Impact of a Feather

It's Thursday. The day is dragging along at the usual snail's pace. Clickety clack is the predominant sound filling the air as my crime fighting (and by crime fighting I mean ridding the World of annoying Computer problems) co-workers type away on their keyboards. I presume typing about work…just like I am! Oh the funny I spew forth!

A week or so ago everything seemed to be moving along nicely until a speed bump seems to have sent me off the rail. I was supposed to meet a friend for lunch. Seems simple enough and relatively harmless. He canceled on me, which in of itself isn't a big deal. I know he is busy and this is fairly normal for him. I've come to expect it more than be surprised by it.
But, here in lies the rub. What impact am I having on people in my life? I tried to limit the drama to slightly below queen status, however, I simply could not ignore the facts. Time and time again I am being passed over for other events, people, or whatever better offer is looming on the horizon. Either I am a terrible person that nobody wants to spend time with or my loyalty and friendship is being taken for granted. I have to believe it is the second option; mostly because I know I am not a terrible person and quite frankly I am a good person, with integrity. So what gives? Is it that they are so comfortable with knowing I'm in their corner that little effort is required to maintain that bond? I guess the problem is, they are right. Loyal to a fault.
It may seem like one simple lunch, but it is hundreds of lunches, movies, parties or whatever I've invited people to in the past. It is just getting more and more difficult to find someone to say yes to a cup of coffee! I hear the same thing universally from people; "Ya, we should get together! It would be fun!" or "We should do this more often" or "Call anytime and we'll set something up". But unless I call, I swear I would never hear from them again. So again I ask what is my impact on people. My impact must be so powerful that I must maintain consistent week to week contact with someone or I would never hear from them again?? My impact is in fact, non-existent. Apparently I make a lot of noise, but nobody is listening.It's truly amazing, if I make noise and stay on the radar nobody hears me, but if I go quiet everyone sits up and says what's wrong with Jamie and where did he go? Which would lead me to believe that as long as I am appearing okay everyone will simply go about their business and get to me when they have time. Here's an interesting piece of information…..if you don't make time for people (yourself included) before you know it years have pasted and you wish you had them back,
Here's a news flash. I'm not fine! Unless of course you mean Frazzled Insecure Neurotic and Emotional, then fine I am. No worries though, I got it, I'm managing to work through it on my own. No need to squeeze me in to your busy schedule. Please don't misunderstand I'm not angry, I just have taken inventory and understand a few things more clearly, which of course should help resolve some of the lingering skeletons in the closet. My loyalty and integrity have not wavered. I feel very strongly about who my friends are. Rest assured I'm not going anywhere and when you have time, however long in to the future that may be, I will be in the same place you last saw me…..by your side.

My Two Cents
Jamie

HA HA! You Lost Weight!

Anyone who has read anything on this blog knows I have lost a lot of weight. I accomplished this through exercise and lifestyle changes. No secret formula, no magic pills, nothing but the same tools we all have at our disposal. As strange as it has been to experience people's reaction to my transformation; I think the most unexplained occurrence is that of mockery. Usually this happens among those who have only known me as I am today. The tendency is to poke fun at my eating habits and, here's the kicker, the type of food I eat! I don't understand. Even after they know the story of where I came from to where I am, they still joke about it. "All you do is fill up on vegetables!", which isn't true, but if it was I'm still confused...is that a bad thing? "Oh are you having a carrot stick for lunch?" This statement in itself should help me move on because clearly they don't pay any real attention to my eating habits. I eat plenty of food, in fact, I am certain I eat more than I did before.” You eat constantly, mind you it’s just a cracker here and an apple there", okay…it seems that you are getting it, but not really. I eat "constantly" to fuel the metabolism; I am keeping the fires burning. Envision a car with only a five litre tank on a road trip across the country. How many times will the fuel tank of a machine in constant motion need to be filled? Get the picture?

