Friday, April 27, 2007

Advanced Technology Group, LLC

As of today, I am not only incorporated as an LLC, but I've found a lawyer for the company, a great bookkeeper/accountant, and a virtual receptionist in Canada (so your computer's broke, 'eh?). Just kidding, she's really cool and is very flexible.

So what's next? Well, next we open the corporate checking account and wait for the business license and IRS EIN papers to arrive. At that point, I shell out about $50 for my bookkeeper to set up the account by way of remote access to my network. Once that is finished, I can actually start billing under the corporate name and begin protecting myself. I may also need to invest in some insurance in case I fuck something up; hasn't happened yet, but hey, never too late.

I'm also getting some direct mailings together to see if I can do a semi-high impact campaign in the Huntington, WV area. I got a nice three-fold brochure which I'll fill with information; already has some nice stock photos. Plus, a girl is doing my logo for me so that I can get some letterhead, cards, stuff like that done. Once the card is finished, I can shell out $110 for 500 business card magnets to send out with my mailings. Kick ass!

You know, this might actually happen this time. I mean, I might actually pick up customers, retain them with contracts, and be independent. I can't believe it, I'm still in shock. I actually sat down, organized, delegated, and it's fucking happening. I have to let the folks at work know at some point. I think they'll actually be my first client on contract as I think the relationship will be solid, but I can't make a move until I have steady income through the company. Specifically, I need 5K/month gross before I am making what I am currently earning. If I get that, plus pick up my current employer, I'll be making closer to 8K/month, which is schweet if it happens.

So, keep poised, the website will be updated by next week and ready to roll. Email already works, but hell, email is easy and fast to no kudos for that one.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Thomas Payne quote

When the government fears the people, it is liberty; when the people fear the government, it is tyranny.


Back to the moon baby!



By the way, fuck all of you morons who don't believe we went to the moon. You're all stupid fucks who can't understand basic physics, yet want to argue about the craters left by the landers and the lack of stars. Read a book idiots.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Breaking news on Anna Nicole Smith

She's still dead.

Creationist bullshit

How in the hell can they even consider this as anything but bullshit? I mean, come on, T. rex playing alongside human children? Are they fucking serious? I mean, did they actually think that a bear wouldn't eat a person? Ever see that documentary about the bear guy who became dinner? A bear is an omnivore with teeth capable of eating meat and vegetation. T. rex was a carnivore who may have also been a scavenger. However, humans and dinosaurs were separated by about 60 million years, so it is a moot point as there were no humans to eat!

This is why critical thinking is so important; some people actually buy this bullshit. Evolution is real, the earth is billions of years old, and humans never existed with the dinosaurs. Oh, and two of every dinosaur would not have fit on the ark (esp. since there was no ark). Do the math, you'll see there was no fucking room for two of every single species on the planet excluding dinosaurs, so there sure as hell isn't room when we include them. They aren't Jello; there isn't always room.

Please people, help stop this nonsense. Why is it that we accept science when it benefits us, but reject those very techniques when they contradict our own superstitious beliefs? No church has ever cured disease, invented a computer, or cracked the human genome...science has. Support science, and knock this shit off.

Open Challenge to Sylvia Browne

Sylvia Browne is such a fake. I was watching some more of her nonsense today and just couldn't believe how each and every single "reading" she has done is so vague as to be basically a template; she just fills in the blanks as she gets feedback from her "clients." I was reading through the forums today at gosylviabrowne.com (a cheap knock off of stopsylviabrowne.com) and was absolutely amazed at the complete idiots over there who buy her nonsense hook, line, and sinker. I bet if I added their collective IQs that I would be unable to hit triple digits. Believing in psychics should be considered a form of mental retardation; of course, I don't want to offend those out there with actual learning disabilities by grouping them with the believers in woo.

It makes me feel sad for the future when I see such crap. Crystals, homeopathy, chiropractics, religion...it's such bullshit. There is no evidence whatsoever for any of that nonsense...but of course there are tons of studies to refute the claims. So if there are any of Sylvia's stupid fuck supporters out there, chew on this...

I have $12,000 sitting in my savings account right now. I will give this to Sylvia if she can perform one, simple feat of psychic powers. My grandfather died some time back. He had a very odd nickname for me, one that he would always use when referring to me. If Sylvia can truly speak to him, she will quickly learn this nickname. Prove it Sylvia. I'll write it down ahead of time if you'd like. Put up or shut up. I'm tired of listening to your dumb ass duck and dodge challenges. Unless you can prove it, you leave everyone no choice but to believe that you are a complete, arrogant, fraud, full of shit.

Oh, and where exactly is your proof of a Masters degree? I can prove mine, plus I can prove my near completion of a PhD, quite easily. Why do you dodge this as well? Is your life so full of shit and lies that you don't even know where the truth ends and your bullshit begins?

Thursday, April 12, 2007

The Boiling Frog

For those of you who support the firing of Don Imus, please read the story of the boiling frog. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiling_frog

You will find that the story is that if you gradually implement something, such as the suppression of free speech, you will eventually succeed. You don't simply ban free speech, as the frog would leap out of the water. Rather, you slowly take away the rights of free speech little by little, until the water is boiling, and the frog didn't jump in time to escape the now boiling water.

Freedom of speech is important; important enough that the founding fathers made it the very first amendment to the Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights. Those who think Don should be fired, please travel to China and tell them that you disagree with Buddhism. You can be executed. Look at the middle east. Tell them that Muhammad is a queer; you will be executed.

You need to understand that your right to say what you want should be cherished. And you should fight to the death to protect that right, especially if you disagree with the speaker. Popular speech needs no champion; unpopular speech does. The first amendment protects unpopular speech, not popular speech.

Today, it was announced that some UK schools will no longer teach the Holocaust so as to avoid upsetting Muslims. Fuck Muslims, or anybody, upset by the teaching of the Holocaust. My guess is that the Jews are more upset about the Holocaust then are the Muslims or anybody else. Hell, the thought of it makes me sick and I'm an atheist. Human suffering must be retold. We have to know the travesties, often in the name of religion and god, committed to see how we must change our way of thinking.

Support the freedom of speech. Don't let one, ignorant Texan's administration ruin our freedoms. Don't let them lead by fear.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Update on Anna's Baby Daddy

This just in: I still don't give a fuck.

Back to you.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Update on Anna Nicole Smith

The bitch is still dead.

Don Imus in trouble...for nothing

I hate Don Imus; I think he's stupid, uneducated, and only good at running his mouth. He just called the Rutger's women's basketball team a bunch of "nappy headed ho's". That's a pretty disgusting statement to be honest. It's ignorant, backwards, racist, sexist, anything else you can lob at it. And it's also his right to say.

Yup, I support Don. He should not be fired or even reprimanded quite frankly. The fact is, we have the freedom of speech, something the Bush administration would love to do away with in favor of theocracy. I can say whatever I want to say; I have that right. Don can say whatever he wishes to say as well as he has that right. That right was fought for by those who gave their lives to form this great country. And now we want to piss on it because somebody's feelings are upset? Fuck Rutgers, fuck the overly sensitive basketball team, and fuck those who want to fire Don Imus. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are more important than their feelings.

Now, the beauty of this is that this freedom applies to everybody. As I said earlier, I hate Don Imus. I hate him, Howard Stern, Bill O'Reily, Glen Beck, Nancy Grace, Montel Williams, the list goes on and on. So you know what I do about it? I DON'T FUCKING LISTEN TO THEM. Yup, can you believe it? I actually change the station and don't listen to the people I find offensive.

Freedom of choice folks. You may not like what Don Imus says, but you have the power to change the station. If enough people find him offensive, and if enough people change the station, he'll be out of work by losing his fan base. No law should ever be enacted to force people out of their jobs based upon what they say. This isn't China people, it's America. We are free here. You can say what you want. Try saying "Don, shut the fuck up you dumbass" instead of "Fire him for what he said!". Before long, something you say will be offensive, and it could be your ass on the line.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Not much goin' on

Well, not much happening at the blog, but I'm not incredibly surprised. I never advertised this, plus I just don't have a lot to say sometimes. Well, no one has died yet (see previous entry), so I'm a bit more cheery this week.

My current agenda is to pass another one of those Microsoft exams, 70-291 to be exact. If I pass it then I'll finally earn the 2003 certifications (MCSE/MCSA) plus the security/messaging to go with it. In all, I get six certs after I pass the exam. I'm not too worried, but still, it's been stressful and the study guide is huge.

I'm also getting ready to incorporate and form a real business. For those who don't know, I've done quite a bit of IT consulting and hands on work for years. I'm forming an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) to protect myself, which may cost $500. I found that the name I've used for years is taken, so I have to pick another one. No big deal, I need something starting with an "A" so I'm first in the phone book anyway. After I get this done, I have to get an accountant to maintain the business, file taxes, set up payroll, things like that. I can't just cash the checks anymore, I have to deposit them in a company account and pay myself either on salary or in bonuses. However that shit works.

Then I have to get a business plan together. Well, actually, I guess I need to do that first. I mean getting the LLC and accounting is a no-brainer; it has to be done. But then I have to figure out a strategy. I've got a hold of some folks who can create a corporate identify for me, but I can't use them until I get my domain name and LLC since I don't want a logo for a company whose name I can't own. Plus I've got to trademark the name, keep it safe. Then, I have to get a registered trademark for the logo they create so that if anyone steals it I can kick their ass, legally :)

This stuff is hard, so much to be done and I just can't do it. I don't have the time or patience, I just want to do the work. Could I do it? Yes, but there are others who are so much better at it. It's time to pay a little bit here and a little bit there to just make this happen. I can save up for advertising next year when I will need to do so. I already have a couple of customers (extremely part time), but that could change quickly. If I can pull in $5K/month in contracts then I can do this. Hell, at $85/hour I only have to work 60 hours a month to earn $61,200 a year. I've lived on less! That's only 15 hours a week!

I can do this. I'm so close right now it's driving me crazy.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Shitty week

This has been an absolutely terrible week. It seemed as if it would be great. Wrestlemania 23 saw the defeat of Batista by the Undertaker; this will be Taker's 5th reign with a WWE championship, 4 with the WWE Championship and now his first run with the World Heavyweight Championship. All seemed pretty well.

Then I find out that a good friend of many years is now dying. He's fought lung cancer as well as a tumor under his shoulder blade (most of which was removed) for nearly two years now. He was winning the fight. The spots on his lungs were going away and some had been surgically removed, the tumor was removed successfully and he was in rehab to basically relearn how to use his arm.

Now, I find that the cancer has moved to his heart. I didn't even fucking know there was such a thing as heart cancer. It's apparently extremely rare, and in even those cases it is rare for it to be malignant. Your heart cells rarely divide, if ever, which is why the heart is not as susceptible to cancer. Talk about all of the stupid fucking luck. He beat the hell out of the tough cancer, then the rarest of the rare comes back to claim him. The hospital just sent him home; there's nothing they can do now.

I'm 31 and my friend is several years my junior. He never smoked, but likely got lung cancer from second hand smoke in the clubs where he played saxophone and piano/keyboard. The world is about to lose one of the greatest people who ever walked on it. There is no bright side to this, no silver lining, no "happening for a reason"; it is an untimely end to a wonderful person.

I don't believe in god, not one solid bit. No god would put someone they loved through this. You can't rationalize this, justify it, nothing. Things don't happen for some divine reason. We've come a long way in the battle against cancer, but obviously there is more which needs to be done. I'm still coming to terms with this. I remember the days we played in a saxophone quartet together, the jokes we played, the many times we went to the local TGI Friday's for dinner, all of the great times we all had. This is like losing a brother and I honestly don't know how to deal with it.

To top things off, my wife's uncle died at 59 and her friend' brother, who has cystic fibrosis, is dying, likely within the next day or so. I'm obviously not close to those people, but I can only imagine what everyone is going through.

Please, support cancer research and stem cell research. Put religious superstition aside and support the fight against these diseases. One day it could be someone you care about, or it could be you.