Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.13.21
Current Song - True (Spandau Ballet)
Apparently it's time. Apparently it's time that I get my priorities straight. Judging by a few events late this year, there has been some call for change. The change is to better myself in many ways.
The inital call was to get myself in shape. The discussion of that turned into a call for change in a few other areas. Most importantly, there needs to be a change in the way the sleeping goes. There are a lot of days that I sleep for 10-12 hours. Only I know why it's so. It has to do with the dreams that happen that night.
So the dreaming needs to be controlled. Dreaming has to do with what happens the night before. What is done the night before has triggered the long dreams. The No. 1 thought process is that of the long desire. That will need to be curbed. This will be done by changing what is already done. No more seeing things that trigger these emotions. That means a change in the coverage schedule. AND WAKING UP WHEN THE ALARM TELLS ME TO!
If you can figure out what this is, then this will be complimented with the bombing of certain subscriptions. A certain subscription of mine is staling off a bit. The freshness is getting stale, and what's left is only history. The other thing to compliment this is to close off something else that is very useful. This will require a change in a coverage thing.
Good-bye YouTube and Wikipedia?
Time on the computer will be limited, by means of restricting certain things. It should lessen the time spent. Another time shortener is this blog. Spending too much time writing in here. It doesn't mean this will be gone, but shorter blog entries maybe. Writing with less words.
Start here, and we'll see how far I go.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
2010 YIR
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.82.21
Current Song - Boomin' Bump (John Baker)
You want to know about my 2010? Simply click on "2010" under "Blog Archive" to the right of your screen. You may be reading for a while.
But in short:
I achieved an academic milestone - the Associates in the Arts in Mass Communication
I kept a job for the full year for the second straight year - never happened before
NISB has never been more popular - probably better than not working at a paper in six years
I made every baseball fan's pilgrimage at the ripe old age of 23 - Cooperstown
I made every football fan's pilgrimage at the ripe old age of 23 - Canton
It's nice to see everyone's okay - celebrating the five-year high school reunion
Kicked a habit - retiring from baseball card collecting
Found my future - NIU, some time.
Aside of the accomplishments and enjoyments, I will remember this year as one of transition.
I found out a lot about myself personally. I'm starting to find out the difference between "friends" and "people I know." It's like shaking that box with the filter in it. I have begun to associate myself with other people within the high school sports world.
As my classmates move on in many different directions, I haven't been in contact with them as much as I was from 5th grade to high school graduation. There's a group of people that's been around you for so long, and when they leave you're left with very few. Well, that's when you man up and grab something. I feel like I'm doing this with the friendships I have in the high school sports world.
While finding people to be friends with is on the right track, what still hasn't been on the right track is finding that certain woman. I just can't make a predction for 2011 when it comes to this. However, I have learned certain things this year that may help me in this regard.
There have been a couple of women that have pushed the trigger in my brain over the past year; and they have one thing in common. They were not links from school. So there's people out there, I guess. So I was faced with a decision of either turning back and going forward. Turning back isn't a good idea, because the field has dried up. So I guess it's marching forward.
What do I mean by "turning back?" There were a lot of girls I know in my school days. I can't go back and try to go forward with them. They've moved on. I understand that. But there are still a few small ones lingering around that I can't get out of my head, in addition to one big one. She was in the forefront of my mind throughout most of my teenage school life. While she was shuffled around in favor of other crushes at certain times, she still lingers in my mind.
She's the last link from school. I can't decide whether to keep it or sever it. I will find out soon.
Current Song - Boomin' Bump (John Baker)
You want to know about my 2010? Simply click on "2010" under "Blog Archive" to the right of your screen. You may be reading for a while.
But in short:
I achieved an academic milestone - the Associates in the Arts in Mass Communication
I kept a job for the full year for the second straight year - never happened before
NISB has never been more popular - probably better than not working at a paper in six years
I made every baseball fan's pilgrimage at the ripe old age of 23 - Cooperstown
I made every football fan's pilgrimage at the ripe old age of 23 - Canton
It's nice to see everyone's okay - celebrating the five-year high school reunion
Kicked a habit - retiring from baseball card collecting
Found my future - NIU, some time.
Aside of the accomplishments and enjoyments, I will remember this year as one of transition.
