It's My Life....

Recession...what recession?

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:03:22 GMT

You know I keep up somewhat with what is going on and especially in the economy. I have to because I trade stocks. I believe I have become really good at what I do and have learned to understand the economy better. I know what terms mean when I hear them and what people are talking about on the TV and on line and such.
I certainly have not mastered anything by any means.

So we know we have been in tough times since last year. But it has not been widely disseminated to the public until the past few months. I have personally thought that we were already heading into a recession before Christmas and especially early this year. Christmas was a great season for me in my job. I am in retail sales of cameras. The first of this year was to be expected, slow.

However, march seemed to pick up and April is truly blowing me away. I expected it to be dismal. But to my dismay, we are up. And I mean up big! I really expected to be down some or flat but hey what do I know anyway.

So I know this little job I have does not speak at all to the economic status of the country. However, it really makes me wonder how bad things are. It seems banks are getting tough on loans and prices on gas and food are rising. But it seems somewhere along the line people are still finding ways to spend money on non-essentials.

I mean I have even tried to curtail my own spending. I try to eat out less or go to places that costs less. I will even eat less just so I can save a dollar or two for a meal. I am trying to be less frugal with my money and save it or put it into stocks. I have even tried to save gas by limited my speed on the interstate. I usually go between 70-80MPH on the interstate and apparently after 60-65 MPH your gas mileage drops off exponentially. So the speed limit is 70 and I have been driving about 65 MPH a few times in the past week. It is a hard thing to do because I have a lead foot. But I feel over time it could really save myself money, control our necessity for foreign oil and help the environment.

I keep hearing the worst is over and better things are to come. I think these statements are only true for the banks and stocks. They have gone so low now that they will be bought up and go back up. The banks have cut jobs and got rid of risky loans and other bad debt.

However I do not think it is near over for the consumer. Food and gas prices are at incredible highs these days. When I am off work I do not want to travel simply because it cost too much to go anywhere. Almost every food item you find on the shelf has risen significantly in the past 8-12 months. I do not eat at Panera Bread nearly as much as I used to because of the increases in prices there. You can even read a sign that notes they raise prices to offset costs and keep a high grade product.It also specifically notes that wheat prices have doubled over the past year.

I really hope we do not see $4/gallon gas this year. I think consumers can just barely handle the price where it is now. If we hit $4/gallon I think travel will significantly drop off and affect the economy in drastic measures. Food prices would continue to jump as companies would cite higher cost due to fuel prices. Retail outlets would lose business and consumers would turn more to internet sales as they already have.

I see stocks getting a run within the next 3 months along with banks in particular. They will cut jobs, cut dividends; whatever it takes to get back to the profitability they were a year or so ago.
However, consumers have not seen the end of this by far. I am afraid we will see $4 gas and food prices will continue to be high for some time.

This summer is going to be especially expensive to travel and eat. Saving money over the next 8 months or more is going to be nearly impossible.

OmegaCon 2008 Afterthoughts...

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:14:05 GMT

Omega Con has come and gone. It was the first major Sci Fi or Comic Book Convention in 10-15 years by my count. It was in the planning for over 2 years. Was it worth it?

I think it went off pretty well myself. There were a lot of confusing moments and problems shuffling people to different rooms overall though. There was a lack of organization. I know for one instance I went for the charity auction. Got told it was in another room at 2. Went to that room, which was the original room it was supposed to be in only to find no one there. Went back to where it was rescheduled for and there did not seem to be too many people there. Anyways, the charity auction proceeded and I got me a few little things. There was a large area for dealers and I think they can make that bigger. But overall it was a good mix of dealers.
I got to meet several stars including Chase Masterson, Richard Hatch, Peter Mahew, and Richard Kiel.
I also had the privilege of seeing the second screening ever of a film called Yesterday Was a Lie. It is a very interesting sci fi/noir film. It combines the films of the 40’s with the Sci Fi of today. It is going through the film festivals and Cons right now and I hope it gets a major release because it is great!
Overall I think that Omega Conwas a success but it needs a lot of work. They can do better, especially with organizing things better. I think the Con did lose some people due to the fact that there were no Maps of the place at all. Yesthey were online, but there were none printed out at the site. The Sheraton was a large place and had events in many different places. If I had not previously seen the map I would have been even more lost than I was. The place was quite a maze and people were having trouble finding things. Also moving events and panels constantly gets old. I can understand when someone does not show or something, but it seemed that a very large portion of events and panels were being moved and rescheduled.
I hope we see Omega Con in 2009 and it is bigger and better! Click the link below to see more pictures from OmegaCon 2008! See more at the following link on Flickr!

