Transformers

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/27_Why_I_do_not_care_about_the_Transformers.html

One of my longtime readers sent me the image above. He is  currently in DC.
The thing is, The Transformers is something I have little interest in. It came out after I would have been into that sort of thing (and I would have definately would have been into it hence my Ultraman Tattoo)
Someone pointed out an Optimus Prime Shrine at the Buckshot, which launched me into a whole fasincating discussion of Annie Hall and Star Wars and pre-Star Wars science fiction.

When I was in short pants and Star Wars crazed I never understood why my sister did not like it but just a couple years difference can make a profound difference in taste in movies, especially science fiction.
On another note, I hated, HATED the last Indiana Jones movie. I am wondering if I went back to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark, would I think it was Moronic as well?
A movie I have never seen all the way though is Annie Hall which won best picture over Star Wars in 1977.

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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Pizza

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/24_What_should_go_on_a_Pizza.html

I found out something shocking about one of my closest friends in the past couple of days in regards to what he would choose as a last meal and the only place that was open was a pizza joint. He announced among other things, that putting pineapple on pizza is a sound combination that equals delicious. This is wrong, wrong, wrong!!

Pizza done properly, crust, sauce (or in the case of white pizza no sauce), cheese and perhaps a small list of things that would be a proper topping.

Another day I will compile the list but for now, use your good judgement (or you can call me directly)

A pizza is not a social experiment! Fruit does not belong on Pizza (and yes, I know a tomato is a fruit but you know what I am on about)

My preference is a thin crust (either New York Style or Roma Style) but a well done Chicago style is not bad.

My next trip to New York will include a number of stops at their Pizza Shops or if I am lucky a Pizza Hut.

Another thing in the realm of Pizzas that I do not like are places that do not serve slices but rather personal pizzas.

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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Ultramind Solution and changes to Nutrition

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/22_Ultramind.html


For more details on the information behind this entry go to
http://www.ultramind.com/

For the second Sunday in a row, the Bay Area is getting some much needed Rain. I said in the past that I would not mind if the weather was always 74 and Sunny but after a super nice January, I was thinking it would be killing the Strawberries and such.
I am glad that it was perfect weather for my run at Baker Beach which had quite a few hills and such. I like being a pacer because it makes the running more than about myself. I remember in the early part of 2007 when running a mile without stopping was not a foregone conclusion.
I remember Bay to Breakers in 2001 and how sore and stiff I was after finishing the race. (I am still very sore after Half Marathons which for now is the upper limit of what I am going to run).
Want to get more disciplined on nutrition and reducing the amount of sugar intake. I have been good at reducing alcohol, which I think has been positive.
Right now reading the Ultramind Solution which goes on about how many health issues are not a deficiency in things like Xanax and such but related to nutrition. In the past year I have made an effort to avoid when possible high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. Reducing the intake of refined sugar would have a positive impact.
Also interested in juice fasts but want to see how that impacts running.
Another thing is that I have foregone my pre-run Advil which probably had some sort of placebo effect.
Here are a couple things I am going to try this week
Replace coffee with tea
Eliminate processed and refined sugar until next Saturday.
Continue to avoid high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils.
More leafy vegetables with Olive oil, curry, garlic, ginger and rooster sauce.
More carrot/ginger/apple juice mixed with sparkling water.

Nutrition is the only part of the equation to adjust as I am running quite a bit and hitting the gym about three times per week. Running, which I enjoy would be better if I made these changes.

I would not like to position it as a diet because honestly denying yourself certain things for a finite amount of time only to allow it is a recipe for failure. These are ongoing changes to be healthier in the near and distant future.

Even after my no drinking in January and February ends a week from Sunday, honestly I should still reduce the amount and frequency of drinking. It is an expensive habit that has a detrimental impact on how I feel.

Right now I give advice on running, resumes/job searches and I want to add optimal nutrition but first I need to follow my own advice and do what I know will work.

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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Need PC Advice...

