1/05/2021

Kunany-Mt Wellington Explorer Bus 2-Hr Return Tour (Hobart, Tas, Australia)

This is a must if you are staying a few days in Hobart. Just the road trip to the mountain top is scenic and picturesque on its own, with really breathtaking views and some wow moments as the bus ascends through the very narrow forestie meandrous road.

There are walking and biking tracks in the surroundings that you can follow. You'll be provided with a map and can hop on/off at any of the stops. Let the drivers now that you'll be walking/cycling and when approximately you're going to go back and where you'll be catching the down bus. The bus can carry your bikes up/down if you intend to do part of the trip cycling.

The views of Hobart from the top are spectacular if the day is clear or not too cloudy. It is quite cold, so take an extra jacket.  


I wish the time at the top was a bit longer and that the latest bus departed from/to Mt Wellington a bit later, especially in summer, when there is daylight till about 8:30pm if not longer.

All the staff are really friendly. Our driver was a lovely chap, and he was truly informative without being overwhelming with his talking.

Good value for money, especially if you hop on/off.
 
A very enjoyable trip.
  

1/03/2021

Jackman & McRoss Bakeries, Battery Point, Tasmania

I wish I had discovered this charming little cafe and bakery earlier during my visit of Hobart. The place is a wonderful location, a few metres away from the Salamanca Markets and the ferry to the MOMA. The space is small but very cozy and cute. The coffee, pastries and pies are wonderful. The service was super friendly. Most recommended.

Mezethes Greek Taverna Tasmania, Hobart

I had dinner with friends here and the food was really average, overpriced and I don't think it's authentic Greek food. Menu is also very limited. Ambience was cozy, the staff friendly and service was fast, but neither my friends or I thought that would want to go back any time soon. Heap in Hobart but would consider average in Melbourne. I would not recommend.

10/30/2020

The Iconic (Online Shop)

Link

I have bought many times from The Iconic, and they are legends.Dispatch and delivery has always been super-fast pre-COVID, and decently timed during COVID.
 
>Their website is very clean and easy to browse and their search tool quite refined. I find the mix of casual and posh styles, local and international names, normal and curvy sizes, average to excellent quality, generic-ish brands to very well-known brands, clothing and accessories, and pricing terrific.  
 
> They have average-sized models and curvy models, all gorgeous, to showcase the clothing. They also have people from different races.

> Returns are super-easy and free and you can get your money back or rewarded credit for further purchases. 

> Their wish-list and boards are very useful. If desired, you can receive email notifications with updates re the products in the list just in case you are mad about anything.

> Great discounts all year around, and some of their outlet items are a total bargain. 

If you subscribe to your newsletter is 20 bucks off your next purchase and you can cancel any time. 

DOWNSIDES
> One of the main downsides to me is the fact that many of the accessories are not photographed on people but on white backgrounds, which is great to see the product itself but not so much to get an accurate idea of how the product looks on a real person re length, size and overall look. 
 > The items in outlet and sale cannot be exchanged or returned, which is a bummer because sizing is fanciful and you could order something in your size and fits larger or smaller than usual. If you cannot return it, you won't be able to wear it at all and would have been a waste of your money. 
> This being an iconic Australian brand, I truly miss the presence of more Indigenous Australian models in the photos.

10/24/2020

Pioneer On-Ear S3 Wireless Headphones Blue SES3BTL

I got this headset at a very discounted price thanks to a gift voucher. I choose the blue colour because it looked like a pretty metallic blue and it was the cheapest in the range.

GOOD THINGS.
> Large head band, perfect for both women and men. For females with small heads, the headset tends to slip off a bit when bending.
> The awesome pods rotating system, which allows them to move freely and easily in different angles and adjust to most ears. This also helps the pods to fold flat inside the band, and they can be easily stored and carried.
> The pods cushioning is very comfortable, and they do not press my ears at all.
> Battery life is great, almost two days of generous time with them on.
> Pairing is easily done.
> The quality of the sound is good overall. Decent range and bass.
> If on standby for a while, the headset auto-shuts off, and saves battery life.  
> Good value for money.
 
SO-SO.
> The headset looks and feels cheep and plasticky for a Pioneer.
> I know these aren't meant to be noise-cancelling headphones. However, the volume range is not strong enough to muffle the outside world noises when walking outdoors or while on public transport. 
> Quality of sound and bass is not bad, but I was expecting much more from a Pioneer.
> The charging cable is ridiculously short.
> The top is ridged and hollow as if the padding had to be stuck there but it was never done. Headband has no padding on the top, and it can be uncomfortable to wear if you have the headset on for a while.
 

BAD.

The colour on the packaging and promotional photos isn't the headset true colour.If the headset had been photographed properly I would have not chosen the blue colour heaset. Please, Pioneer masterminds, provide professional photos that reflect the true colour of your products. Otherwise, what's the point?

