Here We Go!
#dreamscometrue
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Prequel Book Video Trailer!
I am very happy to release the video trailer for my new book. Revealing the title of the novel. Many may say "what does the video have to do with the book", but it's about how I feel about the book coming out. It's a dream come true to be able to share my stories with all of you. Just like being able to dance however you want in public with your headphones on. I'm pretty sure many of you public transit commuters can relate.
Here We Go!
#dreamscometrue
Here We Go!
#dreamscometrue
Friday, July 20, 2012
Where's the beef?
I am a proud meat eater. I like pork, chicken, beef, the basics. From time to time I will explore other meats like Bison. Yum.
What I am not proud of is the way I get my meat. I would only hope that others are as well. The fact that some innocent creature needs to die for me to have those delicious General T'so Chicken or BBQ ribs is an unfortunate predicament. For many people, this calls them to become vegetarians and vegans. I don't judge them, I actually commend them for their convictions. As for myself, I do not believe I will become either anytime soon.
I saw a video yesterday about one of Walmart's meat suppliers having what they call gestation crates. It looked pretty gross. I was very concerned about the well-being of the pigs. Many would think, "Why?" Yes, they would still end up on my plate smelling and tasting the same, but think about the conditions your meat just went through. Getting slammed against the floor. Going crazy from boredom. Being immobile. Can you imagine taking a pill that does this to you? Not saying you're going to go crazy from eating this meat, but what can't be good for you is eating something that was raised in poor conditions. Pig gets infected and isn't treated one day. Next day, you're eating it. That's bananas. And I am not for that.
Animal cruelty is a very debated topic. I am an animal lover since childhood, but I have also been a meat eater probably just as long. When I was on my college campus once, a friend sent out a video called "Earthlings". There were many things disturbing about this video. The one that hurt my heart was watching a garbage man throw a limping dog into the garbage truck. How cruel is that? And this video went in and out of my inner circle of friends, only a few swore off meat after. I said I'd eat less pork, but then later that day had a turkey bacon sandwich at Applebee's (will never forget that). It wasn't because I couldn't control myself, it was because I needed to find out more before just changing my lifestyle because of one video. I knew I agreed that animal cruelty was wrong. What I would do about it was the hard part to figure out.
Pet Adoption. Besides smaller animals like fish, hamsters or guinea pigs; I refuse to buy my furry companions. This is a conviction of mine. As many feel about adopting children from foreign countries, why go somewhere else when there are children (or in this case animals) right in your neighborhoods? I do not believe it is wrong to buy a pet, but personally I will not. My current cat, love of my life, was adopted when I was a teenager and I was very adamant about it. We even got a free vet visit included, she was spayed, had all her shots, luckily had no previous medical conditions, and already loved people. I say all this to say, there are a lot of benefits to adopting a pet. Many people have misconceptions of what it means. For example, that your pet will be sick somehow or have traumas you have to deal with. What I have to say about that is, unlike some animal shelters, what pet store do you know will tell you all the medical history of your new friend? Most of the time, these stores are just trying to make a sale (my opinion).
Anyway, humane slaughtering. I say all this to say, I think we should all think about where our meat comes from and if we are okay with putting some brands in our bodies. Some are more pricey than the generic brands that don't take better care of their animals, but I think it may be worth it.
What I am not proud of is the way I get my meat. I would only hope that others are as well. The fact that some innocent creature needs to die for me to have those delicious General T'so Chicken or BBQ ribs is an unfortunate predicament. For many people, this calls them to become vegetarians and vegans. I don't judge them, I actually commend them for their convictions. As for myself, I do not believe I will become either anytime soon.
I saw a video yesterday about one of Walmart's meat suppliers having what they call gestation crates. It looked pretty gross. I was very concerned about the well-being of the pigs. Many would think, "Why?" Yes, they would still end up on my plate smelling and tasting the same, but think about the conditions your meat just went through. Getting slammed against the floor. Going crazy from boredom. Being immobile. Can you imagine taking a pill that does this to you? Not saying you're going to go crazy from eating this meat, but what can't be good for you is eating something that was raised in poor conditions. Pig gets infected and isn't treated one day. Next day, you're eating it. That's bananas. And I am not for that.
