Unbelievable--- but totally predictable: Obama has produced his long form birth certificate and the Birthers are still at it. It makes me sick to my stomach.
Pathetic.
Facts don't matter to Birthers. To them, our President is an alien, Muslim Manchurian Candidate who cheated his way into college and law school to become head of the Harvard Law Review.
He's black, you see. (OK, half black. That's too black for too many people.) Black people and half-blacks can't possibly be qualified to be President of the United States. It has never happened before and never should have happened. They're inferior; why, everybody knows that!
Tell lies long enough and people start believing them. We told lies about black people for hundreds of years; we're still telling lies about them. They're supposed to be servants, not leaders.
It's all a bunch of hogwash. It sickens me. It disgusts me. It makes me furious!
Read it and weep...
http://www.thegrio.com/politics/why-obama-shouldnt-have-had-to-show-his-papers.php
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Can You Help? Please Let Me Know, Either Way
REQUEST!!!!
The new Elance policy requiring providers to pay connect fees just to ask follow-up, clarifying question of buyers to determine if a project is a good fit is causing me to spend three times the connect fees and three times the search time to find work. I complained mightily, but they're sticking to their guns (at least for now). It is infuriating and will bankrupt my business unless I triple my fees! I refuse to do that (they're already $50/hour) because I care about small businesses and want to accommodate their budgets, not Elance's unbridled lust for even greater profits taken from providers' hard work and concerted efforts.
I need to find additional ways to reach new clients so these onsite thieves can't keep stealing from me with inventive new ways to require additional connect fees for simply introducing buyers and providers to each other. (They get connect fees and 7.75% to 8.75% of every job I complete!)
I'd rather work via Paypal these days.
You know, I didn't object when the Elance system was actually fair. It worked well for everyone when buyers and providers could talk to each other for free BEFORE paying for a bid (as all other companies and candidates do when seeking a mutual working agreement) to determine if an association would be a good fit. I even praised them to the moon, back in the day! Their system worked and they were the best. They're still the best, but these days they are only for themslves, not for the people they're supposedly "serving."
Suddenly everything is stacked in Elance's favor. Their customers are getting shafted. Elance doesn't reach out to help buyers write decent project descriptions so that providers will know enough about a project to know how (or whether) to bid on it BEFORE they pay a connect fee to bid. So both parties (buyers and providers) are given too little to work with. It's absurd!
I've written an email to introduce my services which you can use, if you will, to let your network of business associates (non-competing) know about me. I wrote the intro email for you, so you'll only have to tweak it, if it doesn't sound as much like you as you'd like; otherwise, you can just use it as it is.
Please let me know if you're willing to help me out in this way. I need to take advantage of every inexpensive, word-of-mouth avenue I have to keep on keepin' on. Sitting at my PC six hours a day paying connect fees just to find one POTENTIALLYdecent project is NOT cutting it. Maybe if I got every job I bid on, it would be, but that doesn't happen online any more than it does in a face-to-face interview.Thanks!
Kris Smith
Email address: kristinemsmith @ msn DOT com
Business and Book Website: http://kristinemsmith.biz/
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
OMG! The Birthers are Out In Force Again!
I really should just let this one go, like all the LEGITIMATE news agencies out there who have long since cast it aside as a "ludicrous" claim, but I need to make one more go at it before I retire my "Defense of Obama as a Citizen" campaign.
Let's take this from the date of Obama's birth. In order for a conspiracy to have taken place, the following would have had to happen:
The powers that be in Hawaii--birth certificate folks and both of the largest Hawaiian newspapers-- would have had to have the foresight of God Almighty and know that the newborn would one day run for President in order to create and publish a bogus certificate of birth and a birth announcement for newborn Barack Hussein Obama.
That should be enough right there to prove Obama's legitimate claim to being an American citizen since no one in Hawaii (to my knowledge) has the foreknowledge of God.
The folks who do background checks regarding the legitimacy of candidates (including George Bush's Homeland Security, since this particular candidate carried the name Barack Hussein Obama) would have had to overlook/ignore the flashing neon sign (his name) that indicated, "This guy sounds entirely foreign (not to mention Muslim/Arabic... a big red flag in a paranoid, post-911 world). Is he legitimately an American?"
All of the questioning about Obama's legitimacy would, by now, have been PROVEN legitimate had there been a shred of evidence to support it. Enough legitimate news reporters have rifled through the evidence and deemed the assertion that Obama is not an American citizen "ludicrous." Even billionaire Donald Trump says he has investigators on the ground checking out the matter and what they've discovered is.... "unbelievable."
But he stops there. No additional information. All right, already. Let's demand to find out what his PI's discovered. Let's not accept "unbelievable" as his final word.
If what Trump's noses-on-the-ground have uncovered is shocking, smoking gun news, it is of MAJOR importance and he is holding all of America hostage in refusing to release the information (that which he has seen so far for him to be able to call it "unbelievable.")
This is all a game to Trump. He knows better. He's no dummy. He's gathering the paranoid supporters he needs from all corners of the country so he can capitalize on them. He's all about capitalism, you know. He capitalizes on EVERYTHING, including paranoia and propaganda. He's a grand master at it.
