Once again I’ve gone a couple of months without “posting” anything on my blog, but this time I know why. There are 2 reasons, first I was watching the Presidential Campaign and figured I comment on it once it was over. The second reason was my health.
We’ll start with the election. As I’ve stated before I’m a Republican, a Reagan Republican really (supply side economics, small government, balanced budgets) not one of the neo-con/evangelical/socially repressive/do as I say not as I do fanatics that have hijacked the party. When John McCain won the nomination I was pretty positive about the party returning to its core values and its chances in the election. So what does he do? He brings Sarah Palin on as his VP choice, which sends the ticket right back to the neo-con/evangelical/socially repressive/do as I say not as I do fanatics. He did this to satisfy the right wing, the problem with this is….they weren’t going to vote for Obama under any circumstance and he alienated the blue color Democrats needed for any Republican victory. He basically gave up on all the undecided voters to prove his loyalty to portion of the party that couldn’t get him elected. Look at the post election map he carried the Deep South and half the Rocky Mountains, this level of support won’t get you confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture never mind elected President.
One final thought on this election. There is a lot of talk about Sarah Palin making a run for the Whitehouse in 2012, I hope she does. It’s the least she could do. Stand up and take the overhand right a standing President with an established campaign machine in place is going throw at any Republican.
And as far as the alleged President George Bush’s legacy…a one hundred seat deficit in the house, a near “super-majority” for the Democrats in the Senate and Obama could fill 3 seats on the Supreme Court. Talk about a wipe out.
Now on to my health. On November 25th, while at work, I had a sudden attack of pain in my upper body. It wasn’t sharp pain and it wasn’t in one particular place, it was a strong ache everywhere (arms, chest, back, neck). I had never felt anything like it and went to the hospital. It turned out to be a plugged heart artery. I didn’t have a heart attack, I reacted too quickly for that to happen, but I did have angina and required angioplasty and 3 stents. Needless to say I missed Thanksgiving dinner (yeah that’s what I needed…more mashed potatoes and gravy). I’m doing well now and should be back to work next week. Obviously, this brings life style changes such as; improved diet, better exercise, and I’ve quit smoking (so maybe its best we communicate here rather than in person).
One final item. I’ve noticed that the “Bay Area Sports Teams Suck” virus has jumped to Washington State (probably on an Alaska flight). So now the Mariners/Seahawks/UW can join the Giants/A’s/Raiders/49ers at the bottom of the barrel. I’m sure this will start large argument about who’s teams are worse but at least now we understand why the Sonics left.
Hope to hear from you all soon.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
October 2nd
Life's been busy. But the funny thing is...I can't point at any one thing, beyond my job, that has lionized my time. It seems there is never enought time to sit here and type ( an exceedingly slow process one finger at a time) but I can't say what exactly has stopped me. And I think that's the point.
It is very easy to focus in on the small details of our lives and miss the bigger point, which is to experience our world. It is very simple to go from chore to chore, just take the next predictable step along the path without thinking of what you're doing or to notice what you've missed. Get up, go to work, come home, sleep, repeat.
It sort like following the direction on a shampoo bottle, if you take them literally you end up with an empty bottle. Which is what's so disconcerting about falling into this trap, you end up with an emptier life.
Not that I'm complaining, I have a wonderful life. It just that falling into this is disappointing. So, therefore, I have to do something about it since I am in charge of my our happiness. But what? I know bash Bush...no, to easy. How about gripe about the economy...to real. I'm not sure right now but I'll think of something, and when I do you'll be the first to know.
It is very easy to focus in on the small details of our lives and miss the bigger point, which is to experience our world. It is very simple to go from chore to chore, just take the next predictable step along the path without thinking of what you're doing or to notice what you've missed. Get up, go to work, come home, sleep, repeat.
It sort like following the direction on a shampoo bottle, if you take them literally you end up with an empty bottle. Which is what's so disconcerting about falling into this trap, you end up with an emptier life.
Not that I'm complaining, I have a wonderful life. It just that falling into this is disappointing. So, therefore, I have to do something about it since I am in charge of my our happiness. But what? I know bash Bush...no, to easy. How about gripe about the economy...to real. I'm not sure right now but I'll think of something, and when I do you'll be the first to know.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
And the beat goes on.....
There has been a gap in my "post" the last few weeks because life's been crazy. Char and I have been dealing with multiple problems on several fronts (Char more so) and finding the time to sit here has been difficult. I have a couple of things on my mind, so I've decided a grab bag post was in order.
First off, the major reason for the gap have been health issues of family members. My Dad went in the hospital the beginning of the month followed a few days later my Char's son Jason. My Dad came out quickly and everything seemed fine, but Jason was is serious trouble. His Crohn's had flared up badly. It turned out he had a raging infection from a perforated intestine and had turned septic. Needless to say, an emergency operation was performed and he spent 3 weeks in the hospital recovering. He has only now returned to our home to recuperate.
