Today I went through the small mountain of Marine Corps cammies, uniforms, accessories, and weird shit I picked up while I was enlisted. This process took me several hours. I'm still not done. Washing and sorting gear I haven't even set eye on for the past five years takes quite a long time. Urgh.
It is weird how good memories and bad memories are attached to the uniforms I used to wear on a daily basis. I remember the field operations I used to be a part of. Those were usually fun. I didn't like the hours, though. I remember being deployed to Afghanistan. That deployment sucked so bad, not because I was in a real war zone, but because there was too much politics, favoritism between the ranks (which is not permitted), and mundaneness mixed with outright fear for my life. I guess rocket attacks will do that. Okinawa, Japan was beautiful. I should have gone off base more often than I did. I could have eaten more Japanese food, seen Japanese sights, and visited Japanese villages, cities, and beaches. Hell, I should have gone outside more often than I did. North Carolina had its charm, too. Camp LeJeune had the beauty of a thick forest next to the ocean. That combination is pretty rare in nature. Well...maybe not in the North Eastern parts of this country and Canada. Parris Island was the best experience of my Marine Corps career. I've said that if the Marine Corps was half of what I was taught in Boot Camp, I would have re-enlisted in a heart-beat. I didn't re-enlist, and I wonder what my life would have been like if I stayed enlisted for eight years instead of four. I guess I'll never know unless I jump stream. That is the past eight years gone -- eight years ago since I first enlisted and four years since I left -- so trying to figure out where I would be now if I made different decisions would be a waste of my time. I guess I'll always wonder "what if".
I found four mesh laundry bags, one regular laundry bag, and eight laundry bag pins. Those are huge. Why do I own eight of them? I don't know. I found a new pair of combination locks that are still in the plastic. I found the patches I bought when I visited Korea. I found my original money bag I was issued in Boot Camp. It was empty. I do remember carrying $7 in it while I was getting thrashed by my drill instructors. It is weird how that was eight years ago. I found a bunch of stuff I have no use for and i don't know how to get rid of. I don't want to carelessly throw it all out, but I don't want to hold onto it for the rest of my life -- except the stuff I'm holding onto for posterity.
So: there are two piles downstairs, one bigger than the other one. The small one is for me, the large one is for removal. I wonder what I'll do with the large one.
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About Me -- Confusion abounds
- monolith941
- Urbana, Illinois, United States
- Thirty-one-year-old gay guy blogging for blog's sake.
2009-08-18
2009-08-16
Illinois State Fair 2009
Yesterday, Steve and Bob, and Kevin and I went to the state fair. We drove in Steve's SUV, which was pretty nice, since those vehicles have large spaces for each passenger. I can understand why they are popular...even though they are immensely fuel inefficient. I guess people also cannot be asked to sit too close to other passengers, in this country, as well.
So, the four of us arrive at the fair. Kevin said he wanted to look at the farm animals. Much to my surprise, I wanted to see them, too. I'm not usually very interested in livestock, but the thought of petting a horse or a goat made me smile inside. We walk around the livestock area of the fair and we didn't see too much in the way of farm animals. Where were they? It was the running theory that since it was late in the evening (around 7:00pm), the animals were put away for the day. Bob and I did find a horse in a stable. We stroked his face and the horse tried to lick my hand. I wasn't for that at all. After the horse experience, we eventually did find sheep, goats, and pigs. I used Steve's camera to take a few pictures of a baby goat with little horns. It was simply adorable.
After the farm animals, we all decided to eat the fair equivalent of dinner. I bought this giant turkey drumstick for $6. That was a special treat. This piece of meat was huge. I think it was worth every dollar.
Once dinner was done, it was not time for the rides. I bought the first batch of ride tickets, and we were all off to the bumper-cars. Unlike the King's Island bumper car experience, these bumper cars could actually go fast and ram other passengers with some force. The ride was fun. After that Kevin, Bob, and I went on the tilt-a-whirl. While the ride was operating, Kevin and I would shift our weight to get our car spinning with great force. My head hurt because I kept hitting it on the inside on exposed metal. The head-ache was worth it.
Then I went on the space capsule by myself. This was one of those situations in which the wait for the ride was scarier than the actual duration itself. I was actually quite relaxed. I could see Kevin and Steve watching me from the ground. I waved.
Then we all went on the octopus ride. That one is always a classic. Unfortunately I began to feel nauseous. Why? I think it was because I woke up really early for a Saturday, ran on the high school track, and didn't drink enough water. Whatever the reason I realized that if the ride continue to operate I would have completely hurled only after a few more rotations. Bob felt the same way, too.
Once we were done with that ride, we all finished the day on the gondola Ferris wheel. This was a particularly awesome experience because a fireworks display was going off right next to the Ferris wheel. It was almost like we all had a close-up experience of the fireworks. It was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, my nausea was really acute on this ride, too. I really thought I would have to hang my head over the side of the gondola and empty my stomach. That didn't happen. I was extremely grateful for that nonoccurence.
On the drive back to Urbana, I depleted a water bottle by myself. I continued to feel nauseous, so I sipped carefully. I filled up the bottle when we arrived at Steve's house. I drank that bottle again. Then, when Kevin and I got home to his house, I cleaned myself up and drank two more glasses of water. Maybe I really was dehydrated.
I go to bed and try to sleep. It is now 3am and I only half-slept. So I got up and tried to relieve myself. This was particularly difficult, not because I was constipated, but because I was still nauseous! WTF? I eventually go, and I drank some more water. I finally entered sleep when I went back to bed this time. As I am re-reading this update, I have a sneaky suspicion that my nausea might have been caused by food poisoning. Maybe that tasty turkey drumstick was contaminated somehow. Who knows?
But...I did have fun at the fair. The rides were fun. The animals were cute. I think we all might be heading to King's Island again this year, too. I was under the impression that was a once-every-two-year trip, not an annual one. I'll see what happens in the future.
∅
So, the four of us arrive at the fair. Kevin said he wanted to look at the farm animals. Much to my surprise, I wanted to see them, too. I'm not usually very interested in livestock, but the thought of petting a horse or a goat made me smile inside. We walk around the livestock area of the fair and we didn't see too much in the way of farm animals. Where were they? It was the running theory that since it was late in the evening (around 7:00pm), the animals were put away for the day. Bob and I did find a horse in a stable. We stroked his face and the horse tried to lick my hand. I wasn't for that at all. After the horse experience, we eventually did find sheep, goats, and pigs. I used Steve's camera to take a few pictures of a baby goat with little horns. It was simply adorable.
After the farm animals, we all decided to eat the fair equivalent of dinner. I bought this giant turkey drumstick for $6. That was a special treat. This piece of meat was huge. I think it was worth every dollar.
Once dinner was done, it was not time for the rides. I bought the first batch of ride tickets, and we were all off to the bumper-cars. Unlike the King's Island bumper car experience, these bumper cars could actually go fast and ram other passengers with some force. The ride was fun. After that Kevin, Bob, and I went on the tilt-a-whirl. While the ride was operating, Kevin and I would shift our weight to get our car spinning with great force. My head hurt because I kept hitting it on the inside on exposed metal. The head-ache was worth it.
