I am generally curious about the world around me. One of the things I find the most interesting are people. For today's Friday Funny, let me share with you a website I recently found that has all sorts of interesting Top 10 (or some other number) list of things that are unusual or funny. Oddee asks the question - How did they end up like that? 15 Funny Sleeping Positions
I have long said children & cats could sleep pretty much anywhere, under any condition...this pictorial seems to agree with that theory. I have to admit #5 is pushing the limits of what I thought was possible.
But then there are the adults - I have been very tired sometimes heading home after a long day at work, but I can honestly say I have never been as tired as the guy in picture #3. Seeing these pictures of the adults concerns me - if I was that tired, then my life-work balance would be really out of kilter. So for today, enjoy the humor, but don't forget the message -
"Life is a journey, not a destination." — Ralph Waldo Emerson
We all know business cards can be a very valuable tool, both for advertising your business and for networking. Even with the most effective tool, you should always ask yourself if it is right tool to use in this specific circumstance. Not all tools work equally well in all situations. Here is a great example of a good tool that was not a good fit for the job at hand: A Leavenworth man might have brought too much “professionalism” to his job. The man had been handing out business cards, including his phone number. Just one problem: His business allegedly is dealing drugs, Police Maj. Patrick Kitchens said. “For a quick hit on time call the boss,” the card read. So police called. When the man showed up, they arrested him. The man allegedly had 12 grams of crack, along with $500 in cash and a scale. The man was charged Monday, but his name and charges were not being released until his first court appearance. “It makes it really, really easy to do our jobs if criminals advertise,” Kitchens said.
In the news -
— Robert A. Cronkleton/The Star
http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2006/01/crack_dealer_ha.html
Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities by Richard Nelson Bolles, Dale Susan Brown
Richard Bolles’s What Color is Your Parachute? is legendary. It is one of the most popular job search book in the world. A number of everyday phrases were first coined in this book: golden parachutes, informational interviewing, transferable skills, etc. Since 1970 there has been an updated version every year. This book is so widely respected it is often referred to as the Job Hunter's Bible.
As wonderful as it is, it is not designed to help people with challenges. Sometimes when you have a disability, you have to approach things a little different. Many of the people I work with have some kind of disability. For some, it is so severe they are not able to work, but many others are able to work. Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped is full of ideas for anyone who has (or works with someone who has) a disability.
This book takes all the wisdom found in Parachute and refocuses it to look at the specific issues facing those with a disability. It's important to note that the term "disability" refers to a wide variety of conditions. Mild or severe, visible or hidden, single or multiple - there is no such thing as a "typical" disability.
The book presents ideas to help the job seeker, job coach and employer. It may be as simple as a different way to fill out an application, or something more complex like "job carving". It explains the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), how it can affect your job search, and what it requires of employers.
Just as most job search or employment bookshelves would be considered incomplete without Parachute... if you have a disability or work with people who have disabilities this books should be on your bookshelf.
Amazon says:
Richard Bolles’s WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? has helped millions of readers find their path in life, and now his Creative Approach to Job-Hunting is brought to bear on the specific challenges faced by job hunters with disabilities. In JOB-HUNTING FOR THE SO-CALLED HANDICAPPED, Bolles and Dale Susan Brown guide readers through the often-frustrating, but ultimately rewarding process of securing independence in their lives and personal satisfaction in their careers. The authors begin by demystifying the intricacies of the ADA, describing in clear terms what the act does and does not guarantee disabled job hunters, and then move on to job-hunting strategies tailored specifically to people with disabilities.
Paperback: 159 pages
Publisher: Ten Speed Press; 2 Rev Upd edition (October 15, 2001)
ISBN-10: 1580081959 ISBN-13: 978-1580081955
I know there are jobs out there that I would like better than the one I currently have...but generally I am hard pressed to think what it might be. I genuinely like what I do. However...occasionally I run across something that makes me wonder "what would it be like to do that job?" The following is a real job and has created probably the worst case of job-lust I have ever experienced.
The Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef is a newly created position. There are a few minor tasks that need to be taken care of, but the most important duty is to report back to Tourism Queensland (and the world) and let us know what’s taking place on the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
Job Duties:
Explore and report back
There’s so much to see and do, so you’ll have plenty to write about in your weekly blog. And with so much life above and below the water, you’re sure to capture some entertaining moments for your video diary and photo gallery. To keep you busy, Tourism Queensland will organise a schedule of travel and events on the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Your schedule could include sampling a new luxury spa treatment at qualia on Hamilton Island, trying out new snorkelling gear on Heron Island, or bushwalking on Hinchinbrook Island.
