“The Guild”, currently in Season 3, is an excellent webisode series.  Regardless if you play MMO’s occasionally (even if you’re still playing ‘Age of Conan’ for some reason) the light-hearted comedy succeeds in bringing laughter to the inner geek in all of us.

Video: The Guild: “Do You Want To Date My Avatar?”

The oldest man to win Wipeout won the $50,ooo prize on the season finale.  However, no Wipeout Hottie was awarded because no ladies made the last 4!

Still, here are the lost pictures of Jessica Bertoni, which will be the last of her pictures before the Wipeout Hottie of the Year voting starts in November.

TechnoJedi: What state were you born in?  What was it like being
raised there?
Shannan Reeve: I was born in Fort Sill, OK. But I have no idea what it was like to live there because 2 months later my mom and I were on an airplane to join my dad in Okinawa, Japan. My dad is a Lt. Col. in the USMC so we moved around a lot growing up.

TJ: What kind of shows do you like to watch? What did you watch on TV
growing up?
SR: Apparently if I like a show it’s doomed to be canceled, so the running joke with my friends is if they’re on a show I’ll respectfully dislike it! Ha. But seriously, I loved Dark Angel, and Alias. Never missed an episode of Sarah Connor Chronicles or Dollhouse. Get the trend?! Guess I like shows with some action, thrills and great sexy heroines! And of course, my guilty pleasure is WIPEOUT.
Growing up we didn’t get much TV. Being overseas I remember seeing lots
of Michael Jackson videos or Sesame Street that was about it.
When we were back stateside my brother and I had so many sports and
extra curricular activities we never had much time for TV. But I did
pretend to be sick a couple of Saturday mornings so I could stay home
from gymnastics and watch X-men!

TJ: What kind of role-model would you like younger girls to
“look-up” to?  Who was/is your role model?
SR: Hmmm, well I’d like to ‘believe’ young girls are looking up to people who do something they want to do; their favorite soccer or tennis player, swimmer or gymnast.  Or their favorite actor/actress or musician. Anyone that has had a positive impact or been the cause of growth would be a great role model, I.e. a teacher.
For me I had Audrey Hepburn and Sandra Bullock to look up to. And my two gymnastics coaches, Frankie and L.B. I also LOVED Gwen Stefani and No Doubt.

TJ: What would someone say in describing your personality?
SR: I’m stubborn, or as a friends mother once said, “an independent little cuss.” My friends would say I’m loyal to a fault and a work-a-holic.  I’m dependable and adventurous and always full of surprises.

TJ: What makes you laugh?  Describe your sense of humor.
SR: People bending in half and being catapulted off of big red balls – ooh wait, that makes us all laugh! I have a very dry sense of humor, and its random at that. Ellen makes me laugh — any day of the week…she’s amazing. John and John make me laugh and when performs “break” that always gets me.

TJ: What was it like being on Wipeout?  What was your favorite
challenge?  What was your best moment on Wipeout?
SR: Wipeout was insane. First we shot in December…so it was FREEZING!!! I’m a wuss, I don’t do cold well. My whole “strategy” was to go fast, and not get wet. I think my best moment was holding on to the spinner! I was NOT going in the water…ironically at the end of the event we all had to jump in the water and swim out — even Billy and me, who were the only ones still dry.

TJ: What do you think about the nickname John Henson created for you:
“Snake-phobic”? How does the nickname fit or not fit your
personality?
SR: Well it fits! I’m terrified of the suckers, and honestly your blog isn’t long enough to explain why — simply too many horror stories.
It was funny to hear that’s what they decided to go with as Jill and I
talked for a long time and they’d have had tons of ammo. But I felt
special to get so many drawings in honor of my phobia!

TJ: What are your long-term career plans? What do you do currently as
far as a job? Would you consider a career change? Why?
SR: Long-term career goal is to live solely on the income of my acting gigs. Currently I perform at one of the local theme parks. That’s my day job so I can go out and audition as much as possible.  I don’t see any chance of a career change in the near or distant future, but never say never.

