So, my somewhat girlfriend, an accounting major at Santa Clara University, has received a job offer as an auditor at Deloitte.  The celebration for that was very pleasant.  She's excited to be worked like a dog in the auditing field.

We also saw Before the Devil Knows You're Dead over the weekend, which was good, if depressing.  The acting, unsurprisingly, was quite well done, in my opinion. 

Nothing much else is going on in my life, though I am finding amusement in the US presidential race.  I have friends who are quite fond of the FairTax plank of Ron Paul's platform.  At a whim, I decided to calculate my actual tax burden, as I am on the borderline of the upper 20% in income distribution.

Given some fairly simple assumptions using my historic data of my spending, as well as the assertions backing the FairTax plan (prices and wages stay the same, 23% inclusive tax rate), my tax burden drops to roughly half what it currently is, not counting the monthly stipend that the government gives everyone.   Once that money is included, I'm at about three-sevenths my current tax burden.  Then I need to start including my travel, as anytime I travel on the road for business, my expenses incurred during the trip (because of the trip) are non-taxable (as they are legitimate business-to-business transactions).  Now, because of this adjustment, my tax burden drops to about two-ninths what it was before.

Also, no interest on investment or capital gains tax for me.  Woohoo!

So... it's supposed to be revenue neutral... or some such.  If I accept that as true (and I'm really not sure I do accept it, anymore than the 23% sales tax number), who is paying the extra money for me and all those like me who prefer to invest money rather than spend it (which is not an available option for many)?

And people wonder why I think that FairTax is basically a way to bankrupt the government.

current mood: contemplative

So, 6th day of work.

No permanent damage yet (to me or others).  Still trying to catch up on issues and meet all the appropriate people.  Looks to be an interesting and enjoyable job, to be honest.  Color me hopeful that things will work out.  Every day I feel better, as though spring was coming after a long, bitter winter.

Went on a tour of a glass manufacturer on 11/2.   Was more interesting than any description that I might make.  Nice to see that some industries operate chemical plants in the same manner as I learned in College.  A coworker made a Half-Life 2 reference about the place afterward.  I was shocked.

In other news, American Gangster is surprisingly good.  I still need to see 30 Days of Night, cuz I have had an odd fascination with Josh Hartnett since his bit role in Sin City.  Lucky number Slevin certainly didn't help matters.

Been trying the various free MMORPGs... and learning why they are free.  Not really garbage but certainly... not for me.  Not that I have any refined taste in such games.  I simply have the attention span of a goldfish with ADD, and the games lack shinies.

Speaking of shinies... The Crysis Suit demo (by the makers of FarCry) has certainly drawn my attention, and I'm playing the European RPG Two Worlds quite a bit now.  All the cool kids are talking about Mass Effect, but I'm more interested in the new Star Wars: Unleashed game.

current mood: hyper

Well, now I work in the Solar industry as opposed to the semiconductor industry - without changing companies.

Interviewed with the Solar group in my company more or less on a lark while waiting for the response from another solar panel manufacturer.  Wanted to be a process engineer at the other company, as working in the hardware field for my current company was growing towards the sucky end.  Partially me, partially them.  Misunderstandings, sound, and fury.  No real bitterness.

Anyway, I did awesome in the interview, I suppose, though this is not exactly a sterling achievement.  Not being nervous in the interview is just about the whole of the deal.  Put forth an aura of confidence and competence and the world generally give you a shot, unless the economy is totally in the shitter.  The job for which I interviewed is much higher in responsibility, though the same wage (naturally). 

Then I took two weeks off to delay making a decision within my current company until I heard back from the other company.

The other company went into an ill-timed hiring freeze, and my current company decided that all folk accepted into the Solar group would auto-transition.  Poor me, as the other company's deal would have given me significantly more salary.

The Solar group at my company is actually comprised mainly of good people that I had worked with before, which was one reason that I was not unhappy to shift.  The work is not uninteresting, and I have the capability of moving around, thankfully.

I'll see how it goes.

Well, after a brief side trip to Austin, I am back in California.

Registered myself for the Exteel beta...
http://www.exteel.com/us/

Lost my NCSoft account info (even though I'm still playing COH) so had to set up a new one, which was irritating.  Sent a help request to the folks at NCSoft, and they responded with a bunch of questions to verify my ID that I had no idea what I would have put down 4 years ago.  *sigh*

While I was away, my copy of Scion: Demigod arrived from Amazon, which was convenient, as it turns out a friend's b-day is this week, and he's been wanting the thing just as much as I do.  Looks like I'll buy my copy from drivethrurpg, and give him the physical book.  Some things work out as though I planned them.

And I'm back.  Only 3 years delay.

Looking for the "Pained" mood, but there isn't one.  Turns out I feel like I have a spike driven into my right shoulder.  Hasn't really gotten better in the last 3 days.  I may worry about it tomorrow, but I doubt it.

And elections years are coming earlier every time, too.  At this rate, Reps will be campaigning all year, every year.  More than usual, I mean.