eBay's August 30, 2012 ban of metaphysical services

When I learned yesterday that eBay banned tarot readings, spells, curses, and other such intangible metaphysical things, I honestly had never considered those things as "items" that would be sold on eBay. And then I was surprised at my rigid perception of eBay as a seller of physical (read: not purely spiritual) goods. Probably because the lack of control as to who could sell those things. And really, is there a way to check credentials other than positive or negative ratings? Are there credentials in the first place? Anyone can say they're the high priestess of such and such a coven, from a long line of powerful mediums from the islands of...

And thus I do understand eBay's reasoning to remove intangible metaphysical goods. Because John Smith can buy a spell, and a week later the waitress at the diner still hasn't fallen in love with him, and now he wants his money back. There's no way to prove a spell was actually performed (short of audio/video recording if it was a spoken or ritualistic spell), and—if you believe in spells—no way to prove the result of a spell as just manifesting in a way that wasn't expected. Maybe John wasn't specific enough in his request, and the schizophrenic waitress with a cocaine addiction and three illegitimate kids has fallen in love with him instead.

Luckily for eBay this isn't focused just on pagan metaphysics. Christian metaphysics fall under the category too—you can no longer buy prayers. (Really? You bought a prayer? Won't good natured Christians pray for the sake of helping their brethren?) While you and I may find the sale of certain spiritual things silly or ridiculous, this has been going on for hundreds of years, probably more—I can't remember that far back. People bought prayers for their dead relatives. People bought spells and amulets and potions to attract love or to ward off evil or the plague. I'd argue we still do that today... We buy insurance policies to protect us from unpredictable events, buy fancy clothes and cars and perfume to attract mates, buy all sorts of "miracle" gimmicks to help us lose weight...

Anyway. My problem with this is that this can grow into something that infringes on physical good sales on eBay or even influence other sites that would be more appropriate venues for metaphysical goods and services. 

As far as physical "metaphysical" goods go... Magic potions are banned. That's the only physical thing I see explicitly listed in eBay's 2012 Fall Seller Update. I've included the applicable areas from this document at the bottom of this post, but you can find it here: Category, Item Specifics and Catalog Updates. 

So, even though potions are the only physical metaphysical items listed... I have seen other publications on our good ol' Internet that eBay is targeting physical items with added metaphysical value (blessed items, charged items, etc.). While it's normal for those affected to freak out and over-exaggerate when it comes to things like this, Wired's article on the matter started off on a similar note. "Haunted gypsy rings, a portal to the realm of the immortals and creepy 40s dolls that promise to 'come alive' will soon have to find a new home [...]" 

These sentiments contradict a quote that has been floating around from eBay's spokesperson Johnna Hoff, which says "It's important to note that items that have a tangible value for the item itself and may also be used in metaphysical rites and practices (ie  jewelry, crystals, incense, candles, and books) are allowed in most cases." Most cases... Maybe they are right to freak out with that vague suffix. I know I'd like to be able to search for unique tarot decks on eBay in the future.

We're just talking about eBay right now, and I already said that they wouldn't be my first place to buy a tarot reading and the like. Then you realize that eBay owns PayPal. And then you further realize that many of the sites that are more appropriate for metaphysical services might utilize PayPal for payment...

It will be interesting to see how this grows. Regardless, I don't see why a "for entertainment purposes only" clause couldn't protect eBay from the consumer grief they're reacting to. If I'm buying a spell from someone I've never met, I know I'm taking a big (potentially dangerous) gamble.

W2 vs 1099

So lately I've ignored the distinction between W2 and 1099 employment. I've feigned indifference... Until I had a somewhat urgent request as to how I would choose to be paid. (Before any alarms start going off, no I haven't taken a new job or quit my old one, I'm just entertaining my prospects.) W2 paid 12% less than 1099.

So I tried to find a quick answer. I didn't like my Google results. I called my sister/CPA, who was at the gym and got back to me 10 minutes later assuming there was an emergency if I was calling her. (Who calls people anymore? Not I, unless I'm calling Grandma.) She seemed excited to run numbers, but needed specifics -- mainly differences in benefits, which I can't determine until Monday when I speak to someone more official.

My internet research that followed was very underwhelming. First, I couldn't find any information on benefits for the company I was speaking to, even though they're a bigger name company. I did find out that they seem to hire young people like myself (though greener out of college) and work them and abuse them to death.  The person I was speaking to seemed to confirm that in manner and with some verbal cues, though he pretended to be appreciative of his right out of college position. (Now I don't know how much bearing this would have on myself, being a contractor they were just placing, until I speak to that more official gentleman.) This company is also one that I have seen in a negative light since I helped interview one of their consultants for a potential position at my company, and my brain imploded from just how unskilled this person admitted to be for how much we were going to pay his company.

