I just cannot continue to listen to the news without commenting on the sheer stupidity of some of what I hear. The UAW seems to think that the entire country will roll over and play dead. You REFUSE to take wage cuts? Hmmm... What are the choices again? Let me see.... Wage cuts, or... UNEMPLOYMENT! Don't they get it? The reason why Toyota and Honda are kicking their asses is because they are union free, and have learned how to make cars that the public actually wants. The Aztek should have been a cry for help in my opinion, by the way. How do you produce something so completely off the mark?
I wouldn't hesitate to guess that if you asked the Toyota and Honda US factory workers how they felt about their jobs that they would probably complain a whole lot less than their UAW counterparts too. You stubborn dinosaurs need to understand: Unions made sense back when you were fighting the sweat shops and other labor atrocities. These days all you are doing is ensuring out of proportion salaries, and over the top benefits for workers that are sucking one of our great industries dry.
Shame on Detroit for not getting tough and pushing back long ago. They should have threatened to take the plants to the same states that allow the Japanese to compete so well. Shame on Detroit for being so blind about the state of the word that they continued to market gas guzzlers to the public when we need to slow down and think about what we buy. Shame on Detroit for missing the mark so many times. Saturn was a great idea until they lost their autonomy and became like every other GM division, but then again, I look at all of this and think: Those who do not learn from their mistakes are condemned to repeat them. Bye Bye folks.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Good, The Bad, and The Just Too Big For Their Corporate Britches
I've been having issues with retailers lately. Is there a point where your company gets so big that you completely detach yourself from any sign of intelligent decisions? I'm speaking of the Arkansas Death Star of course. Our friends at WalMart managed to get me a bit upset, and a lot confused recently.
Most large retailers have a web site where you can place orders. Most of them synchronize their pricing with their websites, or at least have a large disclaimer on an item stating WEB SPECIAL ONLY. Not WalMart! They have a website, with many of the same items you will find in the store, but it seems to be run as a separate entity. There is a disclaimer about this, but you have to dig to find it.
Ashley asked me to recommend a new digital camera for her before heading back to school recently. Amy, and I looked online and chose a Canon model we liked. WalMart had the best price (or so it seemed) of all of the retailers in the area. I printed the page out, and headed off to the store with Ashley. They had them in stock, but the price was $50 higher.
When I showed the printout to the clerk, she said "we don't match online prices".
I was confused. "This is YOUR online price", I said.
"Yes, I understand that sir. WalMart dot com is a separate entity and we don't match their prices", she said.
"That's crazy! What if I ordered it on the website to pick up here?" (which is an option) I asked.
"Then they would send one here for you to pick up", she answered.
She then added something to further confuse the situation. "We will match a local retailer, but no online companies."
Ohhh kayyyy.... "So you'll match a competitor but not your own website?"
"Yes sir"
"!!!!!!"
We ended up paying full price for the camera, simply because she wanted it for a trip the next day, and by this time, all of the other stores were closed. I found the disclaimer on WalMart.com. You have to order the item to be picked up at a store, and then it tells you about pricing policy. That's just bad business. When I sent a comment in explaining that competing with yourself is a bad idea, I got a canned response which was just a re-hash of what the clerk had said. Idiots!
So, that same weekend, I had received a promotional email from Big Lots for a Sunday night sale. The deal was 20% off my purchases, and they would be open until 9 PM. The exact wording stated that stores normally open till 6 on Sunday would be open to 9, and stores that were open to 7 or 8 would close at 10. I got to the Newburgh store at about 7:40 and shopped while I heard them announcing the store was closing. I went up to ask if the announcements were for everyone or were they staying open for the sale. I was told that they weren't staying open. I showed them the email flier, but I was told that their manager said they didn't have to stay. The woman behind me took it a step further by explaining that her flier had been handed to her IN THE STORE the previous weekend. Didn't matter, and they closed, and we all left.
I sent a comment in on the corporate website the same night I sent the Walmart one. The NEXT DAY, I received a call from the Northeast district manager for Big Lots. He wanted to personally apologize for the mistake, and offer me another 20% off coupon to make up for it. He said he had been on the phone all morning apologizing to people. Are you listening WalMart? are you reading this? Probably not.
On the upside, I also had a fantastic shopping experience with no reason to complain recently. The store was DSW. It's not easy for me to buy shoes, and takes awhile. The clerk, Sarah, was friendly, helpful, patient, and I love my shoes. Nice job DSW. You should open a school for the other ones.
Most large retailers have a web site where you can place orders. Most of them synchronize their pricing with their websites, or at least have a large disclaimer on an item stating WEB SPECIAL ONLY. Not WalMart! They have a website, with many of the same items you will find in the store, but it seems to be run as a separate entity. There is a disclaimer about this, but you have to dig to find it.