My Dad, on the other hand, seemed fine and went home. Only to return to the hospital this week with what appears to be a serious problem. He has developed problems with his intestines complicated by his 30 year battle with heart problems.
Both of which speak to the title of the blog. Jason has had a difficult time reconciling his past. He wants to deny his illness and, therefore, allowed his condition to deteriorate before seeking help. My Dad has been honest about his condition and communicated it everyone in the family which allows all of us to be fully prepared and well informed when problems arise. Jason wishes to have a better past, my Dad embraced his past and worked with it.
On lighter notes.....
I hope everyone has noticed that alleged President George Bush, after screaming that Barak Obama was a fool and an appeaser for suggesting we talk to Iran, has sent Undersecretary Of State William Burns to Geneva .....to talk to Iran! Good thing Obama brought it up.
California is considering allowing Insurance Companies to offer discounts to drivers who drive less each year. To validate your reduced driving the Insurance Companies only need to install this little GPS unit in your vehicle. The device only records basic information like; how many miles you drove, how rapidly you accelerated, where you went, how long you were there, how fast you drove and how hard the brakes were applied when you stopped. What a deal!!!! For saving less than $100.00 a year you can have Big Brother as a co-pilot. What do you want to bet that after the first year nearly everyone on the program gets kicked to an "assigned risk" category and have their rates skyrocket.....Oh, and they're going to share the information with other insurance companies, so changing companies won't help, you're branded.
The Bush Presidency is slowly spiraling to an end, where is Carl Rove when the Neo-Con's need him? The thing all of you have to understand is....I'm as Republican as anyone (although registered as "decline to state"). The Bush Presidency is an insult to my Republican values. He has brought about Big Government, Big spending and attacked civil liberties. Republicans have ALWAYS been about small government, balanced budgets, and governments that stay out of the way of people and business. And he thought we were all stupid with his "evidence" for attacking Iraq.....Complete Failure.
Hey Barry Bonds! What do you think of personal relationships now? Do you still believe you don't need any ones approval? Do you still think that your superior talent will win the day?
I do not agree with the Government bailout of the Mortgage Industry. Spending 300 Billion Dollars to protect poorly issued home loans is ridiculous! The Mortgage Industry should live with their bad loans. They accepted these borrowers and the borrowers accepted the loans, both parties should be forced to work it out on their own! 40/50 year terms with reduced monthly payments or the borrower sells other assets (extra cars, vacation homes) to make a "second down payment" to refinance the balance. It should not be up to the taxpayers to insulate these people from their mistakes. I own property in two states and I only bought what I could afford or what paid for itself through collecting rents. If anything the Mortgage Companies are the villains here, they accepted "stated income" loans with no verification, they didn't do background checks, they have the loans they were accepting. Broker commissions were all that mattered.
OK, I feel better now.
First off, the major reason for the gap have been health issues of family members. My Dad went in the hospital the beginning of the month followed a few days later my Char's son Jason. My Dad came out quickly and everything seemed fine, but Jason was is serious trouble. His Crohn's had flared up badly. It turned out he had a raging infection from a perforated intestine and had turned septic. Needless to say, an emergency operation was performed and he spent 3 weeks in the hospital recovering. He has only now returned to our home to recuperate.
My Dad, on the other hand, seemed fine and went home. Only to return to the hospital this week with what appears to be a serious problem. He has developed problems with his intestines complicated by his 30 year battle with heart problems.
Both of which speak to the title of the blog. Jason has had a difficult time reconciling his past. He wants to deny his illness and, therefore, allowed his condition to deteriorate before seeking help. My Dad has been honest about his condition and communicated it everyone in the family which allows all of us to be fully prepared and well informed when problems arise. Jason wishes to have a better past, my Dad embraced his past and worked with it.
On lighter notes.....
I hope everyone has noticed that alleged President George Bush, after screaming that Barak Obama was a fool and an appeaser for suggesting we talk to Iran, has sent Undersecretary Of State William Burns to Geneva .....to talk to Iran! Good thing Obama brought it up.
California is considering allowing Insurance Companies to offer discounts to drivers who drive less each year. To validate your reduced driving the Insurance Companies only need to install this little GPS unit in your vehicle. The device only records basic information like; how many miles you drove, how rapidly you accelerated, where you went, how long you were there, how fast you drove and how hard the brakes were applied when you stopped. What a deal!!!! For saving less than $100.00 a year you can have Big Brother as a co-pilot. What do you want to bet that after the first year nearly everyone on the program gets kicked to an "assigned risk" category and have their rates skyrocket.....Oh, and they're going to share the information with other insurance companies, so changing companies won't help, you're branded.
