. For example, the SM doesn’t like me talking about our financial situation with anyone beyond him. But when my struggles and freakouts and meltdowns due to our financial situation get to people who I didn’t really care about knowing (outside family and friends and coworkers), that’s not fair either. Maybe I am a little nutso, PMSing or whatever…but when those times happen, I really make an effort to not involve any more people than necessary. In fact, I’d be happy if I didn’t have to interact with anyone when I’m truly at my wit’s end, but I gotta make a living, right? Lord knows, I don’t filter much…but if you want me to, you get to, too. It’s just the idea of mutual respect.
Speaking of mutual respect, I think any double standards people have with each other are a crock. Don’t complain about me not returning your call if you don’t return mine. You’re allowed to be frustrated but I’m not? You yell…but I cry. I can’t spend superfluously, but you buy lunch everyday and refuse to wake up early enough to pack. You tell me how to live my life and critique my decision making, but you’ve been making bad decisions for twice as long as I have been on earth. Do your job and I’ll do mine; professionally, mentally, emotionally, financially. I have enough to work on over here.
I can’t find into my clothes anymore…but I don’t have money for a gym membership, healthier food…or new clothes. My pants hurt right now. No joke.
My ovaries hurt right now. Along with my back and my head.
If I hear anyone else says “Well, it’s hard for everybody right now,” or “You’ll make it through,” or my FAVORITE, “It could be worse,” I am going to rip their jaw off their face and make their own mouth eat out their assholes. I understand, you are trying to give me some sort of perspective and remind me I am taking so many little things for granted, right? Seriously, if you think I haven’t tried to compartmentalize and rationalize through and disconnect from what we have been through in every way possible in the last six months, you are a robot, or a Stepford wife, or a flippin’ alien. I haven’t blogged about all the ups and downs over the last few months because some are too raw to share; the people who needed to know were informed and the people that could help were there.
I hate lying, dishonesty, leaving out facts and avoiding topics because there is some pansy in the mix who can’t handle the truth. In every situation ever in the history of situations, I would have much preferred the truth at the beginning than hearing the lie…then the truth coming out and being angry about both.
I hate mechanics that charge way too much.
I hate not having the money to get the things I want to give for Christmas.
I hate people who think they are better than me because they are one fraction of one taint hair ahead of me in one aspect of life. You make a little more than me and don’t have credit cards? Really? Well, I don’t rub it in anyone’s face. Ash – 1, your sorry ass – ZERO.
Honestly, I could go on for the next 2 days here, so I am stopping now. I don’t want to ride the negative train all week, but I had to get some stuff off my chest and leave it at the station. Everyone is entitled, among several other posts of optimism and earned wisdom, to rant for a day….so that was this.
yesterday, december 14th, we got the call. yes, the call! that call that every doc filmmaker wants to get. the call from your funder saying you’re granted X amount for your film. we got the call for CR! RM got the call and immediately texted and called me w/the good news. i was in transit and then in meetings so was unable to get the vm and see the text until after i got out. but we were both hooting and hollering once we got on the phone with each other. it’s definitely a cause for celebration. and it also makes the project real now.
for a while now we were identifying people to interview, doing research, writing for grants and thinking that “sure, we’ll make the project happen, but how?” but now it’s different. the funding, albeit a drop in the bucket, is a stamp of approval, a seal, a nod to our idea, our ability as filmmakers, our vision! it’s a great feeling to know that someone out there believes in us and our vision.
so now we gotta get cracking!
and adding to that, i just started my consulting gig with CAAM. the current workload isn’t great. and it’s really self discipline. i have to be more organized because i have tendency to overlook less important work that will later on pile up and become not only more important but also more time sensitive.
so between CAAM and CR, all of a sudden i have my plate full. and i still want to squeeze in bikram and still trying to tug along the BSW project, which i’ve already had to resuscitate a couple of times this month. so that really leaves no room for bloomies. is there?
for the first time in a long time i got up at 8am today. was on my lapto typing away and finding more grants, markets to apply for. then, meeting with RM. then was gonna head to bikram but was so hungry that i skipped it.
tomorrow is CAAM day. all day from 8 on. but i have to find time for bikram because it’s really my only salvation for my mind/body/spirit in a complete way. so it looks like i’ll have to really be disciplined and organize my day so i’m spending good time on all my projects and nothing fall by the way side.
and it looks like somethin’s gotta give…
not big, but my pile for one project, as tigger keeps guard:
1. Waking up sick. Again.
2. Not having an appetite.
3. 40-hour work week at my supposedly seasonal job.
4. Holiday hours, meaning I get home after 11 pm every night.
5. The French chapter 12 test.
6. The French final.
7. Three past-due freelance deadlines.
8. More snow.
9. Getting hounded by my parents about things like Christmas presents and new cell phones.
10. Bruises and body aches that seem to never cease.
I had my 4th job interview scheduled with a company when I received this email:
I have some tough news, we lost our 2nd largest client on Monday which puts us in a difficult short-term financial situation to make a hiring decision. I met with my CFO today and decided to circle back to the possibility first thing in 2010. For the time being it is best if we cancel our next meeting. We really enjoyed getting to know you and feel like you’d be an excellent fit here for several reasons. While I hope you can successfully find a position before we are ready to move forward I would like to keep in touch in case our financial situation changes. Thanks for taking the time to meet with us. All the Best.
FUCKKKKKKKKKKK! I have now been unemployed for 2 1/2 months. As a single parent, that blew her savings wad on a new car a month before being laid off…I’m kinda fucked.
Thankfully, my sweet little boy (yes, I have successfully eliminated the aggressive behavior…until he comes back from his next visit with Daddy O in 2 weeks), asked Santa for a pillow this year. Yes, a pillow. He is creating a “pillow monster” and is short 1 pillow for his creation. So, I dodged a Nintendo…or some other outrageously overpriced holiday toy. Phew! (Yes, Santa got him a little something else too).
So back to where I was…I’m really trying hard not to lose faith that there is a job out there for me soon, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult as the holiday is right around the corner. This mama is going to have to suck it up and ask my family for some financial help again. I am tremendously thankful I have them, but they aren’t exactly ”ballin’” either…so this isn’t exactly my proudest moment.
I have to start looking for a job today. I bet you’re surprised, all like, “What? Amateur comedy doesn’t pay the bills?!” I know, right? I am not looking forward to the job hunt process. I am looking forward to having a job and earning some income and bringing a little more structure in my life. Especially if I can find a job that really aligns with my interests and skills.
Who am I kidding? I only wrote that in case potential employers find my blog. Working sucks.
Since I have to devote time to my job hunt today, I am taking the easy way out and posting some random bits and pieces you may find entertaining. First off, I took a couple baby steps forward this week. I performed really well at the Up & Comers show at the Rivoli on Monday night. The gentleman who runs the room, Morgan, told me I can come back for their regular Monday night comedy, which was my goal. I am very excited to be able to perform there among some of the best comics Toronto has to offer.
