I live in a pretty small town. Bugs are a pretty huge constant here. We have farm animals and massive irrigation ditches, and it's kind of amusing. I'm pretty phobic of bugs. That is to say, I'm incredibly phobic of bugs. I can't manage to step on them 95% of the time because I freak out. Coincidentally, I freak out less when I'm alone, versus with friends or family.
Anyway, today, I had my nails done and I had almost an hour and a half to spare before an appointment for a facial. So, I decided to drive around our little, desolate town. It was important anyway, because my Chevy has been an absolute disaster. Every year as spring rolls around, it screws up when I have to start periodically activating the air conditioner. To do this test, I headed out to an area with fields and houses every mile or so. The speed limit was 50mph, and I had the windows rolled halfway down because the damage was done, the A/C didn't need to be on for me to figure out things were not working.
As I'm cruising along, actually with the intent to weed back around to head to downtown (all two blocks of it), I heard a soft thump against the window at my side. Something in my head realized what was happening. It was confirmed, as a spike of pain shot through my back, starting at my shoulder blade. I knew what was going on. A bee had managed to get sucked into my car and landed between my back and the car. So I did the most logical thing, and that was to start flinging myself back against the seat to kill the bitch. Nevermind that a bee dies after the initial sting.
A flat off-road area came near and I skidded off onto it and threw open my door and tossed the seatbelt as I was still firmly pressed against the seat, determined to at least suffocate it. A moment was taken to brace myself for whatever hideous, bug-guts-everywhere scene I would face, along with the probability that I didn't kill it, it hadn't died, and things would get ugly.
Flailing from the car, I started ripping at my shirt like a mad woman, convinced it was still there and waiting for me. I very nearly ripped my entire shirt off, thus giving the few passers by quite the show. But my shirt was clean, other than a little tan bit. Cool. This was good. It stung, the bee body was on the floor of the car, and I remembered that my mother has horrific allergic reactions to bee stings., My phobia wouldn't allow me to dispose of the body, but I was able to grab my phone. A failed attempt to call my father, I was on the phone with her (having woke her up, whoops). No, I wasn't having a reaction, because it would have hit really quick.
I headed over, she checked it, it looked sore but alright. I went to my facial appointment with my windows firmly sealed and my poorly running A/C on, burning up gas. I came back, and requested my father extract the body of my vicious attacker. He did, at which point I was informed that it wasn't a bee. It was a wasp. So had I not been so keen on beating it to death with my back, it would have continued to sting me over and over and over. :|
I live in a pretty small town. Bugs are a pretty huge constant here. We have farm animals and massive irrigation ditches, and it's kind of amusing. I'm pretty phobic of bugs. That is to say, I'm incredibly phobic of bugs. I can't manage to step on them 95% of the time because I freak out. Coincidentally, I freak out less when I'm alone, versus with friends or family.
Cue tonight.
Sitting here, minding my own business, my spidey-sense obviously went off because I randomly chanced a glance at the ceiling iver my headm and there was a spider on the ceiling. I did the mature thing and shouted there was a spider on the ceiling above me. As my father wandered off to find spray, I made sure to do a play-by-play on what I was seeing the spider doing, as that is obviously very helpful. "Oh my god, IT'S EATING ANOTHER BUG. ...well, not now, because it dropped it into the floor lamp. OH MY GOD THERE ARE ANTS ON THE CEILING."
They weren't ants, just little gnats that flew in when we've been going in and out.
So, he sprayed it. Over and over, actually, as it didn't want to die. It walked the ceiling, I screamed and hauled ass across the room because gsdghs and my back (it's a bad back) shrieked but I didn't care. My choice was wise. It fell soon after, and I was going on about how it landed where I sit and he needed to check the pillows and the blanket and the cushion because it hit the couch arm and rolled one way or the other. My father couldn't find it. I made sure to maturely yell at him to check the blanket and pillow I was using, while my mother sat across the room and laughed at me--alongside him. Still, nothing could be found.