Next, the opposing reaction from those who have known me for many years; clearly these people only see what they want to see. When sitting down to eat with family and long time friends, I am constantly questioned about the quantity of food I am eating. "Is that all you're eating? You hardly ate a thing!”. Truth of the matter is I had a little bit of everything; I get the benefits of tasting all the great food without piling the food high on my plate to the point of breeching the plate's holding capacity. As I have mentioned in my blogs before the size of the plates is a major component to the problems society faces today. We start a meal with a plate big enough to feed two people from and proceed to fill it up with enough food to feed four. In certain cases, like times when there is dessert available after dinner, I will eat less dinner. If I am going to stop eating when I am full then I better save room for cake! Bottom line the stomach will stretch as far as you want it to. This is not healthy for your body or its digestive processes. One of the changes I’ve made is to NOT jam food into my pie hole until I just can't get anymore in. I eat till I'm full and stop, then eat again when I feel hungry, which can be as little as an hour later, depending on the healthy qualities of the food consumed. But again this continued attempt to have me eat more food in one sitting is frustrating. Spend a day with me and understand how much food I eat, then you will realize I eat plenty, just not all at once. But that would require an actual interest in what I have accomplished and how I did it.

Another fun issue, is clothing sizes. I used to wear shirts that were XL or XXL. Baggy shirts were better to hide the enormous guy beneath them. A while back I was shopping with my wife trying to buy a few shirts that would actually fit me and she continued to suggest I try on the S size. My mind was asking "Is this woman nuts, I can't squeeze into a small?!" I was still dealing with the move to M and not mentally prepared for a further size reduction. I tried the small on and low and behold it fit! Not just fit either, comfortable fit and flattering! Who knew! I wear a medium in some styles of shirts and small in others. But Large is definitely too big. This concept never seems to get through to some people, myself included at times. It almost seems they are offended by the mere suggestion that I wear a medium or small? "C'mon you can wear a large. It's not THAT baggy." Then horrific phrase used in their defence is uttered "I like my clothes to be comfortable"…shudder…big clothes are the most unflattering thing anyone can do. The XLs of the World elongate the body and shorten your frame and more importantly make you appear much bigger than you are. I wore them because I had too and wanted to hide. The uncomfortable feeling being used as an excuse for proper fitting clothes is more in reference to not being comfortable with one's own skin or size than the clothes themselves. For us guys, I think a big part of it is linked to our ego. Big (strong) guys need to wear big shirts; if I wear an XL then I must be a big, strong man! Sadly that is not true for most cases. I know I am stronger today than I ever was, yet I wear clothes that are smaller than I have ever worn, go figure! Now I like how comfortable I feel wearing a medium or small. But again the battle to wear the clothes I want, in the size I want shouldn't be a battle, but it is.

For the most part none of above issues are things that truly upset me, but lately I have been taking issue with those same people complaining about their own health issues and desires for change. They are frustrated with my simple answers and lack of magic. Whoa, what, wait a minute….you are not happy with your health but you are more than willing to make fun of my lifestyle habits? Back up the bus amigo! Perhaps for just a second you should take the time to learn from me. Am I special in some way? I don't think so, but I DID change some very simple things about my lifestyle and have witnessed changes I would never have bet a wooden nickel on. So, my suggestion is shut your trap, buck up and take the challenge to make changes in your life! I've said it before, "If truly want to see change in your life you WILL have to make changes in your life." Usually the changes aren't easy ones either. Suck it up buttercup and realize change isn’t always easy or fun, but perhaps necessary if you truly want to experience change.

I don't know. I guess I feel my accomplishments are not having an impact on enough people. It sounds self centered, but really it’s the exact opposite. I want people I care about, quite frankly anyone really, to be healthy. The hard part is knowing what I have done is attainable by anyone. Again, nothing magically has taken place here. But, there was hard work and specific actions taken. My concern is how long it took me to figure it out and how I see others ignoring the obvious while maintaining the status quo, only to be frustrated and discouraged with their own health. They say, “Lead by example.” There is the rub; I continue to remain diligent about my own health while others around me continue to ignore theirs’. If my example is supposed to lead, how come the followers are few and far between?

It is time for me to learn how to find the value in my own accomplishments and realize how much my own health is worth.

My Two Cents

Jamie

Should I mention why?

