Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Blogosphere.......... the ego driven world of on-line journalism

Blogosphere............ what's that mean exactly?

I have recently been reading a book called Roadside Crosses, by Jeffery Deaver. It is about cyber bullying, on-line blogging, forums, social sites, and life seeming anonymous. This got me thinking about my recent situation with my blog post on "Round three", where this person has demeaned me and tried to strike at my credibility.

The reason it got me thinking of it, is because I am still watching my views on this particular item, shoot up on a daily basis, where my other inventory sits with 1 or 2 views at the most. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have thought of this before, and throughout my little experience, but I like the way this guy says it. I'll be putting some quotes in here, so pay close attention. They will have particular meaning to my own situation.

So in a nutshell, the book is about a serial Killer, but the subtext is about the content that we find on the internet and blogs, and forums, and the credibility and reliability.

"Blogs, forums, social sites, are the mushrooms of the internet", we put a lot of stock in whats being said, and turn to them for information that may or may not be correct, but we accept as correct. The problem with this is, no one does the research. They take the author's word as "WORD". They are be all end all. We'll, not quite.

On a recent forum post, on "The Purse Forum" I came across a comment about my own business, posted apparently by a person who is adman-at that my item is not Authentic. This post was done on Jan 27th 2010 pg. 115 of the purseblog forum for bonanzle. Now normally I would bypass this, and move on. I have no time for games, and petty jealousy, and certainly no time for someone who chooses not to back up their statement. The problem I for see in this, is they won't quit. The comment is still there in the public eye, for all the world to see, along with a link to my on-line business.

So here is a question for the tpf'ers as they coin themselves, and for all the thousands of people who take this blog/forum as gospel, yet, neglect to read, or ignore the disclaimer the site has on it's home page.

1st,we have the welcome "Welcome to The Purse Forum.
Our Purse Forum, or TPF, is the #1 online social network for everything designer handbag related. Join over 250,000 enthusiastic members in this friendly community and start engaging in the discussion today. (Let me highlight a few things)

Then we have the disclaimer on the Authenticate this forum. "Disclaimer
All Authenticate This threads are here to provide assistance to shoppers who are uncertain about the legitimacy and authenticity of designer goods. The evaluations posted by our members are nothing but opinions that stem from personal experiences as shoppers and collectors. They are not legally binding or professional authentications and are not to be treated as such.

For questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me via the forum's contact form.

Happy Bag Hunting!"


WHY do you take this as gospel?

I did a little research on the user ID that made a be-belittling comment about me on this forum, and one, I have to say, I have never been contacted directly by this person. So here is what I found out. He/She.. has nothing with a real name, linking them to their posting ID. They have an e crater.com store that apparently is closed, they have a bonanzle booth that has 39 items in it, and 20 feedback, 9 of which is imported from a different site. Now they do have another .com site, that is consignment luxury goods, but the same items are listed there as on bonanzle.

So why am I harping on this again? Well, like I said, I am watching my views on this particular item, and they consistently stay up. SO either the person or person's are real curious about it, and have not emailed me yet, or they are getting ready to "bomb" it again.

In bonanzle's defense, I have to say that Mark has stood behind me 100% on this, and continues to do so. Kudo's to management for there continuous support. I also have to say that I am sure, that even though Mark and Bill are working on away to eliminate tagging like this, it won't be in time for this not to happen again. Of course that is not bonanzle's fault. They are doing the best they can. I wonder though what stake in this the person really has, and expect this situation to continue indefinitely.

So here's to you! Cheer's, and best wishes in your endeavor. I am sorry that this is now a public fiasco, but I am tired of defending myself and watching inflammatory comments about myself, stay on a "professional" forum.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Pasta............................That's Italian, for noodles.

I'll start by saying, this was a date long in coming. Usually when Grandma takes the kids,(once or twice a year) we have no clue what to do. We drive aimlessly, usually we are both grumpy, and we waste a whole day, finally by ending up on the couch watching a movie, or going to bed to read. I think it is just the fact that we are getting some quiet time from the kids, that makes us not want to really do anything.

So backing up here, we decided this time to really plan the day. Antiquing, nice dinner in an upscale restaurant, no limits on the budget. (Well not no limits, but less than normal limits)

The last three days was a build up to yesterday, Paul working, me working, and the kids at school. We couldn't wait to get out. I do have to say, in the back of our minds, though, we were still reluctant, waiting for that one thing that would send us home to nap. He did a job this week, and because the guy had a prize winning garden, they were not allowed to use a machine. He dug a trench by hand. Therefore, we knew his carpal tunnel would act up. I have been ill since October, and was unsure if I would make it through a whole day without a nap.

On to the date. We dropped the kids with grandma, (who forgot she was watching them) then took off to get gas and hit the bank. We had decided we were heading to Anacortes. A little town up on the coast that caters to Antiques, Artist, and bikers. You have to pass through Mt Vernon to get to it. This is a gorgeous drive. The tulip festival is up here, and although they are not in bloom yet, the daffodils were out. I made honey stop to get pictures. His term is pictures of Fleur's. (Yes, I am married to a dork, but he is my dork)



By the time we get up to Anacortes, it is going on 1:30pm.... WOW Already? So we browse a few antique shops, and then of course, the inevitable aches and pains set in. I am done, he is done, so now on to find a great place to eat.

Back in Mt.Vernon, there is a great old building. Used to be a bank, then a antique mall, and now it is called the Il Granior. This apparently has been voted by king 5 news viewers, and Evening magazine as the "Best in the Northwest" Italian food.

Really? OK, we'll start with the menu. Fancy Italian names. Antipasti, Insalante', (that's salad for those of you who don't speak Italian.) Pasta, That's Italian for noodles.

