Tech Quadrant: Why Should Humanware Update the Android Software on their Braille Note?

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe. I am glad to be back for today’s post because I feel like it needs to be talked about.

Why Is It Important To Update the Software on Braille Note?

As you all know, I have loved assistive technology and one part of it is the Braille end where there are devices to choose from and new ones coming out and the staples being kept. Two of those devices have been topics on here in the past which were the Braille Sense 6 from Selvas, which HIMS recently changed their name due to conflicts, and the BrailleNote Touch Plus from Humanware. I have done posts on the features in what they are best with and what students should look for when they look at these two for school environments. Today, I am back but this time it is towards the Braille Note only because I am annoyed due to how the software has not been updated to another Android version. I had talks with Humanware, even in person at this year’s A. T. I. A. in Orlando, in seeing if they are updating their software to a new version of Android like Selvas had with the Braille Sense. THey said no due to technical limitations and this boiled my blood! I think it is time to talk about my thoughts and talk about why they should update since it feels like they’re not listening. But first!

Disclaimer!

This post is based on experiences from my own and teaching, please respect my experiences and opinions about what I will be talking about.

Staying Relevant in the Competition

First, as I said above, there have devices developed over time and that includes the Focus models from Freedom Scientific, the Chameleon 20 and the Mantis 40 from American Printing House for the Blind, the Braille Sense 6 of course from Selvas along with their q Braille, and now their new Braille Emotion and the soon to be around Monarch. The Braille Note has been a staple in the Braille device world with the Apex being one of the major choices when it comes to students. I even loved the idea of the BrailleNote Touch Plus due to how it had a tablet screen underneath for the touch gestures and being able to compare it to the Sulvas counterpart for any students who may ask about the both of them. One thing is that they haven’t done any new major updates to Android since 8;1 is the one they have used and it has been out of date for years since Android is up to 14 and Braille Sense has updated to 12 which made it faster and run smoothly. Having a major update to Android would help the BrailleNote stay relevant within the competition with the other big notetaker and the other displays, since people have purchased their Brailliant devices which don’t feature the Android system. People tend to turn to the newest device when it comes to having the latest software to it and that is a big question that customers bring to the company. I could imagine if they were asked about what Android it runs on. If they heard 8.1 then they may either say “I will think about it.” Or go to something more modern. So, staying relevant is important to keep the customer base towards this device.

Apps Being Installed

One thing I got from students was the issue of installing a few apps on their Braille Note. My first encounter was that someone couldn’t install Bard Mobile which is the app version of the National Library Service’s app where people could download accessible reading materials which includes audio and Braille books. This app is a staple for a lot of us in the visually impaired community and could only be installed on the Braille Note when you got the device early enough. When I got my Braille Note all thanks to the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology or FAAST for short, I had their loan to purchase it which I am almost done paying off. I got it in 2021 and was able to install Bard just as easily. My student who has theirs which was more recent couldn’t install Bard. I was confused since I could. The second encounter was when another student couldn’t install Amazon on their device, which can be good for purchasing books from Kindle if you are in class and need to check the edition with the professor just in case.Again, I was able to do that since I had my device in 2021. I figured it was due to the Android version being old. I remembered having an Android tablet back in 2017 and remembered that with certain apps that I got the message next to each one saying, “Your device is not optimized to install this app.” Which means your device is not able to install due to using an out of date Android. This is an issue since most people who use this device are students and the learning system they use are apps and what happens if a student gets that message on their Braille Note? That would mean they can’t use the app to attend a lecture on Zoom or access any homework. So, having a new version of Android, taking 12 for example, would allow the user install apps even when up to date or even new to the Playstore.

Security Is a Must

Like with computers, people would love to stay safe while using a Braille device that runs Android. One thing about Android is that if a system goes out of date then the security goes bye bye. As in, your security is at risk while using the device.. Security is important because it allows the person’s information to stay safe which includes any passwords being saved, card information on something like PayPal and Google Play, and other important information that would be kept away from any prying eyes. Having a new version of Android on the BrailleNote will still keep the user protected even while browsing on any internet browser such as Edge, Chrome, and Opera. I think any customer would want to stay safe while using their Braille device and it would be an important factor for Humanware to know that their customers that have purchased their Braille notetaker are safe while using any app or the internet without being hacked. I would since I remembered my old MySpace account was phished and man that was fun having people contacting me if I was messaging them. By the way, this was on an old computer if anyone is wondering.

Device Speed Up to Date

Finally, I feel like device speed should be pointed out since I remembered how slow the Braille Sense Polaris was due to Lollipop being used. I felt like I was about to sleep waiting for any app to load until the Braille Sense 6 came out and I sent my device in for an upgrade. When I got my new device, it was on Android 10 and it worked like a dream with the speed. When it was updated to 12, the same speed was still good and still worked like a dream. Having new Android software will help with the BrailleNote being at a better speed even while loading certain media. 8.1 may be fast but the device should be faster with loading speeds. I do notice some slow downs at certain points and I think it’s time for that upgrade with the software since we are in 2024 and my Pixel Tablet runs better than my Braille Note at times..

Final Thoughts About This Device

I am going to say this but in my opinion the technical limitations statement is bull crap! Sorry, if a device like the BrailleNote was being made then Humanware would know that at some point the Android system would have to be updated to the next version. Selvas knew that they would have to do that with the Braille Sense 6 and made it possible to have Android 12 to be installed on their device and Humanware should have done the same by either having 10 or even 13 since that was the last big version of the software if they want to be ahead of the other notetaker by one version. I think with how it’s going that the BrailleNote Touch Plus may become obsolete due to how the software of the other braille displays are up to date and keeping up to date. I also see that the Braille Sense 6 would stay as a big product if Humanware steps up and adds the new upgrade to the software or builds a new notetaker with a new Android system altogether like Sulvas had one back in 2022. If they go the route of what Selvas had done, they should prepare that new notetaker for a later Android version. All I have to say is that now we have to see!

Well, that is it for this post! Next post will be another Cosmetic Controversy and we are returning to the sunscreen debate due to how a beauty brand is bringing the fear back into the subject. Until next time!

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on May 10, 2024 • Permalink

Posted in Blindness, Braille, Personal Experience, Technology

Posted by moonleopard85 on May 10, 2024

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2024/05/10/tech-quadrant-why-should-humanware-update-the-android-software-on-their-braille-note/

Beauty Quadrant: Beauty Counter Going Out of Business

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe! Sorry for not posting as of late, I have been making new videos on our YouTube Channel and it’s been fun! Also, I have been busy studying for the Assistive Technology Professional Certification as well which I will be taking in June. Now, it’s time to bring up a late breaking topic!

Beauty Counter is Going Out of BUsiness But Rebranding!

I was on YouTube yesterday morning and saw What’s Up Makeup with a title saying that bad things are happening over at BeautyCounter. As you know, I am Anti-MLM and hearing about how some MLMs are going out of business is making us happy. I bet you are wondering!

What is An MLM?

I have made a video about my encounters with Mary Kay and mentioned in that video that it’s basically a pyramid scheme. I know that this term is poison to anyone who works for these companies and they have gained popularity during the pandemic where people can’t work in person so they had to turn to other ways of making a living. MLM stands for Multi Level Marketing where you start at the bottom and have to sell products and buy the inventory to sell to make money for the up lines you signed up under. As you sell, you also recruit other people to work under you and you become their up line and that pyramid structure keeps building up. Problem is that the inventory you have to buy costs a lot of money if you only need a starter kit. THey say you don’t need to but you must in order to keep your volume and sales. It sounds terrible I know! I also wrote about this when I met some visually impaired who are also in this area of sales. It makes me sad since they are being taken advantage of but I am not talking about that today!

Beauty Counter

I am talking about Beauty Counter where they are a makeup MLM that is known for keeping their products super “clean” without the most “harmful” ingredients. THey did have their MLM structure but what made them different is that they were getting into the retail world by hoping to get into Sephora. I have recently started buying from Sephora here and there and with my experience so far I think they would not make it and they didn’t since they would have to sell a lot of products and pay a lot for shelf space. Plus, customers already have their tried and true products. Try watching most hauls back in the day especially with what we should get during their sales.

Now for a while they have been selling over at Ulta. This made it easier to get your hands on their products even on the Ulta app. Heck, they were even on their Semi-Annual sale for a day with a product. It is great to find products like this in stores because it keeps someone needing a sales rep to buy from, especially kept from being recruited into the pyramid. Here is the thing though, with a lot of the makeup that is sold at Ulta we don’t need to turn to Beauty Counter or other MLMs such as Monat, Arbon, Avon, and Mary Kay. A lot of customers prefer brands such as L’Oreal, Maybelline, NYX, and others. Heck, I still buy Urban Decay and Mac since I enjoy their items more. Why is that?

Quality of Product

One thing I could see as a factor is that the quality of a lot of these brands are better than MLM products. I had tried Avon and Mary Kay in the past and no sir I don’t like them! I was even given a blush way too deep for my liking and it felt scratchy. Also, the prices are better for most products and you get more for the price. I got a lip gloss from Mary Kay and it was tiny for what I paid for and super sticky! Stickier than a Mac Lipglass which is close to the $20 range as well but I get more product for that price. And of course, the ingredients are better even in the skin care. Mary Kay skin care sucks! I have sensitive skin and of course I prefer using Good Molecules and Tony Moly.. I did see the Beauty Maven review this brand and they said in their post that their products’ quality is good but you are better to get items for a better price and even cheaper. THey did become a consultant when they did this post in 2017 but left due to some of the requirements to stay a consultant. Which brings me to the next part.

