ABOUT THE AUTHOR
| I am a writer, an artist, illustrator, and an occasional sculptor. I write to entertain or to share information or experiences. My painting studies started by drawing the human figure with charcoal, pencils and pastels. A while later, I began using oils, acrylics, and aquarelles but my creative muses abandoned me when I joined the banking industry... It was time to start a career so I moved up the ladder one step at a time. After almost two decades in the same institution, I resigned to start my own business, Antiques are Forever, Inc.--now inactive. Soon thereafter, I resumed painting, adding animals and abstracts to my art endeavors. Writing, my other lifelong passion, began when I was no longer involved in the antiques and collectibles trade. As of now, I have self-published four books and have contributed short stories toward third-parties' multi-author anthologies. All writings and paintings in this Website/Blog are the property of Mirta Oliva, author. If there is ever a quote from other writings/writers, proper mention will be made, as applicable under copyright laws. ____________________________________________________________________________________ PET PEEVES AND IDEAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE ___________________________________________________________ |
PET PEEVES
1. When companies fail, it is "the Company" that gets criticized by name. In this regard, I have a different view:
Don't blame the BigCorp, blame all those at different hierarchy levels, from the very top to the lowest in rank, who may have engaged in
I. THE UPPER ECHELON:
--Favoritism or favor-exchanges
--Biases--too many to mention but we know what they are
--Hiring the less-experienced to protect his/her own job
--Not seeing market changes in time
THE RESULT: Lack of competence which equals low or no company growth; losses due to inferior results; stock-market downfalls; big-corp's collapse
II. THE LOWER ECHELON
--Lack of interest (not an asset for the business)
--Lack of knowledge (the wrong person for the job)
--Payback (retaliation in various forms can slow or ruin businesses)
In the history of big corporations gone bankrupt or failing, buried somewhere, there may have been some of the above negative traits or others equally damaging. Although embezzlement at all levels is another contributing factor to failure, it rarely leads to bankruptcy.
2. Business locales that do not visibly display their address/number—whether commercial or industrial... A danger for drivers trying to locate a small business amidst ongoing traffic.
3. When Sellers/Vendors do not provide a conforming manufacturer's model number and other pertinent information that would help to compare item price and quality with others of the same or different brands. Cellphones, tablets, computers, etc. have too many different models, production years, specs, and perks that make direct comparison a must. Items of personal consumption and/or wear such as food, medications, clothing, shoes, etc. should have all needed information visibly disclosed to avoid unnecessary returns.
4. When installing certain desired programs, some companies include third-party apps that may come with bugs or simply clutter the computer. This is why it is important to read the disclosures before accepting the download.
5. Most new computers are loaded with unnecessary apps that, over time, will slow down the unit. After my new computer is ready to go, I delete any apps I am sure I will not be using, particularly the trial-period ones.
6. When delivery companies leave items of digital nature or food, medications, etc.exposed to the elements or disappearance without ringing the bell when visibly available. The latter is of particular importance now that--thanks to Covid 19--many people elect to order necessary items by mail. Many companies follow-up deliveries with an email but not everyone can be checking the computer all day long to see when the item has arrived.
7. Third-party cookies can be invasive and cumbersome to delete. I have made changes in the settings of my various browsers to disallow such cookies.
8. When repeat advertisers of expensive products--usually household or personal use--do not state even the starting price or a price range so that potential buyers can either reply to the ads or budget for a future purchase. Hiding the product price range or starting price means they want to get you hooked to a salesman who will twist your arm into buying the product. Who knows how many get tricked into buying what they cannot afford. Manufacturers, please, post at least a "starting at" price or a price range. You do not know how many conscientious sales you could have made and not creating volume via "trained" salesmen.
____________________________________________________________________
IDEAS
1. KITCHEN HYGIENE
A. Soaking fruits or vegetables in a sink with water and vinegar or other commercial products?
No, I would not. Even if the sink had a mixture of water and vinegar, I would not soak my fruits or vegetables in it to kill any germs and possibly harmful insecticides. Even though the good old vinegar may kill the germs, here is some "food for thought".
