Striking Out On One's Own
I'd been considering making all the stuff I do with photos and vhs tapes and such a home business for a while. I guess given I live in an area that's almost nothing but seniors and elderly there's a pretty good market for it.
So I decided to have some business cards printed and I'll be handing them out to anyone interested in the service. Heck, I even got a local golf cart place to take a few and the lady I was talking to there may have some work for me.
I don't really have anything to lose at this point because no business will touch me no matter how I word my resume. They want someone with the looks of a 20 year old, the drive of a thirty year old and the experience of a 50 year old who is willing to take the wages of a teenager. And they expect you to pay massive amounts of money for the privilege.
Just to give a couple of examples of just one of the things I do, restorations can range from simple....
Before
After
....to the complex.
Before
After
See ya around,
Aspie
Comments
More power to you.
The world is going to a place that if you can't fend for yourself you'll perish.
I called it quits a couple of years ago and struck out on my own. The trick was an easy one for me as in give quality and not be a crook. So unheard of these days.
Good luck on your new adventure in life.
Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.
I have no other recourse at this point.
Businesses are openly hostile to applicants, especially with the automation of the hiring process. They were already hostile to people with disabilities. Technology just made it a hell of a lot easier.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
what businesses want
And the fact that the number of positions is shrinking while the workforce population continues to expand like a cancer doesn't help, either.
You also said:
With perfect credit and the "respectable" cisgendered heterosexual marriage and 2.2 children to boot. (How the al-Farouk one is supposed to create that from teenager's wages Cthulhu alone knows!)
I've actually gotten into arguments with family members about this. Some of them had been hiring management at some time, and what I got back was "we can't even get trainable people when we go looking, much less qualified....". But then, one was in banking (government gets to decide who actually gets considered) and the other one was a partner in a local event promotion/public relations business which had to hire military spouses almost exclusively because the business couldn't afford benefits and military spouses came with health insurance already covered (CHAMPUS). But if you're talking established, successful private businesses, these can and do get exactly what they want, both black-letter specs and otherwise.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
There are plenty of trainable people.
There just aren't any trainable or qualified people willing or stupid enough to work for next to free. But don't expect hiring managers to admit that.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
Yep.
I love the nonprofits around here (who comprise most of the employers) that require a master's degree and five years of experience for a job that pays $11/hour with minimal benefits. Sure, they'll hire us middle-agers, but we'd better not expect to take our two weeks of vacation until after we've been there a year.
Best wishes on your new venture. I work mostly for myself now (the necessary result of having been laid off by financially inept employers, more than once), and it's a tough go -- especially when I see the money my peers make, while I grind my teeth at night wondering how I'll take care of myself when I'm old(er). I do have a very PT gig that provides high-deductible insurance via the exchange, and that's it for "benefits."
I have a valuable skill, but no one will hire me. Like you, the automated resume scanners filter me out.
I'm 33 and I feel like I'm 80.
And in spite of the fact that I have supervisors who give glowing references, I'll never be hired. The lack of experience is in part a side-effect of life long disabilities that make 'normal' things most take for granted impossible.
At this point I'd rather tell the bourgeoisie fluffers who call themselves Human Resources to fuck themselves. Some people would call this whining or spiteful, but considering I've spent my entire life trying to fit in, I just don't give a damn anymore.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
In addition to your (highly valuable) new service
Have you considered independent journalism / political commentary?
I know it's hard to make a buck this way, but you strike me as a Caitlyn Johnstone, with even more withering insight.
Hadn't even considered that. Although....
Most people I've known always thought I'd end up working as a writer of sorts. I just tend to be all over the place most of the time.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
@The Aspie Corner
Could you do it whenever you perch for a moment? Seems to me that you have talents and important contributions (even beyond those highly valued here, where you are indeed needed!) being wasted up until now chasing unobtainable jobs.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
It's possible.
And there's quite a bit I could write about with regards to disability issues in Brevard County, FL alone.
Gods know disability services here have been slashed to the bone since Governor Voldemort took office in 2011. And they weren't in even passable shape to start with after the disaster of privatization with Voc Rehab in 2003.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
@The Aspie Corner
You're needed all over the place, where you can do a lot of awareness-raising - although I selfishly hope that doing that and starting the new business will still leave you time for here!
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Perhaps I could cross post?
Still, I'm only just getting started so I don't want to over think/over do it. I'm always worried about getting in over my head.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
@The Aspie Corner
That'd work. Don't want to overburden you just because we'd miss you and your input!
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
@WaterLily
Good point! The ability for that is certainly abundant!
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
Nice work on those photos!
I have a feeling you will do very well with this business. Good luck in your new venture!
Good luck!!
My parents spent several hundred £'s on getting cine films from the '60's and '70's transferred to DVD.
If you've got the nous and equipment, there is money to be made.