What Is Going On?

Apparently, the business is shutting down. Not only are they shutting down, they fired all of their MLM consultants which is a pretty big first sign for this company. It looks like that they started doing this around April 17th of this month and it is due to dissolving the brand and re-branding itself. This did cause the brand to also let go of their employees in corporate which I saw Jen talk about in her video where people who worked for Beauty Counter contacted her and told her that they were in a meeting and found out that Greg Renfru, the one who started the company, announced that she bought the company and will be re-branding it but let go all of the people who were the MLM representatives and their corporate reps as well. This is sad for people who were on both sides of this company because they not only lost their place of employment but also any benefits they may have had working on the corporate end. Even though the MLM side would get any remaining commissions from what they had sold recently but lost what they believed would help them at home such as car payments, house payments and more which from what I heard does not pay much. Yes, you sell a lot but most of that payments are profit and commission based which is a small amount that goes into your pocket, also the money you spend also goes into shipping products as in getting boxes or envelopes, bubble wrap, and the software for making shipping labels, and printer ink!So many costs in running an MLM, I even heard how former huns say that they had to open credit cards to keep it afloat.

What to Expect?

Well, who knows what will happen with the new company that will come out of Beauty Counter. We have to see how they will pick themselves up from this. I think they should not have the MLM branch if they do re-brand since so many things happen with women in this industry. I heard stories about how they get taken advantage of and be undermined by their up lines. I have seen the videos of these women in some of my favorite Anti-MLM YouTubers showing how they act in their videos and how they sound, especially how they sound. Sorry to say to any huns reading this, it is very toxic! I also have seen that other brands are starting to crumble, which Young Living is one of them since their sales have not been the greatest from what I have seen. These companies are pretty much going up in flame and who knows will be next?

What Should You Do If You’re One of The Reps?

I bet you’re wondering, if you were with Beauty Counter and lost your job as a rep, I think it is time to wake up and start working on yourself as a person. I have heard stories from former huns where they did work on themselves as a way to re-build and come back to the real world where MLM is not running your life. I suggest listening to Life After MLM as a good start. I have enjoyed listening to Roberta’s podcast for a while now since she has talked about her experiences being in Lula Roe and how she got out of it. I even remembered seeing her on one of the documentaries about Lula Roe since she was one of the top people while being in it. I also suggest checking out Hannah Alonzo, Cici Suerez, Savannah Marie, and other people who do Anti-MLM since they do have good information on what MLMs do to the person and how to stay out of it.

Another thing after rejoining the real world is look into another job or a jobby that could lead into a job. Heck, write a book if you want to, there are a lot of possibilities out there to help get yourself on the right path.And of course, I should have mentioned this above, re-build finances and that includes credit since some peo0ple may have to use credit cards while being in MLM. You have to start from there and work yourselves up.

Well, that is it for this post. Man, it felt good to be back after a while. Being in front of the camera is nice but being behind my Chrome Book typing this feels even better!I will be doing a technology post that feels like it needs to be done. Stay tuned!

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on April 22, 2024 • Permalink

Posted in beauty

Posted by moonleopard85 on April 22, 2024

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2024/04/22/beauty-quadrant-beauty-counter-going-out-of-business/

Book Quadrant: What If Life Reset Was an Anime?

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe! I am back and I apologize for not posting after the last one. I think I was just too mad at the scam publishers calling me. I only had one and had to explain what self-publishing meant and hung up. I am glad none have come back after me. Anyways, onto a post I wanted to do for a bit.

What If It Was Anime? Life Reset: New Era Online

So, I decided to do this post on the Life Reset series with what if it was an anime. While listening to the books, I felt that the people narrating it were pro voice actors, especially the guy as Oren and the other guys he voiced for while reading. So, I thought about what if it was an anime series and who would cast each character? Who would I cast? Well, let’s see who I would cast! First!

Disclaimer

This post is based on who I would cast as each character! If I feel that one voice actor fits then please respect my choice!

Oren

First, is the main character of course, Oren! He would be someone I decide that would fit the voice as a leading goblin of a clan and then transition back to the real world later in the books!

My Choice: Brandon McInnis

While hearing the voice as Oren, I figured Brandon’s voice as Night Eye would fit Oren the best. I think of him as strong but a little conscientious at certain times, even while meeting Tika in the books. Also, he does get angry at times and needs to raise his voice so giving him a booming voice and a maniacal laughter when he goes full goblin makes it even more fun!

Vic and Edendandriel

I figured these two should have the same voice actor since they did have the same guy read as the role for the series. It would probably be easy to slip in and out of an AUstralian accent for Edandriel even when he sings.

First Choice: Josh Seth, Second Choice: Brian Beacock

There are times where first and second choices do come up. I figured Josh Seth would be a first choice since the V. I.s are goofy during the series and Josh can fit with his voice! If he can’t make it, Brian Beacock can be the next choice with his natural voice as well. The question is how well can they slip into the Australian accent for the other and slip back for Vic? That would be fun and interesting.

Teka

Now onto the main female lead, Teka! Also, the love interest for Oren throughout the series. At first, she does talk in a bit of an odd way since of course when goblins are seen they are seen as the lowest of the low in the world of NEO but Oren does change her personality and she talks more properly towards the end. Also, her interactions between Oren and Lirian give off the motherly mode pretty well.

My First Choice: Veronica Taylor, Second Choice: Monica Rial

Either one could work for Teka since I could hear Delia Ketchum with a hint of Sailor Pluto for Teka but if it was Monica, I hear Mira Jane from Fairy Tail. Depending on who auditions for the best, it could be either one to take on this role as the main romantic interest. Also, hearing how they would play off Brandon as Oren would make it more interesting.

Lirian

Next up is the daughter! You won’t meet her until around book four. I know spoilers but she did have a nice voice from one of the female narrators but the one I think could fit her would be…

Choice: Leah Clark

Leah Clark has been a big name in anime as of late playing such characters as Blair the Witch, Toga, and the voice I think would fit with Lirian, Mavis from Fairy Tail. I figured that it would fit the most with how she is supposed to be a year old in the end and she is strong for her age.

Guba

I have to fit this one in because I loved this character. My choice fits and you will see why!

Choice: Barbara Goodson

Whenever I listened to her appearances, I always heard Rita Repulsa every single time! It just fits since Guba is the main scientist towards the middle of the series since there is an actual cook to relieve her cooking duties. I can imagine yelling at Oren in the Rita voice. Now we have to make her say, “I now have a headache!” At some point!

Hoshisu

Choice: Trina nishimura

When reading this series, when it came to Hoshisu, I was thinking back to Trina’s character back in Kenichi: Mightiest Disciple since Hoshisu is supposed to be the ninja with blades as her specialty. Also, she can be great for the real world version of her as well.

Malkier

Choice: Ricco Fajardo

I figured that the voice of Mirio Togata would fit this big sweetheart! Throughout the series, Malkier has been an important support for Oren along with his sister, Hoshisu and I figured having him voiced by Ricco Fajardo would be a great choice.

Nero

Choice: Jesse James Grelle

Next up is a dragon warrior that is also important to Oren and crew. Nero first appeared around Book 3 where he is just a high leveled warrior that got reincarnated into a dragon. I thought Jesse James Tokuyami would fit the voice since he does become stronger and well known for being in the darkness. He does get wings later on!

The Mod Squad

Choices: Jad Saxton as Misa, Cheramie Leigh as Rastea, David Walde as the bug bear in this group, and Derek Steven Prince as the dark priest

I forgot the names of the guys in the Mod Squad, which are a small player group that helps Oren find things in the world of Neo. Rastea shows up in the second book as a little kitty girl! I figured Cheramie Leigh would be a good choice and Jad Saxton as Mixa, who uses chains as her weapons, would be great since she can do a British accent. I did hear her voice at times while listening to the books. I figured with Derek Steven Prince he could use his Uryuu voice for the dark priest elf in this group. David Walde could have his Gajeel voice for the bug bear guy in this group who uses shields.

Ragnar

Choice: John Swasey

Final role I would cast since there are so many characters in this series that I can’t cast them all! Ragnar is my final one for this one since he does become important towards the end. I chose John Swasey since he can do a southern accent and the real world version is a bit older since they do get released towards the end. Even though his voice has to be modulated a bit when he gets turned into an ant creature all thanks to Oren.Now I am hearing him say, “Fugly” like in the books.

Well, that is it for this post! I know it was a lot but wanted to keep it short and sweet! I am thinking of doing a cast for the Lunar Chronicles if it were an anime. Stay tuned!

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on March 27, 2024 • Permalink

Posted in Books

Posted by moonleopard85 on March 27, 2024

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2024/03/27/book-quadrant-what-if-life-reset-was-an-anime/

The Book Quadrant: More Scam Publishers and a Message to Them!

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe. It happened again!

