My Match experience so far...

    Firstly, I'll tell you that worse than Match is Zoosk or ANY other Farcebook connected dating tool. Don't believe me? Setup up a free account with virtually ZERO personal information and see just how many "women" (or men... depending on your sexual persuasion or bent) are suddenly aware of and interested in you. Oh... you can see their (non-existent) profiles if you sign up. Then delete the account and note that these fictitious personalities are STILL miraculously interested in you... even though your profile no longer exists. This includes the new version Social Love which is the same basic scam with a different name.

    On to Match. The members are real. Though though you'll quickly notice that you get more attention the further away (and younger than you) the parties are. it would seem to the casual observer that if I were living in Florida, Texas or New York for example... I could bury myself with hot little nymphs half my age. Not an unpleasant thought mind you but I've yet to get the angle. Maybe they'll try to sell me dirty photos but there can't possibly be much money in that since you can get pretty much anything you want in the way of porn on free sites.

   I'll tell you this right now... if you are a truly decent, honest, trust worthy guy... you stand virtually NO CHANCE of getting any traction on Match. At least not anywhere near Seattle. Conduct yourself in the fashion of a festering, puss pocket and you'll likely have to manage multiple dates per night.

  Based upon the profiles, 90% of the women on Match from Western Washington are "honest", "bubbly", "fun loving", "caring" or some derivative thereof. Interestingly that percentage roughly matches up with the number of members who are divorced. Something doesn't jibe there. It's my opinion... and this is an opinion shared by MULTITUDES of men (and an awful lot of women) that females are essentially neurotic, hormone driven creatures.  If this is remotely accurate, then the women in the Pacific Northwest are a level above and miles beyond the "average" female.

    I daily see comments within profiles about how the men on Match are rude, lack class, lack manners, are vulgar. Essentially they are describing the very types of repulsive, puerile, human detritus they they are attracted to. Am I mistaken in declaring that women CONTINUALLY gravitate towards the WORST type of male stereotype? The "bad boy". The mouth breathing, ass stinking, players who pollute society and, if there was ANY justice at all would ALL eventually contract syphilis and rot to death slowly and painfully. 

    I have a news flash for the females. These are males. They are not MEN. Most annoyingly, it is the WOMEN who have helped create this unpleasant phenomenon by lowering their own standards in the name of feminism. So women become more promiscuous and men respond. Now the women are SHOCKED that men expect sex without commitment and to be free to roam about and demand gratification with the mannerisms of a fur covered primate. Of course, this behavior is instinctive and even necessary for your fur covered primate. It propagates the species. The human species needs no further propagation. If anything it needs purging.

    The women on match typically follow the same pattern as the males. Looking at the pictures and rarely reading the full profiles. So ultimately it IS about physical appearance despite our being told that women are far less influenced than males by such things. With men it tends to be physical beauty. Money is the second biggest driving interest and I suppose that this makes sense for those women who are divorced or never married) with multiple children to raise.

    Chemistry.com is an off shoot of Match and is run by the same company. Oh... but Chemistry uses "scientific" data to find matches. Funny... because I saw the same three things: Scammers like I encountered on Match, seemingly computer generated "interested" parties and contacts from women I would be interested if it was the only thing preventing the complete extinction of the human race.

    That bring up an interesting side point: Why is it that women find it completely acceptable to pair their nice (and she may indeed be VERY nice - personable) but chubby and unattractive friends upon any unsuspecting male but bring out a similar male to women and they don't want their friends going out with the guy?

    Not just sour grapes here. I am absolutely not the only male experiencing this frustration. Do some digging and read how it plays out for normal. attractive males in their 30's. The story repeats itself. I just don't believe that these systems are all that effective for "finding love".

    Lastly, if you're a guy looking for a pickup... just go out to F*ckbook or some similar site. The ladies on match.com and other sites are not looking for a booty call. Honestly if they stated this up front they'd have to deal with fewer jerks but it doesn't seem to occur to many of them. That's very unfortunate because it purtifies the pool for those of us who have (somewhat) honorable intentions.

