Sephy’s Platzish

Well, here’s a shock; I got lost in the temporal vortex that is YouTube once again. It all starts with me trying to dig up a video that I’d lost due to an account being suspended, and it wound up leading me to going through my favorites list, and landing on, after some other clicking through videos (including finding out that GSN actually were allowed to air an episode of Wheel of Fortune with Chuck Woolery!), this video from The Price is Right, featuring an interesting vehicle -

According to Johnny O, the car is a Zoll Zipper - one seat, three wheels, and according to the comments, able to go 45mph with a fuel economy of 112MPG (about 2.1L/100km - btw that is one of the few things I still use Google for, quick conversions; you don’t even need to hit enter, just use Google, type in the equation you’re looking for - in this case 112 mpg in l/100km, and in suggestions, you get =2.100…L/100km). Speaking of that conversion, why is it that fuel economy in Metric countries is measured as a function of volume per fixed distance, while in the countries that still use miles (US, UK, and a couple others), it’s computed as a function of distance per fixed volume?

By the way, I’m using this post to do a test of posting using an offline editor - one that I’ll be discussing in the next copule of days. It’s a small program that uses (I would guess) a lot less system resources than Windows Live Writer. What is it? You’ll just have to tune in later and find out!

Just editing to add that this worked out perfectly, and this will be an excellent solution to someone who might not have fulltime access to the Internet (or someone, like me, who needs to turn the Internet off from time to time in order to focus! )

Yeah, I’m in a bit of a random mode again, but considering that tonight is the night that we all lose an hour (well, except for Arizona and Hawai’i) in that annual ritual of moving the clocks forward, I wanted to thank our friends in Washington for the fact that we are able to have light in the middle of March at 7PM. Never mind the fact that it’s still dark at 7AM as well…

However, there is good news - my job is going well, and I even put in some extra time yesterday - 3 extra hours which was nice because it picked up the extra 1/2 hour I lost from Monday (cos of starting training after the shift started), and I’ll have some extra pay in my first week’s pay packet.

So far, I’m liking the job - it’s basically me sitting in front of a computer for 4 hours, chatting to people in a few states, asking if they would be interested in making a sponsorship deal with an organization (no, it’s not big amounts of money, but every dollar helps). The best part of it is that there is no pressure when it comes to making sales, and the important thing is getting calls made to folks and asking the question.

My favorite part though is the fact that I’m working with a bunch of really nice people, and they don’t judge me based on my appearances (admittedly I’m not the snappiest dresser, but I’m not a slob either). If you have questions, they’ll answer them, and usually you’ll hear anecdotes about the folks that they are calling (I’ve heard a few stories already, and there is a wide range out there, from reports of people on lakes to heart surgeries).

Another good thing is that because I’m doing this constant talking, I’m back to drinking a more appropriate level of water, which is awesome.

Really, the only hitch in this has come today, when I got a call from my contact who got me this job asking about why I worked 3 hours one night - simple, it was 3 hours above what I am required to do.

It might seem like a long time since it’s been this way, but today we actually had the first decent day for thawing the ice that has accumulated on the driveway (which is up around an inch or so - around 3cm). I took some time during the day to take the ice chipper out and clear a bit of the ice.

By no means did I get all of the ice cleared away, but I did manage to clear out a space that fills around a square foot or more. Needless to say, there’s another, oh, 150 feet by 8 feet to clear out - a herculean effort at the least, a miracle at the most if it is all cleared away before baseball season starts in just over a month.

Either way, it’s expected to actually get above freezing tomorrow - which means a lot more thawing than we had today (it was only a few degrees below freezing, but thanks to the sun’s natural heat, the thawing happened).

Naturally though, this winter wouldn’t be complete without the threat of yet another storm - this time on Monday, possibly into Tuesday. Just so long as I can get out by 12:00 on Tuesday so that I can head out for my appointment with the job service I contacted today, I’ll be fine.

One of my favorite shows on Discovery (and one of the few shows that I’d be willing to get digital cable for if it only aired on the Science channel) is How it’s Made. Over the years, I’ve gotten used to hearing the voice of Brooks Moore giving the details of how the Québécois make the things we use in everyday life.

