Already Friday

How to Get a Job With No Experience

2011-01-06T23:39:00.000-05:00

LifeHacker replies to a question about how to get a job with no relative experience. The article covers four important points.

1. Everybody has experience. It may no have been your previous job title, but like most jobs, you end up doing a little bit of everything. It's important to find those small tasks that might be a useful skill or important to the job you're applying to.

2. DIY to gain experience. I believe this one is very important. I know when I was looking for my first job, I did a lot of DIY websites/coding projects that I believe would enhance my skills and make me more marketable. Although I don't use any of those skills today, I believe it showed my initiative to work hard and showed my potential employers that I have skills.

3. Internships. I believe this is a good way to get your foot in the door. Just make sure you are benefiting from this relationship and the company is not just getting free labor. Take the initiative to work on projects that help both you and the company.

4. Be charming. I was terrible at interviews. I suggest to practice with others and have them critique you. They might be able to notice any annoying mannerisms that you might have or suggest how to enhance your presence and demeanor.

I thought it was a great article and helpful for anybody who is looking for a job in these tough economic times.

[via lifehacker]

Addicted to Reddit

2010-12-30T13:59:00.003-05:00

I know exactly how this guy feels. Clicked 8 pages into reddit's front page, check subreddits, refresh front page again. Endless cycle!!! [via reddit.com]

Co-Workers From Hell

2009-08-09T10:15:00.003-04:00

WalletPop has a slideshow depicting 15 types of co-workers from hell. My favourite out of the list is the 'Facepicker'

As a corporate trainer I have seen a few odd balls. However, the worst person I clearly remember was in a new hire class I trained. Long story short, she would pick her face and eat it while I taught the course. It became so bad she had to excuse herself to the bathroom to blot the bloody mess she called her face. Other new hires came to me saying that she was a distraction and they couldn’t put up with her. Her favorite time to pick her face was directly after lunch, I still get a tad sick to my stomach even thinking of Facepicker. She eventually got fired because she could not perform the job. I hope she never works with people again.

I don't know of any facepickers at my office, but in elementry school I remember a classmate who was a booger-eater. I wonder if he's graduated into a facepicker? *checks facebook*

[via WalletPop]

Now hiring: Everywhere you didn't want to work

2009-08-09T10:01:00.002-04:00

With unemployment in the US hovering around 9% and over 14 million unemployed, people are starting to look for jobs in once unlikely places. Higher skilled and expierenced individuals are applying for jobs at such places as slaughterhouses, sewage plants, prisons and poultry plants.

The articles describes several individuals that have done just that. Although not ideal, each seem thankful for their jobs.

It's depressing how the economy has shrunken, and labor has downshifted. Unfortunately this seems to be the growing trend. As much as I complain about my job, I am thankful that I'm not in their position... yet....

[via Yahoo!

Graduate sues university because nobody will hire her

2009-08-04T15:29:00.002-04:00

Trina Thompson, a graduate from New York's Monroe College with a bachelor of business administration degree in information technology, can't find a job, so she's going to sue her college. She says that they haven't done enough to get her employed. She wants $72,000 (college tuiton and $2000 for compensation).

Oh yeah, it's one of those stories you can't believe is real. On one hand, it sucks for her because she's spent so much money getting a degree that has become worthless; on the other hand, she's responsible for herself getting a job. It's too easy to blame others for her own problems. She's got to work her networking resources and apply; she can't sue herself to retirement... Or can she?

[via CNN

Mike Rowe commentary on labor

2009-07-27T21:24:00.002-04:00

Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs talks about labor, passion, and sheep testicles. He talks about how his experience on a sheep farm made a lasting impression about how he views dirty jobs. Each experience has given him insight about what he calls a Civil War on Labor. Society's view on manual labor/trade has changed, so much that manual labor is viewed negatively or oversimplified.

A change in how manual labor is viewed is not only good for trade jobs, but it is also good for society in the whole. It is these types of jobs that is lacking from American's workforce today.

[via Youtube]

Professional Athlete Pay Scale

2009-07-27T19:19:00.004-04:00

A chart showing how much athletes get paid compared to various jobs. Suffice to say, a LOT! If I didn't have such short legs...!
[via ]

Waking up and getting ready in 5 minutes

2009-07-17T19:33:00.002-04:00

On a Japanese TV show, a guy demostrates how he gets up and gets ready for work in under five minutes. It's amazing that he gets dressed, eats, and brushes his teeth so quickly.

I know for me, this would be impossible, as I'm groggy when I wake up, but there are some useful tips I think anybody can apply. I especially like how he puts on pants and ties his tie; I think that is useful.

[via YouTube]

Highs and Lows of a Quarter Lifer

2009-07-10T19:54:00.002-04:00

The highs and lows of an average guy. I can definately relate to the disappointment of college, the alcohol, the joy of independence, and the impeding sense of uncertainty and despair. I guess I'm just another average guy. *shrugs* I'm screwed.

[via MadAtoms]

CMO Responds to Gizmodo's article

2009-07-10T19:46:00.002-04:00

The CMO of BestBuy, Barry Judge, actually responded to Gizmodo's mock article yesterday! I'm glad he's got a sense of humor and nice comebacks. It's almost like he knows us. Friends?

[via Barry Judge]

Revelation

2009-07-09T22:02:00.001-04:00

Revelation by Jay Van Dam. Somedays at work I feel just like he does in these pictures- trapped. I'm still waiting for my revelation. *starts chewing through box*

[via WhiteZine]

How the US spends it's Paycheck

2009-07-09T21:48:00.003-04:00

Visual Economics did a very nice, easy readable chart of the average expenditures of an US consumer. The data is from the Department of Labor's survey. The spending on goods seems a bit excessive, but they seem correct to me.

