Miscellaneous Musings

When writing for broadcast, remember, there are LEVELS of subtle.

Level 1, the writer is the only one who gets it, even after they explain it.
Level 2, other people get it after the writer explains it.
Level 3, smart people get it without explanation.
Level 4, average people get it without explanation.
Level 5, you’re an idiot if you don’t get it.
Level 6, a freight train delivers it at full throttle through your front door.

Level 3 should be avoided for broadcast, because let’s face it, the average listener has never been accused of being smart, even if some of them actually are.
Level 2 should NEVER be used for broadcast, because you don’t get 30 seconds after the ad runs to explain the subtleties.
Level 1 subtle is just mental masturbation on the writer’s part, usually wildly esoteric and left in the realm of Trekkies, Anime convention goers, and Mensa.

Yeah, that about sums it up today.  Just kinda … flumpy.  Got my hopes up that I was going to get to tinker around and make that cable release for the camera, but nobody in town carries 2.5mm stereo plugs.  Adapters, sure, but I don’t particularly want to run an adapter to a 3.5mm plug.  Yeah, it would work, but it would just be kinda silly.

Then there’s the whole Tasha thing this week.  *sigh*  She finally took off and left home on Tuesday apparently.  God only knows where she’s actually living right now.  Scares me just a lot.  She knew we were here for her if she needed somewhere to go.  Wish she woulda called.  At this point it’s not about hurting people’s feelings, it’s about being somewhere frickin’ safe.  Guess we’ll see what happens there.

Just kind of a shitty week I guess.  Psychotic at work the last couple of weeks, that’s bringin’ on the burn.  Haven’t had any Bytech work in three weeks now.  Didn’t even get a reply to my last email.  Guess I must be done with that, which sucks.  I was really enjoying it.  The extra money didn’t hurt either.  Made Christmas happen this year anyway.

I’ve been wanting to start on a web project, but can’t think of anything worth doing right now.  Maybe I’ll start working on my AIOsite project again.  Try to re-remember everything I’ve forgotten about it in the last month or two.  LOL  Yes, it’s pretty freakin’ sad.

Then there’s my *****.com idea, but I just don’t know if I could really pull that one off.  I mean, I could TRY just doing it for Dryden first, but I’d want to reserve the other domains just in case, and that’s a chunk of up-front overhead.  Hosting wouldn’t really be an issue until I were to launch it anyway.

Anyway, just another round of the doldrums it seems.  I’ll snap out of it sometime soon.  As soon as I decide on something to occupy my brain with.  Guess for now, that should be the edits to Scott’s newsletter…. good idea.  Cash is my friend.

Yep, still have that idea for dryden***.com rolling around in my head.  Still debating whether it would be best done as my own thing, or an idea to pitch to the station.

Also did a check … redlake***, siouxlookout***, ignace***, atikokan***, kenora***, and borderland***.com are all available too.  I think if I was going to do it myself, that would be the way to go.  Lock up all the area domains and pitch it all over.

Now, I don’t know if it would be feasible in the smaller towns like Ignace or Atikokan even.  But the bigger ones, like Dryden/Kenora/Fort … even Red Lake and Sioux could possibly see enough use to be worthwhile.  I’d imagine it might even be possible to make an income off it, if I could get enough support behind it with actual businesses.  Heck, throw local classifieds into each one, and it could even have a chance.

Just not sure I could pull it off alone.  I’d almost need an employee to do the leg work, but I don’t think I could pay one.  Wonder if Megan would like to work from home.

The idea is wedged in my head and I can’t get it out.  It would take registering 7 domains to lock up the region.  It’s a bit of a chunk of change, but if I could make it back … get even three or four businesses signed up on a year-long contract … it could even turn a buck or three.

Idea … stuck … in  brain … won’t … get out!!  Argh!

Okay, it’s bed time.

If I could think of a way to actually USE this, I’d be all over it.

http://www.bluefur.com/hosting/monsterdeal.php

25 GB Disk Space
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Although y’know, talking to Duane at Sears yesterday, MAYBE there’s a little market for a little website for Dryden businesses.  Something for stores that want to be on the web, but don’t have the time, effort, or staff to do a site themselves.  Something where they get their store info, a custom page maybe, and a place to put weekly specials or add a “web deal” with a printed coupon.

Sake of argument, let’s say a $45/month package with a landing page for the store, and a weekly special.  Line up 10 stores to commit, and that’s 450/month - $20 for hosting = $430/month.  That’s a nice extra bit of money.  15 stores kicks things up to 655/month (-20 again).

There are businesses out there I think would do it.  Especially if I’m behind it.  LOL  Even better if I could work something with Bruce to promote it through CKDR/ckdr.net.  Hell, I could even build it … then pitch it to Bruce as a CKDR co-brand.  They sell it, station bills it, I get a commission or flat rate per client for doing the work after hours.  That would leverage the strength of an existing client base for the site … and updates would feed copy changes too.

I think I need to flesh this out.  There are lots of choice domains to do it with.  Might be something to kick around this winter.  Right now … off to upgrade Wordpress.

http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/76/76855/news-pdfs/110408.pdf

That sums it all up.  The Dryden mill no longer makes paper.  Ever.  Does all but say, “as soon as the area forests are depleted, we will cease pulp production and decommission the facility.”

