The Jones Files

Get Down With The Sickness

2011-10-02T12:29:00.000-05:00

Last week my wife and I made an observation; throughout the year, everyone we know gets sick at least a few times. Be it mild, or violently, they became ill fairly often. But we didn't seem to get sick much at all. Neither of us could remember a recent time in which we had be inflicted with anything other than a little sniffles or the occasional headache. We were openly remarking about how we just didn't really get sick all that much. That was our first mistake.

So, of course, this meant that Fate or Karma or Loki or that dick Murphy or some other meddlesome supernatural (or psychosomatic) phenomenon would thus attempt to "teach me a lesson" and infect me with a mild cold or influenza.

Luckily, I keep an ample supply of NyQuil, Benadryl, Tylenol Cold & PM, Ibuprofen, cough drops, bottled water, and tissue paper, among others things. Why have all that if I almost never get sick? Because, I was a Boy Scout once and learned to always be prepared. That, and I'm a bit of a paranoid hypochondriac.

So despite my discomfort and increased sleep requirement, it was fairly mild in comparison; I kept myself medicated, hydrated, and well rested. I know how to kick a cold, by golly.

Didn't consider that, did you Murphy, you meddling sonofabitch?

Old Project - New Post

2011-02-27T15:21:00.000-06:00

I just published a new project to my @behance portfolio. It's something I did way back during art school, but I'm finally getting around to putting it into my online portfolio.

Lost Work; Revisited - Beverly Panther's Bumper Sticker

2011-02-18T16:58:00.004-06:00

I had not planned to go into too much detail in my first few posts, as I need to build up steam and shake off my nervous fears about self-promotion. However, sometimes I just can't NOT write a lengthy description. Once I get going, it just flows out; plus I fell things need a bit of explanation. Perhaps I should try to keep it simple (as my art profs use to say).

This blog is a self-critique of sorts, and I am not use to it. I am also not use to writing, and hope I break through and past it as this goes on. I have to hold back some, or I will ramble and prattle on, losing all meaning and direction. But I tend to hold back too much and thus lose focus. Either way, it's going to take time and effort.

See what I mean?

Ok. So, with that all being said, let's move on.

Here's the first of many things I have found while digging through my many boxes of miscellany. It's a bumper sticker for Beverly High football team, the Panthers. For those curious, it's in Massachusetts - the place of my birth, the art college I attended, and my first real design job. I was really proud to be working on this design; it was actually a clean-up/redraw effort of a previous design, that was dated and only a poor scan of it existed. I was allowed to make some creative alterations, as the design looked a little too 'cartoonish', to which I thoroughly agreed.

I scanned and retraced it into Adobe Illustrator, or possibly Macromedia Freehand. Although, I was never fully satisfied with the results. Before I finished the details around the jaw, and a few other nagging spots, the deadline was moved up and we had to go to print immediately. Best laid designs suffer such fates far too often.

I was actually allowed to keep a copy of the original vector file for my portfolio and because I wanted to finish it for the next print run (and for the school's archival). However, due to unfortunate circumstances, leading to a financial downswing in the print industry, I was let go from my position. I cannot remember if I ever continued working on this file on my own, as I have subsequently 'misplaced' many of my digital files from those many years ago. There were several pieces I would love to have in my portfolio, but they are simply lost. If I ever find them, it will be a miracle. This particular item, however, I retained a printed version of. Now that I have relocated it, and scanned it in, I hope I can successfully retrace it into vector and finally complete the design. It's not the most impressive piece, but I will gain some sort of satisfaction knowing I finally got something done (even if it too 10 years).

So, there is the scanned image above (linked from my deviantART gallery).
I'll pose the reworked design... in a few days. Maybe. I am a terrible procrastinator. But that's for another post.

Enjoy,

-S

A little effort

2011-02-18T16:12:00.000-06:00

I'm a bit of a hoarder. That being said - without going into too much detail (that's for another day and another post) - I've been making efforts to whittle down my amassed storage of belongings.

In this process I have (re)located a number of designs, artwork, doodles and other chicken-scratch marked papers. In an effort to digitize and archive all of these rediscovered "gems" of mine (because every little mark is a possible genius idea, of course) I will be scanning and saving them onto some for of storage media. During this, I will be posting and revisiting some of my past works, to share with the great world web community. It's a little bit self-motivation and a little bit organization, combined in an attempt to course-correct myself into a more productive and creative person.

So, if anyone is reading this right now (hello?), thanks for your voyeuristic tendencies and insatiable curiosity. I might not be very entertaining or enlightening, but just being seen by anyone is a remarkable thing; what a strange, wonderful world the interwebz have created. If you have anything to say, don't be shy and put it out there. I'll appreciate the effort, seriously.

Regards,

-S

Back again, for the second time, er, again...

2011-01-28T15:58:00.004-06:00

As if anyone reads this...

