Brinks Truck Daydream

I was standing at a crosswalk, waiting to cross the street.

I let my mind wander as I waited for the light to change and allow me to legally and, somewhat safely, cross.

I thought...

Oh! The light is always green when I want to cross! -- Oh! Can I make it across with all this traffic? -- Oh! The blonde in the white blouse just walked up beside me. -- Oh! What does she look like up close? -- Oh! A Brinks truck! It sure would be great to have my own Brinks truck full of money. --Oh! How would I pull that off? -- Oh! Is anyone else waiting for this light to change reading my thoughts? Are any of them thinking what I'm thinking?

So, tell me have you ever had a Brinks Truck Daydream like that before?

Or am I the only one?

- docrivs

How "12 Monkeys: A Novel" changed my life

12 Monkeys: A Novel

by Elizabeth Hand

Wrote a song about it. Here it go.

This movie discussed the topics of germ warfare, the “Cassandra Complex”, time travel, mental illness and perception, and environmental/social activism, amongst other things.

We were bored and young / Now we're branded, scarred, tattooed / Were we wrong? Were we wrong?

These are some of my favorite lyrics that I came up with as a result of closely watching and analyzing this film one day in 1996.

- docrivs

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Why I want to consume "Medieval Underworld (Sutton History Classics)"

Medieval Underworld (Sutton History Classics)

by Andrew McCall

I spied this book on a friend’s bookshelf last Monday, and I flipped through it, half-watching the Steelers lose. In the Table of Contents I could see how the chapters focus on different subgroups, social groups, and subcultures of the Medieval Era. I seem to recall chapters on “deviants” and “outcasts” that looked pretty interesting to me. I was told that I could borrow it – it’s “a bit boring”, I was told. However, I won’t have the time to read it right away. The subject interests me, especially after reading Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Penitentiary (I might not have that title exactly correct), by Michael Foucault, back about 9 or 10 years ago. The ‘spectacle of corporeal punishment’ is a subject that is very relevant today, especially when viewed from a historical perspective, and an anthropological perspective. We are still fighting “just wars” and deciding whether or not it is okay to torture our “war criminals”. Also, religion and politics are still (will they ever not be?) intertwined, which sometimes makes me recall my lessons about the Medieval Era, the Plague, and the Inquisition. I also grew up in and around Boston, Massachusetts, and the Salem Witch Trials are a part of the history of that area. So, on a more casual level, the subject of Middle Age culture and ways of thinking and believing are a reflection of how we think and believe today.

- docrivs

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A review of Short North Tavern: Darts, Good bartenders, Good late night eats, Unmemorable live music

As Walker Evans put it, the Short North Tavern is “a great place to grab a late bite to eat”, much like the Blue Danube. I have not enjoyed any of the bands I’ve seen there. The bartenders are usually good, and there are darts to play! So, if you are in the Short North area of Columbus, then this place is worth checking out.

- docrivs

See more progress on: Short North Tavern

My Career Plans

I am working hard to follow the path to a career in the Enterprise-level Information Technology Industry. I’ve picked up a lot of skills from tinkering with the computers and computer-related devices I’ve owned since I received an Apple IIc for Christmas in 1984. I’ve done tons of reading. I’ve picked the brains of all the nerds and geeks I could find. I’ve taken a college course or two in Computer & Information Technology. I’m currently pursuing professional I.T. certifications, with my sights set on the MCSA, MCSE, CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE. However, all that I’ve earned so far is CompTIA’s Network+, and I am soon to earn my A+. I earned a BA in Anthropology 8 years ago and added a two-year Certificate in Business Communications to that almost 6 years ago. I’ve worked in Business Administration for a while and now I am working as an independent contractor in the State Government, Insurance, Workplace Safety, and I.T. Industries. When I learned about RFID technology, the concepts of Supply Chain Management and Supply Chain Visibility, and the growing development of the Outsourced I.T. Industries, I grew more and more interested in the role of Information Technology Services and Infrastructure in the Global Logistics Industry. Now, as I continue training, developing my marketable skills and talents, earning certifications, and working towards my larger goals, I am pursuing work in related fields and positions that will help me accomplish my goals. A position as an Enterprise-Level Network Administrator would be ideal for me, but I am also pursuing Enterprise-Level Network Technician positions. Once I find a way into the Global Logistics Industry I will think that a great hurdle has been crossed. That is my first goal I’ve shared on this site, and I plan to see it realized. Thanks for reading.