Secondly, I gots me an agent yesterday. She is a very ambitious and capable agent, and everyone on her current roster is doing very well. Don’t expect to see me in commercials next week, or even in the next year. There obviously won’t be any overnight results. But it’s nice to have someone on my side who can make my hard work (and modicum of talent) go even further.
I also received another sign that I am becoming a huge star. Someone criticized me on Twitter! Check out this woman’s tweet:
http://twitter.com/ms_jones74/statuses/6311703444
Shit, my first burn! I love how she threw my name out there as if it is a known entity. Her followers on Twitter (yes, all 64 of them) were probably like, “Who the f*ck is DJ Demers?” Well, Curvy Jones, you have insulted my honour and I must respond. Let me just say that you can make fun of my comedy, but don’t you dare insult my music critic skillz! But I must thank you for specifying that you are in fact the Real Curvy Jones. I almost thought you were the fake Curvy Jones for a minute there.
Have you seen Stephen King’s new book, Under the Dome? I know it is easy to make a joke about Stephen King’s prolific output and seemingly half-baked ideas, but this one is too much for me. Is there any doubt he thought of Under the Dome while watching The Simpsons Movie? “Hey, that’s really funny. I bet it could also be scary.”
Last week, I exchanged phone numbers with another comic named Chris. She was typing her name into my phone and when she typed in the first two letters, the auto-complete on my phone suggested ‘Chloroform’. This frightening auto-completion led her to question what skeletons were hanging in my closet. She recounted this story to an audience last night before introducing me to the stage, so I had address the incident head-on when I took the mic.
“There’s a simple explanation for that chloroform story,” I began. “You see, chloroform is the drug that I use on girls before I rape them.” This drew a raucous response, but I obviously could not end the joke there, lest they actually believe it.
“I’m just kidding. They’re always awake when I rape them.”
God, I love my job. Well, I guess it’s more of a hobby than a job until I start making some money from it, but I love it regardless. Now I’m off to find a real job. Thanks for checking in, folks.
(By the way, I must state for the record that there is nothing funny about rape. The humour in that joke lies in the reversal of expectations. Rather than assuaging the audience’s concern that I may be a rapist, I merely confirmed their fear – twice. But rape is bad, we all agree.)
OPEN TO/ ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: All interested professionals in the field of sociology, political science, statistics and data management systems.
START DATE/ TIME: January 10, 2010
DURATION: 1 year, renewable
LOCATION: Yerevan, Armenia
JOB DESCRIPTION: The incumbent will be responsible for processing and analyzing quantitative and qualitative sociological survey data, preparation of the final reports in Armenian and English and presentation of report materials in power point slide show format.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Analyze the received survey information in SPSS, Excel format;
Produce survey reports in Armenian and/or English;
Translate the reporting materials from Armenian into English and visa-verse.
Prepare presentation of survey data in PowerPoint format;
Create analytical models based on the specifics of the conducted surveys.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum of MA degree in Social Sciences (preferably in Sociology, Economy. Political Science and preferably in Western Universities);
Minimum of 2 years experience as data Analyst, with proven reports available;
Excellent report writing skills;
Ability to work under pressure and in strict time frames (Ability to produce report text in a very short time period);
Excellent knowledge of SPSS database design and analysis, creation of analytical models, statistical packages (knowledge of common analytical models is a plus),
Excellent proven knowledge of MS Excel and MS PowerPoint;
Ability to do outstanding presentations;
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Armenian and English, knowledge of sociological and statistical terminology in both languages
Excellent time-management skills, ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, often simultaneously;
Responsibility, confidentiality and political neutrality.
REMUNERATION/ SALARY: Based on previous salary history, experience and prevailing market rates for comparable positions.
OPENING DATE: 10 December, 2009
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10 January, 2009
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Interested candidates should send their CV to info@ipsc.am
ABOUT COMPANY: IPSC - Institute for Political and Sociological Consulting is a sociological research institute in Armenia, specialized in public opinion polls, market research, sociological surveys, qualitative and quantitative research and consulting.
ABOUT: For information about the organization, please visit: http://www.ipsc.am
I’ve determined that, for the most part, I like Mondays better than Sundays. I say this because I had originally started writing this on Monday. Sundays I spend half of my time regretting that the weekend is ending and the other half nervous about how the coming week will turn out. Mondays are busier, but they’re also just part of the rhythm; I don’t have to think about the week so much anymore, because it’s already in motion. Hmm.
Ponderings aside, I had a very good weekend. I felt a little bad on Saturday because I had promised that I would help put the tree and other various Christmas decorations up, but wound up just lounging in the living room in my sweats instead. My parents didn’t mind; in fact, they encouraged the behavior (and repeated their own version of it the following day, when I was out with friends), and the three of us watched Up together for the second time. We also talked about where my future is going and what grad schools I might be looking into and all that. It was a very nice, very simple weekend, and I really enjoyed it.
I keep meaning to write a evaluation of my life right now and how the past few months have been and all that, but work has been leaving me quite tired for the past few days. It’s nothing that I can’t handle (I hope), but between meetings and people throwing chairs it’s been a little hectic. So all of my deep, ponderous thoughts may have to wait until the weekend/Christmas break (have I mentioned that I am glad I’m still on a school schedule? cause I am). Until then, here is a short list of things I have realized in the past week:
1. I have gotten worse, not better, at pulling my hair out since leaving college. This is a slight problem. Probably in the same category as the lack of gym/exercise; something to take note of, but not get super stressed about.
2. I’m starting to adjust to my job, even with the exhaustion. I just wish it was as easy to determine if I’m actually making any headway with/for my clients. I don’t think I’m making things too much worse, at least?
3. I am awful and parking in reverse. Luckily I’ve been doing it in a near-empty parking lot.
Eh, three’s good enough for now. Hope you all are doing well.
Oh, I lied, one other thing: saving this as a draft yesterday that I needed to figure out how to find drafts on this site; wordpress is spiffy and all, but I keep expecting it to be like livejournal in the weirdest of ways. Anyway, I managed pretty okay, but I also found this. Since I have no idea why I did not originally post it, and I found it to be fitting with the general tone of this blog, I titled it and posted it rather belatedly. There’s nothing mind-blowing, but I thought I’d mention it anyway. Toodleloo!
I have been reading more and more lately about Art and the current economic outlook. The New York Times ran an article back in February discussing whether the “Boom” was over; pointing out the large amount of product for sale in the art communities and the lack of patrons willing to pay for art. The article discusses the powerful movements created in art from recessionary times (i.e. the creation of SoHo in NY, the use of available materials such as work by Gordon Matta-Clark, or rooftop performance art pieces). There is some historical referencing done by Holland Cotter to compare this current recession to those which occurred in the 70’s and 80’s. You can read it in its entirety here.