I think I need to keep track of my finances better. Got to retire early, ya' know.

Click on the link for a larger picture.
Visual Economics

7 Types of Best Buy Employees

2009-07-09T21:41:00.003-04:00

Gizmodo wrote an article about the 7 types of employees that you see at Best Buy. It's true, I see these guys all the time. It's also why I avoid Best Buy like the plague.

[via Gizmodo]

Shirt for Graduates

2009-07-09T21:38:00.002-04:00

It's amazing how much online technologies have affected our lives. When I was in college all I had was Google!

Low Ink

2009-07-08T21:55:00.004-04:00

Thats where pandas come from!

[by Nocturnal Devil @ deviantart]

Unpleasant Truths, Comforting Lies

2009-07-08T21:44:00.000-04:00

Ain't that the truth!

Job?! F*ck It!!

2006-07-11T14:31:00.001-04:00

This is a hilarious pamphlet that Packard Jennings sent in those business-reply-letters. It's a how-to-guide to quit your job and start your own little tribal community. Follow the link for the full pamphlet!

[via Packard Jennings]

Tags: job, business, reply, mail

Friday is happiest day of the year, British scholar finds

2006-06-27T09:43:00.000-04:00

Wooohoo! Now I've got scientific proof Friday is awesome!!!

Feeling more happy than usual this particular Friday? You should be, according to a scholar in seasonal disorders at a British university.

Cliff Arnall has analysed such factors as outdoor activities, nature, social interaction, childhood memories, temperature and holidays -- data gathered over a period of 15 years in interviews with 3,000 people around the world.

His conclusion: June 23 is the happiest day of the year.

"People across borders experience happiness when they meet with friends and family and establish close social relationships," the University of Cardiff academic told AFP. "We need some close emotional ties."

He used what he considers a "simple equation" to reach his conclusion -- O + (N x S) + Cpm/T + He.

O stands for outdoor activities, N for nature, S for social interaction, Cpm for childhood summers and positive memories, T for temperature and He for holidays and looking forward to time off.

Arnall has already figured out the saddest day of the year. It was January 23 -- a Monday. "Surprise, surprise", he quipped.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: friday, happy, day

What Happens When Your Company Gets Bought Out

2006-06-23T13:23:00.001-04:00

What happens when your company gets bought out? Written by Steve Gedikian from Nullsoft after being bought out by AOL. Even though it's written 2 years ago, it's still relevant today. This is exactly what has happened recently at my work place. Interesting to compare the parallels. Well, back to work.

[via gedikian.com]

Tags: merger, buy out, company

Nothing is Impossible

2006-06-23T13:17:00.000-04:00

Nothing is impossible. A slideshow showing a snail doing what we might think is impossible, but really is not. Cool.

[via flickr]

Tags: nothing, impossible, snail

Gentlemen's Fight Club

2006-06-15T11:33:00.000-04:00

This sounds like a great activity. After work, beat your fellow co-workers (or get beat), then share some beers as you watch the replay of yourself hiding in the corner in a fetal position.

A couple times a month, deep in Silicon Valley, a group of software engineers meets for a Gentlemen's Fight Club. Scroll through the pictures to see and read the story of the most recent gathering.

[via Wired]

Tags: gemntlemen, fight, club, software, engineer

Lies, Damned Lies and Résumés

2006-06-02T11:37:00.000-04:00

An article from Wired about lying on resumes. I guess if everybody does it, it's ok right? There's also a reference to Forbes Top 10 lies on resumes too. Interesting read if you're looking for a job.
[via Wired]

Tags: lies, resume

How to Detect Lies

2006-06-02T10:38:00.000-04:00

This describes one of my friends. Of course, I've already figured out a way to detect his lies- it's to assume he's always lying. This list also describes why I stink at interviews. Figures...
[via blifaloo.com]

Tags: how, detect, lies

Jackson Pollock painting program

2006-06-02T10:33:00.000-04:00

[

It's painting program online. Definately can lose track of time making art. My art rivals those of elephant paintings.
[via jacksonpollock.org]

Tags: Jackson Pollock, paint

Man drowns trying to save toy boat

2006-05-31T10:08:00.000-04:00

Boats + Water = Death. That's why I prefer to sit in a cubicle and soak in radiation all day long.

A Florida man drowned after jumping onto an inflatable raft and paddling out to the middle of a lake to try to retrieve a stalled, radio-controlled toy boat, police said Tuesday.

Another toy boat punctured the raft, causing it to deflate rapidly, and the 31-year-old victim could not swim, Miami-Dade Police said.

The accident occurred Monday evening at a park northwest of Miami where the victim and several friends were racing the remote-controlled boats.

"I think it was all purely accidental. It's a fluke," said Detective Joanne Duncan.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: drown, toy, boat

Clever Advertising

2006-05-18T10:47:00.000-04:00

I knew it! That's how machines work! I wonder how the computer works now?

[via Idiot World]

Tags: atm, coffee, photo booth, job, advertisement

Study Hard and You, Too, Can Deliver Pizza

2006-05-17T10:03:00.000-04:00

This is not particularly a funny article but for me, a thought-provoking one. It's about a lady who delivers pizza instead of pursuing a job that would utilize her Master's degree. Instead of thinking she was dumb, I'm actually a bit envious. Not that I think delivering pizza is for me, but that she found a job she actually enjoys. Then again, I'm also torn about not being able to earning enough money to become wealthy.