I'm resurrecting my Blogger.com, er, blog - it's been neglected for years. Did I say 'neglected'? I meant abandoned. However, it is time I did something constructive with it.
I aim to use it, for a little while, as a place for more than just 'status updates' - until I decide on getting my own domain. And even then, I think I'll continue using it as an outlet for things that I want to discuss more in depth, share, and basically just flush my opinions, rants, and thoughts that are perhaps more personal, or that I feel I don't want to post to the other groups and social sites that I participate in; but I'll link to my blog, because exposure is good. I'll continue blogging, and make a portal to the rest of my world, and then perhaps slowly build up a separate portfolio site for my creative work.

I'm basically just talking to my self here, since I have no followers and this site has been vacant for so long. However, it feels great to get it out and get started.

A true Southern cake...

2007-11-29T00:18:00.001-06:00

I found this hilarious little gem of a photo on some southern conservative blog (linked through another blog I read) So I figured I'd link directly to it, instead leading you through a long trail of clicking blog links.

I was baffled and giggled for an hour. My wife laughed until her eyes watered.
There's funny, then there's dumbfoundingly funny. This one literally takes the cake;

Conservative Belle: Southern Rednecks - Bless Their Hearts

Seriously, I know that cake makers have probably seen - and get requests for - some truely strange stuff. Well, this isn't weird in any kooky, crazy, sick, perverted, or creepy way. But really, did they not question this? Now, I'll say that I assume this was a phone in order. If not, there are more questions to be asked. All I can think is; First, there was probably some sort of language gap, mostly due to varying accents. Second, perhaps they just didn't care enough to correct it (as long as they get it done and get payed. The customer IS always right, after all.). Lastly, they really weren't all that bright. Although, it was likely some mixture of all these to some degree or other. Though, perhaps they DID question it and were assured, verbatim, that it was the correct spelling.
I was going to say something along the lines of, "some minimum wage person..." here but then I decided against that. I have had my share of minimum wage jobs, and that has nothing to do with intelligence. Though, it might certainly mean that they don't care enough because they don't get payed well enough to care. I, for one, would still do my job and make certain that things were done properly. Although, nothing against you southern folk, but I was raised in the 'NAWTH'.

Amazon.com Rebate - Too Good To Be True?

2007-09-25T23:23:00.002-05:00

Is it me, or does the series of rebates listed on this item seem wrong?
It's simply not likely that there are $150 worth of rebates attached to
this item; especially top quality system memory, worth at least $167.
------------------------------

2GB Ddr PC-3200 Kit
Other products by OCZ

List Price: $265.35
Price: $167.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save: $97.36 (37%)
Rebates: $150.00
Price After Rebates: $17.99
# ASIN: B000F7T9KK
# Item model number: OCZP4002GK
Rebates
Rebates will either need to be mailed in, or completed online.

* Mail-in rebate forms will be found on the website (see link below),
or included in the box with the product you ordered. Fill out the
rebate form, and mail the rebates to the specified address. More about
mail-in rebates.
* For online rebates, simply follow the instructions on the PDF file (click the link below). More about online rebates.

NOTE:
For rebates available on the website, you will need to view and print
the rebate form (a PDF file) using Adobe's free Acrobat Reader(TM). If
you do not already have it, you can Download Acrobat Reader for free.

Current Rebates

Redeem the following rebates for a total savings of $150.00:
Purchase by: Postmarked by: Rebate amount:
OCZ Technology Rebate
Rebate Offer: Receive $20 from OCZ Technology with this mail-in rebate. Offer valid through October 01.

10/1/07 14 days after purchase $20.00
OCZ Technology Rebate
Rebate Offer: Receive $35 from OCZ Technology with this mail-in rebate. Offer valid through October 01.

10/1/07 14 days after purchase $35.00
OCZ Technology Rebate
Rebate Offer: Receive $25 from OCZ Technology with this mail-in rebate. Offer valid through October 01.

10/1/07 14 days after purchase $25.00
OCZ Technology Rebate
Rebate Offer: Receive $20 from OCZ Technology with this mail-in rebate. Offer valid through October 01.

10/1/07 14 days after purchase $20.00
OCZ Technology Rebate
Rebate Offer: Receive $30 from OCZ Technology with this mail-in rebate. Offer valid through October 01.

10/1/07 14 days after purchase $30.00
OCZ Technology Rebate
Rebate Offer: Receive $20 from OCZ Technology with this mail-in rebate. Offer valid through October 01.

10/1/07 14 days after purchase $20.00
Total Rebates Savings: $150.00
----------------------------------
I
called Customer support and had them look into it. All the forms - all
for various rebate amounts - are all exactly identical and state that
multiple rebates on one item are "not eligible" or "not legal". And, on
each form, there are a variety of part numbers all eligible for
different rebate amounts - one of them being this item with a rebate
value of just $20. Oddly, after waiting for about 15 min for them to
check into it, they simply assured me that it was "in fact" valid - and
if it was a mistake on their behalf and the rebates were not valid,
they would either 1) honor the rebates personally, or 2) refund my
money upon return of the item. I suppose my next step is to call the
manufacturer.
----------------------------------
I feel very regretful that I went through with the order, although I still have time to cancel. I posted the order at about 6PM (CST) today, and didn't verify it until almost 8PM - so, the order will not likely process until morning. I am worried about it and have done a massive amount of searching. It appears that this is not unusual for a super-special rebate promotion, however, it is highly unlikely. I should have known better (but I DID call Customer Support!) And, not only that, but Amazon.com and many of it's 'third-party' retailers do have a multitude of complaints against their rebate practices. It seems this has happened before.