B. Cleaning Countertops
And they say that the countertops are full of germs... That is true, mainly after cleaning/preparing uncooked meats such as poultry, fish, etc. or placed on top of it. I clean any uncooked meat products in a microwave-safe dish or tamper-resistant glass. Nonetheless, in case of a spill, I disinfect the countertop after handling those meats or anything else. Also, it is not advisable to place meats of any kind on wood since it may still have bacteria residues on its porous surface after cleaning.
EVERYTHING ELSE...
A. LOGIC. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...
My First Rule of LOGIC: If it looks like a duck...
And walks like a duck… Accountants and Auditors use this rule as one of their tools. And it works!
Why is logic sometimes ignored? It is free to use, we are born with it, and the more we use it to solve things we are unfamiliar with, the more it develops. When logic alerts that something may not be right, the above professionals use this invaluable tool to get to the problem or issues. I have used it all the time when trying to repair something, putting a mechanical object or un-assembled furniture together, and most often, to discern accounting problems just by examining company statements.
LOGIC is a talent we all possess but most of the time is underutilized.
___________________________________________________________________
B. *My Artwork and Writings *Publications *Websites *Quotes *Trivia
I. MY YOUTUBE PRESENTATION*
*Although the YouTube self-publication and Microsoft's PowerPoint systems have changed over the years, this will give an interested reader some ideas of how to go about it. I am sure there are plenty of informative sources on the internet nowadays.
A few years ago, I decided to create a PowerPoint slide presentation hoping that I could later on convert it to a YouTube video. I started it without guidelines or a pattern to follow or even looking for perfection, since it was only a trial version. As the presentation progressed I kept adding more stuff about my books, cover pictures, websites, sample poems, etc. Then I realized that I should try publishing it on YouTube to see if the conversion could be done.
To accomplish the above, I saved my PowerPoint presentation as a slide show. Having read that it had to be saved as .png, I did that as well. I searched the internet as to how to convert it, got some ideas and went straight to YouTube. I was surprised when YouTube offered help in the conversion. Nice! I allowed them to do the work and in a few seconds my short video (trial version) was published. Now I have to work on polishing it. Also, my video had a longer duration than YouTube allowed or about forty seconds (for free, no ads); hence, my video moves too fast. Although it can be stopped as needed, I need to shorten it to allow for longer stops between certain frames. Further, I want to adjust the ink tone on the links in particular and change the first page. Post the original publication, I added stock classical music to the video but it still needs contents revision plus timing corrections as noted above. Those two videos were done/posted at no cost to me.
Mirta Oliva's YouTube link: http://tinyurl.com/omx8vcv.
WHEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, PLEASE NOTE THERE MIGHT BE A NAME SIMILAR TO MINE. WHEN LOOKING FOR MY WORKS ON THE INTERNET, ANY REFERENCE TO "ARTIST, WRITER OR BOTH" WILL MOST LIKELY YIELD A LINK TO MY WORKS OR WEBSITES.
II. MY BOOKS
1. SUBLIME ADOPTION ~ A Tale of Love and Mendacity
(Scroll down for excerpts)
The book was edited and the cover was changed in 2019 from black and white to full color, mainly red. The new version was published in Kindle, Amazon, Barns and Nobel and other distribution channels. Look-up the (red-cover) version in Amazon for a quick look at the book interior.
The Smashwords version will be revised as well to appear for distribution on other major channels, i.e., Nook, Apple, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, etc.
BELOW ARE SOME EXCERPTS FROM THE NOVEL
A. "...You have opened my heart toward taking the first step even though I do not know what will happen after that. It seems to me that if you approve of my birth parents there must be something good about them…"
B. "I already know '...' and I like her. I hope I can say the same thing about '...' In the near future, I may be receptive to sharing with them that ‘special kind of love’ to which you have referred. I am not an expert with words, but it must be without demands, subordinate to a superior kind of love--but love nonetheless.”
C. "You may argue that I had no other real experience to compare their love with, but why would I need to compare my state of mind insofar as feeling loved when I have never felt the lack of it?"
D. "The actions preceding this visit paved the way for a new beginning marked by that wondrous feeling of FEELING WANTED, a phrase I am borrowing from you. While I had always felt the LOVE of my (adoptive) parents, they also proved that they WANTED me in their lives. Two different concepts independent in their values but, when put together, they elevate the meaning of the word ‘love’.”