TJ: Andy Warhol said everyone has their “fifteen minutes of
fame.”  How many minutes have you used so far?  With the time you
have left, how will you use it?
SR: I’d like to think I’m just getting started, like I’m milliseconds into the race.  I’m not one to worry about when it all will end or how to make it, have I done enough.  I’m present in every moment, and happy to be experiencing what I can daily.  At then end of the day if I ever had any kind of pull I’d work in Africa or with inner city kids.  Probably getting music and the arts to kids who otherwise wouldn’t get to experience what satisfaction and joy can come from music and art.

TJ: What is your opinion about having a fan base?  So what would you
like to happen as far as this attention?  Explain.
SR: Well who wouldn’t like to have people who care about them and the silly things they do?  Everyone likes to feel special and wanted.  I have been blessed to make friends and acquaintances across the globe because of how I grew up.  I guess “fans” would be like all those people who I’ve met and known and would recognize, but am not necessarily close to, but who have helped to shape who I am and what I do next.  Fans can make or break a career. No delusion there. Maybe one day I’ll have some

TJ: What do your friends and family think of the attention you’ve
received since Wipeout?
SR: My family members in the Midwest have been ecstatic about the whole
thing. I even had an offer from my cousin’s fellow officer to fly me out to Texas or something for the long weekend, just so he could meet me.  Everyone else just thought I did well and that was cool.

TJ: Have you considered doing more game shows or reality-TV?
Which one would you prefer to do?
SR: I never had nor wanted to before Wipeout. Actors and reality TV is just a real grey area…however, with that said, I have had a couple of
callbacks for the 2nd season of an acting based reality show. We’ll see
what happens there.

TJ: Any other comments you’d like to add?
SR: You can see the trailer for the next film I’m working at on youtube.com “cross teaser” by thingsaregreat
And hey — if u wanna be on wipeout GO FOR IT! Its like a big playground for adults that’ll beat the snot out of u! Good times.
And big HUGS and Hellos to my fellow Wipeout buds Billy and Brett.

Final thoughts by TechnoJedi: Again Shannan Reeve proves that Wipeout succeeds in showcasing strong role models who are real, down-to Earth people.

Chelsea Price didn’t win Wipeout but has won Wipeout Hottie.  She was given the nickname of “Totally ’80’s” because of her successful moonwalk at the start of her turn at the course.  When she did the final event, John Hansen described her as having “the beauty of Tiffany and the determination of Debbie Gibson.”

Well, despite Debbie Gibson still being “totally hot”, she (Debbie, you idiot) still hasn’t done Wipeout but she has posed nude for Playboy!  I digress…Chelsea should enjoy her 15-minutes of fame! She  wisely has pics for fans so sorry, no pics of Miss England or Miss Universe 2009…for now.

Alright, who here doesn’t speak or read English well enough that he or she thought I wrote that Chelsea Price posed for Playboy??
Let’s dissect plain English:

Well, despite Debbie Gibson still being “totally hot”, she still hasn’t done Wipeout but she has posed nude for Playboy!

The pronoun “she” is an antecedent established as “Debbie Gibson”.  The antecedent is only valid for the sentence it is used in if the next sentence establishes a change in noun.  In which case, that was done when I wrote “I digress” (functioning as a change in topic and noun), then referred to the new noun “Chelsea” in a new sentence with a different topic.

ONLY a dumb-ass retard who barely got by in high school would think they read that Chelsea did what Debbie did.  The point of the original statement is to show Debbie finds it below her to do Wipeout but acceptable to be nude in Playboy.  D-D-D  Duhhhh

Either learn how to read, or shut up

One of the Season 2 Wipeout Hotties has some great pictures of her time on Wipeout: Danielle “Don’t Mess With Texas” Bagby!

These are certainly the best pictures for the fans of the show and new fans of Danielle Bagby.  Certainly, take the time for a shout-out

From “Shannon Reeve”: “I’m sorry I started to respond to the questionnaire [interview] and realized I’m not the Shannon Reeve you were looking for”

Yes, the real “Shannon” (spelled correctly as “Shannan”) Reeve didn’t supply her pictures.  Which is funny because I thought she was a brunet when this Shannon first responded.  Oh well, in the mean time the Wipeout contestant with the same name never did say anything, which still puts her in the same lower-league as Kim Dockery.  So, here are the remaining pictures of “Shannon Reeve”.