- docrivs

See more progress on: Work for a global logistics company as a Network Architect and Project Manager or Network Administrator

A story about "Access 2003 Programming Weekend Crash Course"

Access 2003 Programming Weekend Crash Course

by Cary N. Prague

So far (I’m only on chapter 2 – From Macros to Modules), this book clearly explains the more advanced aspects of developing applications, using Microsoft Access and the Visual Basic programming language. It skips over the more basic skills that you need to develop with Access, which is why I picked this one. It doesn’t go into much detail about programming or development. It covers the basics of many essential skills and prepares you for the only real way to effectively learn: to DO it. I am glad that I found this book. The skills I need to improve are programming and development skills, not how to use the GUI to create a pretty form.

- docrivs

See more about Access 2003 Programming Weekend Crash Course

How I met Jewel

I once worked as a Runner for Polaris Amphitheatre (now called Germaine Amphitheatre). My job involved transporting people to and from the amphitheatre, among many other tasks.

During the Neil Young show in the summer of 1997, one of my jobs was to pick up Jewel, her mother, and her manager from the Sheraton and take her to the amphitheatre as quickly and smoothly as possible. I knew the best routes to and from to avoid traffic, and I was using my own personal vehicle, a 1994 Chrysler-Dodge Caravan, so I felt comfortable driving.

Anyway, I’ve already told my story about how I met Jewel in my blog and on 43 Things. So, you’re welcome to read the story in either source.

- docrivs

Learn more about Jewel

Diving in to web design and graphics design!

I am doing my best to learn as much as possible about web design and graphics design to improve my skills in those areas. I also want to develop my desktop publishing skills. I want to get better at using Flash, DreamWeaver, DHTML, HTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, Perl, PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign. – docrivs

docrivs on 43 Things Tags: docrivs on 43 Things All Tags, webdesign, webdesign, websitedesigner, design, webpage, webdevelopment,
webdeveloper, webpagedesign, webpagedesigner, webpagedeveloper, webpagedevelopment, web, website, websiteadmin, websiteadministration, websiteadministrator, webserver, webserveradmin, webserveradministration, websitedevelopment, websitedeveloper, graphicdesign, graphicdesigner, graphicsdesign, graphicsdesigner

See more progress on: learn how to use flash

What I learned about E Coli last night

Last night, I was over at Jamie's place, half-watching his Steelers lose to Jacksonville but mostly, yakking away. Jamie, at some point, asked if I had heard about the latest outbreak of e coli. I had heard of it, I said, and I even posted on this blog about the outbreak. However, Jamie told me something I did not know about e coli.

Before last night, I had thought that we were safe from e coli so long as we washed our hands before and after preparing foods, especially meats. I knew that vegetables could be contaminated with e coli, but I thought that rinsing them off with water would eliminate the risk of ingesting the bacteria.

Jamie, who is supposed to be taking a food safety course this morning as a requirement for his job as a kitchen manager, told me that rinsing off the vegetables with water doesn't eliminate the risk of e coli, because e coli can actually get into the cellular structure of the plants.

I had never heard this piece of information before, and I was shocked. I wasn't sure whether I should believe him or not, but I certainly wanted to find out the facts. Jamie suggested I look at one of his food safety textbooks, but the section on e coli did not include that piece of information.

Today, however, I received an email alert from CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy) about the latest e coli outbreak, and I read this:
Rinsing contaminated spinach with water or other cleaning solutions won't destroy the E coli, said Acheson, because the organism can get inside the plant.

I also read that the infection as a 7 day incubation period, and two nights ago, I cooked some spinach that my wife bought at Wal-Mart. Aigool, Alex, and I all ate that spinach dish I prepared. I had thoroughly rinsed the leaves with cold water, thinking that we would be safe. I'll have to ask Aigool and Alex, but I don't think that any of us have experienced the symptoms of infection, so I hope that we are safe. There is more spinach that I was going to prepare last night, in some tacos, which would have called for raw spinach, but I decided not to eat. I am not sure that anyone else ate the spinach, but I hope not. Today, I'll have to warn them.
- docrivs

A story about "The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence"

The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence

by Carl Sagan

My mother gave me this book to read before I started college, probably around 1990 or 1991. I read most of it while I was travelling by airplane somewhere. I remember the feeling that I wasn’t fully understanding the language Sagan was using, and many of his references and allusions to other works were not always clearly explained. Sometimes he expected a little too much from the reader, in my opinion. I say this, because I am reading the book for a second time right now, and I understand most of the language, and I follow most of the logic in his arguments; however, Sagan makes many assertions based on references to works in which he assumes the reader’s familiarity. This book is excellent for inspirational purposes and for a ground-setting experience when I try to lucidly recall why I think a certain way about the way the universe works. – docrivs

See more about The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence

Think About This News Article Before You Open That Bag Of Spinach!

