Weird Cake (I'm not hungry)

As a cake of different colors
layer and layer, supports another

Must is to spice where is weak
buds together soars sweeter peaks

with or without know, endure and embrace
even if, chocolate's bitter taste

eye to oven before all comes awry
at the end, it's a day just by

Speak Out Loud

Everyone blogs. Barbie wielding girls. Diabetics with aging skin. It's a gateway to your own personal space. Rather it be for the reader or the writer, it doesn't matter. It's a rising art, where everyone has something to say. Blogging doesn't restrict your freedom of imagination or speech, which is what's great about it. There are no boundaries.

Writing and writing about what actually happened and what we're feeling, we eventually discover an underlying layer that we never realized in class. For instance, the reasons why we acted a certain way or the lessons behind it all.

Blogging sorta allows you to become an empath where you can hear what others are thinking without them knowing. As creepy and stalker-ish as it may sound, it's true. On the other hand, we do share thoughts on the web and it does bring students closer together. Not me in particular, but I noticed it in the classroom, where someone would say I like your blog, and a whole new conversation or an acquaintance friendship would blossom. Freaky

Overall, it's a great way for the incredibly self-absorbed to talk about their own lives and be graded on how much you like to write about yourself and your own day. You can't complain. It's awesome for the book-challenged to express themselves in their own way of few words. It's also awesome for the pretentious boobs who like to exemplify their intelligence with 8 syllable vocabulary words. Moments become instantly more memorable when it's about themselves.

There's a very little need for improvement, if everyone does their part timely and efficiently, you would have a forum, practically a community of thoughts ranging from management to hooters to the sky.

To Be Continued...

The Pickle Effect

As an ex-avid fan of fast food, I did not mind the excuse of stepping into McDonalds for unsalted fries and a four pickled hamburger. I went to two different locations, one in Brooklyn, and one in Manhattan during different hours. I stepped into the one in Bensonhurst; Brooklyn at around 10pm, there was no line but limited seating. I asked specifically, “Hi, Can I please get a hamburger with 4 pickles and fries without the salt?” She looked at me indifferently and said “okay, anything else?” I responded with “4 pickles, and don’t forget, no salt”. She said, “Okay, your total is $2.17 and your fries will take 3 minutes”. In utter shock at her casual attitude, I looked down at my receipt which stated everything I asked for, it was flawless. I looked up to see their process, one girl waited by the fries, the cashier clarified to the extra pickles, all within 2 minutes and nothing out of the ordinary.

On the other hand, 7pm at the McDonalds by Astor Place, Manhattan did have a line. The cashier, Crystal was not necessarily nice as she looked up at me from the register as if I’m some sort of weirdo once I asked specifically for 4 pickles. I wasn’t charged extra but the pricing was different, it cost roughly $3, probably because Manhattan generally does cost more than Brooklyn. Either way, I was put aside to wait for my order along with 4 other customers. The customer ahead of me ordered a McFlurry and they forgot her M&Ms which they didn’t apologize for. In the back, the hamburger boy made my burger in seconds like sprinkling salt on fries. When completed, a random cashier screamed out my order, “Fries and hamburger with extra pickles! Or something…” I grabbed my order with my head down of embarrassment as some girls giggled at me. The whole situation made it seem like I had some weird pickle fetish, way too easy to make a gay pun out of. I questioned Crystal regarding my receipt of why only one pickle was stated and not four. She said that’s how the extra 4 pickles are stated in receipts and as I left I can’t help but feel awkward as Crystal and her gargoyle-looking manager whisper something behind me back.
Customized transactions are not a problem in McDonalds, as it is rather common for customers to customize their orders especially for fries. One of the workers said, there would be customers who would specifically order unsalted fries but then ask for salt packets afterwards to get the freshest fries possible. With the disgust from Fast Food Nation, it was understandable that McDonalds would try their best to cater to everyone’s needs to regain their public image. Overall, the management, communication, and coordination for both locations were quick and efficient. Both locations were given roles to each worker to work as a team. (i.e. cashiers continues to take other customers, one specifically handles the flies, etc.). However, the customer service levels were very different possibly because of different hours and location.

