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Pat
Check out this video I made for a conference in Geneva:
WED NOV/29/2011
According to MEMA, a .8M earthquake happened North North-East of Wilmington this morning. Nothing on the USGS website.
The artist was being PC, this could be scene outside any managers office in a big box retailer. #BackToBasics
In years past, having worked retail, I was in the thick of things for black Friday, the day after thanksgiving. This year I'm going to be an observer and participant. This year however it appears the retailers are very nervous and trying to be the first ones to open for black Friday. We even have some of them trying opening as early as 10:00pm on thanksgiving night to get to your dollar. Walmart for example is requiring ALL of it's employee's to work four hour minimum shifts on Thanksgiving Day or sacrifice there holiday pay. What is wrong with that picture?
My true feelings are that we need to level this playing field and get back to basics. Start closing retailers on major holidays and stop them from opening on Sundays, let's get back to some family values, and get our economy back in balance.
If businesses were required nationally to open certain hours during the week, they would have no problem, the competition would be the same and nobody would have to worry about getting the upper hand anymore over somebody else. Consumers would be able to make good choices and continue to go on with life.
Then again we have the free enterprise system here in the United States. You know what, enough of that, it is a crutch for business, people need some time off with family, and business needs to cool off and get back in line! Big box retail needs to realize that the same amount of dollars are going to be spent no matter how many hours your open, people will reschedule their lives in order to accommodate business hours. Retail 101, your number one expense is payroll, and what better way to control your payroll and to increase your profits, by increasing the dollars per hour generated by fewer hours open. Gee! That makes all the sense in the world to me!
And shame on us the consumer, we should know better. If we don't want business is to be open on Sunday we should stop shopping on Sunday. These businesses will get the message that people don't want it, and it would start closing on Sundays. Maybe we should start a national campaign to make this happen. Let's bring families back together and unite, let's bring life back to the basics.
*What car was popular when you were born? This was 1964's: http://ow.ly/7z198
*1964 Billboard Number One Hits: October 31 - November 27: Baby Love - The Supremes
*MLB - 1964 - World Series Champions: St. Louis Cardinals
*NBA - 1964 - NBA Champions: Boston Celtics
*The Hotties and Fashion 1964 Icons:
Jayne Mansfield,
Audrey Hepburn,
Brigitte Bardot,
Sophia Loren,
Doris Day,
Annette Funicello,
Kim Novak,
*1964 quotes: "The Quote"
....."Skipper!" - Gilligan
....."Does she or doesn’t she?" -Clairol
....."Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - Peter Sellers, in 'Dr. Strangelove'
....."Come alive! You’re in the Pepsi generation" - Pepsi
....."A martini. Shaken, not stirred." - Sean Connery, as James Bond, in 'Goldfinger'
....."Please don’t squeeze the Charmin" - Dick Wilson, as Mr. George Whipple
....."Let your fingers do the walking" -Yellow Pages
....."Put a tiger in your tank" - Esso (later Exxon)
*1st appearances & 1964's Most Popular Christmas gifts, toys and presents:
.....Easy Bake Oven,
.....G.I. Joe,
.....Rat Fink Collectible Hot Rod Figures,
.....Password Game,
.....Mighty Tonka Dump Truck (made popular due to the elephant stepping on it during a commercial),
.....PLASTIC Mr. Potato Head,
.....Wham-O Professional Frisbees,
.....Monster Magnet,
.....Rube Goldberg's Animated Hobby Kit,
.....Hand's Down(with Slam-O-Matic),
*Rock'em Sock'em Robots is a popular two-player action toy and game, designed by Marvin Glass and Associates and was first manufactured by Marx toy company in 1964. Had to be my favorite!
*Check out the commercial and the price of $2368 then.
*Saw this one on eBay today for $10450.
*The Mustang was introduced at the World’s Fair in New York on April 17, 1964.
*It was awarded the Tiffany Award for Excellence in American Design, an honor Tiffany & Co. had never bestowed on any other car.
*A convertible model was chosen as the Official Pace Car for the 1964 Indianapolis 500.
Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition -when are we going to take back control of our lives?
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods /merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!
It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? A manicure or pedicure?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
And of course there's the animal lover that can always use a gift card from the local pet store for food, supplies and even grooming in some stores.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, the person who sells you stamps or mails your packages, the trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
REPOST and then......do more....... Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?
* As you open your pockets for the next natural disaster, please keep these facts in mind:
* The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses
* The United Way President Brian Gallagher receives a $375,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits.
* UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern receives$1,200,000 per year (100k per month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE . Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.
THE OTHER SIDE
* The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.
* The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
* The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
* The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
* The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
* The Vietnam Veterans Association National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
No further comment is necessary. Please share this with everyone you can.
So, I know I said just yesterday how winter in New England can be so hard and unforgiving. Well, October this year treated us like winter, and November more like fall. Today I have the unraken leaves and 60 degrees staring me in the face! Do I rake, take a walk, or attack the estate sale around the corner? The options are endless when the weather is nice.