OmegaCon 2008 Pictures

mypussy

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:23:39 GMT

mypussy
Originally uploaded by simmer911

This is my pussycat. She is so spoiled. She loves to get rubbed and cuddle with her daddy!

Hello Ducky!

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 03:02:30 GMT

0915071557
Originally uploaded by simmer911

This is my Ducky. I love Ducky. He made a friend the other day.

Fav Album

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 07:17:55 GMT

New favorite .... U2 album is ... War..i know this will creat a backlash....

robsimpsonsized

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 06:49:54 GMT

robsimpsonsized
Originally uploaded by simmer911

This is me SIMSPONIZED! Does it look like me or not! What do you think!

DSC_0391

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 06:30:38 GMT

DSC_0391
Originally uploaded by simmer911

I miss her so....This is Angela from Canada. We were on top of Whistler Mountain in Canada. Isn't she cute!

Desoto Caverns...it is BIG!!

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 02:17:01 GMT

Images from Desoto Caverns in Childersburg, Alabama.

Photos featured on Vancouver PhotoBlog

Thu, 10 May 2007 20:30:17 GMT

My photos have been featured on the following photo blog about Vancouver photographers. I recently visited the area and included some pictures from my time there and was put in the mix on the blog. Visit http://photodistrict.blogspot.com/ to see my work and the work of others!

A "special" number...

Sun, 06 May 2007 04:18:49 GMT

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

Any idea what this number does?
Hmm....

More bowling pics and one more Zoo picture...

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 03:01:35 GMT

Pictures from bowling and the zoo again. Me bowling and picture of me and Mike. We won the "commitment award" from our company. So I guess I am pretty commited? So bowling fun..and zoo fun..all done!

Shots from Bowling and the Zoo...

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 02:23:11 GMT

Went to the Zoo and Bowling. Used the 18-200VR Nikon at the Zoo the most. Also used the 50mm a bit there. All shots at the bowling alley were with the 50mm 1.8 Nikon. It is the best lens you can buy for $120. Hands down...

Brokeback Mountain?

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:01:49 GMT

I make it a point to always see major movies that get awards and such from Hollywood. So I decided to watch BrokeBack Mountain; already knowing that it invoved some sort of homosexual relationship. Well it was a really slow movie all throughout and it is not my type of movie. Even though it is kinda disturbing in some ways going from guys to girls between the men, in the end I suppose it was a good story. Again, I usually like movies with twists or action and such. "Dramas," I suppose just are not my thing. I could see why it got the awards it did in Hollywood. I just cannot imagine what is going to be next. What are we going to have next? The movie of how a man lives alone and invites young girls and boys over to make sensual photographs. Then, is pegged as a pedophile because of it even thought he doesn't touch them? Hey...that might make it to Hollywood. Risque...especially with all that shit on Dateline on the subject. I mean who is not watching Dateline NBC "to catch a predator?" HAHA!! "Yes sir, I though this was a setup, but I came anyway!!" That is so funny everytime I hear that. The only thing that disturbs me is how high ratings this show gets and how they continue to run it like twice or more a month it seems. We love our violence, sex and pedophiles on TV! I mean the only good news is bad news these days. Who wants to learn about how the great sunny day we had and great life is? Nope...I just want to hear about murders and idiots.
This must be why films like Brokeback Mountain do so well. We love to see things on TV and film that we do not see in real life. Even if it is taboo or wrong. On TV or film it is ok to watch and learn. But to do such things is very wrong. And these things give us insight into things we never knew existed or at least exposes us to those subjects.
I am babbling again. I do it sometime. Maybe I should do this more??
Comments welcome...

Some shots over the past few months....

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 04:29:41 GMT

Decided to do some shooting a couple weeks ago. The ones of the tree and railroad tracks are from that period. All others are from various times. The deep orange sunset pictures are from early December. The cat pictures are from early winter or late fall 2006. Click for bigger images.

Stupid President....

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:12:19 GMT

We are in for a bloodbath in Iraq...there is no way to stop it now. As long as he is around there will be no end in sight. It is very sad.

Wii for sale...and copy of Zelda Twilight Princess...best offer..

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 03:44:37 GMT

I have a brand new Wii with the receipt and a copy of Zelda Twilight Princess. I am asking $529 and I will ship is standard for free. If you want is quicker we can settle on that was well. Someone please let me know if you are interested. You may also IM me on Yahoo or AOL IM at screenname ThaGeekking. Or email me at geekking(remove)@charter.net just take out (remove) as to prevent spambots.