More Scams & My Message To These People!

So, recently, I ended up being contacted by some scammers again about my books and still getting sick of it. I feel as though they keep on coming out of nowhere and it seems like they are becoming even more desperate for me to work with them. Heck, I have a voicemail transcript from one of them where I can feel the desperation from them as well. Let’s get into it!

Olympus Story House AKA Stone Age Media Solutions

First up is Olympus Story House or known as Stone Age Media Solutions. I never heard about this company until they called me out of the blue as always. They were calling me about Love Found in Cinders to see if I could work with them. Like with the other publishers before, they wanted to help with marketing or re-publish my book. As you know, like most people, I do research and what’s interesting is that they are also known as Stone Age Media Solutions. I found their Better Business Bureau page and they had complaints where people paid for services, even one for a website for $100 except they didn’t get a domain for the website. I did look into Olympus Story House and did not give much information on pricing or anything else.I am glad that I did find them on Writer Beware list and protected myself by blocking their number. I think they found my number out of nowhere thinking I would fall for their scam but what some of these companies don’t know is that I am not as stupid as they think. Heck, even some so-called magazines wanted to promote my book, one of them happened to be Movie Central Magazine, which has a .net at the end of their web page and they are just a bogus movie magazine that is also on Writer Beware list. They were trying to charge me for advertising packages and the cheapest way was $400 and no way I am paying for that! Another magazine tried to ask about an interview and I have a feeling that would require a payment as well. I think some of these companies are becoming more bold even out of California and the next one will be even more interesting to some.

PageLink Solutions AKA MetaPage Solutions

Next up is PageLink Solutions which are some of the most desperate of them all. I feel as though that my having a day to day job does not matter to these guys because what they were calling about was that my books were not having traction. I understand I don’t have any traction because I already have a lot on my plate right now which includes working forty hours a week and studying for my certification. I also do videos on YouTube to get more content since this year is our convention break. I try to promote everything I can, which includes my Patreon since that is how I am trying to raise money for publishing with my publisher but right now my focus is being certified in Assistive Technology and not writing.
I did try to research this company after the first call with them and it feels like I only could find their website. I also tried their original company name and not much luck there. I do notice how they don’t have a Better Business Bureau page so I could look into any complaints except nothing. They do offer the publishing services like the others alongside a press release, and a YouTube video promo. They don’t offer the price which is giving red flags. I did receive one other call and they did leave a voicemail and I am going to share the transcript now:

Hi Audrey Marinela, please contact meI’m earlier. I respect decision since you’re being disconnectedor that but here is the reason for my call. This is a great opportunity to have a revising your book because when I try to do summary restructuring Amazon, your book has not been movingThere is no traction okay? And well this is your biggest advantage because right here we have a promotion size for 50% to 70% of the promotion of the book. I can give you $299.70 to do some marketing and promotion of your book.”

I didn’t include her name nor number but I can tell that she really wanted me to work with her. It doesn’t sound like it to you but I could tell how she pushed it. And also sorry for the weird way of how it looks, I think my phone translated it to that. She did call me by “author” from our phone call but not that is not my title all the time. Or unless she called me Audrey for real? Seeing that price for promotion seems a little too good to be true since she talked about a discount.. To me, that is more than what I paid for my bookmarks that I had printed for Rose Thorns of Love. Here is a page from Palmetto Publishing that talks about free avenues of promoting your book:

How Much Does It Cost to Market a Book?

Another thing too, these publishers also don’t understand the true meaning of Self Publishing since it has been popular and that it means “DO IT YOURSELF!!!” My publisher mentions that in my payday emails saying “You have to promote your book with self marketing.” Again, I have been busy as of late since I am going for my certification which brings me to my next thing!

Message to Any Scam Publishers

(Clears Throat and Cracks Knuckles!”

Dear all scam publishers that are mentioned on the list linked after this message,

I have been writing for a few years now and have been a published author since around 2017 and my publisher has been great to me so I will never leave it to be scammed by you jerks! I am getting tired of you taking my precious minutes to tell me and try to blind me by saying that you want to help except I have read people’s accounts while doing business with you. You have taken hard earned money from this innocent crowd who want to be on the Bestseller list along with their favorite authors except you didn’t do that by wronging them by robbing them hundreds to thousands of dollars to pay your rates. I have to pay rent and eat like they do so I am not that stupid to fall for your tricks! Heck, I am wondering towards Stratton if you even helped anyone get a NetFlix series or movie deal for real? I don’t buy that! Writers’ Branding, you tried gas lighting me by saying my publisher was failing when they have a higher grade than you on BBB and you may have seen potential except I can still say no. EC Publishing, I understand I could be big at the London Book Fair except paying $500 for a tiny space on a shelf. I’d rather find another way to thank you very much and also please don’t whine if someone says no due to not wanting to work with you. And to everyone else, I do want to work with you. Like I said above with the other scam publishers above, I work hard to make my money and I pay rent and eat like most authors even on the New York Best Sellers List so leave me alone! My books are not yours to hope to work with. I would love to be famous but I want to do it in my own way. I already do the work by posting on Patreon, my author Facebook page, and even already got my books onto Audible. What more do you want from me or want to scam me with? Nothing! So, my final message is to fuck off! The reason why I disconnect my calls is that I don’t want to work with you.

Sincerely,

Marinela Ortiz

PS My title may be author but that is not always in front of my name!

And the link to Writer Beware if you want to see my dear reader to watch for these scammers:

Overseas Scams Writer Beware

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on February 19, 2024 • Permalink

Posted in Books

Posted by moonleopard85 on February 19, 2024

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2024/02/19/the-book-quadrant-more-scam-publishers-and-a-message-to-them/

Cosmetic Controversy: Keep Kids Out of Sephora!

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe. It is time for my thoughts on this Cosmetic Controversy!

Kids Are Not Allowed in Sephora!

So, imagine this my dear readers that you are in your local Sephora and you are hoping to get that Rare Beauty blush you always heard good things about and also get a few other things with that gift card your family members gave you. You’re browsing the shelves and you find it and about to reach it but you feel someone stampede into you and you almost fall and then look up to see that it’s gone! GASP! Okay, let’s see if I could find that new Drunk Elephant serum and you turn and head for that section and find it being destroyed by not just one but three ten year olds! Another GASP! You see more children showing up, including one who is holding that blush you were setting your heart on to purchase being applied on their cheeks when it was not a tester.

This scenario I wrote above is actually happening in a lot of Sephora stores across America and apparently Ulta is also starting to fall victim to pre-teens coming to the store with mommy’s and daddy’s credit card to purchase items but also causing a mess in displays and yelling at employees and customers. I bet you’re wondering why? It’s to get their little hands on the latest skin care item, the latest makeup item, or even perfume. When I heard about this on YouTube, I had to go and watch videos and I was appalled. I was even appalled when watching Kiki Chanel’s video about this and showing the different Tic Tocs about this topic and it is terrible due to how these kids are starting skin care and makeup early in life and now they are being called Gen Alpha.

How Did It Start?

2020 was the year of the pandemic and a lot of us were stuck in our homes and couldn’t go out without wearing a mask so we couldn’t infect everyone. One group in particular was the children and teenagers that couldn’t get out of the house. They were stuck at home doing virtual school and once that was done for the day they turned to social media to entertain themselves on their tablets and if they had them phones. YouTube has been a resource for a good portion of bingable material such as makeup tutorials and cat videos but as time continued Tic Toc rose in popularity with the short form videos. Some of the media that is being consumed are makeup tutorials and skin care videos talking about new products and what’s hot. Some of these videos include brands like Drunk Elephant, Summer Fridays, Glossier, and so many more.

This seems to attract many groups of eyes including the pre-teens who are at that age of being influenced and they think that they need that product to be part of the crowd and that they need to look beautiful and flawless when they already look flawless when they haven’t hit puberty where the skin goblins known as zits start popping up. I did have acne as a teen but my skin care was not really existent and this was before I knew I had sensitive skin. When my mom was alive she tried so many things to “help” with my acne. Yes, I used the word help loosely since it didn’t help my skin, it irritated it more with a tomato scrub she tried on my skin. I had to tell her it was not helping me and she kept pushing it but I was begging her to get me Clearasil due to getting a sample of the face wash in a bag of samples alongside samples with gum and a deodorant trial size. I loved the feel of it and it did not break me out at all. I also remembered the commercials and reading the articles about it and seeing advertisements in Teen People since I was in seventh grade at the time. She said no to it. Later on, I did try out something that did catch my eye and that was Neutrogena’s famous Oil-Free Face Wash. Like I said, I did not know my skin was sensitive and it could not take this brand. I had my dad buy it despite its $10 price tag and I tried it and I broke out after one use. My mom did ask me why I got it and I explained that my acne was causing me trouble. I was honest with that statement and she did have me use Irish Spring soap and alcohol to rub on my acne. The alcohol did help but it dried me out. I am glad at my age now, I was able to use skin care that is meant for my skin and tried out some items from my Allure Beauty Box to keep my skin moisturized.I even use Clearasil pads to keep my skin in check. Tangents aside, with the rise of Tik Tok, influencers have been trying out skin care items and that included the brands I mentioned above that are available in Ulta and Sephora and the issue is that these videos are not being seen just by people our age but kids as well and when they see that bright colored packaging they want it! Without knowing what is in the product. Which brings me to the next part!

