Been a While

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.82.50
Current Song - Straight On (Heart)

The graduation get together was awesome. Many family and friends showed up, and it was good to see them all. Written words can't describe just how it meant a lot to me. It's hard to sum it all up. All I had to do, on my part, was to announce what I'll be doing for the forseeable future.

The next chapter in my life is beginning.

I may be spending more time away from this Blog for a little while, to try to figure out just how to go about moving forward. For starters, I need to save money. So I bought a book at Borders when I was up in Rockford a couple of Tuesdays ago. It's called "365 Ways to Live Cheap". I'm reading through it a little at a time. It slams being frugal down your throat.

Some of the things I just can't do because it's not my nature - like complain to people in order to save money. One cannot be too frugal, and I don't plan on being too frugal - who would want that, other than others who are too frugal?

Money saving is kind of important right now, at this stage of my life.

Two weeks into my post-college life, and I'm still in spring sports mode. It's the way it should be. I want to finish up the Spring grind and get the 2010 NISB State of the Site Address posted. My future plans will be announced in the Address, and those who follow this Blog will be directed to read it (on 6/15) for more information.

As for the current time, I just got done posting the latest Friday 5 for NISB. I'll be covering the LaSalle-Peru Baseball Regional final between Rock Island and LP on Saturday morning, then heading for work. Yuck. Bill will be covering Somonauk softball versus Forreston at the Pearl City Sectional on Saturday. Next week's plans for coverage are TBD.

Why I don't like pro sports

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.41.50
Current Song - Pomp and Circumstance

T-minus about four hours before graduation.

But right now I have to get something off my chest about professional sports. I can't stand the politics of those who are in the offices of these pro sports teams.

Take a look at the NBA's Eastern Conference right now. The Chicago Bulls make the playoffs, and their head coach gets fired because they lost in the first round, to the Cavs. The Cavs are considering firing their head coach, mainly because of two bad losses to end their series, against the Celtics. The Atlanta Hawks have fired their coach, after being swept by the Magic. The coach for Miami, who saw their season end to the Celtics, could be on the hot seat if Pat Riley wants to return to coaching.

The Celtics play the Magic for the Eastern championship. Stan Van Gundy had better be careful.

Already two, and probably three, head coaches have recieved the axe after leading their programs to the playoffs. If this is the case, then shouldn't every team that didn't make the playoffs fire their head coaches?

I used to think the NFL was bad, when Week 17 would be followed by "Pink Slip" week. The NBA and the NFL feel as if every season is World Championship or death. There's too much rumor and gossip, as well as expectations.

I live in the Chicago sports media area. It seems like after every Bears loss there's a call to fire Lovie Smith. It seemed like after every Cubs loss there's a call to fire Dusty Baker, which eventually did happen. Cubs under .500? Mass murder. Every team wants to reach the top, but only ONE will get there. The others are just crap-out-of-luck. At the pace of paranoia I've seen from Cub fans, Martial Law will be declared in the organization in 20 years (if "the year" hasn't arrived).

There's a lot of fan frustration out there at the moment. In many ways, this is linked to the struggling economy. I found this out from a comment about a past column I wrote about something similar in high school sports. These fans want to have pleasure in the form of professional sports. When they don't get it, they have to vent a kind of frustration similar to the ones they vent when it comes to job security, economy, etc.

I used to follow the White Sox religiously. I don't follow them as much anymore. I fully realize there may not be another 2005 season. I do not expect this season to be just like 2005. Furthermore, I have not set goals or expectations for the Sox this season. I have not made a prediction about the season's wins and losses. Because if they do not meet what I personally have laid out for them, I would cringe.

The key phrase in that past sentence is "I personally." I do not feel as if they have to cater to me. I am not the central important figure of the franchise. I am not their boss.

Since I do not follow the Sox as much, I have prevented myself from anguish over failed expectations that may lead to brain damage and erratic behavior. I haven't completely isolated myself from the professional sports world. I still watch Sportscenter. I heard the cries from Cardinal fans after their team was swept by the lowly Astros. My first thought? It's good to see the Astros rebound and accomplish something good. And I kind of consider myself a de facto Cardinal fan.

I have never had a favorite NBA team. I never was really a Bulls fan growing up, just because I didn't pay attention a whole lot. I have had brief loyalties with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinatti Bengals, but those were simply brief. I don't follow the NHL a whole lot, but at the rare times I do, I keep a tab on the Chicago Blackhawks. NASCAR hasn't been the same for me since Dale Sr. died.