Brooklyn was impressive but the employees in the Manhattan store were angry above the nose, and smirking below the nose. The order was correct but I wouldn’t want to go back there due to the negative atmosphere. There was an evident disregard for a good impression and the weird judgmental stare was not appreciated. I also wouldn't go back because it felt like I was a bother to them. I understand that it’s a McDonalds but I can easily just walk across the street for a slice of pizza, or some diner for an actual burger, or hop on a train for a few stops to a Burger King where there’s also a Wendy’s right across the street. An improvement in customer service is highly recommended. To start off the gargoyle-looking manager should change her attitude since she had the same attitude as her workers which set off a bad example. The cashiers should be more approachable and that one specific cashier shouldn’t have said “…something” along with my order because that shows that she was not familiar and that she doesn’t care for my order. I feel that it’s better to call out the orders by their order number instead of the actual item to respect the customer’s guilty indulgences. It also wouldn’t hurt to apologize for not completing a customer’s order correctly in regards to the McFlurry. More importantly; it is not just the quarter pound cheeseburgers or the dollar menus that draws the customer back in again, but the experience of the store in any restaurant or retail store. In conclusion, their customer service could use improvement as it made me feel uncomfortable asking for more help, they did not “love to see me smile”, and I wasn’t “lovin’ it”.

Let's Decode...

Right off the bat, I knew I wasn't going to like where the diagnostic was going. I knew my faults, and I chose my answers to how others would think of me. In a way, how I would present myself?Plotting the graph, each of them ended up looking like a frown. What does that say?

Let's decode all of them...
Dominance

takes authority and accepts challenges, egotistic dictator who needs a chill pill

Influence

entertains people and views optimistically, happy clown who can't be taken seriously

Steadiness
develops specialized skills and harmonious environment, boring peace-maker who's blah

Conscientiousness
diplomatic and analytical, anal ass who thinks they're "brilliant" :)

Result: I with a high S

In other words, I'm a good entertainer and a good listener. Hmm...great leadership qualities. (t'was sarcasm) Can't help but think of Sailor Moon. Ditzy, funny, enthusiastic, she's the leader of the group. She protects the universe from evil.

Somewhat bummed because it seems like I don't have a firm hand, and all I can do is think happy thoughts. In terms of actual results, as a leader, it doesn't seem to show me as much of an authority figure. Instead, it depicts me as somewhat of a pushover. Awesome...

Fire Breathing Monsters Take Over NYC

The Status of Liberty is okay, just a minor scratch on the torch, but a city of angry pedestrians and residents. Similar to the recent episode of Grey's Anatomy, "I Saw What I Saw", the class like the hospital was -pausing for dramatic effect- ...chaos.

The grades were incredibly lower than any of us would have imagined. It was so low...it's like meeting up with your blind date to find out your date was 4 feet tall. Where the hell's the rest of my date? Or in this case...

Anxiety build faster than a slow metabolism boy packing on lbs. Fortunately, I passed, with a slightly above average score which is...good. Sure it can be higher, but I'm content. On the positive note, there's a curve. Like all good things, it always comes with a sacrifice. In this case, it was our individuality, you can't always get or say what you want. In my mind, we were given a higher grade to be subjected as lab rats. We were put into an environment without structure, without our "leader", to sort of see how we would react in a decision making circumstance. We had 1 hour to get the whole class to agree on one solution for our dissatisfying test grades.