Ingredients Not Meant for Kids

One part of skin care that helps with matching to your skin are the ingredients meant for your skin and the type of skin you have. Normally, you could see your skin type around the twenties and moving forward. Some ingredients certain types could take on include Glycolic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamides, and later on in the twenties retinoids would be looked at depending on the skin. Some of these products are not great for a child’s skin due to how thicker it is and can be more sensitive to these ingredients that can be found in an exfoliating scrub like the one I enjoy from Murad. Even Drunk Elephant tried posting about some of their products not great for kids which is a good step in the right direction but there is an issue.

Parents Allowing It!

The issue is how parents are allowing their kids to see these videos on Tik Tok and go to Sephora to purchase these products. I also have heard that a lot of these products can be harmful to these kids but also very expensive. I agree that having luxury skin care is not the end all be all for everyone. The most I have spent recently was $45 on the Purlisse Blue Lotus Balancing Moisturizer. I am so glad they are not carried in Sephora since they are an independent brand. I find it interesting that parents are allowing their kids to spend over hundreds of dollars on these products and I have seen some videos where there are parents who have better control over their children and say no. I remembered when Kiki showed a video some captured where their daughter wanted to have her mother buy lip gloss or something and the mother said, “No! You don’t need that lip gloss! I am not buying it for you.” The little girl had a tantrum in the mall and I was glad to hear that from the mother since she is right, a child like her doesn’t need a lip gloss when they should be using Lip Smackers. I even saw someone posted a comment that their daughter was stoked that she got a pack of lip balms flavored after Tootsie Rolls, Junior Mints and other candy. I would be happy as well, I confess myself I still use Lip Smackers since I enjoy the flavors and their care for my lips.

What would make parents an important factor is the lack of disciplining the child. I am not talking about spanking with a slipper, I am talking about telling the child “No,” also come up with punishments and consequences, basically grounding the child if they misbehave. I have a feeling after that family left that mall, mom grounded that child and hoping that would cause them from misbehaving again.I noticed that in some of the videos I have seen people clipped of moms not disciplining the child, it causes enabling these kids to act out even when they can’t find the product. One example was a clip of a Sephora worker talking about her experience where a ten year old asked about the new and popular Drunk Elephant Bronzey Drops that she probably saw on Tik Tok. The worker said, “No, I do have dupes I can show you.” The kid got snippity and treated the worker poorly and the worker told the kid that she doesn’t recommend it since it was a retinol serum but the kid was not listening and played with the testers. The kid did ask her mom to buy a retinol serum and the mother looked at the daughter and asked why she wanted a retinol? The daughter lied saying the worker told her to buy it. This caused the worker to yell at her thinking that she was lying when the worker said she didn’t recommend it since it was harsh. The mother would agree, right? Nope! Still bought it. Another part of the enabling is that these mothers create these mommy and me Tik Toks and they buy these products and allow the child to use the skin care such as some of the clips Kiki shown was how a five or six year old had an acid serum and done their nightly routine and had the mother help her pronounce the product’s name, which can be hard. Plus, it also seems that the child doesn’t know what it is so having the product in a video makes it even harder for them. It is basically that at that age children don’t know the item and what it does nor the ingredients. This is why parents should not be enabling not only the behavior of treating the employees at the store badly but also the purchase of these products with ingredients they can’t pronounce. It’s better just not enable them to get these things and harm their skin and harm to themselves. So, just keep the IPads and phones out of their hands for once, that is another part of the enabling since technology has been a leading factor in Gen Alpha’s behavior and their influence. I understand it is good to calm them down but having parental control over the device by limiting exposure by putting a timer would help. Also, having a talk about certain websites to go to when it comes to entertainment. There are YouTube Kids that can be a good example of keeping them away from Tik Tok. I did just check my phone since I have the IPhone 14 and they have added certain features to the Screen Time settings and that includes Content & Privacy Restrictions and the ability to share the screen time settings across devices that are logged into ICloud especially with family members. I also saw similar settings with my Fire Tablet and my Pixel Tablet. If I introduced my own kid to devices at the right time, I would definitely use these settings as a tech nerd myself but since I want kitties as my children, I don’t have to worry about that.

Scaring Customers Away from Shopping

My final point on this post is that customers are being scared away from shopping at these fine establishments! I saw Cassandra Bankson being one of them since she was trying to see if it is true that children and pre-teens are going in and this caused her anxiety to go up a lot. Even I have anxiety and I am afraid of stepping in myself since we do have a Sephora in Kohl’s now and it is down the road from where I live. Or even Ulta now since they are falling victim to this and I have two in each way. I heard how customers are being slammed against displays, bumped into in lines thinking it would go faster, even having products taken out of their hands. One story I heard was when a shopper went to go for the Summer Fridays peppermint lip balm and managed to find one but it was snatched by a ten year old and they took it out of the packaging and tried it on their lips and said they didn’t like it. That is another thing too, remembered years ago when I talked about how a woman got herpes from Sephora due to a tester? Well, children are walking petri dishes where they get their germs on everything! Even when they are sick they wipe their hands on things. I got sick one year when RJ was still working back in Orlando and saw kids who were sneezing and coughing during cold and flu season and wiped their hands all over packaged items, even on the display windows. THis caused him to be sick and then me which caused me to get worse twice! Even though the pandemic has winded down, cases have gone back up. So get your vaccines like I had this past New Year’s Eve. Anyways, you can still get a common cold and who knows where those hands had been on those testers even if it was touched and handled by a five year old. Also, taking the product out of the package and testing it and putting it back even causes more contamination, better to have a seal and just pick up another one on display if possible. After hearing some of these stories, I may be targeting myself since I’m visually impaired and can’t see them running for a display, so that can be a hazard for anyone.

Conclusion

So, my conclusion is that children are being influenced by who they’re watching on the internet. Social Media is nice but we have to keep them protected by the influence. Not only that, parents should put restrictions on the use of their tablets if they hand them over to them or not have them on there at all. If they are on a laptop, just have them close it when they are done with homework. I know it sounds strict but discipline is important and holding onto the electronics is important. Trust me, I was given restrictions with the amount of video games I was playing at ten.

What about the shopping part? Just keep them out of these stores! If I had kids, I would have RJ or Tobi keep an eye on them while being at the mall. If I have to have RJ come in, Tobi will be there keeping them occupied. There is always bringing a book, a fidget spinner, and other things to keep their minds off things. Toys were what I enjoyed at that age, taking them down the toy aisle at Target doesn’t hurt. What if the girls want to get into makeup at six? There are play sets that mimic makeup and they pretend to put on makeup. I had them when I was young so best to do that.

And parents start saying “No.” It doesn’t hurt. I was given that and if they ask, “Why?” Do not give the usual “Because I say so!” Just tell them that it is not appropriate for them to have. Just give them it’s good for mommy but hand them a sunscreen and say, “This is better for you, it will protect your skin from the mean sun.”

Well, that ends this post. It is hard to talk about this since this is a bad thing going around I feel for the employees and the shoppers that do enjoy going into Ulta and Sephora. Even myself as a visually impaired woman who enjoys getting ELF from time to time. Still, hoping this trend dies down as 2024 continues. I will probably shop my makeup online since it’s safer going through the websites on Safari at the moment.

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on January 28, 2024 • Permalink

Posted in beauty

Posted by moonleopard85 on January 28, 2024

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2024/01/28/cosmetic-controversy-keep-kids-out-of-sephora/

Book Quadrant: Life Reset: New Era Online Series by. Sharon Kuznitz

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe! I am back with a new book review!

Life Reset: New Era Online Series

During the pandemic, the idea of being transported to new worlds in the media has been a big thing. We had works such as Re: Zero, Konosuba, and so much more. This was known as Isakai and it has been big with anime and video games. One realm that I have been noticing is that it has been introduced to books and I read one of these series and it’s known as the Life Reset: New Era Online which I was interested in. Let’s see what it’s about shall we?

Synopsis

This series starts with our main hero, Oren, who has been a big name in the online game called NEO or New Era Online where you get to play as a character of a particular race and get to join parties to take out monsters to gain experience. He has worked with his guild for a while and has become higher leveled and is respected amongst players except one in his guild. Vatrice decided to betray Oren by giving him a scroll which changed him into a goblin and put him to level one and gets banished to a valley outside of the towns and far away from other players. He now has to start from the beginning as a goblin to get back at the guild that betrayed him. One thing though, in the real world he is trapped in the game after deciding to take on this new life as a goblin and has to live as one in the game.

During his time in the game, he takes on a goblin guild and calls it the Green Piece Clan and grows them up over time to become stronger in the game. This also causes a new type of humanoid race to take on goblin features to be part of his clan to get through the game. What he doesn’t know that the world of NEO has secrets that he taps into which causes trouble down the line such as freeing a dark deity into the world and having other players locked up in the game due to a new god taking over and now he has to save them in order to log them out as well.