I found out a lot about myself personally. I'm starting to find out the difference between "friends" and "people I know." It's like shaking that box with the filter in it. I have begun to associate myself with other people within the high school sports world.
As my classmates move on in many different directions, I haven't been in contact with them as much as I was from 5th grade to high school graduation. There's a group of people that's been around you for so long, and when they leave you're left with very few. Well, that's when you man up and grab something. I feel like I'm doing this with the friendships I have in the high school sports world.
While finding people to be friends with is on the right track, what still hasn't been on the right track is finding that certain woman. I just can't make a predction for 2011 when it comes to this. However, I have learned certain things this year that may help me in this regard.
There have been a couple of women that have pushed the trigger in my brain over the past year; and they have one thing in common. They were not links from school. So there's people out there, I guess. So I was faced with a decision of either turning back and going forward. Turning back isn't a good idea, because the field has dried up. So I guess it's marching forward.
What do I mean by "turning back?" There were a lot of girls I know in my school days. I can't go back and try to go forward with them. They've moved on. I understand that. But there are still a few small ones lingering around that I can't get out of my head, in addition to one big one. She was in the forefront of my mind throughout most of my teenage school life. While she was shuffled around in favor of other crushes at certain times, she still lingers in my mind.
She's the last link from school. I can't decide whether to keep it or sever it. I will find out soon.
Monday, December 27, 2010
4 Things They Can Do Without
I just look at these things and go, WHY? It's a waste of time.
1. NORAD's Santa Tracker - Not because we know there's no such real person, but because how do we determine the north and south locations of Santa? Does he go from Galena to Cairo, or Cairo to Galena? Besides, noe of the little boys and girls will be awake when the moment strikes.
2. Author pictures on front cover of novels - This isn't the music industry. Nor is this a person's opinion. I've never understood why we see more of a picture of, say, Stephanie Meyer, or the name "Stephanie Meyer" than we do the title. To me, we read things because of what it's about, not because of the author's name. This same philosophy goes for high school sportswriting, IMO.
3. Self checkouts wherever there are regular ones - Maybe it's just me, but it seems longer to go though a self-checkout than a regular checkout. Suppose you just want two things. You have to put them in the bag one-by-one. Then you have to press buttons on a screen, sometimes twice if the screen is touchy. Then you have to put the dollar bill in a certain way, and not fold it, and hope it doesn't reject it. Then there's a pause before your change comes out. Sometimes you-centered things don't work out as well. Plus, isn't there a good chance that shoplifters can foil the system using these things?
4. The ESPN ticker during a rebroadcast of a game late at night - Those who work second shift and miss these games live and hope for an overnight rebroadcast. However, when this happens, you have the ESPN ticker scrolling around. They'll even show you the final score of the game you are watching, and who the stars of the game were.
1. NORAD's Santa Tracker - Not because we know there's no such real person, but because how do we determine the north and south locations of Santa? Does he go from Galena to Cairo, or Cairo to Galena? Besides, noe of the little boys and girls will be awake when the moment strikes.
2. Author pictures on front cover of novels - This isn't the music industry. Nor is this a person's opinion. I've never understood why we see more of a picture of, say, Stephanie Meyer, or the name "Stephanie Meyer" than we do the title. To me, we read things because of what it's about, not because of the author's name. This same philosophy goes for high school sportswriting, IMO.
3. Self checkouts wherever there are regular ones - Maybe it's just me, but it seems longer to go though a self-checkout than a regular checkout. Suppose you just want two things. You have to put them in the bag one-by-one. Then you have to press buttons on a screen, sometimes twice if the screen is touchy. Then you have to put the dollar bill in a certain way, and not fold it, and hope it doesn't reject it. Then there's a pause before your change comes out. Sometimes you-centered things don't work out as well. Plus, isn't there a good chance that shoplifters can foil the system using these things?
4. The ESPN ticker during a rebroadcast of a game late at night - Those who work second shift and miss these games live and hope for an overnight rebroadcast. However, when this happens, you have the ESPN ticker scrolling around. They'll even show you the final score of the game you are watching, and who the stars of the game were.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
So Much for Hiatuses
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.22.21
Current Song - American Boy (Estelle/Kanye West)
I was in a real crappy mood for a couple of days there this past weekend. Let me kind of explain what happened.
