Archive for the ‘Here and Now’ Category

"Hello, this is the USPS calling…" In regard to your complaint.

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Woke up a few days ago. A blocked caller.  I hate blocked callers. To be honest, I usually don’t pick up. This time I did, and boy was that a mistake.

It was kinda like this:

Ok, so maybe it didn’t happen just like that but basically what they told me was this:

Well Ma’am, they pay us to deliver the bulk mail to you, so we can’t simply stop delivering it.  What you can do, however, is contact each of the distributors personally and pay to be removed from their mailing list.

Well, let me give you an idea of how long this would take.  In 2 days of not checking my mail, I received the following pieces of junk: (Keep in mind that most of these have multiple pages…as I’m sure you well know!)

  • Organize your home, ClosetWorld- Sent to Postal Customer
  • PennySaverUSA- Sent to Postal Customer
  • A Local community center pamphlet- I receive this bi-monthly at LEAST
  • Walt Disney Concert Hall
  • Faith Baptist Schools pamphlet
  • Henry’s Farmers Market – Sent to Postal Customer
  • Misc Furniture on Sale- Sent to Postal Customer
  • IKEA pamphlet (I do not shop here and have not given them my address)
  • Doit Center Sale junk- Sent to Postal Customer
  • Longs Drugs/ CVS coupons- Sent to Postal Customer
  • MoneySaver
  • Rite Aid pamphlets/Coupons
  • Molly Maid
  • 40-page LocalValues coupons
  • REDPlum coupons – Sent to Postal Customer
  • Vons- Sent to Postal Customer
  • Albertsons- Sent to Postal Customer
  • Ralphs – Sent to Postal Customer
  • Pavilions– Sent to Postal Customer
  • Smart& Final- Sent to Postal Customer
  • LA Private Trainers – Sent to Postal Customer
  • World Wide Windows
  • Hometown buffet- Sent to Postal Customer

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, two days.

Case and Point.  I will be switching to a private post office box.

8 comments | Add a comment Tag:

Sifting Through Junk- Thanks USPS.

Monday, June 1st, 2009

USPS Mail boxes should all come equipped with a headlamp and shovel for all the digging we endure just to get out bills and holiday cards. I’m serious, the junk mail problem is a big problem.  It’s a problem for a number of reasons, reasons I’m sure you’ll agree with. USPS Junk Mail

Ever sit in your kitchen shaking all the grocery coupons and pamphlets erratically just to make sure you didn’t lose a piece of mail in the abyss of junk mail?  It’s a regularity for me. Maybe I’m getting more junk and bulk mail than most, but that’s unlikely. I’m sure I’ve accidentally tossed an important letter here and there, and for this reason I’ve decided to become a P.O. Box user. Why has getting our mail from the mailbox regressed to the days of sifting through email inbox spam folders of the 90’s ? And better yet, Why can we not opt out of receiving all the junk?

I stopped by my local USPS store to see if I could fill out a form which would (hopefully) put me on a list of others annoyed with CouponMania, MoneySaver and all the other bulk mail, but to no avail. “You mean I have no option in the matter,” I said to the postman.  He looked at me and simply said…”Um…no ma’am.”  Fan-tastic. Cool. Great. Thanks USPS

Yesterday,  when I picked up my mail (and the endless junk mail that accumulated over just 2 days) I noted that it was time for a blog post. Not only irritating, the junk mail problem has become more and more wasteful over time.  Aren’t we trying to go “green?”

Like I said. It’s a big problem. Make the switch- get a P.O. Box near your home or work.

Visit http://donotmail.org/ to sign the petition against junk mail!

8 comments | Add a comment Tag:

Is Facebook Claiming Our Personal Lives, Or Did We Give Them Up?

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

Everyone’ s freaking out about the new Terms of Service that Facebook has set into motion. In a matter of days, the Facebook group “People Against the New Terms of Service” has grown to over 42,000 members.I’m not going to pretend it didn’t freak me out a little at first, but with some reassurance and an open mind to the explanations of those more “legal-jargon wise” than myself, I realized they’re just trying to cover their ass. Scared

One group member wrote in and said something profound… or maybe it’s just common sense. “If you care so much about your intellectual properties, STOP UPLOADING THEM TO PUBLIC WEBSITES”.

I have to say, I couldn’t agree more. The same people kicking and screaming are the same ones uploading picture after indecent picture and posting status updates that are debatably legal.

Facebook member Peggy said “This stinks…..many of my photos are of my creations. My jewelry is my living….I dont want to share my photos or ideas”.  My advice is to get a website, host it somewhere other than Facebook and I think you’ll actually make a better living. Copyright your photos. If you don’t want to share your creations, you might want to refrain from posting them on facebook- a network that shares every aspect of your being if you let it.

