Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Oooh, that Charlie is a mean guy!
This video actually has more than 31 million hits on YouTube and has spawned a lot of copycat videos--including this one, which has over 4 million views.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Stick it to The Man (and by "The Man," I mean telemarketers, automated phone calls and junk mailers)
I got this in an e-mail, but I figured it was worthy of its own blog post.
Tips for Handling Telemarketers
(1) Three Little Words That Work!! The three little words are: 'Hold On, Please...' Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt. 
Then when you eventually hear the phone company's 'beep-beep-beep' tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.
Then when you eventually hear the phone company's 'beep-beep-beep' tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.(Sam's Note: I do wear a headset, answer calls, and type at a 'puter, but I am not a telemarketer or salesman. I only take inbound calls which make me a "troubleshooter" and a "gift giver.")
(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end? This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. These techniques are used to determine the best time of day for a 'real' sales person to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!!!
(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end? This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone. These techniques are used to determine the best time of day for a 'real' sales person to call back and get someone at home. What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible. This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer!!!
(3) Junk Mail Help: When you get 'ads' enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these 'ads' with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away. When you get those 'pre-approved' letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope. Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, r
ight? It costs them more than the regular 42 cents postage 'IF' and when they receive them back. It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage charge is according to the letter's weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes. One of Andy Rooney's (60 minutes) ideas. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just keep them guessing! It still costs them 42 cents. The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all, they're paying for it...Twice! Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits , and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea! If enough people follow these tips, it will work -- I (Andy Rooney, I suppose) have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.
ight? It costs them more than the regular 42 cents postage 'IF' and when they receive them back. It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage charge is according to the letter's weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes. One of Andy Rooney's (60 minutes) ideas. Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them. You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just keep them guessing! It still costs them 42 cents. The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all, they're paying for it...Twice! Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits , and that's why they need to increase postage costs again. You get the idea! If enough people follow these tips, it will work -- I (Andy Rooney, I suppose) have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Could blogging be a "Superman Job?"
I wouldn't be surprised if Superman (or Chuck Norris) had a blog.
So, yesterday I was at my Clark Kent job (another, more detailed explanation of the Clark Kent job is found here), and I found out my mom had called my work to get one of these for a special someone:
That's right. It's an Accu-Chek Aviva blood glucose monitor. I was taking a call from a customer, and a co-worker who was sitting not too far from me asked if I have relatives in Washington. I said I did, and it turned out they were sending out some product for my dad. My mom called for him after I advised her they could call for a free meter. So that was cool that I was right there when she called. Too bad I didn't get to answer that phone call!
So, yesterday I was at my Clark Kent job (another, more detailed explanation of the Clark Kent job is found here), and I found out my mom had called my work to get one of these for a special someone:
That's right. It's an Accu-Chek Aviva blood glucose monitor. I was taking a call from a customer, and a co-worker who was sitting not too far from me asked if I have relatives in Washington. I said I did, and it turned out they were sending out some product for my dad. My mom called for him after I advised her they could call for a free meter. So that was cool that I was right there when she called. Too bad I didn't get to answer that phone call!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
The two greatest words in sports? Game Seven
Yesterday the Celtics and Cavaliers played a game 7 that came down to the wire. The final stats show each team's leading scorer went for 40+ points (LeBron James had 45, Paul Pierce 41). The Celtics now move on to play the Detroit Pistons, while the L.A. Lakers await the winner of the game I'm pumped to see: tonight's game 7 between the Spurs and the Hornets.
Check out this post describing one blogger's feelings heading into the game.
Check out this post describing one blogger's feelings heading into the game.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mothers' Day!
A Happy Mothers' Day to all the moms out there (and for those who aren't moms, you can have a happy day, too!) 
"Motherhood is another word for sacrifice."
-???
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Mag·nan·i·mous
see page 9 of this issue for my article on Chicago-based hip-hop artist Prince Early The Magnanimous (or keep reading this post)
mag·nan·i·mous
1.generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness: to be magnanimous toward one's enemies.