On Wednesday I was up all night working on a few things and decided not to sleep on Thursday morning. I worked on Thursday and the night just didn't go all that great. So I got home, slept for a few hours, and went back to work at 11 Friday morning. Another day of work, another not-so-good day.
There was a game in Rock Island I wanted to see, and I drove there right after work. There was another problem related to the website that bogged me for a while. There was no parking near the school, and the closest place I could park was in a Post Office parking lot down a hill. I had to walk up it, and down it in the snow. I slipped on the way down and ripped what I thought were my best work pants. The drive home wasn't that great, and I wound up just blowing off the entire story because of my frustration.
Website-related troubles continued into Saturday, when I worked. I had Sunday off of work, which kind of helped calm me down. The website things were going okay now and I tried to freshen myself up on a clean slate. I was just so irritated by things that I wrote the stuff I wrote in the past couple of entries.
But things have been going okay lately.
We had a snowstorm on Monday night as I was working. This decreased the customer flow and I was way ahead of schedule. It was a happy work night for a change. Then there was a game on Tuesday at Port Byron Riverdale. Part of the reason why I was unable to do the Rocky-Moline writeup was because I didn't write my notes quick enough. There is a Shell truck stop in Hillsdale and I decided to write my notes there and drive back with a "spine" of sorts to write. Anyway, Newman beat Riverdale in boys basketball.
It felt really good doing the things I like doing: and that's high school sports reporting. I covered the Montini-Hononegah game of the Sterling Girls Shootout tonight, and was pleased that I got the article done in timely fashion.
So I'm in a good mood right now. Plus, they say another snowstorm is coming tomorrow night. So if the customers don't come, it will be another good day.
I work from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve - when we open the presents from Mema and Kimmy. I work from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Christmas Day - when we open the presents from my dad's family. Technically, this is the start of my one-week vacation.
I don't work at all on the day after Christmas - when we open the presents from mom and dad. This is because my mom is working on Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day, so we're opening presents a day late. It's a third day of Christmas, the way I look at it.
As far as my vacation goes, I have decided that I'm not going anywhere from the 26th to 29th. There's just nowhere to go. But I will be using this time to think up where I want to go from March 20-27. I'm thinking Myrtle Beach.
So in those few days after Christmas, I would like to see some sports. Technically, this is vacation from work and I will be doing something I enjoy.
Monday 12/27 - OFF (yay!)
Tuesday 12/28 - E.C. Nichols boys basketball Tournament @ Marengo - or maybe OFF
Wednesday 12/29 - Dixon girls basketball Tournament
Thursday 12/30 - Warkins Cardinal Classic @ Erie (both boys and girls)
Still thinking about Chicago for New Year's. I was told that Chicago is a very good place for New Years. Still looking for suggestions.
Hopefully the coming days and the vacation turn out well. No more hiatuses for now.
Current Song - American Boy (Estelle/Kanye West)
I was in a real crappy mood for a couple of days there this past weekend. Let me kind of explain what happened.
On Wednesday I was up all night working on a few things and decided not to sleep on Thursday morning. I worked on Thursday and the night just didn't go all that great. So I got home, slept for a few hours, and went back to work at 11 Friday morning. Another day of work, another not-so-good day.
There was a game in Rock Island I wanted to see, and I drove there right after work. There was another problem related to the website that bogged me for a while. There was no parking near the school, and the closest place I could park was in a Post Office parking lot down a hill. I had to walk up it, and down it in the snow. I slipped on the way down and ripped what I thought were my best work pants. The drive home wasn't that great, and I wound up just blowing off the entire story because of my frustration.
Website-related troubles continued into Saturday, when I worked. I had Sunday off of work, which kind of helped calm me down. The website things were going okay now and I tried to freshen myself up on a clean slate. I was just so irritated by things that I wrote the stuff I wrote in the past couple of entries.
But things have been going okay lately.