The 1099 vs. W2 thing seemed to weigh in favor of W2. W2 is safer because the employer withholds taxes for you and also matches the amount that's withheld. In 1099, no tax is withheld. You have to take care of that yourself by paying quarterly based on estimated income. You also have to take care of the portion the employer would usually pay, minus a small percent. In W2, money is paid toward unemployment by the employer. 1099 doesn't seem to offer unemployment protections, though I didn't research specifically for my state (NY). I could be wrong as information on this was sparse.

In 1099 you have more flexibility as far as deductions go (home office, business expenses), but you're also more likely to be audited. Hooray audits! In 1099 you're also less likely to receive employer subsidized benefits, since you're not actually an employee.

I don't know, the extra money and deduction benefits of 1099 seem to be outweighed by the risks. Any thoughts?

Strength Training Like a Grrrl

I've been humoring the idea of strength training. As you know from my last post, I Zumba, and that's really my only formal exercise... Not to say it isn't awesome (because it is).

Today I decided to kick myself in the butt and get to it. I did the Beginner Body Weight Circuit Workout from NerdFitness (after warming up for five minutes by jumping rope and running in circles around my couch—classy).

My first run-through of the circuit, I was thinking, "this is nothing." My second run-through I started to change my mind, and toward the end I began telling myself not to do a third run-through. Well, I did the third one. Then I stretched for five minutes and logged my workout on Fitocracy.com, gaining mondo points. That's when I realized that I was 10 jump-squats away from completing a quest, and I hopped up and did 15. Way to overachieve.

Perhaps the most entertaining bit of this whole thing was my boy cat's reaction. He was watching me all concerned throughout my workout endeavors. He started rolling around into funny positions, apparently giving me his impression of my behavior. When I was struggling on my last rep of the plank, he said in his feline way, "Mommy, what's wrong? Here, I'll help you up," and leaned against me. Then he proceeded to follow me around the house in case of sudden death, probably with the hope of an eventual zombiecat snack. (It's really hard for him to reach my brains when I'm upright.) He nearly got one, too, because I fell over sideways at least twice when trying to do normal walking-type things.

Now I'm wondering what it's like to have energy. I'll definitely do the circuit again Monday or Tuesday, but I'll have to make sure I do it at night... So I can pass out after some protein intake and call it a day.

Speaking of protein, I made up a black bean meatloaf recipe the other day. I had ground beef in the fridge that needed to be used probably a few days sooner (oops) and wasn't in the mood for Hamburger Helper.

Easy Black Bean Meatloaf

Prep: 10 minutes

Cook: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients:
Barbecue sauce (I like Stubb's)
1.25-1.5 lbs ground beef
15 oz can black beans, drained
1 cup bread crumbs (I used Italian-seasoned bread crumbs)
1 large egg
1 cup milk

Prepare:
1. Preheat oven to 350 °F.
2. Spread some barbecue sauce on the bottom of a greased 5x9" loaf pan.
3. Mix the beef, beans, bread crumbs, egg and milk together in a large bowl. You might as well use your hands because they're going to get messy soon, anyway.
4. Press the mixture into the loaf pan. The barbecue sauce will creep up the sides of the loaf pan. If you really like barbecue sauce, you can spread some more on top. Be careful, though—it will bubble in the oven, so if you use a lot of sauce make sure you put your loaf pan on top of a cookie sheet to catch any drips.
5. Put meatloaf in pre-heated oven and cook for one hour. It may still be a little pink in the center at one hour, so cut your first piece from the center to make sure the color is to your liking. Or, better yet, stick an instant-read food thermometer in the center and make sure it's at least the USDA recommended 160 °F.

You can add chopped bell peppers, jalepeño peppers, sautéed onions, corn... Whatever veggies you like. I was feeling pretty lazy. This meatloaf is fairly healthy as far as meatloaves go, not having cheese and all.



And just so you guys don't think I'm straying from the cupcake arena, I made an oversized cupcake the other day. I used a dense vegan chocolate cake for the cake itself, then filled it with a not-so-vegan Oreo and cream cheese mixture, slapped some canned vanilla frosting on the top and covered that with crushed Oreos. Fancy.

Zumba

Today was my "day off" because I needed to work Sunday. My work phone rang at least 10 times. I received 4 voicemails. I spent about half an hour on the phone. The worst part was that the people who were repeatedly calling me KNEW I was off. So annoying. But heaven forbid I not return an "urgent" call on my day off.

Today was also my first time doing Zumba in the past few... weeks? I was sick, then I was injured, then I was crazy busy. I do Zumba at home on my PS3. I'd love to go to the local Zumba studio but I can't justify throwing away that kind of money. $10 per class or I think it was somewhere between $50-100 per month? Yes, Golds Gym has Zumba for less $$, but the folks at Studio Ayo hooked me when they did a introductory session at the hospital and I think any other class at any other gym would disappoint me after that.

