What Snew?

Snew? What Snew?

Oh wait I think it's new.

So what is new?

As you've probably heard by now, I got a new job. After what seemed like perhaps the longest application process that I've ever been through, I was hired by the U.S. Postal Service. Yeah, I passed the drug test, and the driving test and even the background check. Last Monday I started my training. They say it's supposed to be difficult, and I'm sure that the first couple of days it probably will be, but right now, it seems pretty doable. There were three of us in my training class (all coming to my post office) and I think we will all probably be able to handle the job. I, however, will be hired with the least seniority, because their jobs require the postal exam, and mine did not. Ironically we are all receiving the same training, even though technically they have better positions than I do. So where do I deliver? Well I'll give you a hint, the first city with this name was translated.
The down side, sort of is that my route is shorter (and I only get one) so I don't have as many scheduled days as the others I work with, though I could easily get unscheduled extra days (maybe my regular carrier is about to go on vacation... fingers crossed).

And in other news, I am officially moved out of my office. Oh, and it's clean. I think perhaps I should take a picture of it in it's natural state. This is of course because I am ending my first official entrepreneurial venture. I really wanted it to work, but after more than six years in business, I have decided that it just wasn't where I wanted to be. That, and it kind of wasn't as successful as I had hoped. I learned a lot though, it was definitely educational.

Which brings me to my next point. I had, more or less, a pretty decent internet connection at my office. At my house we don't officially even have the internet. Every now and then I have access, but a lot of the time I will not have signal.
I'm not sure what this will do for my blogging, I mean you've probably noticed I write all the time, but I'm guessing it will... um, increase? However, there are some things that I'm sure will not expand. Mostly this would apply to things like messaging. I can't say for certain how long it will take me to see your email. I may never be on IM. Facebook and Google Buzz will have to be very deliberate at best, and will probably, kind of by nature, be rare. I will still basically get Text Messages... but I don't get them to my phone... they come to my email, so for time sensitive (meaning something within three to five days, or sooner), old school methods telephone (for messages that are urgent-ish) and the US Postal Service, if you have a day or two (but don't want to wait until that mysterious random time when I can check my email) will probably work best. Now I'm not saying we should all send more letters... but it does give me something to do at work. ü

Also just in case you were wondering, Apple has announced a whole new batch of iPods. Yes you can get one with a camera, and yes you can now make free video calls to anyone who has one (or an iphone 4). And ironically what I thought was one of the more impressive parts of their announcement... HDR photos, has been almost entirely ignored. Ok I admit, I'm a photo-guy, but seriously this could be amazing. Basically what apple does is take extra pictures when you snap a photo, to make sure you don't have areas that are too washed out, or areas where you can't see what's going on, because everything is in the shadows. Now I could see how this could totally lead to photos that look a little over processed, but you can turn the feature on and off, and in some cases it could be the great gift photographers have been wishing for.

Also new, there is finally an iPad competitor...
oh wait,
nope, no competitor, there are rumors of competitors, but nothing has come out.
Apple is selling literally millions of the things, and nobody else is even offering one. I'm still waiting for the version with a camera... oh and for that time when I actually have money, but I could totally get on board with an iPad.

I'll have to think about that one though, iPad... or iPod. Now with Google voice... and Apples face time, either can be used as a full fledged phone, anywhere there is internet, and that sounds like it could save a person... um like i dunno, $1000 a year. yeah that sounds nice.

Ok enough of my babbling about the fun stuff in tech.
(BTW, Velocity Micro, and Samsung are both trying to get their iPad competitor out this month, and either one of them could be impressive, but then apple will release their new one, and I think we all have a pretty good idea how that will go)

And Finally it looks like ShufflePaLooza will be held the last weekend in September, I'll let you know the details, perhaps when I've had time to figure them out.
ttfn
that's what's Snew.

Diary of a Delegate: First Week

I was selected as a delegate on March 23rd, on March 24th I received my first call. It was not a big deal, but already I knew things were going to be a little different for me for a while.

By the weekend I had started receiving mail from various candidates.

Saturday I began to rethink this whole thing, I was getting a fair amount of calls and mail, usually a couple of each per day.
This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, I just wondered if I would have time for it all when things began to pick up.

Saturday night there was an open house for one of the "local" candidates.
The meeting was held at another delegates house. When I got there I was a little surprised. There were a bunch of cars parked at the end of a very long driveway, one of the longest driveways I have ever seen. I parked the car and and started my journey toward the house. At the door I was greeted by the person who told me about the event, it was nice to finally meet him.
And then I met the candidate. He was nice, and I think he had a true belief that he could make a difference, but I began to wonder how much he really knew about our state when he slaughtered the pronunciation of one of the counties, and no in case you're wondering it wasn't even one of the counties that I expect people to mispronounce.

I guess there were more people there before I arrived, because the crowd was pretty thin while I was there. I knew most of the other people who came, and it was kind of interesting to here peoples questions, and to see how there were answered, but I admit I was a little surprised by the experience, I guess I expected more people. I ate a few sugar cookies, had a glass of cheap root beer and called it a night.

Billionaires are just like the rest of us

Right now people of all shapes and sizes are participating in classes on campus all over the country. In one hour Bill Gates will also be in school.

At 12:00 noon, Bill Gates will be "going back to school."

Yes I said Bill Gates, and my Mac didn't even explode.

And while there are somethings that I am less than ecstatic about when I think of Bill Gates. (Read Microsoft Windows - pretty much every prior version).

I think the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation is, well, amazing.

So I thought would share the link if you want to have lunch with a billionaire (BringYourOwnLunch).

ttfn

Microsofts new phone: the Pumpkin

Well they did it they announced today that Microsoft wants to be the new name in cell phones (yeah they've been trying this for years now... currently losing ground).
So they've got two new phones.
I give you the Microsoft Pumpkin (official representatives will call it the Kin,
but I think the pictures speak for themselves).
Enjoy.











(and this is the app that I'm working on. the Jack-o-phonern)