These are some great ways to make money online. Some of these sites are lists of websites and others are opportunities. I did some research and put these lists together when I was working with some voluntary agencies after Katrina. I was working for a federal agency at the time that was actively responding to the disaster, but I soon realized that while my agency addresses the immediate needs, the voluntary handle more of the long term issues.
So, I created a group of voluntary agencies so that they could all coordinate, address individuals' needs and help each other. As part of this I began to research ways that these individuals could make money at home. Many of the victims were already stressed out and traumatized, many were ill, disabled or injured. Many were not necessarily ready to go out and work at a full time job outside of the home. These opportunities allowed them to support themselves and their families while remaining in an environment where they felt safe. I included some freelance opportunities, work at home opportunities and fun stuff. If you now anyone who may be in a homebound situation or who would benefit from this information, please pass it on.
This is a listing of survey companies and other fun sites that pay you to take surveys, shop and get free stuff.
Money4Fun
These are actual companies that hire telecommuters for a variety of positions.
Work at Home Opportunities
These are some employment sites that advertise telecommuter jobs and freelance positions.
Telecommute Job Sites
This is a way cool site that pays you to talk with your friends, ask questions and get involved in discussions on a variety of topics.
My Lot
If you are looking for ways to make money online, this is a good place to start...
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Service with a Smile???
I don’t know about you, but I find that professionalism and quality are sorely lacking in businesses including retail, goods and services. If I have to go into one more insurance agency and be forced to deal with yet another 8th grade flunkie with a chip on her shoulder I will lose my mind. If I walk into one more retail outlet and the clerk is chomping her gum while yaking on the phone about last night’s escapades while ignoring me I think I will just go ballistic.
I think that the reason service is so sorely lacking in our society today is because we, as consumers, have grown lax in our expectations. Consumers have become complacent with inferior service and unprofessional behavior. In short, we don’t expect quality service and professionalism so we don’t demand it. When we fail to demand it we certainly don’t get it.
However, one must proceed with care when making a move toward demanding good service. To “put your foot down” and demand that the service you receive improve rarely achieves the desired results. Usually, the reverse occurs. As the old saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey rings true in this situation. Treat the wait staff, sales clerk and bank teller with respect. Give them the benefit of the doubt, but if they fail to meet your expectations regarding service, do not hesitate to file a complaint with the establishment’s management.
I am a very good tipper when I get great service. In a restaurant, as a rule I tip 20% for exceptional service. Now, given some of the restaurants I frequent, this can result in a tidy chunk of change in a server’s pocket! As the service declines, so does the tip. But because I am a generous tipper, I receive very good service the majority of the time.
Don’t limit your tipping to just wait staff at a restaurant. Hairdressers, massage therapists, bell hops, sky hops, housekeeping and other service related vocations should be tipped as well. I tip housekeeping at my hotel from time to time. When the staff helps me carry my packages from shopping up to my room, I tip them.
So, the rules are simple: Generously tip the ones who give great service and when you run across those who are sorely lacking in service, let the management know. I have gone so far as to stop frequenting certain restaurants because of the service. I gave them a couple of chances, then I took my business elsewhere.
Hey, it isn’t perfect, I admit. But at least it is a start.
Thought for the day: Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.
I think that the reason service is so sorely lacking in our society today is because we, as consumers, have grown lax in our expectations. Consumers have become complacent with inferior service and unprofessional behavior. In short, we don’t expect quality service and professionalism so we don’t demand it. When we fail to demand it we certainly don’t get it.
However, one must proceed with care when making a move toward demanding good service. To “put your foot down” and demand that the service you receive improve rarely achieves the desired results. Usually, the reverse occurs. As the old saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey rings true in this situation. Treat the wait staff, sales clerk and bank teller with respect. Give them the benefit of the doubt, but if they fail to meet your expectations regarding service, do not hesitate to file a complaint with the establishment’s management.
I am a very good tipper when I get great service. In a restaurant, as a rule I tip 20% for exceptional service. Now, given some of the restaurants I frequent, this can result in a tidy chunk of change in a server’s pocket! As the service declines, so does the tip. But because I am a generous tipper, I receive very good service the majority of the time.
Don’t limit your tipping to just wait staff at a restaurant. Hairdressers, massage therapists, bell hops, sky hops, housekeeping and other service related vocations should be tipped as well. I tip housekeeping at my hotel from time to time. When the staff helps me carry my packages from shopping up to my room, I tip them.
So, the rules are simple: Generously tip the ones who give great service and when you run across those who are sorely lacking in service, let the management know. I have gone so far as to stop frequenting certain restaurants because of the service. I gave them a couple of chances, then I took my business elsewhere.
Hey, it isn’t perfect, I admit. But at least it is a start.
Thought for the day: Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
On Human Evil...