Sometimes you just have to sever the rope. I did.

Last Week of School

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.31.50
Current Song - Break My Stride (Matthew Wilder)

I recently concluded my final week of classes at SVCC.

On Wednesday I finished my speech class. I gave my final assignment a week ago, but was there to critique the other speeches going on that day. I think I'm going to get a B- in the class, which is beyond my goal. I really liked the class, and I really liked the teacher. She called us all "ducklings" last night.

A couple of the speech students and I had dinner at Angelos II last night. They were much older than me and in the industrial sector, so they had a lot to share. Here I was, a young kid who will be graduating soon with an A.A. in communication arts. I learned a lot about meat and places to eat in Chicago. Did I mention I'm going to miss the teacher?

Today I finally finished the Graphic Design class. The brochure was not too terribly hard to put together, but getting the right detail and utilizing the instructor's tips were difficult. It was the only assignment done with Adobe InDesign, a program used by a lot of newspapers to lay out their pages. I would have had the assignment done yesterday, but there were problems with the printer. I needed to have the pages printed out. So I stopped by today. There were more printer problems today, but I finally got the darn thing printed. It felt like something was tugging at me - not wanting me to end this.

I have commencement practice at 5:30 tonight. Graduation is at 7:00 p.m. Friday night. You can view the ceremony at the SVCC website (http://www.svcc.edu).

A Couple of Other Things I'm Working on

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.01.50
Current Song - Undun (The Guess Who)

I started to cover things once again on Saturday. At points during that day, I thought of a couple of things. A column and a statement.

The column will be something along the line of seeing different atmospheres within the NISB coverage area. The second, the one which is more like a statement, is about trying to fend off potentially-fatal blows that newspapers are trying to deliver to NISB. If anything, online sites like mine are nothing but a nusiance to newspapers, according to them.

Newspapers will survive for many, many, many, many, many years. The typical online rival publication doesn't last too long. Every year for the past six years I've been trying to reinvent the website I run. I think a lot of newspaper people think that one day I'm going to launch something sick, and I should be taken down before I launch it - (Where does this sound familiar? Am I Khan Noonien Singh in control of Genesis?).

As I'm being looked at as a threat to the survival of the press, at the same time I still want to do what I love doing. I don't believe that since I don't work for a newspaper I am barred from doing it. I'm just going to be looked at differently.

The thoughts in the past three paragraphs are those I have constantly thought about over the past few years. Is it best to take out the other side? Is it best to work together? Is it best to stay apart? If we stay apart, doesn't that entice one side to overtake the other? So, is it really best to work together?

How does a website like Northern Illinois Sports Beat work together with a newspaper sports section? This calls for an Accord.

Give me a few weeks.

Progress?

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.10.50
Current Song - Revolution 909 (Daft Punk)

I woke up Friday morning after about two-and-a-half hours of sleep. It was 7:00 a.m. and my graphic design class began at 8:00. I thought about just taking a couple of more hours of sleep, and go in at 10:00. It's one of those classes where I can really just come in whenever I want. I did end up going at 8:00. I'm glad I did, because it took me a while to complete the assignment.

The assignment is a theme sequence. I was to take a song (as mentioned before, Herb Alpert's "This Guy's in Love With You") and paint brush strokes that went along with the mood. I also had to choose pictures that went along with it. I made three prints to go along with the three pictures. The first print was an image relating to the first part of the song, with lyrics spread across it and the brush strokes in the background. The second, and the third were likewise. I also had to cut it and place it on matte board. The whole project took five hours. Yeah, I'm glad I came in at 8:00.

When I left class, I went over to a framing shop in town to see how it could be framed. It was going to be my only real important artwork, so I wanted to keep it. Thus, frame it. Because of the odd shape of the matte, the framing would cost a bit. At least $85 with tax. That kind of threw me off somewhat, as I didn't know that framing it would cost as much. I told the lady there I'd give it some time to think about it. That's my way of escaping the situation. One of the other instructors in the class told me later that I could get it done at Menards for much less. That may be the route to go, as I want it to be done in time for my graduation cookout.

I still don't know what's the bigger ripoff: $85 to frame it, or $2.50 for a piece of luster paper.

