Sell Yourself

There is an app for everything, right? The most useful app that I have downloaded is called Poshmark. What I find remarkable about this app is that it allows anyone with clothing to become their own business. I know that sounds unbelievable--especially considering how the economy has been for the past several years-- but this combination binds the love of the iphone/ipad and clothing to create an online market that can compete with retail corporations. That, in my humble opinion, is ingenuity. I am not the poshmark spokesperson and I try to only endorse free things: books from the library, thoughts and so on, but I had to reveal this to others because it can help those who are unable to secure employment. Anyone interested can check it out at www.poshmark.com. One must join in order to see the clothing--unless you have the url or a seller, which is usually www.poshmark.com/closet/____________ <--- user's name. Poshmark will also ship to po boxes and this is a true asset to expats and other foreigners overseas.

How To Get Away With It

There is a show that I watch on Discovery I.D. channel called "I (almost) Got Away With It". It recounts crimes that are committed in which the criminal evades the law and eventually is apprehended. Their past confronts them and they are often punished for not only the crime, but also for avoiding capture. There are some bad people that do horrible things--operate with impunity--and are rewarded by society. I continue to be disturbed by the former Mississippi Governor, Haley Barbour, who pardoned prisoners before exiting office. This confirms that some can literally get away with murder. How can one's conscience allow him to receive reward for committing a crime? In my opinion, only an animal would not feel guilt and these sociopaths are now integrated into society--more than likely--without the proper rehabilitation that should have been required of them. It proves that rules are sometimes only meant for some. It has bothered me so much lately because I know that I am a good person, but I have had so many bad things happen to me that remain unpunished. There are laws against what has been done to me, but I do not feel as though anyone in law enforcement or other so-called agents of authority care. I do not pity myself because I know that I am lucky. My attitude has been that if good things do not happen to me I will make good of something. I can't explain it. It sounds corny and I'm sure that it is, yet, I still believe that hard work will preserver. I have hope. I hope that you all are well.

"Food"stamps: The New Currency

While watching CNN highlight Greek's economic descent, I took a break to visit a blog that I frequent and I was appalled by what mediatakeout.com has discovered: foodstamp flossin'. The images of the former middle class in Greece were shown with them at an outdoor soup kitchen--some of them with too much pride and so ashamed to receive aid that they confronted the camera crew or hid their face, while in the U.S., these welfare recipients are proudly displaying their cards which grant them access to much more than food stamps--as designated for proper use.

It was reported that ebt cards have been used everywhere from strip clubs to liquor stores. This goes beyond fraud and abuse and needs to be addressed and reformed. I want Americans to eat. We are great eaters--as our obesity rate clearly demonstrates--and the U.S. stipulates a diet that is recommended to the nation, therefore, I believe it would be economical to return to the time of government issued rations.

Government issued food items would ensure that foodstamp recipients are eating the government's recommendations and verifying identification. There could be job opportunities in having buyers--the extreme coupon people on TLC would be excellent for such positions and it could be used as a tax incentive for those who would like to donate government approved food items. The current system appears to be rewarding those who are supposedly needy and it is unfair to those who are truly in need and have been denied access to such programs.

Those who pose with an ebt card should be investigated for fraud. Since they are unabashedly displaying their ebt card and their name is traceable on Facebook, the government can create jobs to catch these thieves, too. I do not believe there is any shame in receiving aid when one is in dire need, but I do believe that foodstamp flossers are not milking but ostentatiously abusing the system and laughing all the way to the strip club, liquor stores, or any other business that--in my opinion should be fined-- for accepting foodstamps--when food is in no way involved.


http://cdn.mediatakeout.com/54161/nuh-uhhhhhhhh-there-s-a-new-trend-in-facebook-profile-pics-they-callin-it-foodstamp-flossin.html

NUH UHHHHHHHH!!! There's A New TREND In FACEBOOK PROFILE PICS . . . They Callin' It FOODSTAMP FLOSSIN!!! - MediaTakeOut.com™ 2012

The Commoditization of Conversation

It is more than putting your two cents in, or a penny for your thoughts, conversation is more profitable now than anytime in history and sadly, some--note, Sarah Palin-- are well compensated to speak.

I was inspired to write this post because I am reading--as usual-- a book titled, "The Art of Conversation: A Guided Tour of a Negelected pleasure" by Catherine Blythe. Yes, sadly, that is the most conversation that I get. I also receive conversation from audio books and the television. I guess I should be one of the greatest listeners in the world, but, to be honest, I am usually distracted by my own thoughts to listen carefully.

