A worthless piece of paper :1orglaugh

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When I was 20 my college started offering the "Certified Internet Webmaster" certificate program. I thought it would be a great way to build off what I had already taught myself. I am sure it has changed over the years, but based on my experience I was surprised to see it was still being offered. :1orglaugh

I'm glad I took real courses along side it, though I never got further into development having a basic knowledge has helped me out immensely when working with developers and designers, troubleshooting marketing tools and helping affiliates.

I think Shelly Crash, HBIC suits you better! :winkwink:

Hahaha that must have been so damm funny and I bet Old Tom dident find it amusing

Its not if you go into it with the right mindset.

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In 2008, my year away from Eroticy, I worked in international dating ("Russian Brides).

I have found that if both parties go into it with the right frame of mind it's a pretty even arrangement. On one hand you have men seeking a partner that are generally more focused on looks and you have women that are willing to set aside looks in favor of financial stability. It's a trade off.

Things in the East are different than the West, women do out number men so it does flip the relationship dynamic we are accustomed to. It favors the market to paint things a little worse off than they actually are, but contrary to popular belief these women aren't selling their souls for greencards and jumping on the first fat american to come their way.

If someone is seriously interested and is realistic in their expectation it is a viable option. Realistically it is an expensive process to court, marry and immigrate a woman from the East to the West. If you aren't financially stable this process is not for you. Also always be mindful that these are REAL women, they have real emotions and are often underestimated- they are typically very well educated and have very clever minds.

These women aren't robots, they have free will. If you treat them like shit they will leave you just as any western woman would. They have emotional needs and seem to love and appreciate romance even more than westerners. A woman may accept your affections, gifts, and even meet for dinner a few times, but there are no guarantees, you can't "buy" them, if they're not interested they're not interested.

I think its unrealistic to expect women not to occasionally play men the same way men occasioanlly play women :winkwink: and if you go for a perfect 10 Russian Princess, you need to remember a princess is a princess no matter where you are in the world. :2 cents:

michelle, you've led an interesting life so far, with highs and lows. i can relate and appreciate.

:-)

Thanks Dyna mo- class act as always :)

Bump for the radness of Crash!

I think I'm going to go with the Captain's spelling because I like it best. Feonsay.

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Its a weird word anyway, I always feel out of character saying it, but like I was talking with someone about just the other day there's really no other word for it. Boyfriend is so casual, "sig other" isn't too bad but sounds kinda sterile, "Life partner" would be good, but since gay marriage is still such a big no no my gay and lez friends have kind of claimed that one... I think "other half" is probably the best way to say someone is the cheese to your maccaroni.

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He knows exactly what goes on at shows, he's even attended 2 out of the last 3 with me. Some of you guys met him in Miami last year and he was also with me in Vegas this past January. He understands this is my job, plus I'm pretty low key at shows- I try to set up most of my meetings before hand and just crank through my schedule. It's not like I line people up poolside for free motorboats (although I'm sure it would do wonders for my exposure :1orglaugh).

I almost got myself into a bit ot a sticky spot my first convention, Internext Miami 2002. I had never been to a show before and I tried to over compensate and brought myself a wardrobe of a few power suits (cut me some slack, I was 21 and totally green to the entire thing). I guess my "business" look was somehow giving off a dominatrix vibe and someone I thought was talking about working out a deal with me was actually trying to get me to go back to his room to paddle his behind.

To be honest, hanging with you guys at shows, everyone has always been very respectful. There's a higher chance of someone crossing the line with me just going out to a bar or a club than at a convention.

Thank you lady, thank you very much. :thumbsup

Oh man, that was the best.

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That's how I roll..

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Eircom is the leading broadband service provider for Ireland. In early 2000 they hired me to be the voice of their auto attendant.

I was on a conference call when I was still working with MCI / Worldcom and someone that had been on the call contacted the head of the division to see if they would lease me to voice their phone system.

It always struck me as strange that I was tapped to do that, especially being American.

It's a 50 million dollar question for anyone looking to launch any online community across the board. How / where do you achieve critical mass? You can't really open a dating site w/ no members, how do you get people to join.

There are a few ways you can go about this, the first and most publicly discussed is to start off as a free site, possibly also offering a "get in on the ground level" incentive. This isn't a bad way to go about it, but it is something that does take time and is time away from generating revenue.

The way we chose to build our base quickly and effectively was to buy databases from smaller dating sites that didn't quite make it (these sites aren't as few and far between as one might think with the growing popularity of out of the box dating software). We stuck to sites in the adult space so the profile content would match our service, and also make the service offering palatable for a successful migration. Employees scrubbed the imported photos and data to meet our community standards (one example would be as I've touched on in other threads proactively scanning for and removing images of frequently abused starlets), and simultaneously launched fresh inbound traffic campaigns with mailers sent to the imported users to instantly create an active community- new users interracting with migrated users.

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Searching through Flickr, pullin out house pics.... workin on #24

Could I offer a suggestion for Swurve? This same thing applies to other dating sites. You have an accurate geo-targetting script that says the name of their town - but the demographics of the locations are off from the profile pictures.