I wonder if it is worth mentioning why I have been absent for so long? Who has noticed? Not sure I have enough (or any readers) that have found a void in their life due to my absence.
Honestly there isn't one specific reason either. I just had work to do finding a job and didn't have time or motivation to write anything. Lately I have found myself thinking about writing again and have ignored the urge. I should have entered my thoughts into the journal I started, but didn't. There is a bunch of stuff I need to revisit from that book and I should be writing again.
As you will have noticed I seem to have the ability to post from my Blackberry, which is kinda cool if you ask me! Then I can write when the moment strikes me and perhaps be a little more timely. I suppose I don't want to post too many a day if I get soap box happy and load up the page with crap! I really hope to keep the content worth reading and coming back for. Who knows maybe I can have a following, minions, I've always wanted minions!

Really who wouldn't want some minions to do some dirty work, like read my boring diatribes in cyberspace!

My Two Cents,
Jamie

Do You Deserve Your Money Back?

I got this interesting and by interesting I mean annoying email today. It is another one of those emails that proves to me that email has become the bane of our generation. An email calling to arms all electronics consumers to be band together and stick it to the big bad box store! Give me a break!

What makes people think by simply sending and email that they will influence how people will shop? Get serious! The email came in from a customer of a large electronics chain who purchased a product, tried to return and discovered there was a restocking fee. On the surface it appears the big bad box store is taking advantage of the little guy consumer. Shame on them.

But wait let's look deeper. The "customer" purchased a GPS unit, removed the plastic casing, opened the box, ACTUALLY powered on the unit, played with it and decided it wasn't for them. Fair enough. We are all entitled to our opinion and decide the GPS we bought wasn't what we were looking for. HOWEVER, why would ANYONE think they could return this GPS for a full refund? A restocking fee, perhaps the wrong name for it, maybe it should be called you are a moron and we need to prevent you from buying stuff, opening it and expecting us to be able to re-sell once returned opened; that might be a bit wordy. But the restocking fee is in place because they CAN'T simply "put it back on the shelf and re-sell it" as the email whiner so quaintly put it. Would you walk into a store and purchase an already opened box for the same price as a box that has not been touched? Of course not, so that means the returned item now will be sold at a cheaper price as a used unit, thus the re-stocking fee will make up the difference.

It is another sign of the World we live in. No respect. Now I don't have any shares in the big bad box store company, but I completely understand why they do what they have do. To protect themselves from lazy people who are not willing to do the research on their own time about a product and have the I HAVE TO HAVE IT NOW mentality. The World of instant gratification. With everything being instant we expect everything right now and don't give me this garbage about having to wait. I need my email answer right now, I need the faster Internet connection possible, I need that report right now, I need to talk to you right now, NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW.

Bottom line if you want it right now it will cost you. More money for your Internet, fuel prices to get your "stuff" to you sooner, a second phone and email bill to ensure all communications arrive on your hip, and of course the boss waiting to the last possible second to demand his/her report NOW!

It just makes me shake my head wondering how people think it is okay for them to abuse the system and not be penalized. If you open a box and play with what's inside you should not receive a full refund, nor should you expect it.

My Two Cents,
Jamie

Our Supersized Life

I read a great article in the Globe and Mail titled Supersized servings, supersized people that had me nodding my head in agreement.

So much is said about our National Food Guide and its guidance for healthy living, but the truth is the guide is a joke. It is backed by every "big" industry you can think of. The furthest thing it accomplishes is helping us eat healthier. In the article it talks about how following the food guide recommendations will only help you gain weight, due to the number of recommended servings. As a side note it also doesn't truly educate a reader about food.

But the real kicker in the struggle against obesity is serving size. Our World has become this sea of massive plates, up-sized fries, cups of soda large enough to drown in and our brains have come to understand that no matter how much we are served it is a regular serving. From the article I learned studies have shown

"Statistics Canada estimates we are consuming nearly 20 per cent more calories each day than we did 15 years ago because of bigger portions."

The same is true in the USA,

"According to research in the United States, portion sizes have grown dramatically over the past 20 years. Two decades ago, a coffee-shop muffin weighed in at 2.5 ounces (71 grams) and had 210 calories. Today, the average muffin weighs four ounces (113 grams) and delivers as much as 500 calories."

This is a significant increase that has created a very difficult pattern to break. It is socially acceptable for one person to eat an amount of food equal to 3+ servings! I think the biggest problem is our inability to only eat what we need as opposed to eating as much as we THINK we need.