Either way, the project is done. I was told I could move forward to the last possible assignment I could do (the brochure) in order to get a passing grade. I have two weeks to accomplish this task. It's the only project which involves InDesign, which is a bummer. The whole reason for taking the class was to get that InDesign work for future work with newspapers. Two weeks. Final assignment. May the force be with me.

I haven't touched my speech paper since Wednesday. I'll spend today working through the brainstorming process for the brochure. I'll spend all day Sunday getting that speech in order. If I actually get it done, that's better! If I get it done, then I can cover a game on Tuesday and begin my comeback to covering things earlier. Aren't getting rewards fun? May the force be with me.

I'm finding out that I could really cover things after all. The 7th?

May the force be with me.

Highland

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.92.40
Current Song - Paperback Writer (The Beatles)

I made a cameo appearance at the Highland Chronicle yesterday.

When I walked in the door, the editor (whom I worked with when I was there) was in the middle of a conversation when I came in. There was no "Hi Cody!" or anything like that. "We should have used you for sports!" was the first thing he said when he looked at me.

Anyway, I wanted to make a trip up there to see the recent work by the Chronicle staff and take home some print copies. The staff was working on the final paper of the semester, and was a bit behind. I introduced myself to the rest of the staff (only one other person is still there). I ran into my former advisor, who let me know about a possible internship ...






Fate?

I have heard of the company before, but have only seen a couple of its products. They don't have individual websites, but I'm thinking about viewing some of the products to see what's out there for sports coverage.

No clue-ins yet.

NISB: Where Have I Been?

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.82.40

Today is my 24th Birthday, so I'm told.

I knew it was going to happen, but didn't know what age it would happen. I didn't spend April 27 thinking about how tomorrow will be my birthday.

Instead, April 28 is going to be a busy day for me. College graduation is just a little more than two weeks away, and there are a few assignments I need to finish. There's also a few things for work, a few other things, etc.

If you've noticed on the website I haven't written a whole lot this spring. I've only covered one game this month. However, thanks to Bill Lidinsky there's the same amount of content as I had intended to have by this time.

I can pound out Friday 5's and Honor Roll updates, but that's about it. I had to make like a strongman and push some things out of the way just to write this blog entry. Strongmen can also juggle around three different weighty things with their two hands. My three are work, school and NISB.

So if you've wondered where I've been, I had to temporarily lighten the load a bit.

When there's such an absence, some think of burnout. That's not me. There are some good games and meets out there. Normally I would be at two of them every few days during the spring. I can't do that now. Work calls. School calls.

The gig at the Shell station is going okay, but that is nothing compared to the burden of schoolwork I now face.

I will be presenting a speech on the landmark Supreme Court case of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier in speech class. The case, argued in the mid-1980s, involves high school administration's regulation of studen publications. Having wrote for the Sterling High School Script, as well as the Sauk Voyager and the Highland Chronicle, this is a speech right up my alley when it comes to issues of value.

The class that ties into my journalism profession even moreso is the Graphic Design class I'm taking. Originally, it was going to be a lesson in Adobe InDesign, the program many newspapers use to lay out their print copies. It turns out there's not much in the class with InDesign, compared to Adobe Illustrator - which I've been slowly trying to figure out since the beginning of the semester. The key word here is "slowly."

I'm failing the Graphic Design class at this time. I need to pass this class in order to graduate in less than two weeks, and have developed a timetable toward passing it.

High school sports can wait.

Did I just type that? It seems so uncharacteristic for someone like yours truly to make such a statement. Especially during the final season of some senior's career. After all, last year I made the realization that running NISB has cost me at least three years of my adult life so far. If I didn't create this website - which is enjoying its best year ever - right now I'd be doing what everyone else is doing at 24 years of age.

Even with such realization, I hate taking breaks from doing what I love to do. However, I had to do this so that I could ensure that I can continue to do this for a long time. Right now I'm thinking of a scrapped column idea a couple of years back called "My yearly apology to spring sports athletes," for not focusing on them as much as I focused on the fall and winter seasons.

Despite my absence, there is a lot of spring coverage on NISB this year. Lidinsky's familiarity with the Little 10 and Interstate 8 conferences is displayed all over NISB. Years ago, when people thought of NISB, they thought of the NCIC, TRAC-8 and the Upstate Illini. At this time, we are informing these same people of what else is out there in the land not too terribly far away from them. 'Tis one of the goals of NISB.