E. "... But my sweetheart was there, eager as I was to share fleeting while unforgettable moments".
F. "...blurted out a new bombshell, quick enough as to keep me prisoner of her
sorrowful confession..."
G. "...a passionate kiss equal to no other, or so I eagerly believed..."
H. "Our love affair started somewhat platonic, which gave way to our needing more..."
I. (From the poem MAKE AMENDS) - "Uncover the lies, relieve the hurt, be brave before it's too late; tell the truth ... let it be! Make amends! And you'll be FOREVER FREE!"
2. BOOK OF DIVERSE WRITINGS - Volume I -
Featuring: HIDDEN ~ A Crime Mystery
Plus Short Stories, Essays and Anecdotes
This book was also edited and the cover was changed in 2019 from black and white to full color, mainly blue. The new version was published in Kindle, Amazon, Barns and Nobel and other distribution channels. Look-up the (blue-cover) version in Amazon for a quick look at the book interior.
The Smashwords version will be revised as well to appear for distribution on other major channels, i.e., Nook, Apple, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, etc.
3. BOOK OF DIVERSE WRITINGS - Volume II
*Poems: Love; Motivational and Inspirational; Abstract and Miscellaneous; In Spanish; Poems from published works; Miscellaneous HAIKU.
*Free Verse *Universal Themes
This book appears in the same channels listed for the other two; however, it is in line for editing and cover design in full color
4. BIRDYJOSH AND BIRDYLU - A Paper Birds' Story
Though listed last, it was my first book published with Amazon's (CreateSpace) help.
I have no current plans for revision of this book due to lack of time; however, there are numerous data available now where I would work on the size of the book plus interior revisions. It is published in the same channels of the other three publications
III. OTHER MAJOR WEBSITES (Pending revision)
1. www.olivaarteshow.com (Art Website)
2. www.sublimeadoption.com
IV - OTHER SITES/GROUPS
1. MY PINTEREST SITE
ALL ABOUT PAINTING AND WRITING~(11/25/2012)
(Still getting acquainted with this colorful and informative site).
2. GOODREADS (Writers 750 Group)
Monthly short stories contests
V. TRIVIA
1. NEWTON'S LAW OF GRAVITY (M. Oliva -11/9/2017)
We have been mislead over the years with the tired example of the fallen apple. Sure! But isn't it true that whatever falls off your hand takes an invisible curve and the darn thing ends in a place where the eyes cannot see it and the vacuum cannot reach? This proves Newton's apple theory wrong and that there is such thing as "curved gravity," as it has been proven by the Baseball Game's "curve ball." Aha!
THE ABOVE CONSISTS OF THE ENTIRE BLOG, REVISED AS OF 2/26/2021
THANKS FOR VISITING
1. When companies fail, it is "the Company" that gets criticized by name. In this regard, I have a different view:
Don't blame the BigCorp, blame all those at different hierarchy levels, from the very top to the lowest in rank, who may have engaged in
I. THE UPPER ECHELON:
--Favoritism or favor-exchanges
--Biases--too many to mention but we know what they are
--Hiring the less-experienced to protect his/her own job
--Not seeing market changes in time
THE RESULT: Lack of competence which equals low or no company growth; losses due to inferior results; stock-market downfalls; big-corp's collapse
II. THE LOWER ECHELON
--Lack of interest (not an asset for the business)
--Lack of knowledge (the wrong person for the job)
--Payback (retaliation in various forms can slow or ruin businesses)
In the history of big corporations gone bankrupt or failing, buried somewhere, there may have been some of the above negative traits or others equally damaging. Although embezzlement at all levels is another contributing factor to failure, it rarely leads to bankruptcy.
2. Business locales that do not visibly display their address/number—whether commercial or industrial... A danger for drivers trying to locate a small business amidst ongoing traffic.
3. When Sellers/Vendors do not provide a conforming manufacturer's model number and other pertinent information that would help to compare item price and quality with others of the same or different brands. Cellphones, tablets, computers, etc. have too many different models, production years, specs, and perks that make direct comparison a must. Items of personal consumption and/or wear such as food, medications, clothing, shoes, etc. should have all needed information visibly disclosed to avoid unnecessary returns.
4. When installing certain desired programs, some companies include third-party apps that may come with bugs or simply clutter the computer. This is why it is important to read the disclosures before accepting the download.
