Update: Bentonite Clay is Awesome!

Well, I did the whole Marvin the Martian (bentonite clay) mask and WOW.... Morgan, and all those Amazon reviews were not exaggerating.  This stuff is incredible!  I LOVE it.  I will definitely be using it every week now.  And it's incredibly inexpensive, too, which is what caused my skepticism to begin with.  Something like $10 for a year's supply I think.

I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for amazing-feeling (and looking) skin!  There were a couple areas, like just under my chin, that have been kindof "rough" feeling for some time now, and they are as smooth as they could possibly be after using the bentonite mask.  Really, I'm sold!!

Day 1: Our Imperfections Make Us Perfect

So here goes...  I'm going to try my best to list at least one thing I'm grateful for each day.  365 Days of Gratitude :)

So today, I'm grateful for an imperfect complexion.  My boyfriend's roommate, Morgan, bought bentonite clay, which is apparently some kind of amazing 100% natural Aztec clay that women use as a facial mask.  Since Morgan, and all the reviewers on Amazon.com have raved about this product, my boyfriend purchased a jar of it for me, too.  He's so thoughtful :)  (Another thing I'm very grateful for!).

I have never tried a facial mask before, and am not particularly looking forward to resembling Marvin the Martian in the process, but I do tend to favor clean, smooth, exfoliated skin, so it's worth a try!  There are 333 five-star reviews & 94 four-star reviews for this product on Amazon, out of 484 total.  That's pretty amazing!

So, before sitting down to write this, I washed my face & used my trusty exfoliating glove, which I have sworn by for probably 10 years now... I love that thing!  My face feels soooo smooth after using it, so I figure I might as well use it before applying the mask.  And as I'm looking in the mirror, I immediately notice every imperfection on my 30-year-old face.

I have a couple of little scars... no big deal.  A few bumps... not ideal, but they'll go away.  One or two tiny, broken blood vessels... I hate those things.  They won't go away.  And my least favorite, a brown sun spot just under my eye, thanks to spending a couple of years visiting the tanning bed on a regular basis.  It's my permanent reminder of befriending vanity, and allowing her to influence my life when she did not enrich it in any way. The tanning bed damage ruined several areas of my perfect skin, the name brand crap that I bought was both useless and a complete waste of money, and the things that were important to her are shallow and vapid, which I allowed to influence me for a short while back in the day.  I've moved on. Lesson learned.

So, as I notice all these "flaws" in my reflection, I realize two things:  (1) how quickly my mind goes to that place of discouragement and negativity upon the discovery of such minor blemishes, thanks to our awesome culture of nurturing low self esteems and chasing the illusion of perfection. Once I acknowledged that, I let it go. So naturally, I realized (2) I am so blessed.  I had beautiful skin my whole life, and any imperfections I find now either serve as little memories of the past (like the itty bitty scar above my lip where my kitten accidentally scratched me while playing) or are completely fixable if I really wanted to go to those lengths.  In other words, my so-called imperfections are so minor, and for that, I feel so blessed.  It could be so much worse... And the cherry on top is being with someone who cares about me regardless of how my appearance might change over time.

So, today, I'm grateful for an imperfect complexion, to remind me that vanity is reserved for those with much deeper emotional issues, and to remind me that I am blessed in so many ways.  Our "flaws" really are what make us perfect!

How To Stop or Cancel iOS 6 From Downloading - APPLE SUCKS!

Apple has successfully made an Android customer out of me & pretty much every iPhone user I know today.  I already hated Apple's shady, corrupted way of business, but they were tolerable, and I liked my iPhone.  I've actually always hated the "phone" part of it, but loved the rest for the most part.  I've also always hated iTunes.  Everything about Apple's level of control over their users is a massive turn off, and is not something I will tolerate for long.  Today, Apple crossed the line for good.