During this same past year LINC (Leveraging Investments in Creativity) released their results from a survey taken using 5380 artists nationwide. The survey was completed in just under a month over the summer and was titled “Artists and Economic Recession Survey”, focusing on artists economic circumstances almost a year into this current recession. In general the survey confirmed the NYTimes article with regards to artists having to make changes in their lifestyles, locations, entrepreneurial skill adaptability; all of which will create a large art movement. 51% of artists surveyed reported a decrease in their art-related incomes between 2008-2009 of which a small percentage seen the decrease exceed 50%. 65% of surveyed artists hold at least one other “day job” in addition to their art practice. One of the most staggering figures was that 44% of surveyed artists felt a need to lower fees/rates charged for their work. Although most of the figures in the survey are not appealing, 75% of the surveyed artists had a positive outlook to the future and felt it is an inspiring time to be an artist, but not without their personal worry. In the survey artists indicated their worries are focused around funding for projects, grant monies, and rising debt. You can read the actual survey here.
Most recently I attended a panel discussion at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago titled “The Creative Economy: Beyond ‘The New Normal’”. It was a panel consisting of Kelly Costello, director of Design Research at Doblin, Inc.; Mark Dziersk, VP of Design Brandimage-Desgrippes & Laga, Educator at Northwestern University; Theaster Gates, University of Chicago, Coordinator of Arts Programming; and the school’s President Wellington Reiter. The information used for the panel discussion was the same as it is in the above paragraphs, however I felt this was more interesting because I was listening to the panelists who came from diverse areas in the art community. The general philosophies expressed were detailed and interesting. There was a discussion about the MFA becoming the new MBA whereas corporations and businesses are seeking out individuals who have problem solving skills and can think “outside the box”. Artists are well-known problem solvers and its our creative ways of thinking which are appealing to businesses who are looking to gain ground in a quickly moving world. There was also a re-emphasizing of the entrepreneurial skill building during the down time in order to make yourself ready when the market turns around. While this is encouraging for someone like myself who has a strong business and art background, it’s not so wonderful for the person who wants to be a practicing artist. However, I have heard from the school that in the springtime they will be holding another panel discussion that focuses on gallery exhibiting and art making in this economy. You can see the panel discussion on these 3 links.
1. Part One
2. Part Two
3. Part Three
I guess what I am hearing from all of this chatter about art and our current recession driven economy is that as artists we need to create change. The artists need to stay focused on their convictions, look inside of themselves to see what they would like to accomplish, and then persevere in that direction no matter what. We need to continue to solve problems, regardless of their nature and boast that we possess that skill. This economy will turn around and artists will be the ones who leave the footprint of what it’s implications have been.
I’m not actually bitter that my fiancé, Holden, has been getting more interest than me lately. It’s unusual for it to be that way round, and I definitely can’t complain considering I’m working at the club tonight. In fact, hearing about the call afterwards is one of the biggest turn ons I can get.
Today he had a call with a guy who seems to be becoming a bit of a regular with him! It was an hour in call and Holden got to be sub. He loves being dominated, and although I love the pleasure he gets out of it, I don’t really enjoy being dom that much. So it pleases me that he gets it from his clients, because I’d hate to think of him turning to other girls to get dominated.
Holden doesn’t mind who I sleep with but sadly I can’t be quite so liberal. The thought of him sleeping with another woman fills me with envy, however I’m perfectly happy for him to do whatever he likes with guys. Personally, I wouldn’t mind never sleeping with any guy but Holden – I only do so because I get paid to. We’re both happy with the current set up though because we both get to fulfil all of our desires.
If I were, however, never allowed to sleep with another woman, I would find it very difficult to remain in my relationship with Holden. I imagine he would feel the same if I forbade him from sleeping with other men. Which is why we work so well together. We get to have sex with who we like and make love with each other. Perfection.
My psych pulled out strength cards at one of our previous sessions, and asked me to arrange them in piles of “definitely have” “sometimes have” “would like to have”.
Then out of the definitely have, to select the five that most relevant that apply to me. I chose myself:
* Independent
* Assertive
* Caring
* Supportive
* Open
Fairly inane strengths, but I was feeling particularly pessimistic at the time, and was lucky to put anything in any pile except “would like to have”.
We discussed how important independence is, but how sometimes it may be to our detriment. I wasn’t quite sure what the hell she meant when she said that – but one little thing she said about emotional independence in my relationship, rang bells.
I do not often ask for help. Sure, help with the dishes, can you get that heavy item off the top shelf. Anything else, I am a little too independent, stubborn almost, I’d like to do it all myself, for many many reasons. I was brought up tough. Dad made me do a lot of really tomboyish things that I complained about at the time, arduous, laborious tasks that shat me to no end. Both my parents liked to load up a million chores on me too, again, I whinged and whined but I did them. Now that I have my own place, the habits stick. Living with someone who has been brought up … slightly differently… means I become taskmaster and arse-kicker. Like my parents. Anyway, I’m going on a tangent.
Just as with all these physical tasks, my parents also (without a word being exchanged between any of us about this topic) prided themselves on emotional independence. Dad’s dad died when he was in his early 20s, I’ve never heard him speak of him once. Mum gets angry and emotional when someone isn’t doing anything right, or not behaving the right way, but in terms of asking for any sort of emotional help, well… we all deal with it ourselves. Don’t talk about it.
And yes, I suppose I fall into those lines. I like to share my burden whether it be online or through my journal, or a bitch or two to my friends, but should they ever share their opinions, it’s a personal attack. It’s criticism, it’s “You’re wrong, I’m right”. I know it’s not always logical, but I’m scared of being stung twice. I can’t listen to their advice, not one bit of it, for fear of being dependent, for fear of not being able to handle these things on my own. And of being a burden.
I’m learning to ask for help when I need it. And I need it now. Today’s previous post alluded to this stuckness that I’m feeling – I’m unemployed, I’m a (in my opinion) relatively inexperienced social worker. I’ve applied for so many jobs it’s making me sick looking at job descriptions and writing responses to key selection criteria. Literally, I was actually getting flu-ey last week!
So here’s what I’ve tried. Here’s what I’ve also been doing for the past 3 months.
* job searching daily
* applying only for jobs relevant to my interests and experience (I tried to apply for jobs outside of this and everything came back saying I didn’t display enough experience)
* researching companies I’ve been granted interviews for
* attempting to understand target populations by researching
* signed up to recruitment agencies – one for social work, one for admin/secretarial (the latter being initially as a stop-gap, now it’s become a back-up)
* going to library and reading up on techniques that I use (having used them but not really having time for self-reflection in my previous job, means I needed to theoretically ‘reskill’ myself)
* reading everything imaginable about how to answer job interview questions, best CV formats, presentation, etc.
* taking vitamins and gingko biloba for better brain activity
* reading social work blogs
* keeping my sense of humour (at least trying to!)
* attending professional development and seminars in interest areas (lack of money and the start of holidays means this is starting to not be as possible anymore)
So. Here I am ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.
What else should I be doing? What else can I be doing to increase my likelihood of being hired? What helped for you?
Any advice would be so gratefully appreciated.
PS > I do intend on doing volunteer work in the New Year should I not receive any positive news to any jobs I’ve currently applied for.
Okay, I admit I took a little time off during Thanksgiving, which is why I didn’t post last week. But mostly because I didn’t think I’d be alone in that and that gave me the idea for this posting.