5. Most new computers are loaded with unnecessary apps that, over time, will slow down the unit. After my new computer is ready to go, I delete any apps I am sure I will not be using, particularly the trial-period ones.
6. When delivery companies leave items of digital nature or food, medications, etc.exposed to the elements or disappearance without ringing the bell when visibly available. The latter is of particular importance now that--thanks to Covid 19--many people elect to order necessary items by mail. Many companies follow-up deliveries with an email but not everyone can be checking the computer all day long to see when the item has arrived.
7. Third-party cookies can be invasive and cumbersome to delete. I have made changes in the settings of my various browsers to disallow such cookies.
8. When repeat advertisers of expensive products--usually household or personal use--do not state even the starting price or a price range so that potential buyers can either reply to the ads or budget for a future purchase. Hiding the product price range or starting price means they want to get you hooked to a salesman who will twist your arm into buying the product. Who knows how many get tricked into buying what they cannot afford. Manufacturers, please, post at least a "starting at" price or a price range. You do not know how many conscientious sales you could have made and not creating volume via "trained" salesmen.
____________________________________________________________________
IDEAS
1. KITCHEN HYGIENE
A. Soaking fruits or vegetables in a sink with water and vinegar or other commercial products?
No, I would not. Even if the sink had a mixture of water and vinegar, I would not soak my fruits or vegetables in it to kill any germs and possibly harmful insecticides. Even though the good old vinegar may kill the germs, here is some "food for thought".
B. Cleaning Countertops
And they say that the countertops are full of germs... That is true, mainly after cleaning/preparing uncooked meats such as poultry, fish, etc. or placed on top of it. I clean any uncooked meat products in a microwave-safe dish or tamper-resistant glass. Nonetheless, in case of a spill, I disinfect the countertop after handling those meats or anything else. Also, it is not advisable to place meats of any kind on wood since it may still have bacteria residues on its porous surface after cleaning.
EVERYTHING ELSE...
A. LOGIC. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...
My First Rule of LOGIC: If it looks like a duck...
And walks like a duck… Accountants and Auditors use this rule as one of their tools. And it works!
Why is logic sometimes ignored? It is free to use, we are born with it, and the more we use it to solve things we are unfamiliar with, the more it develops. When logic alerts that something may not be right, the above professionals use this invaluable tool to get to the problem or issues. I have used it all the time when trying to repair something, putting a mechanical object or un-assembled furniture together, and most often, to discern accounting problems just by examining company statements.
LOGIC is a talent we all possess but most of the time is underutilized.
___________________________________________________________________
B. *My Artwork and Writings *Publications *Websites *Quotes *Trivia
I. MY YOUTUBE PRESENTATION*
*Although the YouTube self-publication and Microsoft's PowerPoint systems have changed over the years, this will give an interested reader some ideas of how to go about it. I am sure there are plenty of informative sources on the internet nowadays.
A few years ago, I decided to create a PowerPoint slide presentation hoping that I could later on convert it to a YouTube video. I started it without guidelines or a pattern to follow or even looking for perfection, since it was only a trial version. As the presentation progressed I kept adding more stuff about my books, cover pictures, websites, sample poems, etc. Then I realized that I should try publishing it on YouTube to see if the conversion could be done.
To accomplish the above, I saved my PowerPoint presentation as a slide show. Having read that it had to be saved as .png, I did that as well. I searched the internet as to how to convert it, got some ideas and went straight to YouTube. I was surprised when YouTube offered help in the conversion. Nice! I allowed them to do the work and in a few seconds my short video (trial version) was published. Now I have to work on polishing it. Also, my video had a longer duration than YouTube allowed or about forty seconds (for free, no ads); hence, my video moves too fast. Although it can be stopped as needed, I need to shorten it to allow for longer stops between certain frames. Further, I want to adjust the ink tone on the links in particular and change the first page. Post the original publication, I added stock classical music to the video but it still needs contents revision plus timing corrections as noted above. Those two videos were done/posted at no cost to me.
Mirta Oliva's YouTube link: http://tinyurl.com/omx8vcv.
WHEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, PLEASE NOTE THERE MIGHT BE A NAME SIMILAR TO MINE. WHEN LOOKING FOR MY WORKS ON THE INTERNET, ANY REFERENCE TO "ARTIST, WRITER OR BOTH" WILL MOST LIKELY YIELD A LINK TO MY WORKS OR WEBSITES.
