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Most Reviews are Fake

Most Reviews are Fake

Most Reviews are Fake

Most reviews are fake.  It should not come as a big surprise to anyone that many 5 star and 1 star reviews are fake. What surprises me is too many people take reviews at face value.  Here is my system for weeding out fake reviews from the real ones.

Use the Olympic method

I adopted the Olympic method to evaluate product reviews.  First I discount all 5 star reviews.  As what happens in Olympic scoring the highest score and the lowest score is thrown out.  This is to prevent bias.  For reviews it does the same thing.  Many fake 5 star follow the same pattern.  They are too long for a review.   For the very long 5 star reviews they read as though a professional writer wrote the review.   Fake reviews follow the rules for writing you learned in high school or college.  There is a central thesis statement in the first one or two sentences followed by the arguments.  Each argument is presented separately in each paragraph.  Otherwise known as one idea per paragraph each supporting the thesis.  The review flows easily from each argument to the next.  This is NOT how people write casually when creating a review.

Short is not always better

5 star reviews can also be fake when too short.  If you read reviews that are nothing more than “this is the best” or “great” or “This is perfect” they may be fake.  I still discount those reviews as well because they tell me nothing about why the product is the best or great.  I want to know how the product performed by someone who has taken the time to use the product before writing a review.

1 star reviews are problematic at best

Giving a product a one star review for a defective item is understandable.  Especially if it does not work straight out of the box.  I find that many one stars reviews are more about a person is not happy with some imagined grievance.   A one star review can also be malicious from a competitor to try to damage the reputation of  business.   No matter why someone writes a one star review I discount it.

What should you believe in reviews?

I like to focus on the three star reviews. I find three star reviews read like how a person including myself writes.  That is stream of consciousness.  The review may be a few sentences or even a paragraph.  The review is more to the point stating relevant facts without the superfluousness that you read in fake reviews.   I also read the four star reviews for the same reasons.  The four star reviews are more believable from a credibility standpoint.  I rarely give a five star review myself because there is nothing perfect.  A product will deserve a five star review when it performs as expected over an extended period of time.

Can any star review be faked?

Yes of course it any review can be fake.  I find many professional reviewers overstate the benefits while downplaying or not telling you problems.  I see this all the time when I read reviews on electronics.  It should not come as no surprise that many reviewers feel an obligation to give even a mildly positive review because their organization depends on advertising from those same companies.

If it is too good to be true….

It is up to each person to educate themselves on the products they are buying.  This does not mean you must become and expert.  What is means is to use what you know about how a products should work and trust your gut instincts.

 

 

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50 Sheets Blank Newsprint

Packing Paper 100 sheets 36x24

50 Sheets Blank Newsprint

One of the best ways to protect your collectibles and other fragile items during a move is with blank newsprint.  Boxes Near Me sell 50 sheets of 36″x24″ blank newsprint for $8.99.  The newsprint comes in a handy box to keep the paper clean and organized.

Moving Supplies

Boxes Near Me has the following moving supplies.

Double rolls of box tape for $3.99.

Tape dispensers – $10.

Bubble wrap – 50 feet for $12.50. Perforated every 12 inches.

Packing Peanut – 14 cubic foot bag for $21.

Business Hours

Boxes Near Me is open Monday to Friday 8am to 3pm.

There is no minimum purchase.

$25 minimum purchase for Debit or Credit cards.

 

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Baby Yoda eats anything

Baby Yoda eats anything

If you have watched the Mandalorian you know Baby Yoda is not picky about what he eats. Anything that he can get in his mouth is not safe.  This picture came to me from a reliable source who did not want to be identified for fear of Baby Yoda eating him or her as well.  I cannot imagine the horror this elf experienced as Baby Yoda ate him alive.  Fortunately there are many more elfs than Baby Yoda.  Next time remember to keep your Elf on the Shelf well away from a hungry Baby Yoda.

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Pandemic is not over.

Pandemic is not over.

