So, I’ve kept it tight lipped until now, but I think it’s safe for me to begin spreading the word. The world of Trick is changing. It all began when I got determined to look for a new job. I put my resumé on Monster.com and was shocked to discover the response. I’d never imagined that I would get as many calls as I did, though I had a few things to learn.

Putting your resumé on Monster.com is a great choice, just be prepared for calls from people who can’t actually give you a job. Most of the calls I received were from job placement agencies. While useful as middle-men I found it tiring to deal with them, and also they’re hugely unaware of geographical locations and qualifications. I had one guy call me about a job in Clearwater (2+ hours away) for a job I was no where near qualified for.

What I did get was a call from an Orlando based dot-com called Databanq (that’s not a g) Media. I’ll let their website tell you what they do (+2 to geekiness if you can understand it.)

DataBanq Media is an Internet technology company specializing in vertically oriented informational websites, business directories, search technologies and publishing platforms. The DataBanq Media Network provides consumers and businesses with high quality content, tools & resources while establishing vertical segmentation for buyers and sellers to interact in a transparent, efficient marketplace. In the coming months we will highlight network properties and other DataBanq applications as they are released from initial beta environments.

In layman’s terms and a great simplification for them, they build websites which rank well in Google for various terms, and then provide the capability to companies to make use of their well ranking website.

The job is a substantial increase in pay, it provides full benefits, and it won’t interfere with Dragon*Con at all. In fact, D*C helped me get the job I think. Well, that and the fact that I play Magic: The Gathering. I have a web design portfolio at http://www.trickjarrett.com/portfolio/ and in it I link to one of my projects, an RSS aggregator for Magic websites. This is one thing which I think really helped me snag the job.

I went to an interview with the big boss at Databanq (from here on it’ll just be Dq) the day before I left for Chicago. I was on vacation when they called and made me an offer. I then let SAK know as soon as I got back in town and now it’s just been waiting to be sure they had someone to fill my shoes (they do but I can’t say who yet.)

The first day of my new job is Monday, August 6th. The last day as SAK’s main guy is Friday, August 3rd. I’m really excited to be about to enter the world of a 9-5 again, I’ll have my evenings free to hang with K, play D&D, and probably work some Magic games this season (hopefully.)

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw

So the news broke this week that Checkers is a solved game. It only took 12 computers nineteen years to figure it out, but it’s done. However, with this news I found one of the most interesting tidbits ever.

Do you know who Marion Tinsley is? I’d bet anyone 20:1 they don’t know who he is. Dr. Marion Tinsley is the greatest Checkers (Draughts) player to ever live. He was world champion for 45 years, played thousands and thousands of games in that time, and during that time he lost 7 (seven) of them. SEVEN. That’s astronomical and absolutely stunning.

Marion Tinsley was an amalgam of the longevity of Lasker, the invincilibility of Petrosian and the perfection of Fisher. His career is unique in any game or sport. From 1950 to 1995 Tinsley never lost a single tournament, or even shared first place with another player. He took part in nine world championship matches, winning them all, usually by an embarrassingly large margin. In the 45-year period he played in thousands of tournaments, matches and exhibitions, playing many tens of thousands of games. Of these he lost exactly seven games. “Tinsley was as close to perfect as is humanly possible,” writes Jonathan Schaeffer.

Read more: Chessbase.com

So the last video from Chicago is still in the works. It’s taking a lot longer than I expected. But it should be up tonight or tomorrow.

Now I’m beginning planning my next trip: Snow skiing in the spring!

I’ve definitely been bit by the traveling bug, so I’ve begun listing ideas of trips I want to take. This is a life list, that I’ll add to, subtract from, and check off for the rest of my life.

- Caribbean Islands
- Backpacking in the Catskills
- New York
- Australia
- Alaska (for Northern Lights!)
- Italy
… More to come undoubtedly

My favorite short online sitcom God Inc stopped production several months ago and I have kept close eye on Francis Stokes’s blog [the creator's blog] and today the new broke. He’s sold the idea to SciFi. Awesome!

Read more on his blog: http://francisstokes.blogspot.com/2007/07/god-inc-sold-to-sci-fi-channel.html

I’m so excited

Brian, Crispy and Stephen record a podcast from Kismet’s porch … yes, we were all in the room at the same time! The crew gets audience participation as they talk about the sucking void that is original sci-fi ideas in television. Brian makes some passing references to federal title 2257 (don’t Google that at work), Stephen wears a funny hat and Crispy talks about his kilt.

This episode’s promo is for PodCulture. Thanks to Steve Eley for loaning us his Zoom H4 recorder to make portable podcast magic.

Comments? E-mail feedback@whatthecast.com Leave voice mail at 206-333-1931 (voicemail down until further notice).

Here’s today’s video just before I head off to bed. It’s a slideshow of some of today’s photos. Enjoy!