When we arrived, we were the 1st customers in there. Great ambiance, Italian chef and owner, nice small intimate tables. Fairy lights, OH and Itailian music. (appaerently Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton can sing in Italian. We've got tonight)

They have a 4pm to 6pm 4 course meal for a good deal. 20.00 a pop. Starting with Bruchetta, a salad, and endless garlic bread and the main course, of course. Paul choose the Strozzapreti calabrese, (this means store bought, but I'll get to that later) and I had the Fettucine Il Granio. He ordered a black brutte, and I had a coffee. Great Coffee!

The waiter brings the endless bread, along with the appetizer, the brushetta. Looks like a open face blt, with out the lt, and pretty much taste like it to. Oh, and the waiter had to have been new, because the Mexican busboy did a better job. (I'll mention him later also, since he got the bigger tip)



Now we move on to the endless garlic bread. I did say garlic bread.

GARLIC BREAD? This looks more like croutons. See?





That's Paul's Insalante' Looks like a big ole crouton on there... that was the endless garlic bread. It works. I think they keep a box in the back.

OK, now back up a sec here, also on the beer and wine menu, they had little astirch next to some of the listings. We assumed this meant, Bottle, carafe, or 1/2 carafe available. His Black brutte? That comes in a keg or 1/2 keg.

On to the main course.

1st I show you Paul's Stozzapreti Calabrese' (again this must mean store bought, because it seriously tasted like Chef Boy Ar Dee, according to Paul, so I had to taste, and of course he was right.



Now mine, (who can mess up Fettucine?) Well the chef. I asked for no mushrooms because, Who eats fungus? Really, so it took awhile for them to pick the mushrooms out. We had a second brushetta brought to us during this time, and thought nothing of it. (The table behind us, did not get theirs, although we did not know this until the end of the meal.)



My fettuccine tasted like tuna casserole. UGH... Paul tasted, and at this point, we were pretty much done. I could have had the meal comped I suppose, but we were tired, and I just wanted one more picture and to get out of there.



The picture was taken by our busboy, who did more work than the waiter. He got the bigger tip. He also gave Paul a chair, because well... he could see he was tired.

We were also given dessert, but we took that home with us. This restaurant was named the "Best in the Northwest" for Italian food. In my opinion it is where Chef boy ar dee goes at night to add the leftovers to the cans he puts on the supermarket shelves.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Round Three

As some of you know, who follow my blog, I have had trouble with a person, calling one of my items into question. I did a post on this back in November, or December, the second time it had come up.

Let me bring you up to speed with a bit of background if your unaware of the situation. I had an item reserved until I could prove authenticity. That was done to the best of my ability, and in the eyes of the site that I sell on, was accepted. It Should have been end of story. A month later, it was brought up again, and that was when I posted the 1st blog on this. Now the bottom line is, I still do not have a valid reason why this person is so adamant on my item being a fake. If I did, I could look into it further and possibly this person would be right. BUT, Because I do not, we are at an impasse.

Well, now we are on to round three. Here is the current situation. Because the item was deemed authentic, the person in question decided for themselves that this was un-true. They then went to a public forum and slandered me. I reported the slander, but because it was off the site that I sell on, again nothing could be done about it.

Several months have passed. On Monday of this week, I had a sale. At that time, my booth items dropped by one item. As they should. After getting the item ready and going and marking shipped, I look, and my booth items again dropped by one more.

HUH?? Well, because I have been busy, and because the site is relatively new, I thought nothing of it. May have been a glitch, which has happened before. A week passes. On Saturday, I go into my batch edit to use my mark down manager. I had decided to run a sale on china. THIS did not happen, because low and behold, there sits my item that I thought was no longer in question, with a big "SUSPENDED" next to it.

For those of you who know the site, you know that you can go in and report an item as fake. You use the "bomb" button. Each report is assigned a value so people do not take advantage of it. Meaning, if I report it, it is coming from my ISP address, I cannot then keep hitting that button. Well, I can, but it does no good.

Apparently, because of this, this person who originally thought my item to be fake, recruited a lot of people on different computers, to go in and "bomb" my listing. This to me tells me I am dealing with a mentality of a child and not a professional dealer.

I would hate to sell anything to anyone that is not what I think it is, however, if I am not provided the information to research it further, then I am stuck with what I have, and that is the item is real.

At this point in this on going saga, I have decided to keep it listed. Even though the public slander is creating doubts about my own ability, I refuse to allow anyone to control how I do business. I show integrity, and honestly in dealing with my customers, and that is all I can do.

Friday, March 5, 2010

I said NAPS...............not CATS!

I will keep this relatively short.

So in the last several months, I have been going through some health issues. In a nut shell it came down to a test I had done last week. A bone marrow biopsy. Arrghh the pain. If any one of you find your self in this position, go for the blood work. It takes longer for results, less painful, and less expensive. Trust me, this was not fun.

Well, we got the results last night, but before I tell you them, I will tell you what lead up to this post. Everything was fine as far as my nerves go on this test. I knew what they were looking for, and had prepared my self for possible bad news. (I thought) Anyway, in the middle of this, we have a cat. She is pregnant, and so decides to go into false labor the day of my results. HA HA HA... I had been needing a distraction, because the closer the day came, the more nervous I got. Not sleeping well, and over tired. Well, I had a little chat with god, ya see, and asked for a distraction. He misunderstood.

I asked for a few NAPS, not a few CATS!

So, that was my distraction. God has a pretty weird sense of humor. My cat had false labor, I never got a nap, and the day was long.

The good news? The tests all came back negative. No rare blood cancer, no leukemia, no lymphoma. Back to the drawing board.

Still waiting on kittens to.