After being out of the workforce for 27 days, not that anyone is counting here, I am now officially back in the workforce. The job that got away from me came back, due to a red tape issue with the client company. The arrangement is that I'm owned by one company and assigned to another. I know the client company very well. Without going into details, I will be in a systems and test engineering role, and gaining experience within the commercial aerospace industry. After this assignment is done, it will either be extended or I'll get some other work if that becomes available, and from what I know of the industry, odds are that it will.
This will not have me on the road as much as my last gig did. I may have to go up to Phoenix a few times, which is OK. I don't mind company travel every now and then. I have been in situations where I have been away from home more than I have been at home, and that can take its toll.
The new company is treating me very well! If I heard them correctly, I will be working on some tasks from their business office. I was delighted to hear that. I mean, I can do the commute every day if I have to (the medical device firm that I worked for is up the road from the client) and if I can set my hours for a 7:00 AM start then the commute isn't that bad. Coming home might be a bear at times, especially if there are wrecks, and I have taken alternate routes more times than I can remember.
It's nice being back in the saddle again. It took some patience on my part to deal with the delay (I had honestly thought that it was going to fall through).
What's also nice is that I am gaining experience on a product line that I haven't worked on before, and that in itself will help my marketability. If I have my way, retirement is still some years off, and as long as engineering is fun I'll stay in the workforce.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Saturday, January 20, 2018
The Situation Report as it is on Saturday, 1/20/18
It is coming up on three weeks on being out of work. During that time an interview has taken place, and a job offer that soon followed, but I am not back to work. I was to have started last Monday, being contracted out to one of the local aerospace firms, but that is now on hold. So I'm out pounding the pavement so to speak, and trying to deal with that situation as best as I can.
I could write a few pages on it. I mean, it was a letdown. It was a great offer with better benefits. And the start date has been "postponed". I haven't heard anything since I got that news, and to be on the safe side the search is continuing.
As for the old job, I was told by the customer that when the new company takes over that contract, that they hope I'll be back. I am open to returning to that position, but I can't wait the six months or however long it's going to take until the work is transitioned over to the incoming company. I have already applied there but there are legal issues that have to be worked out between the winning contractor, and the losing contractor (not my former employer). My best information is that this won't be settled until mid-February at the earliest, and even then that doesn't mean that the task will be funded right away.
That said, I went ahead and applied to that new company. Their reputation is good.
What this is teaching me is that I am not ready for retirement. Yes, a sabbatical every now and then is nice, and there are things I need to do around the house. I'm already doing some of them and catching up on some things. I enjoy my ham radio activities. I enjoy writing and I'm re-reading some science fiction novels from Isaac Asimov. I did one book review several years ago and I should do another while I'm on hiatus from work.
As you might well now if you've been a regular reader of this blog, radio has been a passion of mine for several years. As in over forty years. As since high school. And I've been enjoying ham radio again, even though conditions aren't the greatest.
Conditions haven't exactly been the greatest. The bands don't seem to be as crowded.
That said, I've been having a great deal of fun.
I am overdue for a Pat DiNizio tribute post. It's something I want to do.
In the meantime, here is one of the best songs ever recorded:
Drown in My Own Tears
I could write a few pages on it. I mean, it was a letdown. It was a great offer with better benefits. And the start date has been "postponed". I haven't heard anything since I got that news, and to be on the safe side the search is continuing.
* * * * * * *
As for the old job, I was told by the customer that when the new company takes over that contract, that they hope I'll be back. I am open to returning to that position, but I can't wait the six months or however long it's going to take until the work is transitioned over to the incoming company. I have already applied there but there are legal issues that have to be worked out between the winning contractor, and the losing contractor (not my former employer). My best information is that this won't be settled until mid-February at the earliest, and even then that doesn't mean that the task will be funded right away.
That said, I went ahead and applied to that new company. Their reputation is good.
* * * * * * *
What this is teaching me is that I am not ready for retirement. Yes, a sabbatical every now and then is nice, and there are things I need to do around the house. I'm already doing some of them and catching up on some things. I enjoy my ham radio activities. I enjoy writing and I'm re-reading some science fiction novels from Isaac Asimov. I did one book review several years ago and I should do another while I'm on hiatus from work.
* * * * * * *
As you might well now if you've been a regular reader of this blog, radio has been a passion of mine for several years. As in over forty years. As since high school. And I've been enjoying ham radio again, even though conditions aren't the greatest.
Conditions haven't exactly been the greatest. The bands don't seem to be as crowded.
That said, I've been having a great deal of fun.
* * * * * * *
I am overdue for a Pat DiNizio tribute post. It's something I want to do.
In the meantime, here is one of the best songs ever recorded:
Drown in My Own Tears
Saturday, December 16, 2017
It's Been One of Those Weeks
On the eve of turning 59 years of age, I am in the process of concluding a week that fortunately, is not one of those types of weeks that you get every week. A few days ago I learned of the passing of Smithereens frontman and lead singer Pat DiNizio. I knew that he had been in ill health these past few months, but he was posting just three days before passing that he was on the mend and was expected to start touring next month.