Ashley asked me to recommend a new digital camera for her before heading back to school recently. Amy, and I looked online and chose a Canon model we liked. WalMart had the best price (or so it seemed) of all of the retailers in the area. I printed the page out, and headed off to the store with Ashley. They had them in stock, but the price was $50 higher.
When I showed the printout to the clerk, she said "we don't match online prices".
I was confused. "This is YOUR online price", I said.
"Yes, I understand that sir. WalMart dot com is a separate entity and we don't match their prices", she said.
"That's crazy! What if I ordered it on the website to pick up here?" (which is an option) I asked.
"Then they would send one here for you to pick up", she answered.
She then added something to further confuse the situation. "We will match a local retailer, but no online companies."
Ohhh kayyyy.... "So you'll match a competitor but not your own website?"
"Yes sir"
"!!!!!!"
We ended up paying full price for the camera, simply because she wanted it for a trip the next day, and by this time, all of the other stores were closed. I found the disclaimer on WalMart.com. You have to order the item to be picked up at a store, and then it tells you about pricing policy. That's just bad business. When I sent a comment in explaining that competing with yourself is a bad idea, I got a canned response which was just a re-hash of what the clerk had said. Idiots!
So, that same weekend, I had received a promotional email from Big Lots for a Sunday night sale. The deal was 20% off my purchases, and they would be open until 9 PM. The exact wording stated that stores normally open till 6 on Sunday would be open to 9, and stores that were open to 7 or 8 would close at 10. I got to the Newburgh store at about 7:40 and shopped while I heard them announcing the store was closing. I went up to ask if the announcements were for everyone or were they staying open for the sale. I was told that they weren't staying open. I showed them the email flier, but I was told that their manager said they didn't have to stay. The woman behind me took it a step further by explaining that her flier had been handed to her IN THE STORE the previous weekend. Didn't matter, and they closed, and we all left.
I sent a comment in on the corporate website the same night I sent the Walmart one. The NEXT DAY, I received a call from the Northeast district manager for Big Lots. He wanted to personally apologize for the mistake, and offer me another 20% off coupon to make up for it. He said he had been on the phone all morning apologizing to people. Are you listening WalMart? are you reading this? Probably not.
On the upside, I also had a fantastic shopping experience with no reason to complain recently. The store was DSW. It's not easy for me to buy shoes, and takes awhile. The clerk, Sarah, was friendly, helpful, patient, and I love my shoes. Nice job DSW. You should open a school for the other ones.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Goodbye to a Friend
I've been putting off writing this for a few days. This past week, I said goodbye to a loyal friend. Sammi came to our family as a rescued dog, by way of the Dutchess County SPCA and Ashley's boyfriend. She was a large lab-mix who never seemed to understand that she wasn't a lap dog. Sammi showed an extreme level of affection to my family and was always protective of us. At times, her anxieties got the better of her, and she would become hard to handle, even scratching us, or once or twice, biting someone in the process. Still, she knew when she had done something wrong, and showed us how sorry she was. She always knew when I was upset and cuddled close to try to help, and did the same with the kids. As bad as she jumped on us, she never jumped on Alec when he was small, somehow knowing that he was more fragile.
We were told once by the vet that Sammi was a very visual dog. Most dogs recognize by scent first and sight last. Sammi used her sight more he had said. This became apparent about a year ago when my brother Paul came by to visit. Paul had just gone through extensive chemo-therapy, and radiation treatment. Sammi and our Cocker Spaniel, Obi, Always loved Paul, and would go wild when he came by to visit. They say that your scent changes when you go through treatments like Paul did. Obi didn't know who he was and growled at him the whole night. Sammi, however was confused for a few seconds and then recognized him. She was so happy to see him, but was also a little more gentle that night and very clingy to him, somehow knowing what he was going through I guess. She was always such a perceptive animal.
Unfortunately, her mind started to go this year. After she had bitten a pedestrian last year, we started to get a bit nervous, but got even more nervous as she started repeatedly jumping the fence in the backyard and getting loose. this led to constant chaining or leashing when outside. You could tell she hated it, but we had no choice. Then the anxieties started. She was always nervous when there were loud noises. She would pace around during thunderstorms before, but now she started to shake, and lose control. This got so bad that I was quite sure she was going to have a heart attack one night. You could see the terror in her eyes. Convulsing, and jaw chattering. I held her most of the night, trying to calm her down, but it didn't help.
Marti had told me how bad this was, but it was hard to believe until I saw it myself. Through all of this she developed other phobias. One where she started refusing to go to the bathroom outside. Something behind the garage scared her into not wanting to go back there anymore. When Obi would cough, she would get nervous. When we dropped something on the floor she would run and hide. It was getting worse.