So will I get - by default - a rebate because Amazon screwed up, or will I have to cancel my order or simply get a refund? I guess time will tell.

I've posted this all over the internet, as well as sending an inquiry to both Amazon.com and OCZ, and hope to hear something once the doors open in the morning.

Any ideas or feedback?

EDIT: I canceled my order. I just felt too nervous about falling victim and getting screwed out of money. And, apparently, this was the right move. I received a notice from Amazon.com customer support very soon after to tell me that the rebates were checked and - not surprisingly - not valid. Also, I a quick check on the website again found that the listing had been changed; there were now NO rebates available for this item. Bummer. I really want some new RAM and the type I need are pricey. Oh well, the serach goes on.

Tweaks R Us - Custom Drivers

2007-08-10T20:53:00.002-05:00

Recently I built my first computer. Yay!

It was fun, scary, harrowing, and a great learning experience. I had some issues, that I got worked out. Things are still not 100% but it's running and I can play games and browse the web, so that's something!

So I went onto update all the drivers and BIOS that was available and compatible. Not the least bit painless, but I fuddled my way through most of it.

Unfortunately, right before I was able to download and install a modified driver for my EVGA e-Geforce 7600 GS 512MB GPU (Video/Graphics Card), the site it
was located on got hacked! Oi! Figures.

You see, typically one would install the driver provided by the device manufacturer. However, the EVGA site doesn't yet have the latest driver posted. Hmm? So I checked the video card's chipset manufacturer - nVidia - whom released a supposed compatible one in July. However, that one didn't seem compatible with my EVGA card at all - even though the GeForce 7600 GS was listed in the release notes. I don't know if this is a known issue, or if EVGA is apparently too lazy to modify it themselves {or perhaps it's a legality thing}. Anyway. So, being disheartened and frustrated, I searched for anything I could find. I searched high and low. Near and far. Until my eyes were tired, blood shot and squinty (can I sue for eye damage from my computer??) and my fingers [nearly] bled. Miraculously - and maticulously - my efforts proved true. Thus I was thrust into the world of mod-drivers. Oooh, fun. Scary fun.

All was well and good. I took my time assessing and analyzing to make certain that the driver was the best, most recent and compatible one for my system. Bingo, I found one. I bookmarked it to download once I had time.

Of course, things didn't work out that way. *sigh*

Only that night I went to download it and found that the page was not found. The forum was still up, but the download was unavailable. I searched but could not locate it. Some people were speculating that the site was closing down, or offline for updates, or fearful that it was hacked. Unfortunately, it was the latter; "Due to a nice hacker TweaksRus has been completely lost! But I think NvRev might still have a backup of all its original drivers, so we might be able to bring back the current drivers for everyone to use. Stay posted as we are adding updates daily." Apparently some miffed user got upset and hacked their site on a personal grudge. Seriously, not the way to make your point. Doesn't matter whom was right or wrong... valuable files are gone. Hacking just ain't cool when it's destructive.

So, to finish my point... I again searched high and low to locate the most recent file. I found many of the older versions and am ready to quit and use those. The latest of which, as far as I can tell is; XTreme-G 163.14 XP 32bit.exe

Does anyone know what the most recent version is and where to find it?

Peace.

8 unknown things

2007-08-07T16:48:00.001-05:00

Doh. I've been tagged (challenged)! My friend Nutt recently posted a blog (on MySpace.com) that tagged me to come up with 8 things that most people are unaware of about me. I hate to repeat things, but he and I have some similarities, so lets just get to it...

1. Nutt said he's been secretly desiring to live a hippy/surfer life. Well, I'm not that far gone yet. And, although it's probably not a secret to those closest to me, I've been desiring to be more involved with conservation. I just want to find a way to live with technology AND nature, and harmonize the two.

2. On that note, I've also been having desires to live a more simpler life. I ask myself, often, "What if we just sold almost everything we owned, bought an old car (1967 Chevy Impala to be precise) and just hit the road. Just my wife and me, a car and the open road. No sure how we'd make a living, but we're creative people, we'd come up with something.

3. Interestingly I share a similar dream with Nutt - as does my wife. We really just want to be involved, in some manner, in the film/tv entertainment industry - not specifically famous, but to be known and recognized for our work. I'm sure nobody would be very surprised, but we don't really go around ranting about it. I'm more interested in the 'behind the scenes' stuff, or doing voice-over work. That'd be swell. But I've always wondered (crippling nerves aside) if I'd be a good actor. Unlike Nutt, I probably wouldn't put up my soul for negotiation, however I'd take some real serious offers. I think the thing holding us back - other than the obvious - is that we don't want to give up our security. We're both (my wife and I) real comfort people.

