Welcome to Something for Nothing

I had a friend who flew for Physical therapy in New York. That seemed like a long way to fly for Physical therapy.

I guess my wife is right that everything is better in New York. I prefer to say that everything is better that comes from New York. That’s why I married her.

I found a nice article on Digg recently that talked about the difference between a paid job doing programming and participating in open source projects.

I mostly just loved how he addressed the issue that doing something on the computer at home isn’t the same as doing something on the computer at work. At home, you choose when, where and how to do it. At work you are paid to do it at a certain place, at a certain time and in a certain way.

That’s why you find me spending hours on the computer at home after work. It’s my time to do what I want!

I posted a comment on his article that he should take a look at Cambrian House. It’s a great new concept that combines open source development processes and adds money into the process.

They also have an interesting little mentos and diet coke stunt going on too.


All you have to do is sign up and you can be in the guiness book of world records.

I have 2 friends who just finished college and are starting to look for jobs. I know that I was in that position recently and I absolutely hated it. I’d go on Monster.com and check for jobs there, but Monster sucked because almost every job listed there wanted someone with 5-10 years of professional experience. You mean the 2 years at Wendy’s and 1 year doing telemarketing doesn’t count as professional experience? I even had a GREAT job in college, but even then it was only 3 years of experience.

Let’s not even talk about Dice.com looking for technical jobs right out of college. The only exception there might be programmers, but you can look anywhere and find a job as a programmer. Why? No one wants to do it and everyone needs it.

I do however know about the fountain of youth for new college graduates. It’s called doing an entry level job search. Stop looking at jobs that you’d like to do in a few years. Look at jobs that you can do NOW! Don’t kid yourself that you have the expertise to do a much more skilled job. The fact is that many graduates do have the skills. Unfortunately, your resume doesn’t show that yet. Until it does, settle down and find a good entry level job that will get you into the industry and get you the experience you need.

I found a very interesting experiment in art by some canadian. Here’s what it says on the website I found it on:

Dumped supermarket trolleys litter our rivers and canals. Now one artist is rescuing them… to create these incredible wire sculptures that celebrate our water wildlife…

While I don’t care how they get the shopping carts I am impressed with their artistic ability. Take a look at just one of my favorites:

Check out the rest of the shopping cart art. That’s what I call art.

I work in a medical office. Yes, I’m a tech guy, but I spend all day in a clinic helping doctors and nurses. I always love to joke with the nurses that I want to wear Scrubs to work like they do. I’m always so jealous that they get to wear something that is comfortable and let’s you not have to think when you’re getting dressed.

The only thing that’s holding me back from wearing them is that I don’t want someone to mistakenly think that I’m a medical professional. I’m not and I don’t want to be responsible for anything they are responsible for. At least I can wear some scrubs around the house.

Today I did mention that I should wear pink on the breast cancer awareness day. I can’t imagine what they would do if I showed up to work in some pink scrubs.

GiveMeMyRemote has a great interview of Benji Schwimmer the winner of the latest So You Think You Can Dance. Here’s a good portion of the article:

You mention family. You’ve been dancing with your Cousin Heidi for 17 years and were both in the show’s top four together–tell us what it was like to have that experience together.

B: I think that’s almost a bigger honor than being titled America’s favorite dancer–we were America’s favorite dance couple. We didn’t even try out together, which was odd, but for 17 years we worked on being in competitions together, and whatever the outcome of the finale, they just said she wasn’t the person. It was just really cool that we got there together and were in the finale together.

You stated at the beginning of the competition that you had not danced for two years prior to the show? How did you prepare for the auditions?

B: I came back after all that time off and I had such a desire to dance and so for months I kept on training and working and I ended up selling my car so I could afford to train like I had been. After that, I went down to L.A., took some classes and just kept going. Honestly, I was at a point where I wasn’t sleeping–I was so crazed. I became almost manic about the whole thing, but it really got me out of some tough times, too. Overall, it was just an amazing experience.

Going into the competition, did you think that your success in the Swing World would help or hinder your chances at making it to Vegas?

B: I think it helped. It was kind of a unique thing to have. I was happy to have represented the swing world in that aspect. Certain people had some negative criticism because of my success as a national champion, but for the most part they respected it.

