My Only Friend, The End

Okay, so it isn't my ONLY friend,... but it is one of them. What? Who? The end of the semester, duh! Yay! I get to see another batch of young adults take off into the sunset, communication skills enhanced, some more than others. This makes me happy. I see people improve.

People often ask me though, "How do you tolerate it? Why do you still teach, given how snotty kids can be, how bitchy and whiny and irresponsible they are sometimes? Why in the world do you do it, especially at your salary?!? Why put up with all the shit for the low pay?!?" Here's my answer: A year from now ONE of these people MIGHT come back and tell me some story of how the skills they learned in this class helped them in life. It may not sound like much, but that one person's story can make this job worthwhile.

Of course, I'm sure I'd be just as happy in a corporate communication job, especially if the pay was good. :) But those opportunities come along very seldomly. When I was searching for a job prior to accepting this one, I had several interviews for corporate positions as well as those in academia. I applied about 50% to the corporate world, and 50% to academia, so I interviewed at everywhere from Clemson University to up to the 4th interview with Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Illinois (in Chicago).

Sidebar here about that BCBS of Illinois position... I think I was shafted on that one. I went for four interviews. I was even shown where my office would be (20-something floor looking out over Lake Michigan). Everyone IU had interviewed with told me I was perfect for the job. At the last interview, I gave a PowerPoint presentation and speech, highlighting the functions of workplace communication groups. I could tell they liked it. Four people even winked at me or nodded at me with a subtle 'thumbs-up' gesture. The whole communication group is made up of Barbie-Doll-esque women, and one male. The one male is the head of the group. At BCBS, the group even has the nickname of the "Barbie-Doll Team" and it is common knowledge that the guy hires only Barbie-Doll-esque women.

From all their positive feedback I was sure I'd get the job. A few days later I got a call turning me down. I found out who he hired,... you guessed it,.. another Barbie Doll-esque woman. Through an inside source I found out she was not even as qualified as I am for the job. I seriously considered sueing the living fuck out of them. I know I'd have a case. I didn't though. I hate how litigious our society has become and I despise wrongful hiring practices. I've actually been TOLD by an employeer before that I was the best choice for the job but due to equality distributions he needed to hire a woman or a minority. Damnit, I don't care what kind of quotas we need to meet in this world to "show" our equality. Hire the person that is best for the job! I don't give a shit if they're male, female, black, white, or purple. I say get rid of all this anti-discrimination bullshit. Let people hire whoever they want to,.. and if they choose less-qualified people for the job, based solely on their gender or color, then fine! Let them FAIL in business because they were too damned shallow to hire the best person for the position!!!!

Oh yes, so anyway,.. about all those interviews,...
There was one company I applied to that I never heard back from. Leica instruments. They are a swiss company and make instruments for civil engineering. I used to do Civil Engineering Drafting & Design for about 12 years total. Now I have a Master's in Communication. They needed someone to do PR communications for them. Ummm.... HELLO!?!?!? Why the heck did they never contact me?!? I'd have been PERFECT for that job! *sigh* That one I still wonder about.

So, where does all this leave me? I am out for the semester. I teach during the month of June, 5 days a week. I am in an annual contract position at a local University west of Atlanta. I wish I had more stability than being on a yearly contract. Why is it that they have to do that? Government budgetting? Inability to committ to hiring someone permanently? Why can't they hire people on a yearly basis for the first 2 years then change them over to be a 'lecturer' position in which they have job security? Even worse is,.. there is an unwritten rule at this University, that they don't keep anyone more than 7 years. Why is that? I think there are a lot of things in academia that are screwed-up. And sometimes, yes, I question what the hell I'm doing here. But every now and then I get that one student with the story of life change and it makes it all worthwhile.

(But corporate America, keep an eye on me! If you need someone with my skills,... you know where to turn!)

Musical Questions

I stole this from a friend's site,.. but she won't care. And if she does, she's naughty and deserves to be spanked.

