As for my job, I look forward to the possibilities that may be awaiting, but am trying to be both optimistic and realistic.  Just The Web is doing really well, and Zeruck is handling it’s own.  Very soon we should have both very stable and a great system in place.

Overall,  I am just trying to not be as anxious and anal about things and be more optimistic about people.  I hope this year goes well for everyone, including myself.  Happy New Year everyone!

STOP ASKING ME FOR A CREDIT CARD!

I have never lost or not returned a movie, and I do not rent video games from you all.  And seeing as how there are “no late fees” supposedly, I should not be asked for a credit card every time I come to check out a movie!  But this being the third time in 5 months or so, they are batting 100%.  When asked, “Do you have a credit card to put on file,” I answered no, and that I would like to be excluded from being asked every time I come.  The response was, “Well do you rent games?”  I informed them no, and asked if they can mark that down for me.  The cashier then gave me a very energetic and enthusiastic (sarcasm) “I can see what I can do” and then informed me when my movie needs to be returned.

Not only am I displeased with the fact that the movie rental prices have gone up, but the fact that I get questioned on why I do not have a credit card on file everytime is extremely annoying.  And please don’t tell me that’s to cover their loses.  They get the movies at a very cheap rate, and I would assume that 2 rentals covers that cost.  So if you work at Blockbuster, here’s a tip:  Ask the question if you must ask, and then remove that flag off of the person’s account so they aren’t asked next time.  We would appreciate it.

I am not sure what can be done, or if this is a hopeless search, but if anyone knows of a way that I can shave in the shower without having the clean the mirror off and shave a spot, and repeat until I am cleanly shaved, please let me know.

Also, please keep recommendations to only those items that you have first hand knowledge.

Why do they need to have some guy saying, “I did the math on this never ending pasta combination, and there’s 42 different possibilities!” And then the lame comeback by his friend, “While you’re doing the math, I’m doing the marinara.” Or whatever the hell they say.  What the hell Olive Garden?  How is that funny or needed?  Then you finish up the awesome commercial with, “Wow math has never tasted so good” <input canned laughter>.   I seriously would have told whoever that was at my table that their talking privileges have been revoked.

This is what you do, Olive Garden V.P. of Marketing: STOP THE CURRENT COMMERCIALS AND FIRE WHOEVER MADE THOSE DECISIONS.  Return to informing your customers about your food, with close-ups of pasta.  That is what is going to get people to come there.  Did you do any focus group testing on this advertising?  How much money did you waste by throwing these horrible commercials into TV land?

Better yet, let me give you the phone number of my girlfriend who is great at Marketing, and she’ll quickly inform you all how retarded your ads have been.  Finally, let’s just focus on what works for food/restuarant companies, showing what kind of food you have and the promotions on those items, and ignore the fact that everyone else does funny ads, because it doesn’t work for you.

Basically pennies on the dollar could mean $.99 on the $1.  After all, 99 pennies still fits the phrase and that’s 1% savings, which to anyone is shit. Put it this way, going to go to a department store because they have your favorite brand on sale for 1% would absolutely annoy anyone. Unless we are talking about a very large purchase (car, boat, house) 1% does not seem like a very good deal. Yet when watching infomercials early in the morning, the salesperson is trying to convince me that “pennies on the dollar” would mean huge savings.

Of course it would be, but that wouldn’t leave them a very good profit, so we can assume we are not getting the greatest deal of our lives like the advertisement suggestions. Anyhow, just wanted to share with you all my random thought process after a night of consuming adult beverages, chowing down on some cereal before bed.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Who Am I?

I am under 45 years old,
I love the outdoors,
I hunt,
I am a Republican reformer,
I have taken on the Republican party establishment,
I have many children,
I have a spot on the national ticket as vice president with less than two years in the governor’s office.

Did you guess?

I am Teddy Roosevelt in 1900.

So I searched on the net and found some information from Snopes.com regarding this email.

This is where the similarities stop.

First Argument: Academics

Roosevelt graduated from Harvard cum laude with a degree in government and history. Then went to Columbia Law School. He was also an author of many papers regarding politics and history.

Palin has a bachelor of science in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho.

Point: Definitely goes to Roosevelt. Palin studied how to act like she knows something and can do a decent job of speaking. Roosevelt KNEW what he was talking about. It’s also sad when I have more degrees then the possible VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!

