Tuesday, December 17, 2013

TKO/ mental health/ scary commercial



Dec. 4 TKO: Yesterday I saw the last half of Justin Timberlake’s new music video “TKO.”  I like the song when I heard it on the radio.  I then watched the entire video on Youtube.  It’s like a short film starring JT and a woman named Riley Keough.  The video is of the couple hanging out in a modern looking apartment.  They show a scene of them arguing and then hooking up. 

Between these takes, it shows Riley driving a pickup truck and dragging JT on his back as the truck drives through the desert.  At the end, Riley jumps out of the truck and it goes over a cliff with JT still tied to it.

Written by Ryan Reichenfeld and JT.  It’s a good video.

Dec. 8: Remember how I mentioned I found some links and saved it onto an email so I can write about it later?  Then it got deleted?  Yeah, well I’m going to write about all the things that I was going to write about before it got deleted.  I have a good memory. 

Funny videos: This was a MADtv parody where they made fun of American Idol way back when it first came out in 2002.  It stars the real Randy Jackson, Paula Abdual and Kelly Clarkson.


Dec. 11 Mental health: I have to deal with winter and stress in general.  Here are the do’s and don’ts.

  1. Don’t go outside unless it’s completely necessary: Like going to work and you have to wait outside for the bus.  Or shoveling snow, going to a doctor’s appointment or a job interview.
  1. Don’t listen to a lot of Top 40 music: Because I will get bored and annoyed by it. 
  1. Do listen to calm ambience music: I find some of this music on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T94RQKENr8Q
  1. Don’t go shopping at the malls: It’s too busy with the holiday season.  Or if you do, don’t stay too long. 
  1. Do go online shopping: If you really want to go shopping. 
  1. Do moderate how much Christmas you will deal with: I can listen to a few Christmas songs, and maybe a Christmas TV movie.  Showcase is showing a lot Christmas TV movies.
Scam: I need to lift up my spirits.  I got this phone call on my cell phone.  I looked up the number on the internet and it lead to this:

“One of those scams involving 'malicious' activity on my windows computer. Strung him along for about 20 minutes, finally confessing that I couldn't find the windows key, but I did have an apple key...Don't fall for this crap.”

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-780-643-3535

My opinion: You strung him along for 20 min?  My friend Jessica put it on her Facebook status that she said she had Mac products and the guy starts saying sexual things to her.

Post Secret: Here are some positive secrets.

Nov. 23: "My roommate will change the world, she just doesn't know it yet."

Nov. 30: "I know I am capable of so much more."

"My riding instructor is the first person who has given me confidence.  This blue ribbon is for her."

"I believe that I will change the whole world one day.  (I'm going to debt too!)"

"The autistic boy I work with is teaching me more than I'm teaching him."

Tom’s Diner: I read in the newspaper that Suzanne Vega’s song has been sampled at least 36 times.  I have heard this song before, but I didn’t know what it’s called.

Suzanne Vega’s song Tom’s Diner:


Scary commercial: I found this on Yahoo.  It forewarns you that it’s a scary Japanese tire commercial.  I was prepared for it.  When I saw it, I jumped.  You go watch it.  I will describe to you what happens in the commercial in the next paragraph.  Or if you don’t want to be scared, you can just read my next paragraph.

A man is driving and talking to his passenger.  You can’t see the man or the passenger.  They are driving on a dark road in the night.  It’s snowing.  They stop and see a figure in a white dress with long black hair covering her face like the girl in The Ring.  Then the girl shows her scary face at the front window. 

I jumped. The men scream, and back away really fast. 


I saw it last week.  I just watched it the second time now.  I still jumped.

I do remember jumping at one part in the movie The Fourth Kind, and when I saw an episode of The Walking Dead.  I only had a specialty channel for a short time, so that’s how I got to see it. 

Dec. 14: Here are some jokes from Daily Silly.  

Here’s one:

A guy tells his psychiatrist, "I always have this weird dream at night. I am locked in a room with a door on which there is a sign. I try to push it with all my strength, but no matter how hard I try, it won't budge." The psychiatrist muses, "Interesting." But tell me what does the sign on the door say? The guy replies, "It says "Pull!"

Here’s one:

FINE
This is the word women use to end an argument when they feel they are right and you need to shut up. Never use "fine" to describe how a woman looks - this will cause you to have one of those arguments.

Here’s one:

The top toothbrush salesman at the company was asked by his boss how he managed to sell so many brushes. He replied "It's easy" and he pulled out his card table, setting his display of brushes on top. He told his boss, I lay the brushes out like this, and then I put out some potato chips and dip to draw in the customers. He laid out his chips and dip. His boss said, "That's a very innovative approach" and took one of the chips, dipped it, and stuck it in his mouth. "Yuck, this tastes terrible!" his boss yelled. The salesman replied "IT IS! Want to buy a toothbrush?"

