They say you want a REVOLUTION

Okay, I'm all for (what used to be) my local MLS team, The New England Revolution, but when someone can't write a good PR copy, no team is immune.

What went out today, especially tweeted via the Revs' Twitter feed was explaining how three veteran members are currently eligible to enter into the MLS re-entry process of getting contracts and a team for 2012 (because the Revs declined the original contract options).

They are (the man with the mustache) Ryan Cochrane, Kheli Dube, and (one of my favourites) Pat Phelan. These men are within the age gap and MLS servitude that allows them the opportunity to either opt out of the current standings and processes and stay with their previously signed clubs, or continue with the Re Entry and perhaps get involved in other places.

As much as I have respect for my team, and although they've gone down hill this year (the firing of the tenured head coach Stevie Nicol, and being in absolute last place in the standings), I will always support them. I've been following the team since conception in the 90s and can remember when I would sit outside on a warm summer night, with a little hand held TV and watch the boys beat the other teams into submission. People make fun of me for watching soccer (football), but at least I'm passionate about something.

That being said, the Revs have also been posting job opportunities. So, since the PR team made a mistake in this article, can I have a job?

Cheers,

STOP CENSORSHIP

As you may have noticed, there's a new banner hanging out on the top of my blog. "Stop Censorship", where unfortunately, the link doesn't work, but it's to the American Censorship Now campaign.

According to the site, where "The US Congress is considering America's first system for censoring the Internet." and "Despite public outcry, the Internet Censorship bill could pass at any time. If it does, the Internet and free speech will never be the same"

Yes, kill me before you hire me

I applied to a sports team as their office manager, a few months ago. I thought I was qualified for the position, but apparently, I am not even qualified enough to have the emailed (canned) response have my name on it.

As little disturbing as that is, it doesn't hit the radar like the blatant misuse of words in the reason for why I'm not getting an offer. Allegedly, this team wants to directly off me, not hire me.

Thanks, I was looking for a way out of having to keep applying for positions... and this is a reputable place??

The only thing I edited was the person's email address and I took out what team it was for. Otherwise, things are what is in the picture.

Cheers,

ABC needs to s-p-e-l-l

Today's word of the day is brought to you by ABC News, where, powered by Yahoo!, we received grovery.

ShopRite govery store ???

The article is about the Campbell family. The parents keep Nazi Germany in their favour by having every child born into that household named a variation of Hitler's army. Including the eldest son whose name is Adolf Hitler Campbell. His siblings include JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Himler Jeannie Campbell.

What's so new about this, and why is it making the internet front page yet again (see here for original story) ? A new child has been added to the family. Hons Campbell, the newborn. Why does this matter? Because all four children are in state custody, due to their names. Allegedly, the parents, Heath and Deborah do not abuse their children at all. However, the New Jersey city they reside in, seems to think otherwise. Neighbours, people they meet, all seem to think there is more to this family then the odd names of the children. According to the recent article, a neighbour claims that Adolf would go to her house to play, but not want to return to his own house afterwards, even though he showed no outward signs of abuse.

It's one thing to name your child something weird like Excalibur, but to name your child out of a point in history where people would rather forget that happened and not keep the memories alive, well, you've got another thing coming. Maybe there is no form of abuse.. of any kind, but the names are the abusers.

But the focus of my entry today is the mis spelling. Because Adolf couldn't get his birthday cake from ShopRite when he turned three, because the store said they could not put 'Adolph Hitler' on a cake. However, ShopRite is now a grovery chain.

What the hell?

I've been hanging around this town for so long!

Last night (Tuesday, November 16 2011), I was out at my car because I had company that was leaving. We were chatting, and all of a sudden, I look at the antenna on my car. There was a frog completely hanging out on it, as if the antenna were the front stoop! It was so funny to see, and for as many pictures as I took, nothing mattered to this little guy, including the flash going off! He didn't try to jump away, nor did he try to fight it. He just kept staying perched there, minding his own, taking in the Florida warmth.

As my company pulled out of the driveway, they saw a bigger frog in the bushes next door. Maybe it's the little frog's older sibling, maybe not, but I didn't want to get too close, as rumour has it, these big'uns can carry spit to kill (animals, but to humans, it's less... like makes ya itch or something).

Needless to say, it got the Counting Crows' Hanginaround song in my head.