The media are invoking fear in Facebook users by creating titles such as: “We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever.” The real issue here is not that they’re claiming our information, but that we are uploading information onto this thing… no big deal…it’s called the World Wide Web and that, my friends, means it’s available to everyone.  So, if this is a problem for you, head into your Privacy Preferences and uncheck the box that declines the publication of your information on the web.

Company legal representative Susan White clarified in a statement today. “We used to have several different documents that outlined what people could and could not do on Facebook, but now we’re consolidating all this information to one central place,” she said.

For those worried about their writing, photography, illustrations or any other kind of creative innovation, this might be of note to you.

Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt read a public statement  on Monday- “We are not claiming and have never claimed ownership of material that users upload.  And indeed, Facebook’s terms of service do say that ‘User Content and Applications/Connect Sites’ are exempt from its claims on content ownership.” He continued, “The new Terms were clarified to be more consistent with the behavior of the site. That is, if you send a message to another user (or post to their wall, etc…), that content might not be removed by Facebook if you delete your account (but can be deleted by your friend).”

Be careful what you post, you are your responsibility.

Spring (photo) cleaning anyone?

Ask not what Facebook can do for you, Ask what you can do for your Facebook.  What do you think about all this commotion??


3 comments | Add a comment Tag:

Mia Leigh Taylor- on Our Super Rainy Season.

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Rain over here in Los Angeles simply won’t let up, will it?  Ok so you’re one of those people, the ones that enjoy the rain?  To each his own, but let me tell you this, driving in Los Angeles in a rainstorm is just about as enjoyable as… well, it’s not at all.

As if there isn’t enough traffic in Los Angeles, add unexpected rainfall to the mix and you’ve got everyone honkin’.  I have to admit though, there is something great about the rain.

Things I love about the rain:

  • Lighting the fireplace
  • Having smog-less skies
  • Gettin cozy with a soft blanket on the couch
  • The smell of saturated pavement
  • The sound of rain is kind of soothing

So while the rain puts a “damp”er on outdoor activities it’s nice to have a little change- so long as it doesn’t last much longer!

Like or dislike the rain? Tell me about it here :)

4 comments | Add a comment Tag:

Saturday Afternoon At The Pharmacy

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

pharmacy_store_front1So I’m standing in line, right? Like any normal human being, except this time it’s a pharmacy pick-up line and I just happened to be standing in back of a lovely late 50’s-ish couple. My presciption was  ready when I called, so it shouldn’t take long, I thought.

The lady; heavy-set with ingrown roots and a matching pantsuit shuffled to the seats adjacent the waiting line while her husband; skinny, gray-haired and unamused by the rantings of his frugal wife stood idly by.  ” 153 Dollars seems quite pricey doesn’t it George?” “Yes, but you have high cholesterol and apparently this stuff works or something,” he replied.  “Well before you start on my cholesterol maybe you should get yours checked, you don’t even know what yours is,” she exclaimed defensively. ” Sure it’s 108 or 217 or something…” he replied while browsing through what seemed to be an overwhelming shelf of nasal sprays. The woman, scoffing at his uneducated guess, went on… “George, you’re the one that thinks that if I raise my arm during the test, it’ll lower my cholesterol, ha ha.”

Trying not to laugh at both her overbearing volume and his sheer ignorance, I looked away. And so it continued…for the next ten minutes…all about cholesterol levels and over-priced medication.

laugh-words

“Let’s just go somewhere else and get it…” he muttered quietly as he turned down the vitamin isle.  Her response? “Why? So we can avoid it just like you do with going to the doctor?” Oh geez. Here it goes…

“Mia,” the pharmacist called out aimlessly.  I paid and got the heck outta there.  Needless to say, the couple carried on their conversation. Twas quite an experience.

No Comments | Add a comment Tag:

My Recent Yelp Endeavor

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time reviewing restaurants and businesses on Yelp.com the past few weeks, the site is pretty interesting. I’ve been enjoying writing reviews more than I expected. I guess what I like most about it is that I’m practicing writing reviews and getting work done at the same time. What’s even better is that Yelp.com is fairly easygoing and I can write in my own voice. I’ve written about hospitals, car repair shops, local italian food and Segway- Santa Monica.

thumbs up and down

I like that I don’t have to be uber professional and bland. There are some pretty good writers reviewing on yelp too, which makes it an educational site too! Okay, but seriously, I really am learning a lot about my writing and other peoples’ writing as well.  Which Yelpers are getting their reviews read?

I’ve only been on Yelp a couple weeks now but have already started noticing some key elements.  Yelp is its own world; they have a language, a community and a personal side. Some people really get into posting threads on forums about their personal lives (and some of them I’d rather not read).  Some Yelpers are really dedicated to the site and spend countless hours posting in forums, rating restaurants, creating Unofficial Yelp Events (UYEs) and giving out “compliments” to Yelpers who have written good reviews. These countless hours are essentially what make you an Elite Yelper. Elite members go to Elite Yelp Events and spend time posting, threading, rating, reviewing, complimenting and marking reviews as “Useful, Funny and Cool.”