Then I went on the space capsule by myself. This was one of those situations in which the wait for the ride was scarier than the actual duration itself. I was actually quite relaxed. I could see Kevin and Steve watching me from the ground. I waved.
Then we all went on the octopus ride. That one is always a classic. Unfortunately I began to feel nauseous. Why? I think it was because I woke up really early for a Saturday, ran on the high school track, and didn't drink enough water. Whatever the reason I realized that if the ride continue to operate I would have completely hurled only after a few more rotations. Bob felt the same way, too.
Once we were done with that ride, we all finished the day on the gondola Ferris wheel. This was a particularly awesome experience because a fireworks display was going off right next to the Ferris wheel. It was almost like we all had a close-up experience of the fireworks. It was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, my nausea was really acute on this ride, too. I really thought I would have to hang my head over the side of the gondola and empty my stomach. That didn't happen. I was extremely grateful for that nonoccurence.
On the drive back to Urbana, I depleted a water bottle by myself. I continued to feel nauseous, so I sipped carefully. I filled up the bottle when we arrived at Steve's house. I drank that bottle again. Then, when Kevin and I got home to his house, I cleaned myself up and drank two more glasses of water. Maybe I really was dehydrated.
I go to bed and try to sleep. It is now 3am and I only half-slept. So I got up and tried to relieve myself. This was particularly difficult, not because I was constipated, but because I was still nauseous! WTF? I eventually go, and I drank some more water. I finally entered sleep when I went back to bed this time. As I am re-reading this update, I have a sneaky suspicion that my nausea might have been caused by food poisoning. Maybe that tasty turkey drumstick was contaminated somehow. Who knows?
But...I did have fun at the fair. The rides were fun. The animals were cute. I think we all might be heading to King's Island again this year, too. I was under the impression that was a once-every-two-year trip, not an annual one. I'll see what happens in the future.
∅
Amazon Sale
Hooray. Two days ago I unloaded one of my old PlayStation 1 games on Amazon. I sold my Spyro: Collector's Edition box set, which encompassed the three original games of that franchise into...a box set.
I bought that box set when I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and I never broke the plastic. The box set just sat on my game shelves just collecting dust. I would occasionally look at that box set and say to myself, "Those games are really good. I'll play them one day." I never did. Since I never broke the plastic on that box set, I sold it for twice for what I paid for it. That pleases me immensely. Besides, it isn't like I won't be able to play those games ever again. (It isn't like I played those games in the first place.) I can always download them again on the PlayStation Network when I inevitably buy a PlayStation 3.
∅
I bought that box set when I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and I never broke the plastic. The box set just sat on my game shelves just collecting dust. I would occasionally look at that box set and say to myself, "Those games are really good. I'll play them one day." I never did. Since I never broke the plastic on that box set, I sold it for twice for what I paid for it. That pleases me immensely. Besides, it isn't like I won't be able to play those games ever again. (It isn't like I played those games in the first place.) I can always download them again on the PlayStation Network when I inevitably buy a PlayStation 3.
∅
Dead Dog Dream
Last night I had a really vivid dream.
I get the feeling that it was the past in my late youth. I was walking to the Qwik Mart, in Bucksport, Maine, to go junk-food shopping, and my dog was tagging along. The strange part about the dog is that it was a black and white border collie. My family has never owned a border collie dog. We've owned mutts and stupid springer spaniels, but not border collies.
Anyway...I'm walking and this dog is acting playful. He is running around me and acting foolish. I can feel love flowing from me because I know this dog is really special and I know he loves me. I cross the street, and this dog gets hit by a car. I run back to the intersection, and the dog gimped to the sidewalk. I run over to the dog and begin to try to care for him. He obviously has broken bones, and blood is flowing. I run to a nearby house to go call an emergency veterinary service (I guess they have those in this world) and this guy shows up to take my dog away.
And then I woke up.
This dream really wasn't remarkable; It isn't like my usual psychedelic dreams I usually have. The dream was just really emotional and vivid. It is almost like I really used to own a border collie and I was reliving a memory of my past. I just remember bawling my eyes out when the dog got hit by the car. I remember feeling the tears flowing down my face. I think the dog might have even died, or maybe I was expecting the dog to die soon, so I had to make the most of my time with the dog while he was still alive. I think that was why I tried to make him comfortable before his imminent demise.
This dream was too emotional for me. Or, maybe I should say: The emotions were too intense for me to relive again when a real family dog died in real life.
∅
I get the feeling that it was the past in my late youth. I was walking to the Qwik Mart, in Bucksport, Maine, to go junk-food shopping, and my dog was tagging along. The strange part about the dog is that it was a black and white border collie. My family has never owned a border collie dog. We've owned mutts and stupid springer spaniels, but not border collies.
Anyway...I'm walking and this dog is acting playful. He is running around me and acting foolish. I can feel love flowing from me because I know this dog is really special and I know he loves me. I cross the street, and this dog gets hit by a car. I run back to the intersection, and the dog gimped to the sidewalk. I run over to the dog and begin to try to care for him. He obviously has broken bones, and blood is flowing. I run to a nearby house to go call an emergency veterinary service (I guess they have those in this world) and this guy shows up to take my dog away.
And then I woke up.
This dream really wasn't remarkable; It isn't like my usual psychedelic dreams I usually have. The dream was just really emotional and vivid. It is almost like I really used to own a border collie and I was reliving a memory of my past. I just remember bawling my eyes out when the dog got hit by the car. I remember feeling the tears flowing down my face. I think the dog might have even died, or maybe I was expecting the dog to die soon, so I had to make the most of my time with the dog while he was still alive. I think that was why I tried to make him comfortable before his imminent demise.
This dream was too emotional for me. Or, maybe I should say: The emotions were too intense for me to relive again when a real family dog died in real life.
∅
2009-07-21
Unload: Part II
I unloaded my Microsoft XBox. I traded it in for store credit at Exile on Main Street in downtown Champaign. Not surprisingly, the system and the plethora of games I traded in only netted myself $45. I was hoping for something just a bit higher, but at the same time that system is old. Plus, the games I turned in were not sought after by most gamers. Oh well.
The reason why I decided to get rid of the XBox is because I realized I really didn't want to play the games for that system. I realized, not too long after I hooked it up, that I should have sold that system plus games, at the yard sale. Maybe I would have received more money if I did that. I know that I wouldn't have been able to sell that system plus games on Amazon and expected to net myself any worthwhile profits.
Another reason is because...I already own too many fucking systems. Before the yard sale, I had game for 10 systems: Nintendo DS, GBA, Cube, 64, NES, PS2, PS1, XBox, DreamCast, Saturn. Do I have time to play all those games for all those systems? No. I do, however, like owning games, which now that I think about it, is pretty weird. Yes, I do have some nice rarities, but I wonder if I will win those games. They sure do look nice on my shelf, though.
