Welcome Courier, Blackwater, & former Navy Seals

As President of Fattened Calf, Inc., I'd like to welcome the Courier readers today. The Lincoln, IL newspaper was kind enough to do a story on our company that I believe will be in print later today.

In the paper, you may notice pictures of humans representing themselves as myself and the other principles of the company. So you know - they are doubles. With me being a cow, it's difficult to stand on my hind legs for extended interviews and pictures so I hire others to handle the press.

In fact, with the cards selling well, I may hire Blackwater as security guards. Nothing like having a retired Navy Seal around. Speaking of which, the President of Blackwater did quite well when he sat before Congress. I truly have a hard time criticizing what is mostly former top military folks who fought for our freedom, especially when my greatest danger currently is getting cud down the wrong pipe (it's a cow thing, sorry).

Anyway, thank you for joining us at Fattened Calf! We're glad you took the time to check us out. Here's a map to help you find stores with our cards. Go Lincoln!

[Picture was taken at the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival]

The Pursuit of Happiness

In the last two days, I've had two offers to "get paid what I deserve". All I have to do is learn the secret tips to Real Estate or Online Sales. It's great marketing taking advantage of our victim mentality in America. In fact do I dare? Get the Greeting Card you deserve, not the substandard greeting cards you're used to. You deserve the best - Fattened Calf Cards! 5 days left of 99 cent shipping!

Right. You deserve it.

What I am about to say will offend most people because so many of us are content to be victims and complain instead of making hard choices...so here goes.

No matter how much we get paid, no matter what our circumstance - we are all getting paid exactly what we deserve.

If you feel you're being taken advantage of, you are letting yourself be taken advantage of. You deserve it. Otherwise go find what you deserve.

In America, we have the right to life, liberty, and the "pursuit" of happiness. That pursuit thing is an important part. If you're not pursuing anything, then you are getting paid exactly what you deserve. You're not forced to work anywhere.

All that to say, it's up to you to make your dreams come true. Don't sit back and let life pass you by. Figure out your dream, plan out what needs to happen to make the dream a reality, then make it so.

It may take time, it may take effort, but it's so much more enjoyable in the midst of your dream than worrying about what you "deserve". To be honest, if you drop the word "deserve" from your vocabulary, you will find joy is much easier to come by. And if your dream is God-given, nothing will stop you.

And that's coming from a cow who doesn't even have opposable thumbs...

JL

"New" Easter Knights

We updated the website! It's now easier on fattenedcalf.com to buy cards as well as allow you to purchase only one card if you like. No more bundles are required. What a day.

If you've been reading Ginger's blog, you also know we are in New Jersey now. For some reason, that's just cool. I love states that start with "New". Was there an "Old Jersey"? An "Old York"? An "Old Hampshire"?

Did everyone move from the old to the new or is there a bitterness between the two? When we went to "new and improved" greeting cards we added a 1/16" overhang so they were easier to open. What did "Old York" do to gain the new title? I know crime has dropped dramatically since they used to be the murder capital of the world. Perhaps that's it.

Who decided they get the "New" title though. The Queen of England? She gets to decide who is knighted (and how cool is that!) The Pope? I think he gets to pick out what day Easter is on each year.

Or do you get to just call yourself what you want - like our congress recently decided to give themselves a pay raise even though the government was essentially shut down for a bit.

I'm not sure which is cooler - making the call on Easter, deciding who is knighted, or being able to raise you paycheck at the expense of taxpayers. I'll let you decide...

Sir Jean-Luc

Failing Forward

New greeting cards + new account + eBay = loss of 60 cents.

Well, what can you do? That's right 60 cents down the tube on eBay. Looks like at this point we'll just stick with our online sales and the brick and mortar. My only wish is that there were more things to try where the downside was only 60 cents.

We even got phished by firm in China looking for passwords. Best phish I've seen. They email you about your product asking if you will ship to NJ with a giant button to reply to the phish. Turns out the button sneaks you over to their site to collect your password and username.

They used an actual eBayer's account that was old and probably not being used anymore.

As a cow with some computer experience and some connections to Interpol, I set a trap for them.

Speaking of which, if ever there was a time to get together as Americans (I'm not French, although I like France's new President) and BUY AMERICAN wouldn't now be a good time - especially after China (I'm sure by accident) poisoned and choked our children.

Or is our desire for higher wages in the US and and refusal to buy anything but the lowest price an unsolvable problem? Hey, I'll chip in 60 cents to help...