We had a snowstorm on Monday night as I was working. This decreased the customer flow and I was way ahead of schedule. It was a happy work night for a change. Then there was a game on Tuesday at Port Byron Riverdale. Part of the reason why I was unable to do the Rocky-Moline writeup was because I didn't write my notes quick enough. There is a Shell truck stop in Hillsdale and I decided to write my notes there and drive back with a "spine" of sorts to write. Anyway, Newman beat Riverdale in boys basketball.
It felt really good doing the things I like doing: and that's high school sports reporting. I covered the Montini-Hononegah game of the Sterling Girls Shootout tonight, and was pleased that I got the article done in timely fashion.
So I'm in a good mood right now. Plus, they say another snowstorm is coming tomorrow night. So if the customers don't come, it will be another good day.
I work from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve - when we open the presents from Mema and Kimmy. I work from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Christmas Day - when we open the presents from my dad's family. Technically, this is the start of my one-week vacation.
I don't work at all on the day after Christmas - when we open the presents from mom and dad. This is because my mom is working on Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day, so we're opening presents a day late. It's a third day of Christmas, the way I look at it.
As far as my vacation goes, I have decided that I'm not going anywhere from the 26th to 29th. There's just nowhere to go. But I will be using this time to think up where I want to go from March 20-27. I'm thinking Myrtle Beach.
So in those few days after Christmas, I would like to see some sports. Technically, this is vacation from work and I will be doing something I enjoy.
Monday 12/27 - OFF (yay!)
Tuesday 12/28 - E.C. Nichols boys basketball Tournament @ Marengo - or maybe OFF
Wednesday 12/29 - Dixon girls basketball Tournament
Thursday 12/30 - Warkins Cardinal Classic @ Erie (both boys and girls)
Still thinking about Chicago for New Year's. I was told that Chicago is a very good place for New Years. Still looking for suggestions.
Hopefully the coming days and the vacation turn out well. No more hiatuses for now.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Chess
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.02.21
Current Song - One Night in Bangkok (Murray Head)
I'm a skilled chess player.
No, not the chess with kings and queens and rooks and knights and pawns. The OTHER kind of chess.
Yeah, THAT kind of chess.
Don't mess with me. There's no more eating me alive anymore. There's no more pushing me aside so you can get what you want. There's no more weaseling your way around me. Try to, and you'll feel it, literally. My shields are up and I'm on red alert.
The first step in making sure I actually survive and not get pushed around is indefinately ceasing blog entries on here. That way, in order to read my mind, you'll have to do more than just see what I'm writing about.
Tough.
Current Song - One Night in Bangkok (Murray Head)
I'm a skilled chess player.
No, not the chess with kings and queens and rooks and knights and pawns. The OTHER kind of chess.
Yeah, THAT kind of chess.
Don't mess with me. There's no more eating me alive anymore. There's no more pushing me aside so you can get what you want. There's no more weaseling your way around me. Try to, and you'll feel it, literally. My shields are up and I'm on red alert.
The first step in making sure I actually survive and not get pushed around is indefinately ceasing blog entries on here. That way, in order to read my mind, you'll have to do more than just see what I'm writing about.
Tough.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Things That Annoy Me
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.91.21
Current Song - My City Was Gone (The Pretenders)
Having worked with the public for nearly five years at gas stations, I have seen people from all walks of life. Likewise, there are many things that annoy me about certain people and certain things. I'm someone who tries to figure out the world around me, apparently since I'm stuck in my own.
People will do these things, and I have to quietly ask myself "WHY?" or end up slapping my hand on my forehead. These are pet peeves and more than them.
These are things that annoy me. I have a short list, and you can complete it. Maybe we can understand what gives for all of these, and all of yours (in a "trading post" fashion).
These are things that annoy me:
1. People who look at this list and proceed to say or do something on this list to see how I will react. My condition makes me very vulnerable to teasing, and I don't like it.
2. People walking inside during the winter and saying that it's cold outside. Well, DUH!!! It's not a conversation piece anymore, it's meant to make you feel better. Cut the puppy eyes.
3. People that pronounce "pennies" like "pEEnEEs" or "pinees." They're probably obsolete, but quit making them seem cute. The first part of the word "pennies" is "pen," which is pronounced with a schwa (the upside down 'e').