Animal cruelty is a very debated topic. I am an animal lover since childhood, but I have also been a meat eater probably just as long. When I was on my college campus once, a friend sent out a video called "Earthlings". There were many things disturbing about this video. The one that hurt my heart was watching a garbage man throw a limping dog into the garbage truck. How cruel is that? And this video went in and out of my inner circle of friends, only a few swore off meat after. I said I'd eat less pork, but then later that day had a turkey bacon sandwich at Applebee's (will never forget that). It wasn't because I couldn't control myself, it was because I needed to find out more before just changing my lifestyle because of one video. I knew I agreed that animal cruelty was wrong. What I would do about it was the hard part to figure out.
Pet Adoption. Besides smaller animals like fish, hamsters or guinea pigs; I refuse to buy my furry companions. This is a conviction of mine. As many feel about adopting children from foreign countries, why go somewhere else when there are children (or in this case animals) right in your neighborhoods? I do not believe it is wrong to buy a pet, but personally I will not. My current cat, love of my life, was adopted when I was a teenager and I was very adamant about it. We even got a free vet visit included, she was spayed, had all her shots, luckily had no previous medical conditions, and already loved people. I say all this to say, there are a lot of benefits to adopting a pet. Many people have misconceptions of what it means. For example, that your pet will be sick somehow or have traumas you have to deal with. What I have to say about that is, unlike some animal shelters, what pet store do you know will tell you all the medical history of your new friend? Most of the time, these stores are just trying to make a sale (my opinion).
Anyway, humane slaughtering. I say all this to say, I think we should all think about where our meat comes from and if we are okay with putting some brands in our bodies. Some are more pricey than the generic brands that don't take better care of their animals, but I think it may be worth it.
What do you think?
Don't let other make the decision for you. Educate yourself on slaughterhouse procedures, meat providers, free range chickens, organic meat, kosher meat and etc.
Monday, July 16, 2012
You're an appetite.
Clients- Many times I find myself wishing my clients were this or I had more or they paid me more or blah blah- bratty bratty words. Then I check myself and think about how GREAT it is that these people even trust me enough to take on their brand or business. Me? Trust me? The girl who didn't go to school for this. Yup, they trust that girl. So wanting more from them, or more clients or credibility is me just being an appetite. The realism of the situation is that I can't handle more clients anyway, at this point. I am full.
Books- As I have blogged about before, I have found disappointment in myself when it comes to my novels. People laugh at me and say sly remarks about me publishing a book. In actuality, "What have you done lately?" should be my comment back. It doesn't matter how many copies I sold. It's the fact that it is out there for people to read. I put myself out there instead of having it saved on my computer for life. Perhaps one day they will be picked up by a bigger publishing company. Until that day, I am full.
Reminder: Look out for my new novel's release, Prequel to My ____ Life.
Education- Adults my age are collecting degrees like Pokemon. Bachelor's in Fine Arts, Master's in Business Administration, Certificate in Teaching, another Master's but in Event Planning. The list goes on for one person. ONE. Why? It's because they are an appetite. Many people hide behind the American economy and job positions, but I also think it's laziness. I may discuss this further in another blog, but briefly I want to say that going to school instead of being in it are two different things. One main difference is one is where you pay and the other is where you get paid. Do your degrees justice. Many times I find myself yelling at mine (sometimes literally). I tell them, "maybe you should have been a Bachelor's in Hospitality or Communications and Minor in Public Relations." Maybe my Master's should have been in Communications at a different school, instead of Public Administration at the same school. I've thought about getting a Ph.D in Creative Writing, but for now I am full.
I want I want I want. I take I take. As my grandmother has said many times, "Don't let your wants outweigh your needs". The second you do, you become an appetite and " if you stopped being greedy you'd die."