Study Hard and You, Too, Can Deliver Pizza
People might say I'm crazy to waste my education, but I have what most of them don't: a job I love.
By Kathy Kallenbach Clark
Newsweek

May 22, 2006 issue - I'm a 43-year-old mother of three young kids with a Master of Science degree. I also deliver pizzas for a living. I started doing it after staying home with my children for four years. Caring for your kids all day is a fantastic opportunity for many women, but it wasn't right for me. I began suffering from depression and decided to get a job so I'd have more of my own identity. Now I work nights when my husband is home so we don't have to depend on child care.

After I learned the basics of pizza delivery—like getting the orders together and not getting lost—I began to fine-tune my new "career." Being competitive and organized by nature, I studied the tipping patterns and demographics of the town.

Our community had a small, expensive liberal-arts college full of students who ordered lots of pizzas. Most of the kids were friendly and polite. On Friday and Saturday nights, some of the dorms had huge parties. Though the stairs were sticky from beer and the music was so loud they couldn't hear me knock on the door, the crowds of happy students shouting, "Pizza! Pizza!" always let me through.

A few of the quieter dorms were full of more studious students who seemed to look down on me, perhaps because they were on their way to more professional employment. I always felt like telling them that they should stay in school and get their master's degrees, and maybe one day they would have the wonderful experience of delivering pizzas.

The first few days of each month, one of us drivers would take our turn covering the public-housing developments. These customers did not always tip well, but I always liked seeing the children and adults sitting outside and enjoying the evenings when the weather was nice. The higher-income neighborhoods were much quieter, and I rarely saw neighbors talking to each other.

The delivery area was quite large, but in a country town like that one you could drive 10 or 15 miles and hit only one stoplight, so a quick driver could cover more than 100 miles and 20 deliveries a night. I learned to love the solitude, listening to music, looking up at the stars and thinking about life.

A year ago my husband switched jobs and we moved to the suburb of a large city. I planned to get a job that would put my degree to use, but within two weeks of settling in I found myself yearning to drive again. I went to work with a pizza franchise and once again had to learn how to pack orders and not get lost. Within a month I learned the lay of the land, which included eight-lane highways and stoplights every mile. Deliveries take far more time, but some things never change. The college routine continues, and public-assistance checks bring a boost of business at the beginning of the month.

I also deliver to multimillion-dollar homes now, but the amount I make in tips has stayed the same. As I drive up to these beautiful houses, it's easy to fantasize about a generous tip. The person who answers the door invariably looks young and, like the members of my own family, highly educated. All I usually get is a brief "Thank you" and a dollar or two. (Why do people tip a waiter 20 percent to bring them their food from a kitchen that's 15 feet away but barely tip someone who drives 10 miles to do it?)

Not everyone is generous, but most of the people I meet are honest and will tell me if I give them a $5 bill in change when I should have given them a dollar. Still, there are some who like to try to put one over on me. I wonder how those people feel about tak-ing my money. Do they think the company will make up for it? The truth is that if I come up short at the end of the night, I pay for it out of my pocket.

I keep my résumé up to date and look for jobs that require my degree, but I haven't found anything that interests me. I feel bad that my daughter does not ask me to speak at her school on career day, but there is something about delivering pizzas that I find very fulfilling. I love watching the moon change nightly and working with fun, happy people. This job has made me very nonjudgmental about what people choose to do for a living.

You can now order a pizza on the Internet, but it is still a real person who has to deliver it. If you're lucky, you'll get someone like me, who loves her job. Please tip accordingly.

CLARK lives in Newark, Dela.

[via MSNBC]

Tags: pizza, deliver, master, career

Evolution of Dance

2006-05-13T12:39:00.000-04:00

Cool video showing the different styles of dancing over the years. I definately remember doing some of those! One glaring omission is the 'Electric Slide'. Can't wait to bust-a-move at a club tonight!

[via YouTube]

Tags: evolution, dance

Call Center Movie

2006-05-12T18:20:00.000-04:00

This is a funny short film about Call Centers. It's about 12 minutes long. I guess you never know who you get on the other line.

[via CallCenterMovie]

Tags: call center, movie

Fun with Google Trends

2006-05-12T12:02:00.000-04:00

So Google released "Google Trends" yesterday and already there's tons of fun to be had with it. In particular, you can find out what locations does the most searches for a particular phrase.

For example "Sheep sex". I guess it confirms everything people have been saying. Hehe.

About Google Trends

With Google Trends, you can compare the world's interest in your favorite topics. Enter up to five topics and see how often they've been searched for on Google over time. Google Trends also displays how frequently your topics have appeared in Google News stories, and which geographic regions have searched for them most often.

[via Google]

Tags: fun, google, trends, sheep, sex

Teen Says Friend Asked to Be Hit With Car

2006-05-10T10:31:00.000-04:00

Friend asks to be hit by a car, suffers broken leg. Now the other friend will be going to ass-pound-prison. I didn't know that getting hit by a car was fun, but now I do! I'll be sure to create some "fun" for my friends.

A 17-year-old boy who police said asked a friend to hit him with a car "for fun" was still hospitalized Tuesday with a broken leg.

Michael Morris, a junior at Chesterton High School, was in fair condition at Porter hospital, spokeswoman Robin Carlascio said.

His friend, Stephen D. Domonkos, 18, told police that Morris on Saturday night asked him to hit him with his car, something they had done before. He told police that Morris was "an adrenaline junkie."

Domonkos was driving about 25 mph when the car hit Morris, shattering the windshield, in the parking lot of a Chesterton restaurant where Domonkos works.

Domonkos was charged with felony criminal recklessness. If convicted, he could face six months to three years in jail.

"I won't do this no more," Morris of Chesterton told The Times of Munster.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: teen, hit, car, asked

Best exam answer ever!

2006-05-08T13:10:00.000-04:00

It could be argued that this is the smartest or dumbest kid ever, but one thing is certain, he failed.