Second argument: Military/Law Enforcement Experience

Roosevelt: Deputy Sherrif, capitain of the NY National Guard, colonel in the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, and veteran of the Spanish-American War.

Palin: Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Oh but wait, McCain was a P.O.W. so I guess she doesn’t need to have any experience there.

Point: Uh not Palin.

Third Argument: Politics

Roosevelt: Member of the NY state assembly, U.S. civil service commissioner, NYC police commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, governor of NEW YORK.

Palin: City council member and mayor of Wasilla Alaska, governor of Alaska.

Point: Well seeing as how Wasilla has a population of around 9,780, and Alaska has a population of around 683,478 (47th in the U.S.) compared to the population of New York City being around 2,050,600 in 1898. I am going to award the point again to Roosevelt.

The point of me ranting about this article is this: Do not try and argue a point as minute as “loves to hunt, is younger than 45, is a Republican, etc.” if the rest of the data does not correlate. What people need to understand is that this is a Job and a very important one at that. We cannot “glance” over someone’s resume and see that they graduated from a college, was a governor, and a mayor and consider that golden. We need to examine what college they attended (if you didn’t know, not all colleges are created equal), what city they were mayor, and what state they were governor. Without looking at the specifics, we don’t get the full picture.

So the next time someone tries to inform you something like this, please review the facts and surrounding information before you make a rash decision that someone is qualified to be VP because they too had similarities with a good politician like Teddy Roosevelt.

I had to write an article about this.  It’s basically like she doesn’t know what he’s talking about so she just makes up whatever she wants.  She could use this answer I once gave on an exam for which I knew nothing about the answer.

“Due to the fact that I haven’t been informed to the highest degree of accuracy, I hesitate to articulate in fear of deviating from the true course of rectitude.”

Instead she doesn’t want to seem like she may not know about something or say, “You know, I would have to think about that” or anything of the sort.  Instead she just rambles on and ignores her ignorance and spews out whatever.

I am scared that she could be VP because she doesn’t have any experience.  And even more scared because she has a legitimate chance of being Pres b/c of McCain’s age.  I am not saying I hate McCain or love Obama, I am saying that she has no clue what is going on and in no way should have been chosen as a running mate.  Whatever vote I was going to choose, I can’t ignore that she would be a huge liability if McCain was elected due to this lack of experience.

On a brighter note, I will be working on learning Ruby on Rails to not only open up an opportunity for Justin and I to move on to bigger and better things, but to make some good cash so I can afford my loans that will be burdening me soon enough.  I also have a thought about changing my look, which I may link a photo to if I decide to do it.

Lastly, I just wanted everyone to download a song that has recently stuck with me (I heard it from a friend at work) ….. Artist: Shiny Toy Guns Song: Rainy Monday.  Anyhow, hopefully soon I will be in a more cheerful mood and that life will be on an upturn.  Hope all is going well for everyone else.  Will write soon!

Ok, now for my rant. I have never paid for towels at anytime during my membership and I was actually told that towels are free. Now when they first approached me of this, I talked to the person who setup my account who quickly denied saying that to me, and I quote, “I have never told anyone that, you’ve always had to pay for towels.”

Next, the overcrowding. There are more people in the gym when I try to go, then there are in Tulsa. I think people from other cities may be coming in because it’s ridiculous.

Lastly, the upkeep. There was a point where one of the basketball goals was not able to have the rim be square because of one single bolt, yet it took several months to fix. They also choose not to fix other small things in a timely manner, instead giving away PLASMA TVs! for inviting new people in. I mean seriously? Why not keep your current customers first and then try to expand. Sounds like AOL in one of my last research papers from college. Anyhow, I will be done with them in a bit and have the gym at my work that will suffice. Exercise and be healthy.

So for any person that drives a KIA, I will look at you and think “does this dumbass know which side his gas tank is on?” just because of the commercial. Sorry for all you KIA drivers, I am now blinded by the all mighty television and must therefore label you as dumb. Anyone drive a KIA care to defend the makers of you car who make you look so foolish, I’d be glad to hear from you.
Just wanted to rant and get my mind off of some things. Looking to make this blog a little more livelier than normal, and would glad to hear any opinions.