I had the pleasure of meeting him while I was exiled in Las Vegas, and was impressed by just how a nice guy he was. I had never met him before and yet I got to meet him backstage not once during the soundcheck, but again before they were to take the stage. I chatted with him for several minutes afterwards. If I had signed up for Facebook I could have interacted with him some more since he was a social media hound, but I don't do Facebook and do not plan to in the near future if at all.
I should create a separate post highlighting some Smithereens songs. He was a gifted songwriter, touching upon a wide range of thoughts that can reside within a human soul. I had wondered if some of them were as a result of a personal tragedy that he had experienced, but in an interview I learned that the song I had in mind (Blood and Roses) was inspired by a short story that he had read.
Needless to say, I was in something of a funk this week. But there was more.
Yesterday I learned that my current employment is coming to an end early next month. To be honest, I had seen the writing on the wall, and have been in discussion with recruiters these past few weeks. We've been beset by retirements, resignations and layoffs since our firm lost the contract to another company. The contract transition is being held up by protests from another losing firm, and the government cannot fund the task orders until this is resolved, and that won't be until mid-February.
Even then, the infrastructure we were using for testing is not properly working, and the government can't replace it until Congress passes a budget, which is something they haven't done for several years. I made the decision some six weeks ago that I needed to start looking. There was one possibility with a local firm that produces medical equipment but they cancelled the requisition. A return to a former employer in Oro Valley is a possibility but there won't be a decision on that one until the holidays are over.
I have had some people I know suggest a return to the firm where I was laid off from in 2014 as that they are now hiring like crazy. I was hesitant to pursue that option, but I have now, through my own sources and methods, started the process of taking a pulse there.
There's also another former employer that's been after me for the past six weeks. That would involve a relocation to Texas, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and a good friend of mine who is going over told me of the offer package that he got, and that is now under consideration.
I am not feeling the attachment to Tucson that I used to feel five years ago. The city council is running The Old Pueblo into the ground. Our roads are the worst of any major city, the police department response time is such that you get put on hold if you have to call 911, and in spite of sales tax increases that have passed it isn't getting any better. Sheila and I do not feel like we are going to retire here and although we don't want to leave Arizona, what if the pastures in Texas are better?
A recruiter from that firm contacted me again this week, and yesterday I submitted a resume. Housing prices are slightly higher than they are here, but if I score the same percentage of salary increase that Mike K did, then I can get that, plus enough land to erect an antenna farm. That would allow me better access to the lower frequency bands for my ham radio activities.
So the question that will have to answered is, will the quality of life there be substantially easier? Will the job be something that I can't wait to tear into to? I would get such a job if I were to go back to that medical device firm.....I really enjoyed working there, and gave me even more satisfaction than satellite engineering did. I'll have to see what kind of opportunities are over there in the Metroplex. Sheila and I will have to consider if Texas is where we will be when we retire. Arizona, in some places, offers great locations, but Flagstaff and Prescott have gotten expensive, and Kingman won't work and neither will Sorry Vista. Silver City in New Mexico is a place we would like, if we got far enough out into the country but not too far away from supermarkets and medical care.
Another question is, do I do a contract job for six months out of state, and then come home? Things in the industry are picking up (they started really picking up the day after Hillary lost).
I am not worried about a long period of inactivity, but I am also aware that I may have to make some tough choices. It won't be the first time; I had them to make in early 1999, and that's how I got here.
We are not in a society where most of us end up growing up in the town we were born in.
You follow the money.
I had the pleasure of meeting him while I was exiled in Las Vegas, and was impressed by just how a nice guy he was. I had never met him before and yet I got to meet him backstage not once during the soundcheck, but again before they were to take the stage. I chatted with him for several minutes afterwards. If I had signed up for Facebook I could have interacted with him some more since he was a social media hound, but I don't do Facebook and do not plan to in the near future if at all.
I should create a separate post highlighting some Smithereens songs. He was a gifted songwriter, touching upon a wide range of thoughts that can reside within a human soul. I had wondered if some of them were as a result of a personal tragedy that he had experienced, but in an interview I learned that the song I had in mind (Blood and Roses) was inspired by a short story that he had read.
Needless to say, I was in something of a funk this week. But there was more.
Yesterday I learned that my current employment is coming to an end early next month. To be honest, I had seen the writing on the wall, and have been in discussion with recruiters these past few weeks. We've been beset by retirements, resignations and layoffs since our firm lost the contract to another company. The contract transition is being held up by protests from another losing firm, and the government cannot fund the task orders until this is resolved, and that won't be until mid-February.
Even then, the infrastructure we were using for testing is not properly working, and the government can't replace it until Congress passes a budget, which is something they haven't done for several years. I made the decision some six weeks ago that I needed to start looking. There was one possibility with a local firm that produces medical equipment but they cancelled the requisition. A return to a former employer in Oro Valley is a possibility but there won't be a decision on that one until the holidays are over.
I have had some people I know suggest a return to the firm where I was laid off from in 2014 as that they are now hiring like crazy. I was hesitant to pursue that option, but I have now, through my own sources and methods, started the process of taking a pulse there.
There's also another former employer that's been after me for the past six weeks. That would involve a relocation to Texas, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and a good friend of mine who is going over told me of the offer package that he got, and that is now under consideration.