4. I, too, apologize quietly everytime I have to kill a bug. Though, most of the time I try to be humane and capture them and put them outside. I even have a bug jar. Often in our house you can hear, "Shawn, there's a spider, get your bug jar!". Oh, and I can catch flies with my bare hands. I just snatch them right out of the air. True story.

5. I don't have any religious preference. I'm not opposed to religion or hold anything against religion, I just haven't found that it is for me. I just don't have any desire to be involved in one. I do think that for many people religion is a wonderful and positive instrument in their lives. Although I will occasionally quietly pray, I'm not sure to whom/what I'm talking too - just to the general universal consciousness I guess. Though in my youth I had been a little greedy in my requests, it's slowly evolved into something more. If I pray, I am usually saying "thank you" or appolgizing, or wish well for others, or asking for the opportunity, strength or guidance to do what I need to. It's really, to me, more of an inner realization thing than praying to 'something' else. I feel that whatever force is there has it's own path and will, so what could I ask for that's more important?

6. I fear that I might be prevented from achieving things I want to do. It increases my anxiety and insecurity. I want to be free from conflict and just seek some stability in an environment where I can relax and do what I want to. I don't want to have unreasonable or unnecessary demands put upon me. I love to tinker and play with creative things like art and electronics. I want my own studio and workshop.

7. I sometimes secretly desire to own my own business; a bar, a restaurant, or a retail shop. But I haven't the business mind, nor the urgently passionate ambition needed to pursue it. Perhaps someday.

8. I feel like I struggle with trying to be understood, or I haven't expressed my self or what-ever in an understandable way. I think it comes from having been so shy and withdrawn my whole life to this point. I just hadn't developed the communication skills needed, and have trouble putting things into context.
8a. It's not a secret, but I don't know if people realize just how bad it was. I had crippling shyness throughout my youth. I'm not sure when it happened, though I've always been a bit timid. But at one point it's like I lost my smile and just didn't speak to many people. I would stay inside or away from other kids or people, and just go about doing what I wanted and avoiding them. I did a lot of inner thinking and pondered many things and situations. I got lost in my own fantasy world to escape from interacting in real life. I would stare into nothingness and drift away mentally, though I was aware of everything, usually when I was angry, frustrated or just didn't want to deal. People - even my school teachers and relatives - use to ask my mom if I was mute, or doing drugs or ill. Yeah, it was that bad. I still regress sometimes, but not that bad. I have anxieties about confrontations and performing/speaking in public. Even if I want to do it, my body becomes a shaky-sweaty mess, then I stumble, mumble and can't think straight. Not sure why. I have mostly overcome it.

Ok, is that enough? I could go on I think, but that's good enough. Wow, that's a lot of text. lol. I'm not sure whom to tag... because all my friends on here have already been tagged. I don't use MySpace much at all.

Living with Nature

2007-08-03T11:31:00.001-05:00

Now I'm not usually one for the modern architecture movement. You know, the buildings that are constructed to, "stimulate the eye, accentuate the edges, allow one to feel the space, and blah blah blah...". It's all just a bit to plain, bland and minimalist for me. I like character, style and the merging of old and new. If you can make something, oh say a Victorian style house, and merge it near seamlessly with modern technology, environmentalism, efficiency and space utilization (both inside and out), that is a movement I can get behind. But I'm not one for buildings built just on an artistic expression of form. I understand the ideas and theories behind them, I just don't support the actual full throttle movement of trying to force progressivism with ideas that will eventually (about 30 years) look just tacky. Remember the "Everything is New" movement of the 1960's here in the good ol' US of A? Yeah, they knocked down a lot of great structures that had style, class and history, just to build big, ugly pastel-gray boxes. Yuck. I just don't care to repeat that past mistake. Miving forward means learning how to look back, and bring it all together.

However, this specific idea from the people of China is one I think works well. It brings together a harmony of nature and human living. It would be quite a marvel to see. Although, I'd still like to see some more character brought into the structure. Perhaps some Chinese symbols or statues or something? Hrm.

Anyhow, check it out; WATERWORLD

Global Warning

2007-06-15T17:03:00.001-05:00

An interesting video on a controversial topic.

http://break.com/index/tough-to-argue.html

What's your opinion?

I think it's better to take action, than do nothing. Because, in the end, it will only help establish a better world. Will there be struggle? Certainly. But what outweighs the alternative? At least we can recover from a depression, and even that might be an avoidable outcome of taking action against global warming. As long as we can anticipate it, we can act.

Good luck.

Pass it on...

-S

Is There a Gas War Brewing? Facts, Ideas and Speculation.

2007-05-09T13:31:00.001-05:00

The following is a response to an email from a friend, regarding this chain mail letter on the subject of boycotting Gas Prices!

----------------- see below for the original email -----------------------

You got it right, Bro.

