As I See It

Comparing

2012-01-25T11:30:00.002-05:00

Sometimes this is how I feel:

Going global for the greater good - ColoradoBIZ Magazine

2011-09-02T12:29:00.000-04:00

Check out my latest article Going global for the greater good - ColoradoBIZ Magazine.

Verizon

2011-06-15T14:16:00.003-04:00

This is why i like Verizon:

-----Original Message-----

Primary Subject: Feedback
Secondary Subject: Customer Service Feedback
Message Body: To Whom It May Concern:

First i would like to say that I appreciate the consistently top-notch customer service your company provides. One of your fine representatives (Sherice) informed me that Verizon is discontinuing the new every two benefit. I encourage you to implement another similar benefit, as it is one of the reasons i stay with Verizon. Plans, phones and networks are similar enough that it is customer service and perks that keep many customers loyal, therefore i ask that you create a new perk regrading phones to keep us loyal.
Sincerely,
Cassi Clark Ward-Hunt

Their Response:

Dear Cassi Clark Ward-Hunt,

My name is Jeremiah, and I can definitely understand your concerns regarding the charges to the New Every two program. We have updated our upgrade options. So, going forward, while there will no longer be a New Every Two option you'll continue to qualify for promotional pricing with a one or two year agreement. You can take advantage of promotional pricing and any special offers that are available with an upgrade after 20 months on a two-year agreement.

Verizon Wireless is always looking for ways to better meet the needs of our customers. Your comments regarding changes to our upgrade options have been forwarded to the appropriate department for review and consideration. Your feedback provides us with the perfect opportunity to hear exactly what you think, and often leads to improvements you will see in the future.

I do see that you are still eligible to regarding your final New Every Two discount effective 12/23/11. You are also currently eligible to complete an Annual Upgrade. You may view your promotional pricing and process your order by signing in to “My Verizon” using your Account Owner Number and password. Next, click on the “Upgrade” icon located under “Device” in the “I Want To” section at the bottom of your home page and follow the instructions provided.

Cassi, thank you for giving me the opportunity to discuss updates to our upgrade options. If you have any additional questions or concerns please reply to this e-mail. We appreciate your business and thank you for being the most valued part of Verizon Wireless!

Sincerely,
Jeremiah
Verizon Wireless, Customer Service
Internet Response Team

Half my friends and family don't even spell my name right, and Verizon not only spelled my name correctly but answered my web-based feedback personally! (Now if they will only continue to help me get inexpensive or free phones life would be perfect!)

Real Woman Do Cry

2011-04-13T15:02:00.002-04:00

Speaker of the House John Boehner cries. He cries at work, on TV and probably at home. He was made fun of by the late night circuit, but eventually we all accepted it. He is not considered weak. He was nearly unanimously elected speaker of the house. He is just a man in touch with his emotions.

But what if this were Nancy Pelosi? Would she have gotten the same respect as Mr. Boehner? Would she have been considered strong? I doubt it. Somehow in our push to be treated as equals to men, women have traded our female strengths for male traits. Independence is good, but not when it has cost us our ability to deal with our emotions.

In a few years there will be more hispanics in America than whites. With this will come a group of women that is perceived to have missed the feminist movement. Many hispanic women still enable the macho culture they came from, and I worried about what this will do for the feminist movement. Would it set us back. But now, I see these women also have a strong female culture. A culture that is in touch with the innate strengths of women, and perhaps that is a positive influence us emotionally cut-off women need.

The reality is that we are all the same. Hispanic cultures have women in power just as Americans do, and those women got there using whatever is in them individually that they possessed. But I hope that as a gender in America, women can embrace what makes us female and make that part of our culture.

New Space Age Shoes

2011-04-12T14:49:00.001-04:00

These style shoes combine high-heeled fashion with Tron design.

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This Run Brought to You by the Federal Reserve and the Letter's B and D.

2011-02-16T15:38:00.004-05:00

Today I literally ran around Denver looking for money. No, not the $20 bill you dropped outside the bar last night in your drunkenness, nor a cash paying job. I was looking for cash money shredded into tiny little bits and packs of fake cash, and since it is 69 degrees today, I decided to run and get me some of that Vitamin D doctors keep telling us we need even thought they are not sure why. I began by fighting the wind going north along 18th Street toward Unions Station, over the bridge to Confluence Park. Low and behold the Union Station B-cycle station was open and full of bikes!! Yay B-cycle! But I kept running. I fought the wind going south along the Cherry Creek Trail to the Denver Mint. The Denver Mint, for you who don't know, is one of the many off-white stone buildings behind the City and County Building that all look alike. It is the one building that has nothing to do with the Judiciary Branch of State or Local government. (Among the official buildings was an empty B-cycle station. Yay B-Cycle!) The very pretty Denver Mint building is surrounded by a tall metal spiked fence and trailers. Yes, doublewide trailers like Clear Creekers used to go to classes in and somewhere someone's cousin Billy Bob resides in. One such trailer houses the Mint Gift Shop, and outside are very nice security guards to assure guests that yes that is the 10-year-old gift shop. Inside the Denver Mint Gift Shop are the coins you see on TV commemorating just about everything, and a few that are real money too, but no cash dollars, whole or otherwise.