    I know I'm no Brad Pit but I do have some standards and frankly the expectation that I would be interested in someone who is far away from my own fitness level, appearance and interests frankly blows my mind. Their matching criteria is skewed. I've even seen matings where the individuals were lookng for mates with an age difference of 10 years. How do thse two people get "matched"? And why are the match-to-Match picks not the PRIMARY ones since they seem to be the ones with the 95% to 97% compatibility ratio?

    I'm not impressed. It wasn't any less frustrating than the bar seen for me. At least sin a bar I get to see live bodies. And you won't waste weeks trying to figure out if someone is interested.





   

I finally tested for Brown 2nd Class. I've got the certificate but I still need to complete the written exam. Wow... a lot of writing involved. I thought that the 3rd Class was lengthy at over a dozen pages. This will probably be closer to 20 pages. I imagine that the 1st Class will be even more so.

Then there's the Black Belt thesis. I finally decided on a topic and have begun a VERY ROUGH outline. Strength training for self-defense: Developing explosive power. I'm not sure if that's the "official title" but that's the subject. That's also going to be somewhere around 30 pages and I'm developing a very keen interest in self-publishing it on Amazon (digital only to start) and seeing if it sells at all.

I've been VERY BUSY over the last few months doing physical training. No... really I have. Since re-dedicating myself to weight training back in April I've dropped from a snug size 40 to a very loose size 38. I think I'm actually fitting into one or two pairs of size 36. I don't have any idea what my body weight is right now but "weight" is actually irrelevant. It's the BFI (and not the ridiculous Federal standard either) that matters.

After only three months I'm noticing the difference and it's slowly beginning to show. I should look fairly good by the end of the year. I'm probably going to look INCREDIBLE by next April.

1st Class Brown will have me developing the Spontaneous Kata along with an additional 6... SIX!... attack combinations.  I really need to devote more time to this stuff because my weak point right now is correctly assigning the techniques to the appropriate belt levels. This is REQUIRED to graduate to 1st Degree Black Belt and I am NOWHERE near ready. So... can I get what I need by getting up 30-minutes early on weekdays (provided I actually do something with that time)? I'm not sure that I can because 30-minutes doesn't really leave much of a window. So it may mean getting up an hour early.... which honestly is going to SUCK! But... a goal is something that yo go after. I either do it at night or I do it in the morning.

And one more thing... I need to quit watching television. Most of teh time I'm not really watching but I'll be setting in the living room and not realy doing any work. A few nights of the week I get roped into watching the various HBO productions that one of the roommates is into. (And it's become  obvious that she enjoys my joining her because her husband won't watch them with her.)

I'm looking at moving out and will probably end up in an apartment in Fife. It's the least expensive location around and I don't think that it will add that much time ot my commute. I hate the thought of spending the extra money every month ut honestly, if I was budgeting properly it wouldn't even be an issue.

I should be testing for 2nd Class Brown sometime in the next month. I may delay until after the holiday break as I can use that time - approximately 1.5 weeks - to review. I'm in better shape as far as curriculum retention than I was for 3rd Class brown.

My written exam for 3rd Class Brown was around 10 pages. A significant portion of that covered the stick topic. I may post some of all of that exam here if I can remember to do it. Work and training tend to consume a staggering portion of my time. That and the commute.

Oh... and I'm scheduled to quit smoking on Saturday, December 22nd. It's the first day of vacation and I'm hoping that having that long break from work will make quitting easier. I've already dropped off consumption. I think I had three or four on Wednesday and only one on Thursday. I didn't really feel any physical withdrawals but it was difficult to focus at work.

I'm also trying ot figure out where t schedule EP training this spring. VDI looks to be the likely location but they don't list the SUV module in the 2013 schedule. This is disappointing as I was hoping to take the basic driving along with the SUV 1-day.

Things are happening...

My test for 3rd Class Brown belt was delayed until Tuesday. It was actually a very short test since I had basically been grilled previously on several components. I knew the curriculum better than I thought I did... and it helped that I'd been reviewing the material for over a month. I need to stay on top of the organization from now on. It will make testign for 1st Degree Black belt much easier.