With a new season, though, comes a new voice - one that is very annoying. He’s got that “Listen to me, I’m an American” type of voice that tends to overhype everything and anything - in other words, he could work for ESPN’s SportsCenter and work out just fine. Apparently, he’s Zac Fine (according to Wikipedia), and he isn’t popular with the fans of the show.

All I can say is that hopefully, the Discovery Channel’s head honchos will come to their senses and bring back Brooks Moore and his more dulcet tones - along with, possibly, the more standard music. However, in any case - keep up the letterboxing. Unlike just about everyone else out there, I love it when shows are letterboxed - that means if we had proper systems to distribute programs, they’d be in widescreen.

Yep, and I’m invited! Well, along with everyone else who has called my address home over the last 8 years or so…

And there’s a catch - if I buy anything at this party, I have to pay it back - without interest until September, but afterwards, anywhere from 9.99 to 15.99% interest, but there is no fee to join the party, if that’s good news in any way…

So, where is this party? Right now, it’s at the end of a reply-paid envelope which shall be sent to Wilmington, Delaware - otherwise known as the credit card capital of the world (I don’t know if that’s the truth, but the name definitely fits! Lo and behold, I check out Wikipedia and that name is listed under nicknames…)

Anyway, this has to be the third or fourth different solicitation I’ve received from the Discover card company for this exact same card - it’s always in a gray envelope, usually with a window for my name, but this time they must have run out of those envelopes, so they put my name in pseudo handwriting on the front of the envelope. Unfortunately, the other envelopes that came today had the window, so I was supposed to feel that little extra special, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, usually I bin these letters, but I opened it up out of curiosity, and I’m greeted by this friendly message:

You’re invited to enjoy
the rewards of a Discover® More® Card

Ah, but the details get even better, as we go on to find out that:

Only a select group receives this special 0% APR* on purchases until September 2008

Ah, so selective, eh? Just my whole household, and probably everyone in my zip code, along with everyone living in, say, a 20 mile radius of here? It continues…

It’s for those who have achieved a certain level of financial success–and who expect and demand exceptional rewards, personalized account management options and superior customer service from their credit card.

Um, Discover®? If you knew anything about me, you might be aware that I don’t have a job right now. So, I might suggest that you find someone who has an income, as they’re more likely to pay their bill in full every month. Obviously, we all know how much you love those people - they’re your favourite customers, right?

Actually, that’s quite far from the truth. In the world of credit cards, people who pay their bills in full every month are actually considered deadbeats as they’re not making these hyper-mega-super-banks any money from paying interest back to them. Their favourite customers are the ones who just pay the minimum payment on their cards - most of that money goes towards interest - or, to be accurate - the bank’s coffers.

But, the offer I’m given gets better. Not only do I get a 0% APR on all purchases through September, I get the following -

You’re eligible for a number of benefits not always available to others — including more ways to earn more cash than any other card, $0 fraud liability guarantee and of course no annual fee

Also, if you don’t live in Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Wisconsin Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, or any other state with similar laws, you can have the debt (up to $25,000) cancelled if you would pass away while carrying a balance. Though, this only comes if you are a member of the Payment Protection offer, which you have to pay 0.89% of your total balance to be a member of.

The last thing worth mentioning in this very lovely solicitation is the fact that, since it’s a credit card, you get money back every so often. The figure they throw at you is 5% on purchases, but that doesn’t include most purchases throughout the year, which they claim are rewarded at 1%. However, what is the truth? That can be found on the back of the second page, and I quote:

REWARDS: Earn unlimited cash rewards on all purchases. Earn a full 5% Cashback Bonus on category purchases throughout the year by participating in each program. In addition, earn a full 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on all other purchases after your total purchases exceed $3,000; other purchases that are part of your first $1,500 earn .25% and other purchases that are part of your second $1,500 earn .50%. Warehouse purchases (those made at select warehouse clubs, discount stores and their affiliates) earn .25%. We do not include warehouse purchases or 5% Cashback Bonus program purchases (up to the dollar limit specified in each applicable program) in calculating your total annual purrchases to determine your tier level. Rewards are redeemable in $20 increments. Rewards have no expiration date; however, if you raccount is closed for any reason or inactive for 18 consecutive months or if you fail to make the Minimum Payment Due by the Payment Due Date for two consecutive billing periods, your Cashback Bonus will be forfeited. Full terms and conditions will be sent with your card.

That’s certainly a mouthful, and definitely doesn’t sound as uncomplicated as the letter made it sound!

And speaking of customizing your account, once you’re a cardmember, you can personalize your card by choosing from over 150 different card designs. Not only can you show off your style, but everyone on your account can select a favorite design too.

Oh, and I guess Discover doesn’t want me as a customer anyway. I had a read of the 5-point text on the application, under the line that says TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME1*

*Alimony, child support, or separate maintenance income need not e disclosed if you do not wish us to consider it as basis for repayment. Except for full-time students, you must have a minimum annual household income of $15,000 to be considered for any Discover Card.

Aw shucks. Here I was already planning vacations that I was going to take on this card…

Or: 3 stories, 1 post

Bernie to USA, Aust, NZ: I don’t care about you

That’s essentially what he’s saying in his pronouncement that the future of the Australian GP is in doubt unless they go to a night race. Considering that they have already dropped the US round of the championship, it should be no surprise that they don’t want to stick around Australia unless they have to (or unless Premier Brumbie ponies up a ton more of the Victorian taxpayers’ money to put lights up in Albert Park).

What’s the reason for the complaint about the time of the race?

TV rights. Sure, Europe is the biggest audience for F1, but that doesn’t mean that there are dedicated F1 fans in the Western hemisphere; Brazil and Canada still have rounds of the championship - and as far as I know, they’re as well-attended as rounds in Europe (in fact, they probably have better attendance than European rounds). Those races are safe in Bernie Ecclestone’s eyes because they (along with the old USGP) air in Europe at around 6PM - smack dab in the middle of peak viewing time.  All the European rounds (along with Turkey and Bahrain) start somewhere between noon and 3pm on the continent.

What time is the Australian GP on in Europe? Generally around 4-5am, or late evening in the US.

It would seem to me that if we have to deal with getting up at 6.30am all summer long, and have to stay up all night for the other races (aside from Australia, Canada and Brazil), they should be stuck with some of these “inconveniently timed” races. It’s only fair for a truly worldwide sport.

If this isn’t a scam, I’ll run around naked

One of the more annoying commercials on the radio lately is one that features a guy acting as a show host going into a commercial break. He is talking about this “amazing” product that makes you earn money on the Internet using sites like eBay. Now, it wouldn’t be too bad except for the fact that he goes on to say that you will be selling products that you don’t have to see, ship, or even pay for.

Uh, excuse me? Selling stuff you don’t pay for? There’s a term for that in my region - selling stolen goods, anybody?

The system is called Internet Speedway, and has been out there for quite a long time. And, if you’re curious why I’d be willing to run around naked if this isn’t a scam, check out this thread on scam.com. Need I say more?

However, it’s not so much what they’re pitching that makes the ad annoying, it’s how they pitch it. This voice-over artist reads his script, and when he gets to the part where he has to read off the number, he says “uh, it’s here, it’s 1-whatever”. Now, that fits into the idea of this being a supposedly “live” read, but when he goes to reread the number, he says “um” again. It’s that second “um” that really makes the ad annoying to me.

Oh well, that’s why they have a dial on the radio, eh?

Superbowl XLII - it’s all about the ads

Provided I actually care to watch (which I probably will since there isn’t that much on TV other than marathons) the show, all I am really interested in seeing are the ads, which I haven’t heard a lot of hype about, but they’re available out there to watch already.  You would think that these companies would get bothered about their $2.7-million commercials being leaked onto the internet, but they’ll land here anyways, so I guess they don’t care all that much.

As far as the game itself, this is one of those games where you want both teams to lose. I want the Giants to lose because of beating the Packers. I want the Patriots to lose to stop the perfect season. That being said, I think that the Patriots will win the game because they just have been that dominant force all season long.

As far as a score, I’d tip 34-21 to los Pats, as they were called on Spanish language TV (one guy on there said that he was expecting the upset of the century going the Giants way; nobody else was convinced of his prediction).