The Bush Presidency is slowly spiraling to an end, where is Carl Rove when the Neo-Con's need him? The thing all of you have to understand is....I'm as Republican as anyone (although registered as "decline to state"). The Bush Presidency is an insult to my Republican values. He has brought about Big Government, Big spending and attacked civil liberties. Republicans have ALWAYS been about small government, balanced budgets, and governments that stay out of the way of people and business. And he thought we were all stupid with his "evidence" for attacking Iraq.....Complete Failure.
Hey Barry Bonds! What do you think of personal relationships now? Do you still believe you don't need any ones approval? Do you still think that your superior talent will win the day?
I do not agree with the Government bailout of the Mortgage Industry. Spending 300 Billion Dollars to protect poorly issued home loans is ridiculous! The Mortgage Industry should live with their bad loans. They accepted these borrowers and the borrowers accepted the loans, both parties should be forced to work it out on their own! 40/50 year terms with reduced monthly payments or the borrower sells other assets (extra cars, vacation homes) to make a "second down payment" to refinance the balance. It should not be up to the taxpayers to insulate these people from their mistakes. I own property in two states and I only bought what I could afford or what paid for itself through collecting rents. If anything the Mortgage Companies are the villains here, they accepted "stated income" loans with no verification, they didn't do background checks, they have the loans they were accepting. Broker commissions were all that mattered.
OK, I feel better now.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Part 2. Baseball...
Before I go on, a disclaimer. I’m not, nor have I ever been, a Giants fan. I think the Giants are a poorly run team. I do not like Barry Bonds, I think he is aloof and arrogant. I bleed Dodger Blue and think the Oakland A’s are the best run team in Baseball. Any of you who really know me understand the above to be true.
In Part 1, we established the successive eras of “competitive advantage” in Baseball. This cumulating with Baseballs focus on home runs after the 1994 lockout. In the book ‘Game of Shadows” the authors identify Barry Bonds’ jealousy of the attention McGwire and Sosa received during their home run chase as his reason for PED use. They use this fact as an indictment of his action, when in reality Baseball created a culture in which PED’s were encouraged. For players (including Bonds) to receive accolades, and sign the most lucrative contract, required using PEDs. Just being a 50/50 guy (50 home runs/50 stolen bases) wasn’t enough, you had to be chasing a record.
Pitching wasn’t immune to PEDs. There are many cases of starting pitchers having their best years in their early 40’s, or relief pitchers run off long strings of saves when they had previously been no more than average. Couple this with 150 lb second basemen hitting 40 home runs a year and it becomes obvious what was going on. If you don’t think this is true ask yourself some questions. Since Baseball started testing for PEDs; ‘What happened to Brett Boone?”, “How many saves has Eric Gagne recorded in the last few years?”, “What happened to Juan Gonzales?”, “Why did Sosa take a year off and then fail on returning?”, “What happened to Kevin Brown?”, “What happened to Giambi’s production?’.
What Baseball, Management and the Union, needs to do is admit their complicity in PEDs and move forward rather then single out individuals, like Bonds, for ridicule. It should contract with an independent, outside agency to provide drug testing to remove any question of impropriety. It should then define 1994 through 2005 as the “PED Era” leaving the players from this time to be judged against their contemporaries. The “PED Era” tag should extend to Hall of Fame plaques, thereby removing the need for Baseball Writers to consider PED’s when evaluating candidates.
In Part 1, we established the successive eras of “competitive advantage” in Baseball. This cumulating with Baseballs focus on home runs after the 1994 lockout. In the book ‘Game of Shadows” the authors identify Barry Bonds’ jealousy of the attention McGwire and Sosa received during their home run chase as his reason for PED use. They use this fact as an indictment of his action, when in reality Baseball created a culture in which PED’s were encouraged. For players (including Bonds) to receive accolades, and sign the most lucrative contract, required using PEDs. Just being a 50/50 guy (50 home runs/50 stolen bases) wasn’t enough, you had to be chasing a record.
Pitching wasn’t immune to PEDs. There are many cases of starting pitchers having their best years in their early 40’s, or relief pitchers run off long strings of saves when they had previously been no more than average. Couple this with 150 lb second basemen hitting 40 home runs a year and it becomes obvious what was going on. If you don’t think this is true ask yourself some questions. Since Baseball started testing for PEDs; ‘What happened to Brett Boone?”, “How many saves has Eric Gagne recorded in the last few years?”, “What happened to Juan Gonzales?”, “Why did Sosa take a year off and then fail on returning?”, “What happened to Kevin Brown?”, “What happened to Giambi’s production?’.
