WOW!! Its been SO LONG since I had last posted on my blog. I thought I might put my creativity to good use with this next post. News flash people, I decided to try my luck in the art of freelance writing. Why? Three reasons: Boredom, novelty, and an outlet for my creativity. Those of you who know me know that I have a lot to say, whether it be about the current state of the economy, the path our country USA is heading, etc. But above all, what most of my rants are, is music. Which is the direction I will take this blog. Good Luck me!
http://www.myspace.com/copy
Copy - Hair Guitar
*Disclaimer* I do not claim to know everything about this genre of music that is electronic music. True, I know my music theory but I do not have the extensive background of listening to electronic music to throw out names and cite influences. Nevertheless, my review would be in an eye of a fresh reviewer, new to the genre
Into the field of Electronic music, this CD makes me reminisce. Don't get me wrong, I reminisce as much as the next guy, but something about this album makes me think about childhood. This is probably because the sound and the effects portrayed by this artist is very analogous to "old-school" Nintendo games that I love to play in my childhood. Listening many of the fast tracks such as track # 8 "You Can Not Believe It," takes me back to the good ol' days of playing Raiden, Double Dragon, or F-zero on my NES or at the local arcade.
Hair Guitar likes to mix it up as well, not all the songs on the album is as fast and intense as Tract #8, for example track #3 "Assassinator" offers a soothing melody combined with light four to floor beats, typical in some RPGs such as Secret of Mana or Soul Blazer.
All in all, this album is great to just pop in your car when you drive to work, or even when you work out. Let the fast songs motivate you to speed past the guy slowing down on the fast lane or force yourself to run faster than the fat image of yourself you see before you. The slower tracks are there to tell yourself you did a great job and this 5 dollar footlong was worth the extra sweat.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
How to spot a Network Marketing presentation from a mile away
This happened to me again. I got invited to listen to another great "opportunity for advancement." Now don't get me wrong, I have developed quite an open ear for these Pyramid schemes but at the same time, people have to realize that this type of business model does tend to sound kind of shady.
Synopsis: I was minding my own business in Barnes and Noble when some dude came up to me and complimented my cool looking vans. At first I thought he might be one of them homosexuals the bible talks about but little did I know, he intentions would make Sodom and Gomorrah look like Disneyland. He asked about work and I said I was open for new opportunities, I guess that tipped him off because he suddenly became interested in my topic. He kinda hinted about what he did, looking back, I guess I could see how he was trying only give off slightly what he did but then again, hindsight is always 20/20. He was able to walk away with my business card which he them promptly called to set up a meeting.
The meeting was yesterday at a Starbucks and though initially I thought it was just going to be a chill meetup where he would tell me what he does and tell me about a job opening, but when I saw his business associate in my head I was like FUUUUCCCKKKKK..... not again. He works for Amway Global, pretty much think of it as a Costco online. You get money back for shopping on that site (the dude asked me if I would shop at a store if they paid me and I responded with "If they paid me money to shop there then that would tell me something about their product huh" ... he apparently didn't understand sarcasm). And as normal Multi-level Marketing schemes go the more you refer business to others, the more money you make until you reach a cap.
Bottom line was, I wasn't interested and for the rest of the "interview" I acted like worst interviewee ever and I did everything I shouldn't do at an interview shy of walking out. I checked the time, played with my fingers, hair, got up and walked around outside, made a phone call, and even asked them what their turn around rate (how often employees quit) was. OK BIG HINT. IF YOU WANT THESE PEOPLE TO END THE INTERVIEW EARLY OR HAVE THEM NOT BOTHER YOU, TELL THEM YOU HAVE NO AMBITIONS. Its like telling Jehova's Witnesses you have given blood before, they almost wanted to pack up and leave just right there.
Anyway, so looking back, if you want to spot someone asking you to join one of these meetings here are a couple things to look for.
1.) The person is usually someone you know. Multi-Level Marketing companies (MLMs) often tell people to sell to their friends. Its because most people that do MLMs have no social skill and find it hard to cold call. I gotta give props to this guy because finding someone randomly and pitching the idea to them is much more respectable than lying and cheating your own friends.
