Archive for 'my private soap box'
Some would say to keep my mouth shut on this, and not “stir things up” and that the risk of a lawsuit is a bad thing for “slander” or “defiling someone’s character” but in this instance, I can safely say:
“Suck it.” (going to love hearing that one in court!)
Over the last few days some things have transpired at a place I used to work, let’s call the place something out there so no one can figure it out, let’s call it CMCentral or CMC for short (see how clever I am) - but before one can go into that arena and say “Why do you care?” lets rewind a bit to when I worked for CMC - like several other “Christian” businesses your job was more “ministry” than “work”, when you were asked to do something more, it was for “the ministry” not the “job”, the site owner, and again being clever here - we’ll call him Sean or “Sean.v.T” for short (seems longer, but it just looks that way.) is a nice enough guy you’d want to help him, and you feel part of something, you want to see it do well, so you go above and beyond.
In my own history for CMC I helped out sometimes getting wrapped up in things and missed a wedding setting up a chat for Mercy Me, wrote software that a YEAR after the fact was nit-picked to death, and in the end due to extreme difference in opinions on the “best” way to do something, we parted ways and my time suddenly freed up greatly, allowing me to swing back into full tilt on my own business and workings - so not a bad end for me, and after a few months Sean.v.T and I worked on some projects as by the great advice of at the time senior editor let’s call him BdG (Simple, clean, its short enough), I picked up some side jobs here and there doing software updates, and server moves etc. so a good end to the story for the most part, right?
Well fastfwd back to the the happenings of late, BdG is outed as editor of CMC, to me a position that was really more of a burden to him vs. a blessing, granted CMC can open some doors to media contacts, but at what price? Some of you can say “Sean is a ________” you can say he’s wrong, and in a lot of ways you’d be right, and in some you’d be wrong - don’t get me wrong, I think here Sean has a lot of splainin to do - goes without saying, it was handled poorly, and a post not to JUST the forum, but on the main site, needs to be done - I don’t care how “un-professional” that might look, were human, companies are run by humans and humans make mistakes, and in good faith I think the new editor should make an apology as well, I don’t know her, but I highly doubt she meant this on purpose, but a simple apology is not too much to ask.
I would say to those of you who are truly though wasting your breath on the forums @ CMC spend your energies elsewhere, while I wish I could say “keep up the posts, Sean will break soon!” bottom line is Sean see’s CMC as a fore front in Christian music, and I don’t deny the site has a big following, and does a lot of things, and with a presence in TN it has a closer hook up to many Christian artists compared to other websites of a similar nature - but prove that the site is powered by the people, support BdG’s site and help promote it, heck if it needs its own server due to growth, I’m happy to stand behind it and make it happen, I’m that Crazy.
Brenton is not only a client of mine, but I do consider him a friend - we have done business, worked side by side @ CMC during my final time there - but while my leaving was one of a quiet breeze (I was the man behind the curtain), BdG’s will be felt for a while, but I applaud those of you who have really put out a real sense of caring here for BdG, threads like:
- Here’s My Feedback
- Sean, Step Up Or Step Aside
- The Changes At Cmcentral
While some of those are actually deleted, I read through them before I de-admin’d myself (people started to think I worked there again), you guys are awesome - but I encourage each of you, link to TRuDatMusic on MySpace, your blogs, your websites, add it to your signature, put the word out, and help it truly become a “web power” that commands the same if not more level of respect like that of CMC.
Life goes on in the end, and I’d encourage any of you who have media contacts or know someone in a Christian group, set them setup with BdG @ GMA Week, I know some of you who read this know folks, heck I know a few, and I’ll be sending out an email or two, maybe even a phone call or two if I can be awake at a normal hour 
but there it is, support TRuDat - and with that, I am going to call it a night - but above and beyond anything else, keep both sides in prayer. Night!
Okay - I got a irk when I got home (actually had a few today - but thats another blog all-together) - but I got home and there’s this very important envelope from my credit card company, it’s padded, its big, its scary. So I open it, and what is it? A invite to get their BUSINESS CARD! Oi!