In preparation for the stick training portion of 3rd Brown, I purchased an LAPD-style baton. I regretted the purchase as soon as it arrived. The quality is not that much of an issue... but I immediately discovered why Professor Steiner recommends (or prefers) a baton without grooves. So this first stick will be relegated to "dirty" duty. I recently ordered a Dymondwood baton from Robert Koga's school. It measures 29"x1.5". it will be on the 'large' side. I had a choice between 1 & 1/4" or the 1 & 1/2". I think that the thicker stick will assist in grip development.

I also have an in-person interview for the Costco testing job. It's been a long time since I've worked anywhere but Microsoft. I've interviewed outside once or twice since leaving security but I've always ended up getting the MS testing gigs. You never know how these will go but I'm working this time so hopefully that will give me a bit more confidence. Plus I've already spoken with their individual over the phone. I think that this may be more of a team meeting session.

As far as planning for training I'm beginning to appreciate yet again that one really needs to plan SPECIFICALLY towards a goal & not simply have an intention to "do some training". I am going to have to make SOLID plans to attend Sexton, EPI, VDI or even the Icon advanced course within 6 months (or less) and begin saving funds for that course without fail.

I may only have the one opportunity to attend this year. That is NOT optimal. I'm honestly hoping to get in AT LEAST two courses in 2012 but it's March already and I'm still farting about. (Well... getting dental work done among other things.) Attending the full EPI Ep & firearms course in October would be fabulous. I really do want to attend Sextons course however & though they haven't yet updated their 2012 schedule on the web site I suspect that they'll have an offering in Las Vegas in September or October. Also, VDI has driving courses in June through December but the SUV supplemental course will only be realistically available in October. That conflicts with the EPI course.

Much of this depends upon funding of course. If I remain at Microsoft, I'll be restricted as to how much I can scrape together over the next 8 months or so. This will probably mean limiting myself to a single course... or two "cheap" ones. VDI & Icon may end up being my workable options.

Unfortunately, it will not serve my purpose to save without a plan (that never works). It also won't be easy planning too far ahead when I have no certainty of what my employment is going to look like. One thing I miss about being an "a-" contractor... the 100-day break-in-service. Seriously... I'm beginning to miss that time off. It would have been perfect for this kind of thing. I would always have that block of time every year to take training. Oh well. That's irony for you. I worked there for years wanting to migrate to vendor status & now that I'm there I miss losing that 100 days of wages because I can't get time off when I really want it.

On another note...

Saturday I'll be testing for 3rd Class Brown belt in Combato. I've been prepping for this for the past two months... though it feels more like 6. I've had to re-learn most of the previous curriculum... not the techniques themselves but where they go in the system.

This is actually required for Black belt as well so we start working on it at 3rd brown because attempting to do so in preparation for 1st Black would make most people go insane and simply toss it in.

It would be nice to be able to reach 1st Black by October of 2012. Yeah... tough run that. I've been busy enough at the test review that I've essentially abandon the Spanish studies for right now. I'll pick them up again once I'm done with this. Pimsleur had been working fairly well up to that point. Now I'll essentially need to start over Green River also has their online Workplace Spanish & I was planning to enroll in that to augment the other tools. I'd like to have at least some basic Spanish skills before I relocate (more than cerveza & banos.

Icon sent me another invitation to attend the Advanced Executive Protection course in April in Minneapolis. I doubt that I'll be able to attend. That's short notice as it's already nearly march, it's $2k plus flight and hotel, I may be changing jobs & I need to fix my teeth & the car. :(

New job?

Yup. It's that time again. Honestly... I wasn't even looking. I was simply attempting to maintain my sanity on this current contract. Insight Global only contacts me a few times a year. They only bother when they have something that's actually close to my skill set or previous job descriptions. (Unlike some other agencies that I could mention. That's a rant for another time though.)