The supersized foods of our World are loaded with fat, sugar and sodium. It isn't any wonder why we struggle with obesity on this continent. The article went through some very good tips to try and get a handle on serving control. I also think the ideas about listening to your stomach and to stop eating when you are signaled by the stomach, combined with only eating when you are hungry the portioning and serving sizes go down naturally. Our stomaches are only so big, sure they will expand to fit all the extra stuff you force in there, like those new Glad stretchy garbage bags, but it isn't good for you.

Scale down the servings and the portion sizes to reap the benefits of your hard work at being healthier. Listen to your body, it won't ask for more calories than you can burn. It is fined tuned machine that knows when it needs more fuel and when you can stop providing it. Remember your stomach CANNOT see the size of your plate or how much food you have left, all it knows is you have filled it to capacity...so put down the knife, the fork and BACK AWAY from the table!!

My Two Cents

Jamie

CBC = Clearly Braindead Corporation

What the hell is the World coming to! I am stunned, appalled, stupefied, and madder than a wet hen (whatever that means)!

Does the CBC actually have people running the show over there at HQ? Or is it a bunch of retarded monkeys? It was reported yesterday that the CBC is planning on dumping the hallowed Hockey Night In Canada theme song! Are they nuts!?! Somebody has been eating stupid pills down there at HQ. It doesn't matter what the cost is to the composer, it is all that is sacred and holy about hockey in Canada. I suppose the new price might carve in to the fat cat salaries down there at the CBC. Hey boneheads, without viewers you have no job at all! Have a little vision!

I suppose CBC is rolling up shop, closing the doors and shipping everything they every stood for over to TSN. They lost the Grey Cup to TSN, why not give up hockey too. I just can't wrap my head around what went on in the board room to think dropping the HNIC theme song was a good idea. Are they thinking no one will notice?

I can clearly remember my children's reaction when they were young to the Saturday night tribute to a Canadian tradition. I would turn the TV way up and nanoseconds after the first hint of the widely popular HNIC opening ditty, I would hear those little feet motoring over to the living room. They would drop everything and anything they were doing to be in the room while the theme song ran its course. Before they evening knew what the significance of what they were hearing was they were mesmerized. I too still love to hear that song, it gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. It is a shame there are no hockey fans in the board room of the CBC. Anyone older than 5 years old can INSTANTLY tell you what song is playing even if they don't watch hockey, why? It is a part of our culture. Sounds stupid, but it is reality. It is a very popular ring tone too! Every time my phone rings in public someone makes a comment and smiles. The HNIC theme music brings feelings of joy, family, happiness and fun. Many can tie heart felt memories to HNIC and the theme song brings it all back with each and every instance we hear it.

With Bob Cole stepping down and the theme song potentially dead, what is the point to being set in your big-ass recliner 15 minutes before puck drop? Perhaps I will simply join the game already in progress. This is a sad day not for hockey or the HNIC, but for how easy it is to dismiss tradition and how money can eliminate people's vision in the blink of an eye.

Let's hope someone down at the CBC and the composer of the theme song get their collective heads out of their asses long enough to hammer out a deal that is fair. Thus, keeping HNIC building memories for many more years to come.

My Two Cents
Jamie

Annual Fishing Trip a Much Needed Distraction!

I am only 24 hours away from my annual fishing trip and this year I just want to get to gettin'! I will naturally miss my favorite lady, but she enjoys time she can be on her own from time to time so this works out for her too.

The early part of 2008 has been a little topsy turvy and I think I need a break. I see the edges unraveling a little and my personal interactions have been hindered. I plan to go away for this weekend with the intent on detoxifying. Although work is never stressful for me it has become cumbersome. Like a weight I carry around daily. I love the company I work for, they are great, but the job I do leave a lot to be desired for. Today has been a day that reinforces my desire to be doing something different. I would even continue to work for the same company if I could be doing something else. I don't fit the IT mold. I don't care about the newest gadget or how fast a PC is. I don't like repairing them per say, however, I will set up for a friend if I can. Enough crying and whining for me, moving on.

So with all the family stuff, my job, my wedding social, now planning a wedding and my health improvements (more to come in future blogs), I need a break. 2008 has begun as a whirlwind and doesn't appear to be slowing down. Hopefully I will be able to find some down time in this fishing weekend. If the skies co-operate we will have some good times on the water and the serenity of Mother Nature surrounding us.

Sorry for the ranting but this seems like a much healthier way to get some things off my chest. Have a good one.

I'm a goin' fishin' cause everyone's a fishin' and I'm goin' fishin' too!

Stay tuned for the fish stories next week! Really it was thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis big!!!!

My Two Cents

Jamie

A Whale Walks Into A Bar

Apparently people are reading this so I better get off my ass and write something! There have been a couple complaints this week due to the lack of blogging. Sorry folks. Haven’t been to terribly busy but I haven’t had the inspiration to write either. I figure it can’t be forced or it won’t be worth reading. Usually I write because something is compelling me to write and I feel it makes the content better. As you can see by this example; the entire paragraph is worthless drivel as I try and get into a groove. The butt groves in my chair must be off!

Lately I have been much more diligent about drinking water. Trying to be a healthy person over all, to ensure I am being a good example to the Mini Me’s. Naturally I have had a water tower installed near my desk so I can drink from it at my leisure. Never mind this getting up, going to the water cooler, where it never fails to produce some conversation I don’t want to be a part of. Okay fine you got me; I have to get up like everyone else to refill my water. I am thinking of getting one of those fancy hats with straws coming out of the two bottles down to my mouth. Efficiency is the way to go! Who cares if you look like one of those nimrods at a football game who are convinced they are in the top five coolest guys in the joint! Oh boy, are they ever.

Did I mention the peeing? WOW! Who knew? I am talking about once an hour some days, that is nuts! Between the walking to fill up the water bottle and walking to the can to pee, who needs an exercise routine! But I am no dummy, I combine my efforts! Fill up my water on the way back from the washroom! I find I have become somewhat addicted to my water bottle…hmmm…regression to childhood. Anyway; I take it whenever I go and to help someone with their “PC issues”. I have to use quotes there because really nothing could be further from the truth. I guess one out of every seven or eight calls is a real problem, but most fix themselves as I walk over. Once I arrive at the desk of the distressed end user the problems mysteriously disappear. My mere presence wards off all evil computer gremlins, I guess. At least some days. Have I mentioned I hate computers! Perhaps that’s why they cower in fear as I enter the room. Oh no wait that is the end user!

Well, there isn’t much substance here today, but it is something to read. It may equate to about 10 minutes of your life you will never get back, but hey I can think a bunch of stuff I’ve done to waist 10 minutes that weren’t as much fun!

My Two Cents

Jamie

All Hail Formed Boneless Pork

For the love of all things holy and sacred! McDonalds has decided to bring back the Mc”Rib”. Sorry I have to use quotes around rib, but I can’t possible class this disgrace to the art of creating mouth watering ribs in the same category. I will of course give credit where it is due; brilliant marketing of yet another heart stopping salt bomb! If you are unaware, McDonalds didn’t just follow the normal plan of taking a product off the market to create customer demand and by doing so minimize the stagnation of such a yummy treat. NO NO NO. They took it another level here folks! A farewell tour!! You read that right, a farewell tour and not just any farewell tour; one to rival the likes of an aging rock band trying to squeeze out one more tour to ensure their current millions don’t get lonely. The image above will transport you, in true Harry Potter port key fashion, to the stroke of brilliance that is the McDonalds marketing team.

They build it's exit up in fine style, leading us, as the removal of this glamour whore is brought to a fevered pitch, like pigs to the trough. People are begging them to keep it on the menu. Are they promising to eat one every day for the rest of their lives or what? There are websites built, blogs started, forums created and messages boards full of boneless pork zombies consoling each other like they will be losing a dear relative to a long battle with Cancer. I suppose the marketing works well enough to mask the fact that this sandwich is nothing more than processed pork pressed into form, like Playdoh, to resemble a slab of pork, with some “bones” thrown in for effect (see photo on the left). Yummy for my tummy! I mean really is this what it has come to? Is formed pork what drives our economy? Cheque please I need to go home! Isn’t the whole point to eating ribs the thrill of the fight? Isn’t it about a barbaric frenzy regressing back to our primal instincts as we sit hunched over a plate piled high enough so as to not be distracted by our fellow caveman across the table; both hands gripping the slippery ends of the tantalizing treat as we rip flesh from bone? In the process finding new ways to spread the saucing goodness of some slow roasted pork ribs to new locations on our bodies, say, behind your ear? What!?! I had an itch and there was certainly no time to wipe my hand first! Basically eating ribs should require an intense hose down with some sort of pressure washer or a good stiff shower.