With the recent release of the unbelievably crappy iOS 6 came A LOT of complaints.  The chief complaint was the loss of the Google Maps and YouTube apps.  Apple is so pathetic with their little vendetta against Google (since they can't come close to competing with them) that they decided their users shouldn't be allowed to enjoy Google apps either, and took the liberty of not only removing those apps from people's devices with iOS 6, but replaced Google Maps with Apple's own maps program that is the biggest, most epic failure of any major software release in the history of major corporation releases as far as I'm concerned.  It's literally as if they didn't have time to finish it (not even close), and decided to push it out there anyway.  It's almost like an April Fool's joke... 'cept it's September.  And it's not a joke.

Apple seriously thinks it's acceptable & justifiable to replace an awesome, 8 year old, extremely robust, one-of-a-kind maps application with their horrible, unfinished, joke of an app that mislabels cities & towns by a shocking number of miles, is missing key features such as Street View and transit directions, displaying the wrong location of a Sydney, Australia Apple Store (LOL), marking an entire city as a hospital, misclassifying a nursery as an airport, and pointing the next gas station to be as far as 76 miles away.  3D views are completely distorted, the Brooklyn Bridge appears to be collapsed, some satellite views are completely covered by clouds... the list goes on & on & on.  It's so bad, in fact, that Apple's CEO issued a public apology... yet they still won't give people back the best, working app on the market... Google Maps.  And for that reason, I say audios, Apple.  I'll never support them again.

In addition, Apple disallows users from downgrading their firmware.  Why?  Why would they do this unless it was yet another attempt to control their users?  I can't fathom the moronic logic behind this.  I think Apple is starting to circle the drain, and I'm glad to see them go.  Keep failing, Apple.  Keep trying to compete with Google by being even more controlling than ever, and taking more great features away from your users.  Idiots.

SO... with all of that said, I'll finally get to the point of this post... how to stop or cancel an unwanted or accidental iOS 6 download.  In my case, I realized right after tapping the "download & install" button on my iPhone, that it was possible that the loss of Google Maps & YouTube was within the iOS 6 upgrade (originally, I thought it was just if you bought the iPhone 5).  I pretty much freaked out, since I use Google Maps a lot, and frantically searched for a way to cancel it.  I was (and still am) utterly shocked at the fact that there is NO help to be found if this happens to you.  I couldn't believe it.  I eventually read that someone disabled their WiFi to at least pause the download and prevent the installation from happening, so I did that.

So, for days, my WiFi was disabled, which means I was eating up A LOT of my data plan.  Thanks a lot, Apple.  Yet another reason to loathe you.  I kept searching for answers & found nothing.  I finally found out why... I posted about it on Apple's forums, looking for help, and of course threw a few good digs at Apple for their epic fail & disastrous iOS 6 release, and sure enough, they deleted it.  Can't handle a little public criticism?  Fine... I'll blog about it, then.

ANYWAY... my hatred for Apple keeps causing me to rabbit trail off the subject :)  So, I finally figured out my own solution.  I remembered that the download needed a certain amount of space.  So, while hoping & praying that upon choosing to download iOS 6, the device didn't automatically reserve the space it needed, I started recording video with my camera.  2.5 hours worth of video to be exact... in an attempt to fill up every last bit of available space on my phone.

It finally finished, so I enabled WiFi again, and immediately checked the iOS 6 download screen.  Woohoo! The error had changed from "it requires WiFi in order to download" to "it requires x amount of space to download."  It was still paused

I figured, "Well, at least I have my WiFi back, but now I can't even download an app or take a picture."  So this solution wasn't all that great either... I continued searching for help.

About a half an hour later, I went back to check the iOS 6 download screen, and received a popup message stating that it requires "x" amount of space in order to download & that I need to make some space.  When I hit "close "or whatever to close the message, the download had reset!  It apparently timed out, cancelled the download all together, and the "Download & Install" button was back. HALLELUJAH!

So, to recap, here's what I did to cancel, stop or prevent iOS 6 from downloading:

1. Disable WiFi to initially pause the download. (Settings > WiFi > toggle switch to OFF)
2. Take as much video as necessary in order to take up every last bit of available space on your phone. (Just hit record & put the phone down... I suggest keeping it on the charger, since mine took 2.5 hours).  
3. Once you've eaten up every last bit of space, go to Settings > WiFi > and toggle the switch to ON to enable WiFi again. 
4. Take a look at your iOS 6 download screen (Settings > General > Software Update).  It should say "paused" and at the bottom, it should say something about being unable to download because it requires "x" amount of space.  
5. Wait a while... I waited 30 minutes.  Go back into the iOS 6 download screen, and you should get a pop up this time, telling you there's not enough space.  When you close the message, your download should be cancelled, and you should have the Download & Install button back!
6. Celebrate!