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/18_Marcus_needs_to_get_a_PC_laptop....html

For reasons I am not going to explain I need to either get

1. 1)a wireless card
   

2. 2)A copy of windows XP or Vista
   

3. 3)that software that allows you to run Windows on a Mac
   

OR

1. 1)Get a new PC Laptop (all of them have wireless at this point)
   

Will be starting a project that requires a PC environment.

I only need it for Web Access and possibly if I use Talenthook in the future. I will not be doing anything with photos, music or whatever. Using it for the project and then working in cafes trying to be sophisticated.

I do not want to spend a lot of money on this laptop as it will not be my primary computer.

Should I buy a used Laptop on Craigslist? Remanufactured? Overstock.com?

Any brands/models to consider or avoid? Stores or websites?

Any thoughts hydra1970@gmail.com

On another note, If you are Dell or Gateway and you just want to give me a laptop, then I would accept....

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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twitter = hydra1970

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22 Albums

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/18_22_Entries.html

THE PREMISE:

"Think of 22 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world. When you finish, tag 15 others, including me. Make sure you copy and paste this part so they know the drill. Get the idea now? Good."
(Not in any order, this is over the course of my life...)
1) Men at Work Business as Usual
2) The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour
3) Pink Floyd The Wall
4) Prince Purple Rain
5) The Police Synchronicity
6) Wings Band on the Run
7) John Mellencamp Scarecrow
8) Curtis Mayfield Superfly Soundtrack
9) Procol Harum Shine on Brightly
10) Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon
11) Beach Boys Pet Sounds
12) Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA
13) REO Speedwagon High Infidelity
14) The Beatles White Album
15) Meat Loaf Bat out of Hell
16) The Beatles 1967 to 1970
17) Billy Joel The Stranger
18) Cornershop When I was born for the 7th time
19) The Streets Original Pirate Material
20) Bob Dylan Greatest Hits I, II (I was introduced to Dylan via Greatest Hits)
21) Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks
22) Various K Tel records... (that is how I know 70's one hit wonders..)
23) Flaming Lips (The Soft Bulletin)

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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5 ways to use Facebook to find work

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Resume/Using_Facebook_to_find_work.html

Here are just a few ways to use Facebook as a tool in your job search

1. 1)Sync your Twitter feed with your Facebook status. Then use Tiny URL to embed your resume in your status. If you are not too web savvy then post your resume on Resumebucket. Almost every day I see a status about looking for work but it would be far easier if the resume was embedded. Your network has always been your best resource for finding employment. Doing this with your status simply gets the word out to your network. One big advantage of using a Twitter feed is that it is publicly searchable.
   

2. 2)Edit your profile to include links to your resume, and your linkedin profile plus in the about me section list the type of work you are looking for.
   

3. 3)Facebook Groups are a great resource for making connections, posting a link to your resume and seeing jobs. It is free for recruiters to post jobs in these groups. If you do not find a group focused on the type of work you are into, start it!
   

4. 4)Marketplace is an underused section of Facebook where it is free to post jobs. You can also post your resume. In this economy recruiters and hiring companies are always looking for free places to post jobs.
   

5. 5)For about $5 per day you can get a link to your profile to show up to the right of recruiters pages when they login by placing an Ad that links to your resume. I see this as a growing trend for job seekers.
   

(Note that when you post your resume on a public site like Resumebucket or Craigslist, you do not need to include your address or phone number but do include all the area codes you would commute to)

 

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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Costco and Tents and Sirius

Costco and Tents and Sirius

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/11_Entry_2.html

I would not mind a job as a singer/song writer but I would like more to be a manager of up and coming Country talent and don a white suit full of Rhinestones. Who knows what the future holds.

I sure hope that Sirius/XM survives. Even beyond Howard Stern it is far superior to the rancid commercial radio with their 3 in a row with great fan fare. Anyway the song above is from Ben Taylor, the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. It was from the coffee house.

