Pauls Rants & Revelations

I have been using Sponsored Reviews for a few weeks now. And although my public profile isn’t exactly mind blowing, the service they offer is one of the best as far as paid-to-blog services go as they actually let you negotiate on the price of a review. This coupled with their well thought out and help tips (more about that in a sec), makes them a force to be.. well, blogged! (OK, that was probably as stupid sounding to you as it is to me, but it sounded funnier in my mind.)

One of the articles that they have just posted is “27+1 Tips for Building and Maintaining a Blog Audience“, which covers, in detail, helpful advice and tips for those of use not blessed with the mammoth sized and rabid readership of sites like Endgadget or ProBlogger.

Some of the information I found to be pretty “Well, duh!” type stuff. most of the tid bits of knowledge though I found to be quite interesting. In particular, the section on post length was helpful as I tend to ramble on about things without regard for my readers time constraints. Another bit was about not alienating your audience. This isn’t usually a problem for me as people either hate me (most) or love me (much less than most), but letting some success go to you head is often the downfall of a good thing (see Microsoft, file sharing, Britney Spears, etc) .

Aside from the advice that SR givea out, there are several comments on the article that also make a lot of sense and can be useful when going about your review or rant. I’ve read what was up there, but I’m sure there will be more by the time you get to reading it, and most of it was pretty good.

In semi-short, its a great read and a useful resource for those just getting into blogging or those that are old hands at it. It never hurts to get back to the basics , even if you’re an “uber blogger”, and it is always nice to get a helping hand when starting something.

We all went out for dinner last night to celebrate a raise I got at work. During the dinner conversation between my wife and I my son, 5 years old mind, blurts out the following in a restaurant:

“Mom, that light looks like a nipple!”

My wife was overcome with a fit of the giggles at this. I was a but shocked, and didn’t readily believe that he actually said that. When we didn’t answer him on his comment, he repeated it. Louder. We told him that standard “Thats nice dear” lines.

I think it is, at times embarrassing, it is quite often highly interesting and entertaining what comes out of the mouths of children. Then don’t have the speech filter that comes with age and maturity, so you can almost never be prepared for what they may say.

Just make sure that in any conversations you have, be sure that little ears aren’t listening. And especially dont mention “nipples” as this apparently sounds like a fun word to kids.

-Cheers

Im not referring to the good old days like the 40′s or 50′s, but the 80′s and 90′s when those of my generation were learning about the world and it’s many twisting and turnings. Specifically, our cartoons.

One of my favorite cartoons of all time was Animaniacs. That and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I mean, todays cartoons are rather a let down when it comes to the styles of animation that are used in their production, but more than that the “message” that todays cartoons deliver seems to be a somewhat less meaningful and very watered down version of the messages from these 2, in my opinion, staples of my generations cartoons.

For instance, when Shredder was thwarted (yet again) but the cowabunga band of mutated amphibians, there was always some meaningful bit of wisdom that was gained be it “never put all your super weapons in one Technodrome”, or something about good hearted teams will always triumph over evil individuals.

From Animaniacs, though, the best message you could hope for was from Mr. Skullhead, either about not skiing a downhill run in summer, or not to go swimming in a pool of sharks with meat tied around your neck.

For those of us with children (and none of us thought we would actually have them) we can still see them today. Animaniacs can be rented from your local library now (as my friend did, which we are about to watch disc 4 of). And TMNT is making a comeback of sorts as evidenced by the new movie (which I took my son to see, and he loved it and the messages about brotherhood that it bestowed upon the audience). Perhaps we will yet again be blessed with TMNT in the mornings and Animaniacs in the afternoons as it was in our youth, but if not, then we can get the DVDs (or download them from torrents) and enjoy them with our children who will hopefully learn the same well rounded lessons we did at their age.

-Cheers

It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority – Benjamin Franklin

This was a great read that asks a lot of questions that many Americans are asking themselves. Read it now.

When did America become a nation of frightened wimps? | steve-olson.com

-Cheers

With all the hullabaloo that the Imus comment is getting this week, It got me wondering about a few things in society that i believe are major contributing factors to why we are going to hell for this one.

For those who dont know, Don Imus, a popular talk radio personality, was shit canned from CBS on 4/12/07 for calling the Rutgers womens basketball team a bunch of “nappy headed hos”.

He was fired for speaking his mind and to Rev. Al Sharpton this was a racially derogatory comment requiring severe action. More than a few Hip Hop albums call women “ho’s”, but when a white man says it, its a racial slur? If the team were predominately white it would be been forgotten in 10 minutes, but since its mostly made up of black players it makes it racially negative in nature? A crock-of-shit double standard if there ever was one.