Hawaiian officials have repeatedly--for the assurance of reasonable people--certified that Obama was born in Hawaii as their Certificate of Live Birth shows, as the birth announcements in two Hawaiian newspapers show, as ALL EVIDENCE shows.
People keep asking, "Why doesn't HE show proof?" My response is, "What good would that do? The authorities in Hawaii have shown proof, and you see where that got them."
Obama doesn't have the actual birth certificate in his possession. (Do you have YOURS? No, you have a "certified" copy with a raised seal.) Hawaiian authorities don't allow the release of original birth documents any more than YOUR county does.
And Obama has been mighty busy focusing on legitimate concerns, if you haven't heard, digging us out of the mess we got ourselves into between 2000 and 2008. If he engaged in this nonsense, it would be a never-ending story. Why? For obvious reasons:
Because birthers don't want and won't accept proof, because they don't believe the proof. They want this President de-legimitized and cast out. They don't like what/who they see in the White House these days--whether because he's half black, or smart, or getting things done that THEY don't want to see him doing. For whatever reason, they just pain don't want him there.
And it is people like these who may well feel a sense of satisfaction if another killer comes along and settles the matter once and for all with bullets.
Continued queries into the legitimacy of this President makes crazies with guns want to "patriotically act out" and become judge, jury and executioner. Remember John Wilkes Booth and his cronies? Remember Sirhan Sirhan? Remember Gabby Giffords' assailant?
This shit has to stop. I don't want our President assassinated because a bunch of people continue to repeat propaganda that has been soundly disqualified as a legitimate issue.
Vote him out if you don't like him and think you can, Birthers. Just don't help assassinate him!
Disagree with his policies. Get involved in the campaign to defeat him. But do it legitimately, not with bogus, incendiary Birther bullshit.
'Nuf said. I'm getting angry now... but it covers my fear that our President will be assassinated by some jerk who can't see the forest for all the Trump/Beck/Limbaugh/Faux News trees.
Even Karl Rove, for God's sake (snake in the garden of the GOP), calls birther nonsense what it is.
You're barking up a tree that will get Obama re-elected to office by a LANDSLIDE if you keep this up. So if you care about that, stop this nonsense for your own good, unless you're just hoping to incite the next assassin to some outrageous act of violence.
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/obamabirth.php
Let's take this from the date of Obama's birth. In order for a conspiracy to have taken place, the following would have had to happen:
The powers that be in Hawaii--birth certificate folks and both of the largest Hawaiian newspapers-- would have had to have the foresight of God Almighty and know that the newborn would one day run for President in order to create and publish a bogus certificate of birth and a birth announcement for newborn Barack Hussein Obama.
That should be enough right there to prove Obama's legitimate claim to being an American citizen since no one in Hawaii (to my knowledge) has the foreknowledge of God.
The folks who do background checks regarding the legitimacy of candidates (including George Bush's Homeland Security, since this particular candidate carried the name Barack Hussein Obama) would have had to overlook/ignore the flashing neon sign (his name) that indicated, "This guy sounds entirely foreign (not to mention Muslim/Arabic... a big red flag in a paranoid, post-911 world). Is he legitimately an American?"
All of the questioning about Obama's legitimacy would, by now, have been PROVEN legitimate had there been a shred of evidence to support it. Enough legitimate news reporters have rifled through the evidence and deemed the assertion that Obama is not an American citizen "ludicrous." Even billionaire Donald Trump says he has investigators on the ground checking out the matter and what they've discovered is.... "unbelievable."
But he stops there. No additional information. All right, already. Let's demand to find out what his PI's discovered. Let's not accept "unbelievable" as his final word.
If what Trump's noses-on-the-ground have uncovered is shocking, smoking gun news, it is of MAJOR importance and he is holding all of America hostage in refusing to release the information (that which he has seen so far for him to be able to call it "unbelievable.")
This is all a game to Trump. He knows better. He's no dummy. He's gathering the paranoid supporters he needs from all corners of the country so he can capitalize on them. He's all about capitalism, you know. He capitalizes on EVERYTHING, including paranoia and propaganda. He's a grand master at it.
Hawaiian officials have repeatedly--for the assurance of reasonable people--certified that Obama was born in Hawaii as their Certificate of Live Birth shows, as the birth announcements in two Hawaiian newspapers show, as ALL EVIDENCE shows.
People keep asking, "Why doesn't HE show proof?" My response is, "What good would that do? The authorities in Hawaii have shown proof, and you see where that got them."
Obama doesn't have the actual birth certificate in his possession. (Do you have YOURS? No, you have a "certified" copy with a raised seal.) Hawaiian authorities don't allow the release of original birth documents any more than YOUR county does.
And Obama has been mighty busy focusing on legitimate concerns, if you haven't heard, digging us out of the mess we got ourselves into between 2000 and 2008. If he engaged in this nonsense, it would be a never-ending story. Why? For obvious reasons:
Because birthers don't want and won't accept proof, because they don't believe the proof. They want this President de-legimitized and cast out. They don't like what/who they see in the White House these days--whether because he's half black, or smart, or getting things done that THEY don't want to see him doing. For whatever reason, they just pain don't want him there.
And it is people like these who may well feel a sense of satisfaction if another killer comes along and settles the matter once and for all with bullets.