2.) They will constantly refer to what they do as an "opportunity." I have actually heard them say marketing firm, marketing opportunity, avenue for advancement, etc. Just everything shy from a job.
3.) They will constantly change the subject when you ask them more detail about the job.
4.) They will try to qualify you by asking you questions like "This job is for ambitious people only, are you ambitious? Do you have goals in life? Do you want to become financially independent? etc etc." Obviously you are going to answer yes to all of these. Their plan is to make it so that you have stumbled on this amazing opportunity that almost speaks directly to you. Oldest trick in the book. Psychics do it too.
5.) And lastly, they have to set up a meeting just to hang out with you. What I mean by this is usually, when a MLM guy gets your contact info he/she makes it sound like he/she wants to hang out with you. Who needs an appointment just to grab a beer or some coffee with a "friend."
There you have it, now you can have a heads up when you can gauge whether the new friend you made at a bookstore sees you as a potential cash cow or an actual companion.
*note: The reason why MLM has a negative view in my eye is their business model. Take USANA for example. I feel that if your product is so great and lifechanging, why not introduce it into the mainstream market? If people want to change their lifestyle, let them do it buy choice. Don't shove your product down people's throats by forcing them to pay $300 up front to buy a crapload of USANA products, and you wonder why so many people fail at these things.
Synopsis: I was minding my own business in Barnes and Noble when some dude came up to me and complimented my cool looking vans. At first I thought he might be one of them homosexuals the bible talks about but little did I know, he intentions would make Sodom and Gomorrah look like Disneyland. He asked about work and I said I was open for new opportunities, I guess that tipped him off because he suddenly became interested in my topic. He kinda hinted about what he did, looking back, I guess I could see how he was trying only give off slightly what he did but then again, hindsight is always 20/20. He was able to walk away with my business card which he them promptly called to set up a meeting.
The meeting was yesterday at a Starbucks and though initially I thought it was just going to be a chill meetup where he would tell me what he does and tell me about a job opening, but when I saw his business associate in my head I was like FUUUUCCCKKKKK..... not again. He works for Amway Global, pretty much think of it as a Costco online. You get money back for shopping on that site (the dude asked me if I would shop at a store if they paid me and I responded with "If they paid me money to shop there then that would tell me something about their product huh" ... he apparently didn't understand sarcasm). And as normal Multi-level Marketing schemes go the more you refer business to others, the more money you make until you reach a cap.
Bottom line was, I wasn't interested and for the rest of the "interview" I acted like worst interviewee ever and I did everything I shouldn't do at an interview shy of walking out. I checked the time, played with my fingers, hair, got up and walked around outside, made a phone call, and even asked them what their turn around rate (how often employees quit) was. OK BIG HINT. IF YOU WANT THESE PEOPLE TO END THE INTERVIEW EARLY OR HAVE THEM NOT BOTHER YOU, TELL THEM YOU HAVE NO AMBITIONS. Its like telling Jehova's Witnesses you have given blood before, they almost wanted to pack up and leave just right there.
Anyway, so looking back, if you want to spot someone asking you to join one of these meetings here are a couple things to look for.
1.) The person is usually someone you know. Multi-Level Marketing companies (MLMs) often tell people to sell to their friends. Its because most people that do MLMs have no social skill and find it hard to cold call. I gotta give props to this guy because finding someone randomly and pitching the idea to them is much more respectable than lying and cheating your own friends.
2.) They will constantly refer to what they do as an "opportunity." I have actually heard them say marketing firm, marketing opportunity, avenue for advancement, etc. Just everything shy from a job.
3.) They will constantly change the subject when you ask them more detail about the job.
4.) They will try to qualify you by asking you questions like "This job is for ambitious people only, are you ambitious? Do you have goals in life? Do you want to become financially independent? etc etc." Obviously you are going to answer yes to all of these. Their plan is to make it so that you have stumbled on this amazing opportunity that almost speaks directly to you. Oldest trick in the book. Psychics do it too.
5.) And lastly, they have to set up a meeting just to hang out with you. What I mean by this is usually, when a MLM guy gets your contact info he/she makes it sound like he/she wants to hang out with you. Who needs an appointment just to grab a beer or some coffee with a "friend."