The rules: Put your music player on shuffle. Press forward for each question. Use the song title as the answer to the question. Post this on your blog.
Leave a comment here when you post it on your site. Simple enough? Right? Right.

~Will I get far in life?
Blindfolded - Carelessness Kills

~How do my friends see me?
Daknit, Bard of Justice - Doesn't take a Telepath (to figure out what you were thinking)

~Where will I get married?
Poe - Hello

~What is my best friend’s theme song?
Foo Fighters - Monkey Wrench

~What is the story of my life?
Type O Negative - The Glorious Liberation of the People

~What was high school like?
Los Enanitos Verdes - Amigos

~How can I get ahead in life?
Collective Soul - The World I Know

~What is the best thing about me?
Dave Brubeck - There'll Be Some Changes Made

~How is today going to be?
Metallica - The Struggle Within

~What is in store for this weekend?
White Zombie - Blood, Milk, And Sky

~What song describes my parents?
Sound Clip from Cool Hand Luke - "What we've got here is,... failure to communicate."

~My grandparents?
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Please Baby

~How is my life going?
Elton John - Candle In The Wind

~What song will they play at my funeral?
Metallica - Until It Sleeps (LOL !!!)

~How does the world see me?
Days Of The New - Downtown (I knew I wasn't Uptown!)

~Will I have a happy life?
George Carlin - Capital Punishment (OMFG!!! LOL)

~What do my friends really think of me?
Braveheart - Amazing Grace

~Do people secretly lust after me?
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

~How can I make myself happy?
Metallica - Leper Messiah (ewww)

~What should I do with my life?
George Carlin - Minority Language

~Will I ever have children?
Jethro Tull - Part of the Machine

~What is some good advice?
8Stops7 - Satisfied

~What is my signature dancing song?
Type O Negative - My Girlfriend's Girlfriend

~What do I think my current theme song is?
Aerosmith - Love In An Elevator (Mmmm...)

~What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Blindfolded - Wonderful

~What type of men/women do you like?
Sound Clip of Beavis saying "Insane in the Membrane" but then
Kool & The Gang - Cherish

Boycott This!

Any business that I see closed today in response to the immigrant boycott, I will boycott for the period of one year. This already includes one of my favorite restaurants which I ate at last night and they told me that today theyd be closed.Illegal immigrants are criminals. They circumvent a procedure that is already in place. They cut ahead of law abiding applicants in line.

They get no support from me.

If they love this country so much, if they want to be here so badly, they should respect our laws and the people who are waiting patiently to enter this country legally. There are a lot of people in the legal line waiting to get in. They should be first. Thats why there is a green card lottery and a whole set of immigration legislation! If you break the law, you should be put in jail and then deported.

I have no problem with immigrants. Some of my best friends are immigrants. America was founded with immigration. My wife is an immigrant, a LEGAL one before I even met her. I have a problem with ILLEGAL immigrants. Legal immigrants go through the proper channels to be here, illegal immigrants do NOT and THAT is the difference.

As such, I am boycotting all closed businesses for one year. I also plan on eating out for every meal today and am purchasing some items today. So, illegal immigrants aren't showing up for work? They wont profit from todays sales? Good. They can suffer for their crime.

A world without illegal immigrants is fine. They'll see the only difference they make is a negative one. If they want to make a real difference, then they can go back to their countries of birth. Let America's economy adjust and prosper without them and let the Federal Government allow in people that are willing to go through the proper channels to GET to the land of the free, NOT those who get here on a free ride. They should APPLY to come and work and live here. THEN they will have my full respect and support.

And for those who say that this isn't about illegal immigrants but immigrants in general. I call bullshit. Did you even read my distinction above? Besides, a march, a protest, a boycott was never even thought of until Congress discussed introducing a bill to make illegal immigrants a felony charge. They should make it a felony. These people should not be rewarded for illegally getting here!

Thanks to ODB for the idea of posting on this. ;)
Peace, my friends.