Steve Gadlin's piece of the Internet

Tomorrow the game show Deal or No Deal is holding an open casting call in Chicago from 12pm – 5pm. Paul and I will be getting there early, at around 9-ish, to wait in line and try our luck.

I will be sure and post about the experience some time tomorrow evening. I’ll try to snap a few pictures as well.

Whoopy!

I have auditioned for a game show once before. I went to an open casting call for The Weakest Link about 5 years ago, but wasn’t even selected to move on to the second round. The guy I was with, my buddy Dr. Steve, moved on to round 2, and got to play a mock version of the game. He was never called to be on the show.

I’m going to win a million dollars!@#

I’m not sure why, but lately I’ve been receiving several unsolicited job offers from places looking for developers. There must be some sort of developer shortage, and my name must be on some crazy mailing list.

I don’t like unsolicited job emails. This little exchange is probably most funny when read backwards, so that’s how I’ll post it.

————–

She was not interested, but thank you for the thought. Good luck.

Thank you,
Tony Pietrzak
312-460-8222 x 104
312-460-8184 Fax
Tony@bcius.com
www.brokeragejobs.com

————–

Yes.

Your mama.

Sincerely,
Steve

————–

Would you know of someone who might be interested in this opportunity?

Job Order:
DM0184-002-411

Title:
System Analyst Programmer

Location:
Northern Virginia

Responsibilities:
Integrate third party software into in-house systems
Interface with the Quantitative Research Group to develop data modeling
Change control and release management of software and configuration upgrades
to live applications, servers and databases
Respond, analyze and resolve user support calls and IT system problems
Enhance existing applications to support business growth
Work closely with staff members with ad-hoc developments and applications
support
Work with end-users to validate requirements

Experience:
BS degree in computer science or business.
3-6 years programming experience in a fast-paced financial services
environment; preferably with an investment advisory firm.
Must have exceptional programming skills in a .NET environment and SQL
Strong accounting acumen.
Experience in database application programming
Must be highly skilled in time management to facilitate involvement in
multiple tasks; comfortable with providing and meeting time estimates for
assigned tasks.

Computer Requirements:
Programming skills in FoxPro, XML, JavaScript and Dreamweaver

Thank you,
Tony Pietrzak
Brokerage Consultants Inc.
Tony@brokerageconsultants.com / email
http://www.brokeragejobs.com/ Web site

When DSTW was in New York, we noticed that almost everyone’s umbrella had this little white cone on top of it. So when it was open, it looked like it was wearing a little shriner’s cap. It took us a while to figure out what that was for, but I finally did. When the umbrellas are closed, you can slide the little white cap down, and it covers your umbrellas. It’s tough to describe this effect, but it’s really pretty brilliant.

It was amazing, though, that virtually every umbrella in New York had this little feature, when I had never seen it anywhere else. These little fads can be so localized. As close as we are, and as connected this country is, you can still find little hidden pockets of uniqueness all over the place, even down to the popular features on a city’s umbrellas.

Anyway, I saw one of those little white things in Chicago for the very first time today, walking from the train to work. I wonder if this person is a visitor from New York, or purchased their umbrella in New York while on vacation there.

I hope it catches on here. I hope I start seeing them everywhere. Then I will have been a witness to the birth of a new umbrella fad in Chicago, and to the migration of innovation across miles and miles of land.

It must be grape season. Is it grape season? Anyone know anything about grape season?

My office puts out grapes in the cafeteria every day, and lately they’ve just been wonderful grapes. So delicious. Mmm, grapes.

It must be grape season.

Holy McCrappenstance.

One of the crummy things about holding a full time job in conjunction with owning your very own company is the big whomping tax bill. I learned this for the first time last night. It was like having the wind knocked out of me. After a few adjustments, and some experiments with filing individually instead of jointly, we were able to work the bill down to a somewhat manageable level. Uncle Sam will be taking a $2,000 bite of Mr. and Mrs. Steev. But that’s better than the $4,000 chomp we owed filing jointly.

This year I’ll be paying quarterly tax estimates to soften that Bop Socky blow.

So…

I’ve finished my Will Shortz’s Favorite Crosswords book. I’ll have to go back to printing out the daily New York Times puzzle every morning and taking it with me on the train.

I thought I had so much more to say this afternoon. I know I’m forgetting something obvious.

Uhhh…

Nope, I lost it.