There you have it, now you can have a heads up when you can gauge whether the new friend you made at a bookstore sees you as a potential cash cow or an actual companion.
*note: The reason why MLM has a negative view in my eye is their business model. Take USANA for example. I feel that if your product is so great and lifechanging, why not introduce it into the mainstream market? If people want to change their lifestyle, let them do it buy choice. Don't shove your product down people's throats by forcing them to pay $300 up front to buy a crapload of USANA products, and you wonder why so many people fail at these things.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
After days of delay
I'm back!!! These couple weeks have been hectic but I GOT A JOB!!! I work in Oakland so I have to commute for about an hour to an hour and a half every day. I spend roughly 12 hours at work and factoring in my 6-8 hours of sleep leaves me 4 - 6 hours of free time at home. Most people think that this is killer and not really a step up from my 5sam - 1pm shift but I disagree.
a.) I don't mind the drive there and back
b.) I like my work.. so far
C.) Finally, the effort I took to land this job makes this job all the sweeter.
Me working at Sovran is living proof that the economy isn't as bad as people say it is. Sure its a lot harder to get jobs or even interviews for that matter but it doesn't mean jobs don't exist anymore. What people need to realize is that getting a job isn't 100% luck nor is it 100% skill. It is a combination of both.
See, I think the American public is in love with the ideal of futility. When something seems futile, people will either stop and sit in a wall of agony or they might just keep trying the same approach until they get frustrated, become emo, and die from valium overdose. The aspect of critical thinking is gone from today's world.
I'm usually not this arrogant and I am totally not trying to be but I got this job based on sheer will. I wasn't getting nearly as much interviews as I wanted to the first couple of days when I became unemployed and every interview I gotten I treated as if it was my last. I noticed that when I apply online to some place, there is less of a probability that I get an interview than me finding a way to hand my resume to the person face to face. When in an interivew, I found that I am more likely to be called back to a 2nd interview if I leave out the fact that I want to pursue higher education than the latter. Its all about increasing your odds, finding different solutions to one problem. That is the key to finding a job in this economy.
a.) I don't mind the drive there and back
b.) I like my work.. so far
C.) Finally, the effort I took to land this job makes this job all the sweeter.
Me working at Sovran is living proof that the economy isn't as bad as people say it is. Sure its a lot harder to get jobs or even interviews for that matter but it doesn't mean jobs don't exist anymore. What people need to realize is that getting a job isn't 100% luck nor is it 100% skill. It is a combination of both.
See, I think the American public is in love with the ideal of futility. When something seems futile, people will either stop and sit in a wall of agony or they might just keep trying the same approach until they get frustrated, become emo, and die from valium overdose. The aspect of critical thinking is gone from today's world.
I'm usually not this arrogant and I am totally not trying to be but I got this job based on sheer will. I wasn't getting nearly as much interviews as I wanted to the first couple of days when I became unemployed and every interview I gotten I treated as if it was my last. I noticed that when I apply online to some place, there is less of a probability that I get an interview than me finding a way to hand my resume to the person face to face. When in an interivew, I found that I am more likely to be called back to a 2nd interview if I leave out the fact that I want to pursue higher education than the latter. Its all about increasing your odds, finding different solutions to one problem. That is the key to finding a job in this economy.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Motivation, the relation that sets the world in motion
Motivation, that is the theme for today. Because what we find out now is that so many people in this world find it hard to be motivated. What people don't realize is that you can't try and get motivated. I mean you can but it is temporary. You know those motivational speakers? People go to those events feeling like they can move mountains but in reality, these events only peter out and everyone falls back into their usual routine. In reality, motivation is easy because motivation is what drives you to finish daily tasks.
The key to this is to step back and think in the bigger picture. What do you feel your calling is, what do you feel you want to do for the rest of your life. I struggle with motivation, When I was applying for jobs after college, I wasn't getting any callbacks for any of them. What motivated me was the show Entourage. The agent of the main character, Ari, lives in a world that he created. Although Entourage is just a TV show, it gives a good window into a career working with human capital. This may sound cheesy but that is what motivates me.
I want to be able to impact people's lives and help the American economy recover. although its baby steps I feel like I can still make a difference.