So how about Somonauk? Their baseball team is the only unbeaten team of its kind in the area, and one of three in the area (the only others being Lutheran soccer and Ottawa tennis). Their softball team has what many teams of its kind don't have - two real talented freshmen. That's the newest story on the website from Lidinsky. Check it out!

There hasn't been a whole lot of coverage from teams west of I-39. However, that should change by at least May 15, when I can toss schoolwork out through the window. Coming back into the spring sports scene, together with Lidinsky's coverage mainly from the east, NISB may have a publication that's actually exceptional for once.

There'll be much more when the annual State of the Site Address comes out on June 15.

Okay, I'm done. Now how did Hazelwood win that case?

A real busy three weeks

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.32.40
Current Song - And She Was (Talking Heads)

The work I'm about to undertake is just as important as the one for my Humanities final. I took a look at what I posted about it (see, this blog can work as an update, sounding board, and for personal reference).

I'll be buried in assignments and commitments until I throw that cap in the air. Tonight I will try to put together a schedule for the next three weeks. I may be away from this blog for a while, I'll be away from any work on IHSGD. I'll be away from most good things. The most desperate worry is the Graphic Design class.

Value Speech Centered Around a Supreme Court Case

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.22.40
Current Song - People's Court Theme

The next speech is the "value" speech. We were directed to look at any Supreme Court case. Can't think of one.

The only case that I have interest in is the landmark Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier case that, to summarize, allows school administration to have editorial power in the school newspaper.

According to my speech class guidelines, I have to "find a case involving a specific instance of something that is pervasively unresolved." Keeping in mind that the case "must look to an issue in which we as a culture have not settled on the direction we are going." Such examples are the landmark Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board and Tinker v. Des Moines. I don't know if Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier fits the guidelines. It may be too specific and narrow. H v. K is more of a matter of policy, rather than a matter of value.

Cohen v. California has to do with the F-word in public, and may be more of a "value." However, I want to see if Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier really works out.

Theme

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.12.40

The next Graphic Design assignment involves a song. The song I chose is Herb Alpert's "This Guy's in Love With You" which is a song that none of my friends know, but I like.

Knowing who's good

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.12.40
Current Song - Biggest Part of Me (Ambrosia)

It's that time of the spring sports season where you get to know who is hot or not. Thus it's time to look at upcoming games. This may also make me clear up some scurrying around later on. Sometimes I like having a large coverage area.

I return to covering things on May 18.

Clearing The Head

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.91.40
Current Song - Steppin Out (Joe Jackson)

I have taken tonight off of work due to someone wanting an extra day, and because I feel like I need to clear my head.

Let me try to do some spring cleaning. In my head.

Hopefully this week's NISB schedule will be determined. I know I'm having Newark/Somonauk Baseball covered on Tuesday, as well as DeKalb/Hononegah softball on Saturday. One more game is pending. Heck, I'm trying to sort out the week after. There are some good ones, really good ones that make me want to give in to this hiatus I'm taking from covering things.

In the six years I've run the website, I only took one extended break. That was for a month during the spring of 2006. I'm in the middle of a one-month break right now. The Lutheran-Freeport soccer game is like a triple whopper with cheese right now.

But back to reality, I have a speech test to study for on Wednesday morning. I'm going to visit grandpa on Tuesday. I'll need to build up my final speech on Wednesday night. It's the "value" speech.

Then there's the Graphic Design class. I'm headed there in a couple of hours (as of this writing). I have 12 more classes. I have five more assignments. One will be completed today. When I get done with class today I will have a completion timetable. As I mentioned many times before, just passing the class is the goal. By Wednesday night I should have a timetable for the rest of speech class, and therefore a timetable for the rest of the semester. The speech will be done on May 12. The GD will be done on May 13. Graduation rehersal is at 5:30 on the 13th. Ceremony is on Friday night.

So there'll be an academic gridlock.

Here's the week:

Monday: GD class and get that one assignment done. Figure out a timetable for that class. Pick up graduation announcements. Finalize NISB assignments. Get honor roll updated to include all weekend events.

Tuesday: Study for speech test in the morning. Visit a speaker with grandpa that night. Edit/post baseball game article.

Wednesday: GD class. SVCC assessment test. Speech test. Final speech preperation and timetable figured. Possible story editing/posting.

Thursday: Friday 5 pre-write. Work. Calculate budget. Sierra Mist instead of Mountain Dew. Friday 5 written. Sleep!