What Baseball, Management and the Union, needs to do is admit their complicity in PEDs and move forward rather then single out individuals, like Bonds, for ridicule. It should contract with an independent, outside agency to provide drug testing to remove any question of impropriety. It should then define 1994 through 2005 as the “PED Era” leaving the players from this time to be judged against their contemporaries. The “PED Era” tag should extend to Hall of Fame plaques, thereby removing the need for Baseball Writers to consider PED’s when evaluating candidates.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Part 1. Baseball, Performance enhancing drugs and Bonds
I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about Baseball and performance enhancing drugs. Performance enhancing drugs (hereafter referred to as "PEDs''…because I’m lazy and don’t want to type it out each time) have to be seen in historical context. PEDs by definition create competitive advantage, but Baseball has always had eras of competitive advantage.
From its inception through approximately the First World War is referred to as “the dead ball era”. This was due to the ball itself being of poor and varied quality. Any ball used in play for a short time became soft and misshapen making it very difficult to hit any distance, hence, “dead ball”. Predictably, pitching dominated this era. In fact the award for the best pitcher in Baseball each year is “The Cy Young Award” named for a pitcher from this time. Pitching had the competitive advantage.
Following this was what is referred to as the “Golden Age of Baseball” lasting until the Second World War. Again we’ll examine this era from the view of pitching. The ball had been improved and standardized, but Baseball was segregated and non-white players were excluded. This meant that the hitters of this era were facing some pitcher who clearly would have been in the Minor Leagues if all pitchers, regardless of color, had been given the opportunity. Yet the offensive records of this time are considered “The Holy Grail”, time honored standards by which all players are measured. But theses stats are inflated by the competitive advantage the hitters enjoyed.
Desegregation came after WWII, along with the open use of amphetamines. These factors contributed to a resurgence of pitching. Pitcher started throwing complete games, no-hitters and recording 20+ victories a year. Some of the most revered names in Baseball history pitched during this time. Names like, Whitey Ford, Bob Fellar, Don Newcomb, Sal Magli, and later Sandy Kofax, Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson. In response to the pitching dominance, Baseball lowered the pitching mound after the 1969 season. But Bob Gibson’s Earned Run Average (ERA) still ranks as the best all time. There is no mention of the competitive advantage of a taller mound in the record books.
The use of amphetamines affected all players (in fact, Baseball did not stop this practice until 2004).Only when one of the “Holy Grail” records was threatened did Baseball react. In 1961 Roger Maris and Mickey Mantel were closing in on Babe Ruth’s 60 home run mark. The commissioner announces that anyone breaking the record would have an asterisk placed on the new record. He reasoned that since players now played 8 more games a year (162 vs. 154) current players had more chances to hit a given number of home runs. To protect this record by focusing on 8 games while ignoring the fact that Ruth never batted against non white pitchers reveals Baseball’s true motives, glorifying its mythology, while ignoring its mistakes, and preserving the competitive advantage Ruth enjoyed.
In the early 1970’s came free agency which caused the game to focus on individual stats rather than team performance. This put the richest, large market teams, in a competitive advantage over time. They could control all the talent. Which made PED’s attractive to any “star” players (higher stats = higher pay). But more insipidly it made the marginal players understand they needed to use PED’s or risk losing their jobs to someone in the minors who did. The Union did not care, the higher the “star” player’s salaries, the higher the average, the higher the average, the higher the minimum. The Union played on Managements greed to drive up player’s earnings. Management did not care since the large market teams, with high TV revenues, drove the MLB profits. So they ignored the competitive advantage of the large market teams and the stats of the PED players.
There were many articles written about the “power surge” in the late 1980’s and early 90’s. The surge was rationalized by pointing out the smaller new ball parks and dilution of pitching talent (funny, they don’t talk about this when the “Golden Age” comes up). They even came up with the theory that the factories producing baseballs in Latin America were winding the balls tighter (remember that one?) In fact Baseball knew the players were using PEDs. Baseball made vague reference to it by saying the “surge” could be due to “better conditioning” by the players. But they loved the power surge and had little reason to do anything about it. It made Baseball interesting and sold tickets. So they ignored the PEDs.
Then, in 1994, came the lockout which destroyed a season and cancelled a World Series.
Baseball had to do something to bring the fans back to the ball parks. It had to be seen as attractive and exciting. So they turned a blind eye to PEDs during negotiations with the players Union and started advertising the “power surge”. You might not remember the TV ads, but I do. Greg Maddox and Tom Glavin discover that “chicks dig the long ball”. They start working out, taking extra batting practice and in time can hit home runs. At the end the two of them are stretching before a game and up comes Heather Lockyer, she says “hi Greg”, he responds “hi Heather” with great anticipation that his hitting has attracted her to him. Then she asks “Have you seen Mark” (referring to Mark McGwire, the most prolific home run hitter of the era) to his complete consternation. The ad overtly states that home runs make Baseball and players desirable.