Feed the fish
There are over 1,500 species of fish living in the Great Barrier Reef. Don’t worry – you won’t need to feed them all.
Clean the pool
The pool has an automatic filter, but if you happen to see a stray leaf floating on the surface it’s a great excuse to dive in and enjoy a few laps.
Collect the mail
You’ll have some time on your hands, so why not join the aerial postal service for a day? It’s a great opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the reef and islands.
Benefits
Living above the Great Barrier Reef for six months is a pretty unique benefit, but you’ll also be well-paid – a salary package of AUD$150,000 for a six-month contract. Plus, your accommodation will be provided on Hamilton Island. And there’s plenty of room if you choose to share your experience with a friend or your family.
Below the water, you’ll find a World Heritage Listed natural wonder – the Great Barrier Reef. And above, the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef offer an abundance of wildlife to appreciate and activities to enjoy. The Island Caretaker will be based on Hamilton Island – the largest inhabited island in the region. It’s located just off the coast of Queensland with a wide range of restaurants, activities, shops and tours. The temperature is warm all year round and the combination of blue skies, crystal water and pure sands forms the backdrop to an ideal island life.
Apply online at http://www.islandreefjob.com
Deadline 2/22/09
My introduction to online games goes back to the original Adventure (aka Colossal Cave), so I have been interested in online gaming long before the term MMORPG was coined. I'm always interested in news stories that relate gaming to the real world...which is why this headline caught my eye this morning.
Are virtual-game players more depressed? | Los Angeles Times
The article is about a study recently presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science that researched over 7,000 EverQuest II players. I'll let you read it for yourself here. I'm interested to see what comes of this study, and how it holds up to peer review. I'm also going to be looking for the response from the gaming community. This is a preliminary study - and it does not show causation - does gaming make you more depressed? or do more depressed people turn to gaming? Too soon to tell. Because depression is such a huge health issue in today's world, it is definitely something to watch.
Think back to your last job interview - one for a job you really wanted. I'm sure you told the employer how much you wanted the job, but what did you do to show the employer how much you wanted the job? I saw this story in the news recently:
Teen stabbed in leg, but makes it to job interview, then hospital - Welland Tribune - Ontario, CA
Just the headline alone tells the employer a lot about this young man. It says this young man really wanted the job. He was willing to do anything within his power to get the job. This young man gave 110% to get this job (and then some) and it is safe for the employer to assume that he would put just as much effort into being a good employee if hired.
I think back to some of my own excuses - why I my resume was not up to date, or the right outfit ready to go or whatever other excuses I had for doing anything less than my very best on a job interview. I could give a million and one reasons...but in truth it all comes down to the fact that I did not really want the job bad enough. I did not give 100%. I have posted this clipping where I can see it daily to remind me there is no excuse for giving it anything less than my best effort.
So I ask you - what's your excuse for doing less than your best?
The internet is full of tools that can make life a little easier. The problem for me is has always been figuring out which are the really good ones. Track The Pack is one of the best. It does one thing, but does it really really well.
That one thing is tracking your packages (coming or going).
TrackThePack is a way for you to not only keep a handy list of the various tracking numbers you may have, but also is a way for you to actually track all of your packages in one place!
TrackThePack ties in directly with your favorite shipping services and displays your tracking status in one place! They provide tracking for UPS, FedEx, DHL, and USPS. You can even keep track from an RSS or an iCal feed. Recently they added an archive so you can save a history of packages. Did I mention this is a free service?
There is also a great little map that shows each update to your package's progress. I have been surprised at some of the paths a package has taken to the final destination.
There is a also commercial side - which is not free. This allows businesses to offer package tracking to their customers without ever leaving the site. As most businesses know, the longer the customer stays at the site the better for the business.
I have always liked the idea of Friday Funnies, something to lighten what is for most of us the last day of the work week.
I have a traditionally sent these via email to friends off & on for years. I am going to make them a part of this blog and my friends can come here for their Friday fix. Sometimes you will just get a link - other times I will post it directly here. - Enjoy!
Today's Funny comes to us from our friends across the pond - the BBC
The five stages of drunkenness
This is when you suddenly become an expert on every subject in the known universe. You know you know everything and you want to pass on your knowledge to anyone who will listen. At this stage you are always right, and, of course, the person you are talking to is very wrong. This makes for an interesting argument when both parties are CLEVER.
This is when you realize that you are the most ATTRACTIVE person in the entire bar and that everyone fancies you. You can go up to a perfect stranger knowing that they fancy you and really want to talk to you. Bear in mind that you are still CLEVER, so you can talk to this person about any subject under the sun.