As we move into the holiday season, or I suppose we’ve already done that with Thanksgiving – the recruitment process for both the recruiter and candidate can become increasingly frustrating. Let’s be honest, recruiters are people and they can become increasingly busy this time of year with the business of planning the holidays. But let’s not put it all on the recruiters. After all, we don’t have the final say on a hire and we are often thwarted by candidates’ holiday plans and even more so, hiring managers’ plans.
How often have you gotten the “no word yet” message from your recruiter even after you’ve gone through several interviews?
Believe me, it’s not that recruiters want to put you off. We really, really do want to fill the open reqs on our plates because that’s how we’re judged by our companies and realistically, that’s how we keep score with each other.
So here are some things that most people don’t think about that hopefully will make this time a little less frustrating.
1) Once the holidays get started, people just aren’t around to make a decision. The more consensus driven the decision the more difficult it is to gather opinions for the hiring decision. Anybody ever work in a matrix organization?
2) Fourth quarter forecasts. Yes, companies need to hire people but realistically if budgets are tight and since we really are near the end of the year some companies will hold off on hiring until the beginning of the first quarter. This will hold down base costs and make the year-end numbers look better.
But it’s not all bad news. Because like any cycle, hiring generally picks up at the beginning of the first quarter and many companies that aren’t disciplined will front load their hires in the first few months of the year.
Although it’s normal to be impatient, you really have to view the situation in context. If a hiring manager has gotten this far without filling the position, it’s pretty easy for her to put off hiring until her and her team’s schedule has cleared a bit. So remember, make sure you’re staying on their radar screen, make sure your recruiter and your contacts know you remain interested and make sure you let them know what your holiday schedule is looking like in case they are able to move before the end of the year.
In other words, treat them as partners in your job search. They’ll appreciate it and how you handle the stress of the holiday job search goes a long way to showing how you would handle stress during the rest of the year.
Two additional F&B internships to Parkview Field for the 2010 year have been approved. These will start as early as January. If anyone may be interested please contact Scott Kammerer-information posted below. These will be modestly paid internships and will incorporate all aspects of F&B from ordering to sale and everything in-between. This will be an excellent experience for a motivated student.
It’s probably harder than most people realize to recognize success. I mean, here’s the president trying to push for success in Afghanistan and there’s always scientists trying to push for success in testing new drugs and therapy methods. You’ve become an adult when you realize that success isn’t the same thing as winning or perfection.
I find my job incredibly hard because I find it equally hard to recognize success or change. So many of the “life skills” that my cognitively disabled clients need to learn can only be taught through difficult situations. No doubt it’s the same with anyone learning these “life skills” like communication, and patience, breathing deeply, accepting limitation, and waiting. However I feel as though (in the words of my coworker) we’ve all ‘won a trip on a luxury cruise’ but now we’re here waiting for things to ‘go wrong’ so we can then show how to fix them when the same things go wrong again in the future.
Because trust me, they will.
Deadlines get pushed back, construction projects always run over budget, trash cans always overflow, dishes inevitably pile up. Success in these situations is hard to notice, harder still to acknowledge and accept. Behind each of these irritating occurrences are the people who want to be praised for the start, or the final finish of the project, even when it didn’t follow the agreed upon schedule.
What can you do? What can you do when you’re the person behind?
Answers? Alternatively: I suppose acceptance, grace, accountability, punishment, thanks, mentors.
Which one in which circumstance? It varies.
That’s something else to puzzle out throughout adulthood. Because I hardly ever have the right answer right now. My quick answer is usually condemnation, but I’m realizing more and more that these standards are a little unrealistic and likely to garner no friends.
The morning line-up at the coffee shop is usually so indubitably behemoth that to haplessly circumvent its typical magnitude is a pleasure like no other. When you expect to wait ten minutes for something and receive it in one, such a miracle deserves, at the very least, a thorough and verbose articulation and a few good swear words.
The morning line-up, which on a side note is a good indicator that no one is having a good time (“It’s 8:30 a.m.,” says the line, “and I need a fucking break”), ebbs and flows in such a chaotic pattern that at no time is one guaranteed a greater chance of stumbling into an “out the fucking door” situation rather than the convenience of the “non-queue.” As such, the sheer randomness of the latter circumstance – which is surely of divine fortuity – is something better than a “double kill,” though probably less good than a “double orgasm.”
this one's for you bro
Indeed, the awesomeness of beating the line-up (which, in the hours of the breaking day, may or may not be more satisfying than the literal equivalent) is so splendiferous that the true nature of the visit to the bean merchant may be obscured. Such an obfuscation is undeniably empowered at rates bound up inextricably with the trendiness of the establishment. In other words, the quantity of hip ephemera the coffee merchant throws into our gustatory experience (foreign language menus, gift ideas, eleven types of milk, etc.), factored by the speed at which one proceeds to the check-out, indicates to which degree we are likely to forget what we are at bottom there to achieve.
Because the purpose of the morning coffee is, undoubtedly, to cheat ourselves of the furious despondency which righteously infects us with indignation at being awake so early to do something so dislikeable. After all, the morning coffee shop line-up does not admit, “I am angry to be awake and require drugs.” It insists, without making eye contact and with no pretension of pleasantries – and probably with nonchalant manipulation of palm-top technology – “I am starting my morning.” But alas, this statement is only ever authentically made when it is at its most delusional: when the non-queue exists, when our elation is ultimate, and when with coffee in hand we can stare boldly into the eyes of our fellow man and say: “I am starting my morning, bitch.”
One of the most common goofs we see is an incorrect email address. Since most job search efforts are centered around email communications, having an email address that is wrong or difficult to interpret can be a pothole in the road to success. Double-check your email address to make sure it is correct. Don’t use your work email address on your resume and try to avoid having an email that has the number 1 in it as it can be difficult to tell if it’s a letter or a numeral. Avoid goofy or cutesy email monikers such as vanhalenlvr83 or similar. Email systems that use automated spam authenticators are loathed by recruiters and line managers alike, so stay away from them during you job search. Remember, you can set up an email address that you use JUST for job search.
2. Mechanical Mistakes
Misspellings are the most common mechanical mistake. People rely on spell-check too much. Spell-check can’t tell the difference, though, in meaning. If you write “manger” instead of “manager”, spell-check won’t flag it. Other mechanical problems include verb tense shift and capitalization. It seems like when in doubt, job seekers will capitalize something just “to be on the safe side” but that just creates an error.
3. Fluff Phrases
The profile or summary is often the most difficult section of the resume to create. As a result, job seekers fall back on soft-skill phrases or fluff phrases such as “good communicator” or “hard-working”. These sound good but they tell the reader nothing. These are subjective traits that are opinion-based. You may think you are a good communicator but your peers might say otherwise. These traits will be judged in the interview so don’t load the resume down with these. Remember, 99.9% of all the other candidates will also be claiming these skills. Have you ever heard of anyone putting “bad communicator” or “lazy with sloppy attention to detail” on the resume?
4. Too Much Information (TMI)
Job seekers often forget for whom they are writing. The recruiter or hiring manager is going to be skim-reading the resume and will be looking for the main points. The job seeker, on the other hand, feels it’s necessary to put every bit of information possible in the resume, right down to including that Eagle Scout designation from 1984. Having too much information, or irrelevant information, is a common resume error.
