alter idem

[ Acura Legend 2010-03-03 ]

Where to start?
What I thought was a split radiator hose was actually a cracked radiator core. The cracked radiator core in turn cause the engine to over heat, which in turn resulted in a blown head gasket.

To fix the blown head gasket, grind the heads flat and do a valve job would cost between $1,800 and $2,000.

I have called around and found that I can get a good used 3.2L engine installed with a new radiator for $2,200
I’m hoping that between my Father, my friends and my tax return I can scrap together enough money to get the Acura a new engine and radiator.

Cite:
Japanese Engine Works
Japanese Auto Pro’s

PS – Oh yeah, I got laid off from Avnet after working literally one day. I was told they were having a problem with overstaffing. Overstaffing is a fancy way of saying they hired more people than they had money to pay for.

[ Avnet ]

First thing Monday morning I get a call from some guy named Michael Holsapple who works for a temp agency named Aerotek. He asked me if I was still looking for a job and if so, could I be in his office by 2:45pm? Did the interview and we covered my background including my A+ certification. Tuesday morning I got another call asking if I could be in his office by 1:10pm? I got there and they offered me a job with a company called Avnet.

I don’t know much about the job except that Avnet needs some staff to build computers for them. I don’t know if I will be assembling at the component level or putting together complete systems.

It’s a temp to hire position and it starts out at $13. I am certainly hoping for more money when and if they hire me on. The hours are strange, 2 – 11pm.

Anyway, on the way home I stopped to take my drug test.

When I came out to the parking lot there was wet stuff coming out from under my car.

You guessed it.

My radiator hose had split.

I had just enough fluid left in the radiator to make it home. I called Joe my mechanic and he says he can replace it for about $40-50.

Problem is, (one) I don’t have $40 or $50, and (two) I don’t have a way to get the car over there. Larry my housemate knows a shade tree mechanic that can maybe do the job for a few bucks. I checked the cost of the hose and it’s $15 and some change.

So I start work on Monday the 15th (assuming they aren’t closed for President’s Day) and I have to get my car running and find gas money to get me through the week.

Thank God I get paid weekly.

http://avnet.com

[ finding work is hard work ]

It’s been two weeks this Saturday since I was laid off by Apple.

Since then, I have put in over 60 applications for jobs in the technical support or help desk category.

I’ve had one face to face interview and one phone interview.

Haven’t heard back about either one of them.

They don’t call when there is nothing to say.

[ voices ]

You’re just jealous cause the voices are talking to me.

[ AppleCare ]

I into my second week of training for my technical support position with AppleCare.
Had a test today and I was as usual sure that I was going to fail on it.
I scored in the high 80s which isn’t great but it’s also far from fail so I am happy.
So far Apple is a very cool place to be working.

I signed up for direct deposit, so after a couple of weeks of getting my check via the post I should start seeing it land in my personal account. I like having my stuff accessible online, it’s where my comfort level is at.

Care package from Father arrived the other day. Deposited that and paid up my iPhone.
It will be such a relief to be connected again. I was really sweatin’ what to do about my car insurance too and now that is covered. I love my Daddy so much, he is the best!!!!

[ george carlin ]

In memory of the recently departed comedian George Carlin who spoke his mind about everything/anything/anywhere/anytime.

I will share here just a few of his off the cuff, less inflammatory commentary.

• I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, “Where’s the self-help section?” She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
• If a man is standing in the middle of the forest speaking and there is no woman around to hear him…is he still wrong?
• Is there another word for synonym?
• Isn’t it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do “practice?”
• Why don’t sheep shrink when it rains?
• How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?
• One nice thing about egotists: they don’t talk about other people.
• How is it possible to have a civil war?
• If you ate pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
• If the “black box” flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn’t the whole airplane made out of that stuff?
• Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?

http://www.georgecarlin.com

[ Stumbling, fumbling . . . ]

All the fear has left me now
I’m not frightened anymore.
It’s my heart that pounds beneath my flesh.
it’s my mouth that pushes out this
breath

and if I shed a tear I won’t cage it.
I won’t fear love
and if I feel a rage I won’t deny it.
I won’t fear love.

Companion to our demons
they will dance and we will play.
With chairs candles and clothes
making darkness in the day.
It will be easy to look in or out
upstream or down
without a thought

and if I shed a tear I won’t cage it.
I won’t fear love
and if I feel a rage I won’t deny it.
I won’t fear love.

Peace in the struggle to find peace.
Comfort on the way to comfort

and if I shed a tear I won’t cage it.
I won’t fear love
and if I feel a rage I won’t deny it
I won’t fear love.
I won’t fear love.
I won’t fear love . . .

[ My Jung Type ]

INTJ
Introverted    56%
Intuitive        88%
Thinking       25%
Judging        44%

Qualitative analysis . . .

* moderately expressed introvert
* very expressed intuitive personality
* moderately expressed thinking personality
* moderately expressed judging personality

[ Informed individuals ]

Have you ever arrived somewhere and wondered how you got there?
Scientists at the University of Leeds believe they may have found the
answer, with research that shows that humans flock like sheep and
birds, subconsciously following a minority of individuals.

Results from a study at the University of Leeds show that it takes a
minority of just five per cent to influence a crowd’s direction – and
that the other 95 per cent follow without realizing it.

Article on flock mentality . . .

[ In my life ]

There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more