[via ImageShack]

Tags: exam, answer, find, x

Kemis Sings Edmund

2006-05-08T13:02:00.000-04:00

Tired of watching Asian kids acting "black" or lipsyncing? I sure as hell am. Well, watch this guy sing a Cantonese song, and sing it well. Cantonese is a very tough language to learn to speak, let alone sing.

[via YouTube]

Tags: Kemis, Sings, edmund, Cantonese, black, Chinese,

Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006

2006-04-26T16:34:00.000-04:00

Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006 Part 1

Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006 Part 2

This is an amazing animation made to look like a video game. Lots of pop culture/video game references. Awesome animation like Metal Slug series. There is also a higher version MPG and Torrent available from selectparks.

[via selectparks]
[via YouTube: Part 1]
[via YouTube: Part 2]

Tags: baby, cabana, battle, street, fight, 2006, animation,

Santa? No! It's Naked chimney guy!

2006-04-25T10:35:00.000-04:00

These things always seem like a good idea when you're drunk.

Believing they had a botched burglary on their hands, police in Hayward, California, called to a house instead found a naked man wedged in its chimney, a police officer said Monday.

"He didn't have a stitch on," Lt. Gary Branson of the Hayward Police Department said, referring to Michael Urbano.

The 23-year-old man came home early Saturday morning and, finding himself locked out and without his keys, tried to enter the single-story house through its chimney.

"He told us he took off his clothes because as he was going down the chimney the clothes would rub up against it and slow him down," Branson said. "If it was skin on cement he felt he would go down easier."

Urbano's effort ended disastrously when a cable-television wire he used to lower himself snapped. He fell and was wedged in a section of the chimney tapering into the home's fireplace.

For the next four hours he cried out for help. A neighbor called police and fire fighters, who dislodged Urbano, Branson said. Officers booked Urbano for being under the influence of drugs, he added.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: santa, naked, chimney, guy,

Pacman 3-D

2006-04-24T13:00:00.000-04:00

Real life pacman. lol! Playing this game in real life is much harder!

[via Google Video]

Tags: Pac-Man, 3D,

Monkey Business

2006-04-23T19:46:00.000-04:00

A short from Campus Movie Fest Boston 2006. It's funny!!! I wish I was that monkey.

[via CampusMovieFest]

Tags: monkey business, campus move fest,

Lodger - I Love Death

2006-04-23T19:24:00.000-04:00

Song is Lodger - I Love Death. Flash music video about life. Depressing... true.

[via lodger.tv]

Tags: Lodger, i love death, flash, music video

Pepsi Nex Game

2006-04-20T16:32:00.000-04:00

Simple flash game made by Pepsi. Use your fist and smash through ice walls. Smash all the walls to win!

[via Pepsi]

Tags: pepsi, nex, flash, game

The sex-change chicken that crows

2006-04-20T11:45:00.000-04:00

Chicken becomes rooster? That's a disturbing story. I wonder what it tastes like deep fried?

A sex-change chicken which started life as an egg-laying hen has turned into a crowing cockerel.

The pet, called Freaky, spent eight months laying dozens of eggs until she crowed like a cock bird one morning.

Over the next few weeks, she sprouted a scarlet comb, grew red flaps called wattles under her chin and tufty tail feathers - all attributes of cockerels.

Owner Jo Richards, of Saltford, near Bristol, said: "I've kept chickens for 10 years but I've never heard of such a thing."

Animal experts said Freaky's sexchangewas a one-in-10,000 rarity. It happens when a damaged ovary causes the hen's testosterone levels to soar, turning the remaining ovary into a testicle.

Freaky, a silver-laced Wyandotte hen, now crows every sunrise, aggressively attacks other males and even tries to mate with his old female friends.

Victoria Roberts, of the Poultry Club of Great Britain, said: "This is very, very rare. I've been keeping poultry for 35 years and I've seen it only once."

[via Daily Mail]

Tags: sex-change, chicken, rooster

Robotic Self Destruct and Self Healing Chair

2006-04-20T11:32:00.000-04:00

That's a pretty amazing video. I wonder what else can self-heal itself... Perhaps fighting robots?

[via YouTube]

Tags: robotic, self destruct, healing, chair

German police alerted after man falls asleep on phone to girlfriend

2006-04-19T10:56:00.000-04:00

Boring people do make others sleepy.... Well, at least she's not crazy... or is she?

A boring phone conversation prompted an emergency alert when a German man nodded off while talking to his girlfriend, authorities said.

The 42-year-old man in the southern city of Nuremberg was on the phone to his partner Sunday when he fell into a doze.

The woman became alarmed when he stopped speaking and called him back several times, only to get a busy signal. Then she called the police.

Fearing the worst, the emergency services dispatched a police car to the man's house, followed by the fire brigade and an ambulance.

"When the whole crew pulled up in full force, sirens blaring, the man opened the door in a daze," a police spokesman said.

The man explained the silence at his end of the line to officers at the scene: a cat-nap during a lull in the conversation.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: German, sleep, girlfriend

Easter Bunny Accused of Hitting Customer

2006-04-19T10:42:00.000-04:00

I'de be angry too if I had wear a suit for 9 hours.

The Easter Bunny has been fired — for losing his head. Arthur J. McClure, 22, who had been hired to play the Easter Bunny at a local mall has been accused of removing the head of the costume and hitting a customer, authorities said.

McClure punched Erin Johansson when she got upset that the photo exhibit was closing 10 minutes early Saturday night, police reports said. The incident was witnessed by dozens of people at the Edison Mall, including 15 children.

McClure said he never punched Johansson. He claims he was trying to stop a fight between his wife — exhibit manager Crystal Frechette — and Johansson.

He said he took the bunny's head off because he had been wearing it for nine hours and was hot.