Of course I'll miss those sweet games I don't own anymore. Jet Set Radio Future just oozed style and creativity. And love. Finding a game with creativity, style, and love is so rare nowadays I honestly wonder if gamers will realize what they will loose as the video game medium goes into the future. There are simply too many first-person shooters on the retail shelves that they crowd out anything that is not FPS. Almost all games are focus-group-fucked just to make them as broadly appealing -- and boring and uncreative -- as possible simply so a game company can maximize his investment. So sad. I also would have liked to have gotten deeper into Dai Senryaku VII, but that game was just so deep and complicated it would have swallowed all of my time. I already have grid-based tactical RPGs for my PS2 I simply had to thin the heard. Sorry, "Big Strategy."
The main reason I finally decided to unload my XBox is because I do plan on buying the PS3slim when that is released sometime soon. The rumors are running wild about a sexy, sleek Playstation 3 soon to be released on October 1. If/When that happens, I definitely pick one up. I didn't want to support an eleventh system. That would be crazy, right? Now I'll see if Sony decides to knock $50 off the price of that system. Time will tell...and hopefully soon.
∅
The reason why I decided to get rid of the XBox is because I realized I really didn't want to play the games for that system. I realized, not too long after I hooked it up, that I should have sold that system plus games, at the yard sale. Maybe I would have received more money if I did that. I know that I wouldn't have been able to sell that system plus games on Amazon and expected to net myself any worthwhile profits.
Another reason is because...I already own too many fucking systems. Before the yard sale, I had game for 10 systems: Nintendo DS, GBA, Cube, 64, NES, PS2, PS1, XBox, DreamCast, Saturn. Do I have time to play all those games for all those systems? No. I do, however, like owning games, which now that I think about it, is pretty weird. Yes, I do have some nice rarities, but I wonder if I will win those games. They sure do look nice on my shelf, though.
Of course I'll miss those sweet games I don't own anymore. Jet Set Radio Future just oozed style and creativity. And love. Finding a game with creativity, style, and love is so rare nowadays I honestly wonder if gamers will realize what they will loose as the video game medium goes into the future. There are simply too many first-person shooters on the retail shelves that they crowd out anything that is not FPS. Almost all games are focus-group-fucked just to make them as broadly appealing -- and boring and uncreative -- as possible simply so a game company can maximize his investment. So sad. I also would have liked to have gotten deeper into Dai Senryaku VII, but that game was just so deep and complicated it would have swallowed all of my time. I already have grid-based tactical RPGs for my PS2 I simply had to thin the heard. Sorry, "Big Strategy."
The main reason I finally decided to unload my XBox is because I do plan on buying the PS3slim when that is released sometime soon. The rumors are running wild about a sexy, sleek Playstation 3 soon to be released on October 1. If/When that happens, I definitely pick one up. I didn't want to support an eleventh system. That would be crazy, right? Now I'll see if Sony decides to knock $50 off the price of that system. Time will tell...and hopefully soon.
∅
2009-07-16
banks recently
On Tuesday I closed my old Busey Bank bank account, and I opened a new one with First Federal Savings Bank. While I was working at Busey, the employees would get a sheet of the rates that all the banks in the C-U area were offering and charging on accounts and loans. FF consistently had the highest yielding APYs on its money-market checking accounts, CDs, and other interest-bearing account types. Busey Bank was in the bottom half. Maybe that bank was in the lower third. I really don't remember.
I also closed my one of my CDs I had with Navy Federal Credit Union, since it entered its roll-over period. It was my goal to have both of my CDs mature at the same time. That was not the situation; They would have matured three months apart. Ultimately, I wanted to combine those CDs into one big one and continue to reinvest that until I really needed the cash. Since my $3000 variable rate CD matures next March, I'll just combine the left-overs from this CD I closed a few months ago with the current one into one CD with a shorter roll-over cycle.
(Now all I need is a fucking job so I can set up direct deposit into my Navy Fed account. That is a pipe dream.)
∅
I also closed my one of my CDs I had with Navy Federal Credit Union, since it entered its roll-over period. It was my goal to have both of my CDs mature at the same time. That was not the situation; They would have matured three months apart. Ultimately, I wanted to combine those CDs into one big one and continue to reinvest that until I really needed the cash. Since my $3000 variable rate CD matures next March, I'll just combine the left-overs from this CD I closed a few months ago with the current one into one CD with a shorter roll-over cycle.
(Now all I need is a fucking job so I can set up direct deposit into my Navy Fed account. That is a pipe dream.)
∅
unload
I can always tell when I'm feeling depressed. During these times, I don't feel like uploading my LJ. I think it is because I feel that there is "nothing going on in my life" that feels like being documented. There was a few incidences I came here to type something, but then I talked myself out of it because those respective posts would have felt like useless filler. When I update, I like to talk about things that mean something to me. I don't want to update my journal just for the sake of updating my journal.
It has been one month, and things happen. Good things. Bad things. Mediocre things. Things. I think my overwhelming indifference to just about everything concerns me the most.
Since I have a more-than-filler thing to talk about: This passing weekend was pretty good for Kevin and for me. We had our yard sale -- the yard sale that I was planning since August of last year. It went off without a hitch for all parties involved.
I knew that the things we wanted to unload wouldn't amount to a sizable yard sale, so I tasked the help from my friends and neighbors to help in our cause. Ben H. had his deceased mother's belongings he had to unload. Lady Ray donated her unwanted clothes from her household -- most of which belonged to her daughter; She simply outgrew them.
So, the yard sale encompassed the possessions of four people: Kevin, Lady Ray, Ben, and I. I decided to get rid of the books I read and no longer wanted, and the DVDs and video games I would no longer watch or play. Totally, I made back $289. The yard sale had a total of approximately $900. Poor Kevin only made $59 off of his possessions he was selling in the sale.
The only thing that bothers me is the fact I got hustled by the people I was supposed to hustle! I mean, I was hoping to sell my used, but well taken care of, video game systems for twice for what they went for. I guess Mexican immigrants know how to haggle.
∅
It has been one month, and things happen. Good things. Bad things. Mediocre things. Things. I think my overwhelming indifference to just about everything concerns me the most.
Since I have a more-than-filler thing to talk about: This passing weekend was pretty good for Kevin and for me. We had our yard sale -- the yard sale that I was planning since August of last year. It went off without a hitch for all parties involved.
I knew that the things we wanted to unload wouldn't amount to a sizable yard sale, so I tasked the help from my friends and neighbors to help in our cause. Ben H. had his deceased mother's belongings he had to unload. Lady Ray donated her unwanted clothes from her household -- most of which belonged to her daughter; She simply outgrew them.
So, the yard sale encompassed the possessions of four people: Kevin, Lady Ray, Ben, and I. I decided to get rid of the books I read and no longer wanted, and the DVDs and video games I would no longer watch or play. Totally, I made back $289. The yard sale had a total of approximately $900. Poor Kevin only made $59 off of his possessions he was selling in the sale.
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| From yardsale2009 |
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| From yardsale2009 |
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| From yardsale2009 |
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| From yardsale2009 |
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| From yardsale2009 |
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| From yardsale2009 |
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| From yardsale2009 |
The only thing that bothers me is the fact I got hustled by the people I was supposed to hustle! I mean, I was hoping to sell my used, but well taken care of, video game systems for twice for what they went for. I guess Mexican immigrants know how to haggle.
