A little over a month ago, I asked a question.

Regardless of politics--irrespective of support for or opposition against the current military operations--it must be remembered that thousands of men and women are risking, and sacrificing, their lives for what they believe in. They are doing this for us--300 million strangers.

It matters not one whit whether their actions make us safer. Results do not determine their worth, nor the worth of their sacrifice. I whole-heartedly oppose this immoral and illegal invasion of a sovereign nation; but--with the exception of those who use this as an excuse to commit sins and atrocities--I hold these warriors in the highest honor and regard. They have done what the rest of us will not do; they have placed their country above their own lives. It doesn't matter whether you see the cause as just or abhorrent; their sacrifice must be respected.

As of March 5th, I will cease to be "Blaze Miskulin: Purchasing Clerk" and will become "Blaze Miskulin: Geek-at-Large".

I'm leaving my job with the Madison Metropolitan School District, and am becoming "The Geek" for the Manke family of companies (Don's Marine and Manke Enterprises). The companies are undergoing some internal changes, and part of this is a new interest in e-commerce and an aggressive web-presence.

I've been working with the owner on a freelance basis for about a year now, and as he's taken the time to look forward, he's realized that his vision requires a full-time person to make it happen. In a move that is utterly foreign to my current work environment, he took the initiative and decided to hire someone for that position. And that would be me.

My job with the school district is a good job--it's good people, a good environment, great benefits, and respectable pay--but it's a job for a "maintainer". I'm a "maker". I just don't fit into that job. I'm not sorry that I've worked there--not in the least. I've learned a whole lot in my 4 years with the District, and it's knowledge that will serve me well in the future. But, considering I started there as a temp, and only expected to stay for 2 months as a stop-gap measure between my (then) recent lay-off and a more permanent position elsewhere, I'd say that I've gotten far more out of the deal than I could have expected.

It's time for me to move on, and this new job is a huge leap forward for me. What it may lack in guaranteed security (there's something to be said for the solidity of civil-service jobs) it more than makes up for in challenge, interest, flexibility, and growth potential. Plus.... there's the fact that the office is only a mile from my house, so I can bike (or kayak!) to work when the weather is nice. Even if I drive every day, I estimate that I'll be saving about $1,000 a year in gas (at current prices). That's nothing to sneeze at.

I only hang out with one person from work, and leaving for the new job won't stop that. I will miss chatting with a certain sexy librarian, but I'm sure I'll survive. I've no clue what the new job will bring. And, to be honest, that's one of the biggest attractions it holds for me. I do know, however, that I'll be working for a man who has both vision and the guts to pursue that vision. That's a rare quality.

Server got hacked.
Upgraded WordPress.
Plug-ins freaked.
Gallery tanked.
LiveJournal crossposting died.
Didn't win the lottery.

{sigh}

It's been "a day".

Pork threatens back!

Okay... sensationalist headlines aside, this is just outrageous. I'll let the original blogger tell the story.