Bush

'FX I would look at doing a world tour also, but from recalling a post that you made a few years ago about spending a little time in Western Europe you have already seen a little. Being an ex patriot myself over the last 5 years or so living in China for almost two years, Mexico for six months, and the UK for awhile in which I did some traveling. But the far east is a different story, you need to spend some significant time out there before you can truly appreciate the culture, for me it was a significant culture change (all of the ex pats over there said the same), that is why when anyone asks me "hey I have a few weeks vacation and would like to go to China", and I say "don't bother you need at least three weeks to get acclimated.", "Make it a 8 week vacation then you will appreciate it". Type thing...

Now with that said I would appreciate what the US has to offer. I know I'm contradicting my previous statement here, but the US is where it's at. Western Europe is one thing, but going to a Middle East, an African Country (aside from Maybe South Africa), and the far East are different stories unless you have A lot of disposable income. However Australia would be fun like west Europe if you will. I intended on going there when I was in China but couldn't make it happen, but the guy's I worked with that did loved it.

Now being in a similar situation that you are in now 6 months ago (with a lot of money saved up), I asked the Michigan based company that I was working for that I needed a transfer out of Mexico because it was becoming very unsafe. I witnessed two gun fights outside a hotel I was staying at, every time I would fly out I had a security detail pick me up in the little gated community I was living at. They would back up to my apartment have get in back of a Suburban while they were packing heat just to take me down the road to Monterrey airport.

When I got back state side the company I was working for laid me off stating they didn't have a position for me here in Michigan. I knew that was going to happen, so I went and stayed with my elderly grandparents to help my dad take care of the farm that has been in the family since 1953.

I did that and my grandparents bought and moved into a nice little lake condo on a lake in my hometown to spend the rest of there years.

I then took the money I saved up and bought a nice little lake cabin on a lake chain in Norther Michigan and haven't regretted it. I absolutely love it up here, it reminds me of the day's when I was in my late 20's living in NW Minnesota. The fishing is fantastic and that's what I'm into.

Then in a months time I received a phone call from a recruiter about a position that has opened up in a town that is an hour away from my home town. After a few interviews I got my dream job, and now I have nice little weekend cabin up north.

Good Luck man,

Just thought it was worthwhile sharing my little story..

I'd be game also. Starting my new job on the 20th which means I have to move out of my nice little lake cabin in northern Michigan where I only have 3g, down to Jackson, Mi where I'll be able to get dsl or cable. I know modified has been playing so I'm sure he would be up for it also.

Just curious what software and other equipment are you using?

You could get an external hard enclosure and plug the drive into your laptop to retrieve the files. I'm not sure of the risk here or how to avoid it other than run a virus scan on the said drive before you try to access the files.

ZD you'll be fine, there are so many IT jobs out there now.

Good stuff.

Funny 'Mo.

I've had the privilege to attend two Chinese New Years, one in Shanghai and another in Mudanjiang with my wife's family. Good times to say the least.

Food looks great Ebil.

Been looking at picking this up. Once i get back on the net (just finished my last expat venture in Mexico), I'll shoot you my user name.. This sounds like a good time.. What do you like about it thus far?

Downloaded. I'm going to check out the single player side of it. Looking forward to seeing you all online again, it's been awhile.

Well, get it set up. I'm in, and if need be I'm sure we all have friends outside GC that can fill the remaining spots.

Mav I picked up this based on your recommendations and some research on my part a couple months ago. Hands down one of the best purchases I've ever made, it rocks.. I know that is out of your budget, but I'm a asus fanboy now.

I'd use muratic acid. It's cheap and will do the job the quickest, just make sure you use so ppe because the stuff is pretty strong, even from your local hardware store. MSDS

I have in the past. It's been awhile since I've done it though. Midwest has some decent kits and supplies, it's a good place to start. I was more into making IPA's and this clone because they didn't sell it where I was living at the time.

Interesting, I remember going to the first 4. The first one was awesome, Rollins, NIN, Janes Addiction, and ICE T with Body Count. Oh and the Violent Femmes lol, I was between my junior year and senior year in high school, and some how convinced my parents it was ok to go to since it was at Pine Knob and not at some club lol. And the 2nd was equally cool, Ministry (one of my favorite bands of all time), Sound Garden, Pearl Jam, The Jesus of Mary Chain (I still plug in Honey's dead once in awhile), and the Chili Peppers. During the '92 one there was more content on the second stage, and I'll never forget checking out Jim Roses circus show after the fact at the Orbit Room (GR, Mi.) and having to sign a waiver, because at the end of the show they were playing catch with live\running chain saws over the crowds head.

Edit: Need to add one.

The third one that was in MI. was at the Milan raceway, and with Tool getting very popular (especially in MI at the time) They should of been on the first stage, the whole crowed literally left the main and went back by the second stage, and it totally rocked.

wood lyk 2 exprs mai intrest in ur position

 

I am trusting that you will be doing the needful so that our relationship may become more yellow?