Me: There are no salespeople who only sell tooth brushes.  There are stores that sell a variety of things and one of them is tooth brushes, but no one sells only that one thing.

Here’s one:

Four best friends met at the hospital since their wives were giving births to their babies. The nurse comes up to the first man and says, "Congratulations, you got twins." The man said "How strange, I'm the manager of Minnesota Twins." After awhile the nurse comes up to the second man and says, "Congratulations, you got triplets." Man was like "Hmmm, strange I worked as a director for the "3 Musketeers." Finally, the nurse comes up to the third man and says Congratulations, you got twins x2." Man is happy and says, "Ironic, I work for the hotel "4 Seasons." All three of them are happy until they see their last buddy jumping all over the place, cursing God and banging his head on the wall. They asked him what's wrong and he answered, "What's wrong? "I work for 7up!"

Me: The other day I was watching The Simpsons where Apu has octuplets.  It turns out he put fertility drugs in his wife’s Manjula’s daily Squishee (or slushie).  Manjula said she took fertility drugs too.  Also Homer, Marge, and Bart did too.

When I saw it now, I was thinking: “What about the ultrasound?  Didn’t you guys have ultrasounds and were able to see that there was more than one baby in the womb?  You would have been able to see that.”

Sunday, December 15, 2013

self-publishing rewrites rules/ Allie Brosh



Dec. 4 Self-publishing: I cut out this article from the Edmonton Journal because it inspired me:

Self-publishing rewrites rules

 

Rookie author gets deals after putting her novels online

The Associated Press

Published: Friday, April 19, 2013

After a feverish month of inspiration, Colleen Hoover had finally fulfilled her dream of writing a book.
With family and friends asking to read the emotional tale of first love, the married mother of three young boys living in rural East Texas and working 11-hour days as a social worker decided to digitally self-publish on Amazon, where they could download it for free for a week.

"I had no intentions of ever getting the book published. I was just writing it for fun," said Hoover, who uploaded Slammed a year ago in January.
Soon after, people she didn't know were downloading the book - even after it was only available for a fee. Readers began posting reviews and buzz built on blogs. Missing her characters, she self-published the sequel, Point of Retreat, a month later.

By June, both books hit Amazon's Kindle top 100 bestseller list. By July, both were on The New York Times bestseller list for ebooks. Soon after, they were picked up by Atria Books, a Simon & Schuster imprint. By fall, she had sold the movie rights.
"I wasn't expecting any of this at all. And I'm not saying I don't like it, but it's taken a lot of getting used to," said the 33-year-old Hoover, who quit her job last summer to focus on writing.

Hoover is both a story of self-published success in the digital age and of the popularity of so-called New Adult books, stories featuring characters in their late teens and early 20s.
When Hoover finished her third book, Hopeless, in December, she initially turned down an offer from Atria and decided to digitally self-publish again. By January, that book, too, was a New York Times bestseller and she signed that month with Atria to publish the print version, but kept control of the electronic version.

In February, Atria bought the digital and paperback rights to two upcoming books from Hoover: This Girl, the third installment in the Slammed series, set for release digitally later this month, and Losing Hope, a companion novel to Hopeless to be published digitally in July.

Even after being able to quit her job, Hoover said it wasn't until a book signing she organized with other indie authors in Chicago in the fall that her popularity began to sink in.
"I remember coming down the stairs and there was this huge line with hundreds of people and someone goes, 'There's Colleen Hoover,' and they all start freaking out," she said. "That was, I think, the first moment that it hit me that this was way bigger than I thought."

http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/archives/story.html?id=f63cd0e1-1f69-40ad-870b-9e9f47b221eb

Imagination: It’s time to use my imagination.  I met authors at the Chapters store in West Ed mall.  I only go there to go shopping, not to meet an author.  What if I set up a table there like those authors did?

Cut to Tracy sitting at a table.  A guy comes up to her.

Guy: Hi Tracy, I’m a big fan of your blog.  I like your fun emails the best.  Can you autograph my favorite blog post of yours?
Tracy: Yeah, sure.
Tracy autographs the post “The Listener/ Tori Kelly/ self-deprecating and funny.”
 
http://badcb.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the-listener-tori-kelly-self.html

That is so unrealistic.  Who autographs blog posts?  There are famous bloggers like The Book of Awesome author Neil Pasricha.  He probably autographed the book than a blog post.