5. Too Little Information (TLI)
The opposite of TMI is TLI – too little information. Being too general in the resume is just as bad as being too wordy. Usually too little information takes the form of no details on achievements. Most people can get their job duties or role descriptions down but falter when it’s time to detail their successes in some sort of quantitative or qualitative way. As a result, the content is thin or bland and doesn’t inspire the reader to make contact with the job seeker.
6. Passive Voice
We are all taught that formal writing is passive voice writing. Most people have a tendency to write in the passive voice, especially when composing their resumes. Passive voice – “responsible for”, “duties included”, etc. – is weak writing. Resumes need to be powerful sales documents and passive voice doesn’t persuade the reader. Make sure the resume is written in active voice with lots of solid keywords throughout the content.
7. Functional Format
Using the functional format (also called a skills resume) is probably the most deadly error you can commit in terms of the resume’s effectiveness. Recruiters and employers literally detest the functional format. It does not give them the information they need in the format they want. Additionally, it generally indicates that the job seeker is trying to hide something since the functional format is used to cover up problems such as date gaps, job hopping, or lack of experience. Just the mere appearance of the functional format is a huge turnoff to decision-makers.
8. Personal Information
The fact that you are an avid skeeball player, or that you collect old world coins has no relevance to whether or not you are qualified for the position. So why include information on hobbies, sports, or interests?
9. Poor Design
The old large-left-margin layout is long out of fashion and fancy designs, images or tables will really give the databases a hard time when you upload your resume. The best thing to do when it comes to design of your resume is KISS – keep it simple, sweetie. Yes, make it appealing, but over designed resumes will get scrambled in uploads, and thus not win interviews.
10. One Page Length
One page resumes are long gone unless you are a new graduate without much experience. Having said that, we still see plenty of one page resumes for more senior job seekers come in for critiques. It does surprise me! When a job seeker tries to limit the content of the resume to fit into one page, he/she is cutting vital information to adhere to a “rule” that is not valid for most resumes. Many resumes (including mid-level) are two pages in length and three pages are acceptable for some senior level candidates.
It has been quite some time since I last posted and I’m glad to say the traffic through my small blog has kept up quite nicely. Now Don’t get to bent out of shape at me… I come barring excuses.
1. I quite my job to photograph- This excuse should explain itself. There are many pitfalls one can encounter in such an endeavor.
2. Personal reasons- The long and short of it, I’m now on the coast ( Wilmington, NC ) sleeping on the floor of a friends house. This has now been the situation for about a month.
So, I never thought that this would be easy. I never said I would do well at it… But I’m doing it and that is what matters most. Most people don’t get that far. So with that being said, “Sorry to have taken so long”. But in the midst of tragedy some good work has emerged and I’m in full swing, working on my portfolio.
So, in the next couple weeks I’ll so you my NEW, REAL studio and all of it’s gear, as well as updates on my portfolio shoots… but for now. Some new work. Enjoy.
As you can probably tell, I’m starting to find a style. This however is going to be a long process. Hope you liked it.
Presedintele declara inca de acum cateva saptamani ca se vad semne ale revenirii din criza. De curand si primul ministru declara ca incasarile bugetare au crescut in noiembrie cu 8% fata de luna octombrie. INS-ul declara la inceputul lunii ca productia industriala a crescut in noiembrie pe toate cele 3 sectoare industriale (industria extractiva, industria prelucratoare si productia si furnizarea de energie electrica si termica) cu 21,3% fata de luna octombrie. Bursa creste de peste jumatate de an, din martie si pana acum majoritatea preturilor companiilor listate, dublandu-se. Este drept insa ca in ultima luna de zile, de la izbucnirea crizei politice, Bursa din Romania a stagnat in timp ce toate celelalte burse din afara au beneficiat de ceva cresteri de preturi, datorita rezultatelor bune anuntate de companii mari, in special cele din Statele Unite. De asemenea, Germania si Franta au anuntat de o luna ca au iesit oficial din recesiune, inregistrand dupa mai bine de un an de zile, crestere economica.
Cu toate acestea cred ca suntem departe de iesirea din perioada de criza in care ne aflam. Oricum, cine se gandeste ca va fi o iesire la fel de rapida precum a fost intrarea in criza, cred ca se inseala.
In opinia mea, vom putea considera ca incepem sa iesim din criza atunci cand companiile vor incepe sa angajeze din nou. Inainte de toamna anului trecut pe piata muncii era o euforie totala, iar piata muncii era formata si “condusa” de catre angajati. Cunosc multe cazuri de persoane care au refuzat la interviu sume de bani pe care acum le viseaza in cele mai frumoase vise. De asemenea, am auzit de multe persoane care spuneau anul trecut ca nici macar nu s-ar merita sa se ridice din pat pentru o suma de bani pe care acum ar vrea sa o poata castiga. Piata s-a schimbat total si asta intr-un timp foarte scurt, iar acum piata este “dictata” de catre angajator, si nu de catre angajati. Daca un salariu de entry-level rar incepea anul trecut sub 400-500 de euro in Bucuresti, acum sunt multi care s-ar angaja si pe 250 de euro si nu au unde.
Din pacate insa, parerea mea este ca situatia va continua in felul acesta cel putin un an de-acum inainte. Cert este ca panica a trecut si companiile vor incepe intai prin a dezgheta salariile care au fost inghetate anul acesta, si abia apoi se vor gandi sa angajeze oameni noi. Iar daca vor angaja oameni noi, probabil ca o vor face pe jumatate din salariile celor deja angajati pe posturi asemanatoare. Intr-un an de zile, adica pana pe la inceputul lui 2011, angajatorii probabil ca vor merge pe bugete cu cheltuieli cat mai mici si nu vor avea curajul sa ceara managerilor cresteri de buget pentru pozitii noi in companie.
Si, de ce nu, sa recunoastem, foarte multi dintre angajatori isi vor ascunde incompetenta manageriala in spatele crizei.
The Coen Brothers have been entertaining audiences with their off-beat filmmaking techniques for many years now. In “A Serious Man,” their artistry shines bright as they lead you through a miserable string of luck in the life of Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg). It is easy to get lost in their style while they present these events that are undeniably captivating. Knowing that they are Oscar-winning directors and screenwriters lends a sense of confidence that they know what they are doing. But when the dust settles and the film cuts to black, I couldn’t help but sigh, “Huh?” with a great deal of dissatisfaction.
As I walked out of the theater, the worst feeling was looming over me – not only did I not know what the filmmakers wanted me to take from the movie, I had absolutely no idea what I had just watched other than a life being ripped apart at the seams. This is tough for anyone to feel, but I am a critic of sorts. I couldn’t help trembling at what my readers would think if I couldn’t understand it. ”What a philistine, that Marshall, can’t even appreciate simple art,” I thought you might say.
But I’m going to imagine this as “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” because I used lifelines so I could report to you something other than my confusion. With the help of Google and a friend’s mother, I was able to decode some of the movie.
