|
About This Author
I am SoCalScribe. This is my InkSpot.
|
Blogocentric Formulations
Logocentric (adj). Regarding words and language as a fundamental expression of an external reality (especially applied as a negative term to traditional Western thought by postmodernist critics).
Sometimes I just write whatever I feel like. Other times I respond to prompts, many taken from the following places:
Thanks for stopping by! 
| |
I think I might actually cave in and start reading Harry Potter. I haven't read a single one of the books to date (except for the first twenty pages of the first one), and have only seen a couple of the movies. Apparently the audiobooks are available at the library, so I was thinking about checking them out and seeing what all the fuss is all about.
What do you think? Should I remain blissfully ignorant of all this Harry Potter stuff? Or should I actually check it out and see what the big deal is?
I mean... it's not like it could be worse than Twilight. Right? 
|
| |
I finally found my dream job; that elusive job that combines two of my greatest loves... writing and food. No, it's not a restaurant critic. While I'm an adventurous eater and will try almost anything once, I'm also very simple in my tastes and all the fancy-schmancy culinary flourishes are usually lost on me. I just like food that tastes good. Anyway, I digress. My dream job is to be a copywriter for Trader Joe's. Like many companies, they acquire products from other vendors, and license them with their own name, branding, etc. Starbucks, for example, licenses one of their many coffee varieties to Costco, which is then marketed under Costco's "Kirkland" brand. Long story short, Trader Joe's, Costco, and similar companies then to create the packaging to sell these products under their own brand.
This past week, I spotted two copywriting gems. The first was the blurb on the back of a package of Danish pancakes:
"Not that there's anything wrong with American pancakes, mind you. But Danish pancakes? Wow."
The second was in the instructions on the back of a microwaveable bag of string beans:
"Gently massage the package to break up bean clusters."
Gently massage the package??? That just might be the most awesome and innuendo-filled set of directions I've ever read on a food product. Needless to say, if Trader Joe's allows copywriters to have a sense of humor about their branded designs (or doesn't realize it), that's definitely a place I'd like to work. Can you imagine the possibilities?
Spaghetti Instructions: "For best results, avoid having a limp noodle."
Mixed Berry Jam Blurb: "Why settle for one berry in your jam when you can have a threesome?"
Summer Sausage Blurb: "Imagine how satisfying it will be when..."
Well, I think you get the idea. Anyway, adding this to the list of jobs I wish I had. 
|
| |
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to send a quick note to let you know that tYpO/T.Boilerman  has created a new Steampunk-centric group for WdC members who are interested in that particular sub-genre. They've already got a forum and a contest (with some pretty sweet prizes) up and running, so for anyone who's interested, please check out:
|
| |
Spent all day taking state-mandated notary classes today. Pretty basic stuff; what you can notarize, what you can't, different types of notarizations, penalties for mistakes, etc. This is a notary's job, in a nutshell, which was drilled into us for the entire six hours of instruction: notaries certify that a specific person signed a document of their own free will. There's all kinds of rules governing how to prove that, but the bottom line is that one way or another, you have to have someone physically in the room to provide identification (either the signer themselves, or a proxy with all kinds of other requirements).
At the end of the class, the instructor shared with us some real, actual support calls the National Notary Association received for their help line. Among them:
"Do I need to get a thumbprint and signature in my journal for someone I'm notarizing by mail?" (Answer: You don't notarize by mail since no one's physically in the room to prove their identity to you.)
"How do I notarize a document for someone that's deceased?" (Answer: I don't really need to point out what's wrong with this one, right?)
My head hurt after some of the questions people asked. And of course there was that one person in class - the person who always seems to pop up in every class - that just had to ask every conceivable question and make the entire class about her.
"I know you said we'll never have to ever do a protest and that information won't be on the test, but what if we do? How do we do one?"
"Can I charge a travel fee if people come to me for notarization at my office? No? Well what if it's after hours? No? Well what if it's after hours and at my office?"
"We can't notarize something that we have a vested interest in. But what about my husband and my mortgage documents? How about a car loan? How about my cousin's best friend's will where he leaves me his stamp collection?"
"We have thirty days to file our bond with the county clerk. What happens if I wait thirty one days?"