Thoughts

At first the series did have a bit of a slow start to it. We do get to see how Oren starts his new life as a goblin and trying to reach out to his best friend, Tal, through the first few books while being locked away in the game. It did help with the world building since this kind of felt like the World from .hack even after the first round of games going into G. U. The story did ramp up when we were introduced to the twins, Hoshisu and Malkier. We do get to meet more characters who become important with the story like Nero, who is a dragon looking player, Rastea, who comes in to take on an evil plot all thanks to her uncle, blood uncle. And many others.

I did like how the story not only had the serious bits but it did have some funny moments, especially with the V. I.s. We meet Vic, who becomes Oren’s companion throughout the series, who helps him to take on his conquest. He is a bit of a smart aleck but he does have his serious moments at times. We do meet his brother, Eandandriel, sorry for the bad misspelling, who has an Australian accent and the guy who narrates these books does it so well and kept thinking if he was a voice actor or not along with the women who were in this doing the narration. There were also some pop culture moments which included songs which caused me to laugh at certain points. I think the one that took the cake was when they did “We Will Rock You” by Queen which the characters did the stomp, stomp, clap rhythm we know and love. I did like the sound effects that were added in during the last three books to make the reader become more immersed into the series. Even boss music played which made it even better.

The character interactions were also great since we not only had different narrators but we felt like we were just hearing them and how they were interacting with the game. I did like how the original narrator changed his voice for certain characters such as Zubong, Gumba, Teeka, and had some reverberation added when he had to be Nialator. I did like the female roles being taken on by women for characters such as Rastea, Duladene, and Misa. It still made me feel like I was playing the game with them all. I will be doing another post with who I think should voice each character for an anime if it were to be one.

Rating: 4 Out of 5 Shooting Star Paws Out of 5

I do have to take one point off for the first part of the series with how it did start slow but it did build up into a really good story as you continue throughout each book. Each book did have their own set of quests and ending situation but I do have to say is I liked Oren going into Axar during the third book since we get to see the Green Piece Clan getting into a new location.We also get to see how goblins are treated in most places since they are seen as bosses and monsters after all. I do have to admit the series did have a sweet ending since we get to see the outcome. I won’t spoil it but do recommend the audio version of this series!

That is it for this review! It feels good to be back in book reviews, I need to start reading items on my Kindle again. Next up will be a Cosmetic Controversy, I know everyone has heard what is going on with Sephora and I have a few thoughts myself. Until next time!

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on January 22, 2024 • Permalink

Posted in Books

Posted by moonleopard85 on January 22, 2024

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2024/01/22/book-quadrant-life-reset-new-era-online-series-by-sharon-kuznitz/

Drama Quadrant: Is it Worth Lying for a Brand Sponsorship?

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe. I am back with a new post and it is something that is brewing for a bit.

Drama Quadrant: Is it Worth Lying for a Brand Sponsorship?

I have been seeing this of late on YouTube about how some Tic Toc personalities have been lying about a product by saying it is great at first and then it’s crap later on or the other way around. Micaela Niguera is one of these people and using her as a great example where she said in one of her Tic Tocs about how she hated the Kosis Revealer Concealer at first due to how the shades did not match her cool undertone and now that they have new shades she is singing their praises! I am sorry! That is a bit disingenuous in my book due to how being a consumer and how we spend our buck in the Beauty Quadrant here is how we get to try products and see what we like and what we don’[t like. Even though it’s great to earn that coin, I think brands need to look at who they are sponsoring and I will be talking about that below but first!

Disclaimer!

This post is based on thoughts on the topic at hand! Please respect her thoughts on this topic because it could be different from many including the Stans in the universe! You have been warned!

Let’s turn back the clock a bit because this is not a new thing since drama channels have been talking about this since Morphe has been a big star in the YouTube Universe! I remembered watching videos from Jacqueline Hill, Manny MUA, and Laura Lee talking about how Morphe is so amazing and that they are so obsessed with what they’ve been sent. They raved about how amazing the brushes were so amazing. I remembered when Morphe first appeared in Ulta and decided to try out one of their brush sets which was their vegan brush set and after trying it out, even on camera during the early days of our channel, they were not as they are cracked up to be. My question was what was the hype in the first place? They are just okay brushes!Even having the James Charles pallet, I bought it because it was going on sale due to the crap he was going through, I thought it was not special either. I also noticed with some of these products they were only used once in one video! If you have been subscribed to our channel and have seen my makeup videos, you know you see me using my favorite foundations and powders over and over even if I am trying something new! I bet you’re wondering, why is this important? Well, it feels as though that with new influencers over at Tic Toc have taken the reigns and have been not being so honest with their reviews as well and say that one product is great so they could get their money and that has been seen earlier and it feels as if that cycle is being repeated.

Like I said above, as a viewer we do like to see what is new in the makeup space and sometimes we do turn to the internet to see if someone has reviewed the newest item by a particular brand. Let me use the Revlon Illuminiskin Care Foundation I have put in my last six month favorites. I was glad that Jen Luv talked about this since she has tried it and raved about it because she has been using it for a few weeks. I decided to try it out by picking up one bottle and used it for a bit myself even for Instagram photos. I have to agree that it is a great product, it doesn’t make my skin sting even on the first try since I enjoy products with Hyaluronic Acid since I have dry skin. Now, if Jen were to say that is a product that is not good and just avoid it altogether then I would not buy it or just watch someone else’s review to get a second opinion if necessary. An example of a bad product where someone says it was good but not good for others and that is the Maybelline 24 Hour Super Stay Hybrid Powder. I remembered how Nikki Tutorials raved about this powder but it had terrible reviews where it caked on people and that the shades didn’t really match for some. The recent reviews have been good but when I read the earlier ones when I found about it it did not have my money at all.I just stuck with what I liked and that was the end of it.

Why is it Hard to Be Honest?

One question that has been popping up is that why is it so hard to be honest when it comes to reviewing products? I think it’s because people want the brand to notice them and keep on giving them products and not drop them. I like the idea of getting a product for free but for years I have never been sponsored by anyone because I don’t get noticed enough and that’s okay. Also, I am okay in being honest with what new item I have tried after purchasing it. Two examples have been the Naruto and Sailor Moon pallets that came out last year from Colour Pop. I did videos on these pallets and I was honest in not liking the color selection in either one because they didn’t go with the series they were based on. I did agree with a review on the Sailor Moon one that someone stated they should have fans help choose colors. I was completely honest with that and didn’t get flack for it, even from Colour Pop which in my opinion that some brands should take the honesty from the people who reviewed these products to improve their releases. I heard when someone is honest in how bad the product is or tries to say it could be better if they made some changes which shows how the brand doesn’t like the honest feedback and say bye to that influencer and try to make excuses for the product. A good example when the Sub Culture pallet came out from Anastasia Beverly Hills. I remembered how people didn’t like how powdery the pallet was and that the colors didn’t blend, if they tried blending it would rub off the eyes and I saw people on YouTube talking about it. Anastasia did make videos saying you were using the pallet wrong and it should have been used differently. She also made a video talking about her history trying to say her brand is not like that. Some of the people on YouTube didn’t like that video and still said that the pallet would have been better if it was pressed better so they wouldn’t hit the pan so quickly and that the colors blend better. Constructive criticism is great especially with seeing how the brands would improve along the way. It doesn’t hurt being honest for once and that brings up another point.

Brands Should Look At Past Work By the Influencer Before Sponsoring

With Micaela, I remembered how some of the drama channels covered her Essence videos when they sponsored some big names to create videos on their products. Micaela had tried some of their face products and didn’t like them and once she got sponsored by them her tune changed and said they are amazing. This should be something for brands to watch for and think about who they are working with. Yes, some of these people are big but the audience prefers people who are honest when it comes to the items. This should have them look at past work the influencer has done on any platform which includes YouTube, Tic Toc, even here on WordPress if they go around looking at blogs. Heck, they even look at Trend Mood. Looking at past videos or posts would let them think about if the person would fit their campaign more. Yes, it would be tedious and annoying despite having a timeline for the release of the product but it gives the brand new people to check out that are either starting out or have been reviewing makeup for a while. If ELF, for example, read my blog post on how I mentioned the Power Grip primer was not my favorite, they know that I prefer the hydration one more since I did enjoy that one while using it in Orlando and I was honest and they would probably hit me up for a future collab or something if it were to happen. I would be someone new and interesting to try out newer skin care or something as an example. I would not turn around and say that the Power Grip primer is amazing and have a comment asking “Didn’t you say you didn’t like it?” I don’t play like that. So, tangents aside, brands should at least look at how the person is really liking and reviewing products or not liking products and think about who to work with since not everyone is honest.

How Could Influencers Improve?

I feel like that this is an important point to bring up since of course the audience does fluctuate and if they don’t like the video they can just move onto the next. It does happen even with how I see it in my channel’s watch time sometimes if I want to see how well the views improved or not. My thought about how most of these would improve when it comes to reviewing anything is just say what you really think about the product. Like I said above is that it doesn’t hurt to say it. I understand you want that good relationship with the brand but I am glad Jen is real with some of the brands she partners up with by saying that she will review the product or sponsor with anyone if she really likes the brand and their products. For instance, she always works with Native because she loves their products and even talks about her favorite scent being the peach nectar scent. I did use her code to get the candy scented stuff since I did like the raspberry scented deodorant from that. If Native came to me with some of the Girl Scouts scents, I would probably say up front I am sort of skeptical with the peanut butter scent but willing to try the others. If they still sent me peanut butter then I would still try it and see if I like it or not and if not, then I would be honest and say, “Not my favorite scent, wishing it was a different cookie.” Like I said, it doesn’t hurt to be honest in how you feel about the product. Turning around and saying it’s great after it’s not is not the way to go.