Though I still believe there is a little inflation due to corporate greed, I won't expand on it here. Basically it is a 'buffering' of thier profit margin to assure they make a gain instead of a loss. It's like betting on the sure thing as well as the risk, and keeping a chip in your pocket for later. But, again, i won't go into it. I don't want to taint the good word that is the message of this letter. Though, I bet 10-1 that I'll ramble off at some point...

First off, I agree that these type of chain letters are just useless garbage. If you ask me, this is pure hearsay. The source is questionable at best, and cannot be taken to be a gospel of truth. It could be drummed up by competing companies to leverage sales in their favor. If this is the truth, it's an example of the corporations once again playing games with consumers. Or it could merely be generated by a really naive individual who doesn't concern themselves with factual studies or rational perspective. Also, as you stated, too much of what we know - and pass on unwittingly - is what we heard from someone else, without questioning or checking the source. So take it with a grain of salt, and do your own thorough research. It's a tough debate. I won't tell you what to believe or how to think, but I will share my opinions, and the facts I've found through research.

Gas prices are high due to WORLD demand, not just the demands of the local populace. For example, look at the price of milk. Though not a great example, it's one we can relate to and has similarities in our rate of consumption. As the consumption and demand for it increases, the supply decreases (though it is the same, there is less shares per person) and therefore the production must increase to match or outweigh the demand. This increased production is also going to raise the price to help pay for the increase in the efforts required to create the product (components, wages, storage, shipping, etc.), as well as to pay the taxes and levies involved. However, what then happens? If the demand is met, something interesting and frightening occurs. We [the consumer] realize - though the price is higher and we're already consuming more - that there is still (seemingly) enough available. To us that looks like there is a plentiful supply. We think to ourselves, "there must be more than enough to go around.". So, despite the price, we 'bite the bullet' and concede to the price. For some strange notion we simply give in (despite our groaning and complaining) and continue to purchase the produce. Soon, having become 'use to' the elevated cost, we continue to consume at a heightened rate, or even begin to consume yet more. The government's efforts to control this sort of growth is archaic and outdated; They increase taxes. Which this course of action, in turn, causes the price to increase to compensate. This is called inflation. This all creates a serious juxtaposition. Are you beginning to see the vicious cycle?

I am not a huge activist, and sometimes feel silly doing or saying things that would seem that way. I feel ashamed and hate to admit it, really. However, as often as I fault myself for not being more responsible, I find I am still not doing much to change my ways. Do I recycle? Sort of. Do I watch my consumption? Not really. But I should. Alternatively, and contradictorily, I actually do believe we all need to change the way we think about and do everything. We're just very stuck in our ways. We like what is familiar, easy and comfortable. I will try to do better.

We can't totally blame the government or the corporations, because in all seriousness WE ARE them. They're not run and regulated by robots or aliens (as far as we know), but by people.

It'll take a lot of effort and sacrifice by everyone on Earth, but all for the better good. It's time for another maturity growth-spurt of ourselves and our species. Time to begin figuring out how to merge and balance nature and technology. Are we not civilized? Honestly though, our efforts have been weak and misguided. We are a lazy, silly and confusing bunch, us humans.

Use Google Search and take a look at the global usage and pollution statistics. It truly is staggering!

Some other interesting sites;

http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php

http://www.worldometers.info/

http://www.geohive.com/default1.aspx

And again, to be honest, not only being less wasteful will help. A solution will come from everyone putting forth an effort, no matter how little (though preferably more), and sticking to it. Also, we need to begin utilizing a combination of new fuel and energy technologies with conservation. There is no one solution. It will be utilizing ALL of our knowledge and technology together that will overcome this problem. The effect of global organization and cooperation for a continued improvement could be profound and tremendously beneficial. Remember, it is OUR FAULT, and our problem to solve.

Ok, I could go on and on about this. I took the subject and ran off with it. I like sharing ideas and trying to figure things out. Told you I would ramble. So sue me. Better yet, post your opinion and we'll talk like civilized beings should; with civility and respect.

My final thought is to ask you to think about this; How much total energy did it require for you to read this email or for me to type it? The answer: More than we possibly realize.

Shawn

----Original Message Follows----

From: "Nathan Smith"

Subject: My opinion on the Gas war idea

Here's why I don't think this is a good idea for a few reasons; 1) It'll just shift power to the other companies, 2) Gas prices aren't controlled by supply, they're controlled by demand, and that's our fault, not the gas companies, 3) Gas prices rise due to shortages, which comes from us over-using gas.

