TMobile is NOT giving away $60!!!

Ok...
I really have a hard time when people get emails that are bogus/scams and they don't research into things first. Now...I cant judge you all...cause I just happen to be skeptical, yet I can inform you.

Today I received several text messages stating the following:

Attention! All T-mobile Customers send this message to ten people and t-mobile will credit your account 60.00*both billing or prepaid. Happy Holidays!

Now, lets break this out.
Questions:

1. How many customers does TMobile have? 32.1 million world wide
2. Does every customer have unlimited texting? NO

Thoughts:

1. Now...if every one of TMobiles customers were to get $60 from texting all their friends...multiplied by 32.1 million....you get my point
2. In regards to the other question...if you don't have text messaging on your phone (there are several packages ranging from 400texts to unlimited) you pay 20cents per text (incoming and outgoing)

So...you send 10...and assume that you have 100 friends who send it to their 10 friends...which you happen to be one of...so now you get 100 texts (assuming none of your friends friends text you) multiplied by 20cents (potentially) you now owe TMobile $20 of the $60...doesn't make much sense from either perspective.

But...putting all that thinking aside that caused me to label this as 'bogus' right off the bat...I decided to to what EVERYONE should do when receiving such messages. (whether email or text), I called TMobile...wow..novel idea...why didn't i think of that...oh..wait I DID. harrumph!!...

Anyways...they informed me that they were aware of the issue...and let me know that this is not a valid text. The further informed me that were it to be valid it would be sent from 501 or 900 as this is their system message numbers (not positive on the 900..but something like that).
I also asked if someone potentially now had a $20 bill because they were on a pay as you go rather than a plan...and 100 friends had sent them this, I was told that if you report it they can work with you on crediting this back.

Unfortunately when this happens it drives costs up for all the subscribers because TMobile will spread some of this loss among its customers.

In my opinion you should eat the bill if this happens to you (its your punishment...or reward)....never take anything at its face value...look at it from another angle...see if the message your getting is even practical.

***Deep breath*** sigh.................

New tires and rims on my truck!

Well, not exactly 'brand new' but new for me. I purchased these for $1,000 and was expecting to be spending around $2,500. Originally these were on a H2 owned by a cousin of Moe's...but they didnt like them and decided on something else. So these have sat in the garage for a couple of years until they offered them to me as I had mentioned my tires were bald and I was going to start looking at new tires.
I also wanted new rims (my old ones are 16'' rims) and I wanted 17'' rims as the choices for tires are more with this rim size as it has become a more common size in trucks.
So these tires have been driven less than 100miles and the rims look just as new. I am loving them...the are almost 35'' in diameter where the stock tires are 30.5''. So it does raise my truck up a bit more.
The front tires do rub, but not the way bigger tires normally do as I can turn them from far left to far right. They don't rub often... and they don't rub when turned all the way..but the rub in the middle on the inner fender plastic shield thing. I have ordered a leveling kit (brings the front up only) for $80 and this will lift it enough to prevent rubbing.

No go on the interview....

Well...like I stated before the interviews at Microsoft can be pretty haggard as you go through a "Loop" of 5 to 6 different people throughout a full day.

I made it through 2 and then the recruiter met up with me and told me that the team had decided I wasn't what they were looking for.

Kind of a bummer because although I wasn't sure if they would hire me..I was pretty sure I would at least make the full loop.

Not sure why..as this job is well within my abilities..all I can figure is I must have said something that made them think I was not who I am...or maybe who I truly am is not something they want.

Microsoft is real big on behavioral interviews...so really it is up to the interviewer and if you answer something incorrectly in their eyes, the whole interview could be blown. I am supposed to find out some feedback this coming week on to what caused the "boot". Ouch!!

I interview on the 17th..talk about quick.

Well...I have my interviews tomorrow...on the twins b-day. So..I great present for them would be for the interviews to go great..cause then it would be much easier to take time off an be able to afford a trip down to visit..for the twins of course. other wise its not a birth day present.