She did set the initial best time but Danielle Bagby didn’t win Wipeout.  However, she did win Wipeout Hottie for the week.  Again, no pictures of her are available.  Instead of more pictures of Miss England, Miss Universe 2009 contestants are here to cheer on the success of “Don’t Mess With Texas” Bagby!  Congratulations go out to Miss Venezuela 2009 for winning Miss Universe!

Jessica Bertoni still has lots of hits on here, which means her 15-minutes of fame hasn’t expired.  Kim Dockery really missed the boat on this opportunity but maybe she doesn’t want fans at all.  Meanwhile, Shannon Reeve is still in the process of finishing her interview for all of you readers! Stay tuned!  Later this week: The Lost (and final) Pictures of Jessica Bertoni!

Wipeout Hottie Shannon “Snake-phobic” Reeve was kind enough to share pictures with fans of Wipeout and as a result, this puts her in the pantheon of Wipeout Hottie fame!  Of course, we all are thinking: Isn’t she brunet?  Hey, just go with it until real pictures show up…

Back to Wipeout Hotties!

The Shannon “Snake-phobia” Reeve interview will hopefully come soon!

5 Ways Companies Mistreat Job Seekers

Wednesday, August 12, 2009provided byU.S. News

When it comes to hiring, some employers act like they hold all the cards–and they can treat job seekers as poorly as they want, without consequence. They’re wrong: Smart employers know that good candidates have options (to say nothing of the ethical implications of being rude just because you think you can). Here are five common ways employers behave badly when hiring:

Having no regard for the candidate’s time. From last-minute cancellations, without apology or acknowledgment of the inconvenience, to not paying attention in the interview, some employers act like their time is the only time that matters. Most candidates go to a lot of trouble to prepare for an interview — reading up on the company, taking time off work, and often traveling–and their time should be respected too.

Not sharing their timeline. Employers have some idea of whether they’ll be getting back to candidates in a week or a month. There’s no reason not to share that information, and it can be agonizing on the job seeker’s side to have no sense of the timeline the employer will be moving on — and yet many employers keep job seekers uninformed.

Refusing to share their salary range, but asking you for yours. Employers know roughly how much they’re willing to pay; there’s no reason not to share that info, other than that they’re hoping to get you for a lower price. But that’s lame: If they lowball you now and you figure out later that you’re underpriced for the market, they risk losing you over it. They should tell you the range they expect to pay and put an end to all the drama and coyness.

Misrepresenting the work. Interviewers who make the job sound more glamorous or downplay less attractive aspects of the job–such as long hours–are guaranteeing they’ll end up with a bitter employee. Truth in advertising works to everyone’s advantage, because candidates who won’t thrive in the job, or the culture, can self-select out before they become your disgruntled employees.

Not notifying candidates that they’re no longer under consideration. Johnson County Community College and National American University are especially bad about not notifying candidates. This is both common and inexcusably rude. Candidates are often anxiously waiting to hear an answer–any answer–and end up waiting and waiting, long after a decision has been made. It’s about simple respect and courtesy (and it just doesn’t take that long to email a form letter).

Copyrighted, U.S.News & World Report, L.P. All rights reserved.

Wipeout voters have focused on beauty and not on pics for “What defines a Wipeout hottie” based on voting as of 8/12/09.  The result: a Wipeout hottie who has no pics to share with fans.  At this point, either Shannan chooses a few pics to share with you readers or some stand-by pics will have to do for now.  It’s amazing how those Wipeout Hotties who have good pics available to share with fans (that watch the show weekly and come to this blog every week–you know who you are) are the Wipeout Hotties who command a strong following through readers of this blog.  Take Kim Dockery for example: with only a couple of poor pictures of Kim’s head, hardly anyone read that posting AND according to search-numbers, nobody cares about Kim Dockery.  She is easily the least popular of all Wipeout Hotties–and sparked debate as to what defines a Wipeout Hottie.  Janica Polmanteer or Jessica Bertoni, on the other hand, allow fans to have access and worship:  fans see their idols or crushes or role-models and realize these are real people with real dreams and lead real lives.