Omar Mouallem: As I was writing this blog post, the Edmonton Public Library writer-in- residence/ old classmate of mine emailed me back on my Rain outline.  He was kind of harsh, but he was telling his plain opinion on it.  It did inspire me because he questioned the story.

On Labor Day weekend, he wrote a book in 3 days.  I’m sure I can finish my script.

Book Publishers Association of Alberta: I checked my blog and it turns out I didn’t write about them.  This is what they are: 

“The Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA) is a provincial association of book publishing companies and is one of the strongest communities of regional publishers in North America. The BPAA was founded in 1975 to support the development of strong publishing houses, away from Canada's traditional centres of publishing. Today the BPAA has more than 30 members, many of which are owned and operated in the province of Alberta.

We are a regional affiliate of the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP).
The BPAA responds to all questions from its members, the public, media and industry, on matters to do with publishing.”

http://www.bookpublishers.ab.ca/

Dec. 6 TV production company: Remember in 2012 I wrote about how I applied to TV production companies?  I did back in 2008 and did one job interview at one and didn’t get hired.  In 2003-2004 I did try to get an internship at TV production companies.  It was when I was upgrading.  One company called back and told me they only hire NAIT’s TV program students.

The thing is I did try that path before, but I wasn’t able to get in.

Dec. 7 Sun Media: I read that they laid off 200 people.  They also sold 74 newspapers to one of their rivals, but the Competition Bureau has to give a confirmation first.

Comparisons: This is a real life comparison.  I was thinking about how publishing companies and staffing agencies are the middle-man.  You don’t need a staffing agency to help you get a job.  You can go straight to the company that is hiring and apply there.

A publishing company is a middle-man because there is self-publishing.  Self-publishing has always been around, but it’s more popular these days because of e-books.

Blogger: I’m a blogger so I’m the writer, editor, and publisher all in one.

Allie Brosh: I read the article “A candid picture of depression” by Zosia Beilski in the Globe and Mail on Nov. 1, 2013.  It’s about mental health, but it also fits into this email because she’s a blogger and cartoonist.  In the article she talks about her depression and not being able to do the simplest things like returning a DVD.  

Her cartoons are “using a simple paint software for Mac.”  

I do like the picture of a unicorn on her “About” page.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.ca/p/about.html

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.ca/

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Bring torturers to justice

I got this from Amnesty International:

 http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/c.6oJCLQPAJiJUG/b.8861607/k.965C/Miriam_Isaura/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?msource=W1312EAIAR3


Bring torturers to justice

"As long as injustice and inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest. We must become stronger still."

- Nelson Mandela


We honor the life of human rights hero Nelson Mandela by confronting injustice with persistence and integrity. You can continue his work by demanding justice for Miriam López, who was raped and tortured in Mexico.
Take Action!

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Dear Tracy,

It took Miriam Isaura López Vargas several weeks to piece together what happened to her.

On Feb. 2, 2011, the 30-year-old mother of four had just dropped three of her children off at school when two masked men forced her into a van, blindfolded her and tied her hands. The men drove her to military barracks 50 miles away.

Soldiers raped and otherwise tortured her repeatedly, trying to force her to "confess" to drug trafficking and incriminate other detainees, unknown to Miriam.

She was held in this hell, without charges, for 8 months before being released.

Urge Mexico's Attorney General to conduct a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the torture of Miriam López.

Miriam is not alone. Torture cases have skyrocketed in Mexico.

According to Mexico's National Human Rights Commission Reports, torture and ill-treatment rose an astounding 500 percent in Mexico from 2005 to 2012.

Miriam has identified those responsible, yet no charges have been filed. Even if charges were filed, convictions for such crimes are rare.

December 15 is a key day for Miriam's case: it marks two years since she filed an official complaint and yet there is very little progress.

Who do you turn to when government soldiers rape with impunity? The massive global human rights force of Amnesty International.

Miriam lives in constant fear of abduction. Tell Mexico's Attorney General to investigate Miriam's case.

Miriam is one of 10 urgent human rights cases highlighted in Amnesty International's 2013 Write for Rights campaign, the world's largest and most effective letter-writing event.

Together, we've helped free enough prisoners of conscience to fill Madison Square Garden – twice.

Today, I'm asking you to help Miriam live free from fear. Make your voice heard – demand justice for Miriam.

In solidarity,

Jasmine Heiss
Campaigner, Individuals and Communities at Risk
Amnesty International USA

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Shop at Amnesty International

 Shop at Amnesty International:

There are lots of jewelery, books, calenders, etc for men, women and children.  Check it out: 


http://shop.amnestyusa.org/Sale/b/3089331011?ie=UTF8&title=Sale

Birtukan Midekssa for Amnesty International

My friend is in jail for...

