Random Chat, Thoughts, Posts, and/or Rants Thread

[MJ DeMarco]

Why don't all ceiling fans come with a built in smoke detector...

Because the fan blades will blow away the smoke from detection, hence, delaying it's alarm until the smoke is so thick, not even the fan can keep it away...

Sell Me This PEN!

It's been a while since a piece of marketing grabbed my attention. Between the email templates, and the generic flyers. The industry still continues to suffer from ad blindness and the ever increasing noise of digital outreach.

However, today I received a peculiar envelope. As wide as a piece of computer paper, and half the height. Stuffed with a plastic...not sure what to call it...square to give the package bulk.

View attachment 23508
(What is this thing and where can you get one?)

Inside was, of course, a pen...

But not just any pen. This one was accompanied by 3 separate pieces of copy that would make Dan Kennedy shed a tear of joy.

1. Was a full letter that was short and to the point. "Here is the best selling product that millions of people are buying. We're giving you half off if you order within the next 30 days. Just fill out the form (with the pen we included inside) and mail us the prepaid envelope. No payment necessary, we've already opened an account for you so we can bill you later."

Oh yeah, and the whole page was customized with all of my info filled in. It's a template, but for a 50c product, you wouldn't expect to receive a personal call from the CEO.

2. Next was an index card with a "note." This is the only time we can do this. But everyone else keeps coming back for more.

3. The sales pitch below. Probably the best piece of this whole thing, pictured below. Mostly focusing on reciprocity and keeping you in the customer's mind.

(I forgot to mention, the pen itself has my name, address and phone on the other side. Engraved into the soft touch body. Which is customizable with any message.)

View attachment 23509

Which got me thinking... How much does it cost to not look like a bum business? One that's not 3 months away from bankruptcy.

You know the types. Terrible chairs in the waiting area. Dim fluorescent lighting, with no natural views to the outside. With pens like the ones in the upper right corner. Which I picked up from other businesses that gave them out as promotional material.

After doing a bit of digging. The 2 cheap looking pens come out to 50c - $1. The one from the package, goes for $1.50, at the most.

I can't tell if the cap is plastic or metal. The clip near the top certainly is metallic. But that's not the best part. Where you would find the eraser on a pencil, they placed a contact point for touchscreen devices. If you're reading an ebook or taking other notes from a tablet or smartphone, flip this sucker over and scroll to your heart's content.

Now let's face it. If your customers buying decision pivots on a writing utensil, you may have bigger issues.

But if you're going the Apple route, and want to control and improve every little detail of your public perception. A huge jump in perceived quality, may not be out of reach.

I wonder what else you can spend essentially the same money on, but get more value...

This might be its own thread...

 

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[Suzanne Bazemore]

Aaaand I came back with two job offers, from two different companies, both selling the same thing.

Congratulations (I guess?, lol)

 

[Zcott]

For example, I just learned today that an idea I had years ago for an airport valet service is now reality. Not only is it reality, but it is growing and grabbing funding.

The service is EXACTLY as I envisioned it would be.

OAK and LAX Long-Term Airport Parking : Never Park Again

Darn it!

The old, "Damn, I had that idea!!" strikes again!

That said, I might invest as they are taking accredited investor money.

Our of curiosity, did you invest?

 

[Zcott]

Congratulations (I guess?, lol)

I don't think congrats are required but thank you lol.

 

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[Suzanne Bazemore]

I don't think congrats are required but thank you lol.

You just need to remember the quote in your profile pic - maybe put it on a sticky note on your mirror.

 

[Zcott]

You just need to remember the quote in your profile pic - maybe put it on a sticky note on your mirror.

True that! As I said in a few posts back, I am just there for the money; Aa entrepreneur who works in telemarketing.

 

[KLaw]

This isn't 1990. Rotation can be adjusted to blow down or up. Plus, I hear they got these things called sensors. By your logic, any room with a ceiling fan voids any protection from a detector.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

This isn't 1990. Rotation can be adjusted to blow down or up. Plus, I hear they got these things called sensors. By your logic, any room with a ceiling fan voids any protection from a detector.

To follow up your smug reply, I will equally be smug.

At least I'm using logic.

Perhaps we could put drowning detectors at the bottom of pools so when drowning toddlers hit the bottom, an alarm will sound.