10/21/2020

LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell (Online Service)


My employer has a package of sessions available for each staff member due to the nature of the work we do, but the consultations can be used to sort out personal stuff from marital problems to grieving to finances or other personal issues. 
 
One can book the session in advance or use the after-hours service, on the spot, if necessary. Booking is hassle free and the phone "reception" staff are really helpful and efficient. 
 
I have had different counselors in my consultations and they range from really helpful and empathetic, so you can tackle the issue at hand from a new perspective, feel listened and helped to, to the really uninterested incompetent professional that is like talking to a wall, don't know what active listening is and are a waste of your time because you won't get anything good out of the session. These professionals are paid for their consultations, so I found the presence of latter type worrisome and annoying. 
 
I would recommend customers not to stick to any professional that is not really helpful, even if the professional pressures you, because the service does not demand that from you. You can swap professionals if you want or can choose one for all your consultations if you feel they are making a difference for good.
 
Quality of sound in all the calls has been deficient, perhaps because staff are working remotely from home during COVID.

8/29/2020

Rev (Online Platform, Paid Transcriptions)



 
 Rev is well-established legit online transcription, dictation, translation and subtitling company that offers jobs to freelance workers. This review is from a transcriptionist point of view, not from a customer point of view. If you want to work for them, read this review first, so you don't get any surprise. 
 
NOTE Sep 2023
I left Rev in 2020 and things have changed since.  I know, for example, that now they require an ID document (passport for ex.) to be able to work for them, something that wasn't necessary when I was working for them. What is written below was written short after I left. I enjoyed my time there, loved my peers and the jobs, but payment was exploitative and I couldn't make a living out of it. 
 
BEFORE GETTING ACCESS
You have to take a test to demonstrate your English language grammar skills. If you pass it, you'll be allowed to do a short transcription job.  Rev graders will review it and, about 2 weeks, they'll let you know the results. If you pass it, you're be allowed to register and start working. When you register you also sign a formal contract with Rev as freelancer.
 
GOOD THINGS
+ They tell you upfront how they work, how they mark, what and how they pay, and what they expect from you. If you don't fit the bill or perform according to what they want, your account will be terminated. Zap! in a micro-second.
+ They pay in a timely manner every Monday evening, via PayPal, for the week that ends on Saturday.
+  You can work when and wherever it suits you. You only need a computer, a good set of earphones and a comfortable chair. 
+ You don't need extra software or anything to work for them. Not even the usual transcriptionist pedals, if you don't want to. You can download some Chrome extensions to make your work easier, like Ears or a media speed controller.
+ Newcomers need to pass a period of assessment, still being paid for the transcriptions they do. They're called Rookies. Their jobs are graded/marked so that they can learn from their mistakes. It's a great training. They have a maximum of 100 minutes of transcription to achieve the required metrics/statistics to work for Rev after that. 
+ The variety of subject files you can work on: thesis interviews, celebrities interviews for fashion magazines or TV outlets, board meetings, focus group studies, police or investigator surveillance and interrogation sessions, court trials, TV programs, meetings, research interviews, webinars, customer service calls, and what's not. Files come both in just audio, or audio and video.
+ Some projects are really interesting and enjoyable to do.  I've learned so much stuff by just listening to some of the speakers. One feels privileged at having access to classified material that, many times, involves celebrities, politicians and well-known people. 
+ If you are an approved transcriptionist (called Revver) you will earn 25% more for doing the same job as a Rookie does, and will have access to thousands of jobs that Rookies cannot work on.  If you pass that level after 120 days (with very high metrics and a high volume of minutes transcribed) you will become a Revver+ and be in the best position to be, earning way more for the same jobs, having early access to files and some other perks. 
+ Customer service is really excellent. They are friendly, helpful and caring. They want to help you. They want you to do well. They encourage you.  
+ Forums like Lend an Ear and the chat Ask the Experts are really helpful. The people there, other transcriptionists, respond to your queries live, while you are still working on a project and you have doubts that need to be sorted out ASAP. Very supportive.
+ If you take a job that you cannot finish, because it's a pain in the butt, you don't have the time, or something comes up for you, you can unclaim it, and another transcriptionist can take it. Unless the project is just a couple of minutes long, they give you 60 minutes to work on it and unclaim it. You won't be paid for the time you worked on it, but your metrics won't be affected. However, that's better that not finishing the job by the deadline, spending hours on a file, not being pad and your metrics being affected. 
+ Metrics are important for a Revver because those are the ones that will keep you working space open. If your metrics fall bellow what is expected from you, your account will be closed down without any warning. 
+ Overall, the website is clean and easy to use.
+ Their online Line editor used to transcribe is very good. I have poor sight, so I love the customization of speaker labels and the dark grey background, as well as the slow-down audio tool. Line is way better than other online editors I've used in other online transcription companies.