Wednesday, November 21, 2007

This is how it works

I don't understand how some people view deals. I bought two ink cartridges today and got a free $10 gift card. Some people would think "$40 in ink and all you get is $10? LAME." But, you see, I was going to buy the ink anyway. I needed the ink. The $10 gift card was just a bonus, a surprise. That's how it works. I didn't go in thinking "I can get $10 if I spend $40!" Nobody thinks like that. That's dumb.

Same goes for the reward program. I'm not going to go and spend $250 just so I can get $5 in certificates. Just, no. But, if I'm going to spend $250+ anyway, say I'm buying a new stereo, then why not join the reward program? It's not hurting me, I was going to spend $250 anyway. So now I can get $5 off, say, a DVD in the future. A DVD I probably would have bought anyway, at full price.

This is how it works. I never understood the people who would buy like $600 worth of stuff and not sign up for RZ. That's $10 towards whatever you want that you're just passing on. I don't get it.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

You can google me any time

So there's this commercial for some insurance or something and they talk about how you can call a number to get a "rate quote." I *know* they say "rate quote." I KNOW this. But... I don't hear "rate quote." I hear "rape quote." Erica hears it too. Always it makes us wonder what exactly is a "rape quote?" Is that like how high I rate on the rapeability scale? If I call that number are they going to tell me how many guys want to rape me? The cost? QUALITY? I don't know. This is how my brain works.

So I have a meter on this page that tracks the number of people that visit this here blog. It can also tell me how people find my site. Usually people find a link on Abby's blog or somewhere I've posted. Sometimes they find me by searching for the coffee and hairspray quote. Usually people find my site because they're Abby. But while reviewing my last sitemeter report, I saw that someone found my site by searching for my first and last name. I want to know who in Chicago (yes, it tells me location) would know me enough to a) know my first and last name and b) actually go to the trouble to google me but c) not already know I keep this thing. Now, I admit, I google myself. Sometimes I google my friends. But I don't know anybody in Chicago that would be googleing (googling?) me. The fact that this person is apparently still using Windows 98 is also bizarre. Site meter is a tad big brother, no?

What I'm trying to say is I wonder how many people are going to find this site by googling "rape quote."

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The movie that changed your life

Pajiba's latest comment diversion asked us readers to list the songs, albums, and/or movies that changed our lives. Here was my response:

'Take-offs and Landings' by Rilo Kiley is definitely the album that changed my life. I don't remember now what prompted me to buy it, but by the time I was halfway through "Science vs. Romance" I knew I'd found my new favorite band. I've since bought everything available (including the recent Under the Blacklight, which was disappointing). This was at the beginning of my search for good music outside the mainstream, and it was a wonderful gateway tool to a seemingly endless supply of great music.

As for a specific song, I'd have to say 'Shannon Marie' by Joe Firstman. It's one of the most beautiful and personal songs I've ever heard by any artist, and it started my love affair with his music and my desire to date a musician so that he could write an equally beautiful song about me. The last 40 seconds or so still give me chills, it's so good.

A movie that changed my life? I'd have to say Almost Famous. It's been my absolute favorite movie since the moment I saw it, and the film has definitely helped to shape who I am today, more so than any other film I've seen.

If you aren't a Pajiba reader, I highly recommend checking them out. I've been reading for years. I remember back in the day when they only posted items on Friday afternoons or over the weekend, whenever they got around to seeing the movies. They're growing up before our eyes, what with seeing advance screenings and doing interviews with writers and such! And now they update every day. Check 'em out, you won't be disappointed.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Are you OK with what you've got?

I've barely made any posts since I've come to Hawaii - I'm not a very dedicated blogger, obviously - but I'm back now and ready to post!

About the WGA strike!

What? You thought I'd post some stories about my escapades in Hawaii? Silly rabbit.

I seem to have a soft spot in my heart for entertainment unions. We've seen this from me before. I don't even work in the entertainment industry, unless you count doing publicity for a film festival. And I'm just an intern (a kickawesome, hard-working intern, but an intern nonetheless), so I'm not even paid. What I'm trying to say here is that I don't have any stake in the outcome of the WGA strike. The only way this is going to affect me at all is that my TV shows are going to be interrupted. Which, while unfortunate, I'm not really that upset about. My favorite show currently is The Office, and I just read earlier today that they have officially halted production. I should be pissed, but I'm not. I was thrilled when I read that Steve Carrell and Rain Wilson refuse to cross the picket line. Way to stand up for the rights of your co-workers!

I guess my family may be indirectly influencing my feelings towards these unions. My dad is currently a member of a union. But I really think it's my mom that has shaped this portion of my personality. During my impressionable years, at the tender age of 9 or so, I walked the picket line with my mother outside the hospital where she worked. The nurses were on strike. I realize now looking back that my presence there was a strategic move - those group of kids walking with their parents are exactly the ones who would be affected by the outcome of the strike. Plus, we were adorable. I don't really remember anything about the strike aside from the office that was the headquarters where we got hot chocolate and yelling "Scab!" at an ambulance pulling up to the ER. Of course at the time I had no idea what was going on- I didn't know what a strike was or why we were mad at an ambulance. But I can understand now that we were doing something important. (I don't actually know what exactly the goal of the strike was- but I'm pretty sure we didn't get what we wanted, because my mom doesn't work at the hospital and hasn't for well over 10 years now [she just got a 10th anniversary gift thing from the company she currently works for]. I should probably call my mom. She likes it when I call her.)

For more on the writers' strike, I recommend checking out Stephen Falk's blog Plaintive Wail. Or you could just google it. Avoid the comments on ONTD posts, I have a feeling that most of those posters haven't held a real job and that none of them have walked a picket line.


Currently listening to Parade by Pretty Girls Make Graves