Lower offers are welcome as well.

A couple of evening shots I did tonight...

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 05:29:44 GMT

Absoloutely no editing done here...as is...

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A few more of some of the great shots...

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 03:34:47 GMT

This is me at the Peak of Whistler Mountain. I am standing within what Canadians call an Inukshuk.

This shot here is in Seattle at Pike Place Market. Just a random shot with lots of colors.

This is Angela at the peak of Whistler Mountain in Whistler, Canada. She is very photogenic.

You can click on each picture to see a larger version..

A favorite shot of mine from my vacation

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 02:31:42 GMT

Shot with Nikon D-70s 18-70 Lens/3 second exposure with F-Stop of 9.0

Taken in Vancouver...and I was probably half drunk... :)

Finally pictures from Canada and Seattle

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 04:48:22 GMT

This really took way too long. I finally got about 2400 pictures edited down to 150ish to show on the web and 100 that I made into prints. So I have not really sorted these in any order yet. I will do that later. There are some little descriptions. I have these in a flickr slideshow that uses Flash. Check it out. You can click on the picture to get some more information about it or also change the speed of slideshow and pause it as well.

Click here to check out Canada/Seattle Pictures

Seriously....WTF is going on here??

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 04:00:08 GMT

I am not a Jesus hater nor do I dislike religions, but what the hell is going on here? These kids are not even teens and they are force fed religion. Are they even given choices?

Check the trailer out at JesusCampTheMovie.Com

Slightly scary stuff here to me...

Gone to Canada!!

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 05:22:13 GMT

I will be in Canada and Seattle until Aug 8th. I am really needing the time off. I will see everyone on the flip side and bring back loads of memories and pictures of course. See everyone in about 10 days!!

Vacation is coming soon. To Canada I will go...

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 02:55:05 GMT

So I am going on vacation in less than 2 weeks now. I am really excited because I am going out of the country and planning on seeing lots of really cool things and doing interesting stuff. The trip is going to be mostly in Canada while a bit of it will be in Washington. I will be flying to Vancouver to meet up with my friend Angela. In Vancouver we will be basically just hanging out and finding stuff to do and places to go. One big thing we are going to do is go to a mountain town called Whistler which is northeast from Vancouver. That should be very pretty with all the snow and such. After that trip and the time in Vancouver, we are going to Victoria. It is city on an island just off the coast of Vancouver. There are some very pretty gardens and such there that we plan to see. After a couple of days there, we are going to Seattle, Washington to check things out there. The obvious things to do there are to see the Space Needle and Pike Place Market and such. We are also going to go see Mt. Rainer as well as a day trip. That should be quite amazing as well.
After all those activities we are coming back to Vancouver for a few more days to just basically find something interesting or relaxing to do. I am sure we will find some clubs and shopping there. This will be the biggest trip I have ever taken actually. I did go to the UK about 8 years ago, but that was not much of planned trip. It just kinda worked out. We have been planning this trip for many weeks and I think it is going to be a blast.
So far my list of things to bring is as follows: Sony T-9 Camera, Nikon D70s with 18-70 kit lens for Angela, 80-210 Nikon 2.8 lens, 50mm macro lens, filters, memory card, batteries and charger, a backback to carry all this in and possibly one of those Epson Hard Drive things that I can transfer the entire memory card to and then start shooting again---this is the photographic stuff.
After that it is easy; clothes, Canadian dollars, Ipod, Ipod speakers for hotel room, my medicine, phone (if it works), chargers for aforementioned electronic devices. I will probably be finding other things to add to this list. But it sure does seem like a pretty good start. Actually that is more than a start....that is a freaking load. :)
Ten days is the trip. I think I will have everything I need.

Identify this arcade sound effect....

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 16:39:57 GMT

This is the sound effect from a Taco Bell commerical I was talking about. Can someone help me out as to what game this is from. Turn up your volume a little bit.
Thanks

Click here to download sound effect

I figured it out...The sound is Pac Man death on the original Atari 2600

Arcade sound in the latest Taco Bell commercial

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 03:01:29 GMT

Ok so this new commercial for Taco Bell has a kid sitting on a couch playing a video game. His parent bring him a CrunchWrap and he stops his game. Then, there is a sound in the background of what sounds like his character dying or something. This is a sound effect from a video game made in the 80's for I think an Atari or Intellivision and it may have also been in arcades. I am trying to remember what game that is from and what the sound effect is. I am killing myself trying to figure this out.