It's good to have friends.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Released into the wild
Upon commenting to my BFF that finals are over and that I now feel like a caged tiger released into the wild, I was sent an email with the subject: "Is this you?" and the following photo:
It's good to have friends.
It's good to have friends.
Medjool Dates are the new Sno-Cones
I like writing about my embarrassing moments. Not because I like reliving them but because I feel like a lot of the time we're all working to look like we've never peed or pants or made mistakes or done something weird and that maybe my sharing will make everyone want to share too. Because let's face it, f-ups are funny.
My story begins in the summer of 2004 when I was a junior at UCI. I moved directly from the equivalent of a sorority house (mine was co-ed for those in my major) to an apartment on-campus. Filled with social awkwardness and the anxiety that my previous living situation was less than zesty, my mom took me to sign in and set up my room.
As we checked in the girl behind the table exclaimed "HEY! We're in the same building!!!" To which I replied:
"I have a sno-cone machine; you should come over and we can have sno-cones."
I forget her reply but I'm sure she was confused and likely had a moment of reflection wherein she reminded herself to stay FAR away from me and avoid me when she saw me approach the building we unfortunately shared.
I have never lived this moment down and my mom and Todd still remind me of it now and again. To me, friendship is about sharing. I like being able to help someone find a new dentist or to feed people or to bring someone a little token I know they'll appreciate.
I've tried to forget it but a couple nights ago I was on the other end of the awkwardness. I went to a mixer after turning in my term paper and met some very nice women in a sister program. We chatted, I think there were 6 of us. At the end of the mixer this girl points at me and a professor and exclaims "HEY! You two should come get dates! I'll bring them in at 4 tomorrow!"
It was....adorable. Totally socially awkward but filled with the love of wanting to share and make new friendships. Her parents own a date farm and she often is sent back to school with lots of organic, fresh, amazing medjool dates. I have a feeling we'll be fast friends.
My story begins in the summer of 2004 when I was a junior at UCI. I moved directly from the equivalent of a sorority house (mine was co-ed for those in my major) to an apartment on-campus. Filled with social awkwardness and the anxiety that my previous living situation was less than zesty, my mom took me to sign in and set up my room.
As we checked in the girl behind the table exclaimed "HEY! We're in the same building!!!" To which I replied:
"I have a sno-cone machine; you should come over and we can have sno-cones."
I forget her reply but I'm sure she was confused and likely had a moment of reflection wherein she reminded herself to stay FAR away from me and avoid me when she saw me approach the building we unfortunately shared.
I have never lived this moment down and my mom and Todd still remind me of it now and again. To me, friendship is about sharing. I like being able to help someone find a new dentist or to feed people or to bring someone a little token I know they'll appreciate.
I've tried to forget it but a couple nights ago I was on the other end of the awkwardness. I went to a mixer after turning in my term paper and met some very nice women in a sister program. We chatted, I think there were 6 of us. At the end of the mixer this girl points at me and a professor and exclaims "HEY! You two should come get dates! I'll bring them in at 4 tomorrow!"
It was....adorable. Totally socially awkward but filled with the love of wanting to share and make new friendships. Her parents own a date farm and she often is sent back to school with lots of organic, fresh, amazing medjool dates. I have a feeling we'll be fast friends.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Turn off the idiot box
You likely won't hear me talk much about what my political views are. Not becasue I don't have any but because I feel, like religion, it's personal and I certainly don't want to hear about yours. I am more interested in POLICY than I am in politics. The policy of taking care of the elderly is not a partisan issue, thank you very much. But I digress...
My boss forwarded this weekly email to me from PR land and I quite enjoy it and will be subscribing soon. Last week had a feature on common grammar mistakes and this week had a feature on Fox News. I realize saying 'here is a dig at Fox News' is akin to sharing my political views but it's worth it in this case.
From http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/10128.aspx:
Fox News viewers are ill-informed.
That’s the gist of the PublicMind poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University, which found that Fox News viewers know less about certain current events than people who don’t watch the news at all.
According the study, Fox News viewers were 18 points less likely to know that Egyptians overthrew their government than those who don’t watch TV news. People who watch Fox News were also six points less likely to know Syrians have not yet overthrown their government.