Personally, I think fans of Wipeout and Wipeout Hotties will not see nor hear from Shannan Reeve thus making her nothing more than a cardboard cutout with no fame whatsoever.  She’ll be forgotten faster than a bad blind date.   Kim who? Yeah, Miss England 2008 has had more hits on this blog than Kim; I bet Kim and Shannan combined will have less hits than Miss England, and Miss England wasn’t even on Wipeout!  Heck, even the Claire Danes sighting has had more popularity than Kim.

If people on Wipeout make it as a Wipeout Hottie, I don’t mind if those persons use this blog as a springboard of popularity or buzz or whatever.  This is about having fun with 15-minutes of fame.  I do this for free. Remember what a famous person once said {summarized}: “It’s when the paparazzi stops taking pictures or people don’t talk about you, then I worry about if I’m famous.”

UPDATE: Shannon (not Shannan) Reeve is kind enough to share these pictures:

Dana Jamison beat Jessica Bertoni for Wipeout All-Stars Hottie only because Miss England 2008 wasn’t on the show and Dana made it further than Jessica–very close competition!  Jessi Duran didn’t have a chance as Wipeout Hottie because she didn’t make the cut of 12! Her pics are on a Myspace page if you are in dire need to see her again.

Dana Jamison, a model, has her own website with her own pictures for those readers interested in it.  Otherwise, we as fans of Wipeout have another woman who stands above the rest of the competition, a person girls can look up to!  The website is http://www.danajamison.com  Dana certainly made the most of her second try on Wipeout and has great pictures from her Wipeout experience.  Thanks Dana for winning here for Wipeout Hottie!

Ok, so I missed with the Celebrity Wipeout when I heard the information on All-Stars.  I was thinking All-Stars like famous sports stars on Battle of the All-Stars.  Oh well.  Debbie Gibson still needs to be on Wipeout.

Thanks readers for voting and sharing “What Defines a Wipeout Hottie”

Jessica Bertoni, original Wipeout Hottie, is on tonight’s Wipeout All-Stars–deservedly! Perhaps she’ll have new pictures of her time at Wipeout and have some updates for the reader!  For now I could only find this pre-Wipeout fame picture!

UPDATE: Jessica Bertoni didn’t make it to the final 6…be sad.

The following poll sprouts from having the last Wipeout Hottie a person who really didn’t have any pictures or interest and didn’t even win Wipeout.  This poll really helps focus on rewarding the right people with the title “Wipeout Hottie”.  Miss England 2008 can’t win every week!

Posted in The Inside Eye Looking Out ]]> http://technojedi.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/what-defines-a-wipeout-hottie/feed/ 0 technojedi http://technojedi.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/love-you-forever-dead-a-brief-story-starring-janica-polmanteer/ http://technojedi.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/love-you-forever-dead-a-brief-story-starring-janica-polmanteer/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2009 21:56:38 +0000 technojedi http://technojedi.wordpress.com/?p=347 ]]>

Being the winner of “Vote For Your Favorite Wipeout Hottie” contest in July, Janica Polmanteer, just as Jessica Bertoni, has a story starring the Wipeout Hottie.  The story stars Janica but it’s not about Janica, so the story is brief and some of you loyal readers maybe saying “hey is that it?”  However, that would make the story a lot longer and then made into a series here on the blog.  You readers sometimes don’t communicate what you want!  I don’t know I want to commit to that with the end of summer only weeks away–it’ll take more than just the four of you to convince me.

“Love you forever Dead” By L.A.U.

The restaurant kept its friendly diner atmosphere alive with bright reds and shiny silvers found in the stools and booths.  Despite being erected in the 1970’s, the diner succeeded in maintaining a 1950’s atmosphere.  Customers loved the natural cut potato fries and the not-so-greasy steak burgers.  The natural cooking smells from the griddle were pure in its intentions to keep customers happy and hungry.  A greasy spoon label did not apply to this well-run establishment called “Anamnesis,” supposedly named for the Greek owner’s daughter.

There weren’t very many customers at this time of day because it was between the lunch and dinner rush.  Because of the location of a movie and television studio, actors and extras made it a point to take advantage of the low prices for such delicious food.  However, no head shot of movie stars littered the white-tiled walls, just pictures of non-human 1950’s pop culture icons.

