Johnaberdeen's Blog

Are you looking to make more money?  Do you need to get yourself out of debt to avoid debt consolidation and debt relief help?  Are you thinking about getting a second job?  Before you make the move to become a dual-employee, make sure to think about your goals.  Are you getting a second job for a short term gain.  Are you adding extra income at the expense of other life necessities?  Before you choose a second job, keep these 3 things in mind.  I call these 3 points "My Case For Not Getting A Second Job".

1.  A second job takes away from your life.

Life isn't all about work.  I understand getting additional income if you are in serious financial peril.  other than that, I suggest you really evaluate what is important in your life before getting another job.  Think about this:  there are 168 hours in a week, you spend 40 of them working, 56 of them sleeping, and at least 7 of them eating.  This gives you 65 hours per week to shower, run errands, do household chores, entertain yourself and spend time with friends and family.  65 hours per week isn't a whole lot of time, and that amount gets smaller if you take on a second job.  Remember the value of time before you decide on getting a second job.  If you want more income just so you can afford the finer things in life, it might not be worth it. 

2.  A second job can make you worse at your main career.

I am of the school of thought that it could be more valuable to work on the skill set of your current job before getting a new job.  I think that reading, practicing and improving is worth more than some disconnected part time job.  Instead of picking up that job as a bartender or a server for nights and weekends, use that time to make yourself a more valuable employee at your current job.  The more valuable you make yourself, the higher your chances of a promotion or raise.  If you get a promotion or raise, you won't need a second job.  You will be making more money without sacrificing valuable personal time.

3.  A second job makes for difficult transitions.

The first thing a smart person will tell you about a second job is "don't get used to getting income from 2 jobs".  You see, when you start getting 2 incomes, you start getting used to getting 2 incomes.  This can lead to poor spending habits and being wasteful with money.  You think because you have more money, you can spend more money.  In the end, you end up going back to one job and one income but your spending habits stay the same.  This can lead to serious financial problems.

It takes a lot for me not to like a movie. Whether it is an action movie, comedy, thriller, drama or documentary, I am pretty tolerable of cinema. With this being said, it speaks volumes when I don't like a movie. I've seen hundreds of movies in my lifetime, watching movies on everything from VHS and cheap new DVDs to drive in movie theaters and IMAX. Out of all the movies I've ever seen, these 5 are my least favorite. Watch at your own risk!

1. Rocky V

“Rocky V” was the first movie that came to my mind when I thought of bad movies...so that speaks volumes in itself. I am a huge fan of the “Rocky” series, including a very underrated “Rocky Balboa”. However, “Rocky V” is about as unwatchable as a movie can get. The movie is cheesy and thoroughly depressing with very little entertainment value. They stray away from the basics to deliver this mistake...a movie that doesn't even show Balboa in the ring. Sylvester Stallone even admitted that this movie was a mistake.

2. Major League III: Back To The Minors

Like the Rocky series, I am a big fan of the original two “Major League” movies. That is why I despise the third installment so much. “Major League III: Back To The Minors” is an absolute disgrace to an otherwise entertaining series. It reeks of cheese and non-believability. Why were two World Series champions sent to the minors? This movie has everything I don't want to see in a movie from bad acting to a weak plot. I suggest seeing the first 2 and skipping the 3^rd.

3. 8 Mile

Eminem's maiden voyage into cinema was received relatively well by most, but not by the guy typing. I disliked every part of this movie, from the poor acting to the depressing nature. This movie was more music video than it was motion picture. I will say, however, that the rap battle at the end was pretty entertaining. Still, a movie with only one semi-entertaining scene is still awful in my book. Stick to rapping!

4. Ocean's 12

Much like the “Rocky” and “Major League” series, “Ocean's 12” let me down because of how good the original was. Thankfully, the all star cast came back to make a very entertaining “Ocean's 13”. “Ocean's 12” had everything you could ask for: a solid cast, already developed characters and back story and an unlimited budget. Yet, it still failed. The plot was so complex and convoluted that even the most savvy film enthusiast couldn't help but he confused. Definitely skip this installment of an otherwise very good “Ocean's” series.

5. The Notebook

There are only a few things I would rather not do than watch “The Notebook” again. Of all the choices to buy cheap DVDs online, this had to be my ex-girlfriend's worst pick. I had to watch this on Valentines Day and I must have went to the bathroom 4 or 5 times. This movie is the classic, sappy, predictable love story. A good love story can be touching and moving, but a bad one is usually an absolute disaster. Don't watch this movie unless you want to induce vomiting.

Nothing is worse than a dirty keyboard! Unless you have thoroughly cleaned a keyboard before, you don't know how dirty your keyboard can get. I had a job where I worked in front of a computer all day and my keyboard was a mess. The first time I cleaned it, it had months of dead skin, dust, dirt, food, lint and anything else you could imagine in it.

I strongly suggest cleaning your keyboard at least once every month or so. It is hygienic and neat. Nobody wants a filthy keyboard. If you are planning on cleaning your keyboard, it is important to know the right way to do it. Here is the correct 4 step process for cleaning your keyboard.

1. Remove all of the keys.

Yes, to properly clean your keyboard you need to remove all of the keys. This isn't as much of a pain as you would think. Most keyboards have keys that just pop off. To pop the keys off of your keyboard, I suggest using something small and thin like a Popsicle stick or pen. Be gentle when popping your keys off, and put them in a bag or bowl to keep them all together. Make sure you have a diagram for how to put the keys back on!

2. Clean the keyboard and keys off with canned air.

Although canned air can be a bit pricey, it is very useful. You can buy canned air anywhere where you would usually buy computer software or hardware. Nothing works better when you are trying to get excess skin, dirt, dust and lint off of your keyboard. Make sure to tip your keyboard to its side or upside down completely when spraying it with canned air. Also, make sure it is over some sort of receptacle, like a trash can. There will be debris flying everywhere. It isn't a horrible idea to unplug your computer and do this outside.

3. Swab the keyboard with a Q-Tip.

After getting all of the excess off, you will have to clean the plastic or metal itself. Nothing is better for this task than alcohol and a cotton swab. Dip the cotton swab in alcohol, but make sure it isn't dripping. Use this to scrub your keyboard to get rid of any stains or sticky substances. You can buy alcohol at any drug store, grocery store or even electronics stores where you would normally buy computer equipment.

4. Clean the keys individually.

Once you have finished swabbing the keyboard, the cleaning of the actual board is finished. Some people choose to end the process right here. However, I always think it wise to individually clean the keys. You can do this a number of ways: you can soak all of the keys in alcohol, you can swab them individually or you can dust them off individually with a rag or piece of paper towel. I go with the soak method. Leave the keys in there for 5 or 10 minutes, make sure they are dry and pop them back on your keyboard. Your keyboard will now be a mean, clean, typing machine!