So today, not having truly exercised in weeks, I did one of the "intermediate" 45 minute classes on my PS3. I have a weak lower back from a car accident in '08, and I aggravated it in my trip-and-fall. The past few days it's left me apparently walking funny (I was told by coworkers that I was walking "like I had scoliosis" and that I was "walking crooked") which I attribute to a shorter stride length from right-sided pain/stiffness in my lower back. So it wasn't the EASIEST workout I've ever forced myself to complete, not that it was painful either, but it was very annoying to keep hearing my work phone ring and be taken out of my groove. Zumba calms me, and my phone ringing when I'm Zumba-ing does the opposite.

I attribute Zumba and drinking a glass of red wine several nights a week to an extreme drop in my cholesterol. In college my cholesterol was at 266 and I was only about 10 pounds heavier than I am now. October 2010 it was 206. November 2011 it was 191. January 2012 it was... 154!!! Even better, the first two (college/2010) were done fasting, but the very recent ones were non-fasting, meaning the true values are probably lower. (Though both times the only cholesterol I would have consumed at that point would have been in my coffee creamer.) I hope I haven't reversed my cholesterol improvement with not exercising.

The Zumba game's music selection can get boring. Not having DLC makes it worse. But I also still can't justify paying ridiculous $$ for a class at a studio, even though it would be far more entertaining.

In writing this post I discovered the Zumba website and store, complete with the pictured shoes.

Now, for some cupcake goodness:

These little devils are banana cupcakes with peanut butter frosting, and their fancier companions with Nutella in the cake and in the frosting. I needed to use two overripe bananas, so I mixed up a box of light yellow vanilla cake mix and added the banana mush. I think I added a dash of vanilla extract too. Half of them I added a spoon of Nutella to. (The Nutella will sink to the bottom but that's okay.) Once they were cooled, I mixed up some homemade peanut butter frosting using this recipe, and added a dab of Nutella to the tops of the ones with Nutella in the cake. I halved the frosting recipe and didn't need to use any milk. It covered exactly two dozen cakes. Yum! They lasted about 5 days on the counter, then the cake began to taste less fresh.

Welcome! Have an awesome Taco Pasta recipe!

All right, I've been itching to reinvent this blog. There's no better time than when I'm home waiting for my nails to dry and trying not to put weight on my foot. (Funny story: I got injured—not broken bone injured, probably more sprained-ankle and muscle spasm injured—at work today. And when I tried to file the accident report on the electronic accident reporting system, I wasn't IN the system. Neither was my department, or the area of the hospital I got injured in. And in true bureaucratic fashion, I couldn't free-text those required fields.) I'm hoping it's better tomorrow; I'm supposed to be going to an event that I drive 100 miles to go to the first Friday of every month to dress in funky outfits and dance the night away!

So... Since this blog has a foody name, I'll give you a foody post. Here's one of my tastiest and simplest recipes:

Simple Taco Pasta

Prep Time: 20 Minutes	Ready In: 50 Minutes
Bake Time: 30 Minutes	Servings: About 12

Combine simple ingredients for a gooey, cheesy, spicy, sort-of-crunchy, satisfying meal. This recipe utilizes YOUR favorite textured pasta, taco seasoning, and taco sauce. You also get to choose between cream cheese and lower-fat Neufchatel. (The reason for using textured pasta is to trap or hold the beef and cheese.) It keeps and reheats well… but tends to get spicier over time. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 ¼ lb lean ground beef

1 lb of your favorite short, textured pasta (e.g. medium shells or campanelle)

1 8oz pkg cream cheese or Neufchatel

1 packet of your favorite taco seasoning (e.g. jalapeño and onion)

1 8oz jar of your favorite taco sauce

2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

1 ½ cups crushed tortilla chips

Optional: Taco garnishes (sliced olives, sliced jalapeños, sour cream, etc.)

Directions:

1. Bring large pot of water to a boil (salt lightly if desired). Once boiling, add 1 lb textured pasta to water and cook 8-10 minutes, or until al dente (firm but not hard). Drain and return to pot.

2. While preparing the pasta, brown beef in a large skillet until no longer pink. Drain. Add cream cheese or Neufchatel and taco seasoning; mix and simmer for 5 minutes. (You can make this step easier by using room temperature cream cheese/Neufchatel that’s been chopped into chunks, but that’s not necessary.)

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

4. Spread a thin layer of taco sauce on the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking dish. Reserve remaining taco sauce for later.

5. Once the beef mixture is done simmering and the pasta has been returned to its pot, add the beef mixture to the pasta and mix well.

6. Spread the pasta mixture evenly across the 13x9 inch baking dish. Pour the remaining taco sauce over the pasta. Cover dish with foil and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.

7. Remove dish from oven, remove foil, and top with Mexican cheese and crushed tortilla chips. (You don’t need exactly 1 ½ cups of chips – just crumble tortilla chips over the pasta until it is well-covered.) Return dish to oven for 15 more minutes.

8. Remove from oven and serve. Optionally, you can add your favorite taco garnishes or let people top their own.

Let me know what you think. (=