This is when you suddenly become the RICHEST person in the room. You can buy drinks for the entire bar because you have a bottomless wallet. You can also make bets at this stage, because of course you are still CLEVER so, naturally, you will always win. Anyway, it doesn't matter how much you bet because you are RICH. You will also buy drinks for everyone that you fancy, in the knowledge that you are clearly the most ATTRACTIVE person present.
You are now ready to pick fights with anyone and everyone, especially those with whom you have been betting or arguing. This is because you are now INVINCIBLE. At this point you can also go up to the partners of the people who you fancy and challenge them to a battle of wits or strength. You have no fear of losing this battle, because as well as being INVINCIBLE you are CLEVER, you're RICH and you're more ATTRACTIVE than them anyway.
This is the final stage of drunkenness. At this point you can do anything, because you are now INVISIBLE. You can dance on a table to impress the people who you fancy because the rest of the people in the room cannot see you. You can also snog the face off them for the same reason. You are also INVISIBLE to the people who want to fight you. You can walk through the street singing at the top of your lungs because no one can see or hear you and because you're still CLEVER you know all the words.
Most people have a pretty normal jobs. These jobs are well known...there is even a Dictionary of Occupation Titles that catalogs them.
Then there are those individuals out there who have some very non-traditional occupations. Most of the time these are jobs that the individual created. I like to point them out because too often people think the choices are limited. Like most other choices, it is only limited by your imagination.
Here is a news story about one such occupation - he makes people disappear.
Ever thought you might need to slip quietly off the radar? Meet Frank Ahearn, America’s leading skip tracer, and now – for the clients he helps flee criminal threats and violent partners – its most improbable guardian angel"In 20 years, guess I must have found close on 40,000 people,” says Ahearn, ignoring a pedestrian stop light. “I’m a New Yorker, man, I want to get there today,” he shouts over the din of the traffic. “Most people who vanish just take off and go, right? BIG MISTAKE! I’ll find you,” Ahearn promises. “People leave behind their debts, they use their frequent-flyer programme to escape, not knowing that I can access that, along with their utility bills. People have no idea how many footprints they leave, how many connections they reveal. ~ F. Ahearn
Read the whole article online here The man who helps people disappear - Times Online
A few years ago I was asked to purchase 10 books to set up a new employment specialist with everything they would need to know. As a lover of books, I have shelves of books, both at home and at work. Trying to reduce that down to only ten was a challenge. An even greater challenge was the idea that these ten books had to include everything a brand new employment skills trainer would need to know. Anyone who has done this job knows that of course can't be done. So much of it is learned over time.
I did put together a list of books which I think make a very good start on an employment skills bookshelf.
These books focus on the people I work with, people with barriers to employment. That is not to say these books are only for people with barriers to employment, not at all. These books are good basics that work for anyone. I do ignore many books which others love, simply because they do not work for everyone. I also tend to ignore trendy things - in books as much else. Like your closet - your bookshelf should be filled with the basics first. Then you add one or two trendy items that you can't live without.
I will be sharing them and my reasons for including them on my limited space bookshelf in upcoming posts. I want to hear what is on your bookshelf? Which employment or job search books have you found that are exceptional?
If you are an ex-offender and are looking for work in the Portland Metro area you are looking for Better People.
Better People is an employment and counseling program solely dedicated to helping former offenders find and keep good paying jobs. The numbers are amazing - at the end of one year 62.5% of clients hired are still employed! Even better - the jobs are not minimum wage jobs. Because of the success of this program, employers who normally will not hire ex-offenders are willing to work with Better People.
What makes this program different from other work programs is the Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) groups. If you are not familiar with MRT here is some basic information - 
For more information check here. This website will also have a link to a few of the programs that use MRT in over 40 states.
When we hear about someone making a bunch of money selling a rock in a small box - most of us say, "why didn't I think of that?" 
While a Pet Rock happens only once every 20-30 years, there are opportunities around us everyday - if we can only recognize them.
Now, not every idea is going to be *the* idea - just look at Ron Popeil - While he has made millions on some ideas (Showtime Rotisserie, Veg-o-matic, and many others) he also brought us the spray-on hair. But you don't have to invent anything - you simply have to look for a problem to solve.
These opportunities happen all the time. In 2006, a young man in Indiana recognized one such opportunity. For those who do not know, Indiana started to use daylight savings for the first time in about 30 years. Evan Kelso recognized this as an opportunity to solve a problem. Everyone in town had clocks that needed changing - and not just clocks - phones, cars, VCRs, etc all needed changing. You can read the whole story on CNN. While this opportunity was limited to a few days, it shows how we are walking past opportunities everyday simply because we cannot recognize there is a problem to be solved.
As you go through the world today - look around and ask yourself "What opportunities am I not seeing?" "What problem can I solve?"