Friday: GD class. Possible road trip dinner. Academic update.

Saturday: Work "death shift" from 12-9. Edit/post softball game article.

Sunday: Work from 12-5. Possible road trip dinner. Determine NISB coverage schedule.

Those Problems a bit ago

Cutter's Log - Supplemental

It occurred to me last night that I may still have a chance.

It occurred to me just now that I can take this list and tear down most of it.

When I wrote about the 40 crushes, there were times that girls would reappear as my true crush. Many of which I don't stand a chance anymore, because of time. I can just forget about these. There are a few out there, still, who have a special place in my heart.

WSN for 4/18

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.81.40
Current Song - Goodnight Tonight (Paul McCartney & Wings)

There are three things in my mind all of the time. Cody's Law = When two of them are going well, one of them isn't going as well.

WORK: I have recently found myself losing my mind toward the end of the night. Last night was one of those days when I woke up at 4:00 p.m. and worked at 5:00. By 11:30 p.m. I felt like I needed to go to sleep. I didn't have a few crucial things done yet. After seven hours of work, on a not-so-busy Saturday, after four refills of Mountain Dew, I was wiped out. The balancing act has also been crazy.

I have a short three-hour day today (two register, one cooler). I am up to 32 hours next week, so hopefully I can improve myself and make the money earned worth it.

SCHOOL: The Graphic Arts class is getting better. I completed the design part of the business card on Wednesday, and will do the gang-and-cut part of it on Monday morning. The presentation to my client will probably be this week. Hopefully I can slam down these assignments in time. As I mentioned earlier, I'm just looking to pass the class - I don't care if it's a "D".

The speech part is going okay. There is a test on Wednesday night, which will be my second test of that night. I have a college assessment test, too. I'm glad I'm doing no travel for NISB.

NISB: Although I'm not covering games for a while, it still seems as if I'm spending a lot of time on it. Right now I'm trying to finalize a coverage schedule, and wait for an article to be turned in. I did a bunch of preliminary "2010 State of the Site" things, and will put that project on hold until June. I need to get that off of my mind. I just got done (literally) updating Honor Rolls for two hours. Geez!

Budget

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.51.40
Current Song - Lowdown (Boz Scaggs)

I thought it would be interesting to participate in a workshop at SVCC regarding personal finances. The 30 minutes didn't cover a whole lot, but the main focus was trying to get people to put together a budget.

The budget examples were monthly. That wouldn't do any good for me as I don't have a set income per month. I know the maximum guaranteed amount (MGA) on each paycheck. I make more than that per check, which I get to keep in reserve.

Budgeting the MGA. I sound like a businessman.

This is my Twitter

Cutter's Log - Supplemental

Just finished writing the Friday 5, and cancelled the one for next week. I now have time to work on my Graphic Design class. Some errands today and that's it.

No. 40

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.90.40
Current Song - I Thank You (ZZ Top)

From kindergarten to college, there have been 39 different girls I have either had crushes on or thought was kind of cute. No. 39 was a year ago, and No. 38 was a few years ago.

No. 40 has appeared just recently. With nos. 38, 39 and 40 I have come up with the same thought after thinking about them:

I will not be good enough for them.

When I have high thoughts of her, I immediately come to the conclusion that it's not going to work out. And it will all be because I'm not fit for a relationship. I don't know how I could train for something like this - and if I did, wouldn't it be treated as if it was business-like? No one wants that. No matter how hard I try, nothing I do is going to satisfy anyone.

Every time I fall in love with someone, why do I feel even more depressed? Who would have thought the next time I meet someone who I think highly of can throw a punch at my world.

Speech Time

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.80.40

I had my Policy Speech last night in Speech class. It was about the college football playoffs. I advocated for a college football playoff bracket.

The speech was something I worked on starting on Monday. In the two days I conducted research and wrote about things I knew about it, apparently I conducted too much research. Now this doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. I was assigned this speech two weeks ago. If I worked on it two weeks ago, I would have had WAY too much, right?

The post-speech critique made me realize a couple of things, since I went a couple of minutes over the maximum time limit (11:00):

1) I had too much to talk about. This was a topic that seemed to only interest the small part of the class that likes college football (and this includes my young female instructor). I sort of knew this coming in, and spent some time trying to explain a connection. Turns out I didn't explain enough - and if I did, it would have made me go more over the time limit.