4. They are GIFT cards, not GAS cards. So much for the "special" part of the present.
5. People who refuse to buy the Dixon Telegraph if there are no Sterling Gazettes left. The same stories are in the two papers, just three or four pages off. If this bothers you, it tells me you have little patience.
6. People who see an "Out of Order" sign, and then ask if it's out of order.
7. When a discription of a complaint has a TON of "I"s, "me"s and "my"s. The first person isn't going to solve the problem, it's just going to solve YOUR problem. So much for "making a difference."
8. When there are not enough parking spaces to accomodate a crowd. There's a particular basketball game I attend every two years at this location. It's been going on for nearly 100 years. What's worse is when you're forced to park in a business's parking lot DOWNHILL from the building, and have to walk up it and then down it. Bonus points: Name the school.
9. I've never fully understood the infatuation with Copenhagen Snuff chewing tobacco. Apparently it's fresh until it's coming right from the assembly line right after canning? Send it to the warehouse, and apparently it's stale? So it nerves me to hear about stale Copenhagen. Yet, the company can't seem to make a product that lasts?
10. When there are no rosters at the door at high school sports contests. Tournaments I understand, but when it's two teams going against each other how are we supposed to know who is who? The PA isn't enough.
11. Black Friday clerks asking you whether or not you'd like to apply for their shopping card, or talk about some special offer. Take this garbage talk out and the lines would move more, and perhaps Friday will be less "black."
12. Those who can't figure out the difference between a school's "conference" and "division."
13. Wrestling fans who cringe when they hear the word "basketball." You don't hear basketball fans cringe when they hear "wrestling."
14. Bill facing. Period. When a single is turned over, folded, or slightly tilted, it's still a one-dollar bill.
15. The Northern Illinois Big 12 bowling and golf scoring formats. Bowling is scored on individual vs. individual, while the conference golf tournament is composed of "conference points" rather than the performance at the tournament. Is it really that necessary to be unique? It's like you're demanding attention.
16. People announcing to me the price of the item at another store. What do you want me to do about it? Another thing about that: are we high, or are they low?
17. "Call it both ways!" (My high school sports peeps don't need an explanation on this one.)
18. I have not, and will not, buy a Garmin, Tom Tom or any other GPS system. That being said, I can't stand people who drive while using the system as the only means of navigation, and not looking at the signs posted.
19. (feel free to comment to add to this list)
Current Song - My City Was Gone (The Pretenders)
Having worked with the public for nearly five years at gas stations, I have seen people from all walks of life. Likewise, there are many things that annoy me about certain people and certain things. I'm someone who tries to figure out the world around me, apparently since I'm stuck in my own.
People will do these things, and I have to quietly ask myself "WHY?" or end up slapping my hand on my forehead. These are pet peeves and more than them.
These are things that annoy me. I have a short list, and you can complete it. Maybe we can understand what gives for all of these, and all of yours (in a "trading post" fashion).
These are things that annoy me:
1. People who look at this list and proceed to say or do something on this list to see how I will react. My condition makes me very vulnerable to teasing, and I don't like it.
2. People walking inside during the winter and saying that it's cold outside. Well, DUH!!! It's not a conversation piece anymore, it's meant to make you feel better. Cut the puppy eyes.
3. People that pronounce "pennies" like "pEEnEEs" or "pinees." They're probably obsolete, but quit making them seem cute. The first part of the word "pennies" is "pen," which is pronounced with a schwa (the upside down 'e').
4. They are GIFT cards, not GAS cards. So much for the "special" part of the present.
5. People who refuse to buy the Dixon Telegraph if there are no Sterling Gazettes left. The same stories are in the two papers, just three or four pages off. If this bothers you, it tells me you have little patience.
6. People who see an "Out of Order" sign, and then ask if it's out of order.
7. When a discription of a complaint has a TON of "I"s, "me"s and "my"s. The first person isn't going to solve the problem, it's just going to solve YOUR problem. So much for "making a difference."
8. When there are not enough parking spaces to accomodate a crowd. There's a particular basketball game I attend every two years at this location. It's been going on for nearly 100 years. What's worse is when you're forced to park in a business's parking lot DOWNHILL from the building, and have to walk up it and then down it. Bonus points: Name the school.