∅
2009-05-02
Sea Dream
Yay! I had a dream that Kevin and I were somewhere in a tropical ocean swimming around an oil rig. I don't know why were were both doing that. Perhaps we were both working on the rig to drill for oil. I have a feeling that this dream originally started out as an environmental critique dream, but changed over to a personal one.
Anyway, we're swimming in the ocean, and the water is fantastically warm and blue. We're both having a good time. We're swimming around cargo containers when I see something swim past the both of us. I really couldn't identify what the sea creature was, but I had a feeling it was benign. I still freaked out a bit anyway, so we both scamper on top of a transport container when we both sun-bathe for a long time. I suggest we have sexual relations but Kevin says something along the lines of, "Everybody will see us!"
Now, I had a moment of lucidity in my dream: I realized that we were the only two people in the middle of this sea so his concern was nonsensical. In fact, his worry was downright paranoid. Honestly, it was a beautiful day in the tropical ocean: The sun was warm but not hot, the sea water was calm and balmy, the sun-bathing was relaxing and intimate. Oh yeah, there was no one else around! Why didn't he want to have sexual relations? I was confused.
We did, however, take advantage of the moment and have a prolonged make-out session. I remember the salty seawater on his skin, his wet hair between my fingers, and feeling his flexing muscles under his skin. We were both hugging and kissing each other. I would lick the sea water off his body. Oh yeah, it was very nice, that part of the dream.
And then I woke up.
∅
Anyway, we're swimming in the ocean, and the water is fantastically warm and blue. We're both having a good time. We're swimming around cargo containers when I see something swim past the both of us. I really couldn't identify what the sea creature was, but I had a feeling it was benign. I still freaked out a bit anyway, so we both scamper on top of a transport container when we both sun-bathe for a long time. I suggest we have sexual relations but Kevin says something along the lines of, "Everybody will see us!"
Now, I had a moment of lucidity in my dream: I realized that we were the only two people in the middle of this sea so his concern was nonsensical. In fact, his worry was downright paranoid. Honestly, it was a beautiful day in the tropical ocean: The sun was warm but not hot, the sea water was calm and balmy, the sun-bathing was relaxing and intimate. Oh yeah, there was no one else around! Why didn't he want to have sexual relations? I was confused.
We did, however, take advantage of the moment and have a prolonged make-out session. I remember the salty seawater on his skin, his wet hair between my fingers, and feeling his flexing muscles under his skin. We were both hugging and kissing each other. I would lick the sea water off his body. Oh yeah, it was very nice, that part of the dream.
And then I woke up.
∅
Finch Miscarriage
Since it was nearing lunch, and Kevin was about to come home for the hour, I decided to start to open up the house to let some air circulate. I had to because the sink water was old and was emitting a foul odor.
Anyway, I open the front door, and the finches dart off into the nearby trees.
A little back-story: For the past week, a finch couple has been trying, fruitlessly, to build a nest behind the house number plaque. The twigs and leaves peppered the front steps in a comical display of ardent ambition. Of course, Kevin and I were wondering why a skittish bird couple would try to build a nest in a high-traffic area. Yeah, the door jamb may provide a little nesting spot for perspective bird couples. But if they are going to spazz out and fly off at the slightest disturbance, wouldn't it be prudent to...I don't know...build in another location?
So: I open the door, the finches take off. I decide to open the door to see if they finally managed to build something akin to a next. I open the door and notice immediately a broken finch egg on the front step!
Holy shit! The finches just broke their own egg by taking off into the trees! Actually, I did feel responsible because they wouldn't have flown off carelessly if I didn't scare them. Kevin did say that the birds shouldn't have attempted to build a nest in an area that is constantly being disturbed by human traffic. The stranges thing about this situation is that there is still no nest on the door jamb. I think the hen finch just laid the egg right there with the hopes of building a nest around it. Weird.
I still feel bad, however. That precious little egg looked so delicate. It could have been a baby finch, but now it is just fertilizer. How sad.
Of course, nothing happens if there aren't pictures. I took some.
I hope the finches try again, but at a different location.
∅
Anyway, I open the front door, and the finches dart off into the nearby trees.
A little back-story: For the past week, a finch couple has been trying, fruitlessly, to build a nest behind the house number plaque. The twigs and leaves peppered the front steps in a comical display of ardent ambition. Of course, Kevin and I were wondering why a skittish bird couple would try to build a nest in a high-traffic area. Yeah, the door jamb may provide a little nesting spot for perspective bird couples. But if they are going to spazz out and fly off at the slightest disturbance, wouldn't it be prudent to...I don't know...build in another location?
So: I open the door, the finches take off. I decide to open the door to see if they finally managed to build something akin to a next. I open the door and notice immediately a broken finch egg on the front step!
Holy shit! The finches just broke their own egg by taking off into the trees! Actually, I did feel responsible because they wouldn't have flown off carelessly if I didn't scare them. Kevin did say that the birds shouldn't have attempted to build a nest in an area that is constantly being disturbed by human traffic. The stranges thing about this situation is that there is still no nest on the door jamb. I think the hen finch just laid the egg right there with the hopes of building a nest around it. Weird.
I still feel bad, however. That precious little egg looked so delicate. It could have been a baby finch, but now it is just fertilizer. How sad.
Of course, nothing happens if there aren't pictures. I took some.
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| From egg |
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| From egg |
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| From egg |
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| From egg |
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| From egg |
I hope the finches try again, but at a different location.
∅
Still More Amazon Goodness
I am still excited about my simple, but satisfying, Amazon store. I just sent off Lunar 2 for the PS1 to some buyer in California. I don't know why, I just always enjoyed making other people happy by the things I've sold over the years. Of course, if I don't have any use for my things, surely somebody else might, right? I think so.
The great thing about these sales is that I actually netted myself some money. I acquired my duplicate copies of Lunar 1 and Lunar 2 because they were part of a collection: The incredibly hard-to-find hard-cover game guide for L2 was in that auction. They were all $99.99. I won that auction a few years ago, and I had the duplicates just hanging around.
I realized it wasn't financially smart of me to have extra copies of games I already own just sitting there, so I listed them on Amazon. Much to my surprise, I sold L1 for around $60, and I sold L2 for $80. Totaled; I earned $140 for a net profit of $40. The thing that makes this whole dynamic so awesome is that the hard-cover game guide goes for $100 by itself. I essentially made money off of that Lunar auction by buying it for only the hard-cover book. Nice.
I hope I continue to sell on Amazon. It rocks my world.
∅
The great thing about these sales is that I actually netted myself some money. I acquired my duplicate copies of Lunar 1 and Lunar 2 because they were part of a collection: The incredibly hard-to-find hard-cover game guide for L2 was in that auction. They were all $99.99. I won that auction a few years ago, and I had the duplicates just hanging around.