Pandemic is not over.

Pandemic is not over.  I know all of the news of vaccines may have caused a sigh of relief.  That sense of relief is premature.  A virus evolves as it infects more people and animals.  In most viruses like the common cold evolves into less virulent forms.  This does not seem to be the case with Covid-19.  I think a short explanation of how a virus infects the body is useful.

Fool me once

A virus is not alive as we understand life.  Humans, mammals, fish and plants reproduce sexually to ensure their offspring continue the species.  Viruses do not reproduce in this way.  A virus is nothing more than a shell and RNA.  The virus reproduces by entering a healthy cell implanting its RNA which causes the now infected cell to make copies of the virus before the cell dies.  A virus is able to infect healthy cells because our immune system has no memory of the Covid virus.  Yes our immune system learns by way of what is called B-memory cells.  These cells help the immune system make antibodies.  Without the ability to create antibodies we have no natural defense against the Covid-19 virus. Pandemic is not over.

Evolution in real time

Even If you do not believe in evolution, evolution believes in you.  As a virus infects more and more people the chance of the virus evolving (mutating) increases.  This is a natural occurrence because of the differences in each human and other species DNA.  The mutation that occurs as a virus evolves usually makes it less virulent.  Viruses do not want to kill the host (humans).  It is bad for the survival of the virus if there are no host to infect.  This not always the case.  Sometimes a virus will kill anyone that does not have some sort of natural immunity.  Think of polio or smallpox. Until scientists created vaccines the world suffered countless deaths from outbreaks of these viral diseases.  Fortunately these two viruses did not mutate significantly allowing for a vaccine to be developed.  This is not the case for Covid-19.

Covid-19 doing the unexpected

A virus starts mutating as soon as it infects a living creature.  As soon as the Chinese scientists sequenced the Covid-19 DNA other scientists around the world started seeing mutations in the virus.  In March of last year there were at least seven known variants of the Covid-19 virus.  Now there is the English variant that is more contagious but apparently less lethal.  The variant that is worrying scientists is the South African variant.  People studying this mutation of Covid are not sure if the current vaccine is effective against it.

What this means to you

As viruses mutate you are still at risk.  You are at risk for all of the potential short and long term effects of Covid-19. Do not assume that the vaccine is going to work against all the mutations.  The only way to minimize the odds of becoming infected is maintain social distancing and wear a mask around people that are not your immediate family.  As my wife tells me she does not want the guilt of passing the virus to my elderly parents potentially causing their deaths.  I hope you will be as unselfish as my wife.  As Smokey the Bear says “only you can prevent forest fires”.  This goes for Covid-19 as well.  Only you can stop the spread of Covid-19. Pandemic is not over.

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The Trouble with (baby Yodas) Tribbles

 

The Trouble with (Baby Yoda) Tribbles.

This is a mashup of one of the most famous scenes in the original Star Trek series and everyone’s newest favorite alien baby Yoda. If you are not familiar with the Star Trek episode “The Trouble with Tribbles” check it out on Youtube.

Here is the link to the scene.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4wM5KvUGEc

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Cats like any Box

Cats like any box

Cats like any Box

Cats like any Box.  Over the long weekend I cleaned one of our litter boxes.  When it dried I dropped the litter box in the center of the room while I went to get the vacuum.  This picture is what I found when I returned with the vacuum.

The orange cat is one of our male cats.  When our previous female passed we decided to get another female cat. We purposely went looking for a female cat that could stand up to the dominant male cat.  We found the female cat a a rescue adoption event in Maricopa.  One of the foster moms told me none of the other kittens would play with her.  Once we heard that we thought she would make a good playmate for our orange male cat.

