Was 15 when first got a job through a program in the state of Georgia, USA, for disadvantaged youth. Where my family most of my life had been lower middle-class, but a divorce had changed everything. Then experienced life in a poor family.
That first job was helping state forestry workers. Was 40 hours a week. They would work to find things for me and the other teenagers to do. Was minimum wage, of course, but definitely appreciated it.
Would get work later at 16, doing the usual then for teenagers. Like worked at a grocery store doing things like bagging groceries back when that was still usually done for you. And later worked at a fast food place. And graduated high school, and went on to college with a full tuition scholarship to Vanderbilt University, where did work-study there.
After college, completely my fault though 1991 was considered a difficult year for gaining employment got my degree without immediate employment. And I decided felt like enlisting in the US Army which turned into a great decision. Though was much from mixed reasons though yes, wanting to serve my country was one of them. Had been drawn to the US military by a movie remarkably enough. Watched Flight of the Intruder over and over again. But though movie was about people in US Navy was not keen on being on boats.
So much ponder how make decisions. So was 22 years old and made a pivotal decision as best I could with what I knew then.
Could keep going with jobs, but now reflecting as needing to find a new one, with new skills recently obtained as finishing up an accelerated course on heating and air conditioning. Where thanks to deciding to take that course, other things opened up as well thanks to community support to help me get fully back on my feet financially.
And I wonder about decisions and how we make them. So much works out for me, in time, but not necessarily the way I ever expected might. And still the questions.
Now too have better perspective about how information flows, and how some things can be not so intuitive. Like posted about receiving a car recently and that hit local television news. But routinely bump into people who never saw any of it. Is that something to share or not with a potential employer?
If you think yes, then is that really contextual to a job? If you say, no, consider that employer is likely to find out eventually, anyway. As eventually SOMEONE who DID notice that coverage is likely to bring it up as a remarkable thing! So why should they not remark?
That helps explain better I think the way the web shifts things with our modern reality.
Yes, you can have things out here where maybe some people notice but most do not. And be in a situation where it can be debatable as to whether or not to share with others in any given particular situation. Where it is likely that in time that information will get to them, regardless.
In a key post I noted how unsettled I became when found out some web things of mine were pulling attention on a global basis, without me having much guidance on how to react. Have had people ask, why would I even bring it up? And now feel like can explain better why transparency and honesty actually are not just good in general, but also are pragmatic in our web enabled world.
Which suits me. Sure can find difficulty in the moment with employment, but would rather face that squarely than have to live with myself for the rest of my life without my values. Besides have learned very much more the value of community, and the many benefits of service to community.
Life lessons at best can come with a price. There is no way how things have gone on the plus side for me to to worry too much about the negatives there have been as well.
Life has its up's and down's. Can always keep in mind am working on net positive.
James Harris
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Considering vehicle of opportunity
Am glad began to talk more about the personal financial struggles here on this blog which have lead to me living in a Salvation Army shelter. Helps had already started that and trying to explain here in a very public place helps me try to figure it out myself! How did someone with my skill sets find himself with so much difficulty making money?
Here also is the place to talk how the web has been so much a part of that as if reading, you can wonder yourself, how did you get here? How do you even know about me on a planet of billions where more and more people are coming online? How are YOU reading here?
Oh yeah, so the update is that yesterday was the recipient of a car, at Geico in Macon, GA, USA. And also now have a Section 8 voucher, where was prioritized as a veteran which is my key to getting out of the shelter. All received as part of programs to help needy people as transportation can be so important, and yeah for me is a vehicle of opportunity. Already talked in a post learning new skills at VECTR and amazing things keep happening, through that facility.
And should mention required a LOT of service organizations where a primary was United Way through a program called Mission United. And Macon Housing Authority did quite a bit as well.
Organizations that are doing as much as they can and working hard to figure out more, and good when can connect with folks like at Geico, and to me now is that need for it all to work out GREAT.
Is kind of ironic to me as well, as not surprisingly, as received a car, there was local media present. So my FIRST television interview was yesterday and to me, was not really about me. Was about opportunity and a nation dedicated to figuring out how to take care of veterans in need.
Which is a great thing.
We have a nation with massive resources and a lot of great people who really want to help. And is a matter of figuring out how. So am grateful for more opportunity with a sense of the responsibility there as well.
Better perspective now too on when is good to have a personal blog, for really permanent public information that can be relevant to others. Am completely in charge of content here and nothing is being coordinated with others.
There is no way HERE that I would have it any other way.
Is great that control which is telling. My public self is my responsibility.
Web is such a new thing, and am working to figure it out.
Amazes me still how you can have people, maybe a very few really, know of you ALL over the globe, and wonder what that signifies. Yet so much important is about the people in front of you, where you need to work, and how you will get around.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and our nation has a lot showing the appreciation for the service of so many who are the reason we have a nation today. And I am appreciative as well, and glad to be counted as one, where active duty military service was over two decades ago. From the age of 22 to 27, served my country in the US Army, primarily at medical centers.
And that younger me, took care of older me without any clue how that was also getting included. Sure I knew I would get that status of veteran but there was no thought in my mind of needing it as I have lately.
Reality is bigger than us all. And also yes, I do thank God for so much I barely understand that somehow works out, without any expectations there beyond knowing must be part of something far greater than me.
So yeah, now literally have a vehicle of opportunity, and a responsibility with it. So much still up to me to get done as get to steady income which is the one thing still must have to be back to fully being able to take care of myself.
Just sat down this morning to get some things down and maybe will edit a bit. For ANY of those organizations mentioned or people associated with them, if have ANY concerns about things put down here, please let me know. Or any concerns whatsoever, I want to know.
We have a new kind of public now which am working to figure out.
James Harris
Here also is the place to talk how the web has been so much a part of that as if reading, you can wonder yourself, how did you get here? How do you even know about me on a planet of billions where more and more people are coming online? How are YOU reading here?
Oh yeah, so the update is that yesterday was the recipient of a car, at Geico in Macon, GA, USA. And also now have a Section 8 voucher, where was prioritized as a veteran which is my key to getting out of the shelter. All received as part of programs to help needy people as transportation can be so important, and yeah for me is a vehicle of opportunity. Already talked in a post learning new skills at VECTR and amazing things keep happening, through that facility.
And should mention required a LOT of service organizations where a primary was United Way through a program called Mission United. And Macon Housing Authority did quite a bit as well.
Organizations that are doing as much as they can and working hard to figure out more, and good when can connect with folks like at Geico, and to me now is that need for it all to work out GREAT.
Is kind of ironic to me as well, as not surprisingly, as received a car, there was local media present. So my FIRST television interview was yesterday and to me, was not really about me. Was about opportunity and a nation dedicated to figuring out how to take care of veterans in need.
Which is a great thing.
We have a nation with massive resources and a lot of great people who really want to help. And is a matter of figuring out how. So am grateful for more opportunity with a sense of the responsibility there as well.
Better perspective now too on when is good to have a personal blog, for really permanent public information that can be relevant to others. Am completely in charge of content here and nothing is being coordinated with others.
There is no way HERE that I would have it any other way.
Is great that control which is telling. My public self is my responsibility.
Web is such a new thing, and am working to figure it out.
Amazes me still how you can have people, maybe a very few really, know of you ALL over the globe, and wonder what that signifies. Yet so much important is about the people in front of you, where you need to work, and how you will get around.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and our nation has a lot showing the appreciation for the service of so many who are the reason we have a nation today. And I am appreciative as well, and glad to be counted as one, where active duty military service was over two decades ago. From the age of 22 to 27, served my country in the US Army, primarily at medical centers.
And that younger me, took care of older me without any clue how that was also getting included. Sure I knew I would get that status of veteran but there was no thought in my mind of needing it as I have lately.
Reality is bigger than us all. And also yes, I do thank God for so much I barely understand that somehow works out, without any expectations there beyond knowing must be part of something far greater than me.
So yeah, now literally have a vehicle of opportunity, and a responsibility with it. So much still up to me to get done as get to steady income which is the one thing still must have to be back to fully being able to take care of myself.
Just sat down this morning to get some things down and maybe will edit a bit. For ANY of those organizations mentioned or people associated with them, if have ANY concerns about things put down here, please let me know. Or any concerns whatsoever, I want to know.
We have a new kind of public now which am working to figure out.
James Harris
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Better when reality is checked
These days seems less remarkable to me to state that finding out web things of mine were pulling interest from more than 100 countries was disconcerting. For years struggled more silently in ways on the subject while have talked various ways on my blogs, like here.
Main thing is just seems so weird. And did not connect with what I knew or thought I knew of what are consequences around such a thing, how it happens, or what it signifies. Now I know that I just didn't know much that was true and problematically people lie a LOT in this area.
Like I discovered most of what I thought I knew about people often called celebrities--was a fiction. And a deliberate fiction for money-making purposes, which now am like, ok.
For me though the facts are where things matter especially checkable facts. Where have reached out for help, like as a veteran, and trot out something like being potentially known in over 100 countries and have had that information ignored.
Well I think the US Congress needs to get a clue and direct federal agencies to update to the 21st century, please. And specifically top to bottom all federal employees are to accept that objective factual reality when presented to a federal employee especially when that can impact the nation as a whole if ignored that can be grounds for termination.
Actually, I think it already is.
To me the main problem is: people who really are not listening to those they are supposed to help where am in a unique position to show how dramatic that can be.
That is very sad but consequences are very real, like with veterans not being helped in the best way.
Am in a much better mood as contemplate lessons learned and was good to go back to school as have done if only to remind myself of what I can do. Also struck me that learning technology around air conditioning and heating makes sense in a world where climate change may make such technology a matter of life and death. Someone like me needs to understand it thoroughly.
Where do I go from here? Right now am still in school but yeah, still need an income. And would happily work doing things like repairing home air conditioning, if only to stay away from the responsibilities of my position earned by the knowledge I have gained.
Part of me is like yeah, and another part of me is like, really?
Get stuck on that reality: can put up things that pull global interest and should maximize potential in good ways. Maybe now am less worried as well about other things where quite frankly, so-called celebrities were just freaking liars. Which is not to dismiss celebrity itself or ALL folks with the celebrity label.
Was just surprised by some checking of the reality found could do. And lots of times there definitely was a fiction created for promotional purposes. And in some cases, yeah felt was dealing with total fakery. But is an opinion.
Definitely am a fan of plenty.
Oh yeah, so how can someone reality check me? Is easy. So have multiple things that pull interest from over 50 countries. But these days my open source software project is the one thing that is routinely showing around 100. So far this year is only 98 countries though according to stats on SourceForge which I just checked.
How can you check me? On any search engine you can search: class viewer
If you go to the SourceForge site you should see downloads. Doing it myself I see 33 this week. Click on those stats and I see 430 downloads for quarter with 19% from the US. Click on countries and I scroll down to see that was from 65 countries. Time period is from July 15 through October 13.
So yeah, 65 countries in last 90 days. You can change the dates to do other things like I checked year to date to get that 98 countries.
Where reference much as is readily available information to the public and is where the total countries are most dramatic. The open source project itself is just a basic tool for Java developers which I put up on SourceForge back in 2004. Why is it still downloaded from so many countries? Guess is still useful.
Such simple facts, easily checkable, and what do they mean exactly? Well for any government worker you have verification of my global status. And if you ignore? What is wrong with you?
And why do you think you should still continue working for the federal government if because you ignore facts about me, you cannot truly help me? And THAT is your JOB?