For example, looking at it through some of the most "diverse" cities like Baltimore or Houston (low white populations percentage-wise) the home page is full of all white girls / white guys. Anyone with a decent knowledge of their hometown would know they aren't real people in their location.

Just a thought! Great site.

Good feedback, Kush. I hear that. If you wanna hit me up on ICQ to discuss sometime that would be cool.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...crash/home.jpg

I live in Tampa Bay. I don't have a mansion, just modest digs.

Misc interior:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...sh/house-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ash/house1.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ash/house2.jpg

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This was from November the year before last, all my stuff but staged for a photoshoot for a hair falls / extensions company

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A pic I snuck while the shoot was going on

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The backyard, house sits on a natural lake. :thumbsup

I guess one of these days I should bust out the wide angle and get some good shots with the canon. I love living here, have the water in the back but also live less than 5 minutes to the gulf, about 15 / 20 mintues to the bay. Picked the property up in 2003, even after the market droped I still got in early enough to turn a small profit if I wanted to unload it under current conditions. That may change in the next few months, have to see what happens to prop values when the oil hits out beaches :(

were your panties around your ankles ? :Graucho

great interview Shelly!

awesome house!

Badass sofa :thumbsup

Thanks guys! Working on some more, just was having probs loading GFY for a bit there.

High School was pretty boring, I didn't have the good fortune of having any teachers that were particularly challenging or inspiring.

In middle school though I did have one awesome teacher that I think really shaped my personality. 6th grade was when I got moved from regular classes to the gifted program. Most of the kids in there had been in those classes all through elementary school, because I was coming into things later in the game they really questioned if I was truly "elite" enough to be there and because I was so unlike these other kids I started to question it myself.

I had a math teacher that paid enough attention to notice the dynamic in the classroom, and he really went out of his way to try to engage me and keep me in the group. One day he pulled me aside and laid things down to me. He told me that I had every right to be in that class and not only was I as smart as the egg heads in there, I was smarter. Looking back I don't know how ethical it was, but when I pushed back he actually showed me the state test scores.

Just one of those moments that I reflect back on from time to time, taught me to have more faith in myself and that as long as you know your shit fuck what anyone else thinks.

I caught up with him last year:

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He's a reverend now and an assistant principal at a very new and posh middle school near my current home (in middle school I lived in a rough area). I'm not even sure if he really remembered me or not, but he was happy to hear from me and it was cool reconnecing with someone who had a profound effect on me.

ShellyCrash has colorful tattoos on her skin.

That I do, Fatfoo, that I do :thumbsup

request sent :)

great story

I'll wrap this up today guys.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

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:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

I find I have the greatest respect (personally and professionally) for those who have triumphed under conditions of great adversity. I always pull for the underdog and I really love a good comeback story, right Sleazy :winkwink:

My mental picture the industry isn't really a totem pole, where some people are above and some below. I don't "look down" on anyone. If the past few years have taught us anything I think it would be that someone who seems on top today could easily be on the bottom tomorrow.

Market conditions and technology are constantly shifting and evolving, new opportunities open up and old ones close. Rather than seeing it as various companies and individuals jockying for position I see it like we're all floating on the ocean, riding the waves.

I feel that no matter what someone's position, profession, or status in the industry we all bring something of value to the table in the way of experience- sometimes that includes positive acheivements and accomplishments that inspire and sometimes that includes failures and mistakes that by sharing we can help others learn from and hopefully avoid. I know I have had both, and I think I'm the better for it.

Zero. I have a strict policy about not shitting where I eat.

Some people make it work, and more power to them, but even though I try to be open, honest and don't mind discussing and sharing my personal life at times with you guys I still in some respects try to keep my personal life and my professional life separate.

150 Ambushes.

you are my new hero for many reasons:

1. I have crushed on Steve since the show started and wish he was my boyfriend
2. You have the most bad-ass couch
3. You have had the most amazing experiences in life
4. You are one of the smartest women in the industry etc., etc.

This is one of my all time fave ambushes :thumbsup

This is so sweet, thanks! :thumbsup

:1orglaugh
Carlos, you kill me!

Great read so far chica!

Internext Summer / Miami has always been my favorite show. I really dig the Diplomat, it's a nice joint, but my favorite feature has alwyas been that its closed to the public. I liked that everywhere you go, from the elevators to the restaurants, to the coffee shop, to the bar- everyone you bump into is someone you can do business with. Phoenix forum at the Palms is also great for that quality networking environment too.

Now with the change in format I guess its up for grabs. I'm apprehensive of adding production and novelty all under one roof, but I'll withold judgement until I've walked it. I think combining everything will make for a fuller show, I understand the financial reasons behind it, but from my prospective it possibly might cut back on productivity. You never know though, maybe it will open up new avenues for new partnerships that may be a little outside the box.

i think you're smart, you sweet thing.

One of the best takes of this industry that I've seen! :thumbsup

I was into Shelly back when she was underground...

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America wants to see how I'm livin'. Look at this America, look at how Shelly is livin' for the cit-tay! :1orglaugh

Actually, I just had my Flickr open to last Internext Summer, where this sweet limo pic was taken, wanted to give props to Webbilling for the very nice ride from the airport to the hotel :thumbsup