SO...on that thought, for Anne and Lis
"Feliz, Feliz en tu dia...Amigitas que Dios te bendigas...y que cumplis mucho mas"

There...

Another interview coming up!

Well spoke with the manager from another team today...kind of an informal interview. He said afterwards he was excited to see if I would work out for his team and asked if I would like to go through an interview loop for his team.
I would be dumb if I didn't accept...plus it sound like a cool change of pace. It is a similar job in most aspects related to the actual process...but is different in who we support.
Rather than publisher facing it is advertiser facing...there is a possibility I would still over lap with my current team..at least for a while.
I guess the interview will be later this week or early next week. Will try and keep you updated.

The last position went to the other guy I was up against..I don't begrudge him anything as he is a very intelligent guy and some one that I trust to have our backs.

The Critter has a Fundraiser at school...

Well there is a fundraiser at school and the Critter is making a plea to all out there in the online world to assist here in winning the "bubble machine thingy". She would need to sell at least 80 items to achieve this goal.

You can make purchases that will apply to her account by visiting the link below:
http://www.nicholsonfundraising.com/index.asp?PID=28069

The fundraiser goes until the 25th. We would have had this up earlier but due to the Critter getting sick we had not read the booklet and seen that we can do this online (whats the world coming to?)

See her video plea as well (after 7 takes).

New Blog for Tech Tips

Ok..short post on this blog. I created a new blog mainly so I can have a repository of any 'Tech Tips' I may pass on. This week I have isntructed those of you who are using the Playlist.com player on your blogs how to slim it down so that your visitors can not only adjust the volume but also use the scroll bar and even pick a song from your playlist they want to hear.

I also described how to turn off the autoplay feature. (mainly because I would rather click 'Play')

The Tech Tips site is http://blootek.blogspot.com

Let me know what you think (on that blog of course), see if I explained it in a useful way or if I need to change up my style.

No news is good news....right!

Well...its been almost one month exactly from when I posted about my interview. I have not heard anything beyond that the choice is now between me and one other guy. That doesn't surprise me much because we knew the likelihood was that this would be the case. Luckily he is totally deserving if he is chosen AND there are two more positions that are already approved coming up in another month.
We have basically been told that whomever doesn't get this spot will be first in line for the next opening.
Crappy thing is neither of us has heard anything...
So we just sit not patiently waiting for any news. I would rather know that I wasn't hired and he is...than this lengthy process of not even making a decision.
Anyways..thats how things go here...guess its pretty typical to take 2-3 months to finalize the process.

The Interview...............

Wow...what a rough day that was.

Although my first interview wasn't until 9am, I had to get up at the same time since the commute to Redmond is way easier in the morning.

The first was relatively easy (as it was just the recruiter getting some basic info and screening just in case I was a complete idiot with a cool resume).

After that they got progressively more difficult. All in all the majority of my day went pretty well...but I was definitely drained as it was coming to an end.

My last interview was the one I dreaded as everyone told me that this particular person was hard on the interviewee. I was a bit nervous upon entering...all I can say is WOW!..it was rough.

This interviewer is a friend of mine as well...so it was weird seeing him in this light. He has been a narcotics officer and a regular cop in his past with FBI training on interrogation techniques. There was not doubt he was using this knowledge.

I was asked some pretty in depth questions..including some I really did not like to answer as they specifically requested me to dump on others in my team to validate my bid for the posistion.

Now...what really became difficult was when he began to take each weak response and tear it apart...bit...by bit...by bit. I was almost speechless cause when someone says to you ... "well if you are a leader on your team...why is it that this occurred...or that (referring to incidents that could have been eradicated if I was already a leader (of sorts) in the team).

I tell you this was tough.

All and all I think I did pretty well. There may be one more interview if a decision needs to be made by his superior based on a 'tie' or something.

definately a mentally exhausting day. Appreciate all your support...probably kept me from passing out from pure brain drain.

