The Internet can be nice sometimes
This week has been a great affirmation of the business side of the Internet for me. I've bought many items online from Ruskies to Pennsylvanians (ack) to Canadians (ack ack) and I've never questioned the validity of any transaction. That may be naive of me, but whatever. Except for one eBay item (which I got my money back), I've gotten everything I've paid for.
So to be honest, when I say "affirmation," I really mean I experienced some outstanding customer service. That is rarer than rare these days. And I got it 3 times this week! See:
- I spoke to Customer Service at Paypal and got the resolution I needed within 5 minutes. And the rep was polite!
- I've been ChaCha-ing, not really 100% sure that I was going to get paid. But my earnings really showed up in bank account when it was supposed to. Amazing!
- And the best of show this week goes to Zappos. I bought shoes yesterday morning and I'm wearing them right now. I'm not sure if I'm being clear enough. RIGHT NOW I'm wearing shoes I bought online 28 hours ago. I did not pay for shipping. It was free. I literally have my Mephistos on my stinky feet right NOW. This boggles my Friday-addled brain.
Labels: Schemes
« July 18, 2008 12:53 PM | Post a Comment | 0 comments »
Whatta day
While waiting for the salmonella food poisoning to kick into my system today, the following happening to me (personally, even):
I couldn't park in my lot at work because of a FIRE! I saw the smoke as I was approaching the deck, but I pulled in anyway because I lack a brain sometimes. A woman waved her arms and told me to go away and to tell everybody I knew.
I reflected on the genius that is Eddie Izzard after having seen him last night. He's ridiculously funny and I think his various British accents help a lot. Some of his hijinks wouldn't sound the same. I ate some tomatoes at a restaurant before the show, but they were cooked so I think I'll be a-ok. If not, I'll be in the bathroom. And then the hospital.
I internally celebrated a major milestone in my countdown to ParisFest 2008! Just 50 more days until France has to deal with me again. Oh France... I apologize in advance.
I got an employee incentive (meaning: bonus) for being me! I also may have done some work. I'm not sure, but it's odd since I don't work in the private sector where bonuses are given out like candy on Halloween. Or so I've heard.
Labels: BlowedUp, France, Money, Yen
« June 26, 2008 10:15 PM | Post a Comment | 0 comments »
ChaCha
Tell me, have you ever:
wanted to finally win that damn team trivia played game at bars/restaurants?
settle a stupid bet with a friend over a stupider issue?
chat with random strangers incessantly?
use up all your text messages in your monthly plan?
No? Me, neither, but evidently, other people are not like you or me. They text (242242) or call in their questions (1-800-2-CHACHA) to ChaCha, a free SMS answering service. The answers come back within 5-10 minutes on their cell phone.
How do I know all this? I work at ChaCha. I'm one of their Guides and answer the inane questions all y'all have. And you really have inane, pointless questions most of the time. But that's ok because I like inanity. I'm paid for the inanity at $0.20 an answer. Yes, it's a goldmine. Actually, it can be useful if you don't have a smartphone with a web browser and you need to know where something is or the hours of a store.
Anyway, if you want in on this cash cow, sign up at www.ChaCha.com under the Become a Guide section. If you like researching on the Internets, wasting time on the Internets and answering pranky questions with your own killer wit, this is a possible job for you. You don't need to put my email address down in the referral field, but if you do, I take half your earnings! Mwahaha! No, I wish, but that's a lie. I get a 10% bonus for every question answered, but if you're not feeling goodwill towards me today, I understand. It happens.
If you get nothing else out of this promo for ChaCha, don't be so thick and realize that I'm trying to get you sign up and work for ChaCha using my email address, but I'm trying not to be obnoxious about it (for once). You can also take away the easy to remember text number (242242 which spells CHACHA) and ask any question you can think of. It'll be answered and I might be the one doing it. I'll try not to roll my eyes too much when I see it.
« June 24, 2008 4:40 PM | Post a Comment | 0 comments »
A different kind of peoples
Free Celine Dion tickets for Quebec show sell online for $700 (Montreal Gazette, 6/18/2008)The bidding has started for the special free concert pop diva Celine Dion will give for Quebec City's 400th anniversary. Scalpers are asking for as much as $700 for a pair of tickets given away for free.
A frenzy has surrounded the distribution of tickets for the exclusive open-air show Dion is headlining with other Quebec artists on Aug. 22 on the historic Plains of Abraham.Since the beginning of the month, organizers of the 400th celebrations have been giving away tickets every week at surprise locations across the province unveiled a few minutes beforehand on local radio stations. Each time, thousands of Dion fans are literally racing to the spot to get their hands on the much-sought-after tickets.
Last week in Quebec City, hundreds of angry fans walked away from a shopping mall empty-handed when the 4,000 tickets ran out.
Crazy Canadians! I'm trying to imagine any other place in the world that Celine could drive bonkers like this and I'd have to say... China and all its neighbors. She has a spell on those Asian-y places that has mostly eluded western nations. Is it because we're better? I think so.
USA! USA! USA! Just getting ready for the Olympics... Becky Hammon, point guard for the WNBA San Antonio Stars, is too. Only she'll be playing for RUSSIA! And you know what: She's not Russian. She just became a citizen earlier this year so she could play for their basketball team. They're paying her a seven figure salary to not be a patriotic American! There's also the fact that the USA doesn't want her on OUR team.
I'm honestly not judging because I think everyone has a price. She says she's playing for the gold medal, but I think the money helps. A lot. And anyway, she's not the only one doing this. It's just doesn't seem in the spirit of the Olympics. Well, if you ignore the IOC corruption and messed up bidding process... Ok, maybe it's exactly in the spirit.
« June 19, 2008 4:21 PM | Post a Comment | 0 comments »
Green Fairy
I've been wanting to try absinthe now that it's legal in the US again and I got my chance yesterday evening. I don't know what I was expecting, but after Cylinda turned into a leprechaun and my cup sang the Star Spangled Banner and blah, blah, blah. You know, after all the normal stuff, I found myself actually liking the taste. It smelled like licorice and it tasted like licorice but it felt like jet fuel. It was awesome.
I didn't get to louche it myself because the waitress said someone stole the slotted spoon, but I'm getting myself a bottle of Lucid very soon so I can get louched up whenever I want.
« June 06, 2008 1:55 PM | Post a Comment | 0 comments »