"My shirt was soaked with sweat," McClure said. "I almost threw up."

Mall management issued an apology to parents and children. Golden, Colo.-based Noerr Programs Corp., which contracted with the mall to run the photo set, fired McClure and Frechette on Monday. They also have been charged with battery and disturbing the peace.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: Easter Bunny, hits, customer

Man Rediscovers Gift Fruitcake From 1962

2006-04-19T10:28:00.000-04:00

I bet it tastes like a lil' piece of heaven.

Lance Nesta did what many people do when receiving a fruitcake — he set it aside, only to rediscover it more than 40 years later in his mother's attic. Nesta couldn't resist taking a peek at the cake, still in its original tin and wrapped in paper.

"I was amazed that it hadn't changed at all," he said.

Nesta's two aunts sent him the fruitcake in November 1962 while he was stationed in Alaska with the Army.

"I opened it up and didn't know what to do with it," Nesta said. "I sure wasn't going to eat it, and I liked my fellow soldiers too much to share it with them."

As best he can remember, he packed the cake with the rest of his belongings and shipped it home to Waukesha when he left the military a few years later. He recently rediscovered the boxed fruitcake in the attic of his mother's home in Waukesha.

His mom had given him advance warning of the fruitcake back in 1962.

"She knew I hated the damn things, but she said she didn't have the heart to tell my aunts, who had already mailed it," he said.

The cake arrived wrapped in brown paper with a red "fragile, handle with care" sticker on it. The cake itself was contained in a round blue tin printed with the words "Old Fashioned Fruitcake."

"Now it's just old," Nesta said.

While looking at the cake's container this week, he noticed the listed ingredients included rum and brandy.

"If I had known back then that it had rum and brandy in it, I would have eaten it," he said.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: fruitcake, 1962, rediscovers

India Driving

2006-04-18T14:30:00.000-04:00

How people drive in India. Looks like a lot of chaos to me, but I guess it works.

[via YouTube]

Tags: India, driving

Disappearing Rabbit Trick

2006-04-15T11:20:00.000-04:00

Follow the rabbit tracks. BAM! The tracks suddenly end where the wing prints of an owl start. This picture was taken by a friend of a friend who teaches in Bethel,Alaska. Photo by Susan Barstow.

I guess that's life.

[via SummitPost]

Tags: disappearing, rabbit, trocl

Comics: Dilbert - The Contractor

2006-04-14T10:58:00.000-04:00

Why does this seem oddly familar?

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: dilbert, comics, contractor

Police Clock Teacher at Over 100 Mph

2006-04-14T10:50:00.000-04:00

Hahahaha, it's funny because it's a teacher. You would think a teacher would know about speed limits and the law, but I guess not.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: teacher, speeding, 100mph

Police return $42,000 thrown out with trash

2006-04-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

That is crazy. Is it common to keep large stock piles of money in the trash? I'm going to go dumpster diving.

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese man wept for joy this week when he recovered 5 million yen ($42,210) in cash his wife had mistakenly thrown out with the household rubbish.

The 35-year-old man had withdrawn the money from a bank account but, fearing it would be stolen, he hid it inside a refuse bag which he placed in a rubbish bin, Japanese media said.

His wife unknowingly threw out the bag, which was found last month at a refuse collection point outside an apartment building in Saitama, north of Tokyo.

Local police returned the money after the man was able to give details of the exact amount and where he had withdrawn it.

Many Japanese keep large quantities of money hidden in their homes and cash is often used for business transactions.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: trash, money, throw out, 42000, million, yen,

MONEY Magazine's Best Jobs

2006-04-12T11:52:00.000-04:00

I got the best job! Now all I need is the best company to work for. Click the link to find out were your job ranks (if you're employed)....

1. Software Engineer
Why it's great Software engineers are needed in virtually every part of the economy, making this one of the fastest-growing job titles in the U.S. Even so, it's not for everybody.

Designing, developing and testing computer programs requires some pretty advanced math skills and creative problem-solving ability. If you've got them, though, you can work and live where you want: Telecommuting is quickly becoming widespread.

The profession skews young -- the up-all-night-coding thing gets tired -- but consulting and management positions aren't hard to come by once you're experienced.

What's cool Cutting-edge projects, like designing a new video game or tweaking that military laser. Extra cash from freelance gigs. Plus, nothing says cool like great prospects.

What's not Jobs at the biggest companies tend to be less creative (think Neo, pre-Matrix). Outsourcing is a worry. Eyestrain and back, hand and wrist problems are common.

Top-paying job Release engineers, who are responsible for the final version of any software product, earn six figures.

Education Bachelor's degree, but moving up the ladder often requires a master's.

[via CNNMoney]

Tags: money, MONEY magazine, best jobs, jobs

Teen Accused of Making 1,000 911 Calls

2006-04-12T10:56:00.000-04:00

Now this is just dumb. If I were the cops I would've just arrested her after the 3rd prank call.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A teenage girl acknowledged making about 1,000 fake 911 calls from her cell phone, laughing, taunting and saying, "You can't catch me," police said Monday.

Police said some of the calls made this month lasted several minutes, and one lasted an hour.

The girl was charged over the weekend with two counts of misdemeanor falsely reporting an incident for allegedly making six fake 911 calls from a local church phone Saturday.

"She didn't give us a reason for doing this," Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards said. "She was very disrespectful, and she said that she was going to keep calling 911."

The girl's name was not released because she is a minor.

The case follows the arrest earlier this year of Juan Merced, who along with his wife and oldest son was accused of making nearly 1,000 fake 911 calls from his Buffalo home.

Police said this new case may be a copycat one.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: teen, 1000, 911, phone call, prank call

Accused Burglar Takes Cameras, Leaves Tape

2006-04-12T10:51:00.000-04:00

I think this is called a "life lesson." I'm sure he don't make the same mistake twice... maybe.