I really hope this helps someone with this incredibly frustrating problem.  And since I posted this all over the forums, there's a chance Apple will catch wind of this, and since they can't handle not controlling their users, they'll probably prevent this fix from working in the future.  I heard that another solution might be to disable the WiFi in your home (keep WiFi enabled on your phone), and it will time out the same way that mine did.  You just have to wait a while.  

Thanks a lot, Apple, for making this such a horrid, time consuming & frustrating process.  I hope you crash & burn & Google stomps on the ashes.  

FreeCreditReport.com is Shady

Like so many people nowadays, I know my credit is in the dirt.  I was curious, though, to see just how deep it might be... Are we talking troposphere-level credit? Or inner core (where some people believe hell exists)?  All this time, I just knew it was "not awesome," but how not awesome?  So I decided to check it out at FreeCreditReport.com.  With that catchy jingle, how could I go anywhere else?  And, for the record, I'm referring to the original jingle(s).  I want original guy back!  I don't like their commercials since they lost them... And don't give me that crap about them not even being a real band, or singers, etc... so what?  It was a massively successful marketing campaign, and every kid across the country knew every lyric to every commercial.  That is genius marketing.

Anyway, I'm rabbit trailing.  Back to the point.  So, when you're signing up for FreeCreditReport.com, they ask you if you'd like to become a member.  There's a free trial, but if you fail to cancel it, you'll be charged a whopping $17/month, probably for eternity, or until you cancel.  So, I passed, and opted for the temporary, "basic" credit report.

Semi-Shadiness #1
What makes it laughable is that if you sign up for the free trial membership, you can see your credit report right away, as opposed to having to wait three days if you don't.  This indicates to me that they have the ability to provide it to you right away, but choose not to if you don't sign up for their free trial.  Shady!  But only semi-shady, because I understand using this as a selling point.  People, especially Americans, are highly impulsive creatures.  I can't imagine how many people can't survive 3 whole days to see how bad their credit is, so whatev... I consider this bad form, but nothing too offensive.  More like intentionally inconveniencing customers when you don't have to.

FreeCreditReport.com's Notification Email

So, I wait a few days, and finally get an email from FreeCreditReport.com letting me know I can view my credit score now.  Woo!  I click the giant, unmissable blue button, and am taken to a login page.

Uhhh.... but I opted not to sign up.... ergo, I have no login.  So, now what?

I scour the page for a (likely) tiny, nearly unreadable link that indicates non-members can view the reports by clicking it.. which, by the way, I would also consider shady... IF they had even had one!  There was no such thing on this page.  Only a login, or an option to sign up as a member.

I thought about it for a while, and figured, "I guess I have to call customer service."  Their number is conveniently located on the upper right hand side of the page.

Extreme Shadiness #2
I get on the phone with a Free Credit Report agent, and explained my situation.  I had a feeling going into this that they receive this question more than any other.  Sure enough, she pulled up my account, and proceeded to advise me that they can provide me with a temporary login to view my credit report.

Nowhere, and I mean nowhere was there any indication or instruction that calling customer service for a temporary login was a necessary step in all this.  So, what they are hoping is that people who are utterly lost (which is going to be about 99% of their users) are tricked into signing up for membership, because they think that's the only way they can view their report.

On any other website, when you're presented with a login page, you know that you have to register if you haven't already.  This website capitalizes on that.... how incredibly shady!

Shame on you, FreeCreditReport.com.  I have zero respect for this type of practice.  How do you sleep at night?  Tricking poor, unsuspecting customers into getting a more detailed credit report.... hoping they'll forget to cancel their free trial so you can get at least one $17 charge in there... shady, shady, shady.

