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Ryan Gillespie
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Oct 22 2008
Sketch 42
It’s been a week of changes. Last Wednesday about a half hour into work, I received a call from security/reception about the arrival of a new temp for the guy I was assisting. I of course had no idea about the pending arrival, and he wasn’t in the office yet. It turns out, I was being replaced. The temp agency was supposed to have called me the night before, but for whatever reason had failed to do so. But basically, during the course of the day, I found out that it would be my last day. At least I had time to make sure I had all my personal belongings. I had been a little worried after the other executive that I had been assisting left the company and finally those fears were realized.
The temp agency did get to work quickly on finding me a new position. Its with the same company, but at a different location. The position pays a little more, but the commute is much further. I did however figure out that I can take one bus from my house to work…so that’s something I’ll keep in mind. The new position is as a “Planner” in the Global Supply Chain department. Basically, I’m pulling reports and moving inventory from the US to other countries and vice-versa.
Saturday, it was finally time for my install appointment with AT&T U-Verse. U-Verse is AT&T’s version of FIOS (from Verizon). It is a little different than FIOS in that it is only Fiber to the Node, which means it utilizes the standard copper wiring from the neighborhood node. This cuts the deployment costs for AT&T, but also limits the bandwidth to the end-user. (Verizon FIOS is fiber to home and as a result will have more available bandwidth to the end-user.) So far I’m liking the service, the wireless router puts out enough signal that it reaches back to my room more reliably. One interesting feature with the DVR for the TV, is that you can schedule shows online. While I could do this on my old ReplayTV DVR back in the day, there was a 24 hr advance scheduling required. With the U-Verse DVR, the scheduling was instantaneous (or at least quicker than it took me to walk from my room to the living room to check it).
I had lunch with a friend in Thai Town on Sunday, my first trip to Thai Town proper (I’d been to three of the Thai restaurants on Melrose or Little Thai Town). The food was good, though they did keep the spiciness to “American” spicy levels. Next time I’ll have to remember to ask for “Thai Spicy.”
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/10/sketch-42/
Oct 15 2008
Sketch 41
Well I am more or less settled into my new apartment. Most everything is unpacked and with the addition of a new dresser from IKEA on Saturday, things are pretty much put away.
The weekend was pretty busy and full of food. On Thursday night, dinner at El Cholo. Friday was dinner at Pizzeria Mozza. Breakfast on Saturday at The Griddle (I had a 2-Stack of the “Tis the Season” pancakes…which are made with pumpkin pie filling in the batter). Dinner on Saturday was my first trip to The Counter, a build your own gormet burger place.
Mozza was excellent. Fried Squash Blossoms filled with Ricotta for an appetizer. I had a pizza with house made fennel sausage, bacon and salami for the main course and then the Butterscotch pudding for dessert. It was my second trip to Mozza, and I think the pizza is really good, however I think Apizza Scholls in Portland still gets my vote for best pizza.
The Counter, was ok, but I wasn’t that impressed. Basically you get to choose your toppings on your choice of patty (beef, turkey, vegetarian). There is a wide variety of toppings to choose from and the price of the burger isn’t that outrageous (though still on higher end of things – $8.25 for a 1/3 lb burger with 1 cheese, 4 toppings, and 1 sauce). On paper, pretty good idea. In practice, I found the toppings to be over done (as in too much). I got the beef patty with blue cheese, mixed baby greens, sprouts, and honey mustard and bbq sauce. It was good, but there was too much blue cheese on it, which kinda overpowered the rest of the burger.
On Monday, I finally replaced my mobile phone with the new Blackberry Pearl Flip. I was a little torn about getting an iPhone 3G, but decided that the cost of the service on AT&T was too much, especially when I could get a Blackberry on T-Mobile for about $30 less a month. So I stayed with T-Mobile. So far I like the phone. I’m still getting used to the Blackberry software…and its definitely not an iPhone in terms of its media and web handling…but it’ll work for me.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/10/sketch-41/
Oct 15 2008
Pac-10 Football and TV
I pretty much agree with this post from the Oregonian’s Duck Football blog:
The Last Thing You Want Is For Fans To See The Games
Posted by
Bob Rickert October 15, 2008 07:10AM
Man is the Pac-10 screwed up. I could use harsher language, but I won’t. Brutal. Brutal leadership is what I’ll call it. Brutal in every way.
Now comes word that the Pac-10 won’t allow the Ducks to televise their own football game. And when you hear it’s ‘contractual’, because you know they’ll find an excuse/reason of their own, remember, these are the networks that quite honestly, are treating the conference like a little child anyway. The networks with very very little respect for the Pac 10. I’d put it on the same level as Conference USA actually. In all sports that’s the level of respect that Tom Hansen and his guys have sunk the conference to. Pathetic leadership.
Let’s see, if Tom Hansen had any guts, a clue about 19th century marketing, or any vision at all, THE PAC TEN WOULD HAVE IT’S OWN NETWORK AND EVERY SCHOOL WOULDN’T HAVE TO BE OUT THERE PLAYING COWBOY ON THEIR OWN.
Funny how all the USC games are on television, even when they stunk. Funny how that works for UCLA.
Incredible.
Well, I’ll be there in person. So I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ll fire reports as much as possible.
Ha, also makes me wonder.
What about instant replay? With no cameras, or only one or two cameras set up for the schools themselves, is it valid to even use it? Do the rules change because the teams playing aren’t in the national title hunt 5 games into the season?
Do the fans matter less because they’re not rooting for USC?
Yes. And, yes.
Thanks Tom Hansen. Well negotiated.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/10/pac-10-football-and-tv/
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/10/barack-curtis-manhood-power-respect/
Oct 08 2008
Only in LA…Psychiatry: an Industry of Death Museum
Near such prominent Hollywood landmarks such as the ArcLight Theaters and Amoeba Records, is Psychiatry: an Industry of Death Museum hosted by The Citizens Commission on Human Rights. If you are thinking, “this sounds like something from the Church of Scientology,” you’d be right. They make no effort to hide their connection to the Church on either the website or at the museum.
The museum is basically a series of short videos explaining the evils of the psychiatric industry. There are also exhibits showing various pieces of equipment used in psychiatric institutions. A large focus is placed on connecting psychiatry to the holocaust, and the suicides/overdoses of prominent figures in Hollywood/the arts.
In the end, it feels a lot like propaganda. Taking events out of context, magnifying abuses, and using leaps of logic to get a specific point of view across. Are there valid points in the exhibit? Sure. But I feel they get lost in the presentation.
I do think, however, that we as a society (and by we I mean America) look for the easy way out too often. That we expect some pill to fix us, when the mind and self are much more complex than that. That the mental health industry is just as prone to greed and abuse, as many other industries.
Is psychiatry complete BS as the folks at the CCHR would have you believe. I don’t think so. But I think there does need to be more of a balance in how we view and treat mental illness.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/10/only-in-lapsychiatry-an-industry-of-death-museum/
Oct 08 2008
Sketch 40
Well much of last week was taken up with finishing up packing and getting ready to move on Saturday. The move went well…I’m still far from being unpacked completely, but I’m getting there.
I went to the Oregon/USC football game Saturday night. Wasn’t such a good game for the Oregon fans…but I still had fun at the game.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/10/sketch-40/
Oct 03 2008
Synecdoche, New York
Last night I went to a screening of the new Charlie Kaufman film, Synecdoche, New York
Like his prior work, its a bit strange, but also amusing. Originally conceived as a “horror film” for Sony, this is what Kaufman came up with. A story about a theater director so afraid of death that he is misses life and the good parts of it. I thought it was a fascinating film, and fit perfectly alongside the rest of Kaufman’s work.
My friend went with me said “near the end, I just wanted it to be over already.” Not because it wasn’t an enjoyable movie, but just because it was getting long. What I just realized though, is perhaps this was a good thing. This is a film about living and dying after all. For some people at the end of life, you wish for it just to be over, the suffering of pain, loneliness, whatever. But for whatever reason they linger on, in pain, alone until finally the warm light embraces them.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/10/synecdoche-new-york/
Oct 02 2008
Ray Bradbury’s Advice for Life
From his talk at the West Hollywood Book Fair: (the short version)
1) Fuck college. Go to the library. Make your own college.
2) Love completely.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/10/ray-bradburys-advice-for-life/
Sep 30 2008
Mystery
We’ve been singing this song (you can listen below) at church the past few weeks. Its by Bruce Cockburn, but with some additional lyrics written by the guy that is in charge of the service (though the version below is just the Bruce Cockburn version).
As I’ve been preparing to move to a new apartment, I’ve been thinking a lot about life and its mysteries. So of course this song has been running through my head.
I never thought I’d ever live in Los Angeles, yet here I am. I’m here and will be for another year or two probably.
I’m firmly in my thirties now, but I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. My work experience is scattered all over the place.
Mainly, I just really don’t know…
…other than just accepting life’s mysteries.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/09/mystery/
Sep 30 2008
Sketch 39
It’s been a heck of a week. Two more major banks have fallen (or at least been sold off at a discount). The White House and Congressional Leadership have proposed a financial bailout package, that failed when it went to the House floor for a vote, and the first presidential debate happened (a draw for the most part).
In my neck of the woods…I had my car towed to the mechanic to find out what the damage would be from the car troubles I mentioned in my previous post. Turns out it was the more expensive of the two options the mechanic mentioned over the phone. So I had to call my dad to see if he could spot me the repairs for a few weeks while I deal with all the moving expenses.
Not much else has been going on as I prepare to move to my new place this coming weekend. I did catch a screening of The Lucky Ones (another screening presented by Creative Screenwriting Magazine). A nice take on the road trip movie and the disruptions of military life on families.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.rhinoblues.com/thoughts/2008/09/sketch-39/