I've spent the whole night somewhat sore still from the sting, very sore with my back, and convinced that 5/21/2011 would cause the spider to rise again, and it would bite me in its new, upgraded zombie form.
I really do hate bugs.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, November 19, 2010
ISIS - T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T
The above link leads to one of many articles talking about the joint venture of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile coming together with mobile payment company, Isis.
It's a situation that I see a number of people being wholeheartedly divided on for a very long time, to be honest. Why?
Well, as the short story of this very complicated endeavor: USA cellular giants Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have started a venture in attempting to eliminate the need for any sort of physical trade of money outside of one's cell phone. The idea will be to utilize, it seems, a similar technology as what's used in credit cards and debit cards now when a consumer just flips his or her card across a magnetic scanner, and off they go. (Keep in mind, this is the explanation we received where I work, one of these three 'giants'.)
The biggest thing that I can advise to anyone that intends to use this service, especially early on, is to read up on anything and everything you can about it. If you think from the standpoint of losing your phone: the general cellphone user does not think to lock his or her phone. Even with the easy of securing devices such as the Android line-up (my personal favorite) through a pattern lock that triggers anytime the screen falls asleep, most people don't think to do this.
Couple this with the fact that most people will not realize their phone is missing for at least thirty minutes, depending on the susceptibility and functionality of the program when it goes into full-swing, this could end up with consumers incurring more damage than could ever be wrought with a missing credit card or debit card in that time frame. More over, the cell phone companies certainly will hold no liability to the damages that incur. Well, except perhaps in California, but the technology is so new, I'm sure they haven't developed anything yet for it there.
California consumer law states that any damage done on a missing cellphone is not the responsibility of the consumer (keep in mind that it is possible to see who is using the device). Every other state, damages up to the time that the consumer alerts the company is the consumer's responsibility.
For some people, this is a dream come true. Wave of the future! Perhaps it is! I would just caution anyone wanting to involve their personal finances in this brand new thing to really study it and consider the repercussions before jumping into it headfirst. Hear what the companies have to say, but also hear what tech websites and current users have to say. Most likely, the first phones to get this will definitely be Android and perhaps the iPhone, the top phone types today.
And me? I'll stick with cash and cards, thank you!
It's a situation that I see a number of people being wholeheartedly divided on for a very long time, to be honest. Why?
Well, as the short story of this very complicated endeavor: USA cellular giants Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have started a venture in attempting to eliminate the need for any sort of physical trade of money outside of one's cell phone. The idea will be to utilize, it seems, a similar technology as what's used in credit cards and debit cards now when a consumer just flips his or her card across a magnetic scanner, and off they go. (Keep in mind, this is the explanation we received where I work, one of these three 'giants'.)
The biggest thing that I can advise to anyone that intends to use this service, especially early on, is to read up on anything and everything you can about it. If you think from the standpoint of losing your phone: the general cellphone user does not think to lock his or her phone. Even with the easy of securing devices such as the Android line-up (my personal favorite) through a pattern lock that triggers anytime the screen falls asleep, most people don't think to do this.
Couple this with the fact that most people will not realize their phone is missing for at least thirty minutes, depending on the susceptibility and functionality of the program when it goes into full-swing, this could end up with consumers incurring more damage than could ever be wrought with a missing credit card or debit card in that time frame. More over, the cell phone companies certainly will hold no liability to the damages that incur. Well, except perhaps in California, but the technology is so new, I'm sure they haven't developed anything yet for it there.
California consumer law states that any damage done on a missing cellphone is not the responsibility of the consumer (keep in mind that it is possible to see who is using the device). Every other state, damages up to the time that the consumer alerts the company is the consumer's responsibility.
For some people, this is a dream come true. Wave of the future! Perhaps it is! I would just caution anyone wanting to involve their personal finances in this brand new thing to really study it and consider the repercussions before jumping into it headfirst. Hear what the companies have to say, but also hear what tech websites and current users have to say. Most likely, the first phones to get this will definitely be Android and perhaps the iPhone, the top phone types today.