I am not feeling the attachment to Tucson that I used to feel five years ago. The city council is running The Old Pueblo into the ground. Our roads are the worst of any major city, the police department response time is such that you get put on hold if you have to call 911, and in spite of sales tax increases that have passed it isn't getting any better. Sheila and I do not feel like we are going to retire here and although we don't want to leave Arizona, what if the pastures in Texas are better?
A recruiter from that firm contacted me again this week, and yesterday I submitted a resume. Housing prices are slightly higher than they are here, but if I score the same percentage of salary increase that Mike K did, then I can get that, plus enough land to erect an antenna farm. That would allow me better access to the lower frequency bands for my ham radio activities.
So the question that will have to answered is, will the quality of life there be substantially easier? Will the job be something that I can't wait to tear into to? I would get such a job if I were to go back to that medical device firm.....I really enjoyed working there, and gave me even more satisfaction than satellite engineering did. I'll have to see what kind of opportunities are over there in the Metroplex. Sheila and I will have to consider if Texas is where we will be when we retire. Arizona, in some places, offers great locations, but Flagstaff and Prescott have gotten expensive, and Kingman won't work and neither will Sorry Vista. Silver City in New Mexico is a place we would like, if we got far enough out into the country but not too far away from supermarkets and medical care.
Another question is, do I do a contract job for six months out of state, and then come home? Things in the industry are picking up (they started really picking up the day after Hillary lost).
I am not worried about a long period of inactivity, but I am also aware that I may have to make some tough choices. It won't be the first time; I had them to make in early 1999, and that's how I got here.
We are not in a society where most of us end up growing up in the town we were born in.
You follow the money.
Monday, December 4, 2017
Judge Roy Moore
A few weeks ago the national news was overrun with the allegations that Senate candidate Judge Roy Moore had some 40 years ago engaged in improprieties with those females who shall we say, were under the age of consent. Immediately he was guilty in the court of Organized Media. Establishment Republican Mitch McConnell emphatically stated that Moore would not be admitted to the Senate if he won. Jeff Snake said he would vote for a Democrat, and there was this cacophony of outrage over the whole thing.....some of it of which I'm not convinced is sincere. One of the accusers produced a yearbook alleged to have been signed by Moore, but curiously is refusing to allow forensic testing on it to see if the signing was "recent".
Then a few days later, we had photographic evidence of Senator Al Franken of Minnesota groping a sleeping journalist and smililing like the Cheshire Cat about it. I don't know why or how that one broke, but more accusations against more people have followed, and Organized Media is trying to convince the masses that maybe they should have believed Bill Clinton's accusers.
Meanwhile, it appears that Judge Moore is going to win the election, and Mitch McConnell now seems to be walking back his earlier statement that he would see to it that Judge Moore is not seated. Oh, there was also speculation that the Alabama Republican Party would through some obscure rule nullify the outcome and have the election done over again.
I could point out that Roy Moore's accusers waited a long time before coming forward. Now I can understand a victim remaining silent about something like that (I once dated such a victim), but hasn't the atmosphere gotten more comfortable about coming forward? I'm not talking about the attacks on Bill Clinton's accusers, which certainly would have stymied victims from speaking out, but that was over 20 years ago, and things have changed. A victim can now come forward and her accusation will be treated under Napoleonic rules.......the accused is guilty until proven innocent, though I'm going to add that some people would never accept proof of innocence.
Now this isn't to say that all of Judge Moore's accusers are lying. I don't personally think the lady with the signed yearbook is telling the truth, else we would have had the forensics done by now, and if true then Moore would have been forced out of the race by now. The others I can't speak for. In the case of Al Franken, well he's apologized (he had to because of that photo).
But let's get back to the Judge.
The voters of Alabama will decide whether or not he is going to the Senate. It isn't for me to tell them which way to go on this. I am not a citizen of Alabama. I do have a desired outcome for this, and I'll get to that.
My desired outcome is this: Judge Moore wins, and Mitch McConnell denies him a Senate seat. It isn't that I want guys like Moore away from the Senate.....very much to the contrary. We need 65 of him in the Senate.
It's that I want the Republican Establishment to be exposed as for who they really are: a bunch of elitists who are not going to keep the promises they made to their voters; promises that they never had any intention of keeping in the first place. They don't want to repeal Obamacare. They don't want to build the Wall. They don't tax cuts for the middle class. What they want is power.
Another reason is that if Mitch McConnell really does keep Roy Moore out of the Senate, then his next primary challenger just might win.
Yes, that will kick that can over to another Establishment Republican. And when that happens, we take that guy out too. And the one after him. And the next one. We keep doing this until we get statesmen, and not a bunch of useless fatass politicians.
Then a few days later, we had photographic evidence of Senator Al Franken of Minnesota groping a sleeping journalist and smililing like the Cheshire Cat about it. I don't know why or how that one broke, but more accusations against more people have followed, and Organized Media is trying to convince the masses that maybe they should have believed Bill Clinton's accusers.
Meanwhile, it appears that Judge Moore is going to win the election, and Mitch McConnell now seems to be walking back his earlier statement that he would see to it that Judge Moore is not seated. Oh, there was also speculation that the Alabama Republican Party would through some obscure rule nullify the outcome and have the election done over again.
