days of nuwanda

Now we all know...

Invasion of Privacy 101

My IT friends have been discussing this article about a gentleman who was asked to share his Facebook login and password with a potential employer. Yah, you read that right...in an interview, they asked him to GIVE THEM his login and password, so they could check out his FB page. Not even just friending him, but viewing all of his personal info. There are so many things wrong w/ this scenario, the least of which is an invasion of privacy. Your FB page contains tons of info that employers are not legally allowed to ask about in an interview--your age, your religious affiliation, your marital status, your political views, to name a few--so this steps on the toes of all sorts of things. As one of my friends put it, "If I asked someone for their login/password and they actually gave it to me, I would NEVER hire that person, especially in the IT field."  Obviously this is an at-will situation. This man didn't have to give in, didn't have to have this particular job, and he withdrew his application--and rightly so. The other guy seeking a law enforcement position, however, did give his login info b/c he felt he had no choice.

Apparently some agencies also ask for email logins. What the heck? I would laugh in the face of anyone who demanded to view my FB page or my email b/c as the writer says, it's like asking someone for their house keys. Where do we draw the line? How far should an employer dig into your life to gauge your compatibility w/ their company? As far as you let them, I guess. The implications here are very interesting. A couple states are proposing legislation that would make such a request illegal, so we've definitely not heard the end of this. 

Old school jewelry

Hey, I miss cassette tapes as much as anyone who grew up in the 80's, but really? Just sterling silver? I would've thought it deserved 18K gold at least. I made some awesome mixed tapes in my time....Milli Vanilli, NKOTB, Madonna, Guns-n-Roses...

Tech humor, Abbott & Costello style :)

I stole this from my friend Melissa. Worth reading!

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out something like this: 

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT 
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? 
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer. 
ABBOTT: Mac? 
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou. 
ABBOTT: Your computer? 
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one. 
ABBOTT: Mac? 
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou. 
ABBOTT: What about Windows? 
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here? 
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows? 
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows? 
ABBOTT: Wallpaper. 
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software. 
ABBOTT: Software for Windows? 
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals and track expenses. What do you have? 
ABBOTT: Office. 
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything? 
ABBOTT: I just did. 
COSTELLO: You just did what? 
ABBOTT: Recommend something. 
COSTELLO: You recommended something? 
ABBOTT: Yes. 
COSTELLO: For my office? 
ABBOTT: Yes. 
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office? 
ABBOTT: Office. 
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office! 
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows. 
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need? 
ABBOTT: Word. 
COSTELLO: What word? 
ABBOTT: Word in Office. 
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office. 
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. 
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows? 
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W". 
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with? 
ABBOTT: Money. 
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have? 
ABBOTT: Money. 
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money? 
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer. 
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer? 
ABBOTT: Money. 
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer? 
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge. 
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much? 
ABBOTT: One copy. 
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money? 
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money. 
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money? 
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later) 
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? 
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off? 
ABBOTT: Click on "START"............

New fun finds

 
I'm a sucker for new Crystal Light flavors anyhow, but Mojito? Appletini? Margarita? I'm all over that! They are limited-edition summer flavors, which means I gotta stop typing and get to Target!

 
 
I saw these fancy tape trios advertised in a magazine and thought they were cute. Would make a nice gift! I'm not really sure what I would use them for, but surely I could come up w/ something. They are almost as cool as the zebra print duct tape that my kids have. Almost.  :)

 
This updated memory game looks awesome! The Modern Art Memory Game from Ammobooks.com is just like the classic Memory game, but depicts 37 masterpieces of modern art from Picasso to Warhol. Ingenius.

 
I love how old stuff becomes new again, don't you? If only I'd kept my leg warmers from 3rd grade....Anyhow, in case you grew up in a world w/o a big plastic phone that plugged into the wall (yes, kids, once upon a time phones had to be plugged into a box in the wall, and no, I'm not kidding), you can now buy a big chunky handset that plugs into your iPhone and works like an old fashioned phone. Seriously. I'd pay the $30  just to be this cool again.

 
Bright, bold, and chunky not your style? You could always go for the ever-popular Banana Handset and embarrass everyone you know, including me.

  
But if you really want to make an impression and show the world you are retro-and-proud-of-it, you should go all out and get the 80's cell phone case for the iPhone. Your phone slips inside this case, lovingly referred to as "the brick" back in the day, and VOILA--you look like one of those rich people on tv shows from 1983. Who could resist such a status symbol?

Is life supposed to be fair?

I read this essay "Sorry--I just don't think every kid deserves a prize" on fairness in FamilyCircle magazine and really agreed w/ it. While it's cute for the entire 4 year old soccer team to all get trophies just for showing up and getting on the field, eventually those awards are meaningless when everyone gets one, both the kids that excel and those who don't. Imagine the value of the Olympic games if everyone got a gold medal! What would be the point???

While I commend trying and I see value in rewarding the effort itself, we shouldn't try to make everything fair and pretend that everyone is a winner. Life is not always fair, and as the author says here, "We are doing a disservice to our children...In our quest to make everything equal and everything fair, no one is special." Amen! I reward my kids when they put forth effort and I encourage them to try, but they aren't always going to win, and I want them to learn that it's that is just fine. Does losing really destroy self-esteem like we've been told it does? I don't think so. Failure--as kids and as adults--teaches us how to improve and should drive us to try something else. Losing gracefully is more valuable in real-life education than everyone winning a soccer trophy for minimal effort. No, life isn't just about winning, but it's not "unfair" to  celebrate winners.

Good food for thought!

Bargain on shipping

Hubby was doing some online shopping the other day and was excited to learn, if you read the very bottom line of this screen below, that he was so close yet so far away from qualifying for free shipping. Hmmmm, what else can I add to my order to save that awful $9 shipping fee....maybe a used Honda Accord, or a 50 carat diamond ring for my wife, or both?

 

For the musical genius who has everything

I've found the perfect gift for my musical friends who have everything, yet are somehow still lacking in this level of cool: Electric guitar ice cube molds. Yup. You're mad I didn't get you one, aren't you?

 

 

Not on my Bday list

Not to bring it up or anything, but my birthday is just around the corner. :) I'm pretty easy to buy for, in case you need to know....a Team Edward shirt would work, or maybe tickets and backstage passes to the Michael Buble concert, or even a trip to Paris. HA! Actually I'm putting together a "not-on-my-birthday-list" list of some pretty weird things I've seen advertised lately, so here goes:

 
SLAP WATCH--Remember those retarded slap bracelets? Well, they are back w/ a vengeance, only they've been upgraded to include a watch. Seriously, a  watch that slaps you? Are we still in 3rd grade?

 
CARLASHES--If you have these on your car, well, I'm sorry to hurt your feelings, but I don't think we can be friends anymore. Really. I remember when some cars wore bras, but lashes? It's the stuff of nightmares! Wait--Did that Volvo just wink at me???

 
 
PRINCESS RING--Replicas of Princess Diana's (now Kate Middleton's) engagement ring are all over the place as the royal wedding gets closer, and yes, it's a beautiful sapphire and all, but it's only 5 carats. Seems a little small for a princess, don't you think?

Unattended children

The genius behind this sign came from a librarian. Love it! :)