Another thing too is that influencers should also research into the brand that they are about to partner up with they haven’t tried before. I remembered how some of them reviewed products by Jones Rhode which Bobbie Brown has explained that the reason that some of this makeup is not intense is due to how it’s meant for more mature skin and that it could be built up or just have a wash of color. Some makeup brands are starting to do the slight sheer makeup instead of doing intense pigmentation due to how people’s skin changes over time even when we get older. Everyone has the internet at their fingertips and it’s good to look up the brand before taking on the sponsorship and products. Or asking questions about the products that are being sent to them and how they should be applied could be something to bring up. It would help with the relationship between brands and influencers. Definitely don’t want another Mascara Gate happening.

Well, that completes this post. It felt good to get all of that out in the open. I feel like it is important to talk about this since it is popping up more even on Tic Toc and it’s not right since yes it is important to get that coin to help to pay a bill or something, heck even get an item for the video but at what cost for the sponsorship? So, what is next for a post? I will think of something! Stay tuned!

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on January 11, 2024 • Permalink

Posted in beauty, Drama

Posted by moonleopard85 on January 11, 2024

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2024/01/11/drama-quadrant-is-it-worth-lying-for-a-brand-sponsorship/

Advice Quadrant: How to Survive A Higher Degree Program As a Blind Person

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe. Time for another tips and advice post after so many years!

How to Survive a Higher Degree Program As a Blind Person

As you guys know, last month I graduated my Master’s Program in Assistive Technology and have done it for the past two years so that is why there haven’t been many posts in between. I was doing what I have done back in my days of going for my Bachelor’s Degree which included reading books, articles, and making sure I turn in things on time.

To some people, a Bachelor’s Degree is enough to get by even when it comes to searching for a job but having a Master’s or Doctorate is recommended or required for certain jobs nowadays. There are most people that just want to advance their knowledge in their field, which is what I did for my own career since being able to learn about technology for other disabilities would help me as I further in my career. I bet you’re wondering, “Wait Mari! You’re blind, how were you able to get through the hurdles in the program?” That is why I’m here! Even though these tips you will read down below could apply to someone going through a Bachelor’s Program or an Associates but mostly for a Master’s Degree and beyond since times change and things change. So here are my tips on how to survive the higher degrees!

Work on Increasing Your Reading Speed

No matter what college program you’re going into you will be reading a lot of material. There will be textbooks, articles, presentations, even webinars if they are offered for extra credit. No matter what you will be reading a lot and having a visual impairment makes reading a bit difficult. Some people are able to read large print while others are able to read braille but it could be time consuming depending on the material being read. Before I applied to George Mason, I decided to improve my braille reading speed since at my last school I was questioned about my reading comprehension. They even hoped I would take one of the entrance exams that dealt with it to see where I was at except there were some technicalities that got in the way that kept me from taking the test. I did take the time in between my withdrawal and application to read books in braille to improve my reading before I start applying.. Being able to increase that reading speed can help with reading at a higher level since there will be a lot of articles and sitting at a desk for hours will take too much time to complete. One good thing with most screen readers or digital material apps there are skim reading tools that can be activated and can skim through the material to make it easier to read. Also, using different braille reading techniques can also increase the speed. When I was improving my speed, I was using the split line reading where I go half the line with both hands, use my right finger to go to the end of the line while my left one goes to the next line. Also, increasing the speed will also help with any tests or quizzes that may occur depending on the program you go into.Better start revving those reading engines!

Check if Your Technology is Obsolete!

After the Bachelor’s Degree, someone would probably still have their devices that they used while being in college such as any digital book players, notetakers, or even recording devices. One thing that can happen is that some of these devices break down over time and most companies create new ones after discontinuing a device or recommend the newer one if they are starting to no longer carry the older one. Being able to see if things have changed when it comes to technology helps get an idea of what needs to be upgraded in the tool kit once getting into the higher degree programs.

Knowing the New Technology You May Need

Since I mentioned technology may break down, when it comes to upgrades it is best to look at newer devices that may be the best to work with you. As in, if you hear about the new device, do research on the device since vendors would talk about the features on the website since salespeople would try to have you put the money down without knowing more about the device since sometimes people regret their purchase. Technology for visual impairments is not cheap even in the realm of braille devices. Another good idea is read any reviews that may be out there on the internet from users if the device is good or not. Another good resource is watching reviews on YouTube or even tutorials to see if the device is easy to use before putting it down on the checklist. Plus, it could give you an idea if any features have changed from the previous model that you may need to expect when it comes in that shiny new box.

When Looking Into the Program, Prepare to Ask Questions!

So, you want to learn more about the program? Of course, the first place you would probably go to is the school’s website that would have the program you’re interested in. There are going to be times that you may need more information and you see the advisor’s contact or the college contact since they could be the people to go to and it’s good to have a list of questions to clarify the information you may have read or even what might be expected when in the program. There are many things to ask about and having those questions will help guide you in knowing what you may need and have to get once you’re filling out the application. Heck, even asking about the application itself to reassure what you may need to put down on it would also guide you in the right direction. So, more questions, more information to guide you.

Have More Schools to Look At or As a Backup

Doing research on schools can be overwhelming even when it comes to the advanced degrees. When I was looking into schools for Assistive Technology programs, I found more Graduate Certificates and a few Master’s Degrees despite how much of a niche field it is. I did find out FSU here in Florida used to have one but due to lack of interest they ended it. Looking into more than one school doesn’t hurt since their programs may have different courses from each other and different material when it comes to the subject. Depending on who you have as your first choice, having a second choice as a backup would help. As in, if you went into the program and it doesn’t go well the first time, you have another to apply for that may go a lot better like I had. Make sure you choose two schools that are your top two and you’re good to go!

Pay Attention to Any Provisions Placed On You!

This is important since this can happen. Most schools are expecting you to have a 3.0 GPA on your transcripts from your Bachelor’s Degree and that can be hard sometimes since some courses can be rough and sometimes the GPA could be at that edge of a 3.0. Yes, being out of Academic Probation is important. So, if you apply and still get in, Admissions or the program may place a provision for you to complete to see if you could keep it and stay in the program after completing it. When I was at U. Mass, I had three! That test mentioned earlier was one of them. At least when I was in George Mason I had something easier and did pay attention to my grades within the first few courses since I had to get at least a B or above to stay. Still, if you have anything to do as a provision, pay attention to it and make sure you complete it!

Update Any Accomodations You May Need!

You may have gone through the Bachelor’s Degree with your first set of accommodations and once you feel as if you want to continue with your education journey things may have changed and you may need more assistance once in the classroom or online. Having that accomodation letter for your instructor with the accommodations you need helps make the classroom environment easier, even with assignments. Having that letter updated with newer accomodations or talking with the professor to have them know what you need to be successful for every module makes the class more interesting and sometimes can help the professor expect for future students if they have similar accommodations or may need to work with the on campus disabilities office to get something done to help that student. One example, I had videos during one course where it was hard for me to understand and the professor was able to work with disabilities services to have audio description done for me to understand the media better. Also, I did have issues with PDF field not being accessible for some readings and the professor worked on getting those become readable for me. Still, having new and updated accommodations would make the course easy to navigate.

Google Tasks Is Your Friend!

During my time at George Mason, I was introduced to Google Tasks all thanks to a co-worker since they used it themselves. It has helped me out throughout my time since I put all of my modules and project due dates on the calendar to help me out. Once I was done, I tapped on “Task Complete” and it was gone! I also liked it how it reminded me on my I Pad home screen if I hadn’t done it yet or taken it off the list. I would say is to download it on your App or Playu Store to whatever device you use because it will be handy. Wait! You have a Chrome Book? It is already installed on there! Also, to my Braille Sense and Braille Note Users, it is also accessible on those devices when needed.

Keep an Eye On Your Grades!

This is improtant, especially with provisional status. Depending on the learning system your school would use since some states have been changing over to Canvas over the past few years, there is an option where you can keep track of your grades. This gives an idea if you’re turning in your items in on time or if your professor has graded anything to give an idea of your progress. It may take some time since some professors are teaching more than one class each semester. Most grades would be completed towards the end of the semester so I would keep a strong eye on that at the end.

Create Desktop Shortcuts for Most Important Web Pages!

I am speaking from Microsoft experience since I had desktop shortcuts and task bar entries for Blackboard and other web pages I needed since I did have to sign up for courses and get my accommodation letters. Having these on your desktop helps with navigating to them easier when you need to access them at certain points of the semester. I know the bookmarks bar a great but sometimes that link will not always be there when you need it so having it on your desktop will be best. If you’re using an I Pad or I Phone, there is always the widgets you can do right on your Home Screen. I am not sure about the Pixel Tablet which that is a new project for me!

Sighted Guide Rules for Graduation!

