Post 36: The Secret to Using Netflix

It must seem like all I do is watch TV shows. But, I don't. I do lots of things; like reading, writing/blogging, going to class, studying, class at the Rec center, staring off into space, hanging with friends, etc.

But, I have a skill that can be unique at times. I can multitask. 

Sometimes I watch while working on stories, blogging, or when hanging out with friends. I have watched certain shows while studying, but it tends to depend on the class. Definitely not Latin. 

Anyway, this blog post will be about the key to using Netflix with as little frustration as possible. 

The key point is: Do not have a movie picked out already. 

TV shows tend to be more flexible and most of the people I know who use Netflix saw the show and then went to watch it. But you should not go on Netflix expecting a movie will be there. 

Why? There is a video someone made as a "relate-able vlog" where they were looking through Netflix and he phrases it well-enough that I will quote him now: "Netflix has like every movie...except the one I am looking for."

And that is often how it feels. They even take movies down on Netflix (at least the Canadian one) to replace them with new movies. So, even going back expecting a movie that was there to still be there isn't a guarantee. And it is particularly frustrating when you really want to watch a particular movie. 

Anyway, the best strategy for using Netlix is to decide on a genre and then see what movies are available. 

Though, I would avoid the comedy genre. Not because the movies in that section are bad, but because 'Comedy' tends to be really loose in definition. It is the same on iTunes, Netlfix and the Pay-Per-View section on cable. Comedy tends to be any and all movies that have any jokes in them, funny or not. 

Horror tends to be the same. Movies with blood, gore, violence, or any form of supernatural creature tends to end up in that section. For example: Vampires Suck. A comedic parody of a drama about a vampires and werewolves. It is pretty far from actually being horror. 

You can also find a movie that you like (even when not available), and see what movies are related to it. Which can be a good way to find new movies you hadn't heard of before.

A Life Less Ordinary with Ewan McGregor and Cameron Diaz was a recommended one from Down with Love. Which was good, but also really weird. For a number of reasons. But it had some good actors and actresses in it. Like Holly Hunter and Christopher Gorham (Ah! Auggie from Covert Affairs.)

Post 35: iTunes and Free Stuff

I know that I have talked about iTunes before on here, but Apple and iTunes are kind of a big part of my life. I have an iPhone, so it is kind of unavoidable.

But this post will be talking only about one wonderful section of iTunes, the Free Episodes section. Sometimes when new TV shows start up, or even are returning for another season, iTunes will make the Pilot episode free. Which is a great service.

I don't have a TV in my dorm room, and when I am home I have a TiVo so I don't see a lot of the trailers for new shows. This is even better. Below I will list the full-length TV episodes that iTunes had available for free.

It is nice because I can get an idea of whether or not I like the show. And if I like it, I can ascertain whether it is worth buying the season or recording, or just something to watch if nothing appears to be on. Sometimes the season goes on sale as well. I got the first season of Beauty and the Beast for $8. Which is like the cost of 3 episodes now.

Haven't Watched Yet

• Pretty Little Liars (No interest in.)
• Merlin 
• The Blacklist
• The Killing (Not Pilot, 2 episodes)
• Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (Watching as I type this actually, so far I like it. Alice has pretty awesome fighting skills. Cheshire is pretty scary. The Knave is cute. I am kind of hoping she will get pants at some point. I mean, the Knave has a leather jacket, so why can't she ditch the corset and wear pants? Also, I think he kind of fancies her. Spoiler Alert: It is like a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Aladdin. The genie, the magic carpet and Jafar all got pulled out of Agrabah.)
• The Michael J. Fox Show
• Reign
• Supernatural
• Welcome to the Family
• Masterpiece
• Do No Harm
• Ravenswood
• Orphan Black

Watched and Didn't Really Like

• The Mentalist
• Tron (Animated series, first episode was free for a long while.)
• Beauty and the Beast 
• Sanctuary (Not Pilot, I don't know what happened to this episode. Some of the episodes that I got when they were free seem to have disappeared. So, maybe iTunes rescinded them when I didn't buy any more from the season. 
• Saving Hope (Also missing, not upset about either though. I didn't like them. But suddenly wondering what else went missing.)