Pulp production = timber rights to harvest.  No pulp production = can’t cut down trees.  Thank goodness for that small miracle.  Buys a few hundred folks a year or two maybe.  Sad that they always pull this shit right before Christmas.

Big day this one.  Emma turned 5.  America elected its first “black” president.  The Dryden paper mill stops making paper for good.  That’s a little too much for one day.

Should be real interesting to see what happens with this Christmas’ ad sales … and the parade … and if we’ll even bother trying to collect food/toys this year.  Hell, how many people are going to be left able to donate stuff??

Pretty scary time for the town.  Hope we pull through it.

Well, in the last couple of weeks … what’s happened.

• Twippo got her cast off this morning.  Seems to be doing okay so far.
• Had a couple more Bytech jobs and remembered just why I hate fucking Internet Explorer so goddamn much.  It’s retarded.  There’s no other explanation.
• Our cable modem got fried in a power bump on Saturday.  Shaw replaced the modem for free.  Shocked the shit out of me.
• I picked up a 2nd battery for the Canon on eBay for 1 cent … last night got a 23-in-1 USB card reader for 12 cents.  That’s pretty cool I thought.
• Work continues to be ever so crazy.  Always on the verge of catching up, but never quite getting there.  And this week I’ve got to put together a script for the anti-violence trivia contest.  Joy.
• We’re almost done all our Christmas shopping.  This is probably going to be our biggest Christmas ever.  We’re never doing it again.  LOL  I still have to get a couple of things for Megan, but nothing too crazy.  About 60 bucks will take care of it … unless I get some bonus money somewhere to do a little extra.
• We finally found out what the hell “Goal Sharing” is at work.  It’s a max of $300 a year based on “points”.  $3/point, up to 100 points.  We scored a 95.  That’s good for $285.  Plus that falls on the cheque they pay out our unused sick days.  Boo-yah.  Mid-December bonus.

Other than that, just been keepin’ kinda busy with little things like the Bytech projects.  I love the extra challenges and keeping my feet dirty in code on something legit.  Plus the extra money is awesome.  It’s made Christmas possible this year so far.  And I think once some of the little things are caught up, the money will start attacking the bills.

I think that’s my big target next year, to start really attacking the debts.  I know there’s a big spring project in taking down the additions that’s going to set us back at least a grand I figure.  Call it a New Year’s resolution if you will.  Right now we’re having our fun, going a little crazy, and come January, it’s time to buckle down.

We’re hoping to either fix or replace the dishwasher by Christmas … and there’s a new fridge in the plans for spring.  Possibly with taxes, depending if/what the refund is.  That’s the big ticket stuff.

By June, the mortgage should be down to … around $4800, with a max of 2 years ’til it’s paid off.  Our interest rate dropped this month down to 4.25%, so that extra 0.5% will go to principle.  Let’s hope the rates stay low during our current market crash/global recession.  The idea of paying off the mortgage first sounds great in my head - an extra $100 every payday in our pockets, owning our home outright.  But on paper it’s the one that makes the most sense to NOT pay first - because of the insanely low interest rate compared to the computer/credit cards.

Logically, Dell is the one to pay off first.  Highest interest.  But they still take the regular payment even if I make extras.  So I think I’d pay off one of the credit cards (mine or Megan’s with the bigger limits) and then pay off Dell in one shot.  Then re-pay down the cards at a lower rate, using the extra $63/month to help do that faster.  Or put it to the mortgage.

At any rate, the extra money (as long as the work keeps coming) will be a real help to getting us closer to the financial happy place … and closer to buying a house in town in a few years.  I’d like to clear away enough debt that we can actually put together a good down payment when the time comes.

Ooooo … looks like another job coming my way this week.  Yeehaw.  Life is goooooooooood.  Gotta make the most of it while it lasts, eh?

Here is the solution to the voting dilemma when NONE of the candidates are a clear choice for whatever reason:

Yes, skippy magoo pulled an Emma tonight on the way back to the car at Wal-Mart.  Nobody saw exactly what happened, but she said she was jumping along (like a twit) and landed badly on her ankle.

Three hours at the hospital and one pink fiberglass cast later, she may have broken her ankle.  MAY.  They couldn’t say for sure.  Where she hurt is is directly over the growth plate, so it natually shows as a break on the Xrays.  So three weeks in a cast for the Twippo.  *sigh*

Happy Thanksgiving.

*does a little happy dance* Yes, I went and got the Canon today.  Didn’t get out of the twins’ driveway when my first chance to shoot came up - a doe and fawn headed for the feeder.  There are a few shots up on flickr - http://flickr.com/photos/writerofads/ - that turned out pretty nice.

I’ve already started compiling a list of accessories and things for my camera gear wish list.  Started tonight with a spare battery for $0.01 on eBay.  It’s a higher capacity 1300mAh battery, vs the stock Canon at something like 720/750mAh.  Reviews all say the generics tend to be even better than the stock Canons, because they are usually a higher mAh rating.  Works for me!

Anyway, just whipped up a couple more images with Photoshop CS2.  Yes, I’ve decided I’m going to learn how to use it, since it works well under Wine.  I find it a lot harder than GIMP, but I’ve been using GIMP a lot longer too!  They’re on flickr.

It’s official … Photoshop CS2 runs quite well with a default wine installation on Ubuntu 8.04.  ImageReady won’t fire on it’s own, but launches without issue from within Photoshop.

I guess the question now is … do I really want to learn Photoshop …