One thing I found rather disturbing was that some people are saying that this will damage “race relations”. What the fuck is that? Are we negotiating with Martians or something? Why wasn’t I informed? I was under the, I guess it was mistaken, impression that we humans were all part of the same race. We just come in different styles and colors; much like cars do.

So now a days, if someone of a particular skin color says something that offends a few folks this will… what? Lead to total social anarchy? If thats the case, then excuse me while I get my nail studded baseball bat from the storage closet.

I think Oprah Winfrey is a didactic, shit-stirring, opportunistic yammering cow who uses crying pregnant teens to push up her ratings, but that doesn’t mean I dislike every black person in the country. I just dislike her; because shes Oprah; and she pisses me the fuck off.

To restate it, we are going to hell. Not just some of us. All of us. Yes, even the ones who go to church and pray and whatnot. You, too, are going to hell.

We are going because God hates dumbasses. American society has become so overly-cautious when it comes to talking or saying anything regarding race, gender, sexual preference, religion, and so on that a lot of people would rather not associate with people of a different color; all because they don’t want to be slapped with a lawsuit for saying something that even remotely approaches a hundred mile radius of possibly racial comment.

And that is just stupid and sad. How are we supposed to get along when everyone is walking on eggshells with their hands clasped over their mouths?

If God were even a hair less forgiving and patient then he is, He would wipe the whole planet clean. Just undo every fucking thing in existence and go from there. (BTW, O’ great one, thanks for not clearing us off like last nights table scraps just yet).

You couldn’t really blame Him though, given all the crap thats floating around society at large? We have so many rules regarding speech that we have no room for talking. And if no one talks, it’s going to get very boring.

I’m not suggesting a law-less society (no matter how fun it would be) but easing back on a few things would make a great deal of progress on the whole “lets get along” mentality the huggy-feely types are pushing on us.

Before you go back to pretending to work, let me summarize this in a simple list:

• American society is too cautious about whats said to whom that original thought and freedom is almost lost
• Racism, true racism, is from ignorance.
• God hates dumb-ass’s. Period.
• Ty looks ridiculous in 12XL Fubu shirts
• If you think you’re racist, you probably aren’t.

OK. You can all flame my comments now. And if anyone thinks I’m a racist, please let me know

-Cheers

I came across Kauai vacation rental in my search for family vacation spots and was pretty interested in it. I myself have never been to Hawaii so this would be a real treat. My sister-in-law lived there for a number of years and my wife visited her for a month or so at a time but she was like 15 or so and didn’t really enjoy it.

Kauai is the last island past Oahu but still close to the airport. Plus this vacation rental service offers nighly rates and some spectacular natural sites on the island itself (I’m a big nature nut). Check it out if you don’t believe me (but of course you do because I am always right ).

Has anyone ever been to Kauai or Hawaii or any of the islands? Was it nice? Did it rain? Whens the best time to go?

-Cheers

I was passing by several clothing stores yesterday looking at the new and trendy things in the store windows. After passing by a few shops I started wondering why some people would buy some of the styles of things that are hanging from the windows. I know that everyones’ tastes vary but these were downright hideous garments.

For instance, I saw an absolutely awful pseudo-Hawaiian themed shirt in a popular store front window. It looked like a baby played with it in their bowl of spaghetti; and the crapped on the sleeve. I cruised inside the store to see who might buy one of these fashion accidents and I saw that display they were on was almost empty. There was one trendy looking fellow picking at the display looking for his size, so I asked him what he would buy that for. “Women love a well dressed man”, he said. Thats probably true, but for $95 I would expect some sort of manufacturer guarantee that it would get me a chick. After checking the 19 tags stapled to the shirt, I saw no such thing.

This got me thinking more about why, exactly, some people go to such lengths (and expenses) just to “look their best”. It seems that these people spend $500 on an outfit, wear it 2 hours until they attract someone at the club, and proceed to the popular “bumping uglys” portion of the evening.

I find it quite amusing that these folks spend a large amount of money to get dressed in the hopes of getting un-dressed later. Why don’t they just pay for a prostitute if that is all they are really after? Perhaps a quick breakdown of the costs (from a guys perspective) would help illustrate my point:

You could spend about $250 on your outfit for the club, $20 for a haircut, $30 for club admission, $20 for drinks for you, $40 for drinks for potential mattress mambo partners, and if you are very lucky, $20 for cab fair back to your/their place (yes, after drinking $60 in booze you would call a cab). Total costs: $380 for an evening of “fun”. All that cost, and it is possible (probable, actually) that you won’t even get anything from anyone that evening. Thats seems like a pretty expensive shot in the dark.

