What’s wrong with your…education/experience/life?!

So, I sit here pondering many things.  This is the life, I say to myself while I watch Spartacus on my big screen tv.  Relatively speaking my wife and I want for just about nothing.   And it’s in this moment that I’m either selfish, a pessimist, depressive are all of the above: it’s the ‘just about’ that I have a problem with.   No house, no baby, no new car.  Instead, renting month to month, prognosis for a little one is so far in the future it makes me question if its worth it, and a car that “aging” would be a nice word.   Or maybe, I just ask for a lot.

I’m a man of caveats, and let me say that  I know somewhere some third world person is dying and or is dead from disease/hunger/etc.  God I hope they find comfort and can rise above the filth us as the first world have caused and/or provided  them.

I do not inherently dislike my job.  On the contrary, I meet many good people, craft wondrous things, and generally propser.  I work as a carpenter with my father and brother.  Most of the time we get along.  But it gets hard when your boss is ‘dad’ and your coworker is the guy you tried to off with a frying pan at the age of 2 (true story).   Everything is fine until the seeds of doubt start to bloom-how long can I keep doing this?  It’s physically demanding on a good day, and down right excruciating on others.  Again, re:family matters.  And lastly, what happens when there isn’t work?

Lo, you might be thinking “what is this semi-skilled man jabbering about?!”  Well, yes, I am quite skilled.  But I’m also well educated.  Graduated with a double major of Psychology and Sociology with a minor in math and chemistry (funny story).  And what does that mean?

It meas, to all those who have considered Psychology as a field of study or employ be prepared to push drugs (and take them) and shoot for a Doctorate program.  Failing that, go for as masters.   Failing that, well, come see me and we’ll kvetch about it as that’s the particular brand of screwed I’m in.

Furthermore, I’ve yet to meet the recruiter or Hiring manager that takes “four years of consistent backbreaking work for the family business” seriously.  News flash, (insert expletive) in the suit-had I better options when I graduated school and spent four months unemployed looking for work I most likely wouldn’t be here complaining about it or you (duh).

Four years of expensive (and very, very tedious study) and four years of “unacceptable” employment (by America’s standards) are leaving  me feeling that (4+4=what now?)  I’ve wasted 8 years of my life.   The only other experience, as far as work goes that was paid, was working in a deli on campus for a year and a half.  Consistent with my luck, said employer might as well be dead to the world.

I desire strongly to be a productive member of society.  I feel I have a lot to offer so many people, in so many fields.  Sadly, no one cares (that I’ve met) that your are a genius, quick learner, and can and will do anything to prosper both yourself and the company you work for (I’ve spent time working in literal crap fixing sewer systems, angry customers make me lol).  It seems to much to ask to be compensated for that learning.

Hell, right now I just want to work in a bookstore (Yes, this means you Barnes and Nobles, I’m very awesome and should be hired IMMEDIATELY).  Most likely I’m considering some form of “continuing” education to add a couple of more skills to the mix.  Notably, computer programming and security.  Going back for a phd in psychology is something I still want to do, but at the very young age of 25 is not something I’m willing to make the sacrifice.   I think that’s enough out of this Grunt for now.

The Saga is far from over…and just beginning

E-books.  I think they are great in theory, but the development and release of the idea is premature.   Having hundreds, thousands (dare I say, millions?) of books in the palm of my hand touches my technophile happy places.  The ability to share your stash of books with others, presumably friends if you have them (or if you have them, friends with money and gadgets).   The Nook is drawing my attention more than any ‘reader out there.  So what’s my issue?

Price.  Not of the reader itself, that can be justified,  explained, merited…etc.  But the price of an ebook.  For example, Jim Butcher’s Turn Coat in paperback form I purchased for roughly $7.50  (And it was worth every penny, love the Dresden Files).  But to get it in ebook form, would cost $7.99 and $8.99 in book form from bn.com.   So.   It costs one dollar to print and deliver books, maintain a store to hold said book, and pay a staff?   Now I’m not against a writer making a profit, or people having a job in a bookstore (for the record, bookstores out there, I WANT to work around people and books all year long).   But, that doesnt make sense.  I’d expect $3-5 dollars to be reasonable for an ebook.   The cost of distribution of an ebook versus a regular paperbook is monumental.  Server fees, maintaining servers, offering a way to connect to those servers, and paying the writer and making the book into a file.

You also cannot justify the price of ebooks via traditional supply/demand–you cannot sell out of ebooks.

I’ll reiterate and make this a short rant.  I want it, crave it, and pretty much need an ebook reader.  But I’m not thrilled at the price.

In ending, talk to Apple.  They’ve worked out the whole “cost/delivery=happiness” equation pretty well.

Talk to Apple, their delivery system has been working pretty good.