ELKO, Nev. - A man accused of burglarizing a laundromat in Elko figured he made a clean escape over the weekend when he took off with the store's six video surveillance cameras.

But it turns out he left some rather compelling evidence behind — the video machine and videotape that recorded his face each time he stood in front of the cameras at the Southside Laundry.

Elko police said they came away with several close-ups of the suspect, Robert Lynn White, 52, Elko.

And even if the portraits were a little fuzzy, police said they would have been able to easily identify him because he was wearing cowboy chaps and a trench coat, the usual attire he wears around town.

Police are still working to recover the missing cameras but in the meantime they have arrested White on suspicion of grand larceny. The store is owned by Elko County Commissioner John Ellison.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: burglar, camera, video surveillance, elko,

Elephant Eats Scores of Cookies, Gets Sick

2006-04-12T10:42:00.000-04:00

I guess this should teach people not to feed the elephants, for their own sake. But who knew you couldn't feed deep fried cookies to elephants?

.:.Read More

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: elephant, cookies, sick, Colombo, sri+lanka

'Happy face' crater on Mars

2006-04-11T16:41:00.000-04:00

How did Mars beat us? Where is our giant happy face!?!

[via ESA]

Tags: mars, happy face

Bruce Lee The FULL lost interview

2006-04-10T18:52:00.000-04:00

This is the interview with Bruce Lee. I've seen bits and pieces of it, as many other have tpo, but not the whole thing. It's interesting what he says, especially what he says near the end. I wonder what the world would be like he didn't die so young?

[via YouTube]

Tags: Bruce Lee, interview, lost, martial arts, Jeet Kune Do

Is being an IKEA mascot the worst job ever?

2006-04-10T13:28:00.000-04:00

Now that guy looks like he hates his job.

A Chinese man rests as his colleague works at being the mascot to the newly completed IKEA Siyuanqiao store in Beijing, China, Monday, April 10, 2006. IKEA on Monday unveiled its new outlet in Beijing that will be its biggest in Asia, a seven-story, US$100 million behemoth that the Swedish furniture maker hopes will put it ahead in China's thriving but crowded market. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: ikea, mascot, BeiJing, China

Rube Goldberg Machine

2006-04-07T20:20:00.000-04:00

A Rube Goldberg machine is a machine that strings together a bunch of unrelated items to perform a (cool, but useless) action. The video demostrates what the machines are. You've probably seen these on TV or movies.

[via YouTube]

Tags: Rube Goldberg, incredible, machine, Japan

Sushi Samurai Game

2006-04-07T16:17:00.000-04:00

A good platform game. Teaches young kids how to make sushi... not really, but it does keep bored employees entertained.

[via CBC.ca]

Tags: CBC, sushi, samurai, game

Desert pinup ogled by Google Earth

2006-04-06T16:06:00.000-04:00

Hmmm... Space porn....

[via News.com]

Tags: Eva Longoria, Maxim, Google Earth, desert, pinup

WarCraft 3 Multi Touchscreen Panel

2006-04-05T15:27:00.000-04:00

Mitsubishi is working on a multi touchscreen panel. So what do they do with it? Play WarCraft 3 of course. Cool demonstration of the possible uses of multi touchscreen technology.

[via YouTube]

Tags: WarCraft 3, touchscreen, panel

New Technology: LCD Touchscreen "Cards"

2006-04-05T15:22:00.000-04:00

This is a video of some new technology. It's like an interactive board where special "cards" are used to interact with it. The video shows the guy checking weather, sports, watching videos, etc. Too difficult to describe well, so just check it out.

[via YouTube]

Tags: LCD, technology, touch screen

Comics: Garfield

2006-04-05T11:18:00.000-04:00

I could apply this to some people I know. True.

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: comics, Garfield

Paperweight Severs Calif. Teacher's Hand

2006-04-05T00:03:00.000-04:00

Teacher uses 40mm shell, to kill fly and loses his hand in the process. I bet the fly is dead though.

[via SFGate]

Tags: paperweight, severs, teacher, hand, 40mm

What's Happening to Boys?

2006-04-04T23:48:00.000-04:00

According to the Washington Post more guys are living at home than before. The trend might be because guys lack direction and focus. Girls, on the other hand, are achieving goals that they set for themselves. From my personal experience, I can say this is partly true, but living at home doesn't mean boys don't have focus. Bunch of my friends are already saving to buy homes, etc. The cheapest way to do that is to bum of your parents for a little while.

[via Washington Post]

Tags: guys, lack, direction

Job interviews that suck

2006-04-04T23:42:00.000-04:00

Everybody's had a bad interview. I, for one, had more than my fair share. The worst interviews are the ones where you know the they're not going to hire you, but they still go through the motions. Several hours later, you get home, and there's an e-mail saying you've wasted your time.

[via membox]

Tags: job, interview, suck

Turn yourself into an animal

2006-04-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

LOL!!!

[via Sk!dz]

Tags: animal, household items, funny image

24's Tony Almeida In Japan

2006-04-03T11:53:00.000-04:00

The actor who plays Tony Almeida in 24 is seen here doing a comedy sketch in Japan. I don't have audio at work, nor do I understand Japanese, but it definately looks funny! Michael Jackson makes an appearance too. Enjoy!

[via YouTube]

Tags: Tony Almeida, 24, Japan, comedy, sketch

Real Life Starcraft

2006-04-03T11:45:00.000-04:00

Look what you did Blizzard. Look what you did... From this point on these kids will never have a normal life.