They ended up submitting my resume` for a testing position with Costco's e-commerce division. The drive will be about the same though it may be quicker heading straight out I90 to Issaquah as opposed to having to deal with SR520 or 148th Ave traffic.

It's close to a 50% pay increase. :D I may have to adjust my training plans for this year but if I can manage to work this contract for a full 12-months this may actually be the end of my testing days. Again... :D

Potential Training for 2012

I'm looking at the following schools & courses for this year. Obviously I will not be able to take all of them but I'm currently trying to figure out how my schedule & budget will allow me to get in more than one course.

Vehicle Dynamics Institute:

I'd like to take the Protective\Evasive driving course. Icon has been working on getting a deal for alumni but I have not heard anything on the progress of this plan. They also offer a 3-day Surveillance Detection course which I believe may jibe nicely with the Surveillance Ops 5-day course.

Surveillance Ops

They have 3 & 5-day courses covering surveillance operations. I'm more interested in the 5-day as it is more complete & intensive.

Sexton Security

I want to take their 7-day Personal Protection Specialist course. (I would prefer to attend in Las Vegas because it cuts the air fare nearly in 1/2.) I'm not aware of any "advanced" courses offered by Sexton.

Executive Protection Institute

The EPI course and Sextons are similar. Both qualify the graduate to apply for a PPS license in VA. I understand that many of the Sexton instructors are EPI graduates. If I choose this option I would also like to attend their 6-day Protectors Handgun Training Course. They offer a discount if both courses are taken together.

Icon Services

I'd still like to take the Advanced Executive Protection course. This is actually directed more towards HE scenarios.

Trojan Securities

Trojans Advanced EP course is quite similar to Icon's. The two schools are still loosely affiliated. They actually have a 26-day block that I would LOVE to attend... but we're looking at roughly $8k which is basically my entire budget for 2012 so far. The advantage here would be getting a full course load completed at one facility & with one set of instructors. There's also an advantage as far as the networking prospects.

It is my understanding that Trojans driving course is approved by Vehicle Dynamics.

I also like the idea of having their surveillance course directed toward the high risk environment as this is eventually where I wish to be working. But again...

Tactical Weapons & Foreign/ Domestic Firearms Familiarization (2 Days) 5-6 October

Executive/ Close Protection (PSD) & Risk Management Hostile Environments (10 Days) 8-17 October

Kidnap Rescue, Executive/ Dignitary Hostage & Kidnap Awareness (5 Days) 18-22 October

Advanced Executive Close Protection Security Driving & Vehicle Anti-Ambush (3 Days) 23-25 October

Surveillance & Intelligence Operations Hostile Environments (6 Days) 26-31 October

If I manage to have my current contract extended, I may have a few thousand extra to dedicate towards training and relocation. Of course if I have to keep working here a few months longer I may go insane. I would prefer to be able to take at least one course in the Spring, then perhaps one or two this summer. I haven't mapped out whether I would be able to do that and also take the entire block at Trojan. It doesn't seem actionable at this point.

One final note I wish to add: There's an overriding concern here that the training be VALID and FOCUSED. I NEED most if not ALL of this at some point. Training is an ongoing aspect of the industry. However, there's also a need to be specific in selecting courses which will provide me with the skills necessary to secure entry-level positions.

There's little chance of being hired to work HE based on a 10-day HE course. I believe that I will be better served taking the PPS course curriculum augmented by surveillance & driving skills. Once this is reflected on my resume` I can begin adding the heavier weapons oriented courses. I'm far more likely to secure a higher risk position after having established myself within the corporate realm.

I still like the idea of focusing on surveillance\counter surveillance as not only will it allow me to augment EP employment with investigatory work, but it applies to HE as well as corporate.

Another aspect of the training is the certification in terrorism awareness & Sexton includes this as part of their PPS course. I'm also investigating more intensive courses with CI CENTRE and the University of St. Andrews.

Interestingly the CI CENTRE & St. Andrews courses are inexpensive and very applicable to corporate espionage & terrorism threat scenarios. Both are recognized curriculum in the International corporate arena.