"My best girlfriend's sister's husband was a notary years ago, and he said that we could do blah blah blah. Oh, we can't do that now? Why not? When did the law change? Why did they change the law? Are you sure about that? What happens if I do it the old way anyway?"
*facepalm* Why is there always one of you in every class I take? 
|
| |
I'll admit it; I'm a sucker for singing/dancing/musical/performance competitions. It's probably because I have absolutely zero talent in all of the above areas and am really impressed by people who do. I wasn't sure about NBC's new show The Voice when it was first announced, but it was an instant favorite of mine. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, rather than a show like American Idol (where the contestant is seen and judged on the whole performance), this show has the four judges (Adam Levine from Maroon 5, Cee-Lo Green, Blake Shelton, and Christina Aguilera) sitting in chairs facing away from the contestants, so that they only hear and vote on the quality of the person's voice (hence the show's title).
Anyway, long story short, there's a very specific reason why I'm mentioning this. As further proof of my theory that everyone will eventually know someone in their lives that was on a reality show... it finally happened to me. One of the contestants on the show is the son of my wife's voice teacher from back in our hometown.
Tyler has an incredible voice. His mom/my wife's former voice teacher is in the video, and he also made a pretty important revelation for his father. Check it out:
Also, I had to share this one, because this guy's voice is amazing. He did a great cover of one of my favorite songs too:
I'm totally hooked on this show. While there are a lot of talented singers in the competition, Tyler's got my vote.
|
| |
I don't like to get too political too often, but I have the following three thoughts on the death of Osama Bin Laden:
1. No matter how despicable a human being might be, I'm not sure I could celebrate someone's death. Do I think that the world is a better place without him? Absolutely. But I'm not sure that I'm comfortable with people throwing parties to celebrate the occasion.
2. I'm also not sure how I feel about the idea that the mission was specifically to go in and kill Osama Bin Laden. While I'm sure his death would have been the end result anyway (whether in a firefight or after the courts convicted him of mass murder), the idea that U.S. soldiers invaded a compound with the express purpose of killing somebody makes me wonder why all the rhetoric about "bringing Osama Bin Laden to justice." Why didn't they just say they were trying to find and kill him?
3. I'm getting sick and tired of Obama dissenters saying, "Obama doesn't deserve credit for this accomplishment." Yes, all due credit should be given to the soldiers who put their lives on the line and actually carried out the mission. But like it or not, Obama is the Commander and Chief, received the intelligence, and authorized the mission. Saying he doesn't deserve credit is like saying that Osama Bin Laden shouldn't be credited for 9/11 because he wasn't flying one of the planes. Or that the coach of a championship-winning sports team shouldn't be recognized for his leading part in the effort, even if he wasn't on the court/field. (Although does that mean President Obama should get a Gatorade dunk?  )
I'm becoming increasingly disgusted with politics lately. The partisanship is reaching epic levels, and it really concerns me to see people in government (who are supposed to be working together for the good of the people) rejecting proposals or suggestions, simply because the person behind it is from a different political party. For some people, it's clear that Obama will never, ever do anything right... and for others, it's clear that he can do no wrong. I don't think either opinion is conducive to the greater good of our country, especially in these times of economic crisis.
My next blog post will be more upbeat, I promise. 
|
| |
Over the weekend, my wife and I were watching one of the many specials about the Royal Wedding. In no particular order, the top five most interesting facts (to me) about the whole thing:
1. Of the £20M or so price tag for the whole event, the Middleton family insisted on also contributing... to the tune of £500,000.
2. All of the important guests and members of the wedding party wore outfits by English designers, as a tribute to the British fashion industry.
3. The tradition of the public kiss on the balcony was actually started by Prince William's parents, Charles and Diana, on their wedding day.
4. After Princess Diana's death, Britain instituted a "Red Carpet Rule" for the press, which essentially states that when celebrities and royals are on official business, they can snap photos and harass away. But when they're in their private lives, running errands, etc. the paparazzi needs to back off.
5. Westminster Abbey has a Twitter account.
Just a few little random bits of trivia that caught my attention over the weekend.
|
© Copyright 2025 Jeff (UN: jeff at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Jeff has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
|
Comment • View 7 comments 