9. I've never fully understood the infatuation with Copenhagen Snuff chewing tobacco. Apparently it's fresh until it's coming right from the assembly line right after canning? Send it to the warehouse, and apparently it's stale? So it nerves me to hear about stale Copenhagen. Yet, the company can't seem to make a product that lasts?
10. When there are no rosters at the door at high school sports contests. Tournaments I understand, but when it's two teams going against each other how are we supposed to know who is who? The PA isn't enough.
11. Black Friday clerks asking you whether or not you'd like to apply for their shopping card, or talk about some special offer. Take this garbage talk out and the lines would move more, and perhaps Friday will be less "black."
12. Those who can't figure out the difference between a school's "conference" and "division."
13. Wrestling fans who cringe when they hear the word "basketball." You don't hear basketball fans cringe when they hear "wrestling."
14. Bill facing. Period. When a single is turned over, folded, or slightly tilted, it's still a one-dollar bill.
15. The Northern Illinois Big 12 bowling and golf scoring formats. Bowling is scored on individual vs. individual, while the conference golf tournament is composed of "conference points" rather than the performance at the tournament. Is it really that necessary to be unique? It's like you're demanding attention.
16. People announcing to me the price of the item at another store. What do you want me to do about it? Another thing about that: are we high, or are they low?
17. "Call it both ways!" (My high school sports peeps don't need an explanation on this one.)
18. I have not, and will not, buy a Garmin, Tom Tom or any other GPS system. That being said, I can't stand people who drive while using the system as the only means of navigation, and not looking at the signs posted.
19. (feel free to comment to add to this list)
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Vacation Planning
Cutter's Log - Supplemental
I have asked for Dec. 26 though Jan. 2 off of work. I haven't really planned any "trip," like the one I spent this past spring when I went to Cooperstown and Canton. A real "trip" will be made the week after state basketball is done.
There will be one day of interruption, as December 30 is the final day of the Warkins Cardinals Classic boys basketball tournament in Erie. I have covered the final day for the past four years. I don't plan on changing the annual commitment anytime soon.
Simply put, I'm looking for more of a getaway from the 26th to the 29th: staying overnight somewhere on the 26th, 27th and 28th to return on the 29th and stay at home. I've been to Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Indy, St. Louis, all within a day's drive from Sterling. I'm still thinking about where to go. Or even perhaps somewhere small with a good Christmas Tournament? I'm still thinking about where to go.
The day after Warkins is New Year's Eve. For the past four years I've spent this night working. Not anymore. Before then I stayed home and one year was spent at the grandparents' house. Rather than spending the night somewhere, I'd rather drive back in the wee hours of the morning.
So I'm looking for somewhere to spend midnight at. Chicago? Milwaukee? Indy? St. Louis? Elsewhere???? I'm looking for suggestions.
I have asked for Dec. 26 though Jan. 2 off of work. I haven't really planned any "trip," like the one I spent this past spring when I went to Cooperstown and Canton. A real "trip" will be made the week after state basketball is done.
There will be one day of interruption, as December 30 is the final day of the Warkins Cardinals Classic boys basketball tournament in Erie. I have covered the final day for the past four years. I don't plan on changing the annual commitment anytime soon.
Simply put, I'm looking for more of a getaway from the 26th to the 29th: staying overnight somewhere on the 26th, 27th and 28th to return on the 29th and stay at home. I've been to Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Indy, St. Louis, all within a day's drive from Sterling. I'm still thinking about where to go. Or even perhaps somewhere small with a good Christmas Tournament? I'm still thinking about where to go.
The day after Warkins is New Year's Eve. For the past four years I've spent this night working. Not anymore. Before then I stayed home and one year was spent at the grandparents' house. Rather than spending the night somewhere, I'd rather drive back in the wee hours of the morning.
So I'm looking for somewhere to spend midnight at. Chicago? Milwaukee? Indy? St. Louis? Elsewhere???? I'm looking for suggestions.
The Great Migration? Yeah Right
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.61.21
Current Song - nWo Theme
My one-year study on the effects of the Great Migration of the NISB boards is complete.
My findings show that, in terms of overall coverage area geography, message board posts have been confined to a smaller location. Posts from outside this location have seen a dropoff. Furthermore, posts from veteran message board posters have dropped off.