I could point out that Roy Moore's accusers waited a long time before coming forward. Now I can understand a victim remaining silent about something like that (I once dated such a victim), but hasn't the atmosphere gotten more comfortable about coming forward? I'm not talking about the attacks on Bill Clinton's accusers, which certainly would have stymied victims from speaking out, but that was over 20 years ago, and things have changed. A victim can now come forward and her accusation will be treated under Napoleonic rules.......the accused is guilty until proven innocent, though I'm going to add that some people would never accept proof of innocence.
Now this isn't to say that all of Judge Moore's accusers are lying. I don't personally think the lady with the signed yearbook is telling the truth, else we would have had the forensics done by now, and if true then Moore would have been forced out of the race by now. The others I can't speak for. In the case of Al Franken, well he's apologized (he had to because of that photo).
But let's get back to the Judge.
The voters of Alabama will decide whether or not he is going to the Senate. It isn't for me to tell them which way to go on this. I am not a citizen of Alabama. I do have a desired outcome for this, and I'll get to that.
My desired outcome is this: Judge Moore wins, and Mitch McConnell denies him a Senate seat. It isn't that I want guys like Moore away from the Senate.....very much to the contrary. We need 65 of him in the Senate.
It's that I want the Republican Establishment to be exposed as for who they really are: a bunch of elitists who are not going to keep the promises they made to their voters; promises that they never had any intention of keeping in the first place. They don't want to repeal Obamacare. They don't want to build the Wall. They don't tax cuts for the middle class. What they want is power.
Another reason is that if Mitch McConnell really does keep Roy Moore out of the Senate, then his next primary challenger just might win.
Yes, that will kick that can over to another Establishment Republican. And when that happens, we take that guy out too. And the one after him. And the next one. We keep doing this until we get statesmen, and not a bunch of useless fatass politicians.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
"Institutionalized Panhandling"
On occasion I have the duty to post a daily thread on another forum, called "Getting to Know Your Fellow (Hobbyists)". It's normally hosted by a dedicated volunteer, but on occasion he has computer issues, so there are two backup hosts, and I'm one of them. I took the reins for a week or so while I was out on medical leave.
It's an interesting exercise. It isn't as easy as you might think to come up with icebreaker type of questions, or questions that people would like to answer. It's wise of course to stay out of politics or religion when doing these, and to avoid coming up with a question where an answer might lead some folks off on either of those kinds of tangents.
It's also an opportunity to find out if others might feel the same way that you do about something. I had been wondering about how other people felt about being solicited for donations at the cash register. For some reason it became vogue at Safeway, but now it's spreading to convenience stores, Ace Hardware, and other outlets. I posted the following question:
"What is your opinion of being hit up for a donation when you're at the register checking out?"
Here are the answers that I got. The names of the respondents, some of whom I've met personally, have been changed to protect their privacy.
(from Alan Wickman, San Jose CA)I don't mind as long as the cashier is not being pushy about it.
I
mean most of the time some cashier asks for a donation is when I'm at Safeway/Trader Joe's/Whole Foods/Lucky's or some other mega chain. These mega chains could donate to their cause 10 times what they get from average people and not even hurt profits. They could save the whales or the children or the dogs in one swoop without thinking about it. But no lets guilt someone who is living paycheck to paycheck to give away money so there is nothing left to put into savings.
(from David Schniff, SW Oregon)
It doesn't matter to me whether they hit me up or not, it is still my choice to say yes or no. I generally say no.
(from Warren Gates, Seattle area)
What I don't like is being in a restaurant and have this happen while dining. Yes, It's happened numerous times to us. It is more than rude. I have no problem saying no in that situation. I have organizations that I support and that is where my assistance is given. I was at the ROD RUN to the END of the WORLD this week end. A cub scout was selling popcorn. I have no problem with this at an Event and Scouts are one of my chosen organizations. It is also very hard for me to say no to caramel corn. It is a vice.
(from Tom Peterson, northern Alabama)
I always say No.
(from Clint Harrison, San Mateo CA)
I have no problem pushing the no button on the atm terminal and most often do. What I don't like is after I push the no button, the cashier asks if I want to make a donation. As mentioned above, these mega chains could make a huge donation and be done with it. I wonder though, with everyone that donates, does the company lump into one big sum and make the donation under their company name, then do they get to write it off on their taxes?
(from Mark Summers, Sebring FL)
I SAY NO
(from Albert Mitchell, New Jersey)
I'm a naysayer also!
(from Oscar Madison, Council Bluffs Iowa)
I don't give to them, nor do I give to phone hits. I have my regular donation sites, and they keep me giving.
(from Felix Unger, Springfield MO)
Jodi & I have our regular donations we make so usually say "no".
(from Steve McGarrett, Michigan)
I generally do not like it, but only get upset when they get pushy. My wife and I support a number of causes and resent these efforts to publicly guilt you into giving to some cause you really may not be familiar with.
(from Mary Collins, Bucks County PA)
I also say no, but it is annoying to get it again and again.
(from Nancy Davidson, PA)
I actually feel sorry for the cashiers. Some times their job depends on them begging you for money. That is corporate being so selfish. Just like when Wells Fargo employees made up accounts.
I know that for a while Sears threatened their employees if they did not try and get customers to sign up for a credit card. The worse thing is that the stores would use "shoppers" to watch the cashiers. If they did not ask, they were reprimanded and possibly fired/hours cut back for future infractions. It is a very dirty trick. I always thank the cashier for asking and say NO. I always mention that I will be contacting the organization that is being sponsored and let them know what is happening. Remember this comes from the very top of management; WHO would never get their hands dirty........