Cheers,

 

What form of Websters are you using?

I received an email from a sports site, stating there are several new postings up for jobs. Woohoo! What can I possibly not be qualified for, this time?

I guess my lack of understanding the English language:

This was one of the questions being asked for an administrative assistant job. In order to proceed with the application process, one must fill in the necessary text boxes. When I encountered the question, *Briefly explain your accouting and cash reconciliation experience, I answered it as best I could. And that meant giving them a kind of snarky, smart ass answer. I didn't intend for it to sound that way, however, it's honest. I can not explain my "accouting experience" as there is no definition for such word. They might have meant  "accounting", as it relates to the latter part of the question. However, they really need to review what they are asking for, before they submit it to a national site, especially where they posted the job on two different occasions.

Man, I love being a grammar and spelling Nazi...... not

Cheers,

I want the past 139 minutes of my life back

And my dollar twenty.

I was watching Deconstructing Harry when it was suggested we try watching The Tree Of Life, a movie that was rented via Redbox this morning. Okay, since I was only 20 minutes into the Woody Allen movie, and this 2011 rental looked interesting.

Boy, was I wrong. The only thing promising about the movie was the synopsis. Everything else was just plain "W.T.F". It seemed that out of 50 minutes I was able to watch, maybe 15 had dialogue and 10 was actually viewable.

There really is no good way to sum up how awful this movie really is. I can only suggest that if you want a slow moving, not at all like the summary, film, that you rent it. Otherwise, keep it off your list.

Even though this movie had big name stars - Brad Pitt, Sean Penn,  Jessica Chastain, and Fiona Shaw, this film can not be saved. Not even the religious and scientific (come to find out) aspect could rectify how cheated I felt from thinking this was going to be somewhat decent (I'm not much a Pitt fan).

1/10 stars, and that's asking alot.

Jack, the wide-eyed, 11-year-old, eldest son of a 1950s-era Midwestern family, loses his innocence after encountering sickness, suffering and death for the first time. He finds himself caught between his mother, who views the world with love and mercy, and his father, whose severity in teaching his son self-reliance leaves a lasting impression on Jack. Approximately 40 years later, an adult Jack is a lost soul in the modern world, still struggling to reconcile the complicated relationship with his father, and still grappling for answers to life's eternal questions.
      (synopsis courtesy Redbox)

This movie has officially made me a fan of Woody Allen.

 Cheers,

Immune to your consultations

Okay, so we all know by now, no one is immune from seeing their names in LED/ LCD lights on this blog. Names get changed, titles erased, and I do my best to make it so that the person is protected from harassment.

That being said...

I had to take my laptop to a well known electronic / computer store last week (Staples). My one year and some months old Dell took a total dive bomb into computer heaven (hard drive was the culprit).

Since I originally opened the box for this model, I've had nothing but problems. Maybe it's my incessant need for not wanting to have to update my self to new technology. Maybe it was the fact that I got a lemon computer. Either way, since conception, this specific laptop gave me nothing but hassle. Finally, it bit the dust, and I brought it in to the store to see if it's worth fixing, considering my warranty just expired. Murphy's Law, eh?

Well, I got a new hard drive installed, and was able to get the proper items detailed and put back in the computer. Only problem: when I originally bought the computer, I bought it from someone who was able to help me get a computer I could use - one that would afford me the opportunity to use my Communications degree (I needed enough memory and pull on the thing to be able to record demo reels). I also needed the basic writing software... Notepad doesn't cut it sometimes.

So... getting my "new" computer back the other day with everything installed, I don't have the writing software. The tech at the store stated that when they were able to briefly look at what was flashed on the old hard drive (which was minimal since it pretty much went door dead on them), the OEM was only showing extreme basic items - Notepad and Paint. Everything else were trials. Including the antivirus program that I had never even used. They were really nice, and were able to install all the necessary drivers for me, since I explained how I had purchased my computer and how the only thing I had to show for what was put on the thing was a receipt of purchase. Yes, before you start calling the cops and trying to track me, it is a legit computer. Don't think twice about it being otherwise. Once the drivers were installed, I was pretty much good to go, especially to go home and email the Tech I had dealt with in the beginning. I needed the information from him, in order to install everything else.