Continued queries into the legitimacy of this President makes crazies with guns want to "patriotically act out" and become judge, jury and executioner. Remember John Wilkes Booth and his cronies? Remember Sirhan Sirhan? Remember Gabby Giffords' assailant?
This shit has to stop. I don't want our President assassinated because a bunch of people continue to repeat propaganda that has been soundly disqualified as a legitimate issue.
Vote him out if you don't like him and think you can, Birthers. Just don't help assassinate him!
Disagree with his policies. Get involved in the campaign to defeat him. But do it legitimately, not with bogus, incendiary Birther bullshit.
'Nuf said. I'm getting angry now... but it covers my fear that our President will be assassinated by some jerk who can't see the forest for all the Trump/Beck/Limbaugh/Faux News trees.
Even Karl Rove, for God's sake (snake in the garden of the GOP), calls birther nonsense what it is.
You're barking up a tree that will get Obama re-elected to office by a LANDSLIDE if you keep this up. So if you care about that, stop this nonsense for your own good, unless you're just hoping to incite the next assassin to some outrageous act of violence.
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/obamabirth.php
Leave it to Jon Stewart to have the last laugh...
Monday, April 18, 2011
Laverne's Sporty New Head Gear
(You can see larger images of these on my Facebook page.)
So today I went to the Dollar Store and bought two sporty rubber balls, sliced a hole into each one with my handy dandy deer knife (which I would never use on a deer or any other critter), and ran some Super Glue inside, then pushed them onto the end of her horns. Voila!! Instant protection for Shirley and anyone else who's within range of her head.
Now when we trim Laverne's hooves we don't have to worry about her rearing up or thrashing her head about and wounding anyone with her horns.
Yeah, it looks pretty dorky, but IT WORKS!
Shirley's horns are growing in a nice arc right over her neck and back, so the points on hers don't pose a threat... otherwise, she would have received a pair of soccer balls to match her white coat.
My girls MUST remain color-coordinated, you know! LOL!
Friday, April 15, 2011
THE CONSPIRATOR: OMG!!! WHAT A MOVIE!!!
I just got back from seeing Robert Redford's THE CONSPIRATOR. What a movie! I can understand why this is a part of history that we innocent young things DIDN'T learn about in our history books. It was riveting, appalling, and ultimately very, very sad. I don't want to give any of the story line or scenes away, so you must, must must go see it for yourself. You will be richly rewarded in a very sobering way.
It's just fabulous. It's based on actual events and transcripts of the trial, so it's reliable history. It's upsetting as hell. Really, really upsetting.
I was also stunned to see how well actor James McAvoy reproduced American English. I saw him on a show this week (Piers Morgan with the rest of the CONSPIRATOR stars) and could barely understand him with his thick English accent. In fact. I couldn't catch a lot of what he said... so I was a little hesitant to see the movie until Morgan mentioned during the show how well McAvoy has reproduced "Yankee" dialect. Truly, truly amazing! I didn't catch any boo boos at all. A great performance, all in all.
I expect this movie will win awards left and right. It's something I plan to see again, or buy.
It's just fabulous. It's based on actual events and transcripts of the trial, so it's reliable history. It's upsetting as hell. Really, really upsetting.
I was also stunned to see how well actor James McAvoy reproduced American English. I saw him on a show this week (Piers Morgan with the rest of the CONSPIRATOR stars) and could barely understand him with his thick English accent. In fact. I couldn't catch a lot of what he said... so I was a little hesitant to see the movie until Morgan mentioned during the show how well McAvoy has reproduced "Yankee" dialect. Truly, truly amazing! I didn't catch any boo boos at all. A great performance, all in all.
I expect this movie will win awards left and right. It's something I plan to see again, or buy.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
From David Plouffe...
President Obama's framework has four key parts:
Budget Cuts. Last week, President Obama worked with Democrats and Republicans on a budget compromise that represents the largest spending cut in our history. The President's approach builds on that compromise and will save us $770 billion over twelve years.
Security Spending. Working with Secretary of Defense Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, we will cut $400 billion by 2023 out of defense spending by eliminating waste and inefficiencies while ensuring that our troops have the resources they need to protect our national security.
Health Care Costs. The President's approach to reforming Medicare and Medicaid keeps our commitments to seniors, people with disabilities, and children while reducing health care spending. These reforms will help us save $480 billion by 2023 and an additional $1 trillion in the decade after that.
Tax Reform. The President called for closing loopholes and letting the Bush era high income tax cuts -- which we simply cannot afford -- expire. The President is also calling on Congress to reform the individual tax code so that it is fair and simple so the amount of taxes you pay isn't determined by what kind of accountant you can afford. Those savings would be devoted to reducing tax rates and the deficit.
The President's approach also calls for something that we don't see enough of in Washington -- accountability. If this approach isn't on target by 2014, the President is proposing a "debt failsafe" trigger that would require across the board spending cuts, including spending in the tax code.
Budget Cuts. Last week, President Obama worked with Democrats and Republicans on a budget compromise that represents the largest spending cut in our history. The President's approach builds on that compromise and will save us $770 billion over twelve years.
Security Spending. Working with Secretary of Defense Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, we will cut $400 billion by 2023 out of defense spending by eliminating waste and inefficiencies while ensuring that our troops have the resources they need to protect our national security.