I also didn't really find anything to cut out of the speech, except maybe the list of representatives to contact.

2) I talk slow. That's the nature of how I communicate, which is far different from the way everyone else does it. I felt if I were to speed up, I would stumble more often.

--

The next speech is the Value Speech (don't know what that really is), and is 9-11 minutes long, so I even went over the limit for this speech. So I don't really know what fix. Condensing the information, or talking faster?

I finished writing this particular speech on Wednesday morning. I was tired, so I took a nap. I woke up and had to then immediately put it in power point form by 4:30 that afternoon. That now tells me one important thing: I didn't have enough time to edit it. That's a sign to begin working on the speech more earlier, so that I have enough time to edit it. The key thing is while editing it, I can actually find the things to chop down.

Chopping down things is hard to do with a Cody Cutter work. Just ask anyone who has edited my stories for SVN and the college newspapers. Take one small thing out, and the whole piece looks ruined. I think my flow is too strong.

Overall, I don't think the research is a problem. It's just editing.

(On a totally unrelated side note - for some reason there were two songs stuck in my head while writing this speech and presenting it. Those two songs were ZZ Top's "I Thank You" and Fleetwood Mac's "Gold Dust Woman." Why, I don't know.)

Hurdles

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.40.40
Current Song - Give it Away (RHCP)

Honor Roll. Updated.

Upcoming Spring Assignments. Scheduled.

Finances. In Order.

Pictures. Need to hold off for a while.

Work. Limited next week.

Homework. Disarray.

Now that I caught up on most of the household crap for the website, I can start touching the speech assignment. After that is complete (key word - complete) I can start on the business card design.

This is going to be a brutal month.

Sked: Work, grandparents and sleep today. Begin writing speech all day Monday afternoon until work at 5:00. Continue writing speech all day Tuesday and get it done! Graphic arts class on Wednesday and continue until noon working on the business card; then immediately to SVCC to set up speech powerpoint and rehearse before class. All day Thursday before work at 4:00 will be spent compiling the Friday 5. As much as possible on Friday will be spent on the business card. Work from 12-9 on Saturday. Much-needed time off on Sunday.

Some time off sports

Cutter's Log - Supplemental

I got done covering Rock Falls softball's game against Rockridge. Bill got done covering Somonauk's baseball game against Sandwich. We were the only reporters at these games, so I thought it was a pretty good arrangement.

I'm going to be spending some time away from covering things until 4/10. That's when Rockford Auburn hosts a soccer invitational.

The reason why I'm spending some time off is because of the work/school balance. I'll be working six straight: Dixon mid today, EE night Thursday, Dixon night Friday, EE night Saturday, Dixon mid Sunday, EE night Monday.

In addition to working back in Dixon today, I have class straight afterword. We'll be going over how to structure the Policy Speech. My speech will be a position in favor of HR 390 - the "College Football Playoff Act of 2009". I'll need some time to put together a PowerPoint (yuck). I'll be doing this all day Thursday, and hopefully I'll have an outline structured by then. I also have all day Friday.

The weekend will be spent getting the business card thing situated.

Refill Cards

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.13.30
Current Song - Miss Sun (Boz Scaggs)

My bank switched names recently, and in a way it reminded me to change my online payment information.

I've always been weary about buying things or paying for things through the computer. The website thing has always seemed to work out well. But just in case there is some sort of virus that gets a hold of this information, I should have something else.

These "go" cards seem to work out well.

Five Months

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.03.30
Current Song - You Make it so Hard (Boz Scaggs)

The fifth Class Reunion will be on August 14.

That's five months. That's a goal date.

A lot of things have changed with me since I threw up that cap. Largely, I now understood why I acted the way I did during my childhood. Whether or not those that were around me will understand it is still up for grabs. Two, I'd like to continue to get rid of some things.

I have five months to try to act my age. Let's see if going back in time really works.

WSN: Work, School, NISB

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.52.30
Current Song - Misunderstanding (Genesis)

WORK: I will be back at Dixon East on Friday night.

I haven't worked at Dixon since just before Christmas. I still have the cheat sheet for the paperwork, as I rediscovered it in my desk a couple of days ago. Today I was asked if I could return for at least one night. I can't wait to see the customers again.

One of the best things about this is that I'll see my paycheck go up by $50. If I'm seeing that the money is going pretty good, I may be interested in doing double-shift Sundays once again if asked by Dixon.

