I’ve been checking out some watches online and I had to share this one. While looking at this watch I read this in on customer’s review:

The solar charging function also gives the peace of mind that this watch will never run out of power, so, in the event of nuclear holocaust or financial ruin, I won’t ever need to buy batteries and it could also be used as a valuable trade good.

I’m glad he added that little blurb because I now know I’m not the only person who asks himself “will this survive a nuclear holocaust” when shopping.

I saw an article today posted on the Human Society’s website talking about Petland and their use of Puppy Mills although they claim the contrary.

From the article (click here to read the whole thing):

Documented USDA violations at some of Petland’s breeders and suppliers included dirty, unkempt enclosures; inadequate shelter from the cold; dogs kept in too small cages; and inadequate veterinary care. Some of the breeders were found with sick or dead dogs in their cages.

Now Petland is a franchise, not a chain so some may argue that it would be unfair to attack a particular store not knowing if it is an offender or not. However I think it’s more important to send a proper message. Go read the article and decide for yourself. Some things you can do to help:

• Boycott Petland universally and unconditionally until they make honest changes.
• Tell Petland that you’re not so happy about them being greedy, corporate pieces of shit. (feel free to use your own language)
• Donate to The Humane Society of the United States (it’s tax deductable! (maybe))
• Buy stuff from the Human Society and help support the cause.

Part of my current job is hiring people. That means I look at resumes and applications. I think every single application in the world asks for you recent job history, ours is no different. For each job one of the fields is “Reason For Leaving” where you explain why you chose to leave your job.

In my experience when someone looks at an application, they have one of two general mindsets: they’re either looking for a reason to hire someone, or looking for a reason not to hire someone. This may be decided by several factors, the readers personality, the number of people applying for the job, the urgency of the opening, or the weight placed on the quality of the possible candidate. Whatever the case is, often times when someone looks at an application their initial purpose is to weed out “bad” candidates, and you never know how picky they’ll be or what will be the trigger that causes them to put you in “no thanks” pile.

So recently I’ve been going through some more applications and I’ve started paying more attention to that “Reason For Leaving” field. Not as a hiring manager, but as a guy who’s going to quit one of these days and will eventually have to find another job. What will I put when I fill in applications? What reason for leaving will I give, and what impression will that send?

• Reason for leaving: I was unhappy with my life?
• Reason for leaving: I just wanted to try something new?
• Reason for leaving: Because I wasn’t getting any younger or happier?
• Reason for leaving: Pre-mid-life crisis?
• Reason for leaving: Have you tried living in Texas?
• Reason for leaving: I saw a movie about jobless, hippy, bums and thought I’d give it a whirl?
• Reason for leaving: Who the fuck are you to judge me?!?!

In the end, I guess I just have to accept that no matter what I put there’s no way to pretend that quitting your job and running away from your life makes you sound like you’re an overly responsible person. Maybe I’m not, I don’t know.

I’m really not sure if the problem is how I’ll reintegrate with the corporate world or the fact that I’m worrying about it.

I have now purchased more soap.