Gas prices would probably decrease if the government could/would do something about Gas taxes AND if everyone started driving Hybrid cars. I just wish they weren't so damned expensive. BUT, we could REALLY use the lack of pollution. The amount America uses is staggering... and that's just our country, imagine the world. Read this article for some perspective: http://www.howstuffworks.com/question417.htm

Below is another article of what controls gas prices. Pass this on as well, so people are truly educated on the matter. The original chain letter was probably started by one of the smaller companies in hopes that the power would shift to them... just my opinion. There is a ton of more information that needs to be researched on the matter... too much of what we know is just our friends telling us something they "heard".

http://www.hoover.org/pubaffairs/dailyreport/archive/2827286.html

The proceeding letter that he is referring to has been deleted. It was a message called 'NEW GAS WAR' and is a chain form letter. It is SPAM. It is unfounded and full of factual errors. It's all subjective and only pushes an agenda of the writer. So, since it was long-winded and generally a rant, I deleted it from this post. You might be getting one, or one similar, in your email soon. It starts with something like this;

Subject: NEW GAS WAR
a new idea that WILL work

This was originally sent by a retired Coca Cola executive. It came from one of his engineer buddies who retired from Halliburton. It's worth your consideration...

It's basically this loverly gem of a letter that's been passed around since at least 1999. Ah, you gotta love propaganda spam nostalgia.

Form your own opinions. Discuss.

Online Surveys - Scam or Legit?

2007-05-09T10:04:00.001-05:00

I have yet to do much of my own research on this subject, but I have read some interesting things concerning them.

It appears that there is some truth to the "getting paid for opinions" story, as there are many legitimate organizations out there doing just that. However, there also many non-reputable organizations, run by nefarious and unscrupulous people, out to get your money. So it's no surprise that there are more scams than not.

My advice to you on this subject: Be extremely wary and cautious, never pay to take surveys, do your own research, check your sources, use reputable sites, and always read the terms & conditions carefully.

Also, it's not a bad idea to call or write to fraud and scam monitors, like Consumer Reports or the BBB.

Here are a few articles and blogs that I recently found, that discuss this issue;

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=19494

http://www.helium.com/tm/25954/short-answer-arent-tried

http://www.articlegeek.com/business/advertising/paid-survey-scam.htm

Be safe out there!

Quoted Life

2007-04-27T16:09:00.001-05:00

Here are some great interesting and thought provoking quotes.

Just thought I'd share some ideas that I quite like. I hope they motivate me, and anyone else reading this. Take them for what they are; ideas.

Please to enjoy!

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
~ Frederick Keonig

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed”
~ Mahatma Gandhi

Oh, the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling. Its unraveling and it undoes all the joy that could be.”
~ Joni Mitchell

“Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything”
~ Publilius Syrus

“Man must get his thoughts, words and actions out of this vast moral jungle. We are not predators. We are, hopefully, more than instinctive killers and selfish brutes. Why take such a dim view of our potentialities and capabilities?”
~ H. Jay Dinsah

Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”
~ Napoleon Bonaparte

“You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.”
~ Anthony Robbins

"The price of greatness is responsibility"
~ Winston Churchill

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
~ Albert Einstein

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."
~ Lord Acton

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"
~ William Pitt the Younger, The Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778

"With great power comes great responsibility."
~ Stan Lee

Read this, and pass it on. Sucker!

2007-04-26T13:56:00.001-05:00

I got Married!

But more on that later... =P

I am here today to talk about chain email messages. Yup, a topic so important that it precedes talking about my marriage (to a wonderful, beautiful woman whom I love so very much. Hi, honey!). Of this, I am very adamant on my opinion and therefore need to post my thoughts. I don't like them. Chain letters, I don't {typically} like chain letters. Not my thoughts. Because if I did that would be weird. And scary. You should be worried.

That being said, let me say this. And I can, because it's my blog. Nah-nah!

Do you get those emails forwarded down to you... Wait, who am I kidding, of course you do... So you get these chain-letter emails from a friend, relative, coworker or some such, that is in some form or another along the lines of; a joke, tragic fortune (if you don't forward), silly/disgusting photos, a sad story, a ranting 'Patriotism' pledge, or something along those lines? And the previous recipient (whom sent it on to you) has just hit FORWARD without editing it - as did the 9 Billion people prior - and it asks you to read it until the end, and pass it on afterwards. However, you typically just skim over it and laugh, cry or shrug or whatever, and then delete it. You DO delete it, right? Or do you pass it on?

Well, not to be rude or seemingly uncaring, or whatever, but those bug me. I get too much junk mail as it is. And hearing from my long lost Aunt Rita (name changed to protect the GUILTY!!) through a chain-letter, without so much as a, "Hello, dearest. I am Well. We miss you...", isn't exactly my idea of making a lasting connection. And, seriously, it's just not a fun way to spend my time.
[NOTE: Anyone whom does send me regular email, or calls, or in some way stays in regular contact with me on some level, is exempt. Mostly]

Hey, thanks for the emotional chain-letter... um, whomever you are. Damn there are so many emails on here. Who the Frell sent it? {ten hours of skimming the page, later} Oh, I see, it's Rita. Who's Rita? Oh, wait! Aunt Rita, whom I haven't seen or spoken to in, oh, like 80 years. She's still alive (unless this is an automated forward, in which case I send my condolences) and somehow has my email?

Can I be a dink or what? Sarcasm runs deep in these veins. So much so that they're all puffy, and deep purple. That also accounts for the swollenness around the midsection. No, that's not fat! Really, I swear. *sigh* Ok, I need to go jogging. Be right back.

