I Heard a Rumor . . .

Posted on August 27th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Education, Personal, Literary, Omnia Vanitas, Sponsored Posts, Random, Television.

While I won’t have cable this semester, it looks like I will have access to my favorite channel, the CW (it used to be the WB). They’re responsible for my two favorite shows of all-time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Veronica Mars, although both of those series have sadly ended, leaving a void of grief in my weekly TV schedule that no other show has been able to fill . . .

Apparently, though, the CW may be premiering a contender this fall. I’ve heard a lot about the Gossip Girl series of young adult books by Cecily Von Ziegesar, and now they’ve been transformed into a new teen drama of the same name. As a wannateach, I’m fascinated by books that portray the “real” issues that teens face — sex, drugs, peer pressure, and the host of other demons that keep parents awake at night — while avoiding the preachy-ness of the kinds of texts that are traditionally used to show kids the consequences of certain actions.

Anthropological interest aside, I’m hoping the show will have the sort of pull I felt towards Buffy and Veronica Mars. The characters are socialite-teens from New York’s fancy Upper East Side who attend private schools full of vicious rivalries that an anonymous (and seemingly omniscient) narrator called “GossipGirl” blogs about on her website. I’m thinking of my guilty pleasure, Cruel Intentions, and hoping the show crosses that setting/atmosphere with a smart, sassy heroine that doesn’t rely on sex appeal for power. Judging from the pictures on the Gossip Girl web site, they’re really banking on the attractiveness of their actors to get the initial viewers, a tactic which should be effective — they’re definitely look the part of “the beautiful people” they’re supposed to be playing. I’ve include one below, simply because I love the expression — it’s so 3:10. Of course, I was hooked when I heard that Kristen Bell, who played the eponymous star of Veronica Mars, will be voicing the part of Gossip Girl — I could listen to her witting her way through the instructions for setting a VCR, she’s that good. But I also have hope for the “outsider” characters that lack the social and financial assets of their peers — I’m thinking Brenda and Brandon without the annoying “we’re so Midwestern, ain’t it cute?” thing. Now I just have to wait until the premier on Wednesday, September 19th to see if this show can be crowned my new favorite . . . And apparently, I’m not alone, as shown by this lovely tribute to Gossip Girl on MySpace.

Blake Lively as Serena Van Der Woodsen

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Travel Insurance

Posted on July 5th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Current Events, Travel, Sponsored Posts, Money, Random.

Although my trip this week was canceled and I was able to recoup my expenditures on tickets and lodging arrangements, it reminded me that Travel Insurance is always a good idea. Especially now that I’m all flu-icky and wouldn’t get on a plane for $200 (although I’d probably do it for $300, depending on the eventual destination). I recently discovered TravelSafe, a family-owned and operated business that has been working hard to protect the traveler since 1971, through a recent press release. Apparently, TravelSafe offers an industry-first — a “Cancel For Any Reason” option — plus coverage for hurricane warnings and other inclement weather, worldwide medical protection and emergency medical evacuation, coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, trip cancellation/interruption, even the ever-present threat of terrorism. Before this weekend’s attack in Glasgow, on the very airport I’ve flown into dozens of times, I never considered visiting my family to be a risky prospect, even though I was in the air on 9/11. Travel seems to be an increasingly complicated undertaking — from fear to “mechanical difficulties” to acts of god — and so I think I will definitely be engaging the services of a travel insurance provider the next time I venture far from home.

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Lawyer Up

Posted on July 4th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Work, Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Sponsored Posts, Money, Random.

I’ve written about Simmons Jannace & Stagg in the past.  From everything I’ve read, they’re a great law firm for both large and small firms.  But in a recent press release, I learned that in addition to litigation, Simmons Jannace & Stagg also handles financing transactions such as structuring a variety of loans (including real estate, construction, and asset-based loans), asset securitizations, stock purchase sale and leaseback transactions. But what really caught my eye was that their firm provides guidance in choosing a business form, such as organizing corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and other legal entities throughout the U.S.  I’ve never really examined whether my business is set up in a way that’s most advantageous to me — as a sole proprietor who doesn’t lay claim to the content she creates, I’ve never had to worry about the legalities of working with companies.  As long as I’m registered and pay my taxes, I figured that was good enough.  But their are a host of advantages to doing things th right way (versus the quick and easy way I chose), so it may be time to re-investigate the structure of my business.  Simmons Jannace & Stagg doesn’t have offices in Chicago, though, so I guess it’s the yellow pages for me . . . ;)

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Options Trading

Posted on June 29th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Education, Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Current Events, Sponsored Posts, Money, Random.

One of the best things about reading press releases is that it exposes you to topics you might otherwise have never investigated.  For example, I just discovered that options trading refers to contracts which give the trader the option to buy or sell a fixed amount of a certain stock at a specific price within a specific time frame.  I will have to invest more time into studying this type of trading, as I have very little knowledge of the topic.  For example, I don’t really understand how historical option data could be useful to an investor.  Power Options offers a complete suite of educational materials, providing the essential data you need to invest with stock options.  In my opinion, I think this is a great resource for both novice and expert options traders.  As I begin to research the market and decide how best to invest my savings, I will be looking at their site in depth, because knowledge is power.  I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why they’re called “Power Options.” :)

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Proctored Exams

Posted on June 23rd, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Education, Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Sponsored Posts, Random.

I’m currently taking an online class, and I just received some nice feedback from my instructor. It is amazing how this form of “distance learning” feels so much more productive and engaging than some other classes I have taken. This is probably due in part to the fact that the teacher is one of my favorites, but the majority of my good-feeling about online learning is that I can work at my own pace. I’m not sure how the final will be handled for this course, and I have always wondered how students at online institutions like Capella University take exams and other formal assessments. How do they keep people from cheating, for example? I learned from a press release that since 2005, Capella University has been partnered with ACT centers to provide testing for its students.  Since these centers are just about everywhere, it seems like another easy and convenient way to accomplish one’s education.

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