The 28th is fast approaching. I’ve gotten the lowdown on uniform requirements finally, but they are some snags which of course mean money to put out. However, this is minor in comparison to the fact that until now I’ve still not gotten my paperwork. Apparently, the hiring guy went on vacation the day after hiring me, so the paperwork wasn’t sent. So now of course it’s crunch time with the stuff needing to go from Texas to here and back. I’ve been told that if I did indeed sign the paperwork in Texas on arrival, it wouldn’t be the first time, but I’ve definitely got a place.
I’ve also discovered a key problem with powering a laptop from a car: power. Today I went to Radio Shack and discovered that they didn’t sell cigarette lighter plug-in with enough output to power a laptop. On asking for help, I was steered towards a $70.00 power inverter, with the alternative being a purpose built device that costed around $150. Now, this to me is just stupid. First of all, an inverter converts the DC car power to AC. The laptop takes DC power; I would plug in my AC to DC converter to the inverter to power the laptop. So why do that again? DC -> AC -> DC? wtf? Why not just stay with DC? Besides, the conversions eat up power as per the Second Law of Thermodynamics, as anyone who has ever had the most basic class in physics can tell you. On top of that, the inverter hardware to do the conversion is more expensive anyway, so why convert? So I checked up on the ‘Net, and ended up with this solution. A fraction of the cost too; and it seems it’ll work with my model. The shipping to ensure it gets here on time before I leave cost as much as the adapter, truth be told, but sometimes that’s how the die falls.
And so I’ll be ready for the road. It’s all just a waiting game now till the 22nd or 23rd when I figure to head out. I’ll finalize arrangements on Sunday, then I’ll leave when the part arrives. And I’ll even remember my camera, so you the dear reader will get to see some pictures! Till later.
Re: DC/DC conversion — I’ve never fully understood it, either. With desktops you can buy DC power supplies and then use those to power the system in your car, but most of the time laptops are just stupid that way.
Most places just sell DC/AC inverters for laptops because customers tend to be swayed by the idea that they could plug a minifridge into them in a pinch instead of having something *just* for their laptop. Of course these same customers don’t realize that their DC/AC/DC chain is running at 80% efficiency and bleeding battery straight into heat.
So, what’s the uniform?
Well, I need to buy a new uniform shirt for Class A uniform. Class A is used for formal occasions, like camp fire, evening meals in camp, etc. It needs to be a Venture crew shirt, which is unfortunately different from the standard BSA uniform of which I have several. Out of pocket expense: ~$35. Also, staff shorts will be around $30 because they’re Columbia brand. (Don’t ask. I don’t know why.) Combine with gas expense, and that’s probably half to three quarters of my first $200 paycheck. I’m not exactly happy, but I am being paid when I expected I wouldn’t be in my original plans, so I’m letting it ride.
A link to the uniform shirt from BSA’s official catalog:
http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?ctlg=05NDC&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=UNIFORMS&C3=USHIRTS&C4=&LV=3&item=VSSS
Mostly I’m concerned now about if the laptop doohickey will get here on time. Although I ordered the thing yesterday at 16:45 or so, a check just this morning to the site indicates it hasn’t shipped yet. I hope they’re just late in updating.
Does UPS work Saturdays?