Online Degrees

Online College Degrees are more popular than ever.  I think a lot of that has to do with convenience.  More and more working adults are seeking degrees and can’t attend tradition colleges and universities full time.  I wouldn’t trade my traditional/quintessential university experience for anything; it was fantastic.  However I concede that it isn’t for everyone.  Due to the popularity of online degrees most colleges and universities have some online course offerings and online degrees including graduate degrees.  Sounds perfect right?  Well as with anything you purchase, buyer beware and do a lot of research before jumping into one of these online programs.

Why you ask?  Well frankly many of these schools don’t have the reputation of a traditional college.  In fact many are viewed as, and rightly so degree mills offering worthless degrees to anyone willing to fork over the cash.  The cost of the online programs can be just as expensive as traditional college and that is why doing your research is an absolute necessity.  In my opinion choosing an online program offered by a traditional college or university is the way to go.  They will be accredited and recognized and respected.  As someone who was a recruiter professionally I pay close attention to where a candidate received their education.  Again why you ask?  Because it makes a difference.  People who tell you that it doesn’t matter where you go to school either don’t know any better or frankly are lying to you.  Where you go to school makes all the difference in the world and it always has.  So if you are going to amass a large amount of debt that you most likely won’t be able to pay back, shouldn’t you be doing it at a reputable institution of higher learning?  The answer is yes you should.  

I could go on for days about the importance of higher education but you would get bored so I will keep it brief.  The moral of the story is that other people care where you got your degree and so should you.  Do lots of research about the school, their programs and accreditation.  And really put some time in researching whether this is a degree that will be marketable.  I have a degree in Political Science, also known as a degree in unemployment.

Margarita Challenge

Reduced calorie or “Skinny Margaritas” are very popular right now.  Understandably so; margaritas are delicious but can easily consume your daily calorie allotment.  The movement to reduce the guilt associated with this delicious beverage has benefited many people, me included.  I decided in the name of science to do some extensive research.  Over the course of a few weeks (or a couple of nights) I compared 2 “Skinny” margaritas; Skinny Girl Margaritas and Jose Cuervo Light Margaritas.

First let’s discuss the “Skinny Girl Margarita”.  The claim is that this product is all natural and the ingredients are listed as blue agave tequila, natural flavors and caramel color.  To prepare this beverage I simply filled a glass with ice and then poured in the skinny margarita.  The first taste was crisp, clean, and refreshing to the palate.  I felt that it could use something more so I added a lime wedge.  Now, it is perfect.  This drink really tastes like it is simply fresh lime juice and tequila.  It is not too sweet or too strong, it’s very good.

Now let’s talk about Jose Cuervo.  First you will notice the difference in color; Jose’s Light Margarita is very yellow, like the color of Mountain Dew.  The ingredients are listed as Jose Cuervo Gold tequila, triple sec liqueur, natural flavor, sucralose, and artificial color.  This beverage also recommends simply pour over ice and enjoy.  Well pour over ice I did, enjoy I did not.  It’s incredibly sweet and almost syrupy.  I tried adding more tequila to try and break up the sweetness but it didn’t help.  I also added a fresh lime but I am afraid no amount of citric acid could cut through this syrup.  Finally I actually tried watering it down to no avail.  The sucralose is absolutely overwhelming and frankly this beverage could not be salvaged, it really is awful.  And to add insult to injury it was more expensive than the Skinny Girl Margarita.

My recommendation is to stick with Skinny Girl.  Bethenny Frankel did it right with this drink and that is exactly why it is so popular. 

Panty Pants

I’ve said this before and I will say it again, I am short.   I am 5’2” which means I almost always have to have my pants/jeans hemmed.  I have come to accept this fate and I generally don’t take issue with it.  What I do have an issue with are short “length” pants.  Sounds like a great idea right?  Pants already short so that you won’t need to go out and get everything hemmed before you wear them.  Well there is a gigantic problem with short length pants.  Instead of simply shortening the inseam, clothing manufacturers shorten the rise as well when making short length pants.  This means that any time I am in the market for short length pants I also better want them low rise.  I do not like low rise pants, especially on me.  I don’t want to be tugging at them all day or showing my parts to people every time I sit down.  I also do not have the butt for low rise meaning that I have a butt.  Why can’t the pant be shorter and the rise stay the same?  I do not know the answer to this perplexing question but the only solution then is to buy regular length pants so that the rise is normal because I do not want my business showing all over town.  Is this some sort of tailoring/alterations conspiracy?  Probably not; it’s most likely stupidity on the part of the manufacturer.  Below are some pictures I found of low-rise in the extreme. 

I like to call this picture WTF?  Sadly these jeans are offered on more than one site, just Google it and see! (For more enjoyment Google Men’s Ultra Low Rise Jeans)

Bad Cell Phone Usage Behavior Correction

I love Target don’t you?  I think they have the cutest stuff there.  This is not about Target however.  This is about super rude, ill mannered, oblivious people all over this Earth.  There I was in line at the checkout patiently waiting my turn.  The stupid lady in front of me starts talking on her phone while she is being rung up.  She begins to write down a message while I am waiting for her to pay.  At this point you are holding up the line, being selfish and what tiny little shred of patience I did have is gone.  She begins to relay the information back to whomever is on the phone.  I practiced restraint and didn’t yell at her which I normally would do in these types of situations.  I did give her a Vladimir Putin-esque icy stare and there may have been assertive foot tapping targeted at her.  Finally and quite remarkably she puts down the phone and swipes her stupid card so that the rest of us can get on with our lives.  Please let me know why you are so much more important than everyone else in this line because from where I stand you just look like another selfish drone.

I have said this before and I will continue to say it; talking on the phone is not always okay.  It is NOT okay while driving, while waiting in line and holding up the line, while working out, while walking and interfering with other people trying to get around your self important ass, not okay at dinner, in theaters, churches, classrooms and other incredibly obvious situations.  If you can’t bring yourself to yell at someone when they are acting like a moronic tool, try listening to their conversation.  Listen good and hard, maybe even talk to the person on the phone while they are on the phone about what they are saying. Act like you are part of the conversation; make them think you are crazy.  Sort of an eye for an eye approach to behavior correction.  I am positive they will find this annoying and maybe, just maybe they will learn a valuable lesson.  Most likely not but no complaining if you don’t try.