[via YouTube]

Tags: real, life, starcraft

Grow Your Own 1up Mushroom Kit

2006-03-31T13:28:00.000-05:00

This is the most amazing discovery in the world. Unlimited lives for everyone! Now time to find Yoshi.

[via ThinkGeek]

Tags: 1up, mushroom, kit,april fools,

Is there a Future for Career Programmers?

2006-03-30T12:02:00.000-05:00

Between outsourcing and downsizing, in the long term it doesn't look good for Americans in the tech field. Just one interesting note, the author says on average that programmers get paid $50/hr... I think I'm in that "underpaid, overworked" category.

Programmers are a large part of social globalization, but could that be our downfall? As we build the infrastructure of Earth 2.0, where Maine can collaborate with Tokyo without a hitch, are we creating a global market for our services that we won’t be able to compete in?

Right now, it is good to be a programmer. The business world is really starting to wake up and smell the Internet, providing consistent work at corporate and local levels. We are approached every day by customers looking for a range of solutions — everything from dealership management suites to a quick way to update the newest dog actor’s portfolio. Everybody is rushing online, and there’s a strong need for coders.

Here in Boston, it’s about par for an entry level programmer with a degree to start out at around $45-55k a year, with great benefits. After even a year’s experience, and a strong transcript, a salary can easily hit $75k plus. Often, the work isn’t even that challenging — even poor programmers can do well if they have strong communication and delegation skills. In fact, being a brilliant coder often has little to do with success in a corporate gig; (check the feed for that in a few days.)

I often work with a company in New Hampshire that does extremely well by churning out web applications. Their model is 2 teams each with 5 programmers and 1 lead. The head of the company is a one man think tank — constantly sending new projects down the line. The programmers work 10-4, and the average salary is $62,414. Hourly, the average programmer makes about $50. This model is pretty stable throughout the industry. Each company has its own flavor, but it’s safe to say that on average, a full time programmer costs a company about $50 an hour.

With that standard of comparison, let’s travel around the world, to another company I’m familiar with, in India. This company does global contract work, but employs the same technology as the New Hampshire outfit, and has a similar management model. The same caliber programmers cost $20 an hour to employ, and earn a competetive salary in their locale.

I work mostly with companies in the Middle East. My friends in India aren’t the most extreme example, just a representative one that I am familiar with. In some countries (in the Far East and some in Europe) many programmers with experience and education only earn $10 an hour.

Intellectual work like programming doesn’t meet the same downfalls as outsourcing things like industrial and textile work. The primary investment is often negligible or non existant with jobs like programming — clothes or auto parts require entire factories to be built and management / quality control teams hired. Then there’s shipping, transport, housing, travel and expesive liasons — huge costs for phsyical product companies — that don’t comparatively exist.

Many people are enraged by the concept of outsourcing. They think it’s unAmerican, exploitive, and often detestable. As a programmer myself, I’m happy to have their support, but realize it is frivolous. There’s nothing more American than profit and free market, so the second it becomes completely feasible to outsource work at a 50% savings, it will happen.

The job market will likely still be stable for a few years yet, so if you’re in college, creating a nice pile of debt, it’s probably not time to worry. Right now, the global communication required for complex projects is often still tedious and expensive, though it is becoming less so by the day. Even after the corporate jobs migrate, local work will be available — though who knows for how long.

[via Redline]

Tags: future, career, programmers

Boob Job Ban In Space

2006-03-30T11:44:00.000-05:00

Breast implants may explode in space. I guess few pornostars and models will be going to space. Well, as long as we can send Lance Bass, I think we'll be good.

[via Sky News]

Tags: boob, space, explode,

Monkeys pay per view

2006-03-30T11:36:00.000-05:00

Male monkeys are willing to "pay" to view the female monkeys privat parts. I think this is something we all know from studying human behaviour. It's fascinating when we find this behaviour in monkeys but its just dirty when humans do this. "Damn dirty humans!"

[via EurekAlert]

Tags: monkeys, pay-per-view, hindquarters

Winner Named for 'Home Office From Hell'

2006-03-30T10:56:00.000-05:00

Home Office from Hell contest winner. This guy has to put up with a lot just to work. I hope he makes it rich one day. Good luck! I wonder if they'll have a 'Office from Hell contest'?

[via Offices 2 Share]

Tags: winner, home office, hell

Workaholics struggle to say "No" to work

2006-03-30T10:43:00.000-05:00

Workaholics? Is there an -aholics for being lazy and bored at work? Because if there is, I'de like to sign up for the 12-step-program. 12-step-program rules.

[via Yahoo News!]

Tags: workaholics, no to work, news,

Four beautiful words: All You Can Eat..

2006-03-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

A world record setting All-You-Can-Eat buffet to raise money for hunger relief. Does anybody else find this a bit odd. I guess if it all goes to charity, it doesn't matter how it gets there.

[via Yahoo News!]

Tags: all you can eat, buffet, news,

Hello Kitty Wedding

2006-03-29T20:06:00.000-05:00

If you happen to be in Japan and love Hello Kitty, well this is a great time to start planning your dream wedding. This one is definately weird but I guess it's no weirder than any themed wedding. If I was the groom, I would reconsider this marriage...

[via Plant Hello Kitty]

Tags: Hello Kitty, wedding

Fighting Robots

2006-03-29T20:02:00.000-05:00

This is a great video of fighting humanoid robots. It's not like the battle bot car-type robots. The little red robot is funny, and has some surprising moves. It's funny the way he moves. Don't expect to see UFC style moves... yet.

[via Robot Fan]

Tags: robot, fan, fighting, omnizero,

Crazy Cat Terrorizes Connecticut Town

2006-03-29T10:43:00.000-05:00

So a 6-toed cat has been scratching and biting random people. Somehow I don't think he's going to abide by the restraining order. The solution... tape!

