does it seem to you that there is no longer such a thing as a web site that doesn't force you to log on? There are some companies at which I might be eligible for one position (ever in my lifetime) but in order to apply, I need to fill out a gerjillion page survey that asks me everything short of my blood type. I couldn't even shop for flight specials on United or cheap ink jet cartridges without first logging on. I'm going to boycott these sites. well at least for today.

don't you hate it when you're not prepared to eat at home and then you find nothing to eat but some frozen ox tail, olives, eggs (only because I bought the two 18 egg cartons for $3 on sale at Safeway), and cookies?

So the latest turn in the adventure of Van is the possibility of doing my Masters in Mass Communication in January if I don't find a job by then...Nice to have a plan B. It was stressful the last time I was job hunting to not have a back up plan and know that I was too stubborn to accept unemployment even though there might be no other way. Well last time I was lucky to find a job. I may not be so lucky this time.

Reading Friensters descriptions is really cracking me up. In the "who I want to meet" category, one girl wrote "Yea...umm...to be honest...I'm trying to avoid making new friends. I'm actually in the process of getting rid of some unecessary friends." The people at Friendster did a nice job, 'cept they've probably gotta fix some UI in the initial set up page. There seem to be a LOT of people who checked that they're interested in dating both men and women. I don't think there are *that* many bi-sexual folks out there!

ok this disappearing archives issue on blogger is really pissing me off. Anyone else have to do this reconfig and republish crap to get their archives back?

Some lady here found an old lotto ticket in her purse from April and realized she had won 7 million dollars. She said on the news that although she did take time off to collect the winnings, she does not plan to quit her job. Look lady, you can quit kissing your boss' ass now. Enough with the "I love my job enough to keep working even though I'm a multi-millionaire" act. That is not the point. There are people out there digging into their 401Ks to buy groceries and new clothes for their kids. Don't take up a job if you're only doing it to kill time, there's plenty of people who need it more desperately than you!! Go do some volunteer work or something, jeeesh!

Since all the Canadian teams got ousted from the NHL playoffs, we adopted the Ducks as our home team. Went to Scores, our neighbourhood sports bar, last night to catch the game. Several dissapointing things happened - they don't serve beer in pitchers, they have only chicken "tenders" not real chicken wings and the Ducks got shut out. But that's ok. See I justify it like this. Either way Canada won! There were Canadians on both sides so it's never a real loss for Canada! (This is a defense mechanism commonly developed by fans of losing teams like Canucks and Leafs)

Today I met a 61-year-old man who is an officer at his Toastmasters club in Pacifica. VP of Public Relations, in fact, just like me. Difference between he and I -- he only has a grade school education. He did manual labor and construction and later took all the night school he could to become an electrician. I thought that was pretty darned inspiring til the lunch keynote speaker came on. He's a man who was homeless for two years while he was in his late teens. Now he's achieved distinguished TM status and is an entrepreneur/ motivational speaker/ consultant/ magician. He didn't go into detail about how he made it off the street but now I'm curious to find out.

So MSNBC today hosted a preview of Katic Couric's interview with Laci's family. The piece was titled "Laci Peterson: An American Tragedy". And in the video the voice over says "she had an all-American life that many people envy." It's a sad case indeed but what irks me is the fact that almost the exact same thing happened in the Bay Area a year or two back. A pregnant Hispanic woman's body was found washed up on the shore. They got no press coverage until this Peterson case came about and all they said is that something similar happened before and the killer has not yet been found. So this brings into question the definition of "American". Most know that non-white victims rarely recieve the press coverage and fanfare of white victims of violent crimes. That's just the media bias that we put up with. But had they publicized the Hispanic woman's case, do you think they would've named the piece "An American Tragedy"? I'll bet my life they wouldn't. This supports my theory that "American" in the media is effectively a synonym for "white". Just like when Amy Chow of the "dream team" US gymnastics team missed a top finish, a headline stated that she was beat out by an "American". I guess Chinese-American means she isn't a "real" American.

This link comes from Winston. But what really made me laugh is Ben's comment about this Mini Shini Knee Hockey Pad, "If a fight breaks out, can you only use your elbows then?"

Job hunting is tough these days. Not just because there are fewer posts but because employers have raised basic requirements demanded of their candidates. I just saw a post for a BD/Marketing Specialist (yes "specialist", not even sr. associate or manager or sr. manager) that required 10+ years experience in technical work in the field of aviation, a masters degree and knowledge and experience in air traffic control and/or airport operations. I understand that industry knowledge is important but a graduate degree and 10 years technical experience in addition to your typical marketing/BD experience? If I had that level of experience and education I'd be looking for something a little higher level than a specialist position. But then again, I hear there's plenty of director and VP level folks with graduate degrees or better working at Home Depot. *sigh* Maybe I should've fulfilled the ultimate Asian parents' dream and gone to med/dentistry school.

oh i think i finally got my blogextra thing working...

