SPAM

I love my blackberry. In fact, I'm not sure that I would know how to function without it now that I have it. It's like the TV remote - I remember having to get up and walk across the room to change the channels and/or volume, but now I find myself walking all over the house looking for batteries when the remote dies rather than just getting up and walking a few feet to change to channel. Why is that?

One of the things I love most about my blackberry is the fact that I can receive my emails on it without having to constantly check my computer. This has been a lifesaver at times. Okay, maybe it didn't actually save my life, but it has been known to save me a trip to a nearby county when my daughter's practice has been canceled at the last minute. It is just so convenient to be able to instantly receive and read my emails. And, I LOVE the fact that my blackberry does NOT receive the SPAM!! Okay, occasionally a few get through, but rarely.

Now that I can receive my important emails on my cell phone, I don't check my email on the computer as much. So, when I got into my SPAM folder today I discovered it was inundated with junk. I must admit that Yahoo does a pretty good job at keeping out the SPAM, but it could be better. Which brings me to my question.... how exactly do companies know WHO to send SPAM to? I once thought that it was by cookies. You know, those pesky little tracking devices put on your computer by websites that you visit (intentionally or not). But now I'm not so sure. Yes, I did click on a "Work From Home" ad once (just to see) and was overloaded with SPAM about surveys and mystery shoppers. However, lately I've been getting a lot of emails about meeting Latino singles in my area. Hmm, I am neither Latino nor single. So how did I get picked to be the recipient of such SPAM? I sometimes receive emails inviting me to meet single women. Once again, I'm married.....to a MAN! And I am sure that these are not invites to knitting circles. I receive emails daily wanting me to "Improve my Portfolio" or informing me that I've won a shopping spree to Wal-Mart or Best Buy. As much as I would love to have a free shopping spree, something tells me that it's not. Maybe you receive SPAM based on your age. My husband receives daily multiple emails touting the benefits of such prescriptions as Viagra and Cialis. But the best one so far was in my SPAM folder yesterday. I had not one, but three emails from the Hair Club for Men! Really?? Now I know how they got my name - someone there must have read my blog!

Bren

Random Dozen

It's Wednesday, so time for Random Dozen from Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.



1. Do you use the labels various charities send you as “free gifts?”
Yes, although I haven't gotten any in quite a while. Guess I've been blacklisted for not making a monetary contribution.

2. What is your favorite time of day (or night) for skywatching?
Probably sunset. I'm never up early enough to see the sunrise and am usually in my car around sunset.

3. What is the most adventurous you've ever been with trying a new food? (Keep it G-rated please)
I'm not adventurous when it comes to food. I have a very limited menu from which I refuse to budge. My father once tried to get me to try some "chicken nuggets." I stuck to my guns and later found out that it was really alligator tail. I know what a REAL chicken nugget looks like! A manicurist did have me try a really weird fruit. I like most all fruits and did not want to offend her (apparently this was quite a delicacy in her homeland). It tasted like roses, which I can handle smelling but not eating.

4. Have you ever heard a rock sing? (Trust me, there's a reason for this one!)
No, but I've heard some singers that sure could rock, and some even look like rocks.

5. If you could learn a language you don't presently speak, what would it be?
I wish I could speak French fluently. I studied it all through high school and college, but can't remember enough to carry on a conversation (except with myself, and even then I make up french-sounding words)

6. Al Capone's tombstone read, “My Jesus, Mercy.” If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
"She's under here"


7. If you were a famous musician who was known by one name, like “Cher,” “Sting,” or “Jewel,” what would it be? It doesn’t have to be your first name, but it can be, if you’d like.
"Bren" - it's what people call me.

8. Have you ever been inordinately “into” a television show?
Yes! I LOVE my DVR (and TiVo before that!). I am so addicted to it in fact that I sometimes catch myself trying to pause the radio, or even my kids! In the evenings, I am usually gone so I miss most of my favorite shows. I cannot miss an episode of Amazing Race, Grey's Anatomy or Ugly Betty (boo hoo).

9. When you sneeze, do you go big, or do you do that weird “heenh!” sound that makes people think you’re going to blow your brains out? Any other variation we should know about?
My sister-in-law The Bug said that her dh could probably find her in Wal-Mart by just her sneeze. Well, my mother-in-law DID find me in Wal-Mart by my sneeze! I have been known to scare people so badly that they wet their pants and/or almost wreck the car. I come by it naturally. My dad has the same loud obnoxious sneeze. My mom however could sneeze no less than three times in a row. And I don't mean sneeze-pause-sneeze-pause-sneeze, I'm talking achooachooachoo-pause-achooachooachoo-pause-achooachooachoo. So I guess that's really nine times.

10. Do you still read an actual newspaper that you hold in your hands, or do you get your news elsewhere?
Up until recently we had the local paper delivered everyday. I'm not saying that I read it everyday, but I did try to glance through it. In trying to cut back on expenses, our daily paper got the chop. Now I have to rely on the web, TV or friends to fill me in.

11. Are you a good speller?
I ought to be considering my parents paid for me to go to college and earn a degree in English. However, if it weren't for spell check, I'd be screwed!

12. At what time each day do you start thinking about Lost lunch?
I got lost watching Lost after the 2nd season, so I gave up. I am embarrassed to admit that I usually don't wake up until 10, so I'm really not thinking about lunch until most people are thinking about dinner.


Bren