Anyway, that is my bit about motivation. Ironically, I am unemployed so I don't know who is going to take advice from me but in either case I hope I can impact someone.
The key to this is to step back and think in the bigger picture. What do you feel your calling is, what do you feel you want to do for the rest of your life. I struggle with motivation, When I was applying for jobs after college, I wasn't getting any callbacks for any of them. What motivated me was the show Entourage. The agent of the main character, Ari, lives in a world that he created. Although Entourage is just a TV show, it gives a good window into a career working with human capital. This may sound cheesy but that is what motivates me.
I want to be able to impact people's lives and help the American economy recover. although its baby steps I feel like I can still make a difference.
Anyway, that is my bit about motivation. Ironically, I am unemployed so I don't know who is going to take advice from me but in either case I hope I can impact someone.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Post attempt #2
This is actually my second attempt to write a post now. I never realized that keeping up with a blog is so hard. I think it is because I am being self conscious about my lengths that I feel when I write that I should write a long post. I blame school, all our teachers have been telling us to write longer and longer essays that in the end, we just write babble just to fill the page. You know what that produces? BAD WRITING!!! To put it into perspective, would you rather watch 5 hours of the weather channel or 1 hour of your favorite TV show.... ok bad analogy. Ok different train of though, if you were a Harry Potter fan, would you want to read a 15 page booklet about Harry Potter that JK Rowling took a lot of time and dedication to write, or a 500 page sequel to the 7th book that JK Rowling wrote while on ecstasy, meth, and cocaine while suffering from a hangover on the toilet. I rest my case. Secondly, I don't even know who is even reading this but anyway, I'll just rant along.
What is really funny about having each post a week apart is that I get such great ideas on what to write about as the weeks pass that when I do get started on writing, writers block hits me and I forget all those great ideas. Oh well, thats what I get for not taking note of random thoughts I get throughout the day. ANYWAY, a little about my life now. I am currently unemployed and now have to join the population of people who actively kiss ass and get away with it to get jobs. You know, going into an interview is kind of weird. On paper, you are just suppose to tell the interviewer about yourself and he/she will see if you are fit for the job. Simple right? Well! Let me tell you something. Within the simplicity, lies an entire field of information you have to associate yourself with before even stepping foot into an interview. People write books about this process and apparently they make it seem as though the conversation you have with this "interviewer" should be the most important conversation of your life, something I find hilarious. There are a slew of rules; don't fiddle with your watch, always have direct eye contact, don't ask about salary, don't do this don't do that. Its no wonder people get stressed out during interviews. What doesn't help is the state of the economy, I might not be an economist, rather a sociologist an economist's evil twin. More and more people are looking for jobs and since many companies do not have the money to hire employees, you have over-qualified job seekers applying for jobs that should go to the college students. -le sigh-
Which brings me back to my concluding phrase, jobs these days go to the talkers not the doers
What is really funny about having each post a week apart is that I get such great ideas on what to write about as the weeks pass that when I do get started on writing, writers block hits me and I forget all those great ideas. Oh well, thats what I get for not taking note of random thoughts I get throughout the day. ANYWAY, a little about my life now. I am currently unemployed and now have to join the population of people who actively kiss ass and get away with it to get jobs. You know, going into an interview is kind of weird. On paper, you are just suppose to tell the interviewer about yourself and he/she will see if you are fit for the job. Simple right? Well! Let me tell you something. Within the simplicity, lies an entire field of information you have to associate yourself with before even stepping foot into an interview. People write books about this process and apparently they make it seem as though the conversation you have with this "interviewer" should be the most important conversation of your life, something I find hilarious. There are a slew of rules; don't fiddle with your watch, always have direct eye contact, don't ask about salary, don't do this don't do that. Its no wonder people get stressed out during interviews. What doesn't help is the state of the economy, I might not be an economist, rather a sociologist an economist's evil twin. More and more people are looking for jobs and since many companies do not have the money to hire employees, you have over-qualified job seekers applying for jobs that should go to the college students. -le sigh-
Which brings me back to my concluding phrase, jobs these days go to the talkers not the doers
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Introducing, Chinesepowah
1st, 2010. While the clock was striking and champagne was popping all around me, I was in a conversation with a colleague of mine. The conversation transitioned from all the shenanigans we were a part of during college to our conversations we have had that I believe altered my perception (and I am sure altered his too) of the world we live in. He posed a challenge to me which I vehemently accepted, though much deliberation if it is even worth putting in my time and effort. Since, according to my colleague, I love to talk and always have a point to prove that I should make my points known through the internet. I was thinking about this idea and though I agree that it would be fun to see what slew of random people whom I have never had any interaction with what so ever, could possibly say. More questions popped into mind, who would read this, what would people gain from reading this, why would people even take time out of their own schedule to even bother reading what I have to say, and would they ever apply what I said into practical use (probably not)?