Of all the choreographed routines performed by other contestants on the show, which one do you secretly wish you could have performed?

B: I wish I could’ve done the west coast swing. I did a jazz piece but I would’ve loved to do a west coast swing. In the future, I want to take ballet, Cuban classes–I want to do it all.

You were hospitalized in the week prior to the Final Four Competition but it was never addressed on the show. Were there moments when you feared this would affect your chances of moving on?

B: There was always an injury. It was almost every week where I collected a new one or even two. And it was almost like I was being prevented from doing more and more maneuvers. But I guess it’s part of the process and part of the show– is to use all that you possibly can and I know that whether I’d won it or not, I’d know I would’ve been able to finish the show and say, I’d done everything I possibly can to win this thing.

How do you foresee all of this success changing your personal life?

B: Personally, I’m going to have to be careful to who I befriend now, because there are certain people out there tend to take your money and privileges you have to their advantage. And I also get followed around and have paparazzi take pictures of me, and I don’t mind people asking for my autograph–I was in the same boat three months ago. But it’s going to be important to find time for friends and family and the people I love.

You’re a natural entertainer and you know how to play the audience; do you have aspirations of Broadway or possibly even film work?

B: Yeah, definitely. In fact–I just was cast to play the lead role as Fred Astaire in the upcoming film about his life. Nigel really helped me out with that, so it was just a real honor. I felt kind of like Charlie from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where you go through these great experiences and are rewarded something at the end like his everlasting gobstopper or the company or something.

What can you tell us about your role in Celine Dion’s Vegas Extravaganza “A New Day”?

B: Basically I’d be a dancer, I’d probably have a special number with Celine. and we’re possibly going to do a duet between Celine and I. I can’t wait–it’s going to so cool.

Wow!! He really is going to dance in the Celine show. I didn’t think Benji would be a good match for the show. I’d be surprised if he gets a duet with her. Could be interesting. We’ll have to keep our eyes out for that news. Benji and Celine in concert. Yeah right!!

Read more…

I’ve been really amazed how well social networks have been innundating the web. Well, today I found a site that really shows that the web can empower people from all walks of life. It’s called MyIndianPlace.com.

The site is focused and targeted for Indians. The site offers free unlimited email, chatrooms, blogs, party promotions, romance all tailored for indians. So far they have 1200 members. I think it’s great that regardless of your culture and your background the web can bring you together in ways that would have never been possible.

Check out some of the coolest advertising things I’ve seen. People really are thinking outside the box these days. The standard is so high. Here’s just one example:

I don’t know how many of you still use an analog phone line. You know it’s you if you are still paying money to Sprint or someone like that for your phone line. Many of you even pay for the full service with call waiting, caller id, last call return, answer service, etc etc etc. Adding all of those up the local phone company is going to be charging you about $40 for all of the above. I’m sure many of you are thinking that you only pay $15-$20 for your local phone line. Well, if that is the case then you don’t use any long distance and you don’t have many(or any) of the above services.

Why am I ranting about the cost of a local phone line? Hold your horses.

You and each of you should get rid of your local phone line and start using VoIP. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. I’ll make it simple for you. VoIP is basically having your telephone go over the internet. No, I’m not talking about hooking up a headset to your computer and then using your computer to call someone(although that’s possible too). I’m talking about plugging in a regular phone into a box that then converts your phone call so that it can go over your internet line. Simple as that.

I personally use Vonage which allows me to call the entire US for free(or for the standard $25 a month). I can even call Italy for free(which I’ve used extensively). Plus, for that same price I get all the benefits listed above: call waiting, caller id, last call return, answer service, etc etc etc. I personally love not having to worry about who I’m calling and keeping my call short if it’s a long distance call. It’s freeing to be able to talk all I feel like.

I could go on for hours about this, but that should be enough for you to start looking at VoIP. Oh yeah, and if you do look at Vonage. Let me know and I’ll send you an email. If you sign up from the email I send you, then I get a free month. Just comment on this post and I’ll send you info on Vonage. It’s well worth it.

If you want to try something to waste some time check out this site called LikeBetter. I’m not sure how it works, but I love seeing the various pictures and it did know I was a boy. Great fun!!