Anyway I had a rebate check for Costco from my American Express card for $164 which I wanted to use right away because I did not want to lose it. Had to think, what are the items that I should get from Costco. I imagined the large can of beefaroni from the episode of Seinfeld. Among the items I got were

1. 1)Kitty Litter, 40 #
   

2. 2)Toilet Bowl cleaner
   

3. 3)Snap peas
   

4. 4)A roasted chicken
   

5. 5)Spinach
   

6. 6)Blueberries
   

7. 7)Watermelon
   

8. 8)Papertowels
   

9. 9)Almond Butter
   

10. 10) Popcorn
    

11. 11)Sir fry which came to $100 and they gave me the other $60 back in cash!!
    

In the past I found Costco to be annoying due to the queues but I brought my iPod and it was only two songs before I was completing my transaction.

So I am back at my place putting the items in my storage bin when I decide I need to get rid of some of the things like the tent and the boogie board. The neighbor walking by took the boogie board and I gave the tent to the salvation army when I found the poles.

Click here for the back story on the tent

Later in the city it was raining and I saw a homeless guy fussing with a box and wished I still had the tent.

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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A Complaint Free World

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/11_A_Complaint_Free_World.html

A Complaint Free World

 

I am going to recommend a book that I listened to a couple of weeks ago (did not have access to Satellite Radio or my iPod while driving and we all know how horrid commercial radio is). The concept of the book is really simple which is a challenge to not complain, criticize or gossip for 18 days it involves wearing a purple bracelet and switching wrist with each complaint.

Now I am not doing that but it made me stop to think, how many of my own thoughts about day to day life, are complaints rather than positive thoughts. The tiny pebbles in the shoe of life such as the people who toss their cigarettes on the ground, do not pick up after their dog, drive too fast in the complex and not use towels at the 24 Hour Fitness get bigger when you give it attention.

To be honest if I see that a book is written by someone with a Religious background I am hesitant to put much stock in a book that goes on about, "God's plan etc" but this is simply very practical solid advice.

You may think that you are a ball of sunshine but in reality you complain far more than you think.

http://www.acomplaintfreeworld.org/

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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Moma Gift

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/8_Moma_Gift.html

So the back story is that a few months ago I was wondering into the SF Moma and they were taking pictures of an exhibit called the Gift. They told us to return on February 8th to pick up the picture. Now I thought I would be picking up the picture of myself which to be a bit honest, would be a bit odd to have a photo of myself hanging up in my apartment (and could come across as a tad narcissistic). I imagined getting a small plaque explaining that it was from the Moma.
But in reality it is FAR more interesting. Each person was getting a portrait of someone at Random! So not only do I have the portrait of a random, some other random (which is not the same one) has a portrait of me hanging up in their den or rumpus room.
I could imagine the pre school teacher with the long curly red hair sitting on her chair with her two standard poodles, Ultraman and Giant Robot making up stories about the guy in the portrait that she picked up moments after I left. In the movie it will be played by Allison Hannigan. I of course would be me. That really blew my mind, that me, an over fared, long haired....
If you happened to know the woman in the photo then let me know....


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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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Snuggies in the Wild

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/6_Thoughts_on_the_Snuggie_(in_Public).html

From reading the earlier entry

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/5_Snuggie_Fundraiser.html

You know that I met my goal which meant wearing a Snuggie in public.

First off its basically a bath robe you wear in reverse. Here are some things that you can look like while wearing a Snuggie.

1. 1)A Ghost from Ms. Pac Man
   

2. 2)Instructor from Hogwarts
   

3. 3)Jedi
   

4. 4)Ghost from Scooby Doo
   

5. 5)The Smurfs
   

6. 6)Cult Member
   

7. 7)Lando from Emprie Strikes Back
   

Being the type of person I am, here are some ideas on improving the Snuggie experience or a Snuggie 2.0.

First off a pouch or large pockets (to carry a remote or whatever). Next electric snuggie controlled remotely by an iPhone app!!

Overall I think I could have sold a bunch and the reaction was positive.

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
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Pictures of Labs

If you want to see pictures of cute labs go to
http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/6_Pictures_of_Labs.html

This is a really simple blog entry. It will not tell you how to fly to UAE or have perfect credit or get a free domain name or have Christian Bale yell at you or get a check from the government. No, it is simply mostly pictures of Raider and Brando with some other dog friends.  Point to the box to download the pictures.