Marti is alone during the week and can't handle an animal like this. I can't have her in Jersey City, and Ashley can't take her to college. We can't give her to anyone because I won't lie! I have to admit that she bit two people, unprovoked, and the anxiety issues have to be revealed too. There was a farm in the country that rehabilitated animals and people together, but they would not take her either. After watching her almost die from her own terror that night, we knew there was only one thing to do.
Sammi left us quietly and peacefully this past week at the vets office. Ashley held her while she slept. Stephanie and Davey were there for support. I hope Ashley never has to do that again, but I have told her that she did the right thing. I kept telling myself that there was something else we could have done, but it kept coming back to the look in her eyes the other night, and knowing that it would be the end of her.
She left with her loved ones there. Free of anxiety and pain. I will miss her. Goodbye Sammi. Please say hi to your Uncle Paul, and keep him company. I know how much you always loved him. I know he felt the same way.
Can we go a whole year without losing someone we love now? Please?
We were told once by the vet that Sammi was a very visual dog. Most dogs recognize by scent first and sight last. Sammi used her sight more he had said. This became apparent about a year ago when my brother Paul came by to visit. Paul had just gone through extensive chemo-therapy, and radiation treatment. Sammi and our Cocker Spaniel, Obi, Always loved Paul, and would go wild when he came by to visit. They say that your scent changes when you go through treatments like Paul did. Obi didn't know who he was and growled at him the whole night. Sammi, however was confused for a few seconds and then recognized him. She was so happy to see him, but was also a little more gentle that night and very clingy to him, somehow knowing what he was going through I guess. She was always such a perceptive animal.
Unfortunately, her mind started to go this year. After she had bitten a pedestrian last year, we started to get a bit nervous, but got even more nervous as she started repeatedly jumping the fence in the backyard and getting loose. this led to constant chaining or leashing when outside. You could tell she hated it, but we had no choice. Then the anxieties started. She was always nervous when there were loud noises. She would pace around during thunderstorms before, but now she started to shake, and lose control. This got so bad that I was quite sure she was going to have a heart attack one night. You could see the terror in her eyes. Convulsing, and jaw chattering. I held her most of the night, trying to calm her down, but it didn't help.
Marti had told me how bad this was, but it was hard to believe until I saw it myself. Through all of this she developed other phobias. One where she started refusing to go to the bathroom outside. Something behind the garage scared her into not wanting to go back there anymore. When Obi would cough, she would get nervous. When we dropped something on the floor she would run and hide. It was getting worse.
Marti is alone during the week and can't handle an animal like this. I can't have her in Jersey City, and Ashley can't take her to college. We can't give her to anyone because I won't lie! I have to admit that she bit two people, unprovoked, and the anxiety issues have to be revealed too. There was a farm in the country that rehabilitated animals and people together, but they would not take her either. After watching her almost die from her own terror that night, we knew there was only one thing to do.
Sammi left us quietly and peacefully this past week at the vets office. Ashley held her while she slept. Stephanie and Davey were there for support. I hope Ashley never has to do that again, but I have told her that she did the right thing. I kept telling myself that there was something else we could have done, but it kept coming back to the look in her eyes the other night, and knowing that it would be the end of her.
She left with her loved ones there. Free of anxiety and pain. I will miss her. Goodbye Sammi. Please say hi to your Uncle Paul, and keep him company. I know how much you always loved him. I know he felt the same way.
Can we go a whole year without losing someone we love now? Please?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Spam Spasms
I really like a few of these. There are two trends here. One is a shocking subject line. I love they way they have two disasters, and a new Nokia phone. Is the other kind of subject I highlighted here supposed to intrigue me? NO Mr. Spammer.... I believe YOU have the stupid face. No, YOU DO! No, YOU DO!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Welcome to visitors from Slashfood
I recently became a regular contributor over at Slashfood. Feel free to go check out my posts (many of which are already here, but not all of them). This has been a great adventure. I can't wait to see where it's all going.>
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Today....
I thought today would be easier than this. I mean, I'm OK, right? Today would have been Paul's fiftieth birthday. Birthdays in our family were never a huge deal as we got older, but I'm sure I would have found some funny little gadget for him, and bought him dinner somewhere in the city. I know that Lee is having a rough day too. He mentioned to me yesterday that the period between Paul's birthday and his birthday was always a special time for him. For 3 weeks every year they were the same age. His friend Sue sent me a letter via email last night to post on the website paulgoldstein.org. Please check it out, and feel free to email me messages for him. We miss you Paul. Happy Birthday.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Marti Visits Her Adopted Lambs
If you remember back earlier this year, I wrote about the lambs in my kitchen. Marti went to visit them the other day at the farm. One of them was unavailable for a photo, but the one she called 'Fusser' stopped to say hello when he noticed her. I guess he remebers his M A A A A A! Here he is on our kitchen floor, and now at 4 months. We're told that he might become a stud. That's my boy!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Unexplainable, and Uncomfortable
I've received numerous emails over the years with a link to something uncomfortable, or unexplainable, but this is by far the tops!