Fairleigh Dickinson polled more than 600 adult residents of New Jersey and accounted for education and partisanship.
"Because of the controls for partisanship, we know these results are not just driven by Republicans or other groups being more likely to watch Fox News," said Dan Cassino, a professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson and an analyst for the PublicMind Poll. "Rather, the results show us that there is something about watching Fox News that leads people to do worse on these questions than those who don’t watch any news at all."
Charles Seife, a journalist and New York University professor, tweeted his skepticism of the poll (in two parts):
“Latest ‘Fox News makes you stupid’ poll is deeply flawed. Tiny sample size, “esp. subdivided …and the poll's measure of ‘well informed’ has leftist bias.”
He also noted that Fox News viewers scored higher than NPR listeners on a question about which Republican candidate is leading in the polls.
NPR listeners, according to the study, are among the best-informed news consumers, along with those who read daily newspapers, such as USA Today and The New York Times, and, to the greatest extent, those who watch Sunday morning news programs.
Speaking of NPR, former Poynter blogger Jim Romenesko uncovered some statistics about listeners of the radio network, although the data don’t shed light on those listeners’ knowledge of current events.
Here are a few examples, which Romenesko credits to the @nprresearch Twitter feed:
• NPR News listeners were 94 percent more likely to have signed a petition in the past 12 month.
• 15 percent of its listeners view their cell phone as an extension of their personality.
• They’re 108 percent more likely than the average adult to go to live theater.
• They’re 42 percent more likely to drive a car with a manual transmission.
For more on NPR stats, visit JimRomenesko.com. To read the entire PublicMinds poll, click here.
---------
I thought many of you might enjoy this and it makes me wonder how well those who read fake news sites (Onion News Network) or watch fake news shows (Daily Show/Colbert Report) do in comparison to the Fox crowd. If in doubt about which network to watch, it seems just avoiding the news all together is your best bet.
My boss forwarded this weekly email to me from PR land and I quite enjoy it and will be subscribing soon. Last week had a feature on common grammar mistakes and this week had a feature on Fox News. I realize saying 'here is a dig at Fox News' is akin to sharing my political views but it's worth it in this case.
From http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/10128.aspx:
Study: Fox News viewers know less than people who don’t watch the news
Fox News viewers are ill-informed.
That’s the gist of the PublicMind poll from Fairleigh Dickinson University, which found that Fox News viewers know less about certain current events than people who don’t watch the news at all.
According the study, Fox News viewers were 18 points less likely to know that Egyptians overthrew their government than those who don’t watch TV news. People who watch Fox News were also six points less likely to know Syrians have not yet overthrown their government.
Fairleigh Dickinson polled more than 600 adult residents of New Jersey and accounted for education and partisanship.
"Because of the controls for partisanship, we know these results are not just driven by Republicans or other groups being more likely to watch Fox News," said Dan Cassino, a professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson and an analyst for the PublicMind Poll. "Rather, the results show us that there is something about watching Fox News that leads people to do worse on these questions than those who don’t watch any news at all."
Charles Seife, a journalist and New York University professor, tweeted his skepticism of the poll (in two parts):
“Latest ‘Fox News makes you stupid’ poll is deeply flawed. Tiny sample size, “esp. subdivided …and the poll's measure of ‘well informed’ has leftist bias.”
He also noted that Fox News viewers scored higher than NPR listeners on a question about which Republican candidate is leading in the polls.
NPR listeners, according to the study, are among the best-informed news consumers, along with those who read daily newspapers, such as USA Today and The New York Times, and, to the greatest extent, those who watch Sunday morning news programs.
Speaking of NPR, former Poynter blogger Jim Romenesko uncovered some statistics about listeners of the radio network, although the data don’t shed light on those listeners’ knowledge of current events.
Here are a few examples, which Romenesko credits to the @nprresearch Twitter feed:
• NPR News listeners were 94 percent more likely to have signed a petition in the past 12 month.
• 15 percent of its listeners view their cell phone as an extension of their personality.