So to ALL credit card commpanies out there, save some bubble wrap, a tree, and your breath, look if someone is an exsisting customer, save money on mass mailing out exsisting customer pointless offers marked as IMPORTANT INFORMATION which has NOTHING to do with the one card they have with you - honestly I am considering canceling cards if they keep doing this, and only keep the 1 line of credit which DOES NOT send odd notices like that.
As my always effort to offer a suggestion to a company I am nocking on a practice they have, try this: Make the Offer via Your Web Banking. I login, make it a popup when I get in, or even better yet take REAL demographics on me, and I a business owner? am I looking for a line of credit? am I a home owner? do I have 8 toes on my right foot? You know the important stuff.
Anywhoo - day ended differently than I planned, might blog on it later, always on IM if your curious and I haven’t posted yet, but I think I need to draw more lines - again, vauge, and a long story. But I did have a nice lunch.
I am done with the mighty mouse! When I got my iMac a few months back I was all jazzed about getting a Might Mouse, 4D scrolling is nice, but honestly, I’m good without it, I have 2 other mice (one Logitech, one Microsoft) which both have it, and I rarely use it - and since the Might Mouse is nearly impossible to clean, and broken part of it while trying to follow a how-to - a new mouse was needed.
Enter the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 2000 - I know some die-hard Mac users would say “Your using Microsoft Mouse on a MAC?!” my answer is? Hell Yes. LOL - I am looking for a replacement keyboard too - this keyboard really is sticky, not in the sense I don’t clean it, but its very HARD TO PUSH sometimes, not sure if it’s the humidity/heat here, but its just not happy for me, thus, it must go soon too, must be USB, non-sucky new layout they are giving some “modern” keyboards these days, and be affordable, I don’t care so much if it’s Mac labeled, as long as it works.
Anywhoo - That’s my rant. More later.
On Tuesday most media formats (music/movies) release new content, so usually you can hit iTunes, Real Store, MSN Music, etc. and have all the latest content thrown at you - well with iTunes 7 released last week, and the new Movies store, I was waiting to see what was in store today - and the iTunes pricing saddens me.
I purchased Pirates of the Carribean last week for $9.99 - and the quality is awesome, however - I could of easily purchased it on DVD for that same price when it hit the bargin rack at Target, Best Buy, etc. - same goes for new releases, while $14.99 isn’t a bad deal for Pirates of the Carribean 2 pre-order, the question comes to mind, why not just buy it in stores? I suppose for the non-nerdy person, its a quick and easy way to get a DVD -> iPod, but more and more companies are making that easier to convert your DVD’s into iPod compatible formats - even more so if you own a Mac, but Windows and Linux users both have methods out there as well.
So what makes more sense? $14.99 a hit for a video in which you get no special features, no disc to loan a friend, heck no disc to play on your TV - or say $49.95 for a application for your Windows/Mac/Linux station which converts that same priced DVD you bought in-store into a iPod ready piece of greatness?
Honestly, I think if iTunes wanted to get a larger cross section of nerds (not doubting they already have some buying) - but they should offer 2 versions of each video, the full priced DVD style download (special features, etc) for the DVD price, and a light “Movie Only” download for a lesser (under $10 price) similar to how they do their music purchases - but thats just my morning rant, I need my fruit loops. Have a good day all!
Well today ended a chapter in companies I have worked for - the previous chapter in this saga ended when I sent a email like I did yesterday to this client, we then agreed it was probably a good idea for me to leave, which at the time I really had mixed feelings, but now I have had more freetime, more jobs, more stuff to keep me busy - same thing this time, and welcomed with a message towards the end which said:
“As far as doing future business with you, I’m sure you can understand that at this point I would not exactly feel comfortable with that, but that seems to be your intent.”
Well in the last few months they had “one more thing” for me to do, I did it, and in doing that I recieved the same treatment I got while working there, always “This is your fault, fix it” even about a week ago I got an email about something that had been how it was for over 3 years was somehow my fault - and I needed to drop everything and work on it - so I did what I did at the end of the previous chapter, and stood my ground on a issue, could I of done “one more nice thing” sure I suppose, but with folks like this, one more thing leads into a lot more, so it was stand my ground now, or be lost in endless freebies, even a recent quote which I cut the prices as low as I could go, and they came back “How about…” and shaved off $100 from the job, even after me saying “Hey, best deal I can give you”.