I realized it wasn't financially smart of me to have extra copies of games I already own just sitting there, so I listed them on Amazon. Much to my surprise, I sold L1 for around $60, and I sold L2 for $80. Totaled; I earned $140 for a net profit of $40. The thing that makes this whole dynamic so awesome is that the hard-cover game guide goes for $100 by itself. I essentially made money off of that Lunar auction by buying it for only the hard-cover book. Nice.
I hope I continue to sell on Amazon. It rocks my world.
∅
More Amazon Goodness
Yesterday I sold my black-label edition of Final Fantasy VII for $84. Of course, Amazon had to take his commission, which means I netted myself around $69 after I paid for shipping materials. But oh well. I'm making money back. From what I can remember when I acquired that copy of FFVII, I think I got it for dirt cheap. So: I still made some money off of that copy.
I am pleased.
∅
I am pleased.
∅
2009-04-17
America, Fuck Yeah!
Holy shit! I am really, really excited, and extremely happy, right now. My customers, who have ordered from me through my Amazon store, have left me 100% Positive feedback! Whoo hoo! I was actually wondering when -- and if -- my customers were going to leave feedback at all. I read in a few forums that the ratio of customers to customers who leave feedback is 10:1. So far I shipped off three of my retro video games, and two of my customers have left glowing feedback. I am so excited.
Of course, I wouldn't have noticed my feedback at all if it wasn't for my fourth sale on Amazon. As I was logging into my Amazon account to get the send-to information, I looked at my storefront feedback rating info card, and I saw my score! Needless to say my jaw dropped.
Anyway, after I finish my pick-me-up cup of coffee, I am off to the post office. Wheee!
∅
2009-04-09
herr derp derp
I had a sucky beginning to a sucky week. Actually, my suckyness started last Friday. I took a test in Statistics, and I bombed the test. I wasn't surprised. This passing weekend, I finally make an agreement with myself to finally buckle down and stop being so careless with my school work. Sunday night, I set my alarm. Monday rolls around, and I realized I overslept. Why? I overslept because I forgot to engage the alarm. I set the alarm but I didn't turn the goddamn thing on! Also, for some inexplicable reason I simply couldn't wake up after sleeping for nine hours. I missed the Statistics class on Monday -- even though I shouldn't be missing that class because I only have a "C" average.
So...on Wednesday I talked to the instructor. He did give me some good news: He said that my overall average isn't terrible. I could leave that class with a "B" if I continue to get "B's" on further tests. That alleviated my concern over my grade in that class a little bit. Still: I have to deal with myself, my insomnia, and my malaise towards everything.
I feel like I am walking on the edge of a cliff: If I fall off that cliff, I'm done. I'll be living the rest of my life being a hopelessly less-than-average person doing menial jobs and being directionless. The other option is success. I just don't feel like that is possible for me simply because it feels like everything I do won't matter in the grand scheme of things. It feels like I am just taking up space and just "doing things" to keep myself busy.
Also: I wish I had a job. Yeah, finding one isn't so simple. The economy sucks right now and I have a terrible work history. Kevin asked me yesterday if I was going to the job fair at Parkland College today. I told him no. I also wanted to tell him that the reason I don't want to go is because I don't want to embarrass myself again by trying to gloss over my work history while trying to up-sell my little skill set I have to offer a potential employer. I didn't tell him that.
I'm glad I taking this summer off from school. I'll volunteer as to keep myself busy doing something relevant. I'll also finally go with Kevin to Ely, Minnesota. He went by himself the past two years and he practically begged to go along with him. The drive is long, but I think it would be worth it to simply get away from job searches, video games, and the internet.
∅
So...on Wednesday I talked to the instructor. He did give me some good news: He said that my overall average isn't terrible. I could leave that class with a "B" if I continue to get "B's" on further tests. That alleviated my concern over my grade in that class a little bit. Still: I have to deal with myself, my insomnia, and my malaise towards everything.
I feel like I am walking on the edge of a cliff: If I fall off that cliff, I'm done. I'll be living the rest of my life being a hopelessly less-than-average person doing menial jobs and being directionless. The other option is success. I just don't feel like that is possible for me simply because it feels like everything I do won't matter in the grand scheme of things. It feels like I am just taking up space and just "doing things" to keep myself busy.
Also: I wish I had a job. Yeah, finding one isn't so simple. The economy sucks right now and I have a terrible work history. Kevin asked me yesterday if I was going to the job fair at Parkland College today. I told him no. I also wanted to tell him that the reason I don't want to go is because I don't want to embarrass myself again by trying to gloss over my work history while trying to up-sell my little skill set I have to offer a potential employer. I didn't tell him that.
I'm glad I taking this summer off from school. I'll volunteer as to keep myself busy doing something relevant. I'll also finally go with Kevin to Ely, Minnesota. He went by himself the past two years and he practically begged to go along with him. The drive is long, but I think it would be worth it to simply get away from job searches, video games, and the internet.
∅
2009-03-25
Slice
Oops.
In my quest to do more “outside things,” I did several hours of raking and pruning yesterday. I started at 4:30pm because I was so damn lethargic. I think that was because I had no coffee yesterday. Much to my surprise I enjoyed myself. My fatigue wore off almost immediately and I was on my way.
First, I raked the gardens in the front yard. There was no problem there. I relocated my cleaning efforts to the back yard. I raked along the fence that borders Trent's property. Then I had a stellar idea: I could use the electric hedge trimmer to help me prune the overgrown bushes!
And it was fun.
I seriously reduced the size of a half-dead bush that nestles on the property line. I then cut down the bush that resides next to the compost heap. After I was done pruning, I stacked the branches with the intent of cutting them in half with the hedge trimmer, much like an ax or a chain saw. I was doing just fine at first.
Until I cut the extension cord with the hedge trimmers. That was my “oops” moment. Not only did I ruin a perfectly good piece of hardware, I also blew the fuse in the garage. So...I had to go to Trent's house and ask him where the fuse box was located. I find the fuse box, flip a few switches, and nothing happens. I got back to Trent and ask him to help me with the fuse box because my random switch-flipping activities aren't doing anything to power the garage. So: He does the exact same thing I did with the fuse box, but the lights and garage door come one for him. Figures.
So, I managed to do an outside thing yesterday, that of which I am proud of. I spend too much time indoors on the Internet; that I want to change. So, I'll see where my resolution takes me.
∅
In my quest to do more “outside things,” I did several hours of raking and pruning yesterday. I started at 4:30pm because I was so damn lethargic. I think that was because I had no coffee yesterday. Much to my surprise I enjoyed myself. My fatigue wore off almost immediately and I was on my way.
First, I raked the gardens in the front yard. There was no problem there. I relocated my cleaning efforts to the back yard. I raked along the fence that borders Trent's property. Then I had a stellar idea: I could use the electric hedge trimmer to help me prune the overgrown bushes!
And it was fun.
I seriously reduced the size of a half-dead bush that nestles on the property line. I then cut down the bush that resides next to the compost heap. After I was done pruning, I stacked the branches with the intent of cutting them in half with the hedge trimmer, much like an ax or a chain saw. I was doing just fine at first.