We are in the 21st century now. Am past tired of having to deal with people who act as hostile gatekeepers because they work for our federal government yet refuse to properly acknowledge the web.
So they cannot help me.
There is just so much for me to learn have realized. Where really am kind of in a school for the web with lots of reasons to figure things out, where that has been true for well over a decade.
As gain more working knowledge of my particular situation and of the web can use in better ways. That is a clear goal for me.
James Harris
Main thing is just seems so weird. And did not connect with what I knew or thought I knew of what are consequences around such a thing, how it happens, or what it signifies. Now I know that I just didn't know much that was true and problematically people lie a LOT in this area.
Like I discovered most of what I thought I knew about people often called celebrities--was a fiction. And a deliberate fiction for money-making purposes, which now am like, ok.
For me though the facts are where things matter especially checkable facts. Where have reached out for help, like as a veteran, and trot out something like being potentially known in over 100 countries and have had that information ignored.
Well I think the US Congress needs to get a clue and direct federal agencies to update to the 21st century, please. And specifically top to bottom all federal employees are to accept that objective factual reality when presented to a federal employee especially when that can impact the nation as a whole if ignored that can be grounds for termination.
Actually, I think it already is.
To me the main problem is: people who really are not listening to those they are supposed to help where am in a unique position to show how dramatic that can be.
That is very sad but consequences are very real, like with veterans not being helped in the best way.
Am in a much better mood as contemplate lessons learned and was good to go back to school as have done if only to remind myself of what I can do. Also struck me that learning technology around air conditioning and heating makes sense in a world where climate change may make such technology a matter of life and death. Someone like me needs to understand it thoroughly.
Where do I go from here? Right now am still in school but yeah, still need an income. And would happily work doing things like repairing home air conditioning, if only to stay away from the responsibilities of my position earned by the knowledge I have gained.
Part of me is like yeah, and another part of me is like, really?
Get stuck on that reality: can put up things that pull global interest and should maximize potential in good ways. Maybe now am less worried as well about other things where quite frankly, so-called celebrities were just freaking liars. Which is not to dismiss celebrity itself or ALL folks with the celebrity label.
Was just surprised by some checking of the reality found could do. And lots of times there definitely was a fiction created for promotional purposes. And in some cases, yeah felt was dealing with total fakery. But is an opinion.
Definitely am a fan of plenty.
Oh yeah, so how can someone reality check me? Is easy. So have multiple things that pull interest from over 50 countries. But these days my open source software project is the one thing that is routinely showing around 100. So far this year is only 98 countries though according to stats on SourceForge which I just checked.
How can you check me? On any search engine you can search: class viewer
If you go to the SourceForge site you should see downloads. Doing it myself I see 33 this week. Click on those stats and I see 430 downloads for quarter with 19% from the US. Click on countries and I scroll down to see that was from 65 countries. Time period is from July 15 through October 13.
So yeah, 65 countries in last 90 days. You can change the dates to do other things like I checked year to date to get that 98 countries.
Where reference much as is readily available information to the public and is where the total countries are most dramatic. The open source project itself is just a basic tool for Java developers which I put up on SourceForge back in 2004. Why is it still downloaded from so many countries? Guess is still useful.
Such simple facts, easily checkable, and what do they mean exactly? Well for any government worker you have verification of my global status. And if you ignore? What is wrong with you?
And why do you think you should still continue working for the federal government if because you ignore facts about me, you cannot truly help me? And THAT is your JOB?
We are in the 21st century now. Am past tired of having to deal with people who act as hostile gatekeepers because they work for our federal government yet refuse to properly acknowledge the web.
So they cannot help me.
There is just so much for me to learn have realized. Where really am kind of in a school for the web with lots of reasons to figure things out, where that has been true for well over a decade.
As gain more working knowledge of my particular situation and of the web can use in better ways. That is a clear goal for me.
James Harris
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