Watched and Liked

• White Collar
• Grimm
• Witches of East End (Probationary period, hasn't sold me on series yet.)
• Sleepy Hollow (Probationary period, hasn't sold me on series yet. Suspect it will turn out like Beauty and the Beast and I will not like main female character long. )
• Elementary
• Covert Affairs
• Suits
• Beauty and the Beast  (This is on two lists because it had promise, a strong female character and good supporting characters but ruined it when they made the female character act like a mindless, pathetic human being with little to no concept of what it means to be a good friend or person.)

Watched and Liked But Wouldn't Pay For

• The Client List
• Hot in Cleveland (Not Pilot)
• Rizzoli & Isles
• Go On
• Warehouse 13
• Wolf Blood ( I would consider paying for it, if it was cheaper, it is only slightly above what people can and have done on Youtube and other sites for free so I am not too keen on paying for it. And by slightly above I mean, the only thing making it better is that they have enough CG to have wolves - werewolf/wolf blood equivalent. (Fake looking ones, at that.)

UPDATE: Oct. 23rd, 2013

I have gone back and added some. But I also wanted to point out that you should not go on iTunes and expect to find lots of free episodes. There are times of year that have more. But, also, at most I have only found 4 in a week - at least, actual full-length episodes of the none-reality TV show variety.

Also, it is worth noting that I have gone back four or five weeks later and it is still the same episodes. BUT! I have also gone back later that day and found the episode gone. So, if you see one you like buy it! It is free and will sit in purchased, even if you don't download it. So, don't expect a show you like to still be there when you come back but don't expect the show to change every week either.

Also, depending on what country you are in there may be less. I have found my American iTunes account often has more than my Canadian.

Also, it is kind of like a treasure hunt. There are a lot of "full-length episodes" in the section that are not actually full-length episodes.

Revenge and Once Upon a Time have episodes in that section, but what they actually are is an hour long video that summarizes everything that has happened in the series.

There also tends to be a lot of behind-the-scenes, Sneak Peeks, Meet the Cast, bloopers and things like that in the section.

Post 34: Trolls and Online Arguments

Anyone who has used a social networking site has most likely come across a troll at one time or another. I don't mean a cave-dwelling or big, ugly green guy from Harry Potter. I mean, someone who deliberately posts something dumb, offensive or argumentative in hopes of starting an argument.

I use quite a few social networking sites, but I think trolls are most easily found on Youtube. Go to any song's music video and scroll down to the comments. There is a 90% chance that someone has posted a comment about how much they hate the song or the artist.

Why? Because they want people to respond. They usually do, with "Well then you don't have to watch the video", "No, you suck", or what used to come up a lot was "you have no life if, if all you do is post on videos you don't like". Then the troll responds with some negative comment and an argument ensues. Usually, other people who look to the comments join in as well in defense of the fellow supporter.

However, they can be found on any site.

A lot of the ones that come up on Facebook, or sites that post "funny" (using the term loosely) pictures and videos. People make comments that are not always...respectable.

Two things that come up the most often are the "women belong in the kitchen where they make sandwiches for men" and "that is bad, feminine, sensitive, emotional, or dumb so therefore anyone in it and whoever made it is gay'. Another common one is the, "all men are horrible, they are selfish and they are jerks'. Of course, they aren't phrased like that. Except the last one, sometimes is.

I find it silly. And dumb.

The first one, about women belonging in the kitchen, these girls throw huge hissy fits about it, but you know what? If you find it so upsetting, here is what you should do. GET OFF FACEBOOK AND STUDY. Then go to school, excel and work hard. Become their boss or the doctor that one day will save their life. Arguing online will do nothing but waste your time.

Not to mention, most of the guys saying that don't actually believe that. They're only saying it to get a reaction.

To the second, well...I don't want to be the P.C. police (politically correct). It is derogatory to use gay as synonymous with bad, dumb, or effeminate. And I don't get how a man deciding he wants to wear pink makes him gay. I also think that comparing what counts as being attractive from two different cultures as if they were the same as being foolish. However, a lot of people have very strong views on the matter and will really fight back.