Smoke detectors shouldn't be near ceiling fans. In fact, home inspectors will "flag" your home if an detector is near a ceiling fan.

NFPA 72®: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code®

Don't let a little research bite you in your smug a$$.

This isn't the 1970's.

Our of curiosity, did you invest?

No, didn't like how they operated. The key metric being, looked like they leased parking from other companies. They were dependent on those relationships and it was a huge part of the cost. My idea was to actually own the property for parking.

 

[KLaw]

To follow up your smug reply, I will equally be smug.

At least I'm using logic.

Perhaps we could put drowning detectors at the bottom of pools so when drowning toddlers hit the bottom, an alarm will sound.

Smoke detectors shouldn't be near ceiling fans. In fact, home inspectors will "flag" your home if an detector is near a ceiling fan.

NFPA 72®: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code®

Don't let a little research bite you in your smug a$$.

This isn't the 1970's.

Amazing. Your logic. So because it's illegal it will always be illegal (weed). Bc it's against code it will always be against code. I don't agree with you. And that's ok. I think the technology is there.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I think the technology is there.

I tried being nice but nice doesn't work with you.

Your dumbassery never ceases to amaze me.

Of course the tech is there, but the tech doesn't eliminate the fact that it's a horrific idea.

Kinda like why bother with seat belts and their stupid laws, airbag technology is so fantastic!

The regs exists because it's a shitty, dangerous idea that could cause precious seconds to evaporate between smoke detection and escape.

Can't believe this needs to be explained to you, but then again, you're not interested in either reality or truth, you're only in interested in being right, with an occasional "gotcha!"

Whatever, glad you could take time away from your lunch break to educate us on safety and fire detection. Surely those fire marshals and home contractors have all got it wrong because some dude in the middle of Ohio says so.

But go ahead, spend $X thousands of dollars on developing the idea only to have 99% of the world laugh at you for the abomination.

 

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[million$$$smile]

Oh the dichotomy of it all.

We live in a world where smoking a joint is still illegal in many states along with the Food and Drug Administration deeming cannabis unsafe or effective for medical treatment, and yet the FDA and the Dept. of Health & Human Services allows full body scanning in airports that are potentially life-threatening to the general public.

Read up on the inordinate amount of TSA agents that have come down with cancer, strokes and heart disease.
Media Ignores Growing Number of Cases of Cancer Among TSA Body Scanner Operators
These body scanners really haven't been independently tested to the nth degree...

And now we will soon be inundated with high frequency 5G radiation. Talk about a possible way of eliminating overpopulation. Someone ought to write a fictionalized story on that subject.

I just don't trust it nor the guberment behind it.

From now on, I'll take the pat down folks, you can keep your full body scanners for your other victims...

Off the rant.

 

[amp0193]

From now on, I'll take the pat down folks, you can keep your full body scanners for your other victims.

You just convinced me. I’ll trade a grope for not getting cancer.

 

[CareCPA]

I tried being nice but nice doesn't work with you.

Your dumbassery never ceases to amaze me.

Of course the tech is there, but the tech doesn't eliminate the fact that it's a horrific idea.

Kinda like why bother with seat belts and their stupid laws, airbag technology is so fantastic!

The regs exists because it's a sh*tty, dangerous idea that could cause precious seconds to evaporate between smoke detection and escape.

Can't believe this needs to be explained to you, but then again, you're not interested in either reality or truth, you're only in interested in being right, with an occasional "gotcha!"

Whatever, glad you could take time away from your lunch break to educate us on safety and fire detection. Surely those fire marshals and home contractors have all got it wrong because some dude in the middle of Ohio says so.

But go ahead, spend $X thousands of dollars on developing the idea only to have 99% of the world laugh at you for the abomination.

Plus, smoke detectors are now required to be inter-connected in most areas. Can you imagine the wiring diagram for the home that has a smoke detector in each ceiling fan? You'd have multiple circuits running to each box, which also sounds like a bad idea.

No thanks.

 

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[million$$$smile]

I know there was a book recommended, a few years back, and while I started reading it; I just couldn't finish it for some reason. I dunno, maybe I just wasn't ready for it or it just wasn't my cup of tea, but it didn't motivate me to change.
Hell, it didn't motivate me to finish it.

But I recently stumbled upon an article that touched upon my mental chords to the point that I have moved into action.

This one article has inspired me to wake up early and read! Something I've wanted to do for years, but never seemed to 'find the time' to do so. i've already read and finished more books in the past 9 days than I have read in the past two years!
If any of you are in a similar plight then you might take the time to peruse this article.

'Sides that, it is a lot quicker read than a book...
You Make Or Break Your Life Between 5–7 AM – Thrive Global – Medium

 

[Vigilante]

I know there was a book recommended, a few years back, and while I started reading it; I just couldn't finish it for some reason. I dunno, maybe I just wasn't ready for it or it just wasn't my cup of tea, but it didn't motivate me to change.
Hell, it didn't motivate me to finish it.

But I recently stumbled upon an article that touched upon my mental chords to the point that I have moved into action.

This one article has inspired me to wake up early and read! Something I've wanted to do for years, but never seemed to 'find the time' to do so. i've already read and finished more books in the past 9 days than I have read in the past two years!
If any of you are in a similar plight then you might take the time to peruse this article.

'Sides that, it is a lot quicker read than a book...
You Make Or Break Your Life Between 5–7 AM – Thrive Global – Medium

Reposted to www.facebook.com/mybusinesslive

 

[JAJT]

Read up on the inordinate amount of TSA agents that have come down with cancer, strokes and heart disease.

What's worse is that it isn't even required - many experienced security experts blast airport security measures as little more than "security theater", which wikipedia defines as: "the practice of investing in countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to achieve it."

It seems like every time some horrible "thing" happens, it serves as an opportunity for governments and corporations to push even more countermeasures into our lives - and the folks that suffer the most are the innocent.

I'm not against proper and effective security measures, but I do think we should be asking the question "what is proper and effective" a lot more often, and weighing the inconvenience to effectiveness ratio.

 

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[ZF Lee]

And now we will soon be inundated with high frequency 5G radiation.

Speaking of 5G....

I've had an uncle who kept declaring that China's already topping the world in 5G tech, and its one of the reasons the USA is going hard on them. I've not seen any detailed discussions online on that, so I guess the 5G field might be keeping a low cover just as the Ethereum thread did? Can anyone explain this?

 

[MJ DeMarco]

What's worse is that it isn't even required - many experienced security experts blast airport security measures as little more than "security theater", which wikipedia defines as: "the practice of investing in countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to achieve it."

Ah yes, cursory security. The illusion of providing security when it's just theatrics designed to make you feel like there's security. Didn't know they had an official definition for this. I always felt most security fell into that category, as if today a terrorist would load up his shoe with explosives. This shit is always REACTIVE, not PROACTIVE.

 

[amp0193]

This one article has inspired me to wake up early and read!

I've always read at night. But then I go to sleep.

I can see the benefit of reading first thing, and then getting to apply those ideas while they are still fresh.

I may try this. Will require me to go to sleep by 9 instead of 11.

 

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[amp0193]

"the practice of investing in countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to achieve it."

Like locking the school doors during school hours. Or putting in metal detectors.

 

[G-Man]

Ah yes, cursory security. The illusion of providing security when it's just theatrics designed to make you feel like there's security. Didn't know they had an official definition for this. I always felt most security fell into that category, as if today a terrorist would load up his shoe with explosives. This sh*t is always REACTIVE, not PROACTIVE.

The ubiquity of security cameras is the same. Something about the presence of cameras gives you this subconscious sense of “nobody will do anything because they’re on camera”. Let me tell you what people will do on camera: they (in this case a middle aged diminutive woman), will walk 4+ aisles behind you in a nearly empty supermarket in the middle of a sunny weekday. They will then move quickly toward your 18 month old in the shopping cart while you’re distracted trying to find just the right tomatoes, and when you turn just in time to see them, they’ll sprint to a running car in the front of the store and peel out.

The police will call you a few days later and say “Ma’am you weren’t being paranoid - it’s pretty clear from the video she followed you for several minutes and likely was attempting to take the child. There’s really nothing we can do since no crime was committed. Yes, we have her face on camera and the plates of the car outside, but this sort of thing happens pretty frequently and the folks that do this stuff don’t seem to care too much about being filmed. I’m sorry, but the only thing you can really do is be more aware of your surroundings. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of trafficking in children these days”.

True story. Happened to Mrs Gman a couple months back in an affluent, largely old people neighborhood in suburban Texas.

My son reads @Vigilante book on the potty now. Only person he’s used the eye gouge on so far is me, though.

 

[Xeon]

Stupidity has no bounds:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1974649939320530

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

"the practice of investing in countermeasures intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to achieve it."

Another example of cursory security: I remember after 9/11 driving to the airport, *security* checked the trunk of every car. I was like, are you FN kidding me? Who would be so dumb? If I was a terrorist, I'd be offended that my targets thought I was so stupid.

The police will call you a few days later and say “Ma’am you weren’t being paranoid - it’s pretty clear from the video she followed you for several minutes and likely was attempting to take the child. There’s really nothing we can do since no crime was committed. Yes, we have her face on camera and the plates of the car outside, but this sort of thing happens pretty frequently and the folks that do this stuff don’t seem to care too much about being filmed. I’m sorry, but the only thing you can really do is be more aware of your surroundings. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of trafficking in children these days”.

Holy sh*t, scary stuff.

 

[Suzanne Bazemore]

True story. Happened to Mrs Gman a couple months back in an affluent, largely old people neighborhood in suburban Texas.

I am going to tell my brother about this. He has two little kids and twin babies. Thanks for sharing.

 

[StrikingViper69]

I know there was a book recommended, a few years back, and while I started reading it; I just couldn't finish it for some reason. I dunno, maybe I just wasn't ready for it or it just wasn't my cup of tea, but it didn't motivate me to change.
Hell, it didn't motivate me to finish it.

But I recently stumbled upon an article that touched upon my mental chords to the point that I have moved into action.

This one article has inspired me to wake up early and read! Something I've wanted to do for years, but never seemed to 'find the time' to do so. i've already read and finished more books in the past 9 days than I have read in the past two years!
If any of you are in a similar plight then you might take the time to peruse this article.

'Sides that, it is a lot quicker read than a book...
You Make Or Break Your Life Between 5–7 AM – Thrive Global – Medium

I made this connection when I was at crossfit. I wanted to get stronger and deadlift more weight.

At the time, I was lifting about 1x - 2x each week (i.e. almost nothing). I had the false idea that, my progress would be linear but slow. So if I just kept going, eventually I would make the awesome gains I wanted.

But that was wrong.

I started to view any level of achievement as being a reflection of the daily time invested.

After that realisation I started planning my time more carefully, and making sure I worked on the important stuff - every day.
Every day - song writing, music theory, guitar practice, gym.

I fell into a trap of just reading every morning, rather than working on my skills and creating something new every day, but quickly re-adjusted that.

 

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[socaldude]

Another example of cursory security: I remember after 9/11 driving to the airport, *security* checked the trunk of every car. I was like, are you FN kidding me? Who would be so dumb? If I was a terrorist, I'd be offended that my targets thought I was so stupid.

The sad part is that our rights have been completely thrown out the window all in the name of security you can't even walk into a major airport without the possibility of of being spied on. It has already been ruled in the Supreme Court that you need a warrant to spy on cellphones but that doesn't keep our government from doing it cause after all if they keep it secret then how do you challenge it in court?

Researchers Use Ridesharing Cars to Sniff Out a Secret Spying Tool

 

[Zcott]

IT'S THE WEEKEND!

Spent almost five hours of my Saturday going to the shops to pick something up and doing chores around the house.

I really don't understand how people can live life like this. Wait all week for the weekend then you spend said weekend things you didn't have time to do in the week. That's not living. Hands down, I think the sole reason I am building a business is because I don't think I can continue living life otherwise.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Shame on me...

I was walking past a mental hospital the other day and all the patients were shouting “13…13…13”
The fence was too high to see over, but I saw a little gap in the planks, so I looked through to see see what was going on. Some guy poked me in the eye with a stick and they all started shouting “14...14...14”.

 

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[million$$$smile]

”

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Why is it that we laugh at somebody getting hurt?

 

[Raoul Duke]

I have cream on my face. ONLY Summit Attendees will get it.