The Queen has Arrived

The new female kitten stood up to the orange male cat the first day we brought her home.  She would put up with none of the male cats domination.  I found it amusing to watch the 16 lb orange male cat back down from a 2 lb kitten.  Over the next year the male and female have bonded.   The Queen now chases our other grey and white male cat around the house for sport.  I am not sure why grey and white male cat does not stand up to the female since he is always trying to establish dominance over the orange male cat.  Once I hear a growl and hissing I know the female cat is chasing the grey and white male cat around the house.  In the year since we adopted her she in now close to the size and weight of the grey and white male cat.  Hopefully in the next year the female cat will calm down and get along with the grey and white male cat.

 

 

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The Mandalorian Spaghetti-Space-Western

The Mandalorian Spaghetti-Space-Western

The Mandalorian Spaghetti-Space-Western

The Mandalorian Spaghetti-Space-Western.  My wife and I signed up for one month of Disney+ to first watch the Star Wars Lego Christmas Special.   It was for the younger crowd to say the least.  We decided to see why The Mandalorian is so popular.

Jon Favreau writer and director

Jon Favreau directed the Iron Man films while also acting as tony Stark’s head of security Happy Hogan.  He is the creator, writer and producer of The Mandalorian.  If you find yourself laughing at the antics of baby yoda or the situations in the show Jon Favreau is the reason.

Channeling Clint Eastwood

Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian, is really Clint Eastwood’s character from his days in spaghetti westerns.  Imagine Pedro Pascal wearing western clothes riding a horse instead of a speeder.  In episode 10 when the mandalorian slows his speeder to slowly ride into the one horse town the parallels are not only striking but humorous. In some episodes including #10, Pascal not only sounds like Eastwood but has the same vocal cadence.  All The Mandalorian needs is a cigar to complete the character.

The Child aka Baby Yoda

Okay. the Mandalorian needs a plot device to move the story along.  The child is that device.  It could have been anything from jewels, gold or even a dog but the genius is the child has a will of its own.  Lets not forget that the child has telekinesis abilities.  Now we have a reason for the Mandalorian to travel from planet to planet.  He is now responsible for return the child to his own kind while looking for his brother mandalorians.

Let’s see where the show goes

Shows like the Mandalorian are not new.  From the early days of television having the protagonist travel from place to place has been a signature element.  This is especially true in science fiction.  Think of Star Trek among many others.  The Mandalorian will have to change to survive more than a few seasons.  In the meantime watching baby yoda is worth the price of admission at least for now.

 

 

 

 

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New Unprinted Tray 9.87×7.5×3.5

New Kraft Tray 9.87x7.5x3.5

New Unprinted Tray 9.87×7.5×3.5

New Unprinted Tray 9.87×7.5×3.5.  Boxes Near Me has received 9000 brand new unprinted kraft trays banded on factory pallets.  Each pallet has 2250 trays.  The trays are great for shelf organization, crafters, concessions and other businesses that need a cheap recyclable tray.  Pictures of CD’s are for size reference.

Boxes Near Me minimum order is 500 trays for $150.  Pallet discounts available.  Delivery available.  Please call 480-506-8712 for current inventory, pallet pricing and delivery requirements.

 

 

 

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Single-Use Printed 23.5×20.5×17.5 Box

Single-Use 23.5x18.5x15 Box

Single-Use Printed 23.5×20.5×17.5 Box

Single-Use Printed 23.5×20.5×17.5 Box.  This is a great box for distributors and wholesalers looking for a cheap alternative to new boxes. Boxes have tape residue and a label that can be removed or covered with another label. Each box has every flap.  The box is free from cuts, punctures and rips.

Available in Pallet Quantities

The 23.5×20.5×17.5 is available on pallets of 150 boxes.  Multiple pallets are in stock.  This box sells new for $3.21 each. Our price is $1.99 each.  Additional discounts for pallet purchases.

Increase your profits with used boxes

Business people know that shipping costs are drain on profits.  By switching to used boxes the savvy business manager can reduce shipping costs and increase profits.  Who does not like making more money.

 Boxes and more boxes

Boxes Near Me has variety of sizes from small boxes to 8 wall gaylord boxes all at significant savings.