But, it is so frustrating for me. Because so many of the people who get upset have used 'gay' the same way. It is like Twilight, four years ago everyone was saying it was cool. I have two friends who had Twilight posters and wanted to marry the characters, but now they are all "Twilight is so lame. It is so bad. Twilight sucks."

So, it is like they aren't criticizing them for using gay too mean lame because it is offensive, they are criticizing them for using now that it is no longer acceptable.

The third just comes across as girls who were jaded by one guy and have decided that all men are exactly the same. The arguments in the comments is usually two-sided. Girls and guys on one sided, jaded girls on the other. It is just silly. And pointless.

Post 33: Cafeteria Food Pt. 1

So, this post was just supposed to be about school cafeteria food in general. But this will just be a rant about my cafeteria experience today. Will rant about cafeteria food in general some other time.

So, it started off fine (as far as I knew). The cafeteria has a pizza section, specials section and a grill. (Plus a kitchen, where you can make food but it seems more practical for multiple people not just one.) Anyway, the pizza choices are pretty limited, and aren't great. And the specials are usually bland. So, I go to the grill.

Or just get soup and salad.

The grill has quite a few options, but since there is rarely anyone manning the grill the only options are what have been sitting on the heater. Usually the cheeseburger and chicken burger. I avoid the cheeseburger, always. I tried it a couple times and both times ended up with a big piece of cartilage or bone. It was so gross. If there is someone there, I can get a grilled cheese or grilled chicken sandwich.

Today was a hectic day and I felt more like a chicken burger than anything else.

It worked out well, there wasn't any on the heater but there was actually someone at the grill! (At least physically.)

She was busy having a conversation with her friend, and it took awhile for her to acknowledge I was there. Then, when I ordered a "chicken burger", she got out a piece of grilled chicken and threw it in the corner of the grill. I was going to say something, but figured it was probably healthier anyway.

Then she went back to talking to her friend, and making her friend a cheeseburger. This wouldn't bug me so much if it wasn't for the fact that there were six cheeseburgers sitting on the heater. In fact, the only thing there was, was cheeseburgers. The last time I actually saw someone at the grill they were arguing with someone because they wanted something that was already under the heater.

But, anyway, that wasn't even the most annoying part. About three minutes later, two guys came over and ordered chicken as well. She put their's on, poured water over them (which seemed weird, but that isn't the point) and like a minute later she starts taking them all off the grill. It wasn't like they actually had to be cooked they were all precooked, they just needed to be heated up (which it actually wasn't, it was just barely warm so their food was probably cold still).

I was kind of annoyed, because it seemed pretty clear that the only reason she made me wait was she was busy talking to her friend. And the only reason I got it as soon as I did was that someone else asked for the same thing (if I had actually ordered it).

And then when she gave it to me, she just gave me the chicken. No bun or bread. I had to ask for a bun. It seems like it should have been kind of obvious that a chicken burger, would come with a bread of some kind.

Anyway, that isn't even the worse part. The worst part is that after I get my sandwich, and some steamed veggies (which were overcooked) I went to get a drink. It is always a nightmare finding a cup, because they aren't restocked often. Anyway, I set the plate down to get one. When I picked up again, I grabbed it by the other side and discovered that there was a gross brown substance smeared along the bottom of the other side of the plate. It looked and felt kind of like hummus, except that there was like no hummus around. So, I don't know if they didn't wash it, or if someone got it dirty then put it back or maybe someone go it dirty and left it somewhere and someone put it back thinking it was clean.

Whatever it was, it was so gross. I got as much of as I could with napkins, and ate all my food with a fork. When I was done, I practically ran to the nearest bathroom to wash my hands.

I seriously considered just dumping all the food on my plate and getting a salad, but when I got salad for lunch today some of the lettuce looked kind of rotten.

All in all, I think the university needs to work on its food quality AND its customer service quality.

Post 32: NaNoWriMo and NaPoWriMo

Next month is NaNoWriMo! Which stands for, National Novel Writing Month.

(April is NaPoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month.)