Blast to the past for Elmoes B-day!!

Ok...well tomorrow elmoe will be 36. Well while digging around in her 'hope chest' for an old address...(she had some money down in Provo I found through the unclaimed funds website), I located some old pictures.

Age 15ish

Age 17ish

And Finally when she was at Ripon College. The cover of a pamphlet for Ripon track. A quote in the pamphlet says "Other returning runners are juniour (elmoe..changed for privacy) who has a lot of potential".

Interview on Moday the 21st

Well....it has been awhile since I posted. I just thought I would let everyone know that I have a interview at Microsoft on monday.

If you all remember I was hired on as a contract worker..well a full time Microsoft posistion has come up and I applied for it. SO..wish me luck. I will update once I know what the day was like.

By the way its elmoe's bday on this day as well.

The question came up on my last post for a link to the foxfyredreamer page for the donatation link.

I have put a link on the left side bar to the foxfyre dreamer website. I will also ad one on to the foxfyre dreamer blog page as well.

Spending plan excel file

OK, here is my 'spending plan' file. It is not as pretty as the debt reduction plan mentioned in the earlier post...but its functional.

The main reason I created this was to easily determine how much extra I will have for a given month so I could input this into the debt reduction spreadsheet.

Feel free to make adjustment's if you are an excel guru or just feel some recommendations are needed. I created this for us and by no means will it satisfy the needs of everyone .

Download here

Are you looking to reduce debt? Well here is one way to do that!

Well..lmoe and I have discussed budgets many times in our tormentous past. Usually I would disagree...and she would push the importance.

We never came to an agreement and would usually pay off debts in a haphazard way.
Many times we would discuss a 'budget' (i hate the word..sounds so ... restrictive) and usually the discussion would get quite heated and really end up nowhere.

After many years and a good friend in Utah I came to the realization that it is beneficial to have a 'spending plan' ( i much prefer this wording). You keep yourself out of financial trouble because you 'plan' what you will spend.

Not only this but you are less likely to spontaneously spend (my worst habit).

Recently we actually make more money than we owe and now I don't feel so bad looking at our expenses each month, determining what extra we have and deciding where is best to put them.

Many of you have probably heard of 'snowball effect' regarding paying off debts. Well in doing some research I found a free Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that will allow you to put in your debts, interest rates, minimum payments and the total amount extra you have per month to put towards these debts...then it calculates based on your specifications how much to put on a given due date to knock them down systematically.

You can choose to go by biggest balance, highest interest etc. It will even show you which scenario will actually cost you more money, for as you choose the scenario it calculates the interest you might spend if you follow to completion the plan.

What I really like about this is that its totally configurable. If you month is tighter..just adjust the amount extra..if you have a windfall..adjust the extra up..the spreadsheet will calculate and adjust accordingly.

Now..not everyone has Microsoft Excel. You can install a free software called Open Office to accommodate your needs as it will open any Office document and even save into the Office formats. Let me know if this is your option as there a few extra steps to get the Excel macros to work in the debt reduction spreadsheet.

Please..if you like the spreadsheet donate to the website where you downloaded it. I love it when people contribute stuff for free and they should be compensated for there generosity. I tried several spreadsheets I found. I even paid $8 for one..and they all sucked. This one is clean, easy to follow and just very well put together.

If you don't know how much you have extra (if any) I will be posting a link at some point with a spreadsheet I have created that did it for us. You put in all your expenses (including loans etc) and the spreadsheet does the math for you. Yes I know this is really easy anyways..but what I LOVE about spreadsheets is they scalability. If you have five debts or twentyfive (like us), the formulae work the same. All you do is put in the numbers and get a answer immediately (instant gratification the framework of our American society).
I will post this sooner if I get lots of requests..otherwise I will most likely forget.