Ok, I'm back. Yes, I am THAT fat! Er, Fast. damn.

Anyhow, so basically I read them or not and delete them. On a rare occasion I might even respond to the sender. I might say, "thanks, but...", and ask them to please not send me those again. Or, I might reply about the item and attempt to actually have an email conversation, instead of only hearing from them through passed-along emails (seriously, doesn't that annoy you?).

Well, this is one of those extremely rare times that I am going to pass it along. Only this time I'm going to break the chain and post it in my blog instead. {somewhere an angel dies and a small child weeps}

So, here you have it my loyal readers. All three of you. No, not you.

Today I got this one from a friend of mine. Typically he doesn't forward these on either, but it's got some good points. Even if it does seem a little angry, ranting and full of angst, it's got guts.

~~~
The topic: Illegal Immigration {READ ILLEGAL! Meaning, not done through the proper channels. We have laws for a reason.}

[The following is neither a direct derivative of the Poster's opinion, nor that of the hosting site. It is rather a reference to a forwarded chain-letter email.]

~This email has been edited for your viewing pleasure... because this person's use of grammar, punctuation, and spacing was atrocious. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK) ~

Don't know if this is truth or not, but...it does make for interesting reading and is very thought provoking.

(supposedly) Written by a CA teacher...

This should make everyone think, be you Democrat, Republican, Independent, Other, or otherwise non-affiliated

From a California school teacher - - -"As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal immigration, there are some things that you should be aware of:

I am in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at a large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students average lower socioeconomic and income levels.

Most of the schools you are hearing about, South Gate High, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, etc., where these students are protesting, are also Title 1 Schools.

Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free lunch program. When I say free breakfast, I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll

-- but

a full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten.

(OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones. The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience of having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch
their kids.

(OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; My budget was already substantial. I ended up buying new computers for the computer
learning center, half of which, one month later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America.

(OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the country less than 3 months who raised so much hell with the female teachers, calling them "Putas" whores and throwing things at the teachers who were in tears.

Free medical, free education, free food, day care etc., etc., etc. Is it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to demand rights, privileges and entitlements?

To those who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less for tomatoes; spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.

Here are some examples;

Higher insurance, medical facilities closing, higher medical costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new diseases etc., etc., etc. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.

We need to wake up.
The guest worker program will be a disaster because we won't have the guts to enforce it. Does anyone in their right mind really think they will voluntarily leave and return?

There are many hardworking Hispanic/American citizens that contribute to our country and many that I consider my true friends. We should encourage and accept those Hispanics who have done it the right and legal way.

It does, however, have everything to do with culture: A third-world culture that does not value
education, that accepts children getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to assimilate, and an American culture that has become so weak and worried about "politically correct" that we don't have the will
to do anything about it.

If this makes your blood boil, as it did mine, forward this to everyone you know.

CHEAP LABOR?

Isn't that what the whole immigration issue is about?

Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage.

Consumers don't want expensive produce.

Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs.

But the bottom line is cheap labor. The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth, a farce, and a lie. There is no
such thing as "cheap labor."

Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He takes a job for $5.00 or $6.00/hour.
At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income taxes, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets and "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free.
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.
He qualifies for food stamps.
He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care.
His children get free breakfasts and lunches, and a free education at school.
He and his family require bilingual teachers and books.
He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.
If they are or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI. Once qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicare.
He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance.
Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material.
He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits.

Sounds like a pretty posh existence, with the world of opportunity before you. And yet they continue to live in poverty, seemingly only to perpetuate this continued lifestyle.

All of this is at (our) taxpayer's expense. Your hard earned money is now theirs.

Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00/hour left after paying their bills and his. The American
taxpayers also pay for increased crime, graffiti and trash clean-up.

Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT!

Wake up people.

THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR EITHER PARTY. AND WHEN THEY LIE TO US AND DON'T DO AS THEY PROMISE, WE SHOULD PERSIST!

THIS HAS GOT TO BE PASSED ALONG TO AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OR WE WILL ALL GO DOWN THE DRAIN BECAUSE A FEW DON'T CARE, OR CARE ENOUGH TO TRY. WE'VE BECOME FAR TOO DETACHED AND ARE NOT PROACTIVE. WE ARE TRULY UNINVOLVED WITH OUR OWN CONTINUED FREEDOM. IF WE SIT IDLE AND ALLOW THE POWER HUNGRY TO RULE AND THE SLOTHFUL TO LEACH OFF US, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY DOOMED.