So, at the suggestion of the Mint customer service ladies, I ran off to the Federal Reserve (yes, fighting the wind). The reserve building is the official looking building set back off the 16th Street Mall between Champa and Arapahoe. The entrance is on Champa by the noise-art sidewalk that moos at you. This building feels much more like a federal building (there are no trailers), also surrounded by a tall spiky metal fence in the entrance has security guards in an enclosed guard office next to a metal detector and conveyer-belt x-ray machine. The guards happily offered to let me in for a self-guided tour of the "museum," but alas I didn't not have my ID because I was on a run. However, the guards did confirm the rumor that our very own Kansas Federal Reserve Denver Branch gives away free money to anyone who asks. I got three bags full! (Yes it was shredded and completely worthless, but still very cool.) The guards also suggested I make an appointment for a tour because then you can see where the money gets counted! It's now on my list of things to do in Denver.

Anyway, having run roughly four miles and having my hands full of money I decided to walk the rest of the way home, stopping in souvenir shops here and there looking for packs of fake money, to no avail. Ironically I almost crossed the street in front of, to be killed by, an armored cash truck!

So though I am sure you have been completely entertained by my little story, you might be wondering why I ran all over Denver looking for money that is not going to pay the bills. We're having a Michael Douglass Wall Street Party. Invitation only, unless your stock portfolio is big enough.

Productive day

2011-02-01T01:17:00.003-05:00

So today was a cold snowy day in Denver. So I finished my curtains,

researched radio in 1912, and then finished darning my socks.

Not as pretty as I thought they would be, but new life for my Smartwools!

Time to start the front piece of my hoodie sweater.

Taco Hell

2011-01-08T13:06:00.001-05:00

So The Husband comes home with a couple, like 2, tacos from Taco Bell last night and this bag of ridiculous amounts of sauces. Are you saying your food us that bed Taco Bell, or just that business is so good you can afford to loose money with every purchase?

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secret places

2011-01-06T14:45:00.001-05:00

This gorgeous building his on the back side of St. Joes hospital, a gem of beauty and history unknown to us who take the same routes most of the time.

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creative graffiti

2010-12-13T17:27:00.001-05:00

I do love creative, non-destructive graffiti.

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a room of my own

2010-12-12T18:04:00.002-05:00

Most girls I know have internalized Virginia Wolff's "A Room of Your Own" even if they never read the essay. The idea of having a place to think free from uninvited influence is a valuable thing.

This desk is my HD seaking husband's. It inspired me to get my own because as you can see we cannot share.

So here is MY fav room.

Through the window is a view of the city. I am surrounded by creative projects and books, and have space on which to work!

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Thing I want on the internet

2010-11-30T19:16:00.002-05:00

I would like the internet to be an orginizational tool. I want it to be like my own pintrest.com. I want my facebook feed on this page to be visually appeal like the links are when added to the real facebook page. I want one place where I can "keep" all my profiles, but have that page be private, and also visually appealing. I am thinking something like what my android phone looks like, but the "apps" are visual links to my vairous profiles. I want it all to work together and be easy to use. Is there a programing genious who can build this place for me? PS if so, i also want a way to add these profile widgets to my own website. Thanks!

Shoe Storage

2010-11-29T15:17:00.001-05:00

How did I not think of bookshelves for shoe storage?! I just love this picture, from desiretoinspire.net.

Identity Crisis

2010-11-04T15:31:00.003-04:00

Who are you? Who Am I? So often now-a-days we are asked to define ourselves. We define ourselves for potential bosses who ask us directly in interviews, and indirectly with questions like what is your biggest weakness? or how did you react to your worst defeat? We decide how much of ourselves to show on social networing websites, and who should be able to see what parts of those cites.

But what about professionals. Conventional wisdom says do not "friend" workmates or bosses, so not talk about work online, and do not use those cites while at work. But what if you need work? What if your work needs readers or buyers? What if your work includes making you a personality?

Social networking is still in its young adult stage. First we were too open letting it do whatever, like a teenager without a curfew. After that blew up, we are trying to reign it in, give it discipline. Eventually we will get to a place where we can approach it maturely, seeing the benefits of "letting ti all hang out" as well as the wisdom in keeping some things to yourself.

For now, I like this idea of all your online presences working together to create the brand of you. My brand: an open "friend" who will share all her thoughts, even the bad ones, who lets you in to her world which is full of intrigue and links as diverse as her interests.

