It's towards the end of 2016 and I have an iMac

Blogging is hard because I can never remember to do it, and I always treat it like a diary. So, what to blog. 

After 5 or 6 years of use my HP Pavillion PC has died. I personally think the last Windows 10 update did it, but maybe the hard disk drive just got old. Because the Windows 7 OS was converted to Windows 10 which was taxing, and then the Windows 10 update to Window 10 Anniversary edition took a full 24 hours to accomplish, these I blame for crashing the hard disk. 

Windows 8 was a disaster that I avoided on my home PC, but I had to use for 2 years at work. That was a complete loser move by Microsoft. Because these last Windows 10 updates were so bad, and I mean they took hours and hours to accomplish, in the middle of the working day, even when the Update Scheduler was set to NOT update, AND caused loss of data and work, I AM DONE WITH MICROSOFT. 

I've been using the Microsoft OS since 1993 or 4. And I am done. I have converted completely cold turkey. Last Thursday I bought an Apple iMac 27" 5K Retina display. I am amazed at how easily I have taken to it (the Mac OS). It simply is lovely in all ways. 

It's too late to continue writing, but this is a momentous occasion. 22 - 23 years of Microsoft hassle is over for me. 

I do still have to use Windows for work (I work from home alot) so I installed the Paralells program and installed Windows 10 on it. That makes a virtual Windows machine on this iMac. Windows on a Mac is better than Windows on a PC. 

I love LOVE the practically seamless integration with the iMac to my iPhone. It is so far FUN to use this iMac. Fun, fun, fun. 

Peace is Possible: The Christmas Truce of 1914

"New" 2010 Mercury Milan

Well my 2003 Ford focus threw a valve. So I bought this 2010 Mercury Milan.

I really like the two tone leather upholstery.

 

 

 

The 2010 taillights are better looking than the previous year's with more red in the light than white and chrome.

 

I am going to side with the conservatives and say that we absolutely do not need fundamental change! The change we need is to return to the fundamentals. And I reject any false notion that to return to our fundamental foundations is going backward. No indeed, because the Liberal fundamental change is in fact a return to the former eons of oppression, repression, and enslavement to the elite masters called "The Nobility" or "The Party".

So I thought this was funny. Anyway I complicated my life by aquiring 2 kittens from some kids at my door giving them away. One boy kitty and one girl kitty and so far those are their names. I've had them about 2 weeks almost.

New Year, Happy?

Welcome 2012. Since my one and only last blog (I guess this is blogging) I did get another job. Well, it's a contract that currently is going to expire Feb 3 2012, unless it is extended. Not sure one way or the other if it will be. It has been a wonderful change from the last dirt bag company that I worked for.

The update on that place is, the person who "fired" me then left the company himself very shortly afterwards, and not without expressing some doubt about having "let" me go to one of my co-workers who is still there. Schmuck.

Anyway, In 2012 I will probably be looking in earnest for another job again. At least, here in Utah the unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the nation.

Unemployment

July 6th after returning from a vacation my company laid me off from work. They decided to "make some changes" which no longer included me. Two others were let go with me as well. One was my new manager. It just so happened to be right at his 90 day review so no unemployment benefits for him. I later learned that they let me go because they said I was technically incompetent. Imagine my surprise. Never was there ever any conversation, discussion, or indication by anyone that such might be the case, but only after did I find out and that by the state workforce services when I applied for unemployment benefits. 

What is interesting, is the old adage, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone". True, I did not realize how much that I hated going in to work there everyday. Usually after I'm laid off there has been a sense of lost, a sorrow, an emptiness, mostly from lost association with co-work you grow to like. Not in this case! I've found that getting up everyday has been so much more relaxing, when I realise I don't have to go in and work with those (insert your expletive here) heads! 

Thankfully I had managed to get out of debt 100% - an inspired godsend, and even had a paltry $2500 saved. Now, they gave me 2 weeks severance pay. Can you think of any company that FIRES you but gives you 2 weeks severance? Not only that but the firing director told me to my face that he would give me a letter of recommendation. I followed up with an email and he responded back immediately saying he would be sending it ASAP. He has not been true to his word. Imagine my surprise.