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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Snuggie

So its 2009 which is the year of the Snuggie.

I have decided to harness the incredible cult of personality surrounding the powerful force of commerce to raise money for the Parkinsons Institute in Sunnyvale.

As I right this message, I am $75 away from buying a Snuggie and wearing it in public.

http://www.firstgiving.com/snuggie

 

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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Sourcing & Recruiting on LinkedIn and Facebook

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/3_Sourcing_%26_Recruiting_on_LinkedIn_and_Facebook.html

Sourcing & Recruiting on LinkedIn and Facebook

 

This morning I was on an online chat about sourcing using social networks mostly focused on LinkedIn and Facebook

(To get more information about these sessions go to

http://magicmethod.ning.com)

The question came up, which is best. It made me think of the episode of the Office where Jim is doing a spot on impression of Dwight and he asks, "What type of bear is best". The answer to the social networking question and the bear question is the same, it depends.

For the most part I do more sourcing and research on LinkedIn than Facebook. If I find someone I want to target, I will contact them directly if they are in my network or in a shared group. If they are not, then I try to figure out their e-mail address. Barring that, I do a search in Facebook to see if I can find the same candidate (sometimes its difficult to determine if you have the same profile) There is a tremendous overlap between the two networks but they are quite a few people that are only on one of the networks.

Groups are a great resource in both LinkedIn and Facebook both for the posting of jobs and searching for possible matches.

The Marketplace section on Facebook is a good place to post jobs but you are limited to your networks.

Facebook, for a very good reason has limited searching of the overall population of their network.

So the answer to what is best, is either both or it depends.

To access Facebook Marketplace.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=705175300#/marketplace/?ref=sb

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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twitter = hydra1970

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Dogs are good...

So I am dog sitting for Raider and Brando. Two English black labs.

Took them for a walk and all manner of people from an older guy with a voice box to a Mom with a baby who gave a big smile.

 

My legs of course were quite sore from my half marathon yesterday.

 

Last night I had a dream that I built a giant wooden ball that you attach yourself to the inside and roll around in as a method of transport but it kept rolling into things and causing damage.

 

Also a close friend of mine was a radio personality of some sort.

--
Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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twitter = hydra1970

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Kaiser Half...

http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/2/1_2009_Kaiser_Half_Challanges_and_Free_Pizza.html

Remember when I wrote out about how to prepare for a race? Getting all your stuff together? That nonsense..
Anyway I got to bed early last night and I kept on dreaming of getting to the airport for a trip to Australia but transport to the airport was a challange.
Drove the Prius (which is an important detail) to the city the Kaiser half Marathon. When I got to the parking spot, I discovered that my number, was actually in the other car! I did not have enough time to drive back so I thought about running it sans number and then bailing at the end but then I would be like Chewbacca and would not get a medal.
Walked through a cold dark Golden Gate Park to the start of the race and it was real easy to get it resolved.
When I run a large chip timed race, I like to catch up to people rather than to be passed so I start near the back.
Ran into many of the people that I knew running the race.
The biggest challenge came about two miles in when my iPod froze up and I had to run sans music. Made me think of Luke Skywalker turning off the X Wings computer during a New Hope. So I am not posting my Nike + graph...
But I did run and did finish my seventh half marathon since November 2007.
We did not get a medal at the end of the race. I am going to be giving all of my metals from five of my half marathons (one was a pendent that my Mom has) to
http://www.medals4mettle.org/

After the race one of the members from my training group had some people over. I did not want to arrive empty opposite of freded so I bought some brownies from Safeway. They were having a special that if you bought $25 worth of Groceries, you would get a free pizza. The people in front of me did not want their pizza so I asked if I could have it so the cashier gave me the Pizza. Then the people behind me did not want their Pizza so I rolled into both shindigs with pizza.
The hosts scored MANY points by allowing me to take a shower at their place as I imagined post half marathon smell is not on Cosmo's top ten smells for men. (I am not talking about Cosmo the dog but rather the magazine)
A very tired Marcus went to a Superbowl party and watched the first half and thought about what movies he would be watching.





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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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twitter = hydra1970

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