Time To Laugh

So let me start this here ol' blog entry by saying I love my job. I really do. No BS, I truly enjoy coming to work and doing what I do, which is giving you, dear readers, a wonderful little Weekend section each Friday.

With all that said, Yahoo is the home page on my computer. And for such a big Web site, you'd think it could change its front page every so often, but no. Every day I turn on my computer, and every day some story headlined "What to do when you hate your job" stares back at me. I've avoided it for days, since Friday, but I read everything, so finally I had to open it up and digest.

I'm very thankful I finally caved. Here are two thoughts that a writer named Marty Nemko gives readers. The first one is a reason why you may hate your job, and the second is one of the things to do after you realize you need a new gig. After each, I'll give you my comments.

"You're overwhelmed. Maybe the work is too hard, or there's just too much of it. Possible fixes: Hire a tutor or take a short, pragmatic course to help improve your knowledge. Ask for help--it sounds obvious, but many people don't do it. Trade some of your most onerous duties with a coworker who finds them easier. Avoid needless perfectionism and put aside the things that can wait (possibly forever). You can even hire a "virtual assistant"--usually, a live person in India--for $6 to $15 per hour, at sites like Brickwork India and Your Man in India."

Am I the only one who finds it hilarious that Yahoo Finance would recommend hiring a "virtual assistant" to help you do work? So for $6 an hour, I could have someone in India write a review of the new James Blunt disc because I would rather die than listen to it? This all feels unseemly, like you're hiring child laborers. Do you think they sit in a dirt-floor warehouse somewhere in India with a sign on the ramshackle building that says "Your Man In India"? Too funny. I have a visual.

"Secure good references. If possible, get reference letters before you leave, so you can hand them out on the spot if necessary. Before asking your boss for a recommendation, set the stage by first finding something nice to say about him or her or the company. Reminisce about projects that worked well."

So if I ever want a new job, I'm going to start talking to my boss about our good times together. "Hey, Rick, remember that time we played Setback and drank way too much Guinness? Wasn't that awesome? How about when we played Setback and drank way too much Busch?" Rick won't know what to do besides give me the best reference ever.

I guess that's all I got. So if you're looking for a new job, make sure to read good ol' Marty's little story. It's full of gold. Gold, Jerry, I said gold!

Something Fun To Waste Your Time With

OK, every so often someone e-mails a link that's kind of fun. I got this today. You can upload your photo to this site, and it'll turn that picture into just letters or shapes. It's kind of fun. Here's me. Obviously, the original photo is to your left.

That's it. Have a good one.

Another One

Wow, an amazing week for concerts is getting worse by the minute. Yep, I'm posting for the second time in a couple hours to let you know Oh My God will not be performing at Daniel Street Tuesday.

I've heard Oh My God a lot and like the band, but I've never seen it live. I was really looking forward to it. Someone whose opinion I trust says the trio is one of the best live bands around. So this is a wee-bit of bad news.

According to the band's Web site, the trio's tour van got hit straight on in Ohio and the guys are now recovering from some almost-serious injuries. Let's hope they get better and come back to Connecticut soon.

With tears,
Your faithful announcer of canceled concerts.

Cancelation Notice

OK, I know I've been bad about updating lately, but here's a quick note: Tonight's Blonde Redhead show at Toad's Place has been canceled. Ticket holders can get refunds at the point of purchase. Sad, I know.

Also, I promise to update more frequently this week, OK? Stop yelling at me.

Um ...

OK, so I didn't watch all of MTV's Video Music Awards, but I caught the part everyone is talking about: Britney Spears' forgettable performance that actually made me feel bad for her. This AP photo really says it all, huh?

Go here to see some of the performance, if you haven't already. She couldn't remember the lyrics to the tune, her dancing was stilted and resembled something I could do, and she had a pot belly. Now, I know shouldn't be commenting on a little pot belly, but, I mean, come on, she's on national television wearing practically nothing. At least be in shape.

Getting Ready

On Friday, you'll be able to read the Register's fall-music preview, which is always one of my favorite things to write. As a little teaser, here's a couple of videos.

The top one is from the record you should most be looking forward to: The Weakerthans' "Reunion Tour." The song is "The Reasons," which actually appears on the band's previous disc.

The bottom video is for the first single ("Radio Nowhere") from Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band's upcoming disc, "Magic." It's a really good tune, really.

To find out about the other 18 discs I think will be the most significant of the season, make sure to buy the Register this coming Friday the 14th, which isn't as spooky as Friday the 13th.

Things I've Been Thinking

So last night, after work, I headed over to Cafe Nine for a bit. The venue was hosting a listening party for "Guilty By Association," a pretty decent compilation CD featuring indie artists covering "embarrassing" songs like "Don't Stop Believin'," "Straight Up" and a whole lot of others.

Well, the Nine had a special going on: $1 PBRs. I think the club should choose a day and have this special every week. I know of a couple other places that $1 PBRs certain nights and they're always packed. And anyone who reads this blog knows how much I love $1 beers. My heart skips a beat just thinking about them.

I don't care about Britney Spears, do you? Do you honestly want to see her open the MTV VMAs? I really don't. Maybe I'll write a notebook about the show. People seem to like those.

Just like this person, I never smile for the paparazzi either.

My friend Harris and I were discussing last night if all those promos for "The Closer" claiming that the show is No. 1-rated cable TV program were accurate. I guess they are.

You ever want to hear (and see) Heather Graham sing? Well, here you go:

So it looks like one-half of the directing brothers who helmed "The Matrix" is now a woman. OK.

Don't they know that Mama's dead? She's dead. Dead. Dead. How can you do this without that lady?

I'm going to play racquetball today. I don't know why I felt the need to share that, but I did. Whenever I'm in the rubicon playing, I always wish I had a mustache ... and an artificial knee or hip or something.

OK, I think I'm done now. Can you believe football season starts tonight? Can you believe that I hate Peyton Manning? Can you believe that I hate the whole Manning family? Just look at the mug shot, man.

Sometimes, when you run out of things to say, you should just stop talking. That's what I'm going to do now. Have a good weekend. If I see you, I'll say hello. If not, just know that I would have said hello. It's nice and polite to say hello when you see someone. It's also nice to say goodbye. So, goodbye.