And please remember if you like either of these (or both) please donate as free software does take time and we want to keep this kind of development going. (both sites have donate links/buttons)

Critter chats with A.Toosure about here bday card.

The critter sometimes freaks me out with how old she acts at 5yrs old. I shouldn't be surprised since at that age I was going to the bus stop and spending most the day in school. If fact when we were about 7ish Lonnie and I would ride our bikes all over Spokane....crazy. Now I think about my kid doing some of the same stuff we did as kids I know why we were always getting in trouble.
This video I included is of the critter chatting with A.Toosure about a bday card she got (and it had a $1 bill..she was so freaking blown away!)
Anyways enjoy.

Hiedy Ho!!!

Ok...so its been even longer. Things have started to wind down now that training at work is over. We are very busy here...but now more time in front of our systems. So, I hope that means more frequent updates. Anyway, what I have to add to today was a request by DFV regarding a picture...well this is from http://maps'live.com/ (similiar to maps.google.com).

Notice every location marked in blue is a Microsoft building. They have more..these are just the ones that fit in the screenshot I took. I currently work in the group at the top of the map.

I prefer livemaps for 3D images cause you dont have to install software (like google earth) but maps.live.com doesnt have a 'street view'. maps.live.com doesnt work very well overseas. I typed uncle Pauls address in and maps.live.com was confused...although I could find it..but I had to actually peruse the map for street names like in the old fashioned days. In maps.google.com I was taken right to it. (this was not the case 2-3yrs ago though).

Well...back to the grind.

Update...finally

Well been at Microsoft for almost a month now. Crazy how people can get anything done. The place is HUGE..its a city of its own. If I need to go to other buildings I can take a shuttle (the run most the day) There is several cafeteria's that are subsidized by Microsoft, free soda, juice, coffe and filtered water.

It has been a crash course of training so my brain power is usually on low by the time I get home. Once I have been doing my job for a couple of months I will probably be more used to it. But for now....this is all you'll get..an update on occasion.

Convert .MOV to .AVI and post

I don't have much need of this myself since our camera records to .MPG which blogger accepts. But if your camera records to .MOV format then you would need to convert to one of the accepted formats.
I only had one .MOV file on my pc to tamper with and its a teaser for a game that came out recently (or is coming out).
First I found an .MOV to .AVI converter that I thought looked decent and would be free. I found Apex Video Converter for free and if you purchase it you have more options. Download it here

Then I installed the file clicked the Open tab..found my file..left all settings at default and clicked the convert tab (top middle).
There are settings you can change...but with the free version not much. Not bad for the free version though.
Then you just click your insert video icon like normal and grab the converted file. By the way this file started out as a 49mb file. It is now only 11mb...I have yet to locate the program I have used in the past to take a clip of a larger file. I will edit this post when found.
Blogger will let you upload up to 100mb of video using the web based up-loader that is part of you posting tools....thats a lot in .AVI format. But it does take a while for blogger to render it into the format they need 'after' it finishes uploading.



There is also this page that is very useful in lots of layout information. (including video posting using other sources like youtube)

La...la...lala laa....la laaaaaaa!

Well..Google did it again. Made something that I like. There was already a third party tool that performed the following function..but it only worked one way.

You can now sync your Outlook calendar with your Google calendar! It will even work both ways! So if you schedule something at home...then later you are away from home and schedule it in Google calendar. You can sync the two calendars. You can do this both directions...or just from Google to Outlook...or from Outlook to Google. The software I had used previously would only take from your Outlook and push it to your Google.

This is a brand new function so at this time it will only sync to your primary Google calendar and to your default Outlook calendar. Of course you could easily work around this if you have a laptop by using the laptop for one Outlook setup (i.e. work) and Desktop for you other Outlook setup. Probably would have to use separate Google calendars in this workaround. Hmm? let the testing begin!!