[via Yahoo News!]

Tags: crazy, cat, terrorizes, Connecticut, town

How to confuse a cat

2006-03-28T23:08:00.000-05:00

This is a funny video. I need to get a cat and try this!!!

[via YouTube]

Tags: cat, confuse, tape, funny,

Gay Cowboy Truck

2006-03-28T11:17:00.000-05:00

How could a truck be gay? If it was used in Brokeback Mountain, thats how! Now you can bid on this truck on eBay and live the life of a gay cowboy too! Exciting times we live in.

[via eBay]

Tags: gay, cowboy, truck, Brokeback Mountain, auction

Man Is Charged $4,300 for Four Burgers

2006-03-28T09:54:00.000-05:00

I wonder if he got fries with that?

[via Yahoo News!]

Tags: burgers, Burger King, whopper, 4300 dollars

Always Give 100% at Work

2006-03-27T14:57:00.000-05:00

LOL! I should print this out and put it on my desk.

[via Funny Pictures and Cartoons]

Tags: work, funny, Friday

China's Artificial Sun

2006-03-27T14:27:00.000-05:00

"The full superconducting experimental Tokamak fusion device, nicknamed 'artificial sun', can generate infinite, clean nuclear-fusion-based energy. It will be built in March or April in Hefei."

Didn't they watch Spider-Man 2??? No! Don't do it Dr. Octavius!

[via People's Daily Online]

Tags: China, artificial sun, Tokamak, fusion, Hefei,

Dial N for naked

2006-03-27T14:00:00.000-05:00

So up to a 1/3 of the ppl in Britain talk on the phone naked. Hope they're not getting naked during the phone conversation. At least people don't blog naked...

[via Yahoo News!]

Tags: naked, phone, news, Britain

Drunkard kills himself over meatless dinner

2006-03-27T13:53:00.000-05:00

The guy likes his meats... YUM!

[via Yahoo News!]

Tags: drunk, meat, dinner, news, suicide,

Comics

2006-03-27T10:05:00.000-05:00

[via Yahoo! News]

Tags: comics, Garfield, Pearls Before Swine

Nineteen Words That Don't Belong in Your Resume

2006-03-26T16:45:00.000-05:00

This is pretty helpful guide for words to avoid while writing your resume. Now I just have to fix mines up and get a new job.

[via Tech Repiblic]

Couch Monkeys

2006-03-26T16:41:00.000-05:00

Scientists are studying lazy monkeys to find out how they became that way. The study has noticed the trend that lazy baby monkeys make lazy adult monkeys. The next "monkey" they're going to study is humans. They've yet to conclude that being lazy is a bad thing.

[via ScienCentralNews]

10 Strangest Computer Mice

2006-03-26T16:36:00.000-05:00

The mouse you use at work is not as cool/weird as these. Check out the 10 strangest mouse, then go buy one.

[via TechBlog]

Fancy Pants Adventure

2006-03-26T11:54:00.000-05:00

Cool flash game. Run around and do crazy flips/jumps. Only played a little bit. It reminds me of Sonic the Hedgehog. I'll probably play it at work on Monday. :-)

[via HallPass]

Giant Pink Bunny!

2006-03-25T14:24:00.000-05:00

GIANT PINK BUNNY!!! Run for y'er lives! I guess this is kind of old, but I've never seen it before.

[via Cellar Image of the Day]

Catch Thirty Three

2006-03-25T14:08:00.000-05:00

Simple game where u try to "catch" 33 numbers. Fun game, high score didn't work when I tried it. Would be nice to see if I'm the best. :-)

[via TokenArcade]

Mice testicles yield 'ethical' stem cells

2006-03-24T15:18:00.000-05:00

LOL! That was my first reaction, then I read the article. LOL! In layman's term, pre-sperm cells -> stem-like cells. They've successfully done this on mice, and now trying it on humans. So if one day, I lose my hand I can grow a new one... from my balls...

[via New Scientist]

Finding drunks in a bar

2006-03-24T11:33:00.000-05:00

It's a sad Friday if people can't go to a bar and get drunk. I think it's a bad idea to assume every drunk person is dangerous. True that people can get out of hand when they're drunk but there's no reason to assume everybody's a dangerious drunk. There's also sleepy drunks and friendly drunks.

[via Yahoo! News]

Hawaii Job Paradise

2006-03-24T10:45:00.000-05:00

According to Department of Labor, Hawaii has the lowest unemployment in the country. This sounds like an excellent time to switch jobs and move! Instead of working to retirement to vacation there, it would be easier just to live there. Everyday would be a like vacation!

[via Yahoo! News]

Selling balls = $$$

2006-03-23T13:24:00.000-05:00

Apparently it's possible to become wealthy by selling antenna balls to people. If you own an antenna ball on your car, most likely you made this guy rich. Now all I need is a great idea like this and retire.

[via Uncommon Business]

Firefox breaks up engagement

2006-03-22T11:54:00.000-05:00

A woman breaks up with her fiance of 5 years because of bug in Firefox. I guess Firefox is not a good browser for couples with secrets.

[via Mozilla]

Productivity is directly linked to monitor size

2006-03-22T11:50:00.000-05:00

Apple made this sweet report on how productivity is related to monitor size. Be sure to show your manager. I assume they want you to buy their monitor. And that I do.

[PDF file via Apple]

How be a rockstar programmer

2006-03-22T11:37:00.001-05:00

Interesting tips for better programming. Somehow I don't think "rockstar" and "programmer" have ever been used together. I don't think this guide is useful unless you're already at the top of the food chain. If you're a lowly intern (ah-hem) its a good way to get your self outsourced. My theory Easy-readable-code = Outsource.

[via Javalobby]