“A Serious Man” is, in essence, a study in decomposition. The object rotting is Larry Gopnik, a Jewish physics professor in Minnesota, who seems to be an upright man when we first meet him. He hasn’t wronged anyone. He has stayed true to his faith, raised a decent family, and earned the esteem of his peers where he teaches. But for some reason, he becomes proof of Murphy’s Law that states: “Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” Problems sprout in his marriage, with his children, with his brother, with his neighbors, and at his job. These troubles in turn drive him fiscally and spiritually bankrupt. So what do the Coen Brothers want us to learn from watching one man go through hell?
They leave us two clues. One lies in a religious text, the other in a ’60s pop song.
The story of Job. In both the Torah and the Christian Bible, Job is a god-fearing man. All of a sudden, for no apparent reason, bad things just start happening to him. According to a friend’s mom, it is about questioning your faith in God while knowing that he is there and accepting that stuff happens. The main question it hopes to raises is why bad things happen to good people. Ultimately, Job’s toil is rewarded with blessings by God, restoring what he had lost twofold.
Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love”. In the movie, the song is featured prominently in various places, played at the beginning and the end of the main narrative. The lyrics say:
When the truth is found to be lies,
And all the joy within you dies,
Don’t you want somebody to love,
Don’t you need somebody to love,
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love,
You’d better find somebody to love.
Both can clearly relate to Larry’s predicament, but the overall message is still somewhat nebulous. Do the Coens want us to believe that God is an uncaring figure who will not only let bad things happen to good people but also scorn those who ask with sincerity for Him to wrap His loving arms around them? The brothers were raised Jewish but admit to not being terribly devout, so this doesn’t seem to be too improbable of a conclusion. But I think the most likely explanation is that there isn’t one. The Coen Brothers’ intelligence has earned them the privilege to do a lot of things, but they have the common sense to know that they cannot put words in God’s mouth. By simply raising the question, they give us the answer: there really isn’t one. They don’t tell us what we should do to keep bad things from happening, but they do show us how we can bring them on ourselves.
So with a little reflection, “A Serious Man” has turned from an unrewarding enigma to a perplexing rumination on a question that has baffled mankind for millennia. Aesthetically and morally, it is one of the Coens’ finest. Content wise, it is not. Larry is the only character they really nail; all others just seem strangely out of place and undeveloped. However, it does succeed in getting you to really think about what is outside the frame and puzzle out your own beliefs. As a filmmaker, what could be better than that? B- /
I love thanksgiving. The turkey, football, family, and of course the shopping. I don’t have a big family in United States, so I often get jealous when I hear my friends having a big family gathering for the thanksgiving day bonanza; cousins from CA, aunt/uncle from TX, grandparents from MD…all I got is my parents and my grandparents in MA – not that it’s bad, but it’s not fun/loud/wild either. It’s just another US-like holiday for us.
Because the thanksgiving isn’t really a crazy day for us, I usually use this day to think about how my past year went – there were definitely good moments but a lot more bad/regrettable moments.
This past Sunday, I visited my old church – the church I went during my high school. I was bit surprised to see some old faces still attending the same church, but definitely great to catch up and how they’re doing. Anyway, the pastor talked about the thanksgiving day. He mentioned that we celebrate Christmas by exchanging gifts with family, friends, and love ones when we should really celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We’re missing the whole (and actually the only) purpose of Christmas Day. Same with thanksgiving day. The holiday ha slowly (but definitely) becoming a eating bonanza and shopping madness (I’ll talk more about Black Friday in another post).
So let’s take a step back from all the madness and think about some people or things that we’re thankful for this year. After all, it’s thanks-giving day.
1. I’m thankful that I am healthy. This can be tricky one. Most people are pretty healthy and don’t really appreciate their physical beings. But how about we’re really sick? requiring a constant medical checkups, different medications, and not being able to eat certain foods? The life can be very miserable. I’d hate this world for giving me such a wounded body, always complain about certain things, and even lose my optimism. But, I’m perfectly healthy. No medication, no routine visits to doctors, no limits to what I eat or what I can’t do. It’s great. After all, if you aren’t healthy, your job don’t matter, your tv don’t matter, nothing matters in your life. Health is the no.1 priority and I’m really thankful.
2. I’m thankful that I have a job, a great job. We all know of the economic status this year. It sucks. It’s pathetic. People lose jobs weeks after weeks. I was one of them in the beginning of the year. But I found myself a new job in the summer and now I’m very happy and fortunate to work for a great organization. I must say, it’s whole lot better than my previous job. The unemployment rate in the United States has surpassed 10% nationally – meaning every 1 out of 10 people do not have a job in this country. Other people are barely hanging onto their jobs even though they hate what they do no see vision in their current position because they fear that they won’t be able to find a better job in this terrible market. I happened to be a person with a job – not just a job, a great job. I love where I work, love the people I work with, love what I do, and most importantly, I see a future in this organization. I’m truly thankful for this.
3. I’m thankful for the friends. Since moving to DC 6 months ago, one of biggest things I worried about was friends. I didn’t know anybody in Virginia and it would be hard to fit in a group when everybody already kinda knows each other. I did find a nice church (maybe too nice) and great small group that I love. I must say, I don’t think I’m quite friendly with all of them, but maybe some day I can be. Just give little more time. My dad is bugging me about girls in the area and I should be going after a cute one. He’s not wrong, but I think it’s little too early. Right now, I’m just thankful I have few friends and great church I go to. That’s all I can ask for.
4. God above all. He provided all things for me. The health, the job, the friends, financial freedom, cool gadgets, etc… All things. I believe. I’m glad I found him in my life. I’m glad he accepted me for who I am. I’m glad he’s my friend. I’m glad he watches over me….at all times.What more could I ask for.
Thanksgiving should be more than food & football. Don’t get me wrong, I love food & football and little bit of shopping too. But it’s not a day designed for those purposes. I think it’s more than that. So why not just take a moment and give thanks to those who influenced you this year?
Wit is a sword; it is meant to make people feel the point, as well as see it. -G.K. Chesterton
Well, I went to the doctor and they didn’t find anything wrong with me. I guess I wasn’t really surprised. The dizziness has gone away, thank heavens! I am officially 8 weeks tomorrow and it still doesn’t feel real. I don’t even have morning sickness, so it worries me a little. My first ultrasound is Dec 22, and I am really crossing my fingers everything is fine. I cannot wait to hear the heartbeat for the first time. So, until then, I just wait. I am telling my mom tomorrow. It’s Thanksgiving. What better time? I know she will cry. A lot.
On another note, work has been very frustrating lately. Last week I got a lecture from my boss and HR. Apparently people arent very happy with me lately. I personally think it’s because we are changing the way we do things and they are intimidated. I come in, 22 years old, and get promoted to management after less than a year. I just don’t operate the same way they do. I cannot put someone down to feel better about myself. The guilty would over power me. I just dont get it… especially when one of these people who had the nerve to complain about me, calls herself my ‘friend.’ Funny. For the first time, I didn’t like working here. I felt very small.
So tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am just trying to stay positive and look forward to the 4 day weekend! I cannot wait to see my family and friends up north. Hoorah for a long weekend. I am not looking forward to the 2 hour drive each way… However, you will see me at 4 am on Friday outside of Target waiting to get my 32′ Westinghouse TV at 5 am when the store opens. Guaranteed.
More moving madness! Today was a dreaded trip to the Time Warner office to close out the cable and return equipment. I was sweating some catastrophe where I would have to make a return trip. Luckily it went relatively smoothly, despite eating up my entire morning.
In a feeble attempt to reduce the amount of stuff I have, and thus have to move, I took some clothes to donate, which included a suit that I bought after graduating from college and proceeded to wear once. I quickly discovered that the suit did not fit my tastes (or my body type). But it’s a suit. How does someone just let go of a suit, especially if it’s his only one? I’m hopeful that someone finds it and gets much better use out of it than I do.
Looks like BBDO keeps coming back for more. In typical last-minute fashion, I’m getting called in for tomorrow and Wednesday as well as next week so this blog will go back on break.
The post count for each month on this blog keeps dwindling, which is a great thing. That means I’m working and not… um, unworking.
Daily Panic Level: Low Financial Outlook: No cash Job Scorecard (Interviews – Freelance Work – Freelance Busts): 8 – 5 – 29 Last Night’s Meal: Pizza and gnocchi in the Village
There are two types of hustles in the world: the Main Hustle and the Side Hustle. A Main Hustle is your Five Day a Week, 9-5 job. More times than not, it is legal (I’m keeping it real here, people) and for the most part, you get a regular check cut out to you, pay taxes on it, and it makes your life miserable. Then there’s the Side Hustle. There could be set hours for your side hustle. You can get a check, or you could be paid under the table. This really should be extra money. Money that you spend on frivolous things, while you put away money from your main hustle to savings, debt, expenses. Two types of hustles doesn’t mean that you can only have two jobs. The harsh reality is that some people have up to 3 Main Hustles to make ends meet. I’m talking about paying bills and putting food in your mouth. If you have three jobs so you can buy the fancy shmancy, then I say, at most, one of those is a main hustle and the other two are side hustles.
I’ve only had a side hustle one time in my life. The summer before sophomore year in High School, I couldn’t find an internship, so I started working at Starbucks. I actually had a great time working there and the pay wasn’t bad either. ($8.25/hr + tips) Maybe 3 weeks after I started working, I got an offer for a 10 week internship. That pay wasn’t bad either – $16/hr. I’m sure the normal human being would have have made one last frappuccino and quit, but I loved working at Starbucks. But, I, being not-normal and all, decided to do Sbux part-time and do the internship. So for 10 weeks, I worked 7 days a week! Very draining, to say the least, but I managed and I made a LOT of money that summer.
I would love to have a side hustle now. Why? I definitely don’t need the extra money. I would just like to have it. Is that Greed? Should I be finding something better to do with my time? Um, I’m going to forget about that line of thought for now and just say that, I have a lot of free time and would like that time to be used in a lucrative manner. I feel as though there is a market for people that want random stuff done and people like me that just want some money. If I were to have one, though, I wouldn’t want to be as serious as the Sbux situation. For one, I actually have like having my weekends free. Also, it would have to be something that I can do that wouldn’t dramatically alter my free time. Like I’m usually free after work around 5ish and I like to be in bed by 10. Yes, I am a grandmother. Wednesdays, I do community service. Aside from my advanced age, I’m also a criminal. Haha. I don’t think I’ve seriously looked for a side hustle, but if one presented itself, preferably in the form of a suggestion in my comment section, that would be amazing.
This past week was my first week of working at Borisch Manufacturing Company. It is going very well so far, and I can see no real big problems with the job. But with only a week in that very well might change. The biggest reason for me taking the job was because I was so sick of searching for a job at all. Plus the whole thing happened so fast I was just wiling to take anything when it came to me.
As it happens me and some friends had been planning for quite some time to go down to Fort Bragg in North Carolina to surprise a friend, Mitch, at his graduation as a Green Beret. He had come up to our graduation in May from Calvin College, so we wanted to support him in his accomplishments too. So we devised an awesome plan with his girlfriend, Esther, to meet up with her and his parents at the ceremony. We drove from various places like Grand Rapids, MI and Wayne, NJ to meet up in Beaver Falls, PA only to drive trough the night with either little or no sleep and get to Fort Bragg. In the end, we totally surprised Mitch and I think he was a bit angry at the secrets needed to accomplish it, but he was grateful too.
How does that all fit into the new job? Well that whole road trip was planned for a long time, but the new job I had just taken the day before I left. So it has been a crazy week and a half. So I really did not expect that by the time I would come back from a mini vacation to have a job.
The job doesn’t pay all that well, but considering I made the same amount in a nasty food manufacturing plant before, I can deal with it. Now I work in a very clean, high technology oriented workplace. So that is totally my kind of place. Well, what is it that I do exactly? Its quite simple really. Borisch is involved in defense and aerospace industries, so they make a lot of circuit boards and cards that go in other assemblies for those sectors. I don’t really know what boards I handle go in what yet, but that will take time. Anyway, I am a Coating Operator, which means I spend most of my day in a blacklight room operating machines that spray a coating on circuit boards. The coating mainly keeps out moisture and probably has some other properties too.
So thats what I do all day. The part that sucks the most is the early time of first shift is 6:20am. Its a though change for someone that has been a night owl for quite a while. I’ll get used to it eventually. Here is to having a job and hopefully excelling enough to get an engineering position there or eventually becoming a world traveler. I don’t know how the later will happen, but I can dream right?
Since finding out the true meaning of Borderline Personality Disorder I have been pondering my past. Was it the years of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of others? Was it the fact my parents divorced when I was 5 years old? Was it the fact that neither of my parents could handle me so I was shifted back and forth between them? Was it the fact my father was always at work and because I didn’t have a dick felt the need not to hug me, tell me he loved me, or his lack of needing or wanting to do things with me? Could it be because my mom had her own depression to deal with as she grew up with me? I’ll never know the answer to any of these questions. But I can and I will defeat Borderline Personality Disorder. I have to if I ever expect to have a normal love life with anyone or even a relationship with myself.
In reality, we can’t blame anyone but ourselves. Yes I said ourselves! Your probably thinking, “how can you say ourselves if we learned it from other’s”? Did those others hold your hand while you did what ever it was that destroyed that part of your life? No! You saw someone do something and thought that was cool, so what, that doesn’t mean you have to do it. Trust me when I tell you I have done more then my fair amount of stupid shit and I won’t stop till I die more then likely. So many people are quick to blame others for their faults or on society. How can we blame others when we control our own actions and destinies! Now, before you jump all over me, I do know the difference between our own actions and actions that are beyond our control.
The relationship with myself will be the hardest as I hate myself to no end. On the relationship with others side of things: I’ve had true love and destroyed it. I’ll find it again someday. For me self hatred comes easy. I’m fat, can not seem to do anything right, I never finish what I start, can’t hold a job, have alienated most of my family, have no friends (no real ones anyway), and have a mental illness called Bipolar. Boy does that suck. LOL. Now do we see why it’s so simple to hate myself?