And me? I'll stick with cash and cards, thank you!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
CutCo/Vector Marketing
Honestly, I admit that this started as me not investigating what I was calling, and I'd like to preface this as I'm not at all angry. As such, I think that my story regarding CutCo or Vector Marketing would be a little less biased than those who have fell into its trap.
When I was on monster.com, looking for jobs in my area (a small town; my current job is nearly an hour away), I noticed a posting stating that it was a Customer Service job that would pay several dollars above my current level, and that it was from Vector Marketing. It honestly sounded like a temp agency, and when I saw that my town was listed as one that they needed positions filled, I called the number listed. At no time was I advised exactly what this entailed, so I figured it was what I thought it was. Having applied to a temp agency before, it was a nearly identical process.
So, my time was set up and I got there. The area was pretty standard for an office to be set up in for a company that places employees to satellite locations/other companies.
I went to the office suite and that was where I got the feelings that something was going on with that place. The admin I spoke to on the phone sat at a folding table with a pretty dated computer, and the walls were adorned, not with Vector Marketing, but CutCo. I was handed a clipboard and sent to another room that was progressively filled with individuals ranging in types. Elder individuals and late teenagers alike. They discussed how they were hard up for money, unemployed, but it was clear that we were all from very different walks of life.
Fortunately, with my current job, I can afford a smartphone where I started researching this company to get an understanding of what it was. Here are links to some of the sites I researched at that time (I don't remember all of them as this went on about three months ago or so):
Their actual site
Petitiononline.com petition regarding CutCo/Vector
Rip-Off Report
Now, the over-bearing opinion from the latter two links happens to be that CutCo and Vector, synonymous to each other apparently, is a scam and a pyramid scheme. But there was an overwhelming level of participation from apparently individuals who disagreed with this, so I was intrigued to see exactly what would happen.
To start, we went in to meet the manager who would be interviewing each of us (so they said). They took us in, two at a time, and it was easy to tell that they didn't care much for the pairing, it was just a quick way to process us. Some were dismissed, some of us were kept. Of about 14-15 people, eight of us were asked to stay around.
Then the "group interview process" started. It was more of a sale on joining on board than really an interview process. The manager was friendly, stating that this would be his last interview group before being deployed to Afghanistan. But he was pretty blunt, explaining the hierarchy and the mission statement of the company. And then we got to the products discussion:
Knives, y'all. Basically, the concept of CutCo is that you advertise for yourself all over, and then people call you for a demonstration. Think Avon/Mary Kay meets a Kirby vacuum salesman. You purchase your starter kit, you manage your advertising, and hopefully at the end of the day, you reap benefits from it.
But supposedly eternally sharp knives are not cosmetics. People run out of lipstick and will need to call you to buy more. This company bases sales around a product that, according to them, is indestructible and eternally sharp. (For the record, I wasn't very impressed at anything knife related, but their scissors were pretty awesome.) The kit was something around $170, or you could basically rent them in case you decided the company and the position wasn't for you.
While he stood there, explaining everything, I was pretty quiet at that point. Definitely not a place for me, I decided. It appeared that the other seven were pretty invested in the idea, but I didn't exactly try to strike a friendship with any of them, so I didn't have a chance to ask.
After that, he called us back one at a time. I sat down and said, honestly, "I'm sorry, I don't think this is going to be a good fit for me."
He responded with, "Yes, it seemed that way during the group interview." Probably because I wasn't engaged.
So I just shook his hand and told him that I wish him well, and hope he stays safe during his deployment, and headed out.
My personal opinion about CutCo and Vector Marketing is that... they are definitely a pyramid design regarding how they do things, but they're no different than, again, Avon and Mary Kay. The only thing is that their product is incredibly hard to sell when you're working with home audiences, and they probably have not perfected exactly how to work with their employees. Employees in larger cities or with wide social circles will do particularly well, but not everyone has this sort of benefit.