• They’re 108 percent more likely than the average adult to go to live theater.
• They’re 42 percent more likely to drive a car with a manual transmission.
For more on NPR stats, visit JimRomenesko.com. To read the entire PublicMinds poll, click here.
---------
I thought many of you might enjoy this and it makes me wonder how well those who read fake news sites (Onion News Network) or watch fake news shows (Daily Show/Colbert Report) do in comparison to the Fox crowd. If in doubt about which network to watch, it seems just avoiding the news all together is your best bet.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
A-choo!
I'm usually a 3-sneezer and I always know when they're coming. The most common triggers are smoke and perfume. Once those things crawl up there, it's all over.
So, sitting in the super nice echo-y busines building last week, I could feel them coming on. And instead of holding them in and feeling like I ate a canary, I let them fly: "1!-2!-3!" sneezes. While I'm sneezing I notice a well-dressed gentleman sitting across from me holding up a finger for each sneeze. Each time I sneeze he adds a finger and counts out loud "one! two! three!" and I realize the sounds of his counting are muffled.
A deaf man counted my sneezes because, why not?
So, sitting in the super nice echo-y busines building last week, I could feel them coming on. And instead of holding them in and feeling like I ate a canary, I let them fly: "1!-2!-3!" sneezes. While I'm sneezing I notice a well-dressed gentleman sitting across from me holding up a finger for each sneeze. Each time I sneeze he adds a finger and counts out loud "one! two! three!" and I realize the sounds of his counting are muffled.
A deaf man counted my sneezes because, why not?
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women.
I don't think there's much else to say about that. Thank you, Ms. Albright, for putting that so very succinctly.
Anxiety through the roof, anger off the charts, will bite if provoked.
Anxiety through the roof, anger off the charts, will bite if provoked.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
PG version of a drunk dial
Last night, in a sugary haze of pixie stix and emergen-c, I posted on facebook. I posted about a gripe of mine: when people come to work sick. There is this lady in my department who's been HACKING for a week and it really bugs me. Part of it is an old-school mentality about our managers needing to see "butts in seats" and part of it is an incentive system we've developed that encourages people to come to work even when they're sick because they can "cash out" sick time at the end of the year.
So, last night before class I wrote something like:
"I've drank 3 glasses of water infused with Emergen-C not because I feel sick but because the lady (generous) who sits near me has been coughing like a seal. Now I feel like I can fly and like my face is purple. Maybe a cough wouldn't have been so bad."
In just three sentences I'd chastised a coworker for being sick and managed to insult her personally for not being "a lady."
This morning, right after I woke up, I remembered: I'd accepted her friend request on facebook a few months ago so there is a solid chance she saw my post.
I am truly a jerk.
So, last night before class I wrote something like:
"I've drank 3 glasses of water infused with Emergen-C not because I feel sick but because the lady (generous) who sits near me has been coughing like a seal. Now I feel like I can fly and like my face is purple. Maybe a cough wouldn't have been so bad."
In just three sentences I'd chastised a coworker for being sick and managed to insult her personally for not being "a lady."
This morning, right after I woke up, I remembered: I'd accepted her friend request on facebook a few months ago so there is a solid chance she saw my post.
I am truly a jerk.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Hot or not?
I received an email from my professor a few weeks ago asking if I'd like to join her at a conference about nonprofit-government partnerships. Of course I agreed! It was my flex day, what else would I be doing? She let me know a student organization on campus would even PAY for me to go if I sent them my address and some other information that is failing me now.
In any case, I was approved but the day of the conference was fast-approaching and I hadn't heard anything until, while in class, my phone rang while a group was giving a presentation. This doesn't sound like much but I was supposed to be in this group and bowed out when the one guy was a total d-bag about reading a paper. The professor asked, in a very over dramatic way, can someone please volunteer to..." BOOM! My hand was up before he could even finish! YES! I would love to switch groups! Please move me to economic development, something I have literally no interest in just to get me away from this guy. Ugh, and this guy, you would love him. Slicked back hair, laughs at everything the professor says, just a slick mofo. He looks like he would be an asshole.