To be completely forth right, I myself was at one time a big fan of the Rotten Ronnie’s tasty little pork invention. Really it is an invention; pork doesn’t come off a hog like that! I used to par take in the McRib back in the day and admittedly was a little unhappy when it left the menu. Sad reality has just set in; I need to go and gargle some bleach to wash away to thoughts of the slippery little bugger passing my lips many years ago. On second thought some therapy might be a better option. But it was good, or so I thought. My taste for finer foods was not yet developed back then.

So kudos to the marketing genius at McDonalds head office that has the power to grab a brand new generation of McRib lovers time and time again with a swipe of their magic pork wand.

With that I must go eat something salty and void of anything remotely nutritional! Or perhaps this banana I have in my lunch; a banana? Doesn’t seem to have the flair of a BBQ sauce drenched, pungent onion wearing, piece of formed boneless pork on a bun, with pickles added for color now does it?

My Two Cents

Jamie

That's it! I am done! No more! Finished! Fineato (is that a word)!

I came to the conclusion this morning that I am done with Winter. I know, I know, this coming on the heels of my diatribe about conversations surrounding weather. But I am requesting some latitude on this one, because it isn't really about weather per say, but more about seasons. A thin line, but one I am going to walk at this time.

I could not warm up this morning and for me that says something. I am a furnace, prefer cool to cold environments because I produce more than my fair share of body heat! That's right I said it, I am HOT STUFF! ;) But this morning, I could not for the life of me find warmth. At times it has been colder this Winter, but I never have any trouble being warm. So I decided that enough was enough and I am done with Winter.

Not entirely sure what that means?? I can't just walk away from Winter, now can I? Hmmmm. I don't think I've thought this declaration all the way through. (Is that smoke I smell, no wait, that is me thinking) I've got it! I could become a shut in until the season officially changes in a couple of weeks. Now how does that conversation go with the boss....."Uh, well, here's the thing boss. I am done with Winter so I won't be in until March 20th, once Spring begins." Ya that's the ticket! Na, that doesn't seem like a good idea. Although I am fairly certain I have said stranger things to my boss than that in the past three and half years. :)

It's odd for me, because this is the first time I can recall that winters iron grip on Manitoba has had such an impact on me. As stated above I am not normally effected by the elements. I do what I have to do and dress accordingly (most of the time, cue the parental lecture about warm clothes). I guess that is why I formed such a strong opinion about being fed up with Winter. Alas Winter is what is.

So long story shorten, I guess I will need to suck it up and stop being a baby. Winter is here for another two weeks, officially, and potentially another four weeks unofficially. There I think my hissy fit is over. Should be good now! LOL Thanks for tuning in this week for whiny guy cries about the weather. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

My Two Cents

Jamie

Weather, Oh Must We Talk About The Weather Again!!

I am back and mad as hell......I kid, I kid, I kid!! Seriously though, what is the deal with weather being the most important thing we talk about? The entire peanut gallery has busted out their respective soap boxes and can’t stop yapping about our snow fall yesterday. Cries of "Is winter back?" ring out through the halls of the workplace. Has anyone checked the calendar lately.....IT IS STILL FEBRUARY, so NO winter isn't back, it isn't over yet! LOL I have to laugh. This is from lifers in Manitoba and every single year we get a little taste of warm weather early in the year and then the weather returns to its normal state for Manitoba and everyone goes bonkers! Like suddenly summer is going to start in February/March. Why all the discussion about the weather anyway? Can any of us control what it will offer us from one day to the next? Don't we all have something else in our lives that is positive or heartwarming we could be focused on? Who knows. Because no matter what the weather person tells us, the weather will be what it is, most of us will continue to go about our lives without fail. We are hearty folk and winter weather doesn't slow us down. So why discuss the weather to no end when it will never yield any net gain? I digress.