(from Joe Denison, Kensington CA)
institutionalized panhandling.
it's a dollar here, a dollar there, round up to the next dollar/$5/$10 to help the whatever cause.
i have 3 seconds to decide if it's a worthy charity/cause, not enough time, so no. too many big charities are skimming way too much. and is that store 'giving' my money and taking credit for the donation? taking a deduction of some sort?
(from Merrill Bellinger, MI)
Hate it!
I really like the Dollar General stores in the area, where they are taking money to "help a teen read" or something like that. WHAT.....they start school a 5 years old and they still don't know how to read as a teenager??
Just another way for the store to make a "tax deductable donation" at the end of the year in their name....big scam.
And it seems like more and more stores are doing it now.
(from Ed Wilson, Nebraska)
Well said [Alan Wickman] I agree.
(from Linda Bergeron, Idaho)
It's obnoxious and annoying. I always say no.
(from Dave Mosier, Tucson AZ)
While I have nothing against fundraising in and of itself, the way it's being done by these places has been getting bothersome, and in some instances irritating.
Some three months ago while waiting in line at Ace Hardware, I heard the cashier asking everyone to "round up" their purchases. I had some change I wanted to get rid of, and when my turn came I got hit up for that even though she knew I was counting out change. I coldly said "if there are no objections, I would like to pay in exact change."
I have a favorite charity that's local, and I prefer that my dollars go there, rather than to a "corporate" (for lack of a better term) charity.
Market researchers have to know that a lot of us find this process unlikable, but the insistence of the big bosses to do this lends credence to the thought that they're doing this for writeoff purposes. Well, it also gives them something to brag about on their webpages.
(David Schniff comes back with:)
The responses to this question are interesting. I hadn't every really thought about it annoying people, it doesn't really slow things down and all you have to do is say yes or no. The cashier doesn't care one way or another. I will admit I had never thought about the tax angle though, I wonder if they do get to write it off as a charitable contribution...
(Dave Mosier, responding to David Schniff's statement about the cashier not caring one way or the other:)
That's usually the case. I remember one Circle K cashier telling me "the children could sure use your change!"
It gets annoying when it seems that every cashier is asking you for a donation.
(Ed Vincent of Sierra County CA)
I don't like it and I do not give. If I walk out side and the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts are there it I will give them a donation and will not take the cookies or popcorn.
(David Schniff)
I do this as well. The cookies and popcorn are really a rip off for them and you. I would much rather my money go to the actual cause and not the company providing stale popcorn.
(Paul Jasperson, MO)
I hate it. Time is spent with it and it slows things down
(Jim Smootlock, PA)
At my place not only do we hit the customers up for donations we must also hit them up for our extreme value buy that being what ever we have too much of and need to get rid of soon. That being said I think if the customer wants to make a donation to what ever we're promoting at the time they would make a donation because the donation jars are on every check out on the purse table.
Those were the responses that I got.
Institutionalized Panhandling, and a source of irritation to customers.
It's an interesting exercise. It isn't as easy as you might think to come up with icebreaker type of questions, or questions that people would like to answer. It's wise of course to stay out of politics or religion when doing these, and to avoid coming up with a question where an answer might lead some folks off on either of those kinds of tangents.
It's also an opportunity to find out if others might feel the same way that you do about something. I had been wondering about how other people felt about being solicited for donations at the cash register. For some reason it became vogue at Safeway, but now it's spreading to convenience stores, Ace Hardware, and other outlets. I posted the following question:
"What is your opinion of being hit up for a donation when you're at the register checking out?"
Here are the answers that I got. The names of the respondents, some of whom I've met personally, have been changed to protect their privacy.
(from Alan Wickman, San Jose CA)I don't mind as long as the cashier is not being pushy about it.
I
mean most of the time some cashier asks for a donation is when I'm at Safeway/Trader Joe's/Whole Foods/Lucky's or some other mega chain. These mega chains could donate to their cause 10 times what they get from average people and not even hurt profits. They could save the whales or the children or the dogs in one swoop without thinking about it. But no lets guilt someone who is living paycheck to paycheck to give away money so there is nothing left to put into savings.
(from David Schniff, SW Oregon)
It doesn't matter to me whether they hit me up or not, it is still my choice to say yes or no. I generally say no.
(from Warren Gates, Seattle area)
What I don't like is being in a restaurant and have this happen while dining. Yes, It's happened numerous times to us. It is more than rude. I have no problem saying no in that situation. I have organizations that I support and that is where my assistance is given. I was at the ROD RUN to the END of the WORLD this week end. A cub scout was selling popcorn. I have no problem with this at an Event and Scouts are one of my chosen organizations. It is also very hard for me to say no to caramel corn. It is a vice.
(from Tom Peterson, northern Alabama)
I always say No.
(from Clint Harrison, San Mateo CA)
I have no problem pushing the no button on the atm terminal and most often do. What I don't like is after I push the no button, the cashier asks if I want to make a donation. As mentioned above, these mega chains could make a huge donation and be done with it. I wonder though, with everyone that donates, does the company lump into one big sum and make the donation under their company name, then do they get to write it off on their taxes?