The idea behind NaNoWriMo is to have a novel written by the end of the month. But it isn't just a month. It is a site with lots and an activity with lots of participants. The site provides the lots of support, in forums, as well as in pep talks from real writers and meeting places where you can get together with other participants.

It keeps track of how many words you've written AND there is a recently added feature that helps you find a sponsor. Someone to send money for ramen, candy or whatever else you may need to complete your goal.

The catch is that it isn't just write a novel. It is more specifically asking for participants to write 50,000 words. So, if you have a 49,999 word novel you better add 'The End" if you want credit for finishing. But, it also means as soon as you reach 50,000 words you have technically one. Even if you are only half way through the plot.

Anyway! It is a pretty cool thing. I have tried participating two years in a row- but only used the site in 2011. But have not made it past the 5,000 word mark. It gets hard. The estimate of the site is that you should try and write between 1,600 and 1,700 words a day. Which doesn't seem like much at first, but it starts to get harder. And if you miss a day, suddenly you're needing to write like 4,000 words. If you miss two days, that is over 5,000 words in a day!

It adds up, and if you have classes or tests or a social life it can start to be intimidating.

But it is a lot of fun. And this year, I will be participating again.

This time, I hope to get much further than last year. And the plan, though it may not go as such, is to finish this year.

What has been hard for me as well in the past is one of the main ideas behind it, which is to just knock it out. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my stories so before I move on I want to go back over what I've done. I don't want to leave giant plot holes in the idea I will come back later to fix. I don't want to go back to add more character development or back story once it is done. I want it to be good before I move on.

But this time, I am going to try my best to accept it won't be perfect, and it is better to finish and go back then go back and obsess and end up drowning in work and giving up.

NaPoWriMo is much easier. At least, for me Basically, in April, you set up a blog or website and everyday for thirty days you write a poem and post it. I find poem writing pretty easy, so it shouldn't be so hard.

The hardest thing about both for me will probably be the EVERY DAY. You can't miss a day in April, and NaNoWriMo if you miss a day it can be really stressful.

Anywho, that's all for today. I will include the links for NaNo and NaPo WriMo below.

NaPoWriMo.net

My name NaPoWriMo for next April: SamsNaPoWriMo.blogspot.com
(It is private at the moment, because there won't be anything on it for awhile anyway.)

NaNoWriMo.org

My NaNoWriMo is NaNoWriMo.org/participants/SamanthieR
(I don't think you can actually read it. But I think once I update it, it starts showing a word count.)

Post 31: Update and Purse Size

I tried, for a brief while, trying to post daily. Then, when I lost wi-fi, I tried to write daily. It isn't easy. With no wi-fi last month, mid-terms this month and NaNoWriMo next month, I think it will be near impossible to get the blog fully up-to-date. And some of the ones I did, in an attempt to keep it daily were pretty bad. Some were only five or six sentences and made very little sense.

So, for the sake of the blog and my sanity, no longer will I do daily blogging. 

But, I will continue blogging when ever I get the opportunity and inspiration hits me. 

Today, I want to talk about purse size a little bit. It sounds kind of silly, but I find it interesting. 

My purse is kind of black-hole like, in my opinion. I can fit textbooks, notebooks and so much in my purse at the same time it amazes me. I have not used a back pack in years. I think I stopped in junior year of high school. I carry pens in my purse, a notebook and if need be I carry anything that doesn't fit. I like that I only carry my purse. If I had the choice, I wouldn't even bring my purse. I carry my phone in my pocket, wallet in my pocket and anything else that will fit there as well. 

But, that isn't what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk about the general idea I, and others, seem to have about purse size. Meaning, the bigger the purse the more ends up in it. I had a small purse for a while, it had my phone and wallet. I got a bigger purse, I put in a notebook. 

My purse now has a mini duck tape, a notebook, a journal, my wallet, my cell phone, two lockets, a small pair of scissors, a wireless mouse, a cord for my iPad, a pair of headphones, a little thing of lip gloss, a little thing of body butter (mango scented), four pens, three pencils and a bottle of water. 

But I don't actually need any of it. I mean, I go places all the time with just a waded up thing of cash in one pocket and my phone in the other. 

But, I have the space in my purse, so I feel like I should fill it or it will be a waste. 

Or maybe, sub-consciously I fear that it will float a way and I will never see it again unless I weigh it down. 

Anyway, I just find it weird. The bigger the purse, the more stuff in it. 

Tomorrow, or even later today, I want to try to get another post done about NaNoWriMo and NaPoWriMo, since there are people who have never heard of either of these and I think more people should know. 

Post 30: Coffee or Tea

Since the last post was about two different beverages, I figured I could use that and make this one about them as well. Specifically, tea versus coffee.

I love tea. Especially Chai tea; white chai, spice chai, double spice chai, chai, green tea chai, etc. I also love Orange Pekoe and English breakfast. As far as Starbucks goes, I like their Chai Tea Lattes.

I love coffee, as well. But, it makes my stomach sick if I drink too much. Even a Venti tends lead to grumbling. If I'm at Starbucks and not thinking about tea, I get a Pumpkin Spice Latte ('tis the season, right? Well, almost.)

The thing I dislike about tea is that if it isn't made right, it just taste bland and watered down.

Like, even the best tea can be ruined if the tea bag to water ratio is off. And it doesn't always help to let the tea steep longer. Sometimes, you just end up with cold and bland tea.

But coffee almost always has a huge kick of flavour, not always seen as a pleasant flavour, but flavour nonetheless.

I will be quite sad when Pumpkin season becomes Candy Cane or Egg Nog season. (Whatever the winter will bring.) Because it will mean back to chai lattes. And I like Chai Lattes when they are done right. But since not every place you go does them right, there are times when you end up feeling like you spent $6 on chai flavoured water.

But, I am a bit of a Starbucks Snob (as my friends and classmates have called it) so I can't complain too much about pricing. There are cheaper places out there.

That is all for today. All this coffee and tea talk has made me thirsty!

Post 29: Coke vs. Pepsi

For those who have ever asked for Coke or Diet Coke in a restaurant, you have probably been asked at one time or another if Pepsi was an okay substitute. There are people who get overly annoyed by this, they joke on the internet as being so angry that they want to respond with, "sure, is monopoly money okay?"

Which is silly, I think, because a good percentage of people can't tell the difference anyway. Not to mention, it isn't like they are being asked to pay more for something worse less. Pepsi and Coke would be the same price.

I think there is a flavour difference, though.

Pepsi is sweeter and tends to have a fruitier flavour. While, Coke has a more distinct cola flavour, and I think it has  a stronger chemical taste to begin with, while Pepsi has more of a chemical after-taste. Also, I've discovered, if you let them both sit for a long period of time Pepsi's flavour stays the same or gets stronger, Coke loses flavour as time passes.

Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi both taste like a duller version of the originally, though I find that Diet Pepsi seems less chemically.

I prefer Pepsi based on flavour, I also like the bubbliness. However, on the basis of nostalgia and availability I usually drink Coke.

So, generally, when at a restaurant I prefer when they have Pepsi.

Anyway, this is kind of a shorter post, but which do you prefer?

Can you taste the difference?

Post 28: What People Will Pay For

There are so many ways this title could imply things that would get me in trouble, and I have no intention of going there.

What I want to talk about in this post is art, characters, ideas and stories. There are many people online who are willing to pay money for these things.

Art has always made sense, but it isn't just pre-made pictures people pay for. People will pay for someone to draw there characters. Not just people, me. Not real money, though. I pay with virtual money earned through a gaming website, because I lack the drawing ability necessary to do my characters justice, and I love seeing them brought to life.

Two of my characters that I got art for were supposed to just be minor, fanfiction characters without really having a future as more than that. However, when I saw them they just had so much personality they practically took a life of their own. I have do have a bit of a thing for pirates, but I also have other supernaturals and everyday normal young adults dreaming of conquering the world in their own way. It started off as a fanfiction, Captain Jack Sparrow's daughters. And it became a coming-of-age story about a mother and daughter pirate who sail for different motives, and a daughter who wants to achieve her dreams on her own.

I have been paid to write stories for people. Some people can draw, some can write. Those can draw ask others to write for them.

But there are other things that people struggle with, like coming up with a story idea. I am considering opening a store on the website I use for stories and where I buy art, to sell story plots.

So, what I am thinking is having a survey about general things they want included and genre, and then sending them back some ideas they can use for a story.

I probably won't be paid much for it. Art sells for more than anything else, so I could probably only charge like 500 gold per plot. Which translates to only about a nickel.

But it wouldn't be a bad use of my ability to have story ideas.

Should I do it?

Do you sell art, stories, characters or ideas?

Post 27: Inspiration and Ideas

Writing is something I love to do, and I have started over 40 stories and I have the idea and general back story for another 20. I have had friends who asked where I get my ideas from. So, that is what this post will be about.

Well, it is hard to explain. For the most part, they just come to me - I think of a character, I see a picture, I have a dream, I watch a movie and think things should have been done differently next thing you know I have a totally different plot. 

When I am feeling really inspired it is more like someone is telling me the story and I am typing it, rather than creating it. It is like I'm hearing the story for the first time, the twists and turns can even surprise me. 

These types of stories are mainly possible when I just sit down and start writing, the more I have planned out before I start the less smoothly it flows. 

Though, while it may be more difficult when it isn't planned out when it gets later into the chapters, the biggest challenge with not planning is the potential to go off on tangents that are hard to come back from. 

Inspiration can really be found anymore. One of the story ideas I recently came up with is about a mermaid, who hates humans. She sees them as killers and doesn't want anything to do with them, especially after her little sister was caught in a fisherman's line and killed. Until one day, a child from a ship wreck falls into the water. She happens to come across it, if it was even four feet in a different direction she may not have even noticed. She rescues the baby girl and takes it to the surface of the water. But when she gets there and sees it, the child reminds her of her sister and she cannot bear to hand the child over to the human barbarians. So, she leaves the water and goes on land. In this, my version of mermaids, when the air touches her tail they start to split apart, until she has two legs covered in a scale-like pattern of purple and blue. She covers her legs and raises the child as her little sister on land. All goes well until she meets a pirate, the pirate claims to know the little girl's family and says that he can take her and the little girl to them. 

This is all I have for the story idea so far, but it is entirely inspired by my just playing around with Create-A-Sims with the new Sims 3 Island expansion. That is all it took and the story just started to unfold in my head. 

Now, as time has passed I have discovered that I have a tendency to give my characters darker histories. Perhaps because it makes it easier to explain there strength of character, as well as their faults. But also because darker backgrounds tend to be more interesting. 

Not all my characters have dark pasts though, and they vary in degrees. Another story I am writing the girl has a very light back ground. So light that she is ignorant and naive to the dangers of the world. 

Where do you get your ideas from?

What inspires you?

Post 26: I do, I don't

I Do...I Don't...

No, this isn't about the flower petal-picking activity to determine if someone likes you, or you like someone else. This is about a whole new game that I invented.

There are many games like this, so it may not be new, but it is fun-tastic!

Here is basically how it works....

It works along the same lines as 'I've never...'.

You say,

~~~"I do...like pie."

And anyone who likes pie, puts a finger down on their right hand. Only there right hand. So, if they run out of fingers on their right hand, but then some one says something they also do, they have to put their right hand on their head and keep it their until someone says 'I do...' and the person with the hand on their head does not.

~~~"I don't...watch horror movies."

And anyone who also doesn't watch horror movies, puts a finger down on their left hand. Only their left hand. And if they run out of fingers on their left hand, but some one says they don't so something, and the person doesn't do it either they have to put their left hand on their head.

If they run out of fingers on both hands they are out. And it alternates between I do and I don't.

So, if the person who starts says 'I don't' the next person to goes has to say 'I do'.

If there is an even number of people, when it goes back around to the person who started they switch to the other.

Make sense?

The idea is that, unlike 'I've never...'  it gets closer to what people like and don't like, rather than just what they have done. If you are looking to get to know someone better, what activities a person has or hasn't done isn't the same as knowing what a person likes or doesn't like.

Anyway, that was the idea behind it.

So, would you be willing to give it a try?