Or wants it, necessarily. So, I would say anyone that looks at CutCo/Vector for a job opportunity should do their research, hear out worshippers and naysayers alike, and really think if it's going to work for them in the long run.
My two cents! I'm off~
When I was on monster.com, looking for jobs in my area (a small town; my current job is nearly an hour away), I noticed a posting stating that it was a Customer Service job that would pay several dollars above my current level, and that it was from Vector Marketing. It honestly sounded like a temp agency, and when I saw that my town was listed as one that they needed positions filled, I called the number listed. At no time was I advised exactly what this entailed, so I figured it was what I thought it was. Having applied to a temp agency before, it was a nearly identical process.
So, my time was set up and I got there. The area was pretty standard for an office to be set up in for a company that places employees to satellite locations/other companies.
I went to the office suite and that was where I got the feelings that something was going on with that place. The admin I spoke to on the phone sat at a folding table with a pretty dated computer, and the walls were adorned, not with Vector Marketing, but CutCo. I was handed a clipboard and sent to another room that was progressively filled with individuals ranging in types. Elder individuals and late teenagers alike. They discussed how they were hard up for money, unemployed, but it was clear that we were all from very different walks of life.
Fortunately, with my current job, I can afford a smartphone where I started researching this company to get an understanding of what it was. Here are links to some of the sites I researched at that time (I don't remember all of them as this went on about three months ago or so):
Their actual site
Petitiononline.com petition regarding CutCo/Vector
Rip-Off Report
Now, the over-bearing opinion from the latter two links happens to be that CutCo and Vector, synonymous to each other apparently, is a scam and a pyramid scheme. But there was an overwhelming level of participation from apparently individuals who disagreed with this, so I was intrigued to see exactly what would happen.
To start, we went in to meet the manager who would be interviewing each of us (so they said). They took us in, two at a time, and it was easy to tell that they didn't care much for the pairing, it was just a quick way to process us. Some were dismissed, some of us were kept. Of about 14-15 people, eight of us were asked to stay around.
Then the "group interview process" started. It was more of a sale on joining on board than really an interview process. The manager was friendly, stating that this would be his last interview group before being deployed to Afghanistan. But he was pretty blunt, explaining the hierarchy and the mission statement of the company. And then we got to the products discussion:
Knives, y'all. Basically, the concept of CutCo is that you advertise for yourself all over, and then people call you for a demonstration. Think Avon/Mary Kay meets a Kirby vacuum salesman. You purchase your starter kit, you manage your advertising, and hopefully at the end of the day, you reap benefits from it.
But supposedly eternally sharp knives are not cosmetics. People run out of lipstick and will need to call you to buy more. This company bases sales around a product that, according to them, is indestructible and eternally sharp. (For the record, I wasn't very impressed at anything knife related, but their scissors were pretty awesome.) The kit was something around $170, or you could basically rent them in case you decided the company and the position wasn't for you.
While he stood there, explaining everything, I was pretty quiet at that point. Definitely not a place for me, I decided. It appeared that the other seven were pretty invested in the idea, but I didn't exactly try to strike a friendship with any of them, so I didn't have a chance to ask.
After that, he called us back one at a time. I sat down and said, honestly, "I'm sorry, I don't think this is going to be a good fit for me."
He responded with, "Yes, it seemed that way during the group interview." Probably because I wasn't engaged.
So I just shook his hand and told him that I wish him well, and hope he stays safe during his deployment, and headed out.
My personal opinion about CutCo and Vector Marketing is that... they are definitely a pyramid design regarding how they do things, but they're no different than, again, Avon and Mary Kay. The only thing is that their product is incredibly hard to sell when you're working with home audiences, and they probably have not perfected exactly how to work with their employees. Employees in larger cities or with wide social circles will do particularly well, but not everyone has this sort of benefit.