For a prostitute, a decent one will cost about $150. You don’t have to dress to impress, you don’t have to buy drinks, and certainly get something for your the money you spend. For half the price this would seem like a more financial sound way to go.

“But we go to clubs to hang out with friends” some would say. Do you invite your friends into your bedroom when you have a successful nookie aquisition? If yes, then you should be in films. Otherwise, just go to the club afterwards.

“But we like to romance/be romanced” some would say. Ha. How much romancing can you do when you have to scream over the music to be heard? And that warm fuzzy feeling you are getting isn’t attraction; its the 5 long island ice teas your potential shagger has been feeding you for the past half hour. This is a bit off possibly, as I know few people who can drink 5 long island’s and still stand after. But the rest is pretty accurate.

So for all the cost, all the trouble, all the hassle of “looking your best”, you are possibly not getting anything from anyone. That shirt you spent $95 on will go to waste now. If you are thinking of wearing it again, stop right there. You struck out the first time you wore so it stands to reason next time wont be any different.

And the next time you see a fancy shirt in a window or a magazine ad depicting a group of young folks having a blast at the club in the newest ‘baby mess’ style of shirt, remember one thing; those people are payed to smile. They are playing on your (probably valid) insecurities. They are counting on the fact that you are so desperate for some action that you are probably going to pay whatever price to “look your best”. Don’t fall for this.

Instead, show them you are not an insecure, stylistically helpless sheep. Strike back at the trendy stores and their ultra-hip styles by getting yourself a prostitute instead! You (probably) won’t regret it.

-Cheers

As soon as I saw the catchy title, I just had to click it. Reformed Adult Webmaster Reveals Cutting-Edge Marketing Secrets is, after all, a real eye catcher, and having known people who work in the adult industry, they certainly know their stuff when it comes to attracting visitors (although this is 90% product in that case).

Still, leanring a few tricks from one of the adult industry elite couldn’t hurt, right? I read a few of the articles and it sounds pretty solid. Some of it actually sounds like a challenge; like he’s daring us to try his advice. Still, most of the content I have found was intriguing and even somewhat entertaining. Check it out if you get a sec to get some tips from the Reformed Adult Webmaster.

-Cheers

I got the office chair that I am using now from the big boss (the owner of the company I work for) about 3 years ago. It’s a decent chair and I have re-padded it to make it a bit more comfortable, but I am feeling lately that a change of seating would be good. That, and my ass falls asleep after a half hour which is very uncomfortable.

I check the usual haunts (Best Buy, Office Depot, etc) but as usual they don’t have anything I would really want to buy. I check online and find one site selling Home Office Furniture that actually looks pretty good. I check them out for a while (they have a crap ton of stuff) and find they are pretty good and well rated sellers of office furniture. In particular the Barbados leather chair is looking good to me as its very plush and comfy looking. The rest of the chairs are good but this one is just gagging to sit in my home office. They offer a lot more brands of course and their shipping times are also very fast but I will have to save a bit before I have it in my office.

I’m 90% sure that I’ll go with them for my chair, but if I find an executive super high back leather chair somewhere it will be in my office faster than you can say “pins and needles on my butt”.

-Cheers

So here I am. I am currently writing this from the Starbucks a block from my house. I have my iPod (Green nano) pumping out the melodious tunes of RJD2. I have my Venti double mocha quad shot breve mocha in hand. I am on my laptop. And I am surrounded by a wide variety of strange and wonderful folks who are either doing the same thing I am on their laptops and ipods or on their cell phones or PDAs doing whatever people with those devices do. There are students doing homework over a cup of chai tea or 20-ish folks chatting over a latte wishing it were still Saturday so they didnt have to go to work tomorrow.

Now, I never thought that I would find myself in the middle of all of these folks. I thought “I have broadband at home and a coffee maker. What do I need Starbucks for?” Now I realize what exactly these folks come for. Its simple, and fulfilling human companionship. Its not like its a singles joint (although there are couples on the always nerve racking ‘first date’ about) but most of these people come to hang out with their friends or to simply sit in a quiet corner of the voracious establishment.

I have come to this place tonight not just to type this post (I do have other priorities other than my semi-rabid readership) but to partake of this social phenomenon and see what its like. Sort of like what your mother used to say, “you should try everything once”. Well, I tried it. I like it. But I’m not going to do it every day; to expensive. It cost me $15 to get online and get my coffee so doing this everyday (or several times a day) just isn’t financialy sound.

In short, if you do get the chance to be amongst the yuppie youth of America and partake in the Starbucks sub-culture I advise that you do so in the night time at a 24hr one as that is when the really interesting folks come out to play.

-Cheers