From its inception through approximately the First World War is referred to as “the dead ball era”. This was due to the ball itself being of poor and varied quality. Any ball used in play for a short time became soft and misshapen making it very difficult to hit any distance, hence, “dead ball”. Predictably, pitching dominated this era. In fact the award for the best pitcher in Baseball each year is “The Cy Young Award” named for a pitcher from this time. Pitching had the competitive advantage.
Following this was what is referred to as the “Golden Age of Baseball” lasting until the Second World War. Again we’ll examine this era from the view of pitching. The ball had been improved and standardized, but Baseball was segregated and non-white players were excluded. This meant that the hitters of this era were facing some pitcher who clearly would have been in the Minor Leagues if all pitchers, regardless of color, had been given the opportunity. Yet the offensive records of this time are considered “The Holy Grail”, time honored standards by which all players are measured. But theses stats are inflated by the competitive advantage the hitters enjoyed.
Desegregation came after WWII, along with the open use of amphetamines. These factors contributed to a resurgence of pitching. Pitcher started throwing complete games, no-hitters and recording 20+ victories a year. Some of the most revered names in Baseball history pitched during this time. Names like, Whitey Ford, Bob Fellar, Don Newcomb, Sal Magli, and later Sandy Kofax, Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson. In response to the pitching dominance, Baseball lowered the pitching mound after the 1969 season. But Bob Gibson’s Earned Run Average (ERA) still ranks as the best all time. There is no mention of the competitive advantage of a taller mound in the record books.
The use of amphetamines affected all players (in fact, Baseball did not stop this practice until 2004).Only when one of the “Holy Grail” records was threatened did Baseball react. In 1961 Roger Maris and Mickey Mantel were closing in on Babe Ruth’s 60 home run mark. The commissioner announces that anyone breaking the record would have an asterisk placed on the new record. He reasoned that since players now played 8 more games a year (162 vs. 154) current players had more chances to hit a given number of home runs. To protect this record by focusing on 8 games while ignoring the fact that Ruth never batted against non white pitchers reveals Baseball’s true motives, glorifying its mythology, while ignoring its mistakes, and preserving the competitive advantage Ruth enjoyed.
In the early 1970’s came free agency which caused the game to focus on individual stats rather than team performance. This put the richest, large market teams, in a competitive advantage over time. They could control all the talent. Which made PED’s attractive to any “star” players (higher stats = higher pay). But more insipidly it made the marginal players understand they needed to use PED’s or risk losing their jobs to someone in the minors who did. The Union did not care, the higher the “star” player’s salaries, the higher the average, the higher the average, the higher the minimum. The Union played on Managements greed to drive up player’s earnings. Management did not care since the large market teams, with high TV revenues, drove the MLB profits. So they ignored the competitive advantage of the large market teams and the stats of the PED players.
There were many articles written about the “power surge” in the late 1980’s and early 90’s. The surge was rationalized by pointing out the smaller new ball parks and dilution of pitching talent (funny, they don’t talk about this when the “Golden Age” comes up). They even came up with the theory that the factories producing baseballs in Latin America were winding the balls tighter (remember that one?) In fact Baseball knew the players were using PEDs. Baseball made vague reference to it by saying the “surge” could be due to “better conditioning” by the players. But they loved the power surge and had little reason to do anything about it. It made Baseball interesting and sold tickets. So they ignored the PEDs.
Then, in 1994, came the lockout which destroyed a season and cancelled a World Series.
Baseball had to do something to bring the fans back to the ball parks. It had to be seen as attractive and exciting. So they turned a blind eye to PEDs during negotiations with the players Union and started advertising the “power surge”. You might not remember the TV ads, but I do. Greg Maddox and Tom Glavin discover that “chicks dig the long ball”. They start working out, taking extra batting practice and in time can hit home runs. At the end the two of them are stretching before a game and up comes Heather Lockyer, she says “hi Greg”, he responds “hi Heather” with great anticipation that his hitting has attracted her to him. Then she asks “Have you seen Mark” (referring to Mark McGwire, the most prolific home run hitter of the era) to his complete consternation. The ad overtly states that home runs make Baseball and players desirable.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Hands Free?
Today is July 1st 2008 and in the states of Washington and California the new "hands free" laws have taken effect. Maybe I'm confused but I didn't think hands free was a good way to drive. You see, my idea of hands free is...a Starbucks in my left hand and a cigarette in my right hand...hands free, knees involved!
Actually the thing that bugs me about these laws is, they are complete window dressing. The problem isn't whether I have something in my hand, its that my attention is on something other then what's happening on the other side of the windshield. The act of having my hand near my head have never distracted me from driving. A loud child has, or someone saying something I didn't agree with has (you have to remember, I have 2 ex-wives) or a song I hate has, but not my hand.