Columbus Health Department Confirms Several Cases of E. Coli
Sep 15 2006 9:05AM

The Columbus Health Department said Friday morning that several local cases of E. Coli have been caused by bagged spinach.

Federal health officials put out a nationwide warning Thursday after they suspect bagged fresh spinach caused people to get sick with E.coli.

Health officials say one person is dead and 50 others are sick in at least eight states, including Utah. Utah's health officials said Thursday there are 10 reported cases of people getting sick in the state of Utah.

The dead reportedly occurred in Wisconsin. Health officials say others got sick in Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah.

Health officials don't know the exact source of the outbreak but say it appears to be from bagged fresh spinach. The warning was sent out nationwide since health officials don't know where the tainted spinach came from or how widely it was distributed.

E. coli causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Most healthy adults can recover within a week, but those that are very young or old can develop a form of kidney failure that often leads to death.
- docrivs

Why I admire Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda has written some of the most sensual and romantic poetry I have ever read. His images and word play are so real I can feel them and touch them.

I recited one of his poems, in honor of my bride, at our wedding.

The first time I went to Blue Corn Cafe And Brewery

I wasn’t that impressed, but there must have been something good about it that I remembered. When I took my family to it on my second visit, everyone, including me, liked it very much. We ate there twice during our most recent trip. The kids loved it. The prices were reasonable for Santa Fe, and the service was not bad. It is a fun, casual, non-pretentious “New Mexican” style restaurant, where you can feel comfortable drinking a beer straight from the bottle and laughing loudly.

See more progress on: Blue Corn Cafe And Brewery

Why couldn't we have found this place before our last day in New Mexico???

See more progress on: Tucero's

Too expensive! Too pretentious!

$50 for a light “New Mexican” meal for four?!? Reservations until 9:30pm?!?

See more progress on: move to santa fe

Reconsideration...

After a 9-day trip to northern New Mexico, staying 8 of those 9 days in Santa Fe, I have decided that Santa Fe is much too expensive and pretentious of a place for me. I would rather live outside of Santa Fe in one of the smaller towns surrounding it, including Taos. Most of the restaurants I found in Santa Fe serve meals for not much less than $13 an entree. The beers were not much less than $4 a pint. Everything else, including pottery, paintings, t-shirts, coffee mugs, bottles of chile sauce, books, and CDs were overpriced as well. One old adobe home/art studio was having an open house. The home was in the Guadalupe District, which is rivaling the Plaza District in popularity now, and it was selling for $675,000! Now, mind you, this was a “historic” home, but some of the rooms, including the kitchen, were constructed of rotting wood. The location was not bad, making it a relatively convenient walk to Guadalupe Street, but it was right on a relatively busy road. Apparently, the asking price was a steal. The home was 4 rooms, and I neglected to spot the bathroom. How could it be possible for people to earn a living here that would enable them to live comfortably in Santa Fe?

See more progress on: move to santa fe

"You get what you put in... and people get what they deserve!"

Have you heard the song, "Only God Knows Why", by Kid Rock?

There is a line in the song that, in the dialect of Kid Rock, speaks about karma and the life perspective that is based on the idea that what comes around, goes around.

Well, I'm a believer in that idea. We may not fully understand how it works, and we may never fully understand why bad guys still seem to win and good guys sometimes don't stand a chance, but if you look deep enough into it, then you will see that this idea is worth considering.

I have experienced many situations and events that reaffirmed my belief that everything you do comes back to you, and I do want to share them, so I will.

Right now, however, I want to draw attention to the story of a friend of mine named Ryan.

Ryan is trying to do something with his life that seems really cool to me. It's called Aimless, and it is a movie idea that will set him travelling across the U.S., meeting with, talking with, interviewing with, and sharing with the people who live in America. The catch is that he is going to undertake this trip with no cash.

Ryan had planned to start this project by asking for funding from sponsors. He wanted to purchase equipment that he would use to document the trip.

So far, there have been few businesses who have responded to his extensive e-marketing campaign, in which he has sent thousands of emails to businesses of all kinds, all over the U.S. over the past year.

Rejection is to be expected. Frustration is inevitable. However, I support Ryan in his undertakings, and I would like to point you to a blog entry where he describes his new directions.

I think that he's on the right track!