New Site for Blog

Important, please update your bookmarks and feeds.

I have moved this blog to http://www.pwlk.net/blog

I am completely sick of Blogger FTP not working with my blarged.com server, so I am switching over to WordPress

Let's talk BDCP

So I have decided there needs to be a little mini-series here in this blog regarding my adventure through the BDCP process. First off let me just throw this link out there if you want to read all the fine print details. I would like to make this mini-series more about my process through the BDCP.

Let me begin by saying that I am not completely at the beginning of the process, however, I don't believe I am all too far along in it either. The first thing that happened was that I met my recruiter at an engineering career fair here on campus. That was over a year ago. Me being a second year in a technical degree (computer science) was not able to apply quite yet. A little over a month ago I went back to the career fair and met with my recruiter, Lieutenant Commander Paul Mountel, again. We didn't talk to much about the program, as the previous year we talked about it in depth and I already knew I wanted to apply. So I got his business card and went on my way.

The first official step was to fill out a Blueprint. My recruiter sent me this Word document not long after we spoke. This short document contains questions to confirm that you meet at least the bare minimum requirements to apply. I completed the document and replied with it attached the following day.

I was then sent a much longer application when everything checked out fine. I believe this application is the main application for your acceptance. It involves questions regarding your past schooling, relations, work, record and all the sorts. Even more important is the fact that this application has the space for your three top choices of designation. I struggled a lot with this area. Three areas I had interest were Information Warfare, Intelligence, and Naval Flight Officer. I weighed all the pros and cons while also doing research online and decided to only put one, Information Warfare. I decided this because it really truly is my number one choice, and I had read in multiple places that some people looking at your application don't want to see that you have them as second choice, and the folks looking at your application from your first choice want to see that you are committed to being with them. Of course, I have no way of proving any of that really happens.

This application also contains a place for you to write your motivational statement. The motivational statement is a short 400 word essay that tells why you want to be a Naval Officer. What can you bring to the Navy and what can the Navy bring to you? For any of you reading this as reference to your own BDCP process, I found it very helpful to have as many people read my motivational statement as possible. I got lots of positive and constructive negative feedback. My end result was a very well written essay I believe.

During this time with the application and motivational statement, I was going through a difficult time deciding if I wanted to continue. If you want to read more about that, check out this post. After a good long time of thinking, praying, talking to family/friends, and talking to my recruiter, I decided this is really what I want to do. There is really no doubt in my mind that I would love to be an Information Warfare Naval Officer.

So I emailed my completed application back to my recruiter. The next step is one that I actually really enjoyed. I was sent a link to another application on the Navy Accession Security Information System (NASIS). I am pretty sure this application is for security clearance. I, personally, was put in for an SSBI Information Warfare clearance. Depending on your designation of choice, this application/step might be a little different.

The SSBI application is basically the same as the previous application with an added quantity of contacts. This is the reason I had a good time filling out this application. I sent emails out to quite a number of people that I had lost a little bit of touch with, whether old supervisors, old college-buddies, or others, just to get their most up-to-date information. You have to select an elite three people though to be your references. I went with one of my old high school band directors, one of my flight instructors, and one of my best friends that I go to school with. I figured these three people would cover a very good and wide range of views from the past 7-years of my life.

**One note worth mentioning regarding this SSBI application, at first I tried to fill out this application in Mozilla Firefox. Things were not working well. Text fields were missing and I wasn't able to save correctly. I emailed my recruiter with these issues. I then though about trying the application with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Miracle of Miracles, it worked! I emailed back my recruiter telling him I figured out the problem. He replied with thanks saying that others had had this issue and they had not been able to pinpoint the cause. So go with IE, I know, it is painful...

After this application is done you.... well.... I honestly don't know, that's where I am now. I sent an email back to my recruiter earlier today letting him know that everything was completed on the application and asking for direction on the next step.

So far so good people, I get more and more excited about the possible future employment every day! If anyone has questions regarding anything I've done so far, just leave a comment or shoot me an email, its always good to have someone help you through a process.

Test your reaction time!

Hey everyone, school has been kinda hectic lately. My latest project for my technical writing class is to conduct an experiment of some sort. I decided to see who has a better reaction time, guys or gals. What do you think?

I have built a web application located at http://www.pawlak.ws/reaction that I would love for you to try out.

It is very easy, select your gender, click the button and wait for the screen to turn red. When it does, click the button again! Very simple.

Tell everyone! The more data gathered the better!

Thanks!

Navy BDCP

This post deserves a slight header. I know it is long, but I really appreciate those that will take the time to read through this. Any thoughts/comments/concerns would be greatly appreciated.

Just over a year ago I was at the engineering career fair when I introduced myself to Paul, a recruiter for the United States Navy. I have always had an interest in the mysteries of life. Watching some magician on TV, or seeing some folders in a movie marked 'CLASSIFIED' has always instilled a sense of wonder, excitement, curiosity, and interest in me. To see what opportunities there were, I talked to Paul.