2.high-minded; noble: a just and magnanimous ruler.
3.proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind, character, etc.: a magnanimous gesture of forgiveness.
(from dictionary.com)
Prince Earl Simpson was born in Indianola, Miss., as the second of three children. He was raised in Illinois and studied marketing at Illinois State University. So far, nothing sounds out of the ordinary for the life of a 28 year old. Don’t be fooled – nothing about the Chicago native’s life has been ordinary.
“I’ve seen a lot of things in my life and I don’t want everyone to have to go through everything I did to learn the lessons I’ve learned,” Prince said.
Rap artist Prince Early the Magnanimous grew up with a rough life where he became well acquainted with the streets. His two best friends (and hustlin’ partners) while growing up were taken from him in a span of five months – before reaching the prime of their lives. One of the friends was gunned down while involved in drug trafficking, while the other was shot during a police chase. Suddenly, of the three friends, all that was left was Prince.
“I’ve tasted the world – and it’s painful,” Prince says. “But the bad times make the good times even greater.”
Music became Prince’s outlet from life’s struggles. He writes all his lyrics and is heavily involved in the musical production. He now feels that his musical talent influences his spiritual life.
“Creation is a gift from God,” Prince says. “When we create something, we get closer to our God because that’s what He does. [With music], I began to see life differently with every stroke of the pen.”
Driven by past tragedies and hard knocks, Prince is passionate about helping others avoid life’s pitfalls. He practices what he preaches – as you can see when he works with at-risk youth in Utah.
“I want to instill a sense of hope for better things,” says Prince. “There’s a greater degree of glory in another life.”
This “Magnanimous” artist is peculiar for reasons besides his bumpy early life. For instance, Prince has refused to have a TV in his apartment for the past year. He prefers reading books instead. Besides, reading is more beneficial than watching TV for someone whose craft requires skills of flow, rhythm and performance while using an extensive vocabulary in his rhymes.
Prince is currently living in Utah and banging out new tracks for his fans. He has performed locally at sites such as Velour in Provo, and is prepping for a spring/summer tour that will hit hot spots like Miami, Atlanta, Chicago and New York, before coming back to the West for shows in California, among other places.
With his second album, “The Lost Files: Memoirs of a King,” set to be released soon, Prince is looking to attract a wide audience with his fusion of eclectic sounds. Working with his Magnanimous band and collaborating with other vocalists, Prince’s set melds the tunes of hip-hop, jazz and soul music. Plus, his intelligent and clean lyrics apply to a broad audience that transcends age, gender, race and ethnicity. Prince’s faith drives his music and his socially conscious and spiritual messages are designed to uplift the listener and give them a proper perspective on life.
Prince is upbeat about his upcoming release.
“On my first album, ‘King Me,’ I was trying to see what people liked,” Prince says. “On the new album, every song is going to sound different. The hard times represent real life, and people can relate to it.
“My music is to help people get a message. They should ask themselves ‘what’s the message? How can I grow from this?’ Everybody has a cross to carry, but you have to move on to get through it.”
Prince said he saw the potential in everyone to become great.
Health Food Article in Schooled Magazine
Well most of the article was chopped off due to space issues, and the fact I didn't interview enough young people to reach our college-aged audience, but I had something published in Schooled Magazine about health food stores and their products in the last mag.
Check out page 18 of this issue to see a blurb of the article w/a list of health food stores in Utah Valley. Or read the full article (minus the photo/color) below:
Health stores have been popping up around Utah Valley in recent years. This trend suggests Utahns are becoming more health conscious.
But what could be the cause for the interest in this unconventional style of eating? And what does it take to be healthy?
For Ruth, a 69 year-old resident of Orem, it took a complete change of perspective.
“I would make fun of the health stores; I thought they were quacks,” Ruth says.