I personally don't care what the weather is like. I just do what I gotta do when I gotta do it. A couple winters back, during a -30 degree cold snap, Loretta and I were going to a movie with her sister one evening. We stepped out of the house to find the Blazer with a flat tire. Now we could have easily just decided not to go. But I just went outside and got to work changing the tire. It was frickin cold, I mean crazy cold, so cold the penguins down the street were building a fire to stay warm! But I changed the tire, hauled the flat into the house (to thaw out) and we made it to the movie with time to spare. There are a few lessons to be learned. One...never let things get you down and prevent you from getting to where you want to go in life. Two...when planning to go somewhere don't leave at the last second; give yourself enough time to handle the unexpected (I always get ribbed for leaving so early to get places). Three...Everyone should get a DAMN membership to CAA because CHANGING A TIRE AT -30 DEGREE TEMPERATURES IS JUST PLAIN CRAZY!!!

But I guess this blog is just a futile as actually talking about the weather, I am simply talking to myself I guess! LOL Funny stuff. Let's try and address the not talking about the weather by talking about the weather! HMMMM. Either way I try and avoid weather related conversations at work. I guess it is true that we spend all this time with people at work, arguably more than with our families, yet we don't really know the guy in the next cubicle. So we need to break the awkward silence with something and since stripping isn't always an option I guess we could talk about the weather. I hear a crazy storm is blowing in this weekend! Your thoughts?

My Two Cents
Jamie

Spam Makes Me Want To Kill.....

I guess it isn't the Spam per say, but the end users who CONTINUOUSLY complain about it!

Is it really that hard to click delete? I get Spam on a daily basis, loads of it, but I never feel any sense of anger towards Spam. Furthermore, doesn't anybody get it!?! Spam is a business just like any other, you advertise, people buy stuff, you make profit. Then if you are smart at peak times of the year, you increase the advertising and reap the financial rewards.

Think of it like this, every year starting in October the weekly flyers you receive in your mailbox at home sky rocket, until you are receiving enough flyers to wallpaper every room in your home with them. THIS IS SPAM PEOPLE!!! Think about it...did you request it? Are you being asked to buy something? Do you sometimes react by going somewhere to buy an advertised product? Are we seeing the parallels here??

Spam is nothing more than advertising a product through the Internet instead the regular mail system. Sure they are trying to sell Viagra and stocks, but it is still the same. Can you truly blame the Spammers, aside from the obvious ethical issues? Think about it...

Spammers have a room of computers that send out thousands of emails a minute at a fraction of the cost traditional mailing would cost. Advertising without paper on the Internet (email) costs pennies. Let's break down the numbers. Let's aim low

One computer sends out 100 emails an hour...NOTE: After initial setup the Spammer does very little in the way of work; the computer is doing the work. So, the computer pumps 100 emails/hour; that equals 2400 emails a day and roughly 30 days in a month equaling 72,000 emails a month.
The statistics on unsolicted advertising and purchase rates is about 2%. This means up to 2% of all people who receive the unsolicited emails will actually buy something. Which may not seem like much, but read on. So in our example we'll use 1%, which equals 720 sales per month. Most products being sold in this fashion are generally lost cost/high profit items, but for our example we will aim low. If the profit on the product is $5, the Spammer makes $3600 profit a month on the products. Minus monthly expenses for an Internet connection, software and buying an email list (if they aren't generating their own lists)...let's just say the Spammer clears $2500/monthly. Not bad for having the computer do all of work while they sit back in their big-ass recliners watching the money roll in.

But wait there is more. If one computer can crank out $2500 of profit monthly then why wouldn't you buy 10 computers and make $25,000 monthly!! The amount of hours doesn't really change because the emails are all the same and software does all the work. But you can reach the World.

Powerful stuff. I know some of you don't think this is possible but really it is happening. So, why don't we all do it? Because it is not the right thing to do.

The bottom line is Spam is not going anywhere and stopping it ALL is impossible. Spammers buy the latest software to test their new Spam emails trying to find ones that slip through. Then stock pile those emails until the best advertising times and fire them off.

Companies fight daily with the issue of blocking of Spam from reaching the end user. It is estimated that 80% -90% of all email received by a company is Spam! That is a staggering number.

The frustrating part isn't the Spam it is the end users who keep complaining like they are such victims and like we are doing nothing. Deal with it and delete. If you are an end user in the company you work for, please do not badger the IT staff about YOUR "Spam problem", they are working on it. Trust me. I suggest IT departments try shutting off the current Spam filters and see how happy end users will be.

Now go and find an IT guy and give him a hug!

That is my two cents