Bathing John Malkovich
Bathing John Malkovich
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Waiter, There's An Apple In My Kimchi, and Feeding The Squirrels
One of my favorite places to visit in Manhattan after work is the Eldridge Street Dumpling House, which is located on Eldridge Street (duh?) in Chinatown. The Dumpling House used to be a little hole-in-the-wall place where you had to almost fight to get your order placed. There was no place to eat, except for a small counter with stools, so I would exit and enjoy my meals in a nearby park (and watch the squirrels beg, more on that later), or carry it home on the bus and watch the reactions from other commuters to the vapors emanating from the bags. Recently the Dumpling House has undergone an extensive renovation which more than doubled its size, added tables, and even a numbered ordering system. It still gets pretty hectic, but is much more pleasant a visit. The price of the dumplings went up slightly, but is still an incredible bargain at four-for-a-dollar! Other items of interest are the stuffed sesame pancakes, and the soups, specifically the hot-and-sour which is the best I have found.
This last visit, I ordered 4 dumplings, a roast pork sesame pancake, and an order of kimchi. I have developed a liking for kimchi ever since being introduced to it by a former employer at one of his favorite Korean restaurants. This kimchi was a bit watery, but had an interesting sweet-hot flavor. As I worked through the top layer I ran in to something white, and wedge-shaped. At first I was thinking cucumber, but as I bit into the mystery chunk, I couldn't mistake the texture. It was an apple slice. There were five or six total in the whole container, and it added a nice twist to a classic dish. The dumplings and the pancake were excellent as always.
Which leads me to the squirrels. Back in the fall, I grabbed some dumplings-to-go one night and looked on Google Maps on my Blackberry for a park somewhere nearby to sit and eat them. Seward Park looked good. It was at the corner of Essex and Canal, and next to the East Broadway "F" station. I walked down and found that the main portion of the park closes at dusk, but there were stone benches surrounding it. I sat down and started to eat.
I noticed some wildlife scurrying around at a distance, and didn't think much of it. There was a little bit of light from the streetlights. Just enough to see my food, and the scurrying squirrels. As I ate the squirrels got a little braver and came closer. I figured they were used to people throwing bits of bread from sandwiches and other things, so they expected me to drop something. As I continued to eat, and the squirrels got even closer, I noticed that they were a little smaller than the grey squirrels I was used to from upstate. They were more the size of a red squirrel. Then they started to come right up to me. I was about to see if they liked dumpling dough when I noticed that they all had hairless tails! I gathered what was left of my food and left quickly, a little creeped out, but mostly laughing at my "city squirrels".
Since that night, I stick to better lighted areas, and I have also gotten new glasses.
This last visit, I ordered 4 dumplings, a roast pork sesame pancake, and an order of kimchi. I have developed a liking for kimchi ever since being introduced to it by a former employer at one of his favorite Korean restaurants. This kimchi was a bit watery, but had an interesting sweet-hot flavor. As I worked through the top layer I ran in to something white, and wedge-shaped. At first I was thinking cucumber, but as I bit into the mystery chunk, I couldn't mistake the texture. It was an apple slice. There were five or six total in the whole container, and it added a nice twist to a classic dish. The dumplings and the pancake were excellent as always.
Which leads me to the squirrels. Back in the fall, I grabbed some dumplings-to-go one night and looked on Google Maps on my Blackberry for a park somewhere nearby to sit and eat them. Seward Park looked good. It was at the corner of Essex and Canal, and next to the East Broadway "F" station. I walked down and found that the main portion of the park closes at dusk, but there were stone benches surrounding it. I sat down and started to eat.
I noticed some wildlife scurrying around at a distance, and didn't think much of it. There was a little bit of light from the streetlights. Just enough to see my food, and the scurrying squirrels. As I ate the squirrels got a little braver and came closer. I figured they were used to people throwing bits of bread from sandwiches and other things, so they expected me to drop something. As I continued to eat, and the squirrels got even closer, I noticed that they were a little smaller than the grey squirrels I was used to from upstate. They were more the size of a red squirrel. Then they started to come right up to me. I was about to see if they liked dumpling dough when I noticed that they all had hairless tails! I gathered what was left of my food and left quickly, a little creeped out, but mostly laughing at my "city squirrels".
Since that night, I stick to better lighted areas, and I have also gotten new glasses.
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