Finally, you have finished all of your course work and ready to graduate at the end of the semester and now what? You may need someone to guide you across the stage! Asking the events coordinators or the disabilities office about the requirements for guides help with the comfort of knowing that you can have one to get across the stage. It’s best to get it done once emails appear about the graduation date and tickets to know how to plan that walk. RJ walked across with me which was great but not all colleges have the same rules for guides so asking about it gives a better idea of what to expect. Even some colleges have forms for it so pay attention for that or if it’s on the graduation application as well if you need assistance walking the stage. So, get the information you need for graduation!

That is it for this post! It was a long onesince getting the opportunity to advance your educational journey is a great thing to include. Heck, it even feels better to put your graduation level at the end of your name in your email signature is even better. I think the best part of my accomplisment was getting my class ring with my Master’s Program on it. Still, I would say is don’t be afraid of getting that degree, you can do it since I’ve done it myself. What’s next? I am not sure as of yet. My road to certification will continue but I may think of something to write! Stay tuned!

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on January 4, 2024 • Permalink

Posted in Accessibility, Blindness

Posted by moonleopard85 on January 4, 2024

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2024/01/04/advice-quadrant-how-to-survive-a-higher-degree-program-as-a-blind-person/

Bests & Worsts of 2023

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe. Welcome to the final post here for the year.

Bests & Worsts of 2023

It is the time of the year where I share my bests and worsts of 2023. This year has been a year that started off rocky for me but ended very well. At first, I released my second book in my Backwards Fairy Tale series, Rose Thorns of Love, and started my second to last semester in my Master’s Program in January. One thing I would not think I would go through is listing a parent. The week after I released Rose Thorns, I lost my mom and was very devastated. I know we would lose loved ones at some point in life but I was not expecting it to happen this year and my mom was a cheerleader during my time at George Mason since she had told me when I left my first school, U. Mass-Boston that she knew I would figure things out and she was right. I know she would be proud of me, even at graduation I asked the sky if she was watching me walk the stage. I know she was since I did get through my program. Also, I did return to YouTube since we were doing press for RangerStop and was glad we got to go this year after Hurricane Nicole did what it did to us. We are staying in the same apartment for another year since we had a smooth year. Now onto the categories!

Video Game Release of the Year: Resident Evil 4 Remake

This year brought us another Resident Evil remake and this was for the fourth installment in the series. Not only RJ was surprised but a lot of other people were surprised since this is a favorite game for a lot of people. I did get some glimpses of RJ playing and he did show me the demo and they have done some changes to some of the lines and added things and taken a few things out. Of course, they kept Squeaky Voice Napoleon in this one like before.

Book of the Year: The Woman in Me by. Britney Spears

This year was about women writers and one of them happened to be Britney Spears with her book which told all and that was The Woman in Me. This book told what she went through with Justin Timberlake, being married to Kevin Federline, and her conservatorship that we did not know since we didn’t know what happened behind the scenes. Even though she was not the narrator during the book, I don’t blame her like I had said in my review after reading it but it was a really good read. If you remembered the song “Lucky,” this was basically the true story throughout the book. If you haven’t read it, I would recommend it!

Movie of the Year: Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

I have to give major props to James Gunn with his last installment of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. To me, this movie took more of a serious turn since it gave us the story behind how Rocket Raccoon came to be in the story. I did have an audio description while seeing this in theaters and it was also great. I know we did have the “Peter Will Return” but who knows who will take over James’ place with the next Guardians film since he is taking over DC’s movie company since the Bat Girl movie was placed on a shelf. Seriously DC? Let’s see what the future holds!

Mini Series of the Year: Loki Season 2

This year we got to see the second season of Loki. We get to see what happened after the end of season one and get to fix up the TVA after losing their leader, He Who Remains. We get to see them time travel more which makes a great twist to history and how the branches work. I think this season explained the idea of timeline branches more than the first season and did get to see Loki become a hero more. If you haven’t seen this season, go and do it!

Return of a Series: Doctor Who to Disney Plus

So, if you haven’t been on Disney Plus as of yet, Doctor Who is now on there. It is a new series of special episodes that take place once Jodie Whitaker’s 13th regenerates back to the 10th Doctor. So, that means David Tennant is back and returns to London to meet up with his old companion, Donna Noble, who finds out that she gave away a fortune and now lives with her mother and her daughter is now grown up. While in London, a spaceship crashes with a new creature showing up, getting to travel across the universe again with Donna, and a meeting with an older foe from his past causes a new regeneration someone doesn’t expect. We still need to watch the latest episode for Christmas but we are glad to see Doctor Who on a streaming platform we have.

Anime of the Year: Jujutsu Kaisen

I have been watching this anime for a little while now and that is Jujutsu Kaisen. This year was a series for a lot of merchandise such as a collaboration with Gamer Supps, which included cups with characters and a flavor called Cursed Energy which is delicious by the way, a collaboration with Sanrio, and Sugoi Mart making lucky bags! This series is about Yuji, who saves his friends one evening by eating the finger of the demon, Sukano. Yuji has not only collected the fingers but he has to hold off total possession by attending Jujutsu High and meets other Jujutsu Sorcerers so he could become one. Right now, I am watching the point where they go up against their rival school.

Perfume Brand of the Year: Skylar

As you all know, I have subscribed to ScentBird since last year and have tried so many perfumes and bought perfumes in their full size counterparts as well. One of these brands I have enjoyed and gotten full-size bottles happens to be a brand called Skylar. I have gotten Pink Canyon, Indigo Valley, Coconut Cove, Honeysuckle Dream, and Vanilla Sky. I am using a sample size of Peach Fields and Boardwalk Delight in the vials.

Runner Up: Juliet Has a Gun

I do have a runner up and that goes to Juliet Has a Gun. This is a high priced brand but they do have equally good fragrances. I do have a dupe of one of their scents from Dossier which is for Not A Perfume which is a musky scent and the dupe is called Musky Musk. If you can’t afford the actual version, I would suggest the Musky Musk dupe.

Skin Care Brand of the Year: Tony Moly

Tony Moly has been a major favorite of mine for over two years and being able to have their app makes it easier to purchase their products. I still swear by their AM Gel Cleanser for my morning skin care routine and do enjoy their Chock Chock Green Tea Moisturizer. One thing I have been enjoying recently is their Jelly Melts. They look like jello molds which are known for their cute packaging. I am using the Toasted Marshmallow one from their holiday collection. It goes on smooth and very clear and it is basically a lip oil once on the lips. They do have regular flavors for the regular collection and I did pick up their Litchi one. This brand is amazing and will keep on buying from them.

Worst MakeUp Primer: ELF Power Grip Primer

This is not my favorite makeup primer when I tried it. ELF has awesome products but this was not the greatest for me. The Power Grip Primer felt a little rough for me when it came to applying foundation even though it is supposed to be hydrating. I feel that the moisturizing was better since I used that during RangerStop. If you like the Power Grip, great but not for me!

Worst Natural Disaster: The Maui WildFires

I felt that I would mention one of the worst natural disasters and that goes to what took place in Maui in Hawaii. They went through wildfires that were started by a power line that fell and the line was sparking which caused fires to destroy the town and homes as well. When I heard this, I was devastated because I remembered the wild fires we had here in Florida in 1998 which was bad and remembered smelling the smoke in the air and causing fireworks to be banned that year for Fourth of July. People are mad at the government because they didn’t warn anyone since they didn’t use the warning systems which were also used for tsunamis to hit. I feel bad for the people since I had heard people lost so much of their livelihood on that island. I hope things have gone better as this year ends going on into 2024.

Worst Man Made Disaster: Titan Disaster

I was supposed to talk about this on Nerdy Shique Transmissions since I do cover technology but due to everyone covering it over time that I let YouTube take its position!When I heard about this, I was palmed with the information on the guy who had Titan created. So, in June of this year, the Titan went down to be able to go around the Titanic shipwreck that was near Newfoundland when it sank back in the 1910s. The vehicle was controlled with a game controller and was able to sink down into the water once let go of a crane and ballasts. Except this vehicle imploded as they went through the ocean due to the pressure increase in the water. Five people died on this trip which is sad since one of them was a 19 year old man who went with his father for bonding. A lot of people believed that this shouldn’t have happened nor had this take place and after watching the many videos I agree. Water pressure is a huge thing even close to the Titanic shipwreck. Even James Cameron went on a deep sea diving expedition to the wreck but it was a licensed vehicle at least and it was an actual sub he was in. This, the Titan, was not since the carbon fiber was not meant for expeditions like this when a lot of heavy metals are used. As a technology Master’s Degree holder, they should have discontinued the Titan altogether and built a new vehicle altogether with actual metal. Like with a lot of historical disasters, things like this happen if the company decides to do it on the cheap and that is what took place here. One thing about business, especially with writing, in order to make money you need to spend money and looking at this, they wanted to not spend it. So kids, do not go on sea expeditions on the cheap!

Best MakeUp Come Back: Urban Decay with the Naked Metal Mania Palette

Back to the best categories and that is a great come back with Urban Decay with their Naked pallets. They released the Metal Mania palette this year and it was a great comeback with this pallet. It was a call back to the Naked 2 and I was happy while using this pallet! It fits with the name with the metallic shades, the smoky shades and the ones in between. You can see my video using this product on the Nerdy Shique Universe YouTube Channel.

