December 27, 2008

Good to hear from you - so since your hard drive crapped out, use the one I

I still got one, but it's misbehaving a bit and not sure how long it will last, after it fell out of my bag once and onto the pavement. Anyway, online may be the way to go. these webhost companies do double redundancies and all that shamooz, so it's pretty safe, and ftp on web is an easy way to transfer. The internet will only get faster and cheaper, but portable harddrive is definitely good for transfering if in the same location, which I'm usually not anymore.

Do you mind downloading through http? I generally only give ftp access for uploading only, and then I can copy the files to my webdownload folder, as some people could screw up and accidentally erase everything. My internet (got a new 3G modem so am happy to have high speed internet right on the beach) is a bit slow at the moment, so will send you the details once I got faster internet. In the meantime, you can check out what I got at:

http://kenax.hypermart.net/web.programs/

Just uploaded about 50 gigs and I'll transfer that to this same folder once my internet is faster (am lazy about opening the backdoor at the moment to put my modem outside).

So you wanna start a business? Would be interested to hear what about.

You use avaxhome.ws for downloading movies etc? They're selling 500 gigs of space for some 54 Euro a year, and with that you get to download like a mfkr, so I might do that once I get cash again. Right now I got their free account thing and downloading can be choppy, but I'm still busy downloading the 50 gigs, which I only discovered recently, so I'm downloading from avax in between.

Attaching your file to show what movies I'd be interested in, if you'd be up to uploading them. Can send ftp details later.

Yah, still write my travel blob once in a while. Made a shortcut link through kenax.net/travel, so not sure what you read last. Not sure it's ready to make me any money yet. Downloaded a bunch of seo programs recently so we'll see if that can produce anything.

Maybe I could help you brainstorm with some of your ideas. I think that one very important key of success in business is not to give up. I refuse to, because I absolutely detest the office environment and never want to return to it. I'd rather shovel shit or much rather do construction work. But I did apply to google, after reading about their corporate culture. If I could work in my shorts, no tie (which Ilike to call a corporate leash) and can work whenever I want, sometimes from home, then I'd consider working in an office. I like that google has foosball tables there, and I would suggest setting up a volleyball session out on the lawn to break up a shift. Otherwise, with 8 hours straight, I find people just get tired, go home and watch TV. I'd rather break up the shift, and then work later.

Well, have a good one. Tell me how fast it was downloading from my site. Am curious.

gave you :-) sure, I'll download whatever I can get my hands on. I have the following - not sure the best way to get them up for you but could figure something out. I have been using Rapidshare and I think they're pretty good. Life here in Prague is the usual work life it has been for me. Busy busy, but at the moment not as insanely busy as I was before, which is good. I've also been trying to invest more of my time into things that make sense for me. Have been thinking through a couple ideas, but nothing in formation yet. I always have the problem that I have the idea and then find million reasons not to do it - over-analyze it. I plan to spend some time off end of year to think it through - write down all the advantages and disadvantages I can think of for each idea and then just go and do it. For now, still at Monster. Monetizing your website skills makes sense. I tell you, you really should put together a blog for your travels. That's probably the most head-turner thought that jumps out through all of what you're doing right now, and you know yourself that hardly anyone is doing it. Why not write all about it for us office-folks to read and envy over :-) you're good at writing stories and I'm sure you could monetize that. You're right about the focus though - anything like this you definitely need to commit to and keep doing for a year or so. My problem is that I always have the idea but then lack the focus to execute on it. Be well, and let me know how things go for you with the eventual drive over to new location - take care.

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yah, I think it just further satisfies me as to my situation. First of all, translations are pretty well always needed and I have never somehow felt connected to these global or domestic economic swings. Second of all, with no rental or electricity bills and the ability to survive on roughly 10 bucks a day, I think I could survive a global depression. Not to mention that I'm creative and I can always find work, and survive with such low costs. And third of all, I can always rev up the beautiful ol' engine and drive somewhere else, such as for example urban areas where these riots and unrest develop. I think people on islands are more chill, perhaps grow their own food, and that's where I'll gladly make my home for the next many years. I was practically shocked at what came over Vancouver when I was visiting there. It used to be such a mellow town and now its infested by a bunch of aggressive crackheads. I think I'm gladly done with big cities. People can party just as hard in small villages, except they tend to be more genuine and truthful. They say villages can become a sesspool of gossip, but I found the cities easily worse. Then again, perhaps Prague really is only just a village. In any case, the language barrier probably saves me from this problem. I'll always find good people wherever I go and really don't need to concern myself with these weak gossipping types.

well they're having race riots in Russia right now, the people want all immigrants removed (for taking their jobs). The same thing happened in Germany last year, and in Paris (I think two years ago) when the very poor neighbourhoods, the ones with the Algerians and Morrocans, were set on fire.   When times get tough people close ranks and look for any excuse to be hostile the the other guy. The US is looking towards a very difficult decade; usually for an economic crisis like this it takes seven years to recover (unless the government embarks on a plan of inflation, it might be three to five years). The US is simply printing money, it may solve some things now but in two years when they have to make payments on $1.8 trillion things will get very dicey.   Meanwhile securities and financial people are finally being investigated, only now are authorities starting to discover people who, over several years, ripped off like RBC Capital Investments, CIBC, some big bank in the States, Stephen Spielberg, etc., for billions of dollars. More horrifying news will come out in the New Year I am sure.  From my contact Les at DowJones . . .  "WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Home construction took its biggest tumble in 24 years during November, falling to a record low, while a sign of future building also plummeted.     Housing starts decreased 18.9% to a seasonally adjusted 625,000 annual rate compared to the prior month, after dropping 6.4% in October to 771,000, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Originally, Commerce reported October starts fell 4.5% to 791,000.     The November decrease was much bigger than Wall Street expected. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires forecast a 5.2% drop to an annual rate of 750,000. The 18.9% drop was the sharpest since 26.4% in March 1984 and carried housing starts to a record low.      Year over year, housing starts were 47.0% below the level of construction in November 2007.     Financing for construction is becoming harder to secure. Also, builders are restrained by plunging sales. The latest government data, issued about three weeks ago, showed new-home sales dropped 5.3% to 433,000 in October. Year over year, sales were 40.1% lower. Sales are dropping because prices are tumbling. High inventory of unsold homes are depressing prices.

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now that you are in Prague i was wondering if you would be so kind as to set up a bank account for me. I grew to realise that ebanka was slowly increasing its prices and I was paying some 330Kc a month, which when I converted one day to USD worked out to some 20$ a month, which is absolutely ridiculous. I told them they could take these charges and shove it deep up their arse, but fortunately miracles happen in my life and I got into a peculiar situation where my account is free of charges for one year. After that I will no longer have a bank account in the Czech Republic, or Europe for that matter. Which could negatively affect my business if I start to get a lot of work again, or have to pay other translators. Already I've run into some problems because of this. When in Greece I will try to drive to Bulgaria at some point, as a translator of mine recommended a bank there that does not charge anything for holding onto my money. People in Czech told me that there is a new bank Mbank (I think mbank.cz) which also does not charge anything to hold onto my money. Over the years, not earning so much, I've been reducing my costs here and there, and now own several bank accounts around the world which do not charge me anything, except for Bank of America, which charges 6$ a month and it is well worth it, for several reasons. I don't see why any bank should charge me to hold onto my money and they are all a bunch of thieves. Anyway, no stress or rush, since my ebanka is now free for a year, but if it isnt too much hassle, maybe you could drop by one of their branches once and see if it would be possible for you to open an account for me.

Hope that guy buys my treeplanting software so that I can get to Greece and have that stable backup income. Still struggling with internet on the Greek side of this island, because it turns out that the 3G modem I bought on the Turkish side is locked, and I am trying to get it unlocked. Otherwise I'll probably buy another one somewhere, but make sure it is unlocked, and hopefully the Turks will give me my money back or something. They said they should give me an answer this week and I've been walking across the border occasionally, as I am in the capital city on the island for the purpose of resolving this problem.

So at the moment I have crappy internet, going to the internet cafe for an hour a day to check my email etc. But as you can see I can STILL run my business, as I am translating a job right now. Of course it is better that I have some means to check my email once every hour while in the truck, as I have for the past two years, but with my new 3G modem locked and Ruskin having broken my pocketpc, I simply do not have that luxury at the moment. But I can still operate, so that you do not think something silly like I cant etc.

latero

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wow, that is insane. Werent they talking about global warming all this time? But I guess a general warming can easily result in ocean currents changing and weather patterns changing as a result in different parts of the globe. The arctic is generally melting but who knows. As long as the big ocean belt does not stop moving, which it apparently does once in a while, and lead to The Day After. Ever seen that movie? Bush tried to ban in while in office. Scary shit, and can happen.

But at least it seems you had a nice white Christmas, and sitting around a toasty fire after shoveling snow. I always dig that. My Christmas will probably be walking around Nicosia, where I am now, trying to resolve my internet problems, walking around in my shorts with a beer in my hand. The town can become a bit of a zoo. My Czech-American friend from the Turkish side occasionally drives up so we can play chess. That's my Christmas, but not really complaining. I just keep working and that's fine with me. Except now my CD player isn't working and I can't play movies, boohoo. Will have to fix that soon.

this is insane. I don't know what's going to happen later today, but right now we have a total whiteout. I had everything shovelled, my house Marie's house and Zohar's house, completely yesterday. I even dug out Mark's car, just in case we got a freeze and his car turned into a popsicle for three weeks.  It's fun I don't mind doing it, I get good exercise and have an excuse to be outside in this weather.  Today it doesn't even look like I did anything. And its supposed to go on all day. Here is a shot of what Burrard Bridge looks like right now . . . I'll take some photos of the house later, I am running out of places to put all the snow!!  If I can get down the hill this afternoon I will go to Jarmilla's they are expecting me. But if something bad happens (power failure, traffic accident, etc.) I'm just gonna stay here. They are suggesting to people unless you really need to get somewhere, just stay home. Either way it's fun for me, I'm just not enjoying this particular dump as much as last time because I know it is getting to be rather a hardship for other people.  Walked down the hill yesterday for some firewood and beer, so can hunker down at Marie's and have a lovely time if I have to.  Hope you are enjoying where you are, finding some good Christmas times. It's so peaceful and quiet here with all the snow, it kind of feels like the beginning of time.

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days to Morava with a friend. My copmuter acts funny, capitals were not intended but I donot feel like erasing and starting agian.

What capitals? Letters? Don't understand.

Weather is not good but dry so we can walk. little cold. But it is winter in Praha. There is a calamity in Vancouver. I am sure Keta reprots to yu. She did not make to Jarmila for Jezisek after all as well as Dvoraks did not go. I do not remember anything likethat in Vancouver. Little sorry I am not there but it would not be fun at all in that unfinished house with impossible driveway.

Sounds like it would be fun for me in Van. I like crazy stuff like that. Nice for a short visit anyway.

Where were you for Jezisek. ? I made a fish soup just for you. It is in the freezer now,maybe you haveit later. :):)

Will drink it in my brain. Nothing happened for Christmas eve, but the day before my Czech-American friend drove up from the north side to party and play chess in the capital, where I'm parked now, trying to resolve my internet problems.

Vlad is still sick, OK in the morning but bad by the evening., I am getting it.  But fighting. Never had Christmas like that. So what it is with you walking across the border from Greece to Turkey? Where is the blue box? Take care of it.

Safe on the south side and wont take it across to the north anymore, since too many problems there. Walking across is okay. Am trying to resolve my internet, which is why I'm in the capital at the moment, the last divided capital in the world. Walking across is easy enough. With a car its a bigger problem, especially with my beast.

Did the treeplanting company paid you everything???? If not ask for retainer or full price before youstart working. Be careful, people do not pay now. Often they can not!!!!! Taliking from experience, we had to break the lease on the apartment. I hate doing it but I have no money to pay for it. And do not feel sorry for the guy who owns it, he has lots of my money beforehand anyway. But people do not pay their bills now. everywhere. so do what you want but do not believe in promises. Money up front.

As I thought I explained, I'm just selling the software I had already developed over the summer, so no extra work. My plan is to send it to him, then he pays me a thousand bucks, then I develop it more (since he wants me to incorporate something), then I ask him to pay the rest before I send him the update. We'll see. But will be nice to do something intelligent. Would rather switch to stuff like this, with translations self operating on the side. What I've been shooting for for the last couple of years, just hasn't materialised yet. But when I get a job like this, it always excites me.

NOthing to report from here. Will go to see Cisariks on Friday afternoon. I walk Prague as much as I can. I almost enjoy it most when I amalone. Can think and remember people when I want and pay attention only to myself. Did not do much of that in my life. Went to cemeterny to mama a tata and lkit the candle for all of us..  Mainly Jana. Going to call her now, if anything new I willwrite again. You write and tell me about you whenever you get to the internet. And do not be mad at me all the time. I mean well I just think diferently than you. thank goodnesssssss

Well, we all think differently, like Simona says, which is what makes the world more interesting. I guess I was in a rush because at the internet cafe on limited time and felt I needed to answer right away, rather than later on in peace in the truck. Sounded like preaching again, plus I'm rather sensitive about that response, because that's what Jens said and it really angered me. Long story but I know my situation and such naïve interpretations that it's because of less accessible internet... I've been comparing my situation a bit to Job, and been actually reading it recently. Some guy is having problems and everyone judges him at face value, assuming that his suffering must be because of some sin. But it is a lot deeper than that. Complex story, as are the various arguments. I find my predicament absurd and assume there must be some complex God reason behind it all. just too many hurdles in my way all the time and it doesn't make sense.

And I think my CSOB charges me 50 Kc a month for my account. I need details.

I used to have CSOB. Anyway, I don't want to pay anything. Why should I? We'll see if we can sort something out, otherwise perhaps I'll go up to Bulgaria and open something myself. With the internet transfers should cost next to nothing and I should not have to pay anything for someone to hold onto my money. adio