I wasn't completely shocked as to who stepped forward to in a way took control of the class. Several came up to the class, some held their own, some just sort of dissipated. It was incredibly annoying that they constantly kept shouting anything that one person shouts out. It also got incredibly annoying that they kept repeating over and over again the same thing, and that people kept asking over and over the same question. It was so loud and redundant, they were like college students taking form of monsters and dinosaurs just ripping out bridges and tearing down buildings. If one of them could breathe fire, I'm pretty sure we'd have Grilled Kurpis Tenderloin with some classmate skewers on the side.

Conflict Solutions
Compete to Win
Avoidance Guilty

Compromise Guilty

Accomodation Guilty
Collaborating

It was a default, it was a go to position. I commend the ones who were able to stand up and fight for the curve, I commend the one who spoke their mind, and I also commend the ones who I held onto their own beliefs. However, there was no way in hell, that I would walk up there and persuade a class of 30+. I didn't feel like my opinion mattered much, at the same time, I didn't know the possibilities or the extent of leniency the professor was willing to give in this curve. Which apparently is more than I can ask for. I remember specifically that Mandus and I were talking about this is rather irrational of us to take control and just to satisfy our own selfish needs. I scored a slightly above average score, but with the curve and extra credit, I can possibly receive the same grade as someone who had scored a 90 before the curve. I don't think it's necessarily fair to them that the lower scores were able to bump up to same platform as the higher grades without the need to put out. (JOKING)

Lastly, the peer pressure was completely uncalled for. Was it really necessary to surround a fellow classmate as if you're about to burn him at the stake for being a witch? It was extremely chaotic, the environment was awkward and uncomfortable. Was there a better way? We pretty much did everything we were supposed to, split into groups, encourage, and etc. I think the thing we can work on would be the hostility that was in the air, better social skills, maybe take a chill pill.

Anyway, the verdict was a curve and an extra credit value of 7 points.

we're dumbasses

50 First Dates

"There's laughing my head."When Prof. Kurpis told us we would be using an egg for our experiment. IMMEDIATELY! NO JOKE! I was thinking about Adam Sandler in the movie "50 First Dates...(funny trailer link above) haha

Quite shocking a class of college students actually...attentively gathered around the "picnic area" without the need of free food or big boobs. The whole class was about planning (I think) , it was extremely exciting yet...nerve wrecking. It came to point where Mandus ( known as Amanda on ID card) slapped me a few times for making her even more nervous. Also to the point, where I almost dropped the egg, and the other's eyes were like O_O!! haha idiots
To the Point
Mission: To get those extra 5 POINTS! DURFF!!!

Goal: To become better planners

Objective: To drop "Eggbert" without cracks
Strategy: Build a Cage? Basket? Barrier? Legs? Cushion?
Tactic: Thickening the Straws. Conserve Tape & Resource. Manage Time.
Action: 40 sweaty fingers INTERTWINED into what's a foursome to create the ultimate triangular protection device. Retail value: $.77?

We came up with many ideas with the straws and tape. A basket, an octopus, a yo yo, but at the end, we stuck with the cage-like idea like the rest of the class. However, our cage was scultped in more of a triangular form. IT WAS VERY PRETTY!

Then it was the moment of truth..( Pictures to be uploaded when missing cord is found. )
Mandus...nervous stood 5'2? stood on top of the desk with her arms straight out presented Eggbert?

-Drop-

-Fail-

Overall, as cocky as it sounds, as BAD as it sounds, I have no idea what went wrong. It's very weird. t fell in a lopsided sorta manner! Stupid gravity! I mean Mandus' passed Physics! and I studied Architecture for a year in high school! We had a drawing! We had 3 mini drawings! the other 2 ...they are risk takers & think outside the box! Weird, weird, weird.

