Today's commute was horrid! Rain turned into Snow/Rain mix and made driving hard. This entered (a little bit) into the idea of alternative driving. Often I thinking about ways to beat the gas system. Either by making an alternative driving vehicle which is light weight and basic or by investigating diesel alternatives. Today, a new factor entered into my mind... rain and snow. Ultimately, no matter how many Gallons of Gas your saving, if you're wet, cold, or can't hear yourself think then you aren't having fun.
Saving a buck should be fun and so should driving. So to future car makers of light weight vehicles... know that your car (if it is to sell here in the Nor' West) it has to make it through the rain.
That's all for now
~J out
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Monday Morning
Greetings all. My apologies for not posting Sunday, but I'm in the middle of some remarkable research on the Internet and Global Politics or Geopolitics. The paper I'm working on is an analysis of Kenneth Neil CUKIER's article Rich Man, Poor Man: The Geopolitics of Internet Policy Making. Basically how the world's governments are slowly seeking to implement policy governing the net. If that sounds interesting then you can read the article by clicking the link above.
In other news, after watching the Academy Awards, the fact that Al Gore now has an Oscar for his documentary just further solidifies his place as "green champion." Yep, everyone by now knows that Gas is getting closer to being obsolete, but does that mean that gasoline drivers are going to be persecuted? Well perhaps... (the following comes from a 40min commute into school)
Among most Nor' Westerners, "the Hummer" series especially the H2 and H3 aren't well received. Further among "green people" all SUV drivers (including the inscrutable soccer mom) are being criticized for filling up. Part of it has to do with green house gases as Al Gore pointed out, but some of it has to do with the price. It's no secret that in 10-20 years gas prices will be at new all time highs. It maybe then that drivers of Escalades, Ford Excursions, and Hummer H2s will be the elite class and us Subaru/Honda drivers will be the economy gas saver class.
Either case, I perceive a schism forming between the Green People & Gas Savers vs. SUV & Gas Guzzlers. I'm going to exclude construction workers who drive Fords or Chevy's because honestly if they're using their truck for it's intended purpose then there is no waste happening. What should you do then? Well this issue transcends Liberal/Conservative or Republican/Democrat because saving money (ironically) will come from conserving gas. Thus I purpose a new campaign...
In other news, after watching the Academy Awards, the fact that Al Gore now has an Oscar for his documentary just further solidifies his place as "green champion." Yep, everyone by now knows that Gas is getting closer to being obsolete, but does that mean that gasoline drivers are going to be persecuted? Well perhaps... (the following comes from a 40min commute into school)
Among most Nor' Westerners, "the Hummer" series especially the H2 and H3 aren't well received. Further among "green people" all SUV drivers (including the inscrutable soccer mom) are being criticized for filling up. Part of it has to do with green house gases as Al Gore pointed out, but some of it has to do with the price. It's no secret that in 10-20 years gas prices will be at new all time highs. It maybe then that drivers of Escalades, Ford Excursions, and Hummer H2s will be the elite class and us Subaru/Honda drivers will be the economy gas saver class.
Either case, I perceive a schism forming between the Green People & Gas Savers vs. SUV & Gas Guzzlers. I'm going to exclude construction workers who drive Fords or Chevy's because honestly if they're using their truck for it's intended purpose then there is no waste happening. What should you do then? Well this issue transcends Liberal/Conservative or Republican/Democrat because saving money (ironically) will come from conserving gas. Thus I purpose a new campaign...
Saving money by buying a diesel (for bio diesel) or switching to mixed fuels is an American step against Terrorism.
yep! If you want your boys back state-side it's time to buy a diesel and pump bio diesel over regular diesel or even make your own! And to gas cars, it's time to convert your car (even if it gets 35+ mpg) to ethanol or E85. All of this is an effort to combat terrorism and to conserve money, resources, and above all keep US Dollars in the US.
more to come as I continue to work this out on future commutes.
~J out
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The JOB
The Interview came and the interview went. Generally I was shocked at what transpired (in a good way).
It all began when I found the place and walked in. I said a little prayer "if God wills it, let me have this job" and I walked in. I was greeted by the person I talked with over email. It turned out that she was the secretary and she ushered me over to the couch.
She told me it wasn't her that was going to interview me, but Mr. Bush. Mr Bush?! Urrr uhh.. Ok. A young looking guy came out in casual looking clothes (and to my relief it wasn't "The Bush") he reached out his hand and said, "Hajimemashite" or Nice to meet you (in Japanese). As you can expect, I was very shocked by this. Quickly I replied the same and he asked me (in JP) if i'd like some water. From then on it was kinda a blur, but I remember parts of it being in Japanese and some in English. I was very impressed to find someone like this guy.
He was a white guy, but he told me that his wife was Japanese from Sapporo. Whoa. He told me that he'd been reading my Sapporo blog and could relate to a lot of what I wrote there. In my mind I knew "Dang! Whatta a good 1st impression." To say the least, I was very happy with the interview.
In some ways I feel somewhat justified for the hours spent struggling to learn Japanese characters and sentence structure. I felt that after I came back from Japan, I would probably keep my skills up for a month and then slowly forget it all. That was my fear, but it seems that this job opens up avenues for my skills... a purpose! A reason to dust off the grammer books on my shelf and practice to keep those skills sharp!
I was interviewed again by two nice ladies who went over my resume, as well as, laugh and joke around (what I thought was the "chemistry test" or will this person be laidback and workable test). Both the Mr. Bush test and the Chemistry test... in my opinion, went very well.
I was told that i'd get an answer by the afternoon on friday. Sure enough, at 2:58pm I recieved a CONGRADULATIONS email. People from miles around could hear my Ego boom! I was one happy camper!