Health Care Costs. The President's approach to reforming Medicare and Medicaid keeps our commitments to seniors, people with disabilities, and children while reducing health care spending. These reforms will help us save $480 billion by 2023 and an additional $1 trillion in the decade after that.
Tax Reform. The President called for closing loopholes and letting the Bush era high income tax cuts -- which we simply cannot afford -- expire. The President is also calling on Congress to reform the individual tax code so that it is fair and simple so the amount of taxes you pay isn't determined by what kind of accountant you can afford. Those savings would be devoted to reducing tax rates and the deficit.
The President's approach also calls for something that we don't see enough of in Washington -- accountability. If this approach isn't on target by 2014, the President is proposing a "debt failsafe" trigger that would require across the board spending cuts, including spending in the tax code.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Excerpts From President Obama's Speech Today
If you missed President Obama's speech earlier today, some excerpts are below:
1. "Our approach lowers the government's health care bills by reducing the cost of health care itself.
"Already, the reforms we passed in the health care law will reduce our deficit by $1 trillion. My approach would build on these reforms. We will reduce wasteful subsidies and erroneous payments. We will cut spending on prescription drugs by using Medicare's purchasing power to drive greater efficiency and speed generic brands of medicine onto the market. We will work with governors of both parties to demand more efficiency and accountability from Medicaid. We will change the way we pay for health care -- not by procedure or the number of days spent in a hospital, but with new incentives for doctors and hospitals to prevent injuries and improve results. And we will slow the growth of Medicare costs by strengthening an independent commission of doctors, nurses, medical experts and consumers who will look at all the evidence and recommend the best ways to reduce unnecessary spending while protecting access to the services seniors need."
2. "But let me be absolutely clear: I will preserve these health care programs as a promise we make to each other in this society. I will not allow Medicare to become a voucher program that leaves seniors at the mercy of the insurance industry, with a shrinking benefit to pay for rising costs. I will not tell families with children who have disabilities that they have to fend for themselves. We will reform these programs, but we will not abandon the fundamental commitment this country has kept for generations."
3. "In December, I agreed to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans because it was the only way I could prevent a tax hike on middle-class Americans. But we cannot afford $1 trillion worth of tax cuts for every millionaire and billionaire in our society. And I refuse to renew them again."
4. "This is my approach to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the next twelve years. It's an approach that achieves about $2 trillion in spending cuts across the budget. It will lower our interest payments on the debt by $1 trillion. It calls for tax reform to cut about $1 trillion in spending from the tax code. And it achieves these goals while protecting the middle class, our commitment to seniors, and our investments in the future.
"So this is our vision for America -- a vision where we live within our means while still investing in our future; where everyone makes sacrifices but no one bears all the burden; where we provide a basic measure of security for our citizens and rising opportunity for our children."
5. "But no matter what we argue or where we stand, we've always held certain beliefs as Americans. We believe that in order to preserve our own freedoms and pursue our own happiness, we can't just think about ourselves. We have to think about the country that made those liberties possible. We have to think about our fellow citizens with whom we share a community. And we have to think about what's required to preserve the American Dream for future generations.
"This sense of responsibility -- to each other and to our country -- this isn't a partisan feeling. It isn't a Democratic or Republican idea. It's patriotism."
Here's a link to the complete transcript. He hit this one out of the ballpark and drew the line in the sand. BRAVO!!!
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/13/6465318-president-obamas-deficit-speech
1. "Our approach lowers the government's health care bills by reducing the cost of health care itself.
"Already, the reforms we passed in the health care law will reduce our deficit by $1 trillion. My approach would build on these reforms. We will reduce wasteful subsidies and erroneous payments. We will cut spending on prescription drugs by using Medicare's purchasing power to drive greater efficiency and speed generic brands of medicine onto the market. We will work with governors of both parties to demand more efficiency and accountability from Medicaid. We will change the way we pay for health care -- not by procedure or the number of days spent in a hospital, but with new incentives for doctors and hospitals to prevent injuries and improve results. And we will slow the growth of Medicare costs by strengthening an independent commission of doctors, nurses, medical experts and consumers who will look at all the evidence and recommend the best ways to reduce unnecessary spending while protecting access to the services seniors need."
2. "But let me be absolutely clear: I will preserve these health care programs as a promise we make to each other in this society. I will not allow Medicare to become a voucher program that leaves seniors at the mercy of the insurance industry, with a shrinking benefit to pay for rising costs. I will not tell families with children who have disabilities that they have to fend for themselves. We will reform these programs, but we will not abandon the fundamental commitment this country has kept for generations."
3. "In December, I agreed to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans because it was the only way I could prevent a tax hike on middle-class Americans. But we cannot afford $1 trillion worth of tax cuts for every millionaire and billionaire in our society. And I refuse to renew them again."
4. "This is my approach to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the next twelve years. It's an approach that achieves about $2 trillion in spending cuts across the budget. It will lower our interest payments on the debt by $1 trillion. It calls for tax reform to cut about $1 trillion in spending from the tax code. And it achieves these goals while protecting the middle class, our commitment to seniors, and our investments in the future.
"So this is our vision for America -- a vision where we live within our means while still investing in our future; where everyone makes sacrifices but no one bears all the burden; where we provide a basic measure of security for our citizens and rising opportunity for our children."