Otherwise, things are going okay at the moment. I was named February employee of the month! However, it feels like being on the cover of Sports Illustrated. It only gets worse afterward. I've made a couple of mistakes since, but I'm okay with that.


SCHOOL: Didn't do so well on the Speech test. Then again, I didn't study hard enough. I didn't have time for it, and what I was doing in its place was foolish. I have to be careful to balance work and school accordingly. I have a policy speech coming up soon. I'm leaning toward having mine on the H.R. 390 involving the college football playoffs.

I'm having another stall in the Graphic Design class. I'm having trouble finding a client to create a business card for. I can't go any further until I find that client. Literally, I didn't even go to the past two classes because of this. I'm going regardless on Friday. Hopefully I find one by then. If not, I'm planning on working ahead on a couple of things.


NISB: I established the NISB Facebook page. I had some trouble setting it up, but it works now. I'm posting on the page's wall each time I make an update to the website.

As mentioned when discussing work, money may be rolling in a bit more. This also means that the website could be something to put less emphasis on, especially come finals time. If I have enough money to pay the freelancers to cover things, and continue the continunity of the website, that should be fine.

I have a Friday 5 due tomorrow morning. I've only got one topic of five so far. It's a good one, and I wish I'd see more of these kinds of things brought to my attention. Hopefully the IHSA releases their meeting notes, so I can get that on there.

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Bills to pay, finances to reorder!

My Health Care Thoughts

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.42.30
Current Song - Sweetheart (Franke and the Knockouts)

I don't mind it one bit.

I don't know if it will help or hurt me. I'm not concerned as to whether or not it will help or hurt me. It's NOT about ME. I don't look at the US of A in the way of, "If it's not good for me, therefore it's not good for the country."

Who this benefits are those who have been unable to progress, those who have been stuck in dire straits for decades. These are the people we never seen in the mainstream.

For those who think of themselves as successful, think about the struggle that you had to overcome, or quest you had to make, in order to become the person you are today. This is the same kind of task that these people who aren't there yet are trying to accomplish. Those who are already successful don't want to sacrifice anything.

Why does it always seem that we want to topple those above us, and block those beneath us? YOU are not the United States of America, WE are the United States of America.

I can't understand why we have to put ourselves (as individuals) ahead of other people around you. It's as if we should all act on our own, right? Well, if we all had minds of our own, there would be a lot of disorganization.

In the sports world, I always hear the word "team" in the interviews that I conduct. What's better: A team of six basketball players working together on the court? Or six basketball players on the court? Which team is more likely to win the basketball game?

I have a feeling that all of these teabaggers, and those who threw rocks and harassed those that voted for the Bill --- really only care about themeselves.

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Even with all of this happening, I think the upcoming elections in 2010, 2012 and 2014 will be the most intense in decades. Probably even more violent than the Reagan Revolution of the early 80s and the Republican Revolution of 1994.

We know in every election, the two majority parties aim to erradicate the other from the face of the Earth. No effort to do this will be more powerful than what the Republicans plan on doing soon. Rock throwing, harassment phone calling, slurs, etc. will only be the beginning. If the Republicans can't control their anger in the upcoming elections, they're done. They will have only done that on their own.

Combining it all into one

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.32.30
Current Song - Too Close (Next)

It's a night after work, and I'm usually running around on the computer. There wasn't much on there, but my mind came up with some different odds and ends here and there.

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The evening coffee clatch at work talked about rummage sales, and I told them I always wanted to start one. I have a bad location for a rummage sale: my front yard is on a hill, with 7 steps up to get there. My back yard is okay, as long as there's ample parking.

I've got a bunch of knick knacks cluttered up in my bedroom and throughout the house. Stuff I don't need, and stuff that may cause a waste of time if I ever move out. I would really like to start one. I just need to find boxes to put all of this stuff in, and to figure out how much each thing is worth.

The rummage sale (if it even gets up) will be one week long, and branded "the great experiment in economic hardship shopping."

Knick knacks - college textbooks - baseball cards - ???????

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After a recent virus check, it became known to me that I have a lot of pictures on the computer. That could save some scanning time, and I wouldn't lose them come tragedy.

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The SHS Class of 2005 5th reunion is on August 21. Good, a goal date for me.

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Those refill cards work better for the internet than what I use now.

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Work, okay. School, sucks. NISB, just fine.

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Yes, I'm that tired. Off to do some errands.