How full are you?
Speaking of appetites. On another note. I'd like to share with you one of my favorite Starbucks meals. Haha. I love their Tarragon Chicken salad sandwich. I may make fun of Starbucks (people in there with their Apple products) a lot but this sandwich is no joking matter. It's yummy. Although sometimes my salad is a little dry. It is so worth the like $6 I pay for it. It helps me stay full while writing diligently so I can go home.
*I've been wanting to share that for some reason.
Friday, July 6, 2012
ProjectMoveOut: Job Scams
Be warned! There are people out there taking advantage of the people who don't have money or jobs. As I searched for a job during these last few months, I came across an abnormal amount of these. Everything from sending me a $630 check a week to writing samples. The list is long. And it is our duty to report them (which I have yet done but will after this post).
LLT Marketing
I think I may have found this company on craigslist. The website was not a great one, but I didn't hold it against them because I worked at a graphic design haus. Then their process was a little weird. You had a phone interview and it was crazy loud. Then they told you someone would be sending you an email with further instructions. After that, you're supposed to do writing samples for them. And then continue you wait for one more email from someone else for your in person interview.
Things learned from LLT Marketing: When using craigslist as a job finder, make sure you look up the company. You can look them up after sending your resume (which should not have your personal information like home address). Google the company. Check out if they have a website. If the website is really basic, dig a little deeper. Check out their employees listed. Best tool to check out employees on is Linkedin. If there is no information about their CEO or founder on Linkedin, be weary. Also check if you have any 1st connections with anyone affiliated with the company.
When you have phone interviews with a company you are not familiar with, always have questions prepared to ask them. Ask about their biggest accomplishments, history of company and so on. Something that you can find more about online.
GOOGLE is your best tool to find anything from recent social media updates and anything said about the company. Click on News to find out most recent things about the company or affiliates.
I'd say if you don't want to do this for every inquiry, at least do it for the one that respond back.
Secret Shopper
This job started out as an ad on NJ.com for a personal assistant. The names change but the information stays relatively the same.
When you email them, they will say, "Actually this is a secret shopper job". Red flag.
I went along with this one just to see how it would end. Hey, if they actually sent me a $630 check for real, it would have been a pleasant surprise. Of course after a long sequence of back and forth emails. No phone interview. They sent me two bogus money orders. There is a picture of them on my twitter. AND on top of that they were $1,900.35. Yes, I was saddened by this greatly. In response I posted the money orders on my wall to remind me... One Day & Stay Strong.
What I learned from this scam was that there are actual secret shopper jobs out there. They DO NOT pay that much every week. If you are interested there is a company named Best Mark. I hear they are legitimate. Only down side is you always have to use money first and then get money back. I know this sounds like a scam but you go out and do whatever the secret shopping is and then they give reimburse you and throw in a couple more dollars. Its not for me, but that's cause you'd have to be very strategic and hope there is a lot of stuff near you. Probably more of a side job.
Franklin C. Wilkinson
Hello,
My name is Franklin C. Wilkinson. Thanks for responding to the job posted on craigslist. Am sorry to inform you that the position has been filled up. But I urgently need a part time personal assistant to run my errands until I return back to the US by fourth week in April, 2012. I live in US but presently in London on a business trip. I own an electronics and clothing store in London, United Kingdom. Here below are the job description.
1. You will run errands for three times a week and two hours each day. The working days are flexible.
2. You will do my business shopping.
3. You will receive my packages which will be shipped to the nearest UPS office to you. You will go to the UPS office and pick up the packages. The content of the packages are electronics, clothes, my business and personal letters. You will open the packages and confirm the contents for record purpose.
4. You will ship out some of the packages where I want them to be shipped to. (You don't have to pay for the shipment. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me)
5. You will receive payments from my clients on my behalf which will be written payable to your name so you can cash them at your bank. The payments will be in either check or money order. The payments will be for the services you will be rendering and to do my business shopping.
Job Requirement
1. You must have good communication skill.
2. You must be efficient, reliable, responsible and trustworthy.
3. You must be able to perform your tasks effectively
4. You should be able to work 3 times per week and 2 hours each day.
Payment and Work Duration
The Job will last for three months. I want to open another electronics and clothing store in the US when I return and If there is need to extend your services, an ammedment would be made to your wages and you will be notified accordingly. I will meet you in person by April when I return back to the US. I am willing to pay $300 per week. Your weekly payment will be deducted from the payments sent to you by my clients.
I need the service of a personal assistant because I am always out of town for business trips. The lists and pictures of what to shop will be sent to you via email when am ready. No heavy packages are involved! The shopping will be done at any nearest stores to you. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothes. My personal UPS account number will be provided for shipping. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task to be done and funds to cover them.
If you are interested in the part time personal assistant position, Please confirm the following details:
Your Full Name:
Your Full Address with apt # (Not P.O.Box)
Your Cell phone number
Your Home phone number
Present Occupation:
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Franklin Wilkinson
Tel: +447733847021
Technically I don't know for sure if this one is a job scam because I didn't go further into it. I did google the man, and from what I found out, there was a guy who died that had that name. He died a few days before I received this email, 2 years prior. Creepy right. Therefore I didn't try finding out more.
Tip: Never pursue a job that has a lot to do with money transaction and foreign goods. Sketchy and possibly illegal.
There were a couple more but I couldn't remember them all. Make sure you don't put your home address on your resume. I don't care what anyone else says. It's not safe even in a legitimate company. Instead place the name of your city and state. That's it. Phone numbers, if it's unknown or a weird number, it can't hurt to send it to voice-mail. LESSON IN LIFE: if something is important enough, people will leave a voice-mail or call again. So do not worry. You can always call back.
All my job hunters out there, be safe because apparently you are a target. Scams can be found anywhere. Trust me, I have learned this. In the end, don't be discouraged. This may make you want to just stay in the hole you're in, but instead use it as your learning experience and share with others. Involve family and friends in your job search. There are no other people who want to see you succeed more.
Job Scammer Blog
LLT Marketing
I think I may have found this company on craigslist. The website was not a great one, but I didn't hold it against them because I worked at a graphic design haus. Then their process was a little weird. You had a phone interview and it was crazy loud. Then they told you someone would be sending you an email with further instructions. After that, you're supposed to do writing samples for them. And then continue you wait for one more email from someone else for your in person interview.
Things learned from LLT Marketing: When using craigslist as a job finder, make sure you look up the company. You can look them up after sending your resume (which should not have your personal information like home address). Google the company. Check out if they have a website. If the website is really basic, dig a little deeper. Check out their employees listed. Best tool to check out employees on is Linkedin. If there is no information about their CEO or founder on Linkedin, be weary. Also check if you have any 1st connections with anyone affiliated with the company.
When you have phone interviews with a company you are not familiar with, always have questions prepared to ask them. Ask about their biggest accomplishments, history of company and so on. Something that you can find more about online.
GOOGLE is your best tool to find anything from recent social media updates and anything said about the company. Click on News to find out most recent things about the company or affiliates.
I'd say if you don't want to do this for every inquiry, at least do it for the one that respond back.
Secret Shopper
When you email them, they will say, "Actually this is a secret shopper job". Red flag.
I went along with this one just to see how it would end. Hey, if they actually sent me a $630 check for real, it would have been a pleasant surprise. Of course after a long sequence of back and forth emails. No phone interview. They sent me two bogus money orders. There is a picture of them on my twitter. AND on top of that they were $1,900.35. Yes, I was saddened by this greatly. In response I posted the money orders on my wall to remind me... One Day & Stay Strong.
What I learned from this scam was that there are actual secret shopper jobs out there. They DO NOT pay that much every week. If you are interested there is a company named Best Mark. I hear they are legitimate. Only down side is you always have to use money first and then get money back. I know this sounds like a scam but you go out and do whatever the secret shopping is and then they give reimburse you and throw in a couple more dollars. Its not for me, but that's cause you'd have to be very strategic and hope there is a lot of stuff near you. Probably more of a side job.
Franklin C. Wilkinson
Hello,
My name is Franklin C. Wilkinson. Thanks for responding to the job posted on craigslist. Am sorry to inform you that the position has been filled up. But I urgently need a part time personal assistant to run my errands until I return back to the US by fourth week in April, 2012. I live in US but presently in London on a business trip. I own an electronics and clothing store in London, United Kingdom. Here below are the job description.
1. You will run errands for three times a week and two hours each day. The working days are flexible.
2. You will do my business shopping.
3. You will receive my packages which will be shipped to the nearest UPS office to you. You will go to the UPS office and pick up the packages. The content of the packages are electronics, clothes, my business and personal letters. You will open the packages and confirm the contents for record purpose.
4. You will ship out some of the packages where I want them to be shipped to. (You don't have to pay for the shipment. All expenses and taxes will be covered by me)
5. You will receive payments from my clients on my behalf which will be written payable to your name so you can cash them at your bank. The payments will be in either check or money order. The payments will be for the services you will be rendering and to do my business shopping.
Job Requirement
1. You must have good communication skill.
2. You must be efficient, reliable, responsible and trustworthy.
3. You must be able to perform your tasks effectively
4. You should be able to work 3 times per week and 2 hours each day.
Payment and Work Duration
The Job will last for three months. I want to open another electronics and clothing store in the US when I return and If there is need to extend your services, an ammedment would be made to your wages and you will be notified accordingly. I will meet you in person by April when I return back to the US. I am willing to pay $300 per week. Your weekly payment will be deducted from the payments sent to you by my clients.
I need the service of a personal assistant because I am always out of town for business trips. The lists and pictures of what to shop will be sent to you via email when am ready. No heavy packages are involved! The shopping will be done at any nearest stores to you. You will be shopping for Electronics and clothes. My personal UPS account number will be provided for shipping. I will provide clear set of instructions for each task to be done and funds to cover them.
If you are interested in the part time personal assistant position, Please confirm the following details:
Your Full Name:
Your Full Address with apt # (Not P.O.Box)
Your Cell phone number
Your Home phone number
Present Occupation:
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Franklin Wilkinson
Tel: +447733847021
Technically I don't know for sure if this one is a job scam because I didn't go further into it. I did google the man, and from what I found out, there was a guy who died that had that name. He died a few days before I received this email, 2 years prior. Creepy right. Therefore I didn't try finding out more.
Tip: Never pursue a job that has a lot to do with money transaction and foreign goods. Sketchy and possibly illegal.
There were a couple more but I couldn't remember them all. Make sure you don't put your home address on your resume. I don't care what anyone else says. It's not safe even in a legitimate company. Instead place the name of your city and state. That's it. Phone numbers, if it's unknown or a weird number, it can't hurt to send it to voice-mail. LESSON IN LIFE: if something is important enough, people will leave a voice-mail or call again. So do not worry. You can always call back.
All my job hunters out there, be safe because apparently you are a target. Scams can be found anywhere. Trust me, I have learned this. In the end, don't be discouraged. This may make you want to just stay in the hole you're in, but instead use it as your learning experience and share with others. Involve family and friends in your job search. There are no other people who want to see you succeed more.
Job Scammer Blog
Monday, July 2, 2012
Tell me Your Opinion
As time winds down, there becomes more and more preparations needed to finish a novel. Right now me and my photographer want to hear what you think about the options we've narrowed it down to. Which is your favorite and why. My vision for the cover is "Beautiful Disaster".
Visit the RC3 Flickr
You can also leave comments to help us decide.
Thanks in advance!
Visit the RC3 Flickr
You can also leave comments to help us decide.
Thanks in advance!
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