Bens thanks for the Christmas card

I received a letter today from Ben. He informed me he wanted everyone to be able to read his response to the Christmas card Post thingy we created. I am posting this here as well as on foxfyredreamer.blogspot.com (if you have not been invited to the foxfyredreamer blog let me know as it is a PRIVATE blog. Members can also post.)

Hey,
I don't know what to say. I received a few cards this year and as always I am so grateful for those reminders that we are family and that we love one another. However, I have never been sent a card quite like the one I got this year. I cannot put into words the feeling I experienced as I opened the obviously homemade card and read the names and notes. This card was by far the most wonderful gift I have received in many years. I read each and every note carefully, and then read them all over again. Some who signed this card have not written me in years, and some send letters as unfailing and steadfast as the sunrise, but all were so very welcome. I could not have asked for a better family; and Jonathan, to name one, has been as great a source of strength and inspiration as a mountain waterfall heavy with spring rain is to an artist. You cannot know what it meant to me, this simple card of well wishing and the intentions it was built upon. Strange how the non-physical can mean so much at times. All that I can say is thank you. Truly, deeply, most sincerely, I thank you. I hope this year will bring happiness and prosperity to us all.
All my love,
Dave
The "card" he speaks of was a combination of a card I made and comments on this post. If you care to read them.

I also would like to add that NOW is the time to step up and give him hope. In his personal letter to me he let me know that he has felt...in limbo recently. He feels it is another stage of "institutionalization"...in his words:
"I now realize that I am scared to get out. I am immobilized and struck by confusion from a seemingly over-complicated world." ...."...I want to get out, but I am scared of it as well...when I start to think about it I get really tripped out."

He goes on to say that he will figure it out...but at the time of the writing he was feeling it pretty strong. Our timing on the calendar and moving forward full steam ahead in support of him...is probably inspired...after reading his thoughts.

Check out this blog!!!!

I was watching the news tonight and they had a little comment on a blog that is written by the grandson of a english WWI soldier. Basically they are all his letters that he sent home. The grandson does not tell us the fate of his grandfather as we have to live his life through the letters to find out his fate.
He started the blog in 2006 and explains a bit of background info first...then what he does is post on the same day as the letter was written 90yrs in the past (first letter is Feb 7th 1917 so he posted it on February 7th 2007). It is actually quite riveting..highly recommended.
You will have to go to archive and read it all backwards..but it is really interesting.
http://wwar1.blogspot.com

Ice pack for swelling...aches...etc...home remedy...

Well...I was looking online for a Ice-Pack to ice my back when it slips out...and came across a home remedy version. Neat idea...in the posts further down the page are even other ideas. We have a food saver vacuum packaging thing...which I could use to try this out...instead of ziplocks bags. I would have to pre freeze the substance or when getting vacuumed..it would not seal.

Craigslist users beware!!! for your entertainment

New site I found.
Listening to Adam Carolla this morning and they shared a story....so I did a Google search to find the story and found this website relating on the ‘crime’ that is facilitated by Craigslist.

Here is the story itself...as well as the version from the above mentioned site.

For you Utah, Idaho region people…I don’t think Craigslist is all that popular yet. I tried several times to sell stuff on it while in that area and had no results. Maybe its hotter in the SLC area.. anyways its hot up here…stuff moves fast….

Now…I don’t think that just because there are crimes facilitated by such websites we should not use them…these types of scams have occurred even through local newspapers or The Little Nickel Classifieds for years…you just have to be aware of what ‘clues’ can alert you to possible issues.

Entertaining read though.