I'm glad I figured it out, and just as I suspected, although I have 100% credit and 0% debt, no credit cards, or loans in my name, and am considered extremely low risk in every other area, unfortunately, my credit score is still in the dirt (as it should be... I'm not saying I deserve a great score).  Luckily, it's about toposphere level, which I can recover from as soon as I get things straightened out, but I'd much rather have Ionosphere-level credit.  Soon enough.... Definitely soon enough :)

8 Reasons NOT to Order Cheap, Boxed & Shipped Roses for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is the single busiest day of the year for florists.  There are a lot of competitive ads out there, some who are advertising ridiculously low rose prices... and the majority of those companies are boxing and shipping their roses, saying ridiculous things like, "fresh from the fields" as if that's any different from what local florists get.  Although there are many reasons never to order from companies like ProFlowers, here are a few to consider... 

1. Who wants to be handed a brown box on Valentine’s Day? Let’s face it… Valentine’s Day is the biggest “show off” holiday of the year. It’s a competition… You have to look like the best, and she has to look like she’s with the best. So what do you think looks better? A guy in brown shorts handing her a box? Or someone balancing roses, a teddy bear, a balloon, and a box of chocolates while your girl signs for your giant declaration of love? Trust me on this one, guys… it’s all about the presentation.
2. Who wants to assemble their own gift? Yep, that’s right… those cheap roses you see that come in a box aren’t assembled. It’s a nightmare to take everything apart because it’s all strapped in with those thick, plastic zip ties. Then, she gets the pleasure of putting water in the vase, and plopping a bunch of flowers in it. Professionally designed roses are far more attractive.
3. You're getting what you’re paying for. Order those cheap, boxed, shipped roses, and your Valentine will be staring at a poorly designed bunch of short stem, cheap looking roses. Florists offer medium, and long stemmed roses, and they are of a much higher quality. They last longer, they haven’t been suffocating in a box on a hot delivery truck for 24 hours, and they bloom much more nicely.
4. Compared to florist-delivered roses, well… they just can’t compare. Picture your significant other at her workplace, surrounded by everyone else’s Valentine’s Day gifts. Those who had roses delivered from a florist are enjoying nice, big vases just brimming with long stem, magnificent roses, while those who received boxed & shipped roses are staring at short, stout vases with very short-stemmed roses poking out from the top. When you compare them side-by-side, there is a huge difference.
5. Roses from a florist tend to last longer. Valentine’s Day is on a Monday this year. This means most roses are being delivered to the work place. This also means the office will be full of roses all week long. Do you really want your girl’s to be the first to wilt? That’s exactly what could happen if you order cheap roses.
6. Valentine's Day is NOT the time to be testing out a new method of sending roses. If you want to check out the “cheap flowers” companies, go for it… just NOT on Valentine’s Day. You have one day to get this right, gentlemen. Go for quality.
7. Their insanely high rate of complaints says it all. Seriously… these companies have a reputation of making two deliveries for every one order. They receive so many complaints that they ship a replacement bouquet with pretty much no questions asked. You could call them up and say “My girlfriend didn’t li…” and your replacement order will already be processed. This is a major red flag.
8. They're BOXED AND SHIPPED! ‘nuff said.

Support your local florist this Valentine’s Day, and for every occasion. You can use your local florist to have flowers, gifts, gourmet baskets, fruit baskets, and so much more delivered all over the country… all over the world, for that matter. When you call a national florist, you are literally paying at least $15 more just to have them hit a button, and … guess what? Send the order right to your local florist. They charge a fee for pressing that button, and you end up getting far less value. Spend that extra $15 with a local flower shop, and it will make a world of difference in the bouquet or gift. Check out www.LocalFlowerShop.com this Valentine’s Day if you don’t know what florist to use.

And most importantly, ORDER EARLY! You can never order early enough for Valentine’s Day. Those that call on February 13th are either going to be told there is no more availability, or their flowers will end up being delivered at 6:00 in the afternoon on Valentine’s Day. Who wants that? Order now to beat the rush, ensure priority treatment, and most importantly, to make sure you don’t forget!

REAL Fix for the Obnoxious Beep When Plugging In & Unplugging Gateway Computer

Let me just start off by saying that whoever decided it would be a good idea to create a shrieking, piercing, god awful beep every time you plug in & unplug your Gateway computer should be taken out back and... fired.  In any case, everywhere you look online, the only advice you'll likely see is to turn off your sound in one way or another (speakers, windows sounds, etc.).  This was in no way acceptable to me, and neither is the fact that Gateway doesn't offer an option somewhere for you to turn the godforsaken thing off.

So, I decided to try rolling back my audio driver, and it worked!  Here's how...

1. Go to your Device Manager (I do it by clicking Start, and typing "Device Manager" in the search box and hitting enter... it should bring it right up for you).  
2. Look for Sound, Video and Game Controllers, and click on the little arrow to the left of it.  
3. There, you should see something along the lines of Realtek Audio Device.  Right click on that, and go to Properties.  
4. At the top, you'll see 3 tabs: General, Driver and Details.  Click the Driver tab, and look for the button that says, "Roll Back Driver."  Click it. 
5. You'll get a little warning message about doing this (basically just saying that certain features may not work properly if you do this, but this is a "canned" error message and it really does not apply here, so click Yes or OK).  
6. Close the screen you're in, and close the Device Manager
7. Now, unplug your computer, and you shouldn't hear a thing!  
8. CELEBRATE!  

If this does not work for you, it is possible that you need to update your driver instead of rolling it back.  You can obtain the drivers from Gateway's site, but you'll need to locate the right one for your pc model.  If you have an NV73A like I do (NV73A17u), then click here.  If you have an NV59 model, click here.  If you have a different model, you can click on either one of those links, and on the right hand side of the page, you'll see "Find Downloads" with a search box underneath it.  I simply typed in my model number (NV73A or NV59 - it'll usually be the 1st 4 digits of your full model number) and followed that up with "Realtek Audio" (so the full search term was NV73A Realtek Audio).  Click the "Go" button, and you should be taken right to a results page for your audio driver.  Click on it, then click the link to download it, and follow their provided instructions on what to do from there.

I really hope people find this helpful, because it was extremely frustrating to me, and even Gateway was too retarded to fix it or even really have a clue what I was talking about.  By the way, their Live Chat is by far the worst internet customer service I have ever seen.  I'll save that for a different post :)

If you have any trouble or questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment below and I'll help you if I can!

Don't Hate! Congratulate!

I find it so interesting that the majority of things we can't stand about other people really turn out to be things we can't stand about ourselves.  Most of the time, that's the case, but sometimes, it's also just a simple insecurity.  For example, someone who becomes extremely annoyed with know-it-alls is either a know-it-all themselves, or they feel intellectually inferior.  9.9 times out of 10, it is one or the other.

Another great example is homophobia.  How many times do we find out that public figures (like politicians) or pastors, priests, etc. who adamantly advocate against homosexuality end up coming out of the closet, or being caught rainbow (or red) handed in some big gay fun?  To further back that up, there was this great study performed back in 1996 to further support the theory that a high majority of die hard homophobes actually turn out to be gay themselves.  They showed three different videos to a control group of heterosexual men, as well as a group of self declared homophobic men (there was also a scientific scale by which their homophobia was measured).  Each participant was shown three different sexually explicit videos... heterosexual, male homosexual, and lesbian... and without getting into too much detail, let's just say the right "reactions" were measured.  Without question, the results suggested that homophobia is directly linked with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either completely unaware of, or (in so many cases) completely denies.  So, I suggest you homophobes think next time you feel like doing some gay bashing... some of us are "in the know!" lol...

Anyway, I can't tell you how many times I have witnessed someone become SO frustrated with someone else's habit or personality trait that they possess themselves!  I've seen people totally fed up with others who are "dense" when that is exactly how I would describe them myself.  Or a person that is ready to strangle a perfectionist when they are a perfectionist themselves.  When you begin paying attention to things like this, it becomes really fascinating!  You can almost always tell what it is someone hates about themselves when they go off on a tangent about someone else's personality.