I am paying to hear these conversations. We pay now for the mediums used to converse and contradictory to the saying, talk is not cheap. We are billed for the internet, cable television, and cellular phones. We tweet, facebook it, blog, vlog and text our thoughts and we pay dearly for this.

Even though, on the surface, we appear well connected, we are distancing ourselves and replacing our socialization with technology. I embrace technology, however, it seems the majority of people cannot create the balance that we need as social animals.

Blythe mentions that in South Korea children go to government sponsored rehabilitation centers to wean them from their internet addiction. This demonstrates how these new ways of communicating are altering our culture.

My two cents: we need to think before we speak--especially Sarah Palin-- and make sure to converse with family, friends and strangers in person as we would online.

Government Contracts: Owned versus Operated

I have been watching too much Discovery Id lately and it reminded me of a loophole that is very common--and not to mention, very lucrative--in "the haves'" circles.

In a nutshell, U.S. government contractors get paid a lot. They do very well for themselves and although I do not know what exactly is required of them, I think of them as people doing what the military and other government agencies used to do--and this can explain why a lot of their employment opportunities require a background check; a background check that they obtained being prior military!

Therefore, there are contractors. And there are some women that allow their husbands to get contracts as a "minority"--being that women are considered minorities. This, in my opinion, is far worse than Affirmative Action. The only loophole that I can think of is that it may be owned by the female "minority" but it is operated by her husband.

There needs to be reform so that these businesses are truly owned and operated by women. I cannot see how this is not considered fraud

It takes more: to fascinate me

It was reported--I watch too much t.v. and I would love to credit the source, but I honestly have no clue who reported it--that Barbara Walters' "2011 Most Fascinating List" viewership was down 30% than the previous year. The backlash seems to be due to the Kardashian family making the list. I, however, would not place the blame solely on the Kardashians. It is obvious that the rich and famous have always fascinated society. I highly recommend Robert Wuhl's, "Assume the Position," on HBO. He pokes fun at how, throughout history, there has been an obsession with pop culture. His language is very strong and some of his humor contains strong sexual content but I would not find it any more offensive than what is on t.v.
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v16706342cB97DkDJ?h1=Robert+Wuhl+-+Assume+the+Position+101+%2B+201


I think that the viewers want to see extraordinary people who they can learn from because the economy is bad; some are uninsured, starving and coping with problems that the Kardashians and other wealthy people don't ever have to take into consideration. I would have loved to see those who are helping others in their community, helping others domestically or internationally. Those strong people who overcame suffering or struggling and who have a cause that they work towards daily. There are so many exceptional people in this world; whereas the Kardashians are always on t.v.

The people of Japan dealt with the aftermath of the tsunami and that, to me, is fascinating. The international protests--I eschew Middle Eastern politics. It is too complex and I do not have the cultural or religious background to understand what occurs in those countries. Doctors without borders have always fascinated me. There are some doctors who operate off of greed, but these doctors are dispatched to some of the most dangerous areas on the world to help those who are suffering--for free. I was fascinated that Tim Hetherington survived being embedded in Afghanistan but died in Libya. Bradley Manning--fascinating--as is Julian Assange. The last two are controversial, I am not agreeing with anything that they did, but they are, in my opinion fascinating. Anyone who wants to watch the Kardashians can easily read any blog or 'tune into E!'

Resolutions

My heroes have mostly been women. It started out with being overly religious--I practiced any and every religion and I watched "The Sound of Music" way too many times, so I went through the nun phase--Mother Theresa was an idol (I know that idolatry is against all religions but there is no other way to explain my unhealthy obsession with her) Princess Diana, Oprah, G.I. Jane, Hester Prynne (very contradictory, I know) and so on. I always thought that these women were persistent. They did not stop when their goal was accomplished, they continued to set bigger goals. That is what is needed in the world. We cannot stop simply at progress. We must not even stop at perfection because perfection is different to each and everyone of us.

I caught a recent snippet of an interview with President Obama in which he was mentioning that his presidency was responsible for ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and killing bin Laden. However, he did not have to stop there. What is your action plan to solve the contemporary international and domestic issues?

Some may find Obama's record impressive; however, I want more from the President. I take issue with stopping at "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," I want the President to follow-up with those who have been directly affected by the termination of the policy and ask them which areas still require progress. I want a President who goes directly to the people and acts as a true representative of his constituents.

Afghanistan, the longest war in the entire history of the United States of America--that is a horrible legacy; therefore, how are we going to improve the war-torn country and end all combat? In all aspects of my life, if I am directly responsible for something, I don't apologize. I take the proactive approach in rectifying the situation. I hope all world leaders take this approach into consideration as we approach the New Year and set new goals and resolutions. I have hope because we still have time--unless the Mayan Calendar--I'm half-way joking on that one.