So I've become addicted to this Friendster.com thing. Interesting to see what people write about themselves and what others have to say about them. The funniest thing that I've noticed though, and I can't help laughing as I write this, these Asian car show hoochie/model wannabe types often seem to share a common theme in their testimonials:

1. They tell everyone how hot and sexy their friend is
2. They also like to talk about partying, shopping and... not much else
3. They like to ask each other if they're horny or comment on their plans to terrorize men or other women who get in their way

I know it takes a pretty low IQ to think that getting a boob job and then getting photographed laying half naked on some Japanese sports car will help them achieve supermodel status, but nothing demonstrates my "not the sharpest pencil in the box" theory better than testimonials they write to each other. Allow me to cite some examples for your entertainment (keep in mind these are posts from other women!? Is this a huge step backwards or what?):

- WooohOoooo Hottie Goddess ALERT Hiiiiiiiii Glad to meet'cha, and you are most definetly a puuuuuurrfect 10! XOXO
- This girl is a hottie! were gonna make out one of these days! hehe ex oh
- You need to get your fine ass back to LA so we can shop till we drop and party every night again!! :)
- X is so damned sexy! I molested her in her sleep every night for a week straight and she has no idea!
- as hot as you are sweetie... and you ARE HOT... you can have a lifetime supply babe, it would be my pleasure! hehe *wink wink* Lovely.. just lovely!!! =P
- damnnnnn girl..u sizzlin' on my platter~ ..OUCH~ why u soooo damn HOT??? You would need two fire-trucks to tame this baby down. IF ever ur in my neighborhood girl..holla at me and we'll burn the town togetha~ ahahah
- is way cool and terrible sxxxy. she's keeping it asian which, as we all know, is obviously the Way to go. we should "run away together" some time. if only for a weekend. hearts are already breaking at merely just the thought!
- X and I are gonna fuck shit up in every town we come through so you bitches better watch your backs cuz were tough as fuck! xoxoxoxoxo we look damn good holding our guns.

OK i give up on this BackBlog commenting tool.

Today I helped Simon post a job to kitlist for Televigation. On the email I noted specifically "Please do not contact me about this position. I'm just helping to post it. Send all cover letters (required), resumes and inquiries to hr@televigation.com." Pretty simple directions right? It's a tough job market, you'd assume people would take special care in applying to the few jobs available out there. Well, never assume anything. A couple hours after the post went live I got this email

"Gretings Vanesa,
I have attached my resume in Word Doc.
Please feel fre to call me shoud you have any
questions- Thanks ..."

OK first of all, I said not to contact me. Second of all, even if you are too idiotic to follow simple instructions and do assume that I'm the HR contact, you could at least spell my name correctly. Finally, if you still haven't learned how to spell the words "greetings", "free", or "should", I'm not sure how they let you graduate from high school, and you probably have no business taking a director level position in any department of any company.

Test blog to fix my damn lost archives.

The Matrix Reloaded should be renamed The Matrix (so horrible, I'd rather stay home alone and get loaded). The ideas behind the original Matrix were innovative, the plot was complex and suspenseful, and the dialog pulled you in and left you hanging on their every word. There was nothing innovative about Reloaded other than the special effects, which were admittedly very impressive. The producers must've known that too because every fight sequence went on far far too long. It started to feel like I was watching someone play a video game. I expected the concepts of parallel dimensions and time travel, which made the original Matrix so interesting, to be taken to a new level of sophistication. Instead, the characters rambled cheesy high-tech nonsense throughout the movie to force the impression that there was a whole lot of depth to the plot. There wasn't. There was nothing original about this movie. They even borrowed ideas from Superman and, for the love of God, Scooby Doo!? Pay attention to what happens as they race through the mansion and into the library with the French dude's wife. People were laughing out loud in the theatre at many points in the movie. You can pretty much use that as a "cheese-meter" for a movie that is not meant to be a comedy. And, for crying out loud, the producers need to remember to keep Keanu's dialog to a minimum. The man cannot act and anyone who's seen A Walk in the Clouds would know that. The old Chinese man who played the key maker delivered his character with greater depth. The scene on the park bench with Neo consulting the oracle was nothing short of torturous to watch. And the "ending", if you could call it that, was an obvious ploy to sucker Matrix fans into seeing part 3 this Fall. I will not be one of those suckers.

Ok so I bought my first California Lotto ticket couple weeks ago. And I got one number right but that didn't win me anything but a yellow scrap of paper. And so my job hunt continues. I'm averaging 1-2 interviews per week consistently so it's feeling good so far. It's only been 21 days since I officially entered this non-voluntary "transition period" or "adventure" as my former co-worker calls it. But 21 days too long if you ask me. If I don't get something soon I'm going be on the board of every non-profit organization in the Bay Area just to keep myself occupied.

Wow daytime television for those over the age of 5 has gotten really lame. Who is this blond bimbo on Regis' show? There's dalmations out there smarter than her. But Rosie's replacement, Caroline Rhea, is equally pitiful. Why are people that dumb allowed to speak on television, much less have their own show? Thankfully I'm finding things to do during the day so I don't have to torture myself with Regis & blond bimbo, court shows for trailer trash and infomercials for tape to "eliminate wrinkles and neck sag". Apparently you use this stuff (called Bring it Up) to pull your crow's feet taute by yanking your eyebrows right up to your hairline so that you look permanently surprised. I have to say that's the funniest product I've seen since spray-on hair. Alright, time to head out for a run before I find myself having to purchase those fitness videos by the buff dude with bad '80s hair.

My first day of real unemployment. i.e. home by myself rather than entertaining bf's family who stayed at our little apartment for 2 weeks. I wish my parents were as cool or that I had a sibling to share attention with...but I sure don't miss coming home at 3 in the morning and trying to get in without waking anyone. What a bitch that used to be. I'm not sure how anyone my age can still be living with their parents.

Anyways, trying desperately to create goals for myself and schedule my day with productive shit so I don't start getting up at noon and watching Dr. Phil and then surfing the web all day while eating ice cream out of a bucket. The first layoff was good training ground for my second. I'd better make good use of my time this go round. Or better yet, find a job sooner. Everything I read points out that the economy has not gotten better. Not sure what my alternative is unfortunately. School sure isn't free and what I want to study won't make me rich...just happy. I think. Ditched the MBA idea because it won't add to my income level that much, puts me in the hole $50k+ plus living expenses and I think I've abandoned the idea that it'll be great to join in all the political fun (if I can ever manage to break through the glass ceiling) at the VP ranks.

Alright past bedtime...off to bed.