Until I cut the extension cord with the hedge trimmers. That was my “oops” moment. Not only did I ruin a perfectly good piece of hardware, I also blew the fuse in the garage. So...I had to go to Trent's house and ask him where the fuse box was located. I find the fuse box, flip a few switches, and nothing happens. I got back to Trent and ask him to help me with the fuse box because my random switch-flipping activities aren't doing anything to power the garage. So: He does the exact same thing I did with the fuse box, but the lights and garage door come one for him. Figures.
So, I managed to do an outside thing yesterday, that of which I am proud of. I spend too much time indoors on the Internet; that I want to change. So, I'll see where my resolution takes me.
∅
2009-03-22
Boxed in
Oh, brother. I get really sick and tired of ranting about the goddamn environment.
What gave me ire? Earlier today Kevin and I decide to do an "outside thing" today, and then run a few errands. So, he decided to go to the Lake of the Woods located just north of Champaign. We arrive there and the first thing I notice is how many sub-divisions there are surrounding that tract of land. If LotW is supposed to be a preserve, it sure doesn't remind me of one. What is the point of preserving a forest if it is completely surrounded by urban sprawl? What is the point of having a piece of land "set aside for nature" when civilization is nestled literally ten feet away from the edge?
There is nothing natural about that. At all. Lake of the Woods is no more a nature preserve than Central Park in Manhattan.
Like I've said before elsewhere in my journal, it saddens me to realize that people just don't give a damn. People don't care about anything as long as they get their piece of the pie. People don't care as long as they have the huge McMansion, the three cars, and their consumerist lifestyles. Just buy, buy, buy. Just eat, fuck, shit, vegetate, sleep, and buy. And then buy some more.
After that tragic excursion, Kevin and I go to Menard's to buy a new rain gutter for the rain barrel he bought last year. As I walked in that big-box store I had an epiphany: I now know why little kids like running around in big stores so much: There is open spaces in big-box stores. Wide opens spaces don't exist now in urban areas, and they won't exist at all anywhere in the future. Urban sprawl will destroy everything. American entitlement will destroy all the open, natural areas in its pursuit of the American Dream -- in pursuit of the McMansion with the three-car garage. Consumerism and entitlement is an addiction that knows no bounds, limits, or boarders. Yes, we should just cut down that forest, plow over that field, and cut into that mountain just so we can build sub-divisions and shopping malls and airports and sports arenas. We should just cut down everything and plow over everything and just build, build, build.
Since natural, open, untouched, untamed spaces are being destroyed, the only place where people will feel any grandeur and insignificance is in shopping malls and big-box stores. All the forests will have been cut down and put in tree museums. All the fields where people used to run and play will exist only in memories. Uncluttered natural vistas will only exist in archival videos of the past.
Then humanity will realize what it lost when it doesn't have it anymore. We should stop destroying the environment now and just take a breather. We should just stop and ask ourselves if having the huge empty house and three cars and closets full of clothes and kitchen appliances is really worth the planet.
Of course, conscience is the first thing to go when people only care about their selfish needs.
∅
What gave me ire? Earlier today Kevin and I decide to do an "outside thing" today, and then run a few errands. So, he decided to go to the Lake of the Woods located just north of Champaign. We arrive there and the first thing I notice is how many sub-divisions there are surrounding that tract of land. If LotW is supposed to be a preserve, it sure doesn't remind me of one. What is the point of preserving a forest if it is completely surrounded by urban sprawl? What is the point of having a piece of land "set aside for nature" when civilization is nestled literally ten feet away from the edge?
There is nothing natural about that. At all. Lake of the Woods is no more a nature preserve than Central Park in Manhattan.
Like I've said before elsewhere in my journal, it saddens me to realize that people just don't give a damn. People don't care about anything as long as they get their piece of the pie. People don't care as long as they have the huge McMansion, the three cars, and their consumerist lifestyles. Just buy, buy, buy. Just eat, fuck, shit, vegetate, sleep, and buy. And then buy some more.
After that tragic excursion, Kevin and I go to Menard's to buy a new rain gutter for the rain barrel he bought last year. As I walked in that big-box store I had an epiphany: I now know why little kids like running around in big stores so much: There is open spaces in big-box stores. Wide opens spaces don't exist now in urban areas, and they won't exist at all anywhere in the future. Urban sprawl will destroy everything. American entitlement will destroy all the open, natural areas in its pursuit of the American Dream -- in pursuit of the McMansion with the three-car garage. Consumerism and entitlement is an addiction that knows no bounds, limits, or boarders. Yes, we should just cut down that forest, plow over that field, and cut into that mountain just so we can build sub-divisions and shopping malls and airports and sports arenas. We should just cut down everything and plow over everything and just build, build, build.
Since natural, open, untouched, untamed spaces are being destroyed, the only place where people will feel any grandeur and insignificance is in shopping malls and big-box stores. All the forests will have been cut down and put in tree museums. All the fields where people used to run and play will exist only in memories. Uncluttered natural vistas will only exist in archival videos of the past.
Then humanity will realize what it lost when it doesn't have it anymore. We should stop destroying the environment now and just take a breather. We should just stop and ask ourselves if having the huge empty house and three cars and closets full of clothes and kitchen appliances is really worth the planet.
Of course, conscience is the first thing to go when people only care about their selfish needs.
∅
2009-03-17
Today was Shorts Day
The weather outside was too nice to pass up. Granted, I spent most of my time outdoors doing gardening, but I still had that feeling of "accomplishment" when I was done. I started at 11:40am and I knew that it would take me a while to turn over the soil in the remaining plot of land that Kevin wants to turn into a garden. Yes...I was out there for two hours.
After that escapade, I went inside and printed off the information for my second sale from my Amazon store. I am still excited that I am selling through the interweb. I bicycled to the Post Office, and sent off the Nintendo DS game Hotel Dusk: Room 214. During my bicycle trip, I took some pictures of crocuses.
I sent off the game, and then I took the bus to downtown Champaign. There, I had a salad at Aroma Cafe. The sun was hitting the Champaign County Police building just right, so I decided to take a picture.
Then, this begging bird was flitting around me trying to coax me into giving him food. I doubted he was hungry; Maybe he was just feeling gluttonous. I don't know. I tossed a walnut on the ground, and the little bird snacked voraciously on it. I tried to get a picture, but it came out blurry. I was a tad disappointed, but the bird was just adorable.
So, I had a productive day. I know Kevin will be pleased that a large portion of the new garden is turned over. That was a job-and-a-half. It took me a total of four hours and thirty minutes to do that small plot. I hope the smaller one goes faster.