Dear Tracy,

I was serving a life sentence when the Ethiopian government set me free -- thanks to pressure from Amnesty International. Now safe at home with my daughter, I'm trying to help others who have been jailed for expressing their political beliefs.

Will you lend me a hand? Together, we can insist that the Ethiopian government release my friend, journalist Eskinder Nega.

Please make a donation to Amnesty. For a short time your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, giving Amnesty twice the resources to fight for Eskinder's freedom and the freedom of others who have been unjustly imprisoned.

Eskinder is serving an 18-year sentence for writing articles and making speeches critical of the Ethiopian government and supporting freedom of expression. He was charged with terrorism-related offenses in 2011.

Amnesty is calling for Eskinder's immediate and unconditional release. Please help fund their efforts.

To help free Eskinder, expert Amnesty campaigners are mobilizing their worldwide network to write letters in support of his release -- the same kind of mobilization effort that helped secure my release in 2010.

It can and does work. But it can only happen with your financial support.

Amnesty supporters were my light during the dark years I spent in prison. Now you can be the light for prisoners like Eskinder.

When I finally gained my freedom, I vowed to thank those who helped me and encourage others to become part of this meaningful work for human rights. Please make a donation and it will go twice as far.


Donate now

Birtukan Midekssa signer Sincerely,

Birtukan Midekssa




P.S. Be the light. Donate to Amnesty and your gift will be matched.

Yoko Ono for Amnesty International

Amnesty International logo

Be the light.

Dear Tracy,

John wrote, "You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one."

That's what being part of Amnesty International means for me. We are a worldwide movement of dreamers and activists — who are shining a light of hope for those imprisoned for their beliefs.

Join me and make a donation to Amnesty International. Your gift will support our work freeing individuals who are imprisoned only for having the courage to speak, to demonstrate, and to express the thoughts that you and I do freely every day.

Because the need is so great, several leading Amnesty supporters have agreed to match any contribution you make now through December 31.

As I write this, the unjustly imprisoned are suffering behind bars.

Right now, a Tibetan filmmaker — Dhondup Wangchen — is languishing in a Chinese prison simply because he made a film that explores the views of Tibetan people toward the Beijing Olympics and the Dalai Lama.

After a secret trial, he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for "subversion of state power" and has reportedly been tortured.

Amnesty is pressuring the Chinese government to release Wangchen, investigate the allegations of torture to bring those responsible to justice.

Will you help Amnesty be a light for prisoners like Wangchen? Make a donation that will go twice as far.

Because of people like you, Amnesty International is a tenacious, tireless advocate for humanity. There is no greater champion for prisoners of conscience and no stronger force for human rights.

Please join me and make a donation to Amnesty International. Together we can not only imagine, but also build a more just, more peaceful world.

You have my deepest gratitude for your commitment to human rights.


Donate now

In Peace,
Yoko OnoYoko Ono signature
Yoko Ono
ARTIST & HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST


P.S. Be the light. Donate to Amnesty and your gift will be matched.

Help free another human rights hero



Amnesty International logo

Help free another human rights hero.

Dear Tracy,

Last week, the world lost an iconic human rights hero.

Nelson Mandela spent his entire life fighting injustice. He was a beacon of hope and a fountain of inspiration for the entire Amnesty movement.

Right now, we are staging the largest human rights event in the world: Write for Rights, which aims to free people who are unjustly imprisoned or whose rights are otherwise at risk.

Join Amnesty International and help free other human rights heroes. As part of Amnesty's Be The Light campaign, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar.

This month, as part of Write for Rights, we are mobilizing our worldwide community to advocate for:
  • Eskinder Nega – a journalist who is serving an 18-year sentence for writing articles and making speeches critical of the Ethiopian government and supporting freedom of expression. He was convicted of terrorism-related offenses in 2012.

  • Dhondup Wangchen – a Tibetan filmmaker who is serving a six-year prison term simply because he made a film that explores the views of Tibetan people toward the Beijing Olympics and the Dalai Lama. He was convicted of "subversion of state power" and has reportedly been tortured.

  • Eight other women and men who have been unjustly imprisoned for who they are or what they believe, attacked or harassed because of their human rights work, or denied justice by the authorities.
Activists around the world are gathering right now – International Human Rights Day – to send letters demanding that prisoners of conscience be freed and that the human rights of other individuals and communities at risk are respected. 
Together we can show oppressive governments that these individuals have not been forgotten.

Help support this work. Our goal is to mobilize 75,000 individuals in the U.S. alone. You can help make it happen.



Donate now

Steven W. Hawkins
Sincerely,

Steven W. Hawkins
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA