Path 101 Test - What industry matches your personality?

I like this test. I like seeing what doesn't match, actually. My "love of thinking" is a sore thumb in the process. Apparently it doesn't fit with my other traits in the top four suggested industry matches. But that's ok. I'm used to that. In another test I'm Artistic/Investigative and they don't match either. Sometimes my rationally pragmatic side takes over and that throws any test for a loop.

I've often wondered why I can't hang with Artists all the time (not neurotic enough) or why I didn't end up in Theatre (not agreeable enough). I like photography and I suppose if I pursued it I would find a way to add the thinking piece, maybe by writing about it or changing the thrust of my photos by doing thinking pieces. Come to think of it, the artwork I make is sort of thinking pieces. So, there you are!

My Path 101 Personality Quiz Traits

Highest Scoring Traits

Openness

Idealism

Love of Thinking

Lowest Scoring Traits

Agreeableness

Extroversion

Initiative

Like-minded people work in:
Photography  Graphic Design and Illustration  Web Design  Publishing  Environmental Studies and Protection  

See Elaine's full assessment and get your own.

Throw Bags at It

Today I discovered why I don't like WalMart. I have often complained of the shoddy service, lackadaisical attitude of the workers and been shocked by reports of the WalMart corporation's insensitivity to their employees needs. All this has kept me away from WalMart for years.

Today I went to WalMart for a prescription because it was cheap. The same prescription available at CVS for $22.50 and at Walgreen for $9.99 I purchased today for $4.00.

There was no extra expense in checking out the prices at CVS or Walgreen. Both are within minutes of my home and I drop in fairly regularly. So, the trip to WalMart was made worth my while as I used the restroom and bought groceries while waiting 30 minutes for my prescription to be filled.

I had to stop the checkout person from putting my five items into three bags. Well, four if you count the package of Charmin toilet paper rolls. And I do. I told the checkout person clearly, in English, not to double bag my stuff. It was already double bagged when I mentioned this. She then proceeded to grab an additional bag. No, I repeated. Just one bag, please. I unwrapped the egg carton from a separate bag and placed it in the now single bag. Then she asked if I wanted to have a bag for my tp. No. I mean, really. It's already bagged in strong plastic. No point in adding a layer. It's not like I'm going to sail it over the ocean or anything.

Next I walked over to pharmacy to pick up my prescription. The clerk, noticing my tp, asked if she should ring up my "tissue." I explained I had already paid for it. She put my prescription, already in a paper bag, into another bag. I got my receipt out of that bag and then put the prescription in the one plastic bag with my other items and returned the small bag to her. Did I want a bag for my tissue? No, I said, fewer bags, not more. (To make matters worse, the prescription itself comes in a plastic container – a single use, hard case, plastic container. What could be more wasteful?)

So, apparently, throw a bag at it is the WalMart way of offering customer service. I broke all the rules by not taking as many bags as I could possibly grab. To punish me, the greeter at the door asked me to prove I had paid for the tissue by showing my receipt. Uh huh. Right. Next I'll be walking out of WalMart with couches, desks and computers I haven't paid for. As my parting shot, I threw over my shoulder at the security/greeter, "I might have more stuff in my bag that you don't know about." That wiped the smirk off her face.

Anyway, back to why I don't like WalMart. It's the same reason I don't like any large department, mass media, big box store. I get treated like a number and not just a number but a sort of egg that has to fit in a predesigned little box just like all the other eggs. There are massive assumptions in all their gestures: I like and need bags, I can't be trusted, I'm just like everyone else.

This is why I prefer, say, Ellwood Thompson to Kroger. No one at Ellwood Thompson has ever treated me like a number. I am always an unknown quantity to be coddled, asked about preferences and treated as if each visit were the first. And no one throws bags at me.

It's Not the President's Fault

I recently had a conversation with a friend who relayed to me her belief that employment in the US most likely is about only 85%. Officially I think it's about 90%, not taking into account those who have dropped off the unemployment lists. I'll buy that some have given up and that some are under employed (forced to work part time or for less than industry standard). So, let's say that employment is around 85% (unofficially). Pair that with a cute statistic I saw in the news that about 70% of those employed are afraid of losing their jobs. Interpolated, this could mean that just about everyone who has a job is afraid of losing it. This is fear factor.

Let's also combine the fact that President Obama's approval rating is falling. According to a newscast I watched (sorry I can't remember which one, might have been CNN), the low confidence in job security is to blame for this loss of approval. Seems like kind of a long shot to me. After all, Obama has done a whole bunch of things in the first six months of his presidency which could affect that rating. Also, let's remember that Obama was not just a candidate, but a super candidate that we all hoped would save us. (New Hope, anyone?) Based on these ideas, I think we can say that Obama may have started out with a high approval rating but it was based on him turning out to be Superman or maybe Spiderman.

Folks, the issues in this economy go way back to the beginning of George W. Bush's reign of terror. Some go back even further. US finances have long been based on faulty notions that there will always be more money and if we run out we'll make more. Turning around this sort of thinking and getting the military away from buying $1,000 hammers is going to take some time. It won't happen overnight or in six months. It won't happen even in four years. All the president can do at this point is make a start. The best we can do is support him and offer up whatever knowledge and experience we have of sound financial practices.

It's not his fault.

Elaine Unemployed - Episode 7

Photos of the AG

AG09 by me

Mensa AG 2009 - Pittsburgh, PA Photos by Rawligh Sybrant rawligh@yahoo.com

Mensa Annual Gathering (AG) Begins!

I've been to my first three sessions/workshops/talks. Not sure what to call them. They aren't lessons and they aren't really about practical stuff like workshops. So, whatever!

All three, "Reversing Accelerated Aging: How I Gained 40 Years of Life", "Decisions in Context: What Goes Into A Good (Or Bad) Decision?", and "What Makes a Good Science Fiction Story", have been good and packed with excellent information. The third one not as much.

In the third session I attended, the presenter admitted his definition was more about his opinion about what makes a good Science Fiction story than any sort of empirical study. Also, he seemed to think there is only one type of science fiction story and, well, there is comedy science fiction, romance science fiction, horror science fiction, etc. He brought in a lot of interesting clips and images, which was nice. He also talked about his triangle model: information, people, technology which is, I think, something he got from his place of employment. I did get a short list of books I need to read and movies I need to see. I also saw how nebulous the science fiction category is and why it's beginning to develop niches.

The most practical of the three was "Reversing Aging." The presenter told us that the basic program of exercises (kinda like flow yoga) is free on YouTube. I need to search on Scott Sonnon and find them. His website is rmaxinternational.com with more info.

The decisions session was about personal decision making and revolved around the three main ingredients for a good decision or ways to discover a good decision: information, inclination (what I think of a motivation), and resources. No decisions is good enough if you don't have enough information, aren't motivated to act on the information or you don't have the resources to follow through.

My head is getting that stuffy feeling from information overload, which is why I'm here blogging now instead of moving on to the next session I planned to attend. I need a break already! I'm sure my brain will be either as dry as a bone or as stuffed as a sausage by Sunday. I hope I keep remembering to take breaks and do non-intellectual stuff occasionally.

Tips for Talking to Mensans
If you want to have a pleasant conversation with Mensans never bring up two topics: food or Windows. The mention of either one of these two topics will derail any planned program or eliminate any other topic you were pursuing. Especially Windows, which I find incredibly boring because I stick to my Mac and Apple OS. The other topic you should probably steer away from is people who are intellectually challenged. There is a large amount of intolerance for those people and some Mensans love to vent.

On the other hand, you must pack a lot of information into any statement and don't breathe or someone will jump in with their opinion. Not really a bad thing, unless you are a speaker trying to reach a goal.

So far so good. No presentations derailed yet.