Archive
Wiring My Condo
Problem
I recently rearranged furniture in my condo. Doing so required me to use the wireless 802.11 G network on my iMac. I was not too thrilled with the solution; media transfers to my Tivo were extremely slow, and the connection was not as reliable as the hardwired one I had become accustomed to.
I remembered that my condo had many phone jacks throughout, so I thought I would research how my builder wired my unit, and maybe change the phone jacks to Ethernet jacks. Worse case scenario, I could at least get one 100 Mb connection from my iMac on one wall, to my Tivo under the TV on the other wall.
Solution
Turns out, the builder did a remarkably robust job with the wiring! He used Cat5 cabling and all connections went to the closet! What a blessing!
I replaced all the wall plates with new versions and terminate the cat5 cables with Ethernet keystones. I then created a small little networking area in my laundry closet. Luckily, the builder also wired the cable lines to the same location he put the phone wiring. I was able to tap into the cable line right where I terminated the Ethernet in the closet.
After some cable crimping and wall mounting I was set! My cable modem and router were hidden in my laundry closet, with hard wired Gigabit capable Ethernet jacks throughout my condo. Pretty slick! And all under $15.
Next Step: Gigabit 802.11 N router!
Fixed: LN-S4095DX Overscan
I had a problem with my Samsung LN-S4095DX cutting off the edges of the image and was able to fix it with a firmware update.
Business Plan for Lakeview Business
Over the past few weeks I have been developing a business plan for a business I would like to open in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago Illinois. It has been quite the learning experience, but I have a lot more to do before it is completed. As it stands, I have a rough business plan generated and a preliminary cash flow statement.
To develop the cash flow statement, I used my extraordinary Excel skills and created a tool that is quite robust. The tool has a multitude of settings including options for new or used equipment, leases, energy, Point-of-sale system, labor, and raw materials, among others. All which can be edited on a granular level, down to the cost of each raw material. Utilizing a bill-of-material, expected sales quantity, and retail price for each item, a revenue stream and cost-of-goods-sold is created to develop a net margin. Along side fixed costs, initial equity infusion, and loan payments, the tool can generate the first eight quarters of cash flow. It is quite the tool if you ask me!
Hopefully in the future I will post the plan here to get some feedback. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day!
Quick Update on Things
I have a few updates on things that I would like to share…
I am off of the Jacksonville rollout and back in Chicago for good! That makes me happy that I am back in Chicago.
I still do not know where I will be when the project at work ends at the end of the month, but I am working on things. And my managers have assured me that I will have a job and that why will keep me busy with something before I take a final position.
I am looking for a gym now that I am in Chicago. I went gym shopping the other day and had some interesting experiences. The first place I went to (Fitness Formula Clubs), the salesman had his fly unzipped. The second place was just a sales location for a new gym opening up soon (Lakeview Athletic Club) and the sales women did not even acknowledge me for 20 minutes. She was helping other customers, but I would expect her to say “hi, I will be with you as soon as I can” or something like that. The third place (Sweat Shop), was the smallest, and least desirable place, but had the kindest, most professional salesman.
I think I will be signing up for FFC because soon my company will give me a subsidized membership, and its the middle of the prices between the three clubs as it stands; $70 a month. We’ll see how it goes. I hate contracts.
I just got my bike tire fixed. Someone had hit it in the parking garage in my building. The bike originally cost me $65 (was 50% off at Wal-Mart) and the front tire cost $70 to replace! Yikes. Must be a good tire, or a really crappy bike! Or both!
Go-Live and More
I don’t have too much to update you all on, other than the last two weeks have been a bit stressful. Leading four strong intelligent people with different ideas is a tough thing to do, especial if you have strong opinions yourself. We are chugging along thought…
On Sunday I went to the beach with some coworkers and had a lot of fun, got a bit tan, and enjoyed the day off… Until I had to go to work at 6:00PM and stay till 6:00 AM. How fun does that sound?
Sorry about the lack of updates lately, things should pick up once Jacksonville is rolled out, and I am back in Chicago for good!
Stockton Hotel Checkin
My checkin was not a usual one this time I checked into the Marriott Residence Inn in Stockton. At the beginning of the checkin nothing was out of the norm. But when they said “we have a problem” I was ready for anything they could throw at me. Being a Marriott Rewards Gold member gives me a few perks like guaranteed hotel rooms. The problem was just what I thought, they overbooked the hotel.
ED HAYES 