5. "But no matter what we argue or where we stand, we've always held certain beliefs as Americans. We believe that in order to preserve our own freedoms and pursue our own happiness, we can't just think about ourselves. We have to think about the country that made those liberties possible. We have to think about our fellow citizens with whom we share a community. And we have to think about what's required to preserve the American Dream for future generations.
"This sense of responsibility -- to each other and to our country -- this isn't a partisan feeling. It isn't a Democratic or Republican idea. It's patriotism."
Here's a link to the complete transcript. He hit this one out of the ballpark and drew the line in the sand. BRAVO!!!
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/04/13/6465318-president-obamas-deficit-speech
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Miscommunication Musings
It's amazing how an innocent question can bring forth the wrath of an easily-offended "other." Luckily this kind of thing happens about as often as hens' teeth with me, but it's a case in point...
There was a writing project recently that I was very interested in bidding on because just last week I was looking online for (holy) Easter gifts and crafts and all I found were Easter bunnies, Easter chicks, and Easter egg-type offerings. That frustrated the starch out of me, because I was looking for Resurrection Sunday-type products and crafting ideas for the wee ones at church, now that I'm the nursery supervisor.
There was a "spot on" writing job online asking for a copywriter to write a series of articles about Easter/Resurrection Sunday products. Because I had already looked for this very type of thing (and found nothing), I asked the prospective client if he (or she) would be providing website URLs and other source materials for the project. I adapted a template query that usually reads...
"Since you're the expert on the subject, will you be providing the talking points for this project via a bulleted list or reputable website URLs, or will independent (completely undirected) research be required? Bids will vary enormously depending on your answer to this question. Please advise. Thanks!"
I changed the first line to read, "Since you're the expert on selling Easter,will you be providing..."
The response was blistering! It was apparently blasphemy that I had suggested s/he was selling Easter! Heck, I was DELIGHTED that someone was selling the REAL Easter for once!
The costliest part of this particular reactor's meltdown is that I was just getting ready to blog about his/her website so interested parties would know about it (whether or not I actually got the gig) because it sells RESURRECTION SUNDAY PRODUCTS, but the response to my question--which ended in a terse directive "not to bid on this project or any other we ever post"--killed the urge in its infancy.
I simply responded, "I'm sorry my question was misinterpreted" and left it at that...
Isn't that sad? I think so.
Not only will I refuse to buy from the company that treated me like pond scum, I also will not advertise their website URL for free on this blog... and I suspect that this blog entry will end up on the first or second page under "Easter/Resurrection Sunday products" whenever the search terms are googled.
A blog about THEIR website (or their website itself) could have been here right now, instead of this sad commentary. When they dissed me, they distanced themselves from their own cherished goal: high-profile, targeted traffic.
Tragic.
If this post has been instructive, please let me know. If it hasn't, I'm wasting time...and I loathe doing that...so think about it, OK?
Bottom Line: Don't treat people like pond scum--especially copywriters and other compassionate commentators. When you treat us like the "motivational speakers/writers" we are, we'll often go out of our way to do something nice for you without it costing you so much as a dime.
All things considered, I got the better end of this deal. I still have a stable of 100%-terrific clients. People on hair triggers need not apply.
There was a writing project recently that I was very interested in bidding on because just last week I was looking online for (holy) Easter gifts and crafts and all I found were Easter bunnies, Easter chicks, and Easter egg-type offerings. That frustrated the starch out of me, because I was looking for Resurrection Sunday-type products and crafting ideas for the wee ones at church, now that I'm the nursery supervisor.
There was a "spot on" writing job online asking for a copywriter to write a series of articles about Easter/Resurrection Sunday products. Because I had already looked for this very type of thing (and found nothing), I asked the prospective client if he (or she) would be providing website URLs and other source materials for the project. I adapted a template query that usually reads...
"Since you're the expert on the subject, will you be providing the talking points for this project via a bulleted list or reputable website URLs, or will independent (completely undirected) research be required? Bids will vary enormously depending on your answer to this question. Please advise. Thanks!"
I changed the first line to read, "Since you're the expert on selling Easter,will you be providing..."
The response was blistering! It was apparently blasphemy that I had suggested s/he was selling Easter! Heck, I was DELIGHTED that someone was selling the REAL Easter for once!
The costliest part of this particular reactor's meltdown is that I was just getting ready to blog about his/her website so interested parties would know about it (whether or not I actually got the gig) because it sells RESURRECTION SUNDAY PRODUCTS, but the response to my question--which ended in a terse directive "not to bid on this project or any other we ever post"--killed the urge in its infancy.
I simply responded, "I'm sorry my question was misinterpreted" and left it at that...
Isn't that sad? I think so.
Not only will I refuse to buy from the company that treated me like pond scum, I also will not advertise their website URL for free on this blog... and I suspect that this blog entry will end up on the first or second page under "Easter/Resurrection Sunday products" whenever the search terms are googled.
A blog about THEIR website (or their website itself) could have been here right now, instead of this sad commentary. When they dissed me, they distanced themselves from their own cherished goal: high-profile, targeted traffic.
Tragic.