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
I can do vhs transfer. I've also got a slide scanner.
The slide scanner can also be used to scan film negatives. As for reel-to-reel film...well, I found equipment for it on the web but it sure is expensive.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
"but it sure is expensive."
I don't doubt.... which is the reason why my parents had to spend a lot of money for the transfer. Still, if you could get your hands on a relevant piece of equipment, at reasonable cost, imagine all those cine films sitting unused/unwatched in boxes in attics across the nation.... and families wanting to watch them.
Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.
Scanning and Storing
Blackmagic Cintel Scanner - $29,995 plus freight. And you can hang the Cintel as art when the film is not turning.
And, closer to the real-world, if you need 50G blank blu-ray writables, the plain Verbatim made in Japan can be found on eBay. Remember, just Verbatim, NOT extra-wording added to the Verbatim name. My opinion only, of course.
Also, you might want to offer an extra-cost option with just a little less contrast.
Good fortune in your new venture.
Strange that a harp of thousand strings should keep in tune so long
It took me awhile to think of a name for your business
I thought I had sent you a message a few weeks ago, but apparently I didn't click "send message".
Doh! How does Recovered Memories or Memories Recovered sound?
Great work on the restoration. I have been scanning slides and negatives and it's very time consuming. If there is any dust on them then they either have to be rescanned or fixed in photoshop.
This is a service that many people want, but the places that do it charge a lot. I have the time to do mine, but most people don't.
Anyone know of a business that fixes broken cassette tapes? I have one that a friend recorded and it came off the spools. I've searched the web to see if I can buy a new one, but no luck. The music is incredible.
Good luck with this and maybe we can send business your way if we hand out your card?
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Fixing Cassette Tapes
The cassette has two parts: the shell; and the 1/8" tape. Buy two cheap cassettes, and one good cassette with the shortest tape you can find.
Rehearse moving the 1/8" tape from one cheap cassette shell to another cheap cassette shell. When you are comfortable moving the tape, then carefully empty the good cassette leaving you with one empty (new) good cassette.
Now, very carefully, remove the old 1/8" tape from the broken cassette case, and, very carefully, load the old 1/8" tape into the new cassette shell. You will probably need a very small screwdriver or two. If the 1/8" tape itself is snapped, you can easily fix it with a piece of clear tape. Splicing tape is an art these days, but back then, everybody knew how to do it. Look for figure 5-C in this printout from Scotch. That's what you want your splice to look like. If splicing the old 1/8" tape at both ends seems simpler to you, then try that.
If the tape is stretched though, good luck.
Strange that a harp of thousand strings should keep in tune so long
Very nice work
There must be a lot of damaged photos out there that mean a lot to the people who own them.
Beware the bullshit factories.
How were you able to fix the large defects
in the second picture? This must have taken quite a lot of work and time.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Clone Stamp, Patch Tool and Healing Brush.
Those are the main tools, anyway. Sometimes you might have to literally paint stuff in. Making the painted areas appear as though they belong is the tricky part.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
Cool, I was wondering how you did that too.
I have a tool (PhotoPlus, a poor cousin to PhotoShop) that I use for images on my website. Pretty impressive restoration on those photos. Having done a little bit of cloning/stamping, etc, I can tell folks that what you achieved there ain't easy. I'm just this side of competent with image editing, so I salute you sir.
Do post your website link here to C99 when you get one up. We could refer family/friends to you.
Good luck and have fun with it.
Donnie The #ShitHole Douchebag. Fake Friend to the Working Class. Real Asshole.
Congratulations!
That's a much needed service. Most of my photos are from the '60s and '70s and they sure look like it. Let us know when your website is up and when we can engage your services.
Ed
Excellent work!
I'm in awe, literally!
A word of warning about setting up a website - stay as far away from any EIG web hosting company as possible. A quick search for eig sitelock scam should produce a plethora of posts around the web by people scammed out of hundreds of dollars. Sitelock is supposed to be website security, but if you dig, you'll see a pattern of basic extortion.
Here's a link to a blog by a WordPress theme designer, complete with documentation. It seems that a former eig employee posted to it, and uses the exact same avatar as yours truly. (cough, cough)
https://www.hermesthemes.com/scam-alert-hostgator-sitelock-malware-extor...
Just stick with a non eig hosting company. Many are listed in the comments of the designer's post.
I once used A Small Orange several years ago.
I actually had to have a website portfolio as part of my Graphics Technology degree. Boy did I hate it.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
@The Aspie Corner
The Grove is where we looked for certain suspension tickets. Please stay away from there You're kicking ass and taking names!
Wow! Wish I could ever hope
Wow! Wish I could ever hope to afford to have that done to hundreds of very old family photos!
Congratulations on your start and the best of luck in your new business, but dunno if you'll need it, having that skill in what seems to be an underserved area which so many could use!
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.