 

(Don't even get me started on some of the things I've had to read over the years)

Wu hen hao, de busnes units, wu english hen hao, wu uber 1337

Lev, I'm off to my next expat assignment in Mexico, the first was China. Any advise? I've done a bunch of research and from what I understand it's no different than living in Dallas (which I did for four months last year). It's Saltillo, Mexico. Any input will be appreciated.

thx,

zai jian

I agree with Flitter, that has always been my approach as well. Currently I'm on a very old rig, but I have been an unemployed (a brief stint at Best Buy, in the Geek Squad dept) full time college student for over a year now, but I am looking to become an expat again real soon (contract will be in the mail this week). With that said (sorry for the hijack), I will have a little extra cash, but I need to keep it mobile this time.

I worked on some of the Asus lap tops that Mavarick likes so much and they are nice, but when ever I pick up my cousins alienware that thing just rocks so I'm thinking about this only because it has a ten key # pad, which I need for cad, 3d modeling, and for writing formulas in excel. If the I5 had a 10 key # pad I would go with that. I'm open to suggestions, it will be probably two months before I pick one up.

edit: I know I could just hook up a kb to it, and a larger monitor, but I'm going to be on the road at times (not a ton) and would like to just carry around one piece of hardware when possible.

/end hijack

If I were to build a new desk top I would go for an I5 or one of the new amd quad cores that are cheaper. I built a system for a friend of mine a few months ago, however all he does is play wow, and spec'd out this CPU, and a gts 250 vid card 1g ram (ati at the time had issues with wow) and once we got it up and going he was getting 150-200 fps in the new 25 man raids, up from 15-30 (I forget the old comp specs, 3 year mid ranged dell). So like bush said that may be an option also and cheaper. The I series are awesome though.

Bummer, thought I picked 'em and had them all saved only to find out that I failed. Well atleast MSU beat NM.

this is just my personal opinion, but i'd be less concerned with my kids finding a gun (#2) than encouraging an intruder into using force.

 

for example, what if the guy came in with a gun and no intention of using it, but you point yours at him and he decides he has to defend himself and use his?

Sj, you live on the left coast a little to long lol.

Ok, now with that said I can agree/and disagree with both sides.

I carry this when I feel the need which isn't much, but it is well within my reach at home when needed. I don't have any children and won't anytime soon, but when that time comes I will invest into some saftey measures. I.E. gun safe, trigger locks ect, aside from what I carry which will be concealed, or near by.

Being a former military guy myself and a bit of a gun enthusiast I respect Jiffy's comments as well. I know a few guy's that have .50 Barrets, but they are into guns as much as we are into computer games. They own them because 'They Can', and from the guy's I know they are into

it, are into target shooting, ballistics, loading, fine tuning ect.. No different than a car enthusiast tweaking their turbo in their car ect..

The bottom line comes down to education.. Teach your spouse and kids on how to use fire arms and the dangers..

uhh. Before installing did you reformat you hd?

If you know someone with the windows 7 disc, just borrow it from them and buy a license key off of ebay. got pro for $20.

I can mail a few just pst.

I'm 24. You do the math ;o

 

So that's your mom then?

Funny, I didn't really look at the pic much 'cause it's like what everyone else said "Creepy", which it was in a weird perverted way (you sicko's). How old was Gene Simmons back then? I know I was still in diapers, lol and my 19 yr old cousin was living in the attic with all of the Kiss crap all over the place and playing it all the time, I have to admit though Boston still stands out from that genre`. Pop culture was a lot different back then, and still evolving and all, with that said that was still a real cool story.

So 'san did your mom attend Cadillac H/S?

believe it or not, but GRR has been making moves over the past 5 years to grow the downtown into a medical campus -- michigan avenue on the hill is now known as "the miracle mile." they've got a couple major cancer research and children's hospitals there, and they're continuing to invest. considering how broke the state is, it's pretty amazing the number of private investors that are pumping cash into it.

 

so yeah, i was kinda joking about the "watch out for GRR z0M#!" but not really

Ahh, Gotcha!! I should of never left med school to go to gvsu for a me degree. lol.. I've heard and read about the miracle mile, I also understand that MSU put a campus in GR, along with WMU a few years ago, Oh and GVSU. Now I'm thinking that I should give up my ambitions to go for a IT degree in Minnesota here and go back and get a nursing degree @ grcc lol. The nursing students are a lot hotter than the dorks I deal with in the IT field. lol..

Lol, I still have x-com apocalypse installed on my computer.

Nice, I recall hearing about this when I was younger. I used to go to a Church camp just outside of Cadillac.

GR are you serious? I didn't google, but back in 2000 when everyone could get broadband, I couldn't and was living at Ramblewood in Wyoming at the time. I move to rual Minnesota that spring and could get adsl in Frazee, Mn. I have to admit though after moving back to Caledonia in '04 the at&t dsl rocked, so I guess it just took 'em longer than others to put the infrastructure together.