You can stick it up your...

recent situation: There was a special promotion at work. There were 3 managers, 3 associates (including me), and 1 stock. It was peak hours, I was scheduled downstairs. A few customers came down the store. I assisted the customers. Suddenly, a huge wave of customers came down the store. 4-5 customers wanted to try 1-2 different pair of shoes in 1-3 different sizes (because dumbasses don't know the sizes of their own feet) along with 3-4 customers looking at non shoe items, with the occassional 1-2 customers who can't afford anything but likes to look around. PANIC! PANIC! So many shoes! So many feet! So many bags! So many faces! I called upstairs for assistance as I was the only associate downstairs because each of the managers were caught up with a customer that involves a heavy register, the two associates are caught controlling the traffic upstairs. SON OF A BITCH! PANIC! To top it off, items were mislabeled, so items were misgiven, misinformed, practically misled. DAMNIT! I can't call stock as there's only ONE! BUT THANK YOU THANK YOU that ONE was able to help me. Slowly...slowly...the traffic decipated as I felt like I was somewhat gangraped with guilt thinking I wasn't good enough. Sad.

analysis: The recession's definitely affected luxury brands as costs were cut dramatically. There were only a total of 7 workers in a high volume flagship store, which is crazy. It was obviously not the Associate or in this case, my fault. It was a constant note and strategy from the managers to break away from customers to assist many different customers, however, that wasn't used by managers themselves. Furthermore, it was clearly unorganized and BRUTAL to just zone one poor associate in one whole floor as everyone else assists everyone from above. It was brutal! It comes to the point where you can just break down and grasp your head to tell everyone to shut the hell up! Reminder: In class, a pizza restaurant experiment was tested in class, where a specific group would have a total of 7 workers and another would have up to 24 or 27. Both numbers are completely ludicrous. As experienced first hand, a group of 7 may save the most costs, but at the same time, you are overworking your employees which can lead to bad customer service. With such a handful of workers, you can lose out on many sales because everything is so tight. The groups of 24 to 27 is rather generous, you would most likely to have your employees socializing with each other during downtime, possible might even lead to hookup stories and more. It's inevitable as there's always sex going on in every work environment. It's just unneccessary as quality would trump quantity in the case. In my opinion, an average of both would be most efficient.

Behind the scenes, everyone is very focused in making their own goal that they wouldn't neccessarily help one another out without helping themselves first. The managers put so much emphasis in making your goals that co workers would actually go to malicious situations to steal your customers or your sales to make their own goals. There is no prize but recognition, so why the hostility? It's literally come to the point where the environment is so negative from the insecurity and tension, which will lead to nothing but gossip and even more negativity.Mcgregor's studies are represented in the situation, where the managers fit into more of the Manager X category, where they would push workers to work to the extent where they are treated as dummies. All their orders just become redundant and gets disregarded. Like Argyris' studies, employees just want to be treated as adults and be left alone to work their magic naturally. So just get out of our butts already!

Luxury's just as cheap

situation: One would think working for a luxury brand would be easy. Less customers, Less racks, Less mess. Associate just stands in a 10x10 spacious cube with clean floors and shiny objects. Customer enters and Associate greets. Done.

Wrong. So so so wrong...

actual situation: Associate stands in a 10x10 spacious cube with clean floors and shiny objects they polished last night with their very own sweat because the cleaning crew is too $. Customer enters with sunglasses with a 'tude and Associate greets. Associates ignored. Customer too blind to find the actual price of an item due to oversized sunglasses, at the same time, too snobbish to reveal their precious new nose or lips to a lower class college student in retail, asks price of not so attractive but overly priced item. The not so attractive but overly priced item (also not so practical, unflattering, made actually in China but told Italy) actually runs for $$$$$$. Customer goes okay. Associate dismissed.

why i'm dog pEEs

Reason why I'm dog urine because of Mr. Rosado, high school art teacher. Assignment was to paint an inanimate object which represents you. A fire hydrant is defined as an upright pipe with a nozzle for drawing water from a water main. I am defined as a human being with a conscience for drawing morals from encounters.

I feel the need to say this, but I am actually not a fan of dogs. I don't hate dogs but I'm terrified of dogs. Lesson learned...dogs should never be left unattended without a leash before a kid has even hit puberty yet, it can be rather scarring.