If this post has been instructive, please let me know. If it hasn't, I'm wasting time...and I loathe doing that...so think about it, OK?
Bottom Line: Don't treat people like pond scum--especially copywriters and other compassionate commentators. When you treat us like the "motivational speakers/writers" we are, we'll often go out of our way to do something nice for you without it costing you so much as a dime.
All things considered, I got the better end of this deal. I still have a stable of 100%-terrific clients. People on hair triggers need not apply.
Two Quiet Days
I wrote some (professionally) this weekend, so two days of no work is not a big deal. I'm ahead of the game financially this month (for the first time in a long time) so instead of fretting, I'll write out a blog post. It seems weeks since I've done a decent job as a blogger. That's owing to busy-ness (business, too!), though. The spirit has been willing; it's the time that has been scarce!
My goat girls are outside in the sunshine enjoying their pasture; the dogs were outside until just now, but didn't look particularly happy about it, so I brought them in and put them in their "puppy pen."
I'm very much looking forward to seeing THE CONSPIRATOR this weekend, Director Robert Redford's look at the Lincoln assassination conspiracy. I'm a history buff--especially with regard to the Civil War era. I read all of Bruce Catton's Civil War books as a teenager and I've read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book on the Lincoln presidency. Just this week I saw the History Channel's take on the conspiracy and the tracking of John Wilkes Booth and his sidekick.
It's amazing how many details one can forget between decades (and sometimes mere years). I had forgotten that the Lincoln assassination was just a part of a larger conspiracy and that others were slated to be killed that fateful evening--the top three executives in the Administration (except for the VP). It's a truly horrifying scenario that played out. This is one assassination that truly was a conspiracy and can be documented as one.
I have a follow-up doctor appointment tomorrow that I'm not particularly looking forward to. I've been having some lower innards problems, so had a urinalysis done a week or so ago at Urgent Care. Everything was deemed fine EXCEPT that my billirubin (sp) is slightly elevated (just a point higher than normal limits). The doctor said he thought I might have a touch of diverticulosis, since my blood work doesn't show much else (other than that I have only one working kidney, which is standard equipment for me; a congenital situation). He says that may also be causing the slight elevation in the billirubin (the earlier records from my last GP hadn't arrived yet, so he could compare results), but he wants to rule out anything else that it might be (good kidney going south, liver disorder)... so he has sent me to my regular doctor for a follow-up. I'm sure that's probably going to require some physical poking and prodding -- always such a joy-NOT!
Getting blood taken doesn't bother me at all (poke away!); peeing in a cup doesn't bother me a bit, either. It's the rest of it that bothers me.
I'm completely unaccustomed to having other human beings hanging around my nether regions. I'm single, never been married. My private parts are mine alone--except when it comes to DOCTOR VISITS. Arghhhh! Just shoot me now--tomorrow is not looking like much fun to me...
When I was lived in Vegas three and a half decades ago (briefly), I saw Joan Rivers do a complete comedy routine on women's gynecology exams; we women roared while all of the men hunkered down in stunned, embarrassed silence.
She said, "Men go into battle, get shot at, and earn Purple Hearts. Women go to the doctor, put their heels into cold metal stirrups with nothing on below, get told to scrunch down as far as they can, and go through a helluva lot more than just getting shot at, and what do we get for that? A bill!"
Amen, sister!
I'm not a big fan of Rivers; she was Jerry Lewis's opening act in Vegas that night, but she had me in her hand, for sure, while Jerry lost me by making an embarrassing joke out of my request for a quick hug! He pretended to scratch himself down there and said, "No way! That's how I got crabs last time!" I was mortified! (NOW it's funny; THEN it was not!)
Fans forget that funnymen are onstage to be FUNNY--no matter what form funny takes. I gave him the opening--he ran with it.
What else? My mail carrier doesn't pick up the mail when I put the flag up. For days on end. Next time I am going to leave him a note. I'm going to tape it onto the front of the mailbox: "Mail Collection 101: When flag is UP, something is inside to pick up and deliver to the post office. Thank you!"
It's that or report his dereliction of duty to the post office. I want to give him a chance to do right before I take the next step, of course. That's only fair. I sincerely hope he takes the hint and recommits to exceeding (or at least meeting) my expectations...
My goat girls are outside in the sunshine enjoying their pasture; the dogs were outside until just now, but didn't look particularly happy about it, so I brought them in and put them in their "puppy pen."
I'm very much looking forward to seeing THE CONSPIRATOR this weekend, Director Robert Redford's look at the Lincoln assassination conspiracy. I'm a history buff--especially with regard to the Civil War era. I read all of Bruce Catton's Civil War books as a teenager and I've read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book on the Lincoln presidency. Just this week I saw the History Channel's take on the conspiracy and the tracking of John Wilkes Booth and his sidekick.
It's amazing how many details one can forget between decades (and sometimes mere years). I had forgotten that the Lincoln assassination was just a part of a larger conspiracy and that others were slated to be killed that fateful evening--the top three executives in the Administration (except for the VP). It's a truly horrifying scenario that played out. This is one assassination that truly was a conspiracy and can be documented as one.