What was promised from this Great Migration was the expansion of traffic on the message boards with the new postings next to the usual postings. Well, the usual postings have been nowhere to be found. This wasn't what I thought would happen. The mood has changed, and it's changed for the worse.
The message board is something that I've tried to make something different than the label that they are used to: a sewer of negativity. I've imagined a place where coaches and players of these teams can even wander around without feeling frightened about certain posts. There's too much fright going on in the past year. That very fright is preventing the full geographical representation from appearing. It's exactly what I feared, and hoped wouldn't happen. Well, it's happened.
The Board in the past year, and even the website to a certain degree, has seen a rise in avoidance. The increased website traffic presence from the southeast corner, thanks to my three contributors, is keeping it afloat. So, why it is missing from the Message Boards?
So, time to get out the old flyers and do something about it.
Current Song - nWo Theme
My one-year study on the effects of the Great Migration of the NISB boards is complete.
My findings show that, in terms of overall coverage area geography, message board posts have been confined to a smaller location. Posts from outside this location have seen a dropoff. Furthermore, posts from veteran message board posters have dropped off.
What was promised from this Great Migration was the expansion of traffic on the message boards with the new postings next to the usual postings. Well, the usual postings have been nowhere to be found. This wasn't what I thought would happen. The mood has changed, and it's changed for the worse.
The message board is something that I've tried to make something different than the label that they are used to: a sewer of negativity. I've imagined a place where coaches and players of these teams can even wander around without feeling frightened about certain posts. There's too much fright going on in the past year. That very fright is preventing the full geographical representation from appearing. It's exactly what I feared, and hoped wouldn't happen. Well, it's happened.
The Board in the past year, and even the website to a certain degree, has seen a rise in avoidance. The increased website traffic presence from the southeast corner, thanks to my three contributors, is keeping it afloat. So, why it is missing from the Message Boards?
So, time to get out the old flyers and do something about it.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Trapped
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.11.21
Current Song - How Can I Be Sure (The Rascals)
I have been told I have a lot of potential. Ironically, if only I moved.
What's keeping me bogged down these past few years is a conflict between dreams, wants/needs, independence, money, morals, reputation, and many other things. It's like a large pile of wires that need straightened out. By "bogged down," I mean I'm not moving forward at all at this point in time. I would ask myself why everyone else can figure this out and I can't. It's the way I think, that's the answer. So I have to budge the way I think in order to get moving again.
I'd like to get moving again. Here's my story:
Right now I live paycheck-to-paycheck. The money I make at work goes toward fuel for the car, work on the car, bills, NISB, and the little shopping I do. The paycheck dries up in a hurry. Then comes the next paycheck, and that dries up in a hurry. I guess in a way this curbs my spending, and I won't eat as much as I should - and there goes the weight. But I still find myself stalling.
Take out the Shell gig and I'll have nothing, really. There's nothing open THAT I CAN ACTUALLY DO - journalism-related and non-related - that is paying more money that what I make at Shell at the moment. What I mean by "what I can actually do" is, I can't do something I don't like doing. This just keeps frying my mind and goals. Factory work tires me, I know this because I once tried it and didn't last a whole shift before I walked out. I guess my eye-hand coordination is shot. It's too bad nothing high school sports journalism-related that I can actually do is open - this would merge working and hobbying into one with time to spare.
So meanwhile, I'm stuck here not going forward yet. What's it going to take to fix this mess?
I don't think I can start alone. I want support. That I have from my closest family. What else? Perhaps the key to unlocking this trap door is establish some sort of social life?
A couple of weeks ago I blogged about how I couldn't seem to enjoy things socially. How bad has it been? It has been so bad, that I am slurring and bungling my words from not speaking so much. That may be changing. There are four good friends of mine I have met in the past year though high school sports. I don't know how they look at me, but I look at them as good friends that I apparently do not annoy. Three of them help me out on the writing part of the website, and the other has in the past. I just hope I can maintain these friendships, or even expand on them or expand on the number of friends I have.
There's this feeling that friends, and support from these friends, lead to confidence in doing things. I don't think I have much confidence at this time. But with friends, that's something that can be worked on.
Off to listen to a radio show that I should be listening to every week at this time.