However, this diner, just as any other, isn’t a place just to eat and run.  This diner can be for the lonely, the depressed to drown their sorrows in a melted milkshake.  This diner can be for the enamored couple to share a fresh sundae or it can be for the first date to blossom a relationship over a basket of fries.  It can be a place where two people fall in love at first sight.  At the same time, it can be a place where someone has their heart broken.  This diner didn’t function just as a place to eat but also as a backdrop to life’s joys and disappointments.

“She’ll never get back with you,” Tony poured more ketchup on his fries.

Allen’s reply limply came out of his mouth as a man defeated, “I know.”  Sitting outstretched in the booth, he lifted his half empty glass of iced tea to his plain lips and took a plaintive sip.  Not staring at anything in particular, Allen’s blue eyes stayed on the checkered teal table beside his leaning body.  Tony, Allen’s best friend, still focused on his fries, which were the only food left on the plate.  Again Allen’s mumble leaked out, “I just thought we were great together and it would be like it used to be back when we were younger.”

After a huge gulp of soda, Tony repeated his wise words in his rough as rocks voice, “That was ten years ago.  I told you: she and you are totally different people than when you were in high school.  She’s moved on, Allen.  You guys were doomed from the start with trying to rekindle a dead fire.  What you had was good but that was ten years ago.”  Tony greedily took the last five fries into his mouth.  With two chews he spoke to his best friend as the voice of reason, “You never have fully given yourself to any relationship because you still hold a candle for her.  Stop it already!  Move on, geez!”  Perhaps it was tough-love past due.

“I just haven’t found a woman like her,” Allen’s voice echoed from the abyss of his new found depression.  His eyes focused on nothing outside of the window beside him.

With fries gone, Tony attacked the remaining fries on Allen’s plate with a switch of his empty plate for Allen’s half full plate.  “You see!  That’s the problem: quit looking for a woman like her and just find a woman that you can fall in love with.  My god I hate it when you get in this funk.  So depressing.  Isn’t bad enough that you and me are detectives?  Don’t mean I need to lead a life of drama.”

The waitress came with the check and Allen knew it was his turn to pay.  Even in Allen’s sad state of mind, Tony didn’t challenge tradition in the name of friendship.

Tony dug into his pocket for the tip.  “You need someone who’s better than her anyway.  She’s been over you since you guys first broke up.  I’m sure there’s a woman for you out there that’ll make you forget about Debbie.  Now, let’s get out of here and go watch the game before there’s another murder to investigate.”

Allen lifted his head from his hand; his eyes broke away from the dull blue skies of the slow-moving world outside he had been staring at since receiving his order that he only picked at but Tony finished.  Allen, as he finished off his drink, at first didn’t notice the woman who entered the diner.

The woman stood at the counter.  The new customer waited for a waitress.

From his table, with the light of day shining into the diner behind the woman, Tony noticed the silhouette of the statuesque female.  “Hey, how about getting back on the saddle with her.”  Tony only nodded in the direction of the woman but his eyes did the pointing.

Allen saw the silhouette of the woman

Allen saw the silhouette of the woman who finished giving the waitress her order.  The silhouette implied the artistic quality of God in forming a body that defined a woman’s outer beauty.  Her hair flowed beyond her slender neck, pooling upon her shoulders.  Then Tony, smiling, stepped in front of Allen’s view.

“Yeah, well, you didn’t hear what I just said so I’ll go ahead and go to Hooter’s to watch the game.  Mark and Matt will be there—if you make there.  Hurry up before we have to go back to work; you know there’s no such thing as a day off for us detectives.”  Allen replied half-heartedly and took the bill from the table.  Tony adjusted his detective’s badge under his jacket and made his way to the exit, with Allen slowly following.

Allen didn’t notice Tony exit from the diner.  Instead Allen noticed the shadow of a woman come into clear view as he approached the same part of the counter the woman now leaned against casually.  Allen handed his bill and money to the waitress.

The woman looked toward the griddle, watching her food cook.  Turning toward Allen, she smiled.  “You come here often?” the new customer had her brown eyes on Allen.  Her blonde hair respected its placement on her slender shoulders but the golden shine still took in the sunlight greedily.  Her brown eyebrows still floated into her forehead in a questioning look of innocence and flirtation.