(from Mark Summers, Sebring FL)
I SAY NO
(from Albert Mitchell, New Jersey)
I'm a naysayer also!
(from Oscar Madison, Council Bluffs Iowa)
I don't give to them, nor do I give to phone hits. I have my regular donation sites, and they keep me giving.
(from Felix Unger, Springfield MO)
Jodi & I have our regular donations we make so usually say "no".
(from Steve McGarrett, Michigan)
I generally do not like it, but only get upset when they get pushy. My wife and I support a number of causes and resent these efforts to publicly guilt you into giving to some cause you really may not be familiar with.
(from Mary Collins, Bucks County PA)
I also say no, but it is annoying to get it again and again.
(from Nancy Davidson, PA)
I actually feel sorry for the cashiers. Some times their job depends on them begging you for money. That is corporate being so selfish. Just like when Wells Fargo employees made up accounts.
I know that for a while Sears threatened their employees if they did not try and get customers to sign up for a credit card. The worse thing is that the stores would use "shoppers" to watch the cashiers. If they did not ask, they were reprimanded and possibly fired/hours cut back for future infractions. It is a very dirty trick. I always thank the cashier for asking and say NO. I always mention that I will be contacting the organization that is being sponsored and let them know what is happening. Remember this comes from the very top of management; WHO would never get their hands dirty........
(from Joe Denison, Kensington CA)
institutionalized panhandling.
it's a dollar here, a dollar there, round up to the next dollar/$5/$10 to help the whatever cause.
i have 3 seconds to decide if it's a worthy charity/cause, not enough time, so no. too many big charities are skimming way too much. and is that store 'giving' my money and taking credit for the donation? taking a deduction of some sort?
(from Merrill Bellinger, MI)
Hate it!
I really like the Dollar General stores in the area, where they are taking money to "help a teen read" or something like that. WHAT.....they start school a 5 years old and they still don't know how to read as a teenager??
Just another way for the store to make a "tax deductable donation" at the end of the year in their name....big scam.
And it seems like more and more stores are doing it now.
(from Ed Wilson, Nebraska)
Well said [Alan Wickman] I agree.
(from Linda Bergeron, Idaho)
It's obnoxious and annoying. I always say no.
(from Dave Mosier, Tucson AZ)
While I have nothing against fundraising in and of itself, the way it's being done by these places has been getting bothersome, and in some instances irritating.
Some three months ago while waiting in line at Ace Hardware, I heard the cashier asking everyone to "round up" their purchases. I had some change I wanted to get rid of, and when my turn came I got hit up for that even though she knew I was counting out change. I coldly said "if there are no objections, I would like to pay in exact change."
I have a favorite charity that's local, and I prefer that my dollars go there, rather than to a "corporate" (for lack of a better term) charity.
Market researchers have to know that a lot of us find this process unlikable, but the insistence of the big bosses to do this lends credence to the thought that they're doing this for writeoff purposes. Well, it also gives them something to brag about on their webpages.
(David Schniff comes back with:)
The responses to this question are interesting. I hadn't every really thought about it annoying people, it doesn't really slow things down and all you have to do is say yes or no. The cashier doesn't care one way or another. I will admit I had never thought about the tax angle though, I wonder if they do get to write it off as a charitable contribution...
(Dave Mosier, responding to David Schniff's statement about the cashier not caring one way or the other:)
That's usually the case. I remember one Circle K cashier telling me "the children could sure use your change!"
It gets annoying when it seems that every cashier is asking you for a donation.
(Ed Vincent of Sierra County CA)
I don't like it and I do not give. If I walk out side and the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts are there it I will give them a donation and will not take the cookies or popcorn.
(David Schniff)
I do this as well. The cookies and popcorn are really a rip off for them and you. I would much rather my money go to the actual cause and not the company providing stale popcorn.
(Paul Jasperson, MO)
I hate it. Time is spent with it and it slows things down
(Jim Smootlock, PA)
At my place not only do we hit the customers up for donations we must also hit them up for our extreme value buy that being what ever we have too much of and need to get rid of soon. That being said I think if the customer wants to make a donation to what ever we're promoting at the time they would make a donation because the donation jars are on every check out on the purse table.
Those were the responses that I got.
Institutionalized Panhandling, and a source of irritation to customers.
Monday, October 30, 2017
There's an Opportunity Here......
The pending retirement of Senator Jeff Flake has set off a flurry of speculation as to whose hands the seat will wind up in. Governor Doug Ducey already ruled out running as that he'd rather be a governor than a Senator. There's some talk that my own Congresswoman, Martha McSally, will make a run for it. McSally is a favorite of the Establishment, and I'm thinking......if they really want her in there, then why are they failing to make use of an opportunity before them?
In other words, why doesn't Jeff Snake (oops!) step down right now, and allow Governor Ducey to appoint a replacement? He could name Martha McSally to the seat, and the Establishment could entrench her there and better position her against any potential primary challengers.
There are a number of reasons for this.
One. The governor doesn't want to get involved in national politics at this time. He's very likely going to sit back and let the primary process sort itself out.
Two. The Establishment doesn't yet know whether to keep McSally where she is for a while, and then have her run for McCain's seat.