∅
 |
| From miscellaneous |
After that escapade, I went inside and printed off the information for my second sale from my Amazon store. I am still excited that I am selling through the interweb. I bicycled to the Post Office, and sent off the Nintendo DS game Hotel Dusk: Room 214. During my bicycle trip, I took some pictures of crocuses.
 |
| From oregonstreet |
 |
| From oregonstreet |
 |
| From oregonstreet |
 |
| From oregonstreet |
I sent off the game, and then I took the bus to downtown Champaign. There, I had a salad at Aroma Cafe. The sun was hitting the Champaign County Police building just right, so I decided to take a picture.
 |
| From miscellaneous |
 |
| From miscellaneous |
Then, this begging bird was flitting around me trying to coax me into giving him food. I doubted he was hungry; Maybe he was just feeling gluttonous. I don't know. I tossed a walnut on the ground, and the little bird snacked voraciously on it. I tried to get a picture, but it came out blurry. I was a tad disappointed, but the bird was just adorable.
 |
| From miscellaneous |
So, I had a productive day. I know Kevin will be pleased that a large portion of the new garden is turned over. That was a job-and-a-half. It took me a total of four hours and thirty minutes to do that small plot. I hope the smaller one goes faster.
∅
2009-03-13
Mecha MMO
I just started (re)playing Front Mission 4. Anyway, I had a stellar idea: Why couldn't SqueEnix make this franchise into a massive multiplayer online game?
Just imagine it! Instead of tired old magic, swords, and medieval settings; instead of science-fiction superpowers, you could have tens of thousands of different kinds of Wanzer parts. There could theoretically be hundreds of thousands of different configurations. Literally. Every different player could have a different Wanzer from every other player: Your Wanzer could be yours truly, unique, with different stats and abilities. They could also have army PvP Wanzer battles on a huge map grid.
If SqueEnix canwhore out mine Final Fantasy and turn it into a MMORPG, why couldn't they do it for Front Mission? There is already an established universe. The game play mechanics are complicated enough that it would satisfy even the most stat-hungry video game player.
Anyway, I am just musing. Even though I am cheap, I would pay to play that MMORPG.
∅
Just imagine it! Instead of tired old magic, swords, and medieval settings; instead of science-fiction superpowers, you could have tens of thousands of different kinds of Wanzer parts. There could theoretically be hundreds of thousands of different configurations. Literally. Every different player could have a different Wanzer from every other player: Your Wanzer could be yours truly, unique, with different stats and abilities. They could also have army PvP Wanzer battles on a huge map grid.
If SqueEnix can
Anyway, I am just musing. Even though I am cheap, I would pay to play that MMORPG.
∅
2009-03-12
Ship off from Amazon
Hooray! This afternoon, I sent off Lunar 1, that a customer bought from me through my Amazon store. Who would have thought that Internet entrepreneurialism could be so fun! Could Amazon replace eBay? Who knows, right? It probably already has. Anyway, my main concern is making some extra cash. I need it.
Of course, my venture to find a box to ship the game was not without issue. I thought to myself that I could find a shipping box to send the game at the Meijer located in west Urbana. So, I hop on the bus and arrive at the big box. I managed to locate the section of the store that has all the packing materials, and they only have big boxes. I was vexed.
I leave Meijer and begin to bicycle up Philo Road. (It was a good thing I use a combination of public transportation and my bike to get to place.) I know that smaller shipping boxes can be found at pharmacies, so I go to the CVS on Philo. Nope. They only have big shipping boxes, too. Not giving up, I go to the Wallgreen's, and lo-and-behold, they have smaller boxes. They were bigger than what I needed, but at that time I was desperate to find something close to reasonable. (The sales associate at Meijer told me that I would probably have to go to Staples to find dedicated DVD / Book shipping boxes for my needs. I wasn't about to spend hours on the bus just to buy boxes.)
I ride back to the house was surprisingly treacherous. I brought my triangular backpack with me to carry stuff. Naturally, it wasn't big enough to hold flattened cardboard boxes. So, I tried to hang the bag from my handle-bars. That was a bad idea. The corner of the boxes were getting stuck in the spokes. Frustrated, reluctantly, I put the folded boxes in my backpack. That worked, but I was riding slowly on my bike because I didn't want to lose stuff.
I make it back to the house, tape up the box, throw in some packaging popcorn, and the game. I print off the shipping inventory from Amazon, throw that in the box, too, and seal the box shut. I quickly rode my bike (again) to the post office, and sent off the box. The shipping was two extra dollars more than what Amazon allotted me, so I had to cut into my net profits from the sale.
But...I had a blast. If someone wants my old retro games -- and if I can make some money back in the process -- I'll be more than willing to sell things online. So, I had a pretty eventful day. I just wish it was a touch warmer than it was outside. I froze my ass off riding my bike.
∅
Of course, my venture to find a box to ship the game was not without issue. I thought to myself that I could find a shipping box to send the game at the Meijer located in west Urbana. So, I hop on the bus and arrive at the big box. I managed to locate the section of the store that has all the packing materials, and they only have big boxes. I was vexed.
I leave Meijer and begin to bicycle up Philo Road. (It was a good thing I use a combination of public transportation and my bike to get to place.) I know that smaller shipping boxes can be found at pharmacies, so I go to the CVS on Philo. Nope. They only have big shipping boxes, too. Not giving up, I go to the Wallgreen's, and lo-and-behold, they have smaller boxes. They were bigger than what I needed, but at that time I was desperate to find something close to reasonable. (The sales associate at Meijer told me that I would probably have to go to Staples to find dedicated DVD / Book shipping boxes for my needs. I wasn't about to spend hours on the bus just to buy boxes.)
I ride back to the house was surprisingly treacherous. I brought my triangular backpack with me to carry stuff. Naturally, it wasn't big enough to hold flattened cardboard boxes. So, I tried to hang the bag from my handle-bars. That was a bad idea. The corner of the boxes were getting stuck in the spokes. Frustrated, reluctantly, I put the folded boxes in my backpack. That worked, but I was riding slowly on my bike because I didn't want to lose stuff.
I make it back to the house, tape up the box, throw in some packaging popcorn, and the game. I print off the shipping inventory from Amazon, throw that in the box, too, and seal the box shut. I quickly rode my bike (again) to the post office, and sent off the box. The shipping was two extra dollars more than what Amazon allotted me, so I had to cut into my net profits from the sale.
But...I had a blast. If someone wants my old retro games -- and if I can make some money back in the process -- I'll be more than willing to sell things online. So, I had a pretty eventful day. I just wish it was a touch warmer than it was outside. I froze my ass off riding my bike.
∅
2009-03-10
Selling on Amazon
Well now. I am pleasantly surprised! Yesterday, I set up my store front on Amazon.com in my quest to unload my duplicate rare video games I managed to acquire over the years. I wake up this morning, and lo-and-behold, I already sold my extra copy of Lunar 1 for the PS1. Granted, Amazon has high seller fees, but so does eBay. Unfortunately, I can't rely on eBay anymore to make back money because of their new seller policies. It was fun placing auctions on that site, but the risk to sellers from unscrupulous bidders is simply too high to risk being ripped-off.
Who knows. Could this be the beginning of a lucrative venture for me? I would like to think so. Maybe. Of course, if I committed to this store full-time, I could possibly make more money, but that would mean I would have to scour re-sell shops, pawn shops, and real video game boutiques to find the rarities that would sell and fetch high prices online. I really don't have the means to do so but I could always dream.
I think I'll list my black-label edition of Final Fantasy VII. Surely, there is some rabid collector out there who wants this game.