Paul introduced me to the Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP). This program signs college undergrad students, like myself, up to become naval officers in the field of choice after graduation. Basically here is how the process would work. I fill out an application. I get accepted. I finish my undergrad making a salary of just under $3,000 per month. I go to Pensacola, Florida to attend Officer Candidacy School (OCS) where I would go through boot camp along with being trained for my position of choice. After that, depending on my position of choice, I would go to more schooling or start my new job. There is a minimum of 4-year commitment to the Navy. The approximate starting salary (not yet verified) is $50,000 per year, some of which is not taxable.

I have been considering three fields. Information Warfare (IW), Intelligence, or Naval Flight Officer (NFO). Let me give a brief summary of each.

::Information Warfare::
Information warfare is the new name for cryptology. These guys are the computer experts who intercept information and use it to their advantage. Other tasks are items such as propaganda. IW uses information to their benefit to keep steps ahead of everyone else. IW officers tend to be more land based in comparison to other departments and have shorter deployments.
Click here for more info...

::Intelligence::
Intelligence is a lot like IW except more people oriented. When you watch a movie and see all the Lieutenants being briefed in a room with an old slide show and projector, the person doing the briefing is a person in the intelligence department. Intelligence people are everywhere. Many are based on land and sea.
Click here for more info...

::Naval Flight Officer::
The first thing I tell people when they ask me about what an NFO does, is ask the question, you know Goose from Top Gun? He was an NFO. Basically an NFO is the quarterback of the flight crew. While the pilot is busy piloting the plane, the NFO is there to work with navigation, communication, cameras, weapons, and many other things. An NFO goes through a lot of schooling after OCS to be trained and is based at sea quite a bit.
Click here for more info...

My main interest is in Information Warfare. This is basically my dream job that I have thought would be so amazing to have for quite some time. It also works to my benefit that as an IW officer, it appears that field seems to have the least 'deployment' as much work is done right in Washington DC. I also have a strong interest to be an NFO. I love to fly (period). I can't think of anything much more exciting or adrenaline pumping than to be in an F/A 18 doing acrobatics and hunting submarines. This being said, it is by far the most dangerous.

I have talked to my recruiter, Paul, about many things, and he has answered all of my questions. Now I just have to figure out, do I want this commitment?

Let me tell you why I want it...
I love the excitement of something new. I am a person (as I have talked about so many times before on this blog) that gets bored with the same old routine. Being in the Navy promises this excitement. Being in the Navy also promises something to be proud of. Just the thought of being a Naval Officer is very 'cool' indeed. I would be able to serve my country, and in doing so also serve my family and friends. I would make myself proud, and hopefully make my family and friends proud as well. There is honor to be had. To be able to use my intelligence in this way would definitely be a good thing. Also worth mentioning is the finances as well. I am doing my best not to make this a huge deciding factor, but the Navy does take care of its officers. As I stated before, while in school I would bring in just under $3,000 (just under half of which is non-taxable). Once out of school as an IW officer, (also as stated before) the approximate starting salary (not yet verified) is $50,000 per year. This is right (if not slightly above) the starting salary for other companies that would higher a computer science student, such as Kroger.

Let me tell you why I am hesitant about it...
How can I guarantee what I'll be doing or thinking in 2.5 years when I graduate? Just 2.5 years ago I was a music major. What will be going on in my life then? Will I have a serious girlfriend that I'll be thinking about marrying? Will I have a job offer from some 'super-cool' co-op company? Basically all the things that make me hesitant are the unknowns.

You know how sometimes you really want to do something, but something is telling you that you shouldn't, but you just try and block that voice out? Well this isn't one of those times. Nothing about this offer seems or feels bad/wrong. In all honesty, I really want to do this. As stated before, it would be something to be very proud of, and it is an amazingly sweet job!

So here's where I am right now...
I have an almost complete application that I need to turn in. This application would go under review after I get clearance to their website and take a test. All these materials would be considered for my acceptance to the program. If accepted, I am sent a letter of congratulations and asked to check yes or no. If I check yes, I am in the Navy. If I check no, I am no different than I am right now. One thing to consider is, if my grades fall below a 2.5/4.0 or I want to withdraw from the BDCP, I would serve minimum two years in enlisted status (not something I want to do). There is no commitment when turning in the application. The commitment only applies when/if I am accepted and I agree to join.

I really appreciate all of you who read this, and appreciate even more those that have listened, given advice, or left comments. I really think this could be a very positive decision in my life if I decide to commit. I ask for your thoughts and more importantly your prayers as I go through this difficult process and decision making time.

- Jason

Crazy Daylight Saving Time

I walk into church this morning at 11:10am, right when the second service starts. The guest preacher is already starting to give his disclaimer about children in the service (because we're in our sex series).