Three. Martha McSally may feel the need to stay where she is to keep her seat in Establishment hands. She narrowly defeated Ron Barber to get the seat in the first place, and she might stay where she is as that eventually McCain's seat will open up.
Four. The Establishment is waiting to see what the Trump faction is going to do. Right now I'm sure most of the Trumpites will be supporting Kelli Ward for this. The thinking is that she would have gotten 53% of the primary vote in a matchup against Jeff Snake, (dang it, another typographical error!), but now that that is out the window the latest poll suggests she's not going to get that percentage against other candidates.
Five. Jeff Flake (this time I got it right) hasn't yet gotten his next job lined up. I'm sure he'd like to go work for CNN or MSNBC, but the catch here is that they have to make him an offer and until they do he might as well continue basking in his power. This gives him more time to weigh his options. I wouldn't suggest a book deal as that I'm not sure he sold more than 2000 copies of his book, and it doesn't look good for him if he can't outsell Hillary.
I think in this case, there is a rationale for this wait and see mentality, if that's what they're really doing here.
But I can't help but wonder why, though I think donor money has a lot to do with it right now, and the big donors themselves haven't yet figured out where to go from here.
In other words, why doesn't Jeff Snake (oops!) step down right now, and allow Governor Ducey to appoint a replacement? He could name Martha McSally to the seat, and the Establishment could entrench her there and better position her against any potential primary challengers.
There are a number of reasons for this.
One. The governor doesn't want to get involved in national politics at this time. He's very likely going to sit back and let the primary process sort itself out.
Two. The Establishment doesn't yet know whether to keep McSally where she is for a while, and then have her run for McCain's seat.
Three. Martha McSally may feel the need to stay where she is to keep her seat in Establishment hands. She narrowly defeated Ron Barber to get the seat in the first place, and she might stay where she is as that eventually McCain's seat will open up.
Four. The Establishment is waiting to see what the Trump faction is going to do. Right now I'm sure most of the Trumpites will be supporting Kelli Ward for this. The thinking is that she would have gotten 53% of the primary vote in a matchup against Jeff Snake, (dang it, another typographical error!), but now that that is out the window the latest poll suggests she's not going to get that percentage against other candidates.
Five. Jeff Flake (this time I got it right) hasn't yet gotten his next job lined up. I'm sure he'd like to go work for CNN or MSNBC, but the catch here is that they have to make him an offer and until they do he might as well continue basking in his power. This gives him more time to weigh his options. I wouldn't suggest a book deal as that I'm not sure he sold more than 2000 copies of his book, and it doesn't look good for him if he can't outsell Hillary.
I think in this case, there is a rationale for this wait and see mentality, if that's what they're really doing here.
But I can't help but wonder why, though I think donor money has a lot to do with it right now, and the big donors themselves haven't yet figured out where to go from here.
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Good Riddance, Senator Flake
Senator Jeff Flake, as of this writing, is Arizona's junior Senator. He hails from a rural part of eastern Arizona, where a lot of good Americans live. When he ran for, and won a seat in, Congress, he pledged he would only serve three terms and then step down. Of course he went on to break that promise, ran for two more terms, and then ran for Senator in 2012 and won.
Senator Flake immediately got in good with the Republican Establishment. Among his first actions was to join Senator Benedict McCain in the so-called "Gang of Eight" to force a largely unwanted piece of immigration legislation down our throats. I didn't vote for him for Senate because I didn't trust him, and so it wasn't a situation where I personally was suffering from buyer's remorse here. However, some others did.
Phoenix-area radio talk show host Bruce Jacobs, who is heard here in Tucson when Garret Lewis goes on vacation, immediately took to calling him "Jeff Snake" (it does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?). Bruce Jacobs went on so far to say this summer that if "Jeff Snake" won the primary, then he would vote for his Democrat opponent........even though "Jeff Snake" would win.
There was every indication that Jeff Flake would run for re-election. He started getting himself on national TV more often. He wrote a book, shamelessly lifting the title from one of Barry Goldwater's books. Garret Lewis and his gang would give us daily morning updates as to how many copies of his book were being sold..........the numbers weren't pretty. Polls started showing that he was in trouble....which I guess would be good if you could trust them, which I don't. I personally thought Arizona had elected a career politician for a lifetime in office, who would have had the longevity of Fidel Castro.
But then something happened. His book wasn't selling. His approval rating plummeted down to 17%. His only announced primary challenger, Dr. Kelli Ward, was gaining traction. "Jeff Snake" doubled down on his attacks on President Trump. Then this week, he announced he would be retiring from the Senate.
My first reaction to his announcement was that this was the greatest news I've heard in six months. But I found myself disgusted at the parting shots he took on the Senate floor, and I'm thinking, we've still got a year and a half of his "I know what you want but here's what you need" attitude towards us. I'm not buying his phony argument that he's doing this out of honor. I can tell exactly why he is leaving, and that's because he had reliable intelligence that there was no way he was going to win re-election.
Now on those occasions of a fatass politician finding himself sailing on that kind of boat, what are your options?
One: you can do what Arlen Specter did. You can jump over to the Democrats and join them. Arlen Specter did exactly that when he learned he was going to be defeated by his primary challenger. He went over to the Democrats, and then found that the Democrats don't exactly like turncoats either. He was no longer a committee chairman or a ranking member. He went down to the lowest possible seniority in the Democratic heirarchy. Harry Reid would not permit him to occupy a higher position. An up and coming Democratic candidate was bumped off the ballot in Pennsylvania to make room for Arlen Specter. And Arlen Specter still lost.