I have a follow-up doctor appointment tomorrow that I'm not particularly looking forward to. I've been having some lower innards problems, so had a urinalysis done a week or so ago at Urgent Care. Everything was deemed fine EXCEPT that my billirubin (sp) is slightly elevated (just a point higher than normal limits). The doctor said he thought I might have a touch of diverticulosis, since my blood work doesn't show much else (other than that I have only one working kidney, which is standard equipment for me; a congenital situation). He says that may also be causing the slight elevation in the billirubin (the earlier records from my last GP hadn't arrived yet, so he could compare results), but he wants to rule out anything else that it might be (good kidney going south, liver disorder)... so he has sent me to my regular doctor for a follow-up. I'm sure that's probably going to require some physical poking and prodding -- always such a joy-NOT!
Getting blood taken doesn't bother me at all (poke away!); peeing in a cup doesn't bother me a bit, either. It's the rest of it that bothers me.
I'm completely unaccustomed to having other human beings hanging around my nether regions. I'm single, never been married. My private parts are mine alone--except when it comes to DOCTOR VISITS. Arghhhh! Just shoot me now--tomorrow is not looking like much fun to me...
When I was lived in Vegas three and a half decades ago (briefly), I saw Joan Rivers do a complete comedy routine on women's gynecology exams; we women roared while all of the men hunkered down in stunned, embarrassed silence.
She said, "Men go into battle, get shot at, and earn Purple Hearts. Women go to the doctor, put their heels into cold metal stirrups with nothing on below, get told to scrunch down as far as they can, and go through a helluva lot more than just getting shot at, and what do we get for that? A bill!"
Amen, sister!
I'm not a big fan of Rivers; she was Jerry Lewis's opening act in Vegas that night, but she had me in her hand, for sure, while Jerry lost me by making an embarrassing joke out of my request for a quick hug! He pretended to scratch himself down there and said, "No way! That's how I got crabs last time!" I was mortified! (NOW it's funny; THEN it was not!)
Fans forget that funnymen are onstage to be FUNNY--no matter what form funny takes. I gave him the opening--he ran with it.
What else? My mail carrier doesn't pick up the mail when I put the flag up. For days on end. Next time I am going to leave him a note. I'm going to tape it onto the front of the mailbox: "Mail Collection 101: When flag is UP, something is inside to pick up and deliver to the post office. Thank you!"
It's that or report his dereliction of duty to the post office. I want to give him a chance to do right before I take the next step, of course. That's only fair. I sincerely hope he takes the hint and recommits to exceeding (or at least meeting) my expectations...
Friday, April 8, 2011
THIS EXPLAINS IT ALL!
http://pandemicproject.com/uncategorized/the-power-of-rank-inferiority/
Based on science, the Pandemic Project exposes why most people are lazy, fearful, and willing to be led by "chimpanzees" rather than alpha males and females. After reading a few of these articles, I'm pretty well convinced the researchers are onto something here...
Based on science, the Pandemic Project exposes why most people are lazy, fearful, and willing to be led by "chimpanzees" rather than alpha males and females. After reading a few of these articles, I'm pretty well convinced the researchers are onto something here...
Thursday, April 7, 2011
At Last! Photos of the Goat Fence!
As I write this, my sister is downloading the photos on her digital camera to her PC. That means I'll have the ones I want in just a few minutes... Hallelujah!!!
I got the signs from Vistaprint today in the mail, so this is perfect timing because I put them on the fence and took photos of them with her camera already. So you'll get to see photos of your name on the fence (that is, you will if you contributed to the fence fund, you will!), the fence, and the girls enjoying their new pasture.
I estimate the fence is a little more than a third complete as it stands now. I'll be getting a couple hundred dollars' worth of fence panels and stakes every month or so, so I can extend it out frequently all spring and summer long until the entire area is fenced. (We're fencing the perimeter areas on two side of our property so Laverne and Shirley can eat the blackberry leaves and vines that pop up there from the neighbor's property and keep them at bay so we don't have to slash, burn and poison them to keep them off our place.)
Perhaps it goes without saying but I'll say it anyway: there is still plenty of time to donate to the fence fund if you're so inclined! But I'll be writing in the names of donors from now on since the signs have already been printed and I've been given no indication about who else may want to donate to this very worthy effort.
It is so much fun to look outside and see them enjoying their pasture area! Today Shirley went around the side of the building while Laverne wasn't paying attention. When she discovered her "missing," she just about lost her ever-lovin' mind. I heard her bawling at the top of her lungs, frantic, so looked out the window to find her running at warp speed all over the pasture and into the pen area (everywhere there was to run EXCEPT around the corner of the pen) bleating her heart out, looking for her sister!
A little panicked myself, I went outside and called, "Shirley!" Shirley bleated pleasantly and came to the fence where I could see her (but Laverne couldn't). Laverne continued to rocket all over the place yelling at the top of her considerable lungs. (I should have filmed it.) I had to go into the pen and call Shirley back into view so Laverne wouldn't have a stroke. As soon as Shirley came into view, Laverne went over to her and chilled out immediately.
It's amazing how bonded those two are--even though Laverne can be a real bully to her at feeding time.
Here's the link to the Sky Drive for more goat pix!
http://cid-6fb921adf044f220.photos.live.com/browse.aspx/Goat%20Pix
I got the signs from Vistaprint today in the mail, so this is perfect timing because I put them on the fence and took photos of them with her camera already. So you'll get to see photos of your name on the fence (that is, you will if you contributed to the fence fund, you will!), the fence, and the girls enjoying their new pasture.