"Weird, they must've gotten a head start on the service..." I think.

I find a seat and start listening. About halfway through the sermon, the preacher is talking about how men can make any comment a sexual comment...

For example...

wife: Honey, can you take out the trash tonight?
husband: Oh I'll take out your trash tonight...

or...

wife: Honey, can you help me set the clocks back an hour for daylight saving time?
husband: Oh I'll set your clocks back an hour...

And that's when it hit me, I'm in first service! I had forgotten to set my clocks back an hour, so instead of walking in just a minute late to the 11:10am service, I walked in 11 minutes late to the 10:00am service.

I will say now though, I have a lot more time available to me today, it is kind of a nice feeling.

My leftover spaghetti just dinged in the microwave... later days!

Free Blockbuster Movie/Popcorn/Coke Coupon!

* * * * E D I T * * * *
* Sorry folks... apparently the coupon is just a hoax...
* I have removed the link. If you ever do find anything
* like this though, make sure you let me know! :-)
* * * * * * * * * * * *

Hey everyone,

My mom forwarded me this coupon and I thought I would share with you all.

This is actually a pretty sweet coupon for blockbuster. In it you get...

- 2 Free Movie Rentals
- 1 Free Tub of popcorn
- 2 Free 20oz Coke product

Pretty sweet, eh? It expires at the end of 2007, so you still have time. However, don't try to use it more than once, because it saves the coupon on your account... but please forward to all your friends and family. I'm sure they would like to have a copy.

Click here to download the coupon

Let's go to the Cincinnati Symphony

Hello Friends,

As most of you know, I am a huge classical music fan. I'm the type of person that will clap easily at a baseball game when the Reds hit a homerun, but will stand and cheer wildly after an outstanding rendition of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.

I have gone through the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's rep for the 2007/08 season and picked out a number of concerts that I consider must hears. If anyone wants to go with me, just give me a holler!


CSO : Stravinsky Festival
• Friday, November 2, 8pm
• Saturday, November 3, 8pm
• Sunday, November 4, 3pm
Paavo Järvi, conducting
May Festival Chorus, Robert Porco, director
STRAVINSKY FESTIVAL
STRAVINSKY: Chorale-Variations on Vom Himmel hoch da komm’ ich her (“From Heaven Above I Come to You”)
STRAVINSKY: Symphony of Psalms
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55, Eroica

CSO : Old World, New World
• Friday, November 30, 8pm
• Saturday, December 1, 8pm
Hans Graf, conducting
Terrence Wilson, piano
LIADOV: Baba-Yaga, Op. 56
LIADOV: The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62
LIADOV: Kikimora, Op. 63
KHACHATURIAN: Piano Concerto
DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor,
Op. 95, From the New World

CSO : The French Connection
• Thursday, January 17, 7:30pm
(6:15 p.m. Thursday, Pre-Concert Dinner Buffet, free to ticketholders)
• Friday, January 18, 11am
• Saturday, January 19, 8pm
Paavo Järvi, conducting
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
RAVEL: Le tombeau de Couperin
RAVEL: Piano Concerto for Left Hand in
D Major
MUSSORGSKY/arr. Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition*
*To be recorded by Telarc

CSO : Bold Brass
• Friday, January 25, 8pm
• Saturday, January 26, 8pm
Paavo Järvi, conducting
Håkan Hardenberger, trumpet
ARVO PÄRT: Concerto Piccolo über
B-A-C-H (“Little Concerto on B-A-C-H”)
EINO TAMBERG: Concerto for Trumpet,
Op. 42
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 109

CSO : Fun & Romance
• Saturday, February 16, 8pm
• Sunday, February 17, 3pm
Susanna Mälkki, conducting
Peter Jablonski, piano
R. STRAUSS: Don Juan, Op. 20
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major
JUKKA TIENSUU: Lumo (“Enchantment”)
R. STRAUSS: Der Rosenkavalier Suite,
Op. 59

CSO : Passionate Masterworks
• Thursday, February 28, 7:30pm
(6:15 p.m. Thursday, Pre-Concert Dinner Buffet, free to ticketholders)
• Friday, February 29, 8pm
• Saturday, March 1, 8pm
Stéphane Denève, conducting
Boris Berezovsky, piano
GUILLAUME CONNESSON: New work
RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36

CSO : Beloved Tchaikovsky
• Friday, March 7, 11am
• Saturday, March 8, 8pm
Paavo Järvi, conducting
Sayaka Shoji, violin
JÖRG WIDMANN: New work (U.S. Premiere)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 3 in C Major,
Op. 52

CSO : Fabulous Finale
• Friday, May 2, 8pm
• Saturday, May 3, 8pm
Paavo Järvi, conducting
Lars Vogt, piano
ROBERT JOHNSON: prairyerth (World Premiere)
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466
STRAVINSKY: Le sacre du printemps ("The Rite of Spring”)

I live in one big free garage sale

I live in a nasty crime infested dirty neighborhood. Yes, I live in Clifton.