As US citizens we need to VOICE how we feel NOW - being quiet is what got us where we are now - if we continue to be quite who knows where we will be in another 10 years...

SO SPEAK UP...

Call or write your local government representative, state congressman, town mayor, whomever can hear your outcry and assist in the revolutionizing of our system for a united freedom from tyranny and oppression.
Get active in your life!

MAKE YOU TAX DOLLARS WORK, FOR EVERYONE!

~~

Ok, so there you have it. I have to say a few things in closing (because that was a re-e-eally loooong post). It really doesn't matter - too much - that this supposedly originated from a CA second language teacher. What matters is that there are some valid questions, concerns and opinions stated. What credibility this person might have is moot. Granted it does add a bit or realism and perspective, if it's to be believed that his is in FACT a teacher. However, I can't help but say that (despite some minor editing on my part) this was a poorly structured essay. So, to point out, how much good can it be doing immigrants if this individual is teaching English in such a poor manner? Does this person not take his/her profession as serious as they wish us to take the issue? I don't take all that was said to heart, as it did seem a bit of a rant. Perhaps it was out of mere frustration of the job position, in which this teacher resides, that it was written and not entirely to inform of a perpetuating and impending disposition? Who knows, really.

All I can say is... "how can I get into one of those programs!"

haha.

No, seriously.

You thought I was going somewhere with this?

Oh, ok, fine. Be pro-active. Be aware of what your tax dollars pay for. Push for better regulatory laws that are non-tyrannical and don't give the rulers and the poor all the power.

Ok, happy?

I'm going to nap, now. I'll get started on being "Pro-active" tomorrow...

END

Making Money: The Online Way

2007-04-05T12:38:00.001-05:00

This, I think, is something of interest to basically everyone that has some online presence. Especially those people whom spend a fair amount of their time browsing; i.e. reading or writing blogs, journals, articles, ezines, forums, image and file sharing, artist pages, etc. for any various reason. For those that find the daily tedium of 'work' to be more than it is worth, it becomes disdainfully stressful to find a job/career that you can feel comfortable in. Certainly someone has to do the dirty work - and sometimes it can be fun and rewarding - but what about those that don't, or those that feel they could make some extra bank {$$} on the side to help things out?

Well here is a blog with some insight into just that thing.

http://www.geckoandfly.com/make-money-online/

He makes some great points and gives the reader some encouragement about how to not only stay on track, but how to follow through and be successful. Although his main focus is on Google Adsense and other Google endeavors (I can hear the groans now), there are plenty of ways to take this insight and translate it into many other online revenue devices.

So take a gander, listen to his opinions and advice, and make your own conclusions. It just might help put some extra bucks in your pocket.

Please to enjoy!

------->

That being said, I will try to put this into practice myself once my life calms down (among other things). I am in the process of becoming married (yikes! and woo-hoo!) and purchasing a home. I have so many ideas and projects in mind, if only to get past this point in my life and have the freedom to do as I want. I will comment {eventually} on how things go.

Healthy Eating: The $7 a day plan

2007-04-05T11:54:00.001-05:00

Here's an article from the MSN Health & Fitness site. There are some great tips here that make sense for both your nutrition and your wallet.

Healthy Eating on $7 a Day: Top Staple
By Jean Weiss for MSN Health & Fitness
URL: http://health.msn.com/ssprint.aspx?cp-documentid=100153608&imageindex=1
Not only do these tips show you that smart, healthy eating can be cheap and easy, but it can also be tasty and satisfying. I have perscribed to this idea for years, though for various reasons have not been able to put it into practice. I think we'll save that for another blog.
The one thing I would have liked about this article would have been the ability to save it as a .pdf or to at least print all the pages at once. However, because it is set up in a page-by-page slide show, this is not the case. Clicking on the 'print this' link will only open a page for the specific tip you are viewing. To print each page, though easy, is still a bit tedious. And don't even get me started on printing each page to a .pdf, and then having to merge them all. I do enough of that at work and don't prefer to spend my off time on the same {repetitive} tasks.

Please to enjoy!

~Shawn

Extended Intro: Welcome

2006-10-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

*Extended Intro*

I am a Jones. Not "THE "Jones, just "A"Jones. It's such a common surname, I have never been fond of it. Nothing on my fore-fathers, it just hasn't been much fun having such an unsurprising, predictable and obviously anglo-caucasian name. Over the years it's generated good times and bad; praises and immediate acceptance into geek-riddled reinessance fairs, odd looks, unusual pronunciations from foreign folks and the elderly, bad jokes and hi-jinx, to unbelieving hotel clerks, and most unusual when a suspicious bill collector questioned my actual existence. To boot, it also makes a difficult task of picking child names, since almost anything can go with it, but some just sound outrageous. Although, I am proud to carry a traditional name that has transcended the ages from my celtic/anglo saxon ancestors, I just wish it wasn't so... plain. I've been tempted to pick an ancestral name with more originality - some of which I'll reveal here in due time(and if genealogy research is to be believed).
This space is reserved for use as a musing ground. A place to promote myself, my inner thoughts, as well as some merchandise and affiliate links sites (hey, a man's gotta eat), to utilize for the sharing of ideas, opinions, conflicts, inner struggles, creative endeavors, art, photos, tv and movies, comic books, hobbies, a few things I find funny, and maybe a recipe or two.
So browse in, click a link and enjoy the peddling of what's hidden inside... The Jones Files.

Thanks for visiting.

-Shawn P. Jones

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