As I take a step back, I realize I tend to think 5 or 6 steps ahead of myself and when I do that, I tend to create gaps in my logic. First things first, I should think of this a vehicle for self reflection and improvement, all that other "giving back to society" crap can wait.
As my New Year resolution, I will start off by writing a new post each week. The post, I would imagine, will cover my life, current events, stuff that annoy me, and learning how to make the biggest carbon footprint we can make in this world (just kidding).
To start things off fresh, let me introduce myself: My name is **** but you can call me anon. One beautiful thing about the internet is the ability to be anonymous. Having a sense of security through anonymity has made the internet a hotbed for the most extreme levels of free speech. Though viewed upon as a double edged sword, being anonymous allows writers to open their minds without having to worry about being censored. I guess I can also go with my pseudonym Chinesepowah ( background story, I created this name in high school mainly as a way to piss off my cantonese friend because I like to justify my social integrity as a mandarin speaker. Though it started off as a joke, the name kind of stuck. I feel that I am chinese and I have power but I have to say it in a chinese accent otherwise it would lose its funniness). I am currently unemployed and hope to find a job soon. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone especially after me saying that I also recently graduated college. With the state of our economy as it is now, recent college graduates are slowly joining the job hunt like hunter gatherers in death valley (especially since California alone is about 12% unemployment as of 2009). I recently had a job but I had to quit because of my health. It forced me to work from 5am to 1pm. Now I would have no problem working this shift, if I saw my future as bleak as Russia itself but I actually want to enjoy my freedom of no school so for my sanity, I had to find a different job. Aside from work, I live and breath the snow, and since I breath snow that would make me a cold person which is why I can cope with even the coldest winters, game recognize game right? I hear Russia has pretty cold winters, seeing as though its filled with abandoned missile silos I hear those winters are pretty... nuclear? Russia is a pretty cold place, I mean they brag about their cold winters and apparently even their wars are cold. Any case, bring it on Russia. On a side note, some of you might be wondering why I like to rip on Russia a lot. Well I will answer your question with another question, who wouldn't want to rip on Russia? But seriously, I have a russian girlfriend, and since she gives me crap about being Chinese, I think I should return the favor. I can use this opportunity to brainstorm Russian jokes and see if their passable... although she could be reading this now so she would know what is coming... well if anything we can just mass up a bunch of jokes and point them at each other and never use them.... hmmm sounds like the beginning of a very cold war....
Anyway, I think thats about enough introducing for one day. See you all next week!
- Chinesepowah
Monday, November 9, 2009
Awakening
A title page huh? Thats convenient, humans like titles. It keeps everything neat.. orderly. In our society, we are so use to hearing about stages that we need to keep naming stages so we can make sense of our world. It must have a "title" or else it is not considered real. Well I can do that too, I can play along with this life. I have entered a new title of my life. No longer am I a college student, or even a "student" of institution. I have exited out of that title and adopted a new title, student of life. It was if my batizado was complete. I have walked that stage, I have adopted that new arena of life. I have passed the days of summer schools; gone are the days of finals and tests. I try to find meaning in this new life of mine, for my old life was planned out since day one.
16 years of my life has been institutionalized and here I am, wanting more. Given the choice to pursue what I want, I decide, knowingly want to pursue life structured, because structure leaves room for predictability and predictability leaves room for success.
I guess I have found my title after all. Learning to cope with what is ahead is man's greatest attribute for success. The ability to be optimistic about things can help in times of harshness in the most peculiar way.
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