So these lame-asses were presenting and my phone rang on FULL volume. Then I had to walk outta class because I saw the area code and knew it was coming from someone at school. My heels were loud on the linoleum, click-clack all the way through their presentation, but I answered the phone when I got outside and it was a British man. Huh?
Turns out he was processing my travel and needed my signature TODAY or else they wouldn't be able to pay me. Here is our conversation...
J: Hello?
Richard: Hello there. This is Richard Pierce. I am processing your travel arrangements and would very much like to meet up so that I may get your signature.
J: OK...where are you?
R: I work in the Center for Internships...but I can come to you! Where is your class?
J: Humanities
R: oh, hmmm, well.
J: I know where your office is, I can just meet you there...
R: Let's meet halfway!
J: How will I know who you are??
R: Well, I am wearing a white shirt with subtle stripes, black trousers and I am an average looking gentleman.I'll bring your paperwork right now!
J:...and a pen?
R: and a pen, yes!
Really? who describes themselves as "an average looking gentleman"? I walked downstairs and toward the building where his office is (literally two buildings away, not far) and spotted him in an instant even though 35,000 people go to this school. He looked awkward and shy and uncomfortable. I signed the papers and he asked if I knew where my professor was because she needed to sign her stuff too.
Turns out the professors like to sneak away to a bar off campus on Thursday afternoons after class is over so I asked him if he'd like me to call her to come sign.
R: Really? That would be wonderful!
Is this really that wonderful? It's just paperwork. What a weirdo.
Later I found out that he rushed over there so fast he brought her my paperwork and then he had to walk all the way back to campus and back again to the bar. I think this guy needs an assistant.
p.s. the conference was amazing, I took 15 pages of notes and decided on a policy paper topic which will include me having to call an assemblyman from LA who is a co-author.
In any case, I was approved but the day of the conference was fast-approaching and I hadn't heard anything until, while in class, my phone rang while a group was giving a presentation. This doesn't sound like much but I was supposed to be in this group and bowed out when the one guy was a total d-bag about reading a paper. The professor asked, in a very over dramatic way, can someone please volunteer to..." BOOM! My hand was up before he could even finish! YES! I would love to switch groups! Please move me to economic development, something I have literally no interest in just to get me away from this guy. Ugh, and this guy, you would love him. Slicked back hair, laughs at everything the professor says, just a slick mofo. He looks like he would be an asshole.
So these lame-asses were presenting and my phone rang on FULL volume. Then I had to walk outta class because I saw the area code and knew it was coming from someone at school. My heels were loud on the linoleum, click-clack all the way through their presentation, but I answered the phone when I got outside and it was a British man. Huh?
Turns out he was processing my travel and needed my signature TODAY or else they wouldn't be able to pay me. Here is our conversation...
J: Hello?
Richard: Hello there. This is Richard Pierce. I am processing your travel arrangements and would very much like to meet up so that I may get your signature.
J: OK...where are you?
R: I work in the Center for Internships...but I can come to you! Where is your class?
J: Humanities
R: oh, hmmm, well.
J: I know where your office is, I can just meet you there...
R: Let's meet halfway!
J: How will I know who you are??
R: Well, I am wearing a white shirt with subtle stripes, black trousers and I am an average looking gentleman.I'll bring your paperwork right now!
J:...and a pen?
R: and a pen, yes!
Really? who describes themselves as "an average looking gentleman"? I walked downstairs and toward the building where his office is (literally two buildings away, not far) and spotted him in an instant even though 35,000 people go to this school. He looked awkward and shy and uncomfortable. I signed the papers and he asked if I knew where my professor was because she needed to sign her stuff too.
Turns out the professors like to sneak away to a bar off campus on Thursday afternoons after class is over so I asked him if he'd like me to call her to come sign.
R: Really? That would be wonderful!
Is this really that wonderful? It's just paperwork. What a weirdo.
Later I found out that he rushed over there so fast he brought her my paperwork and then he had to walk all the way back to campus and back again to the bar. I think this guy needs an assistant.
p.s. the conference was amazing, I took 15 pages of notes and decided on a policy paper topic which will include me having to call an assemblyman from LA who is a co-author.
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