Two: "Jeff Snake", upon seeing what happened to Arlen Specter, isn't going to jump ship. He's not quite the level of backstabber that the senior Senator from Arizona is, but he's a backstabber nonetheless. He's "Jeff Snake" after all. He's got a primary challenger. Now he could run in the primary, but what does that make you look like if you lose? He saw what happened to Richard Lugar. The Arlen Specter option is out. And now the Richard Lugar option doesn't look good either.
Three: you do what Bob Corker is doing. You say you've had enough, your party has been hijacked, you don't fit in anymore (which you don't, Senator), and you have your temper tantrum designed to elicit the maximum amount of praise from Organized Media. This option is preferable since you get to do damage to your voters who are too stupid to realize that they need your mastery over them.
There is the fourth, and that's to resign outright, and go home. That would be the honorable way to go, but I'm not going to even jokingly suggest that your average fatass politician is capable of this kind of honor.
The bottom line: the base has been emboldened by last year's victory of The Donald. We're mad as hell at the long list of broken promises. We're not sending you, Senator, to Washington so that you can play "Let's Make A Deal". We want Obamacare overturned, The Great Wall of Trump, tax reform, and domestic job creation as opposed to "free trade".
In short Senator, we don't want the Republicans to be the party that they defeated in 1994.
Now please have the decency to resign.
Senator Flake immediately got in good with the Republican Establishment. Among his first actions was to join Senator Benedict McCain in the so-called "Gang of Eight" to force a largely unwanted piece of immigration legislation down our throats. I didn't vote for him for Senate because I didn't trust him, and so it wasn't a situation where I personally was suffering from buyer's remorse here. However, some others did.
Phoenix-area radio talk show host Bruce Jacobs, who is heard here in Tucson when Garret Lewis goes on vacation, immediately took to calling him "Jeff Snake" (it does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?). Bruce Jacobs went on so far to say this summer that if "Jeff Snake" won the primary, then he would vote for his Democrat opponent........even though "Jeff Snake" would win.
There was every indication that Jeff Flake would run for re-election. He started getting himself on national TV more often. He wrote a book, shamelessly lifting the title from one of Barry Goldwater's books. Garret Lewis and his gang would give us daily morning updates as to how many copies of his book were being sold..........the numbers weren't pretty. Polls started showing that he was in trouble....which I guess would be good if you could trust them, which I don't. I personally thought Arizona had elected a career politician for a lifetime in office, who would have had the longevity of Fidel Castro.
But then something happened. His book wasn't selling. His approval rating plummeted down to 17%. His only announced primary challenger, Dr. Kelli Ward, was gaining traction. "Jeff Snake" doubled down on his attacks on President Trump. Then this week, he announced he would be retiring from the Senate.
My first reaction to his announcement was that this was the greatest news I've heard in six months. But I found myself disgusted at the parting shots he took on the Senate floor, and I'm thinking, we've still got a year and a half of his "I know what you want but here's what you need" attitude towards us. I'm not buying his phony argument that he's doing this out of honor. I can tell exactly why he is leaving, and that's because he had reliable intelligence that there was no way he was going to win re-election.
Now on those occasions of a fatass politician finding himself sailing on that kind of boat, what are your options?
One: you can do what Arlen Specter did. You can jump over to the Democrats and join them. Arlen Specter did exactly that when he learned he was going to be defeated by his primary challenger. He went over to the Democrats, and then found that the Democrats don't exactly like turncoats either. He was no longer a committee chairman or a ranking member. He went down to the lowest possible seniority in the Democratic heirarchy. Harry Reid would not permit him to occupy a higher position. An up and coming Democratic candidate was bumped off the ballot in Pennsylvania to make room for Arlen Specter. And Arlen Specter still lost.
Two: "Jeff Snake", upon seeing what happened to Arlen Specter, isn't going to jump ship. He's not quite the level of backstabber that the senior Senator from Arizona is, but he's a backstabber nonetheless. He's "Jeff Snake" after all. He's got a primary challenger. Now he could run in the primary, but what does that make you look like if you lose? He saw what happened to Richard Lugar. The Arlen Specter option is out. And now the Richard Lugar option doesn't look good either.
Three: you do what Bob Corker is doing. You say you've had enough, your party has been hijacked, you don't fit in anymore (which you don't, Senator), and you have your temper tantrum designed to elicit the maximum amount of praise from Organized Media. This option is preferable since you get to do damage to your voters who are too stupid to realize that they need your mastery over them.
There is the fourth, and that's to resign outright, and go home. That would be the honorable way to go, but I'm not going to even jokingly suggest that your average fatass politician is capable of this kind of honor.
The bottom line: the base has been emboldened by last year's victory of The Donald. We're mad as hell at the long list of broken promises. We're not sending you, Senator, to Washington so that you can play "Let's Make A Deal". We want Obamacare overturned, The Great Wall of Trump, tax reform, and domestic job creation as opposed to "free trade".
In short Senator, we don't want the Republicans to be the party that they defeated in 1994.
Now please have the decency to resign.
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