Overall I think Yelp is a pretty great site for writers and restaurant connoisseurs alike. To see some of my reviews check out my Yelp site.

I guess this unintentionally turned out to be a review of Yelp.com itself… maybe I should stop reviewing for a few days ;)

If you’re on yelp too, let me know!

No Comments | Add a comment Tag:

A Westcoast Mardi Gras

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

Venice Beach, Calif.

Crowds snapped pictures at every chance they could. Locals joined them in awe, grasping at soaring beaded necklaces.  The sequined jester swaggered on stilts, while Greek gods and goddesses waved from below. Though most may claim that Venice Beach, Calif. would regularly be occupied by such wild characters, Mardi Gras gave a reason for Los Angeles to join in the colorful Mardi Gras celebration.

Like they do every year, The Krewe of Grandview participated in Venice Beach’s annual Mardi Gras parade.

This group of Los Angeles locals includes scantily clad fairies, kings, queens and fantastic creatures. A Jester on stilts, Rapunzel and a cardboard robot join them, however, anyone can join them in the festivities.

Begining at 1 p.m. at the corner of Rose Avenue and Ocean Front Walk, as it has since 2001, the group from Mar Vista, Calif. parades up the Venice boardwalk every Saturday before Fat Tuesday.

Following the parade, french-influenced funk band, The Gumbo Brothers continued the Mardi Gras celebration at the Santa Monica Bar and Grill in Santa Monica, Calif. at 4 p.m. Their funky soul style sets the mood for traditional Mardi Gras activities. Traditional activities include loud singing, bead exchanging and beer drinking. The Gumbo Brothers play at the party following this annual parade, but this Cajun-style band can be found here every Wednesday.

Krewe of Grandview 2008- Venice Beach, Calif.

Krewe of Grandview 2008- Venice Beach, Calif.

2 comments | Add a comment Tag:

Mia Taylor on Britney Spears- "For The Record"

Saturday, December 6th, 2008

In a feeble attempt to reacquire the hearts of otherwise comotose Brit fans, Miss Britney Spears opted to film a confessional expose on the inexcapable crises we’ve all had the pleasure of witnessing over the last couple years.  Whether by choice or not, tabloids, local news channels and radio have made it nearly impossible to avoid the dramatic intricasies of Britney’s “personal life challenges.”

From artificial English accents to head-shaving, Provigil to fishnets, rehab to custody battles and paparazi courtships to divorce, we’ve just about witnessed what we can only hope to be the worst of Britney’s war against pop-ism.

The MTV sponsored “documentary” followed Britney Spears for three months in 2008, with interviews about her motives, feelings and why she’s acted so outrageously. She seemed to brush over details and focus on putting on a facade that might win the hearts (and album sales) of those that have lost faith in her character. Who is Britney anyways?

The documentary, promoted as a “tell-all documentary” following the life of Britney for three months, consisted of dance rehearsals, makeup sessions, shopping sprees and “heartfelt” interviews with the director.  She’s got it rough, eh?  As was advertized, we were all hoping for a documentary explaining the cause of Britney’s woeful existence within the last few years.

For The Record took a stab at baring and sharing all, yet answered very few of the questions we’ve all been asking.

Why is she making this documentary?
“I wanted to make this film because I started to feel like I wasn’t being seen in the light that I wanted to be seen in. I’m not sure what light that is exactly. This is an opportunity to set the record straight and talk about what I’ve been through and where I’m headed,” Britney said.

Why the relationships with Paparazi, Adnan? Why the constant alterations to her identity? Why the prolonged English accent that was claimed to be genuine? Why the spontaneous vegas wedding to a childhood friend? Why didn’t she care about her children? Why? Why? and more Whys.

What did we learn?

  • That Brit has two new fragrances coming out this December
  • Can still lipsync, gets all of her clothes for free and wants her dance routine to look like Janet’s.  Great.
  • Britney breast fed; a little sidenote to divert the interviewers questions
  • She thinks she’s smart (and that everyone shaves their heads)
  • Her breakup with Justin sparked the downward spiral ( 6 years ago)
  • She’s lost and can’t take responsibility for her actions (Blame it on the break-up, Brit)

Britney came accross as lost and trapped within the confines of fame but the documentary didn’t even succeed in making us feel bad for her trials and tribulations…why? Because it didn’t tell us anything about them, except that her predictably erratic behavior was just a “rebellious” phase.

All in all, MTV produced a great infomercial for Britney’s new album entitled Circus and to be quite frank, I will continue to believe her life really is one.

The End.                        Or is it…

3 comments | Add a comment Tag: