Factor My Receivables

Core Knowledge Exam

2006-01-21T21:46:00.000-05:00

I have good news to report. I passed the core knowledge exam. That means I get to go to the School of Accountancy this June. If I pass the SOA I get to write the Uniform Final Evaluations in September. If I pass the UFEs, my hell will finally be over. For the time being I am working, and enjoying some much deserved and needed down time.

Chillaxin'

2006-01-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

It is so nice to wake up on a Sunday and realize I have nothing to do. From September Through January 4th I had to commit seven days a week to school and study. I'm back at work now. It has been an adjustment, but I much prefer work to school. So what am I doing with all this new found free time? I have taken it upon myself to learn how to play "Linus and Lucy" on the piano. I'm also learning how to play the blues. I'm doing things that I want to do, rather than things that I have to do. Of course my freedom will be interrupted in June when I have to attend the school of accountancy. Then I have to study study study for the uniform final evaluation in September. Basically, I'm not going to have a summer. For the time being I get to enjoy a little down time, and I'm taking full advantage. I passed all my courses, so the degree is officially in the bag. I find out if I passed the CKE on January 20th.

Last Exam

2005-12-21T22:19:00.000-05:00

It's been a long haul, but I've finally written the last exam of my university career. Barring any unfortunate mishaps, such as the possibility of failing my auditing class, it is now official; I am the world's most eligible bachelor... bachelor of accounting, that is. You might think I'm going to enjoy the Christmas break before heading back to work in January, but you're wrong. I have to study for yet another exam. I am writing the Core Knowledge Exam (CKE) on January 4th. I basically have to relearn everything I was taught in the past four and a half years within the next two weeks. A monumental task, for a monumental four hour 100 question multiple choice exam. I can't wait for January 4th to be over so I can kick back and relax. In the meantime, I am in hell. Merry Christmas.

Royal Bank of Canada

2005-04-02T19:53:00.000-05:00

The very first savings account I ever opened was with the Royal Bank of Canada. It was my primary account until I moved away to school back in 89. That's when I switched to CIBC out of convenience. CIBC had way more instant teller machines around the city than RBC. Anyhow, I always kept a little cash in my RBC account. It was always nice to know I had a small reserve in case I ever found myself in need of a few bucks. I thought there was nothing to worry about. Isn't the idea of a savings account that you can let your money sit there and accumulate interest indefinitely? Admittedly I haven't been actively using the account for many years. In fact, in years past, RBC has sent me notices saying my account had been inactive for a very long time, and if I didn't do anything about it they would close out it out. When ever I got one of those messages I made a point of putting some money in the account to keep it active. This year RBC didn't warn me. They charged me two inactivity fees of 15 dollars apiece, then came up with some lame charge for the remainder. They basically stole 42 dollars from me. Needless to say I've lost my faith in humanity. I think it's fitting that I write this on the day of the Pope's passing. Ultimately I have the last laugh. I am well on my way to attaining my CA designation. There will come a day when I will be reasonably well to do. Royal Bank of Canada, you screwed up. I know your dirty little secret. I will never do business with Royal Bank of Canada ever again.

On-line Shopping

2005-03-05T15:05:00.000-05:00

I used to be afraid of ordering things over the internet. Recently, however, I have found the internet to be of tremendous use. Everyone knows I bought pants from JC Penny on-line. Disappointing side-show freak jeans aside, that was a very positive internet purchasing experience. I have recently ordered an upgrade to my digital video editing software, and just last night I ordered a new computer tower on-line. My old clunker doesn't cut the mustarde any more. I admit, my chest becomes a little queasy every time I enter my credit card number, but so far I haven't had any problems. The thing I enjoy most about ordering things on-line is having the merchandise delivered right to my front door. I don't even have to leave my house. It's like magic. There is one caveat to ordering over the net, though. It is always a risk buying things sight unseen. Also, you may have to wait longer than expected for your order to be processed. I just got an e-mail from the vendor, which sold me the computer tower. It seems they are currently out of stock and I'll have to wait an indefinite period of time. They assure me they're doing everything in their power to make things as speedy as possible. If I had physically gone to a computer store I could be working on my new computer right now. I'm willing to wait a week, but no more. Any longer than that and I will cancel the order, and sever my relationship with the vendor.

Pants Conclusion

2005-02-14T19:47:00.000-05:00

The pants arrived today. They were delivered right to my door. When I got home for lunch they were sitting on my front porch in the rain. Thankfully they were well protected by the packaging. I was extremely excited by their arrival. I checked out a pair of the jeans, and a pair of the casuals. They looked decent enough. I didn't have time to try them on right away because I had to get back to work. Needless to say the anticipation of trying on my new pants was killing me thisafternoon. The first thing I did when I got home was try on the blue jeans. I don't know what kind of mutant they were designed for, but they're definitely going back. The pants come right up to my belly button, making me look like Ed Grimley of SCTV fame. My confidence dashed, I tried on a pair of the casuals. They look and feel great, and best of all they fit. If anything they may be a bit too long. If they are I'll just get them altered. All in all I'm happy. JC Penny has a good return policy, and makes it very easy. I just drop the unwanted pants back in the mail with a slip that says why I'm returning them.

Links of Note

2005-02-13T13:37:00.000-05:00

I have added some links of note on my sidebar. I encourage everyone to click on them and see where they take you.

I'm feeling a little hung-over today. I went to a bar and saw a funk band last night. It was a friend's birthday. A whole bunch of us went out to celebrate, and wouldn't you know it, we all ended up drunk. My head is pounding. My ears are ringing. My heart is stopp

Pants Update

2005-02-09T19:16:00.000-05:00

My father called me tonight suggesting I check out JC Penny.com. He told me to go to the men's department and click on extra-tall. To make a long story tall, I have successfully purchased three pairs of casual pants and two pairs of jeans in my size, 32X38. They should arrive early next week. When all is said and done I will have paid around $200 Canadian for 5 pairs of pants that fit. Not bad. I'll let you know how it works out in the end.

Pants

2005-02-05T13:08:00.000-05:00

I write before you the most frustrated man in history. Today I went to a men's clothing store to procure some pants. I want a couple nice pairs of casual pants for the office. They didn't have casual khaki's or cords in my size, but they did have khaki's with a dress pant cut in my size. I tried them on. They fit. I hated them. They made me look even skinnier than I already am, if that's possible. I admit, with a 32 inch waist and 38 inch inseam, my dimensions are freakish. Why is it, however, that there is an underlying assumption in North America that if you are especially tall, you must also be especially thick in the middle? And why is it that the pants they do make for tall skinny men are cut in such way as to make the poor bastards look like freaks. I'm thinking conspiracy.

Feeling dejected, I came home to do an internet search for tall skinny pants. The conspiracy seems to be world-wide. I visited a dozen different sites. None of them let you choose an inseam dimension to go with the waist size. I'm not going to order pants on-line unless I know they're the right size. I'm not Michael Jackson. I don't wear floods to show off my sequened socks.

When I'm at school I see tall skinny guys everywhere. Many of them are taller than me, and they're all wearing Pants, jeans mostly. I'm sure they run into the same problems I do with dressier types of trousers. I think I may have discovered my million dollar idea. I could start a pant manufacturing plant that churns out pants of all styles especially cut and designed for tall skinny men. It seems I have much work to do.

2005-01-19T21:22:00.000-05:00

Enjoying a little down time.

Oreo Cookies

2005-01-19T20:56:00.000-05:00

I love Oreo cookies. The dark crunchy chocolate wafers provide the perfect foil for the soft creamy larde in the middle. Yum. Unfortunately Oreo cookies aren't packaged very well. When you first open the bag you have to rip through a plastic lining. There is no way to make a clean rip in the lining, so once the bag is around half empty it becomes troublesome sliding the cookie tray out, and then back into the bag. After sliding the tray in and out a few times the bag becomes damaged to the point where it is no longer fun to eat Oreos. Aren't products supposed to improve over time? I remember simpler times when Oreos were packaged without an annoying plastic lining and cookie tray. You could easily reach into the bag and pull out two or three of your favorite cookies, no matter how full or empty it was. Who ever designed the new packaging for Oreo cookies deserves to be hanged by the neck until he or she smartens up. If Oreos weren't so delicious I would boycott them. I really don't mind the trans-fats, it's the packaging I hate.

2005-01-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

Self portrait at Bear Lake

Flossing

2005-01-16T10:39:00.000-05:00

It took me a long time, but I have finally done it. I have successfully developed the habbit of flossing my teeth at least once a day. In fact it is now at the point where I rarely leave my house without first flossing. I cannot believe the difference it has made in my mouth. My gums no longer bleed when I brush my teeth. My gums are now strong, impervious to pain, and spongey. I can now see through the spaces between my teeth when I examine them in the mirror. My dentist has been encouraging me to floss for many years. He explained that the plaque that develops in your arteries is the same as the plaque that forms on your teeth. When your gums bleed, plaque from your teeth gets into your blood stream and attaches itself to your arterial walls. Flossing helps to ward off heart disease.

