twicketface

~~One of the cool things~~ The only cool thing about reviewing resumes/interviewing prospective job candidates is you get to connect with them on some level. Last week, in efforts to fill a position in our video department, I spoke with people (some extensively) that worked on the following programs: Slim Goodbody, My Two Dads and Quantum Leap. It's like I was having an early 90s moment with these people many years my senior.

Last night Brian and I went out for some eats before drumming. I had my first (and not my last) feta cheese omelete with onions. I had a really nice talk with Brian about our families and our brothers. We headed to the practice space and proceeded to wail away for a good hour and a half to Billy Joel's Greatest Hits I and II. Don't laugh, it's harder than you might think. I can now kick out the jams to "You May Be Right" and "Tell Her About It" (kinda). Brian's got a good ear for music and it's more fun to play along with a song you know instead of the regular drum beats from the instruction book. In two weeks, I'll try to give Tom Petty a shot.

< s o a p b o x >I've got a favor to ask. As a relatively poor (but okay with it) person, I joined the "pauper" LJ community for money-saving ideas, etc. There was a posting about a website, run out of Tennessee called (Modest Needs). The goal of the "company" (really, the guy who runs it) was to donate 10% of his salary each year to give to people who need it. A family who can't afford to pay the electricity bill, a child who needs new shoes, food to help someone until they get back on their feet, etc. The skeptic in me immediately thought this would be a scam waiting to happen, in that anyone could simply write in and say they need money to pay the heating bill and not really have the need for it (i.e., use it to buy Star Wars tickets, etc.). But, as the site points out, the guy (Keith Taylor) knows that while some people will take advantage of the program, he is still helping people and doing something to make a difference.

I have no connection to Keith or his cause, other than I think it's a great thing to do. It's not lobbying Congress for welfare reform, it's not working to fight against landlords who can take advantage of their tenants; it's simply helping out people who need it. And I think, at times, that's the only thing that matters. I (along with hundreds of other supports) got an email last night about how the demands of the site have grown tremendously and the requests are too much for him to handle on his 10% of his income (and trust me, this guy is by no means rich).

So, I am asking any of you who can spare some money, even if it's only $5, to donate to Modest Needs and help keep this project alive. The great thing about this program is that it is on a national level. People from all over can write in and get assistance. So those interested in strengthening their own community can still do so by supporting the cause. I'm going to send out $50 and hope you contribute as much as you feel you can give.
< / s o a p b o x >

I am in the mood to learn karate.