The point is, at least in California, this is typical of our "do nothing" states legislature. They pass good sounding, meaningless, laws so they can be perceived as doing their jobs. Did you know in California it is now illegal to hold a cell phone in your hand while driving...but texting is OK!!! That's right, they didn't include it in the law. Our legislature spend 9 month doing nothing of any value while they prepare for their annual 3 month budget deadlock.
Oh, if anybody can explain to me how hands free text, I'd like to know. Just in case I drive through a state that has real laws.
John
Actually the thing that bugs me about these laws is, they are complete window dressing. The problem isn't whether I have something in my hand, its that my attention is on something other then what's happening on the other side of the windshield. The act of having my hand near my head have never distracted me from driving. A loud child has, or someone saying something I didn't agree with has (you have to remember, I have 2 ex-wives) or a song I hate has, but not my hand.
The point is, at least in California, this is typical of our "do nothing" states legislature. They pass good sounding, meaningless, laws so they can be perceived as doing their jobs. Did you know in California it is now illegal to hold a cell phone in your hand while driving...but texting is OK!!! That's right, they didn't include it in the law. Our legislature spend 9 month doing nothing of any value while they prepare for their annual 3 month budget deadlock.
Oh, if anybody can explain to me how hands free text, I'd like to know. Just in case I drive through a state that has real laws.
John
Saturday, June 28, 2008
"Observations" Epilog
My sister, Joanie, wrote me retelling a story about WalMart in particular. I've included it, and my response, below. I think this provides a fitting explanation point to the subject.
John
I ran into a friend of mine today at my local market. He is one of the five remaining survivors of The Arizona attack at Pearl Harbor.He sets up a table at our local Grocer, Haggens, every month or so and sells his books about The War and displays his medals. The money he raises from his book sales goes to Fred Hutchison Cancer Research in Seattle. He told me a story today that I thought was "on Topic".Before the closing of the local Lumber Mill, he had rallied to get a Wal Mart built in a nearby town. He was thinking of how many jobs were being lost and how many people WalMart could hire. He spent many boring nights at the town council hall and at the age of 85 spent time going door to door to ask for support. Of course, the WalMart was built, BUT today he isn't happy about it. You see, after Walmart opened, he asked them if he could set up his table out front to raise money for his charity. Walmart told him they don't do that sort of thing.So, he stopped shopping there. "WalMart has NO HEART", he declared today. And I think he is right!
Hi Joanie
Don't get me started on WalMart (oops..you already did!!!). Their practices can only be described as predatory.The Corporation controls all the products and pricing, then they tell the Department Manager that he/she must increase profits by 5% over the next year or they're fired. This is a thinly disguised way of saying "cut you employees hours, don't pay overtime" as personnel is the only expense the manager can control. They make profit in the most disgusting way possible...by short changing their own employees. The mangers are forced to cheat his workers out of pay for hours worked, degrade the employees during reviews to disqualify them from raises, or fire them out right to avoid pay increases. Always remember this....6 of the 10 richest people in America have the last name WALTON.
And what they do to their suppliers, and by extension the American public, is even worse. Once a manufacture has placed products in a WalMart they immediately start negotiating a price reduction. Most suppliers will go along with this once or twice but they rapidly reach the point where they'll lose money on the product. WalMarts response is "so what! Either drop the price or lose all your shelf space for all your products in every WalMart worldwide" This is what happen to Rubbermaid. They went along and lost money doing business with WalMart. Eventually the company lost so much they filed for bankruptcy, they were bought out by a conglomerate that closed all the U.S. plants and transferred all production to China. How's that for being a good citizen. Did you know that long Beach CA is the largest port on the west coast and that their largest importing nation is China. But Long Beach's largest single customer is...(drum roll) ...WalMart ...(cymbal crash)!!! You think they care at all about this country?
Johnny
John
I ran into a friend of mine today at my local market. He is one of the five remaining survivors of The Arizona attack at Pearl Harbor.He sets up a table at our local Grocer, Haggens, every month or so and sells his books about The War and displays his medals. The money he raises from his book sales goes to Fred Hutchison Cancer Research in Seattle. He told me a story today that I thought was "on Topic".Before the closing of the local Lumber Mill, he had rallied to get a Wal Mart built in a nearby town. He was thinking of how many jobs were being lost and how many people WalMart could hire. He spent many boring nights at the town council hall and at the age of 85 spent time going door to door to ask for support. Of course, the WalMart was built, BUT today he isn't happy about it. You see, after Walmart opened, he asked them if he could set up his table out front to raise money for his charity. Walmart told him they don't do that sort of thing.So, he stopped shopping there. "WalMart has NO HEART", he declared today. And I think he is right!