∅
Who knows. Could this be the beginning of a lucrative venture for me? I would like to think so. Maybe. Of course, if I committed to this store full-time, I could possibly make more money, but that would mean I would have to scour re-sell shops, pawn shops, and real video game boutiques to find the rarities that would sell and fetch high prices online. I really don't have the means to do so but I could always dream.
I think I'll list my black-label edition of Final Fantasy VII. Surely, there is some rabid collector out there who wants this game.
∅
2009-03-05
Scammer Trickery
I sit here on the Internet and wonder if it is even worth my time to do so. I am a bit aggravated because the medium -- the tubes -- is just a dangerous place.
Over the past two weeks, I've been listing items on CraigsList. I'm trying to thin out my video game collection simply because it is huge and I don't have the time to play all my games. Yes, I'll keep the rarities, but games I know I'll never play or enjoy that much have to go. Anyway, I listed some things on CR, and much to my surprise, I get a few replies. I shoot the interested recipients some emails, then the warning bells go off. I get replies that ask me to do negligent things: Cash money order checks from out of state, wait for the money to clear, then send the items.
ding ding ding
First off, I am not that stupid. Secondly, CraigsList emails all new signers-on about how to avoid scams and scammers; and in that email they specifically state "Don't cash money order checks!" CR also says to only deal locally as to avoid scams.
This real email I got from someone who was interested in my Nintendo DS was a near carbon copy of the real examples CR has on the site:
Go fuck yourself and die, Scammer!
Right after this travesty, I got another reply by someone who was interested in buying my copies of Lunar 1 and Lunar 2 for the PlayStation 1. Now, I am the wiser after dealing with Fake DS Bitch, so in my first email to this person, I specifically state that I only deal with cash and I only deal locally. There was no reply after that. I wonder why...?
These recent experiences are just a small iota of the bigger picture of what is wrong with the internet. From what I know about "the Internet," the actual network is a declassified military communication network that quickly became the way that communication, entertainment, and information are disseminated throughout the masses. There was a time when the Internet was young -- and dare I say, innocent? People could just go on line and putz around, look up information, play MUDDs, whatever. Then money entered the picture, and that was when things began to go to shit. Beginning in the early 2000's, viruses, which always existed since the dawn of the Internet, changed their modus operandi: They weren't just instruments of mischief, they became legitimate money-makers for illegitimate companies. The nebulous word "malware" was born. Now people have to spend their own hard-earned cash to fend off hundreds of attacks a day from Trojans, viruses, and other examples of "malware."
URGH! Is this was D/ARPANET was declassified for? Is the only reason the Internet exists is to try to steal my money, my identity, my PIN number? Does everything have to boil down to money, and the acquisition of it, even above morality?
But anyway...getting back to my original rant...where was I? I lost my train of thought. Maybe. I guess I am just incredibly frustrated at the fact the Internet is the only, and best, way to disseminate information, dissent, and entertainment, but it has never lived up to its potential. It never will, I would guess. The Internet cannot live up to its potential because it is overrun by scammers who are trying to get me to cash forged money orders...and Trojans...and identity thieves.
People wonder if the Internet will "die." Of course it will. It will die because opportunistic politicians, and telecommunications companies, will use the guise of "protection" to curtail dissent and free speech. This will happen because of all the scammers.
It will be a sad day indeed when that happens.
∅
Over the past two weeks, I've been listing items on CraigsList. I'm trying to thin out my video game collection simply because it is huge and I don't have the time to play all my games. Yes, I'll keep the rarities, but games I know I'll never play or enjoy that much have to go. Anyway, I listed some things on CR, and much to my surprise, I get a few replies. I shoot the interested recipients some emails, then the warning bells go off. I get replies that ask me to do negligent things: Cash money order checks from out of state, wait for the money to clear, then send the items.
ding ding ding
First off, I am not that stupid. Secondly, CraigsList emails all new signers-on about how to avoid scams and scammers; and in that email they specifically state "Don't cash money order checks!" CR also says to only deal locally as to avoid scams.
This real email I got from someone who was interested in my Nintendo DS was a near carbon copy of the real examples CR has on the site:
| Hello Thanks for the quick response.I am Laura,located in Lovington,New Mexico USA,[Yeah, right]and I am highly interested in buying this item and will be offering you $230. [So, you are going to offer me twenty extra dollars than what I asked for for a used hand-held video game system?]I want to buy this item from you cos its a bit cheaper over there.[Even with twenty extra dollars added to my price? Sure...] pls i am okay with the price and the present condition of the item,and i will like you to make me be the only buyer for this item. my payment for this item will be through an Alertpay Money Order. i would have prefered to come down and discuss this transaction eye for eye,but i am not chanced for now and as for the shipment of the item[OK, so you are saying that would have driven from New Mexico all the way to Illinois just to buy a used Nintendo DS. OK.....],that would be done after the payment has been made and approved.pls you can let me have your the following information.[What is "your the following information"?]. The full name to be on the Alertpay Money Order and your full address your zip code and your contact number.[I don't fucking think so. I don't feel like having my identity stolen. Fuck you.].So that my secretary can issue out the payment to the address you have provided as soon as possible.. Till i read from you..Have a great day. Regards.. |
Go fuck yourself and die, Scammer!
Right after this travesty, I got another reply by someone who was interested in buying my copies of Lunar 1 and Lunar 2 for the PlayStation 1. Now, I am the wiser after dealing with Fake DS Bitch, so in my first email to this person, I specifically state that I only deal with cash and I only deal locally. There was no reply after that. I wonder why...?
These recent experiences are just a small iota of the bigger picture of what is wrong with the internet. From what I know about "the Internet," the actual network is a declassified military communication network that quickly became the way that communication, entertainment, and information are disseminated throughout the masses. There was a time when the Internet was young -- and dare I say, innocent? People could just go on line and putz around, look up information, play MUDDs, whatever. Then money entered the picture, and that was when things began to go to shit. Beginning in the early 2000's, viruses, which always existed since the dawn of the Internet, changed their modus operandi: They weren't just instruments of mischief, they became legitimate money-makers for illegitimate companies. The nebulous word "malware" was born. Now people have to spend their own hard-earned cash to fend off hundreds of attacks a day from Trojans, viruses, and other examples of "malware."
URGH! Is this was D/ARPANET was declassified for? Is the only reason the Internet exists is to try to steal my money, my identity, my PIN number? Does everything have to boil down to money, and the acquisition of it, even above morality?
But anyway...getting back to my original rant...where was I? I lost my train of thought. Maybe. I guess I am just incredibly frustrated at the fact the Internet is the only, and best, way to disseminate information, dissent, and entertainment, but it has never lived up to its potential. It never will, I would guess. The Internet cannot live up to its potential because it is overrun by scammers who are trying to get me to cash forged money orders...and Trojans...and identity thieves.
People wonder if the Internet will "die." Of course it will. It will die because opportunistic politicians, and telecommunications companies, will use the guise of "protection" to curtail dissent and free speech. This will happen because of all the scammers.
It will be a sad day indeed when that happens.
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