I estimate the fence is a little more than a third complete as it stands now. I'll be getting a couple hundred dollars' worth of fence panels and stakes every month or so, so I can extend it out frequently all spring and summer long until the entire area is fenced. (We're fencing the perimeter areas on two side of our property so Laverne and Shirley can eat the blackberry leaves and vines that pop up there from the neighbor's property and keep them at bay so we don't have to slash, burn and poison them to keep them off our place.)
Perhaps it goes without saying but I'll say it anyway: there is still plenty of time to donate to the fence fund if you're so inclined! But I'll be writing in the names of donors from now on since the signs have already been printed and I've been given no indication about who else may want to donate to this very worthy effort.
It is so much fun to look outside and see them enjoying their pasture area! Today Shirley went around the side of the building while Laverne wasn't paying attention. When she discovered her "missing," she just about lost her ever-lovin' mind. I heard her bawling at the top of her lungs, frantic, so looked out the window to find her running at warp speed all over the pasture and into the pen area (everywhere there was to run EXCEPT around the corner of the pen) bleating her heart out, looking for her sister!
A little panicked myself, I went outside and called, "Shirley!" Shirley bleated pleasantly and came to the fence where I could see her (but Laverne couldn't). Laverne continued to rocket all over the place yelling at the top of her considerable lungs. (I should have filmed it.) I had to go into the pen and call Shirley back into view so Laverne wouldn't have a stroke. As soon as Shirley came into view, Laverne went over to her and chilled out immediately.
It's amazing how bonded those two are--even though Laverne can be a real bully to her at feeding time.
Here's the link to the Sky Drive for more goat pix!
http://cid-6fb921adf044f220.photos.live.com/browse.aspx/Goat%20Pix
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
OH God NO! Does Campaign Season NEVER END?!!!
I was on the phone last night with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. (I hasten to assure you, not all by myself--with a whole lot of other folks who supported them last time.) They want us to jump in again. Holy God! It seems like we were just at this yesterday! Has it really been two and a half years already? UNbelievable!
I'm weary, disheartened, and low energy. Don't get me wrong: I'm not disheartened by the Obama-Biden team--they've done many truly amazing things in the past two years. I'm disheartened by the Citizens United ruling which allows corporations to be "people" but allows them to spend unlimited amounts of money for their favorite pols even though a REAL human being can spend only $2400 on his or her favorite candidate per election cycle. That sucks big time. Most corporations don't even pay taxes--or if they do, they pay AFTER they've taken a gazillion tax write-offs or moved the headquarters overseas to Switzerland so they only have to pay 15% instead of the 35% they'd owe if they stayed here.
I am also mightily concerned that Japan's nuclear nightmare and the GP Gulf Coast oil spill haven't taught this Administration (that's you, Barack and Joe, heroes of mine) much about how much faith they should place on corporate posings about safety, environmental sensitivity and our ultimate survival on this small planet. That's my ONLY concern, but it's a big one; that, plus the fact that they are compromising with the GOP to a point now that the GOP wants it 100% their way since the Administration seems so happy to compromise and the Tea Party definitely isn't.
That said, the alternative--not voting at all in 2012, or voting for a return of the GOP into the White House--makes me feel sick to my stomach. So yes, I'm in. Not to the degree that I was, though. I'll be happy to write copy that advances our cause, and talk about my views with reasonable people who will actually listen...but I'm afraid my impact this time may be minimal. I frankly don't have the time or the inclination to get riled and ruffled every time I turn around... and it's impossible to get deeply involved in this nation without getting pretty passionate about it, I've found!
I'm weary, disheartened, and low energy. Don't get me wrong: I'm not disheartened by the Obama-Biden team--they've done many truly amazing things in the past two years. I'm disheartened by the Citizens United ruling which allows corporations to be "people" but allows them to spend unlimited amounts of money for their favorite pols even though a REAL human being can spend only $2400 on his or her favorite candidate per election cycle. That sucks big time. Most corporations don't even pay taxes--or if they do, they pay AFTER they've taken a gazillion tax write-offs or moved the headquarters overseas to Switzerland so they only have to pay 15% instead of the 35% they'd owe if they stayed here.
I am also mightily concerned that Japan's nuclear nightmare and the GP Gulf Coast oil spill haven't taught this Administration (that's you, Barack and Joe, heroes of mine) much about how much faith they should place on corporate posings about safety, environmental sensitivity and our ultimate survival on this small planet. That's my ONLY concern, but it's a big one; that, plus the fact that they are compromising with the GOP to a point now that the GOP wants it 100% their way since the Administration seems so happy to compromise and the Tea Party definitely isn't.
That said, the alternative--not voting at all in 2012, or voting for a return of the GOP into the White House--makes me feel sick to my stomach. So yes, I'm in. Not to the degree that I was, though. I'll be happy to write copy that advances our cause, and talk about my views with reasonable people who will actually listen...but I'm afraid my impact this time may be minimal. I frankly don't have the time or the inclination to get riled and ruffled every time I turn around... and it's impossible to get deeply involved in this nation without getting pretty passionate about it, I've found!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
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