Algar’s blog

CNN is reporting that they just found a huge stash of supplies (valued around 60 million) that was supposed to go to Katrina Victims but because of some errors the victims only recieved 18.5 million worth of supplies.  In effect, the government was saying that every person was 1/5 of their actual value.  If I remember correctly that isn't the first time the government has labeled a black person as 1/5 of the value they actually are...

So one of the countries that I have always wanted to visit but have never gotten around to (it’s mostly a money thing, flights are pricey!) is Ireland.  I love meeting the people from Ireland, I like Guinness and Harp, and the weather is just about what I like (never hot).  So I think that Ireland and I would be a perfect fit.  Unfortunately I can’t quite get out there, so maybe I should just settle for putting up an Ireland Calendar in my office and just looking at it all the time.

Ireland Calendar
    by
   
        CalendarCentral
   
Get your own  Calander  made at  zazzle.com
Browse other Ireland Calendars

So Forbes released an article on the top 10 places to get your car stolen in the US, which makes you wonder, is my city on the list?  Well luckily my city isn't on the list (even though my car has been broken into in my home town).  But what is really shocking is that 4 of the 5 top cities on the list are in California.  What the heck people?  Does every car in California just have a steal me picture on it?  OR is this a reflection a larger problem with California culture?  I think that in California there is too much emphasis on driving and because of that an abundance of cars.  You don't see other major metropolitan hubs like New York and Chicago where everyone has a car.  Nope, they have GOOD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (God, I wish California had that..) and because of that there are less cars and therefore less car thefts.  It is an easy system California, invest in public transportation, get off the car theft list.

It sees that it is such a common trend now to under dress for interviews that there are whole articles written about the importance of dressing to the level of your interview.  Check out this article from Boston.com.  This is really shocking to me, I was taught a long time ago that you always dress to the company that you are applying to and when in doubt dress more conservative.  I have a few rules I can add to the mix that help me to make sure I am dressed appropriately.

1. NEVER wear Cologne - this stuff can be dangerous and set off someone's asthma, not something you want to do in an interview


2. A tie is a must - wearing a tie almost forces you to keep; the rest of your outfit formal


3. Haircut - you should have had a haircut at least two weeks before the interview.  Again, if  this is a conservative company you might want to make sure those dreadlocks are deadlocks.


4. Shave - It is sad that I have to say that, but really shave people


5. Well rested - Make sure you are well rested, you need to be high energy and not listless in the interview.  Body language is almost as important as what you say


6. When in doubt iron it - Many people think that if a shirt looks "OK" then they can wear it to the interview.  Is that impression you want to give, that you are just an "OK" candidate? I didn't think so, iron everything the day of and make it look crisp.


7. Dress conservative - This is the final point, you want to keep it conservative.  Always wear a suit (blue, black, grey) always match your socks with your shoes and belt and make sure you have a good matching tie.

This points aren't really to make how you dress standout, it is the opposite in fact.  You want to make your clothing a non-issue so that your knowledge and personality can really shine through. 

Oh Yeah, one final thing.  Turn off the cellphone!

I am so upset right now.  It seems that congress has bent to the will of the most unpopular president EVER and stripped the country of some of the most basic rights to privacy that all Americans have enjoyed since the founding of this nation.  FISA is now through congress and is going to be signed by Bush and Americans will not be safe ever again.  It is a sad day to be a part of this country.

I know this website is a joke, but it is a fun and valid point.  I think we concentrate too much on doing too much and forget about the simple things in life.  Anyway this is the mug that they sell.  I recommend checking out the site. http://www.slowdownnow.org/

  

Multi-tasking is a moral weakness Mug
    by
   
        greencar
   
personalized coffee mugs  With  Zazzle
See other Words To Live By Mugs

A friend of mine is joining the Peace Corps this week and I thought I would do a little research in the program he is going to dedicate so much of his time to.  According to their website,

"The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship."

They work on helping developing nations with humanitarian efforts like doing vaccines, feeding the hungry and educating.  Basically I would say that they are the good image that the US puts forth into the world.  They provide balance to what we do in Iraq and else where, too bad they don't get the media coverage that Iraq does...  This is not the point, I am really proud of my friend, it takes a lot of work to step out of your cultural skin and work aboard and be isolated from everything you've known and everyone you love.  I think what he is doing will absolutely have a positive impact and because of that, I am a better person for knowing him.  Andrew, I commend you.

Today was a very momentous day for Taiwan and China relations.  Today marked the first flight from Taiwan to China (directly) in over 40 years.  Lately, the ice has been melting between these two countries but nothing was as big as this.  Now Chinese and Taiwanese are allowed to travel freely together and between the two countries.  This is great because it further defuses the situation about possible civil war which could have been the reason for WWIII (the US and other western powers would have surely gotten involved as soon as China attacked Taiwan).  But now it seems that the world is more about compromise and not war.  I think everyone is taking a hint from the damage that the Iraq War has done to our country, economy, and national psyche.

I saw this post on Digg today and just thought it was epically funny and had to be shared even more.  It's just too good, no further explanation needed.

Funny-graphs-californians

Gun control always seems to be a hot button issue, but I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the more gun control we have the better.  I don't trust myself with a gun, I don't trust my friends with a gun and I don't even trust cops with guns.  You know why?  Because guns kill by accident very easily.  What does this mean?  It means that even a two-year old could kill someone by accident with a gun, not with a knife though.  Killing with guns so easy and anonymous that is it just too dangerous for the world.  The more gun control the better.

 

Gun Control, NOW! Keychain
    by
   
        tshirtdujour
   
Create your own  promotional keychain  At  Zazzle
Browse other Issues Keychains