II. MY BOOKS
1. SUBLIME ADOPTION ~ A Tale of Love and Mendacity
(Scroll down for excerpts)
The book was edited and the cover was changed in 2019 from black and white to full color, mainly red. The new version was published in Kindle, Amazon, Barns and Nobel and other distribution channels. Look-up the (red-cover) version in Amazon for a quick look at the book interior.
The Smashwords version will be revised as well to appear for distribution on other major channels, i.e., Nook, Apple, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, etc.
BELOW ARE SOME EXCERPTS FROM THE NOVEL
A. "...You have opened my heart toward taking the first step even though I do not know what will happen after that. It seems to me that if you approve of my birth parents there must be something good about them…"
B. "I already know '...' and I like her. I hope I can say the same thing about '...' In the near future, I may be receptive to sharing with them that ‘special kind of love’ to which you have referred. I am not an expert with words, but it must be without demands, subordinate to a superior kind of love--but love nonetheless.”
C. "You may argue that I had no other real experience to compare their love with, but why would I need to compare my state of mind insofar as feeling loved when I have never felt the lack of it?"
D. "The actions preceding this visit paved the way for a new beginning marked by that wondrous feeling of FEELING WANTED, a phrase I am borrowing from you. While I had always felt the LOVE of my (adoptive) parents, they also proved that they WANTED me in their lives. Two different concepts independent in their values but, when put together, they elevate the meaning of the word ‘love’.”
E. "... But my sweetheart was there, eager as I was to share fleeting while unforgettable moments".
F. "...blurted out a new bombshell, quick enough as to keep me prisoner of her
sorrowful confession..."
G. "...a passionate kiss equal to no other, or so I eagerly believed..."
H. "Our love affair started somewhat platonic, which gave way to our needing more..."
I. (From the poem MAKE AMENDS) - "Uncover the lies, relieve the hurt, be brave before it's too late; tell the truth ... let it be! Make amends! And you'll be FOREVER FREE!"
2. BOOK OF DIVERSE WRITINGS - Volume I -
Featuring: HIDDEN ~ A Crime Mystery
Plus Short Stories, Essays and Anecdotes
This book was also edited and the cover was changed in 2019 from black and white to full color, mainly blue. The new version was published in Kindle, Amazon, Barns and Nobel and other distribution channels. Look-up the (blue-cover) version in Amazon for a quick look at the book interior.
The Smashwords version will be revised as well to appear for distribution on other major channels, i.e., Nook, Apple, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, etc.
3. BOOK OF DIVERSE WRITINGS - Volume II
*Poems: Love; Motivational and Inspirational; Abstract and Miscellaneous; In Spanish; Poems from published works; Miscellaneous HAIKU.
*Free Verse *Universal Themes
This book appears in the same channels listed for the other two; however, it is in line for editing and cover design in full color
4. BIRDYJOSH AND BIRDYLU - A Paper Birds' Story
Though listed last, it was my first book published with Amazon's (CreateSpace) help.
I have no current plans for revision of this book due to lack of time; however, there are numerous data available now where I would work on the size of the book plus interior revisions. It is published in the same channels of the other three publications
III. OTHER MAJOR WEBSITES (Pending revision)
1. www.olivaarteshow.com (Art Website)
2. www.sublimeadoption.com
IV - OTHER SITES/GROUPS
1. MY PINTEREST SITE
ALL ABOUT PAINTING AND WRITING~(11/25/2012)
(Still getting acquainted with this colorful and informative site).
2. GOODREADS (Writers 750 Group)
Monthly short stories contests
V. TRIVIA
1. NEWTON'S LAW OF GRAVITY (M. Oliva -11/9/2017)
We have been mislead over the years with the tired example of the fallen apple. Sure! But isn't it true that whatever falls off your hand takes an invisible curve and the darn thing ends in a place where the eyes cannot see it and the vacuum cannot reach? This proves Newton's apple theory wrong and that there is such thing as "curved gravity," as it has been proven by the Baseball Game's "curve ball." Aha!
THE ABOVE CONSISTS OF THE ENTIRE BLOG, REVISED AS OF 2/26/2021
THANKS FOR VISITING
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