Or wants it, necessarily. So, I would say anyone that looks at CutCo/Vector for a job opportunity should do their research, hear out worshippers and naysayers alike, and really think if it's going to work for them in the long run.
My two cents! I'm off~
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Suspicions
...for some reason, this thing is advising me I have seven posts. I think this thing is lying.
There comes a point when one's actions begin to add up and you can't help but begin to draw certain suspicions about them. Since this blog is primarily about the paranormal, this of course means I mean to say this is in regards to the paranormal vein.
There comes a point when one's actions begin to add up and you can't help but begin to draw certain suspicions about them. Since this blog is primarily about the paranormal, this of course means I mean to say this is in regards to the paranormal vein.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
MANGA/ANIME: Axis Powers Hetalia - America and why he looks that way
I love Axis Powers Hetalia, and I love the wankhood that stems from it as well.
To date, one of the most amusing arguments comes from the appearance of America. Eventually I'll put an actual photo up, but in the meantime you can follow the above link to see a generic google image search of him.
He's blond, blue eyed--he's white. He loves video games, hamburgers, beer, and football.
The debate has been that America should clearly look multiracial because he's a melting pot (and in this fandom, that's how you refer to the countries: by their gender) and has no real single-culture platform. Okay, granted. Buttttt...
In the Hetalia canon, he is found wandering the woods of England's "home" and is found, raised by England a bit and eventually sent to become the Thirteen Colonies. :| Therefore America would have that European look because he started from England himself. It's kind of funny and awkward to refer to family genetics with this, but it's a core logic that it's not based on what his primary racial diversity is now. It's what it started as and what he stood as in his very beginning.
And come on, who doesn't want to eat a hamburger while wearing a bomber jacket in the middle of a war?
There's a long list of wrongs to Hetalia, meant to try to shame people out of liking the canon. It's sad, because it's actually an incredibly intelligent but hilarious series. I'm more of a German boy fan myself (Germany, Prussia, Austria), but I appreciate the history humor in it. Especially because it really isn't supposed to be serious!
Over on LiveJournal.com, there's a community for Hetalia. http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/ Simple enough! They have a site that hosts links to all the original and scanlated strips here: http://sites.google.com/site/hetaliaindexes/ I would really encourage you to take a look at the strips, and if you like you can always find the anime on the LJ community! Don't be discouraged by the drawing level or animation styles. Like I said: Hetalia really is all just for good fun!
To date, one of the most amusing arguments comes from the appearance of America. Eventually I'll put an actual photo up, but in the meantime you can follow the above link to see a generic google image search of him.
He's blond, blue eyed--he's white. He loves video games, hamburgers, beer, and football.
The debate has been that America should clearly look multiracial because he's a melting pot (and in this fandom, that's how you refer to the countries: by their gender) and has no real single-culture platform. Okay, granted. Buttttt...
In the Hetalia canon, he is found wandering the woods of England's "home" and is found, raised by England a bit and eventually sent to become the Thirteen Colonies. :| Therefore America would have that European look because he started from England himself. It's kind of funny and awkward to refer to family genetics with this, but it's a core logic that it's not based on what his primary racial diversity is now. It's what it started as and what he stood as in his very beginning.
And come on, who doesn't want to eat a hamburger while wearing a bomber jacket in the middle of a war?
There's a long list of wrongs to Hetalia, meant to try to shame people out of liking the canon. It's sad, because it's actually an incredibly intelligent but hilarious series. I'm more of a German boy fan myself (Germany, Prussia, Austria), but I appreciate the history humor in it. Especially because it really isn't supposed to be serious!
Over on LiveJournal.com, there's a community for Hetalia. http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia/ Simple enough! They have a site that hosts links to all the original and scanlated strips here: http://sites.google.com/site/hetaliaindexes/ I would really encourage you to take a look at the strips, and if you like you can always find the anime on the LJ community! Don't be discouraged by the drawing level or animation styles. Like I said: Hetalia really is all just for good fun!
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