Online privacy and what it really means

I found an interesting article on what 'Privacy' really means in regards to online registration etc. Most people apparently are not aware that sites sell off their information to related companies...even when you tell them not too...they are allowed to sell it when such companies are sister/parent etc. type companies.
This article was linked from a new company called Demoxi that is creating a software to protect your privacy online. I am not too clear on how it all works yet as I just discovered it today. I will be updating this post after playing around with it..but you are welcome to check it out for yourselves. If you do...let me know what you've learned.
Currently this software is in a 'beta' test. Thus there is no fee...as to whether in the future their would be a fee...I would assume so..but have found no evidence to how much as of yet.
Personally to be able to browse the net and restrict sites from sharing my information would be well worth it. I have recently started getting 'spam' texts on my cell phone....at the cost of 10c per text this is annoying. I previously had maybe one in a month..but I have got just today two of them. I wonder if a site I used my cellphone as a contact info on might have sold that info off...(the only sites I put real contact info on is usually when submitting a resume etc.)

Edit 3:10pm 1-22-08
Ok..after reading up a bit more and doing some testing..the Demoxi softare is pretty neat. It will prevent you from getting 'phished' and also stores all your data 'locally' on you PC so that when you go to log into the bank...or purchase something online..you can fill all your forms with LOCKED data from Demoxi. This makes online password managment and online purchases much easier. It also merges with your browser (IE, Firefox ...soon to be Safari as well) and deletes cookies etc. (the browser already does this..but Demoxi just interfaces with it and makes it a bit easier to manage).
It stores any credit card/buying card numbers as well. Again these are encrypted and locked on your PC...and they are not accessible until you log into the Demoxi software.

Edit:1-24-08
Ok..found this page that tells some background to the company. It appears that the intention is for the software to be free...so although it is in BETA right now, apparently after it is complete and released to the general public, it will be free.
cool

Got this in an email a couple years back...and it resurfaced...so I'll pass it on.

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.


Or rather...
According to a researcher (sic) at Cambridge University, it doesn't matter in what order the letters in a word are, the only important thing is that the first and last letter be at the right place. The rest can be a total mess and you can still read it without problem. This is because the human mind does not read every letter by itself but the word as a whole.

Found this site explaining it.

Now..the question is...how many of you could read that....easily...I mean I would like those commenting to rate on a scale of 1-5 (1 being most dificult) how easy this came.

Also rate your reading frequency on the same scale...(1 meaning you do not read often)

I dont think this really indicates intelligence...more I think those that read more might find it flows more. SO...I figure if we rated our capacity to read that above...AND indicate our amount of reading...I can see if this is correct...well as long as I get a few comments from 'light' readers.

Using hyperlinks in blogger

Hey...been thinking for a while what to post up have noticed some out there arent quite sure how to use html within the blog. So I thought I could post a very simple intro to a link you dont see...(like the http:// etc part) you just see the word. Some of you do know this...others dont..or mabye do and dont care. Whatever..it makes a post.
Now..its real easy when you are making a post because up by your font options is a button to create a hyperlink..of course this will make one that is clickable by just highlighting the text you want to make into a hyperlink...then click the 'hyperlink' icon..you can then add your website 'url' here. But if you want to do this in a post you will need to do the following:

I had to create images for because 'blogger' sees the html tags and hides them...but you need to see them to create them.

If you making a post just click the link (you may have to agree to let your browser use integrated scripts) and put into the address bar in the box that pops up your web address. NOW when you hit OK it will input into your post the link you made. You will see

..but for your visitors to see anything you will need to add your text for the link in between the ><. This of course ONLY works when you are posting on your own blog...(unless I am mistaken). If you want to add it to a comment you would do the following. I prefer to do it this way all the time..but to each his own.
so it would look like this.

The full link you would type in looks like the following

Your vistors would see
LINK

Edit: 1/13/08
At a readers request I have decided to alert you to tabs in the upper left of your screen when you creating a post. You have 3 effective links (two are tabs, one is a link)

Edit Html - You can see the html tags around all your text
Compose - This shows you typical compose screen and you can see any links our images you have added in this screen.
Preview(link) - This is the final screen you can use to make sure all the layout is as you want your readers to see.

NOW remember that if you intend to add a link to a comment of someone else's blog.....these tabs will not be available..you just have to have have the tutorial open to follow (or printed) or in my case memorized.