Hi Joanie
Don't get me started on WalMart (oops..you already did!!!). Their practices can only be described as predatory.The Corporation controls all the products and pricing, then they tell the Department Manager that he/she must increase profits by 5% over the next year or they're fired. This is a thinly disguised way of saying "cut you employees hours, don't pay overtime" as personnel is the only expense the manager can control. They make profit in the most disgusting way possible...by short changing their own employees. The mangers are forced to cheat his workers out of pay for hours worked, degrade the employees during reviews to disqualify them from raises, or fire them out right to avoid pay increases. Always remember this....6 of the 10 richest people in America have the last name WALTON.
And what they do to their suppliers, and by extension the American public, is even worse. Once a manufacture has placed products in a WalMart they immediately start negotiating a price reduction. Most suppliers will go along with this once or twice but they rapidly reach the point where they'll lose money on the product. WalMarts response is "so what! Either drop the price or lose all your shelf space for all your products in every WalMart worldwide" This is what happen to Rubbermaid. They went along and lost money doing business with WalMart. Eventually the company lost so much they filed for bankruptcy, they were bought out by a conglomerate that closed all the U.S. plants and transferred all production to China. How's that for being a good citizen. Did you know that long Beach CA is the largest port on the west coast and that their largest importing nation is China. But Long Beach's largest single customer is...(drum roll) ...WalMart ...(cymbal crash)!!! You think they care at all about this country?
Johnny
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Part 2 of "Observation"
Welcome back!
First a clarification. "The Brand" can be any of the following; Lowes, Walmart, Home Depot, Office Max, Target. But its not limited to just these.
So, how did we get here? How does this damage the culture?
Well, we got here because we allow it. We're the only ones who make it possible by shunning the local business in favor of the "Brand" for what is only a perceived savings. The Corporate marketers know that if they offer an item at a low price the whole store will be seen as a place to save. I'll give you an example.
The newspaper Ad shows a coffee pot for $9.99 (it could be an electric screw driver, underwear, a can of paint, the item doesn't matter, it just has to be popular). You go to the store and you find the $9.99 coffee pot, but its a 6 cup with no timer or automatic shut off. So you start down the aisle. The next one is 10 cups, but that's all and its $11.99, the next one is 6 cups with everything for $13.49. The fourth one, and by far the most popular, is a 10 cup with everything for $14.99. Which you can buy anywhere else in town for $13.50. They have brought you in on the perception that they sell for less when in fact they don't. You probably even had the fleeting thought of "this must a cheap price, everything else is" as you made the purchase decision.
What we do by falling into this trap is slowly send the local wealth to the Corporate coffers. We forsake our friends and neighbors who own the local businesses and, thereby, remove for the community the shared wealth that funds things like charities, museums and recreational activities. But it also robs us of the benefit of community. The shared feeling of appreciation that doing business with local always has and that Corporate America never has. The merchant appreciates your business and shows it by caring about the transaction and you appreciates the personal contact and assistance. Compare that to the newest trend in Corporate America... Self Checkout. Cloaked in the guise of improved technology Corporate America now wants you to, locate the products you want, act as your own sales rep by comparing the products feature, and then become your own cashier. The message is clear, come in, find what you want, and leave your money, we don't even want to talk to you.
What this leaves us with is a community which has lost the cornerstone of culture, pride of place. We're left with dying downtown's and low paying/part time jobs at "The Brand" which provide little or no benefits. The local Governments are left to deal with ever increasing demands for services from uninsured citizen while collecting ever declining taxes from personal income. And so, slowly, the fabric of the town unravels as the infrastructure decays.
John
First a clarification. "The Brand" can be any of the following; Lowes, Walmart, Home Depot, Office Max, Target. But its not limited to just these.
So, how did we get here? How does this damage the culture?
Well, we got here because we allow it. We're the only ones who make it possible by shunning the local business in favor of the "Brand" for what is only a perceived savings. The Corporate marketers know that if they offer an item at a low price the whole store will be seen as a place to save. I'll give you an example.
The newspaper Ad shows a coffee pot for $9.99 (it could be an electric screw driver, underwear, a can of paint, the item doesn't matter, it just has to be popular). You go to the store and you find the $9.99 coffee pot, but its a 6 cup with no timer or automatic shut off. So you start down the aisle. The next one is 10 cups, but that's all and its $11.99, the next one is 6 cups with everything for $13.49. The fourth one, and by far the most popular, is a 10 cup with everything for $14.99. Which you can buy anywhere else in town for $13.50. They have brought you in on the perception that they sell for less when in fact they don't. You probably even had the fleeting thought of "this must a cheap price, everything else is" as you made the purchase decision.
What we do by falling into this trap is slowly send the local wealth to the Corporate coffers. We forsake our friends and neighbors who own the local businesses and, thereby, remove for the community the shared wealth that funds things like charities, museums and recreational activities. But it also robs us of the benefit of community. The shared feeling of appreciation that doing business with local always has and that Corporate America never has. The merchant appreciates your business and shows it by caring about the transaction and you appreciates the personal contact and assistance. Compare that to the newest trend in Corporate America... Self Checkout. Cloaked in the guise of improved technology Corporate America now wants you to, locate the products you want, act as your own sales rep by comparing the products feature, and then become your own cashier. The message is clear, come in, find what you want, and leave your money, we don't even want to talk to you.
What this leaves us with is a community which has lost the cornerstone of culture, pride of place. We're left with dying downtown's and low paying/part time jobs at "The Brand" which provide little or no benefits. The local Governments are left to deal with ever increasing demands for services from uninsured citizen while collecting ever declining taxes from personal income. And so, slowly, the fabric of the town unravels as the infrastructure decays.
John
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Part 1 of observations from a road trip
Char and I recently returned from a road trip through the western two thirds of the United States. On this journey a thought I had during a prior road trip coalesced into a deeper understanding of what is happening in our country. Corporate America has swallowed up our culture.
On our previous trip it became apparent to me how Route 66 had really "died" in the 1960's. It wasn't the fact that the Interstate Highway System had by-passed the small towns leaving them to wither. It was that Corporate America had snapped up all property at the interchanges. This allowed them to install their "branded" commercial operations (Denny's, 711, Holiday Inn) right next to the highway. Travellers could stop could and have their needs satisfied right there and never venture the 1/4 mile into town.
On our most recent trip I became aware of how Corporate America had build on their success. They had expanded into the businesses within the communities and starved out the locals. We'll call it "the Brand Effect". They set up the "Brand" in a community sparing no expense for the best location and build the best facility possible. Once open they offer their wares at a loss knowing they will lose money until they destroy the local competition. They can afford to do this. They know once the local competition is gone their "Brand" will command the market and they can impose their profit margins, thereby funding the next conquest.
What brought me to this conclusion was the near total abandonment of the businesses in the old "downtown" areas. It wasn't a matter of a particular merchants being out competed, it was complete collapse. Every town where this has happened has buildings sitting as if freeze-dried. They sit there with the original names, phone numbers and logos, faded but readable. No one has found a reason to reuse the properties. And somewhere nearby is a "Brand".
More on this in Part 2.
On our previous trip it became apparent to me how Route 66 had really "died" in the 1960's. It wasn't the fact that the Interstate Highway System had by-passed the small towns leaving them to wither. It was that Corporate America had snapped up all property at the interchanges. This allowed them to install their "branded" commercial operations (Denny's, 711, Holiday Inn) right next to the highway. Travellers could stop could and have their needs satisfied right there and never venture the 1/4 mile into town.
On our most recent trip I became aware of how Corporate America had build on their success. They had expanded into the businesses within the communities and starved out the locals. We'll call it "the Brand Effect". They set up the "Brand" in a community sparing no expense for the best location and build the best facility possible. Once open they offer their wares at a loss knowing they will lose money until they destroy the local competition. They can afford to do this. They know once the local competition is gone their "Brand" will command the market and they can impose their profit margins, thereby funding the next conquest.
What brought me to this conclusion was the near total abandonment of the businesses in the old "downtown" areas. It wasn't a matter of a particular merchants being out competed, it was complete collapse. Every town where this has happened has buildings sitting as if freeze-dried. They sit there with the original names, phone numbers and logos, faded but readable. No one has found a reason to reuse the properties. And somewhere nearby is a "Brand".
More on this in Part 2.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Getting started
First off, I want to state that even starting a blog for a fifty-something boomer is a jump. But I try to stay current and I find sharing ideas and observations on life and the world we live in fascinating. Hearing what you have to say is my goal. I'll touch on various subjects (politics, current events, sports, Americana etc.) but mostly I want to stimulate a response.
A quick explanation of my blog title. I've learned 2 good lessons in my life that seem to cover most situations and keep me centered. First, you can't have a better past. What's happened has happened, good or bad, worrying or bragging about it just keep you stuck at that point. Learn from it, fix what went wrong or build on what went right. Second, you are in charge of your own happiness, take the steps to make yourself happy. These rules have served me well from raising children through divorce and in business. I honor them in titling this blog.
A quick explanation of my blog title. I've learned 2 good lessons in my life that seem to cover most situations and keep me centered. First, you can't have a better past. What's happened has happened, good or bad, worrying or bragging about it just keep you stuck at that point. Learn from it, fix what went wrong or build on what went right. Second, you are in charge of your own happiness, take the steps to make yourself happy. These rules have served me well from raising children through divorce and in business. I honor them in titling this blog.
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