After a couple brief correspondences, he has agreed to work with me in going through the proper channels to rectify the situation. Which leads me to the point of this entry. The man I'm working with, has been in the IT world for numerous years. He's well known in his community and can get things done when needed. Only problem is the simple mistake of spelling.

Which I just wrote a long winded back story to bring that up.

When I explained to the guy that I had to buy a new hard drive because the original died, he responded with some questions pertaining to what I had to do to get the computer fixed... including asking me the following screen cap:

"Did you bye a new hard drive?"



I guess the moral of the story is to maybe have spell check handy? Perhaps double check what you question before hitting reply? I don't know. All I know is what I see.

Like I stated in the beginning, I'm not here to embarrass anyone, or start pointing fingers. I include anecdotes and accidental mishaps for the general purpose of un-stating the obvious. It's not to be mean or not to make fun. I just had to laugh at the whole situation with my computer, based on what I had to go through last week in getting a part fixed. I am sure that every one who reads this has had a similar incident and can laugh along with me.

Cheers,

Always watch the prices

I was in Kohl's this morning, shopping for clothes, when I went perusing through other departments. Housewares had some leftover Halloween items that were definately not on sale.

Case in point:

A table runner of sorts. First off, the "boo" lettering is backwards, on both sides of the runner...

I thought maybe it was a defect, But it seemed that the other runners were like that as well.

But the most disturbing item about this: The fact that they marked up the price! The original printed tag states it's $14.99, but there is a label over it, with a new price... $19.99!

So I guess, in a sense, you get what you pay for. But... always make sure to double check your price. You never know if they're hiking the prices up for your benefit...

Cheers,

 

It wasn't read in the tea leaves

There are only a handful of books out now, or a handful of books I've previously read, that I would consider reading over again. Not that many strike me as well written and keeps your interest peaked. Especially ones based on war.

Pat Barker's Regeneration Trilogy is one of those books (er... set of books, seeing it's a threefer) that has made me want to do more research about the topic and read them whenever possible.

I had read the first book, Regeneration in college (what feels like sooo many years ago.. We're talking 2004, though), for an English class. The class itself, "Madness Thru Literature" was still in transit. The students who took it that year were the guinea pigs, because it was a new school offering. Needless to say, there were some great books and novels to come out of that course, and Pat Barker's trilogy was one of them.

Then again, we only read the first book.

Which I ended up re-reading this past summer so I (finally) read the two latter books (7 years later). I admit, though, that I do like to read up on various forms of history. I like to see what people can write about the situation and keep it interesting, whether or not they include real facts. History peaks my interest and there really are alot of fictional stories out there that are loosely based on the real event. But those suggestions are fit for another entry.

Regeneration takes place in Britain during World War One at Craiglockhart War Hospital. A head psychiatrist is working with various soldiers, however, the novel revolves around one in particular (Seigfried), but seques into another (Billy). The main patient is absolutely against the war, while the second has a speech problem.

The characters, in my opinion, are written well and you do get to know who they are and what they stand for.

          Amazon's blurb:

In 1917 Seigfried Sasson, noted poet and decorated war hero, publicly refused to continue serving as a British officer in World War I. His reason: The war was a senseless slaughter. He was officially classified "mentally unsound" and sent to Craiglockhart War Hospital. There a brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. William Rivers, set about restoring Sassoon's "sanity" and sending him back to the trenches. This novel tells what happened as only a novel can. It is a war saga in which not a shot is fired. It is a story of a battle for a man's mind in which only the reader can decide who is the victor, who the vanquished, and who the victim. It is one of the most amazing feats of fiction of our time. "Regeneration" is the first novel in Pat Barker's acclaimed World War I trilogy, which continues with "The Eye in the Door" and culminates in the 1995 Booker Prize-winning "The Ghost Road."

I don't want to write anymore about the book, as I may spoil it, nor do I want to tell the series, but I do highly suggest them if you are a history buff, book person, or just curious to read another side of what we all think about when "WWI" is said aloud. They are paperbacks, and pretty easy to follow, but I must warn you: It's not in American English, for those in the States. It's British English, so you'd see "colour" instead of "color". But if you can stand the variations of words, I am sure you will find the books just as interesting as I did.

Hey, if you do end up reading them, come back to this page and let me know what you thought! :)



(link to books via Amazon: Regeneration [Paperback], The Eye in the Door [Paperback], The Ghost Road (William Abrahams) [Paperback]) 



Cheers,