Now the area I live in does have a good number of college kids, but there is an extremely large 'local' population. And the local population tends to be low income families. Walking to and from class I have noticed something. These locals seem to throw out an extremely large amount of furniture. Yeah, furniture. I'm talking everything from mattresses to recliners to couches to bathroom vanities. What's up with this?

My question is how can such low income families afford to throw out so much furniture. Is it somehow soiled where they can't even sell it? What about donating to Goodwill? What about asking your neighbors if they can use an extra bathroom sink?

If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to your local neighborhood that is always under crime-watch, and just drive around for a little bit. Maybe you'll strike gold and it'll be garbage collection night, but really it doesn't matter, when a piece of furniture has been labeled as curb trash, it goes there regardless what night of the week it is.

Yes, I know, I didn't grow up in a neighborhood like this. Even though I have lived here for going on three years, I still don't feel completely comfortable on my own front porch. But someone please explain to me why so much furniture is being thrown out. Even beyond the fact that they are throwing out furniture, what do these people replace the missing couch with? If they are able to buy this much furniture... why are they living here?

Some things I fear will never make much sense. I don't act like I know anything, I just question... hah, later days!

MEMO: How to use the men’s restroom

I got a mass email today at work regarding the urinals in the men's restroom. Basically this memo was instructions on how to use the toilet properly. No, this wasn't a joke; apparently people were having a few issues...

I would just paste the email here in the post, but I think that might be a breach on the code of ethics.

It was a very funny email indeed and gave me quite the chuckles, which is always a nice start to my late morning arrival at work after my 8am Discrete Mathematics course.

So here are the details...
:: The urinals in the men's room are auto flush
:: This means they will flush when you walk away (or are suppose to at least)
:: There is a manual flush that will guarantee the flush if for some reason the auto flush fails
:: This means there are two methods to flush... there lies the problem...

Apparently some men would push the manual flush button while backing away from the urinal, causing both the flushes to activate. Also, apparently the urinal is stupid and then tries to use twice the amount of water to refill... causing spillage.

I don't know about the women's room... but when there is spillage in the men's room, especially right beneath the urinal... I generally do not assume it is just water. Any liquid on the floor of the men's room is treated like a deadly, radioactive carcinogen and carefully avoided. Your mind just starts to wander... how in the world could a dude miss the toilet by that much!?! ...

And so after reading this email... of course what do I want to do? Run to the men's room to see if there is truth to this tale and try to overflow the toilet just by flushing! Of course there may not be any listing in the Kroger Code of Ethics about toilets overflowing... but that might be destruction of company property... and it would be quite the conflict of interest to destroy property of the company that I have stock in.

And now the computer programmer in me is itching the question... should not the toilet manufacturer have tested this? Toilets are fairly simple mechanisms, no? Would it not have been a simple test to see if you can mess with the flushing system? Would it not have been simple to set a switch so that when the manual flush has been enabled, the eye to detect the auto flush is disabled? And same with the reverse where when the auto flush has been enabled, a switch is flipped to disable the manual flush?

Oh the craziness of the toilet industry...

In other news, I have a new million dollar idea... well... sorta. I have a topic in mind, but the exact innovation is yet to reach conception. I’ll give you a little preview… it has to do with water! More on that later though!

See ya!

Keeping up with the standards of today

Yes, you heard me right in the last post... I have upgraded my laptop to Vista. I have been using it for about two weeks and I will admit, it isn't as bad as what I originally thought. Granted, I really haven't done anything super crazy with it or even taken the time to figure out what new features are around. I've been using it mostly for the normal day to day activities... chatting, emailing, news... all that jazz.

So the reason I upgraded to Vista isn't because I love Microsoft... but more I saw what I didn't want to be. In my Assembler class, we have this professor who is completely out of it. He doesn't appear to have any real grasp on reality, but he also seems to be one of the nicest guys ever. During class he tries to use the computer to pull up something like Power Point to display notes, but he struggles even with that. He also has a difficult time with the concept of having more than one window open at a time.

The guy isn't stupid, he's extremely smart, just hasn't kept up with the turns of technology. When some new technology has come about, I'm sure he has stuck with what works for him and not embraced the new techniques and qualities of todays technological society. I don't want this to be me.

My main reason for sticking with XP for so long after Vista's release was really for the reason of comfort. I know how XP works, I know where to find things, I know much of the secrets and crevices... with Vista I don't know this!

Keeping up with the standards of today is strenuous in a society that makes things out of date the day they are released, but its fun. I'm glad I upgraded to Vista... I still want a Mac... but all in good time.