Allen’s smile was hollowed but openly welcome.  “Not too often because of the studio.  It’s a nice out-of-the-way place to go to,” his voice came across conversationally instead of a homicide detective.  His blue eyes focused on her.  No wrinkles claimed any territory on her face.  Neither detracting nor enhancing, freckles lightly peppered her features.  He found her ageless oval face remarkably beautiful in its natural formation of a teardrop nose, a lean upper lip, and a full lower lip that shared the same color of pale red.  Kisses must come in different varieties with those perfectly paired lips.  The parentheses ingrained within her smooth skin around her mouth framed her smile.

In a chorus, both Allen and the young woman said, “I like the fries here.”  Sharing a brief laugh, it seemed the ice had broken silently.

Her voice lightly floated in the air as though to evaporate by the time the sound reached the ceiling.  “This diner has a certain—um, what do you call it—ambiance?  But I usually get my orders to-go because I’m just that busy.”

“What do you do that keeps you eating on the run?”

“I do modeling and acting when I can.  I did a commercial recently.  Do you watch Wipeout?  I was on there–didn’t win though.”

Do you watch Wipeout? I was on there—didn’t win though.

“Sorry, but my work as a detective keeps me busy.  I don’t watch TV as often as I’d like to.  Oh, and my name is Allen.”  A soft warm clasp of dainty fingers on a girl-like palm met his offered hand in a brief shake.

“Hi, Allen.  I’m Janica and I like the fries here,” she chuckled in her faux confession as though in an AA meeting.  “You aren’t here investigating anything are you?”

Allen found her directness refreshingly attractive.  Smoothly his words addressed her question as though words could hold her hand “Well, unless you live on Liberty Avenue, you have nothing to worry about.  Besides, as you know, I like the fries here.”

The white bag smelling of steak and potatoes placed beside Janica signaled that her order was done.  “Hold on a second, Allen.”  She worriedly paid the waitress and grabbed her to-go bag.  “I live on Liberty Avenue and I haven’t seen cop cars or anything in the neighborhood recently.”

Devastated that he made such innocent features disappear from her face, Allen’s smile wavered.  “There’s no need to worry,” he lied calmly, “just standard investigating stuff of missing pets.  No one’s dead and drugs aren’t involved.”  It was a relief she didn’t know what kind of detective he really was.  Obviously the killer kept a low profile where he or she lived.

Her face willingly accepted the answer as though needing such a reassuring answer.  The glint of flirtation returning to her eyes coxed a smile filled with her white teeth.  “Ok.  You know that I live on Liberty Avenue and I always wanted to play a detective on TV.  Would you like to walk me to the general vicinity of where I live?  I could ask you about your job; maybe it’ll help me with my next audition.”

Tony had always warned about dating actors and actresses.  He said that life was one big act—worse than Shakespeare’s take on the world being a stage.  Maybe the actor’s sad was a fake sad; maybe the happy smile was a false happy smile; maybe the sounds of love were just fake sound effects.  You can’t trust those who make a living using deceit and pretending; such gullibility could end in death.  Even so, walking toward Liberty Avenue would give Allen another chance at questing some of the tenants at the Galfore Apartments.

“A one-man police escort.  Let’s go.” Opening the door for Janica, he willingly followed.

In a most amazing accident, I came across a Twitter that said Claire Danes was in the neighborhood and stopped by for some writing project somewhere in the midwest.  In my curiosity I contacted the author and he sent me this picture (I cut him out) of a makeup-less celebrity.  This has to be Claire Danes without the makeup! Could it be true that Claire Danes will do the rumored Celebrity Wipeout?  Will Jill Wagner do the Wipeout challenges? Probably not.  Claire Danes without makeup looks like she didn’t want to take the picture.  Is she that famous that she doesn’t have to smile with fans? How stuck up of her yet she can’t be that snobbish if she at least is taking a picture with a fan and just showing up in the Midwest.  Jessica Bertoni or Janica Polmanteer wouldn’t mind smiling for the camera for a fan of Wipeout.  So, I leave the guess work to the readers: Claire Danes with makeup and without makeup; will she do Celebrity Wipeout?  It would be nice if Claire would do an interview here…