State’s First Motorcycle Storage Pod Aims to Reduce Impaired Riding & Save Lives — CDOT

2010-10-26T17:59:00.000-04:00

State’s First Motorcycle Storage Pod Aims to Reduce Impaired Riding & Save Lives — CDOT

What a great idea. Now if we can get motorcyclists to use it and other motorists to follow their lead and leave their cars!

The end of unemployment

2010-10-15T18:01:00.000-04:00

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=139401&catid=339

So unemployment is undeniably a mess. But one solution that may destroy the state may be exactly what the unemployment system needs. If the ballot measure to prohibit state and local governments from borrowing passes, then the state will not be able to make its unemployment payments. The bill will effectively eliminate unemployment under the current conditions. Perhaps this is what is necessary. Then more people will become needy and homeless and those people who don't want to pay taxes and donate the same (or more) amount of money they would have paid in taxes to non-profits that help the homeless and needy. But at least it won't come from the state...

In case you can't tell my approval of this plan is entirely sarcastic.

New way to steal identities

2010-10-01T11:12:00.001-04:00

Watch this video and beware next time you copy your personal information on a copier you don't own.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6412572n&tag=related;photovideo

urban renewal

2010-07-31T19:33:00.001-04:00

Good bye McDonald's on colfax. What will replace you: sewing store, knitting store,health food store? one can only dream!

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support

2010-07-24T13:29:00.001-04:00

sometimes even nature needs support.

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Prison Earth Wins Awards!

2010-05-10T14:38:00.000-04:00

My Uncle's Book is award Winning! Prison Earth won third place in the Science Fiction Category of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!

Go Cliff!

Fun Thoery

2010-05-03T10:54:00.003-04:00

YOUR Government-A Rant

2010-04-23T17:56:00.000-04:00

Did you know this is your government? As in a Representative. As in whether or not you believe it, the 1 representative you elected and 1 senator you elected (to the state legislature) are really out for your (and most of the other people in your area's) interest. But there are 100 legislators all representing other people, so sometimes other representatives vote in ways that pass or kill bills you'd like to see killed or pass. So what do you do? You cry. This my friends is not productive. The forefathers did not design a government system where crying changes things. They gave you tools. They gave you processes, but if you are too lazy to use them, it's your own damn fault bills pass that you don't like!

Did you know that if a bill passes that you don't like, you have 90 days to get an initiative on the ballot to over rule the legislature's decision? Yup, you have the power to veto a bill.

And, then if that doesn't work (or you're too lazy to try it) you can take it to court through the Attorney General (if he agrees with you) or another orginization.

Now, I may be making this sound easy. It is not. But, do not be fooled my friends. Getting a bill through the legislature (getting 100 people to agree on anything) is not easy. But these politicians, that you so veheminatly disagree with, and whom you complain "do nothing" for the citizens, are willing to work hard enough to get bills passed. Are you? If you "vote them all out", do you have the energy to work hard to govern Colorado, or even the US?

Legislative Process

2010-04-23T17:46:00.001-04:00

Many people are unaware of how the legislative process in Colorado works, and how they can participate. So here his a nice piece explaining it. Read it.

Tea Party and Taxes

2010-04-17T12:07:00.000-04:00

Read this today: Forbes: Tea partiers confused, taxes ‘lower by every measure’ under Obama.
I've been thinking about taxes and government and "the people's" reaction quite a bit lately. The think Bartlett is right that things are turning upside down. I am generally a liberal. I like helping people that can't help themselves, and think the government and churches should stay out of my body. But, I have always believed in fiscal responsibility, which for what ever reason the conservatives have staked their claim on.

But thursday, I sat in the House Gallery and watched a dem and republican argue over who had given the most tax breaks and to whom. It made me wonder if we haven't just totally lost sight of how government works and what's important. I know many american' aren't surprised, this being an election year and all, but i seem to delusionally hold to the idea that our elected officials are there the govern us well. In my basic finance class, we learned that a business (or individual) has to have enough income to cover costs and liabilities. There can be some stretching, but it's pretty limited. In the rest of America, those of us that spent more than we made, ended up in a massive credit crunch that lead to the economic situation we're currently in. So why are our legislators arguing over who cut the government's income the most? and not bragging about where they've equally cut costs.

Living in a state with no budgetary wiggle room, I see that there is a way to provide a helping hand to those who need it, but not so much that it creaks that bank (or the government in this case).

I stand by my argument that we need to pass a law limiting on Legislative bills at the Federal Level to one topic. Then we can better prioritize and pay for programs that are necessary, and not every pet project. Unfortunately, something has to get cut, if we Americans insist on not paying taxes enough to cover the spending.

Interesting Legislative Statistics

2010-03-26T16:08:00.000-04:00

Got this from Rep. Miklosi. With everyone bitching about loosing their jobs, and threatening congressmen, it's nice to hear some good spin.