Current Song - How Can I Be Sure (The Rascals)
I have been told I have a lot of potential. Ironically, if only I moved.
What's keeping me bogged down these past few years is a conflict between dreams, wants/needs, independence, money, morals, reputation, and many other things. It's like a large pile of wires that need straightened out. By "bogged down," I mean I'm not moving forward at all at this point in time. I would ask myself why everyone else can figure this out and I can't. It's the way I think, that's the answer. So I have to budge the way I think in order to get moving again.
I'd like to get moving again. Here's my story:
Right now I live paycheck-to-paycheck. The money I make at work goes toward fuel for the car, work on the car, bills, NISB, and the little shopping I do. The paycheck dries up in a hurry. Then comes the next paycheck, and that dries up in a hurry. I guess in a way this curbs my spending, and I won't eat as much as I should - and there goes the weight. But I still find myself stalling.
Take out the Shell gig and I'll have nothing, really. There's nothing open THAT I CAN ACTUALLY DO - journalism-related and non-related - that is paying more money that what I make at Shell at the moment. What I mean by "what I can actually do" is, I can't do something I don't like doing. This just keeps frying my mind and goals. Factory work tires me, I know this because I once tried it and didn't last a whole shift before I walked out. I guess my eye-hand coordination is shot. It's too bad nothing high school sports journalism-related that I can actually do is open - this would merge working and hobbying into one with time to spare.
So meanwhile, I'm stuck here not going forward yet. What's it going to take to fix this mess?
I don't think I can start alone. I want support. That I have from my closest family. What else? Perhaps the key to unlocking this trap door is establish some sort of social life?
A couple of weeks ago I blogged about how I couldn't seem to enjoy things socially. How bad has it been? It has been so bad, that I am slurring and bungling my words from not speaking so much. That may be changing. There are four good friends of mine I have met in the past year though high school sports. I don't know how they look at me, but I look at them as good friends that I apparently do not annoy. Three of them help me out on the writing part of the website, and the other has in the past. I just hope I can maintain these friendships, or even expand on them or expand on the number of friends I have.
There's this feeling that friends, and support from these friends, lead to confidence in doing things. I don't think I have much confidence at this time. But with friends, that's something that can be worked on.
Off to listen to a radio show that I should be listening to every week at this time.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
What Some Songs Do
Cutter's Log - Supplemental
I can't even remember when the line was crossed when comparing website work with one of the things I yearn for in my personal life.
Working on the website involves a lot of time, and when there's a lot of time I get bored in the repetitive processes. So I listen to a mix of music. Things I write and see judge the playlist.
Well, something was seen and something was written about.
If you're a follower of this blog (and great thanks to the one of you), you'll know that establishing a "status quo" personal life is difficult for me. That's why I've had nearly 40 crushes, and only once tried to break through. Then over these few years, things started to go sour like an 80s rock band going into the 00s. But like some of these, they come back and do a token performance.
Bull. Here I come.
I can't even remember when the line was crossed when comparing website work with one of the things I yearn for in my personal life.
Working on the website involves a lot of time, and when there's a lot of time I get bored in the repetitive processes. So I listen to a mix of music. Things I write and see judge the playlist.
Well, something was seen and something was written about.
If you're a follower of this blog (and great thanks to the one of you), you'll know that establishing a "status quo" personal life is difficult for me. That's why I've had nearly 40 crushes, and only once tried to break through. Then over these few years, things started to go sour like an 80s rock band going into the 00s. But like some of these, they come back and do a token performance.
Bull. Here I come.
Try to Take a Guess at What This Means
Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.20.21
Current Song - Take a Bow (Madonna)
Although quite endangering to the curious mind, I can't help but react to strange news I saw yesterday.
It does what it wants to do, but a barrier thought to be hidden approached it. Now the fight to survive carries on, but it's been known not to work effectively. How disappointing.
There, I typed it off my chest.
TIME! Marches on!
Current Song - Take a Bow (Madonna)
Although quite endangering to the curious mind, I can't help but react to strange news I saw yesterday.
It does what it wants to do, but a barrier thought to be hidden approached it. Now the fight to survive carries on, but it's been known not to work effectively. How disappointing.
There, I typed it off my chest.
TIME! Marches on!
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