It was reported recently that Listerine was forced to remove a television ad making the claim that gargling with its mouthwash after brushing is just as effective as flossing. I never liked that ad. Gargling with Listerine cannot remove bits of food from between your teeth, and it can't toughen your gums. It can only kill a few germs. Anyone who believed the message of that advertisment has earned my contempt.

Flossing is a time consuming activity for which there is no quick fix alternative. Floss at least once a day, and those trips to dentist every six to eight months will stop hurting. Your gums will stop bleeding. Your health will improve. Your mouth will feel cleaner. Your breath will smell better. Your teeth will look brighter.

Country Music

2005-01-15T13:36:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make. I enjoy listening to country music. Don't get me wrong, I don't listen the highly over produced popular country crap that radio has to offer. I can't stand the likes of Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks, Billy Ray Cyrus, etc. If you listen to the likes of those artists you may as well be listening to Britney Speares, or Christina Agulara, or Celine Dion. No, the kind of country music I'm referring to is real country music. I'm talking about Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristopherson, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr, Rodger Miller, Red Sovine, etc. Speaking of Red Sovine, I challenge anyone to listen to his song Teddy Bear and not shed at least one tear. I get a lump in my throat every time I hear that song.

I used to wonder what the big deal was about Hank Williams. Why is he so highly revered as a country legend? If you too are wondering what the attraction is, download his song Whiskey, Weed and Women. It is a truly excellent tune.

Why am I musing about country music today? It occurred to me thismorning that of all the play lists I've created on my Real Jukebox, the one I enjoy listening to the most is my country play list. Lately I've grown fond of Kris Kristopherson's song Pilgrim. It starts off with Kris explaining what the song is about. His voice is so incredibly deep he sounds like a lion. The song was inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash, men who are deeply religious on one hand, yet complete drug abusing alcoholics on the other. "He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction" is just one of the great lines in the song.

Another fun song to listen to is Good Old Boys by Waylon Jennings. Of course that is the theme song for The Dukes of Hazard, so it has nostalgic appeal. The full version of the song is great.

Willie Nelson, Kris Kristopherson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash are responsible for starting a movement in country called the outlaw movement. At one point they were all part of a supergroup called The Highwaymen. I guess I'm a fan of the outlaw country movement.

All of the country artists I enjoy listening to have one thing in common. They are all writers. Willie Nelson wrote Crazy for Patsy Cline. Speaking of Willie, he has the best voice in country music, and he is an amazing guitar player. His live performance of Ghost Riders In The Sky with Johnny Cash is outstanding.

My first job in Radio was at a Country station called CHOW. CHOW ran a promotion giving away tickets for a Willie Nelson concert. The sales rep who put the promotion together was kind enough to give me two tickets to the show. I gave the tickets to my parents because they are big Willie Nelson fans. They absolutely loved the show. He is an incredible live performer. I would like to have seen the show myself, but the intrinsic reward I received for sending my folks was well worth it.

I like all kinds of other musical genres; classic rock, heavy metal, jazz, blues, classical, punk, etc soforth. If you too enjoy many different genres, but have not foyered into country music, I encourage you to experiment. Try downloading The Conversation by Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. It has a great driving rhythm. The song is literally a conversation between Waylon and Hank Jr about Hank Williams Sr. It'll get your toes tapping, and spark your interest in country music.

Stream Of Conscience Poetry

2005-01-14T21:54:00.000-05:00

As I sit and type this note
I wrote a word that could be heard around the world
What kind of girl says stuff like that
My name is Matt
I don't eat cat food
That's lude and lascivous behavior
Don't waver on your vow
Holy cow that shiz be dope
Hand me that rope you bashful begger
Ralph Nader never done nothin for me
I see the light at the end of the tunnel
That chunnel races through England town
Get down and be heard
Nerds need love too
Pick one up at the mall
Have a ball but don't stay out too late
Be mindfull of the date
Your mate can't let too much time fly by
High apple pie in the sky goodbye

Tsunami

2005-01-13T19:02:00.000-05:00

I have a cousin. Some people have cousins. This particular cousin of mine happens to live in Jakarta, Indonesia. Now you're probably wondering what it's like for my poor cousin in Jakarta after the Tsunami. I e-mailed him recently and asked him. You may be surprised to learn that Jakarta has not been affected at all by the Tsunami. In fact, because televisions are scarce there, people aren't really aware of what's going on. It's business as usual in Jakarta. My cousin says that we here in Canada have been more affected by the Tsunami than the good people of Jakarta.