I see a picture of a skinny girl on TV, do I sit there and desire something that will more then likely never happen to me or do I just sit there crying, or do I get up and change the fact I’m fat and she isn’t? I don’t have to let society, friends, family, whomever, control my destiny unless I choose to let them. If I want to get off the couch one day and decide I’m going to be skinny, then thats me deciding, not society.
My point today is we can’t keep letting others run our live in that unknown way that they do. We need to take control of our lives and get ourselves back on track! We need ourselves to be happy and healthy in order to move forward in life.
I am Meg. I am an unemployed architectural designer. I am currently looking for any job in the architecture or construction fields. My real passion is architecture and one day hope to end up working for a general contractor. I’ve stared at a lot of construction sites recently
(longingly wishing I was working on) and had a few thoughts…….
The reasons why I love construction sites.
1. I like to see how things are built.
2. I love to see how the project progresses
3. I like to wear hard hats.
4. I love how the laborers bring their lunches in mini coolers.
5. I like to look at materials.
6. Big cranes and machinery are cool!
The reasons why I don’t like construction sties
1. It’s dirty.. and not just a little dirty…. but really, really dirty, especially when it rains
2. Constructions sites are like being at a stereotypical fraternity house. Let’s just say they get really manly and their choice of words and subjects of conversations show it.
3. Work boots aren’t the most stylish or comfortable shoes
4. They’re noisy and will wake you up if you live by one. (or if there is construction one level below your hotel room)
5. Working construction is a 50 hour work week. eck.
Yes, I caught the dreaded day job disease again. I let my work life come ahead of my creative life. Now I find myself with 10 days left and over 45,000 words to write. Is it possible to write that much in 10 days. Is it worth even trying?
Yes, it is worth trying! This is the big push to the finish. I love the thrill of a deadline. There is no looking back from here on in. No one said the book has to be the greatest American Novel of all time. Editing & revising come in December. The key is to finish a story from start to finish in November.
I made this commitment to myself and I really want to finish this.
My mom called me the other day to discuss my recent final exams and some other things. I told her I was beginning my search for jobs. She says, ‘oh that reminds me! I saw a job in the Midland paper for digital advertising, you should look at it!’
My first instinct was almost a wrinkled nose… but I was inclined to look anyways and promised her I’d grab the paper. At first I thought my lack of excitement for this find was because I probably thought my mom couldn’t possibly be right on the job title- who puts a digital advertising position in a print paper ad, right?
I looked up the ad and sure enough- it read many of the job responsibilities as the big glamorous jobs in big cities that I had been applying for. My no-rock-left-unturned job search attitude left me writing down the manager’s contact info.
But I got to thinking… What really caused my lack of excitement for this finding? Was it the lack of trust in my mom? Probably not, I trust her opinion and judgement in many things, especially when it comes to my future.
Was it because it was a local job and my perception with local positions were that they were small, lacked technology, and lacked modern ideas and philosophies? This could be possible, but I’ve applied for many local jobs, with high hopes of getting even an interview. In fact, deep down, a local offer would be ideal. It’s comfortable and close to my family. So a digital advertising offer that was local would almost a blessing. I should have been ecstatic when my mom mentioned this to me.
So what could it be? I am left with the conclusion that I truly find the job search rewarding. After a day of hard work on my day job or at school, I spend a couple of hours a day searching and applying for jobs. Some days are more successful than others, but I’ve done okay. I spend so much time and hard work on finding a job opening that I qualify for and that I desire, I spend even more time trying to perfect my application and supporting documents. I think that since I didn’t find the local job opening, I didn’t exactly feel the reward when I hit the send button.
Don’t get me wrong, even if I get an email or a phone call back, all of those feelings are out the window and I will be feeling somewhat successful in at least making the call-back list. The point is, the first reward for me comes from finding the perfect opening in such a tough economy. I can’t wait until I can feel the grander reward of a job offer that will change my life!
Why does it seem harder than usual this time? What’s so different this time? I really can’t put into words how I’m feeling right now.
I have about 37 more days to prep myself, to pack up and then say “goodbye”. Why does 37 days seem so short now? Especially when there have been days which I absolutely abhor work and the people here, days when I wished I could just vanish from this place forever, days when I hate the people here so much.
This is very weird. I’ve NEVER had to experience anything like this in my working life thus far; usually I’d be more happy to leave than anything else. It was like that for Hangten, it was like that for M.A.C, Vegas, Acepro and Art Tree. Why the sudden emotional attachment for this place now?
I guess the people here (good ones and bad ones alike) grew on me, the place grew on me, the inside jokes, code languages, laughters, tears and even tension all grew on me, in one way or another. I am very attached to a couple of colleagues, I am very attached to my Boss. I can’t thank Mr. Mok enough for all the support and understanding he’s given me.
Truth be told, I’ve never met a superior like him before. Shan’t go into details about the kind things he’s done for me and how much support he’s given me for the past one and a half years. Other than the employer-employee relationship between us, we are also friends.
Leaving this place feels like leaving home, feels very shitty. I’m rather apprehensive and skeptical of the future – I’m in fact, scared. Could all these be happening because I am older now? I don’t know.
Don’t ask me where have my guts went to, I have no idea either. I’m so afraid I may meet people worse than the ones here, I’m so afraid my future Boss is gonna be a b*stard, I’m so afraid that I won’t be able to get use to the new environment.
I know that leaving for the next job is perhaps all for the better, if I think of it in the practical way, that is – considering the fact that the other side has made their stand very clear about job progression plans for their employees. But then again, you can never be too sure (or unsure).
What if I won’t be happy at the new place? What if 3 months down the road I realise that I’ve made the wrong choice? What if I screw up my own life because of this very decision? So many what-ifs, it’s fucked up.
I can’t take back my words or that letter now, because if I do, no one in this place is ever gonna take me seriously again. They’d probably think I’m either 1) nuts or 2) immature.
They won’t understand how this emotional attachment thing works and how much I treasure the good people I meet; so much so that I may just be willing to eat humble pie and take it all back. However, since I most likely won’t be able to seek any shared sentiments from anyone, I’d better not be stupid and harbour any second thoughts.
You know what? Right now, I think either way it’s gonna be a stupid decision. I shouldn’t stay plainly because of my emotional attachment with some of the folks here, I shouldn’t not stay because I am too proud to take back a letter and a few sentences. I shouldn’t leave for more dimes and nickels, I shouldn’t not leave for more dimes and nickels.
Either way, I’m fucked. For now at least.
人就是如此，总是要失去了才会开始珍惜。
, 2003)
Job Apps Are Open:
The Coen Brothers have been entertaining audiences with their off-beat filmmaking techniques for many years now. In “A Serious Man,” their artistry shines bright as they lead you through a miserable string of luck in the life of Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg). It is easy to get lost in their style while they present these events that are undeniably captivating. Knowing that they are Oscar-winning directors and screenwriters lends a sense of confidence that they know what they are doing. But when the dust settles and the film cuts to black, I couldn’t help but sigh, “Huh?” with a great deal of dissatisfaction.