The buzz still circulates around the house and my girlfriend is proud of me which feels good.
A Victory for me and most of all I'm getting paid a rate that was more then I anticipated!
Total wait time to get a J.O.B: little over 1 month... That's the current for Portland, Or 2007.
Goodtimes!
~J out
It all began when I found the place and walked in. I said a little prayer "if God wills it, let me have this job" and I walked in. I was greeted by the person I talked with over email. It turned out that she was the secretary and she ushered me over to the couch.
She told me it wasn't her that was going to interview me, but Mr. Bush. Mr Bush?! Urrr uhh.. Ok. A young looking guy came out in casual looking clothes (and to my relief it wasn't "The Bush") he reached out his hand and said, "Hajimemashite" or Nice to meet you (in Japanese). As you can expect, I was very shocked by this. Quickly I replied the same and he asked me (in JP) if i'd like some water. From then on it was kinda a blur, but I remember parts of it being in Japanese and some in English. I was very impressed to find someone like this guy.
He was a white guy, but he told me that his wife was Japanese from Sapporo. Whoa. He told me that he'd been reading my Sapporo blog and could relate to a lot of what I wrote there. In my mind I knew "Dang! Whatta a good 1st impression." To say the least, I was very happy with the interview.
In some ways I feel somewhat justified for the hours spent struggling to learn Japanese characters and sentence structure. I felt that after I came back from Japan, I would probably keep my skills up for a month and then slowly forget it all. That was my fear, but it seems that this job opens up avenues for my skills... a purpose! A reason to dust off the grammer books on my shelf and practice to keep those skills sharp!
I was interviewed again by two nice ladies who went over my resume, as well as, laugh and joke around (what I thought was the "chemistry test" or will this person be laidback and workable test). Both the Mr. Bush test and the Chemistry test... in my opinion, went very well.
I was told that i'd get an answer by the afternoon on friday. Sure enough, at 2:58pm I recieved a CONGRADULATIONS email. People from miles around could hear my Ego boom! I was one happy camper!
The buzz still circulates around the house and my girlfriend is proud of me which feels good.
A Victory for me and most of all I'm getting paid a rate that was more then I anticipated!
Total wait time to get a J.O.B: little over 1 month... That's the current for Portland, Or 2007.
Goodtimes!
~J out
Friday, February 23, 2007
The Interview
Today I have my first interview. It seems like ages since I've had an interview. To prepare for it this morning I decided to shave and comb my hair and dress up like I was going to some "official conference." Like war, I armed myself with a fountain pen, diamond tie, and black polished shoes. The color code for this battle was black slacks and a navy blue button down shirt.
To keep the laser guided questions from piercing deep, I tied the winsor knot on my tie and dressed down in my best black trench coat. I have no clue what to expect, I have guidelines as to as far I'll go, but I need a job.
I got one class then it's show time. The Job description seems pretty straight forward. My girlfriend reminded me to ask plenty of questions and so I'll try.
So time to ship-up, stand straight, and hope for the best.
WATASHI NI, GAMBARE!
~J
To keep the laser guided questions from piercing deep, I tied the winsor knot on my tie and dressed down in my best black trench coat. I have no clue what to expect, I have guidelines as to as far I'll go, but I need a job.
I got one class then it's show time. The Job description seems pretty straight forward. My girlfriend reminded me to ask plenty of questions and so I'll try.
So time to ship-up, stand straight, and hope for the best.
WATASHI NI, GAMBARE!
~J
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Good morning Portland
Good morning Portland, Or. It's roughly 9:22 and I'm posting on what I hope will be a regular blog a day.. blog.
Today happens to be a long day for me so I drove through morning rush hour alone listening to radio stations on my "quick pick" list: 1st 9.47 then 101.1 then 91.5 then back to 94.7. As I flipped through the stations looking for something to break the stop & go worm, it began to do the Oregon Mist.
Now I don't mind the Oregon mist it's in my blood, but what gets me is that mist that lands on your windshield and you know that if you hit the windshield wipers then it'll smear, but if you leave it the windshield gets all cloudy. Suffering, I timed my wipes so that I could maximize clarity. To say the least, driving through rush-hour is incredibly taxing and mundane.
I miss the days when I had to ride my bike (for what seemed miles) to school, dodging the little kiddies and hollering "Ohayoo Gozaimasu" to the road crews who were wrapping up a hard nights work. I'm happy I don't have to ride in fridgit weather, but since I've stopped the regular daily ride, I fear that I'm slowly gaining weight in this posh American lifestyle.
Well that about wraps it up, it's 9:30 and I gotta get to class.
~J out
Today happens to be a long day for me so I drove through morning rush hour alone listening to radio stations on my "quick pick" list: 1st 9.47 then 101.1 then 91.5 then back to 94.7. As I flipped through the stations looking for something to break the stop & go worm, it began to do the Oregon Mist.
Now I don't mind the Oregon mist it's in my blood, but what gets me is that mist that lands on your windshield and you know that if you hit the windshield wipers then it'll smear, but if you leave it the windshield gets all cloudy. Suffering, I timed my wipes so that I could maximize clarity. To say the least, driving through rush-hour is incredibly taxing and mundane.
I miss the days when I had to ride my bike (for what seemed miles) to school, dodging the little kiddies and hollering "Ohayoo Gozaimasu" to the road crews who were wrapping up a hard nights work. I'm happy I don't have to ride in fridgit weather, but since I've stopped the regular daily ride, I fear that I'm slowly gaining weight in this posh American lifestyle.
Well that about wraps it up, it's 9:30 and I gotta get to class.
~J out
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