Then, about 38 years ago, Ruth made a trip to a health food store when she didn’t trust her doctors, who prescribed iron tablets for anemia. When those pills didn’t work, the docs prescribed another iron tablet. After two months with no progress, the doctors ordered Ruth to take both tablets and to drink Jell-O water three times per day. Instead, Ruth found some iron supplements – at a health store – that soon solved her anemia problem.
Ruth said she liked health store foods because they are free of MSG, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fat. These foods have helped her lose 30 pounds and lower her cholesterol substantially.
Good Earth is one of the health food stores that have become popular in Utah. The business, which has locations in Orem, Provo, Riverdale, Sandy and American Fork, has this mission statement posted on its Web site: “Good Earth is committed to providing fresh, wholesome foods and nutritional supplements that will help each individual gain optimum health of body and mind.” So, clearly, keeping one’s mind and body healthy and strong is at the forefront of the health food phenomenon.
Even college students have to be careful about what they eat. BYU student Tori Kohlieber’s allergies to wheat and dairy products have led her to look for alternatives – some of these can be found at health food stores.
“You feel ‘normal’ because you still can eat cookies and find specialty foods and ingredients,” Tori said of finding healthy products that don’t betray her allergies.
Tori said knowing how food affects one’s body is essential because every individual is different. She also said exercise is a key to feeling well physically, as well as emotionally and mentally.
While shoppers sometimes gripe about the prices of health foods, Ruth offers a simple quip to those who ask if she can afford to follow her diet.
“Well, it’s cheaper than a triple bypass [heart surgery],” Ruth says.
Check out page 18 of this issue to see a blurb of the article w/a list of health food stores in Utah Valley. Or read the full article (minus the photo/color) below:
Health stores have been popping up around Utah Valley in recent years. This trend suggests Utahns are becoming more health conscious.
But what could be the cause for the interest in this unconventional style of eating? And what does it take to be healthy?
For Ruth, a 69 year-old resident of Orem, it took a complete change of perspective.
“I would make fun of the health stores; I thought they were quacks,” Ruth says.
Then, about 38 years ago, Ruth made a trip to a health food store when she didn’t trust her doctors, who prescribed iron tablets for anemia. When those pills didn’t work, the docs prescribed another iron tablet. After two months with no progress, the doctors ordered Ruth to take both tablets and to drink Jell-O water three times per day. Instead, Ruth found some iron supplements – at a health store – that soon solved her anemia problem.
Ruth said she liked health store foods because they are free of MSG, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fat. These foods have helped her lose 30 pounds and lower her cholesterol substantially.
Good Earth is one of the health food stores that have become popular in Utah. The business, which has locations in Orem, Provo, Riverdale, Sandy and American Fork, has this mission statement posted on its Web site: “Good Earth is committed to providing fresh, wholesome foods and nutritional supplements that will help each individual gain optimum health of body and mind.” So, clearly, keeping one’s mind and body healthy and strong is at the forefront of the health food phenomenon.
Even college students have to be careful about what they eat. BYU student Tori Kohlieber’s allergies to wheat and dairy products have led her to look for alternatives – some of these can be found at health food stores.
“You feel ‘normal’ because you still can eat cookies and find specialty foods and ingredients,” Tori said of finding healthy products that don’t betray her allergies.
Tori said knowing how food affects one’s body is essential because every individual is different. She also said exercise is a key to feeling well physically, as well as emotionally and mentally.
While shoppers sometimes gripe about the prices of health foods, Ruth offers a simple quip to those who ask if she can afford to follow her diet.
“Well, it’s cheaper than a triple bypass [heart surgery],” Ruth says.
Humor(less)ous Poetry
I was out running (check out this link) the other day, and what I saw inspired me to write some poetry.
Hands are placed at 10 and 2,
She peers directly into the horizon, grinning.
What is she thinking?
Focused intently on what is directly ahead of her...
while her hair rests inside a shower cap
Hands are placed at 10 and 2,
She peers directly into the horizon, grinning.
What is she thinking?
Focused intently on what is directly ahead of her...
while her hair rests inside a shower cap
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