Mid-Session Summary of [the Colorado State Legislature's] Accomplishments By the Numbers:

2,000 – Number of new energy efficiency jobs that will be created in the next 5 years by increasing access to bonds & loans for home energy improvements with HB 1328. HB 1328 – Rep. Joe Miklosi (D-Denver), Sen. Gail Schwartz (D-Snowmass Village)

19,795 – Number of additional families receiving essential food assistance due to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). HB 1022 – Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada), Sen. Betty Boyd (D-Lakewood)

50% –Annual expected increase in nursing faculty accepted to Colorado nursing programs thanks to expansion of the Nursing Teacher Loan Forgiveness program.  The program will reduce waitlists and increase the number of new nurses.  SB 58 – Sen. Abel Tapia (D-Pueblo), Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada)

130,000 – The number of women who will no longer pay up to 59% more than men for the exact same health insurance coverage with passage of the Gender Equity/HC bill.  HB 1008 - Rep. Sue Schafer (D-Wheat Ridge), Rep. Beth McCann (D-Denver), Sens. Carroll/Schwartz

30% – Amount of energy produced by the state’s utilities that will come from renewable sources by 2020 with our new Renewable Energy Standard. HB 1001 – Rep. Max Tyler (D-Golden), Sens. Schwartz/Whitehead

3,333 – Average estimated number of “construction period” jobs per year in our New Energy Economy that could result from 1,000 megawatts of Distributed Generation – green energy from local sources like rooftops.  DG is a central component of HB 1001. HB 1001 – Rep. Max Tyler (D-Golden), Sens. Schwartz/Whitehead (from votesolar.org report)

23 – Number of jobs a single primary care physician can generate in a community, increasing economic development through the Health Care Jobs Act.  HB 1138 – Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada), Sen. John Morse (D-Colorado Springs)

10^th – Maximum grade level for language in insurance policies; insurers must replace confusing legalese with “plain language” in their policies.  HB 1166 – Rep. John Kefalas (D-Fort Collins), Sen. Linda Newell (D-Littleton)
$2,000,000,000 – Approximate amount of money that has been cut to keep the budget balanced, including making $500 million in cuts in the last 60 days.

11 – Number of the 100+ existing corporate tax loopholes, credits and exemptions (worth about $2 billion/year) that have been or will be lifted to help balance the budget, to keep schools funded, and to make sure every interest group pays their fair share to live and work in Colorado.

$132.6 Million - Amount of money which will be preserved for schools, public safety, and other social services for closing tax loopholes.

Additional Highlights

Renewable Energy Job Creation Bill: New Energy Jobs Creation Act would create a statewide, voluntary Special Improvement District that empower 50,000 homeowners to receive financing to hire approved companies to install solar, wind, geothermal renewable energy systems and or energy efficiency improvements for their homes. These bonded improvements will be paid through an annual assessment on their property taxes at a fixed rate over 20 years. This would create 2,000 - 3,000 installation and supplemental jobs during the next five years, increase property value by 8% - 10%, make America more energy self sufficient, and attract good-paying renewable energy jobs to Colorado (Rep Miklosi and Sen Schwartz).

Work Share Bill: Allows employers to retain workers whose hours have been reduced to be compensated with pro-rated unemployment benefits. Work Share would not negatively impact the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Presently17 other states have work share programs. Prevents layoffs and empowers employers (Sen. Heath and Rep Pace).

State Park Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bill: Innovative goal to make all State Parks in Colorado energy self sufficient by investing in renewable energy systems. Colorado will save thousands of dollars and be the first state in the nation to implement this creative idea (Rep. Randy Fischer).

Preventing Financial Abuse of Elders and At-Risk Adults Bill: Requires financial institutions to inform customers, who are at risk defined as a person who is 60+ years old, or 18+ years old with a disability, of their right to voluntarily sign a prior consent form and have this placed in their financial records (Sen Schwartz, Rep Frangas and Rep Kefalas).

Maternity Protection Bill:  Most basic health care policies do not cover maternity care and some classify pregnancy as a pre-exisiting condition. This is ridiculous. In Colorado, last year, there were 27,000 unintended pregancies. As a value statement, and for both health and economic reasons, this legislation will insure pregnant women so that they receive basic maternity health care. We will all benefit from this landmark legislation (Sen. Foster).
Transparency in Government
Colorado State Treasurer Cary Kennedy is one of the best Treasurer's in the nation because of ideas like this. She recently created theColorado Tax Tracks, which empowers Coloradans to see how an individual or a family's income taxes are spent and lets them offer input as to whether they agree or disagree. Colorado Tax Tracks is part of a comprehensive effort to make state finances more transparent and accessible for all Coloradans. For more information, visit:

www.Colorado.gov/treasury