Throughout the course of my life, I have had several instances where I encountered human evil in its most vile forms. Each of these individuals was different and each possessed his or her unique traits, but there were and are several characteristics that were strikingly consistent. One characteristic that glaringly stands out is their overwhelming desire to force me to bend to their will. Each person was hell bent on forcing me to bend to their will, to do what they wanted whether I wanted to or not. This is not only the epitome of selfishness and self centeredness, not to mention entirely ego driven and narcissistic, it also feeds their need for complete control and is a classic characteristic of human evil as defined by Dr. M. Scott Peck.
Some of these people have been co-workers, spouses, even friends, while others have just been random psychos who don’t know me, yet feel it necessary to implement an attack against me. Maybe they all fit into the psycho category.
I find these people, the “evils,” to be completely revolting. I am repulsed by the mere thought of them. I feel unclean when in their presence, even in reading their email or public posting online. According to Dr. Peck, this is a natural response when someone who is not evil is in the presence of someone who is evil. The response I experience is very strong and even sometimes overwhelming – I am repulsed. This is why I have chosen not to associate with these people. I don’t visit their websites, don’t communicate with them, don’t email them, basically, I have nothing to do with them unless it is required through my job or some other reason. In short, I steer clear of them unless I absolutely must interact with them.
It drives them crazy.
If you want to get hate mail, have a hate blog taken out against you or experience the fury of a shunned evil who tries desperately to get you to talk to them, then just turn your back on them and stop communicating with them. They fly into this desperate rage because all of the plugs are pulled and they can no longer drain you of your energy and positivity. They now have absolutely no chance of controlling you and it drives them crazy.
Be prepared, though, because when you turn your back on an evil, they will try any and all underhanded, desperate, even deceitful ways to try to manipulate you and get you back into the fold. If you shun an evil at work, prepare for them to tattle to your boss and whine about how unfairly they have been treated. They may even fabricate tales to make themselves look better (and justified) and make you look bad. If you shun an evil in your family, be ready for them to try to divide the family and deplete you of your resources. A spouse or ex spouse will up their efforts to make your life a living hell. If someone has a hate website against you or is sending hate email, be ready for them to up their efforts. The more you ignore them, the angrier they get and the more hateful, cruel and manipulative the efforts to control you become.
They also don’t take criticism so great either. If you do anything that they perceive as potentially injurious to their narcissism or ego, they will flip out. They also get bent out of shape if you threaten their public image and self image. They will go to great lengths to defend their image (I am a good parent, I am a good person, I am a good wife). All I can say is beware.
The human evil will do whatever it takes to get you back in their control. They will manipulate, lie and deceive. They will hide behind a smile, hide behind their church, hide behind piety and hide behind the mountain of lies that they have created to make themselves look less evil. They are sneaky and often rather subtle in their evil until they are cornered or feel threatened. Then all bets are off and the attack is launched.
But beware the fangs behind the smile…
Some of these people have been co-workers, spouses, even friends, while others have just been random psychos who don’t know me, yet feel it necessary to implement an attack against me. Maybe they all fit into the psycho category.
I find these people, the “evils,” to be completely revolting. I am repulsed by the mere thought of them. I feel unclean when in their presence, even in reading their email or public posting online. According to Dr. Peck, this is a natural response when someone who is not evil is in the presence of someone who is evil. The response I experience is very strong and even sometimes overwhelming – I am repulsed. This is why I have chosen not to associate with these people. I don’t visit their websites, don’t communicate with them, don’t email them, basically, I have nothing to do with them unless it is required through my job or some other reason. In short, I steer clear of them unless I absolutely must interact with them.
It drives them crazy.
If you want to get hate mail, have a hate blog taken out against you or experience the fury of a shunned evil who tries desperately to get you to talk to them, then just turn your back on them and stop communicating with them. They fly into this desperate rage because all of the plugs are pulled and they can no longer drain you of your energy and positivity. They now have absolutely no chance of controlling you and it drives them crazy.
Be prepared, though, because when you turn your back on an evil, they will try any and all underhanded, desperate, even deceitful ways to try to manipulate you and get you back into the fold. If you shun an evil at work, prepare for them to tattle to your boss and whine about how unfairly they have been treated. They may even fabricate tales to make themselves look better (and justified) and make you look bad. If you shun an evil in your family, be ready for them to try to divide the family and deplete you of your resources. A spouse or ex spouse will up their efforts to make your life a living hell. If someone has a hate website against you or is sending hate email, be ready for them to up their efforts. The more you ignore them, the angrier they get and the more hateful, cruel and manipulative the efforts to control you become.
They also don’t take criticism so great either. If you do anything that they perceive as potentially injurious to their narcissism or ego, they will flip out. They also get bent out of shape if you threaten their public image and self image. They will go to great lengths to defend their image (I am a good parent, I am a good person, I am a good wife). All I can say is beware.
The human evil will do whatever it takes to get you back in their control. They will manipulate, lie and deceive. They will hide behind a smile, hide behind their church, hide behind piety and hide behind the mountain of lies that they have created to make themselves look less evil. They are sneaky and often rather subtle in their evil until they are cornered or feel threatened. Then all bets are off and the attack is launched.
But beware the fangs behind the smile…
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