I have dealt with this 2 times now in dealing with Christian “Ministries” - I don’t say that to mark all Christians, as I do business with many other Christians ministries/business owners, etc. and no problems, just so far 2 groups have really stuck it to me, using every ounce of freebie I’d offer, then when I say no, or am too tired to continue, say “Well brother… its time” - sad stuff, gives Christians another stumbling block with people who look at Christians already in a poor light.
A lot has changed in me since I originally started with this company, and from talking to employees I worked with in the past there, and even currently, its just common place stuff, heck in both instances I talked with people who had similar experiences like mine, but for me I think I came to realize it even more when I started to branch out from sitting in front of a terminal 24/7 and focusing a bit on having a life away from the screen - and instead of screen names used to identify people, I looked at faces and said “Oh hey!” over a pizza, drinks at Sonic, etc.
But life goes on I suppose, there is one check still supposedly enroute to me, and I think I am going to tear it up, and wish them well (it’s for software purchase) - but it’s sad stuff, and life must move forward - its sad but this will probably continue, but I do pray it does not, and instead of just offering a blessing, thrust it upon them even if they say “No it’s no problem” - it’s one of those things I try to live by, Bless Others - I mean God Blesses me, who am I not to share that blessing, if only every one followed that the world would be a happier place - one could say I am not living that by saying “No” to this client, but honestly a ministry which simply uses up Christians and spits them out, thats not a good thing.
Anywhoo - back to my light Friday, first mellow day this week, and I am going to use it to clean and file some paperwork. Have a Good Friday Folks & A Great Weekend!
I got an email today from a old old account, basically the email made it out to sound like I was being a jerk to this person, honest fact is I have had a lot going on business wise and personal wise to really deal with the situation, but this person has been just a little naggy, and all I asked was they keep up their site because time and time again they were getting hacked, putting entire servers at risk - sad really - but I suppose everyone see’s the server as “my problem” not theirs, but honestly, if he had just put even an hour a week in, he’d of been fine, or for that matter, switched software… but just odd.
The flip side of the coin this was a “friend” style account - I dunno, sometimes folks in emails come off as ungreatful, and I know what some of you may say “Chuck it’s email, you can’t define someone’s tone in a email” with over 10+ years on this crazy thing, I can usually do a fair job, but beyond that I have gotten very greatful emails before, this was just like “gosh chuck!” - sad sad.
But today was mildly rough, early AM wake up after a hard night to get some rest, thankfully after running down to the office to work on a server, I was able to come home, work a bit, eat, work some more, then crash. Much needed sleep, my meeting was re-scheduled so tomorrow I have that, and a service call downtown, so I should be getting to bed, just got back in from a quick visit to B&N to visit Rosie / Invite her to a snack after work, but she had other plans (things like oh I dunno, sleep) so Jake and I hit Cindy’s and got some grub, chatted, and now its time for sleep.
So tomorrow, busy busy, keep praying for the deal, I think it’s gonna be good! Night folks!
One thing I notice anymore is folks like a free lunch, but then again, who doesnt? Software - namely “Freeware” or a lot of common “Open Source” apps are great, and in a week of using the iMac I have come to appriciate a lot of free apps - and made small donations - have you done the same?
Don’t get me wrong, they are not asking for anything, but these folks are traditionally workin folk, they have 9-5 jobs, families, bills, etc. and they provide the software for free - usually footing the bill for hosting, bandwidth, not to mention the countless hours devloping the software - and in the mac case, re-working their code to be Intel Mac compatible, so my hats are off to these workin stiffs who make great apps. If you have a few bucks to spare in your PayPal account, donate to your favorite Open Source or Freeware project, let the devlopers know they are doing a good job.
And that completes my 4am rant, good morning, and have a good memorial day!