Best Podcast: Do We Know Them

No, that is the actual name! I found this channel on YouTube out of nowhere while looking for some drama during the summer and found Lily and Jessie on YouTube and I find them very entertaining when it comes to talking about different celebrities and YouTube personalities. I did enjoy their take on what is going on with a mortician on Tic Toc which they are being sued which I hope they can get through but they are still amazing ladies on the internet! I will still enjoy their channel on YouTube. Give them some love!

Runner Up: Beautiful & Bothered

Another podcast I like to give a shout out to here is Beautiful & Bothered. They are two gay guys by the name of Johnny and Kevin and they give their opinions on beauty. I love their opinions on products and I did mention some items I have bought all thanks to them in my last post. I also love their humor which I snorted here and there like with Do We Know Them. I think the most hilarious moment was when Johnny tried to open a champagne bottle during their Best of Beauty Awards for Skin, Fragrance & Hair. I would say to either watch on YouTube or listen to on your favorite podcast platform!

Well, that is it for this post! I want to say thank you for another year of posting. I am glad to give you as much material as I could during the year. 2024 will be a big one. I will be bringing new things, actually started bringing new material to YouTube by doing Asian Snacking videos which you can catch now. Even though we were supposed to have a break from conventions, it looks like we are going to MegaCon for at least a day due to guests that we want to meet. I am going to be studying for my certification since that is something I have wanted ever since going down my path of Assistive Technology Career. And well, planning on getting married finally. I know we have been together for over seventeen years and looking for a job and getting my Master’s were my main priorities for the past nine years or so. I rather take the time since we were not in a hurry and in order to get some plans together, even moving, I needed the money to get those things working. So, yes we are finally getting around to it, it will happen within next year, if not who knows? We will be updating. So, 2024 let’s make it happen!

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on December 27, 2023 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by moonleopard85 on December 27, 2023

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2023/12/27/bests-worsts-of-2023/

Six Month Favorites: July Through December 2023

Hello to all of you beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast nerd universe! I am back with my Six Month Favorites!

Six Month Favorites: July Through December 2023!

It is that time again where I talk about my six month favorites. I do have a few since there are new things I had rotated in and out and enjoyed. Let’s see what I got!

Versace Bright Crystal

Starting off with a perfume this time since I have been enjoying my stuff from ScentBird. The one that got me the most a and finally got a full size Bright Crystal from Versace. I have loved the Femme perfume from this brand years agl.9o but that was a bit too strong if I am not too careful when I had the one ounce bottle. Bright Crystal is what got me back into Versace and I like the clean scent it gives off and did ask for it as a Christmas gift and graduation gift from my dad and he did get me the gift set. I did use up the body wash and that smelled good when I used it. I still use the lotion at the moment to keep my legs moisturized. I do have the big bottle but did take the travel size with me for graduation and wore it on graduation day and on the way home. I will get the bottle only since gift sets do get over bearing and hard to use up items in them. I am appreciative that he got the gift set and the bottle looks nice on my vanity. Still a great scent!

Furla Preziosa

Next up is another perfume but only in the ScentBird vials and would be Furla Preziosa which is another amazing scent. It is sweet with floral hints which I enjoy. It also brings a slight citrus with my chemistry but still enjoys the notes of rose, geranium and a bit of vanilla as well. Not sure if I want to pick up a full-size when I run out of my other vial since I got that in a trio set. Will have to see.

Milani Fruit Fetish Lip Oils

Next up is the new Fruit Fetish lip oils by Milani. Lately, I have been enjoying lip oils because I can just apply and go without worry. I do like the ones from Milani since they feel good on the lips. I even carried one of these to RangerStop in Cherry Lime. I also just repurchased the Blackberry and Ogave one since I love blackberries. I did buy other ones to try them out but these are my top two favorites from this line. I highly recommend it!

CoverGirl Clean Fresh Yummy Lip Gloss

Beautiful & Bothered got me to try these out since I was curious about them at first since I do enjoy the Clean Fresh Translucent Powder. These glosses do go on my lips very well and I do like how they feel more like lip oil as well. I have Acai You Later in my purse for work and a few others in other makeup bags. I do enjoy these lip glosses and will keep on purchasing.

Revlon Alumni Skin Care Foundation

Next up is the Revlon Illumni Skin care foundation. I tried this because Jen Love’s Reviews has mentioned it since Revlon had started coming back and out of bankruptcy.This was new earlier this year and gave it a few tries before adding it to a favorites list. I do have two shapes that kind of match with my skin tone but I do like how smooth it goes on. Another continuous purchase!

REM Sweetener Foundation

Another product that Beautiful & Bothered got me to get and also Kelly Gouch also got me to pick up and that is the Sweetner Foundation. I have to say that this foundation goes on very well and it blends very well as well. I got one of the Light to Medium Neutral shades, the lighter version since I was afraid that the darker one would be too dark and don’t know why there had to be two different ones either. At least the lighter version did fit me and I do like the packaging as well with an easy pump to push down on. I may need to use points on this when I have to purchase it again.

Matrix Curl Gel Light Hold

Next up is a hair product and I have been enjoying it as I use it. For a few years, I have been using hair pomades and the one I loved was from Carol’s Daughter which was their honey and mimosa pomade because it was not too heavy like others I have tried. I tried one from Hawaii but it was too heavy and tossed it. I decided it was time to take a step up and saw that Matrix was on sale during Ulta’s Hair Event and saw a hair gel and got that with their dry shampoo and leave-in conditioner spray. This gel was not heavy because it had more of a light hold and I prefer having more of a hair feel when I have my hair products holding it down. It also doesn’t give that weird white cast that happens if you put in too much, I only do either one or two pumps on days I had work.

Matrix Leave-In Conditioning Spray

I have to give Matrix props for this one since I do use leave-in conditioning sprays after I wash my hair to give it moisture since I am using Head & Shoulders, since twice a year I get dandruff scabs higher up on the scalp, and it feels good when it sprays since it gives off a cooling effect. It also smells good too! I also use this spray after dry shampoo too. I do enjoy this one but wishing it was not $20 but hey it works! My hair is more wavy than curly when you look at it.

Bones Coffee Company

I do love my coffee and I am mentioning a new to me company. One night, I was watching videos on YouTube and saw an advertisement for Bones Coffee Company and I was looking for some KCups on Amazon and their brand popped up since they have KCup pods alongside grounds and cold brew. I was surprised because their website didn’t really show the options but Amazon had. I did try out the Holy Cannoli pods and when the result smells like the cream that comes in the pastry and adding some almond milk creamer or other types make it taste really good! I also tried to purchase their Smores cold brew but got their White Chocolate Peppermint grounds instead, they are sending me the cold brew since I am still waiting for the White Chocolate Peppermint pods to arrive. I never tried cold brew and decided to try their cold brew for once. This brand is great, I wish they gave more pods in their boxes though.

Wicked Cuts Jerky

I love beef jerky and since I have been trying new natural jerky brands, I found one on Facebook called Wicked Cuts Jerky. I decided to browse and found a flavor I had never seen and that is orange teriyaki flavored. It is like combining orange sauce with teriyaki sauce into one and oh man it was perfect! This jerky has the glaze and it is very juicy and the cut is long and stringy but very tender while eating the meat. I definitely want to go back and try their barbecue flavored and their teriyaki jerky sticks which had me at hello! I am currently trying another brand to see how well I enjoy it.

Stitch as Pineapple Purse

This was my favorite convention find and it is my Stitch as a Pineapple purse I found at RangerStop. I was lucky to purchase it when I did since the one on display was gone after buying the one they had at the stand in their inventory. I will be using it next as my bag since I love using my ita bags or mini backpacks as a purse.

Well, that is it for this favorite post! I will see what my next favorite post is in June. Next up is the Bests and Worsts of 2023. I can’t believe this year is almost over and this annual post is already here. Let’s see what I have in store for this year’s post. Stay tuned!

Leave a comment

by moonleopard85 on December 26, 2023 • Permalink

Posted in Fan Fiction

Posted by moonleopard85 on December 26, 2023

https://nerdyshiqueuniverse.com/2023/12/26/six-month-favorites-july-through-december-2023/

Search for:
Recent Posts

Archives
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
Categories
- Accessibility
- anime
- beauty
- Blindness
- Books
- Braille
- Cartoons
- clothing
- comics
- conventions
- cosplay
- documentaries
- Drama
- Fan Fiction
- Favorites
- Food
- Gaming
- haul
- Internet
- Interviews
- LGBTQ
- Manga
- Movies
- Music
- Panels
- Personal Experience
- Rants
- Response and Opinion
- Restaurants
- Reviews
- Science Fiction
- shopping
- snacks
- Social Media
- Tags
- Technology
- Television
- Tips and Advice
- Travel
- Uncategorized
- Video Games
- Voice Acting
- Writing
Meta

	Author Hasn’t… on Stratton Press Is A Scam!
	Adrian Alonso Vega on Convention Impossible: RangerS…
	Alan Paris on Book Quadrant: Definitely Don…
	moonleopard85 on More Scams: Meet EC Publishing…
	Robert Wunderlich on More Scams: Meet EC Publishing…