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I can't find the earlier posts from a few years ago where I casually asked where Eureka and the county might stand in regards the public pension crisis that's caused some cities in the state to declare bankruptcy. With Eureka's city council working on purchasing bonds to fund their public employee pension fund, maybe we'll be able to find out soon?
Santa Rosa has a growing pension problem, according to the Santa Rosa Press- Democrat. There was also a commentary in the Press- Democrat yesterday suggesting Sonoma County is facing some serious problems with funding its pension plans as well.
It might be interesting to juxtapose City of Eureka's (and Humboldt County's) pension numbers with those of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. I wouldn't be surprised if we're worse off. I won't be disappointed if I"m wrong, either.
31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi
Speaking of Education...
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Some interesting numbers from this CalWatchdog article on education back-in-the-day compared to a few years ago:
"According to the Friedman Foundation, “[B]etween fiscal year 1950 and FY 2009, the number of K-12 public school students in the United States increased by 96 percent while the number of full-time equivalent school employees grew 386 percent.'
“Public schools grew staffing at a rate four times faster than the increase in students over that time period. Of those personnel, teachers’ numbers increased 252 percent while administrators and other staff experienced growth of 702 percent, more than seven times the increase in students.”
"According to the Friedman Foundation, “[B]etween fiscal year 1950 and FY 2009, the number of K-12 public school students in the United States increased by 96 percent while the number of full-time equivalent school employees grew 386 percent.'
“Public schools grew staffing at a rate four times faster than the increase in students over that time period. Of those personnel, teachers’ numbers increased 252 percent while administrators and other staff experienced growth of 702 percent, more than seven times the increase in students.”
Tax Eureka's Empty Storefronts?
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Yet another one of those Craigslist political movements. In this one, local blogger highboldtage seems to think owners of empty commercial buildings in Eureka have an agenda and are ripping off... somebody because their buildings remain empty.
It's their fault those buildings aren't filled with thriving businesses so we should tax them further. He goes on to suggest that those additional tax revenues to the city will "stimulate the local economy", among other things.
Never mind the owners of those empty buildings probably pay fairly hefty property taxes already. They don't have any revenue coming in from those empty buildings to help pay those taxes, either. We should be glad they're able to pay the taxes they can.
I suspect with so many empty buildings in town rent prices for commercial property must be relatively low compared to many areas of the state.
I hardly think those property owners are responsible for the lack of businesses coming to Eureka. You certainly won't find me supporting this idea.
It's their fault those buildings aren't filled with thriving businesses so we should tax them further. He goes on to suggest that those additional tax revenues to the city will "stimulate the local economy", among other things.
Never mind the owners of those empty buildings probably pay fairly hefty property taxes already. They don't have any revenue coming in from those empty buildings to help pay those taxes, either. We should be glad they're able to pay the taxes they can.
I suspect with so many empty buildings in town rent prices for commercial property must be relatively low compared to many areas of the state.
I hardly think those property owners are responsible for the lack of businesses coming to Eureka. You certainly won't find me supporting this idea.
Eureka Garbage Bills Climbing
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Just received my bill from Eureka City Garbage (Recology) and was surprised to see the total for 3 months was $72.39. Wasn't it around $68.00 last time? Actually, taking a look at my last bill it was $69.59. It has gone up but not as much as I'd thought.
Looking back further, though, it was $68.19 back in 2009 when we first signed up for the green waste bin. That broke down to $3.00 a month for the green waste and $17.33 for weekly trash pick up (20 gallon container). Now, it's $3.60 for green waste and $20.53 a week for trash pick up.
On the bright side, maybe, is I could have sworn they were also charging $3.00 a month for recyclables pick up. I don't see that anywhere on the bill. I must have misunderstood how that worked. Maybe what they were saying is that you're paying for garbage service whether you wanted it or not, not recycling?
That's still at least a one dollar increase each year. Garbage bills will be sky high before we know it at that rate. That's why we dumped Cox Cable a few years ago. Their charges went up about a dollar year, too. The problem is, due to the infinite wisdom of the Eureka City Council, we have no alternative with garbage service since they mandate it.
Looking back further, though, it was $68.19 back in 2009 when we first signed up for the green waste bin. That broke down to $3.00 a month for the green waste and $17.33 for weekly trash pick up (20 gallon container). Now, it's $3.60 for green waste and $20.53 a week for trash pick up.
On the bright side, maybe, is I could have sworn they were also charging $3.00 a month for recyclables pick up. I don't see that anywhere on the bill. I must have misunderstood how that worked. Maybe what they were saying is that you're paying for garbage service whether you wanted it or not, not recycling?
That's still at least a one dollar increase each year. Garbage bills will be sky high before we know it at that rate. That's why we dumped Cox Cable a few years ago. Their charges went up about a dollar year, too. The problem is, due to the infinite wisdom of the Eureka City Council, we have no alternative with garbage service since they mandate it.
Oliver Stone: U.S. An Orwellian State
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A rather strange interview with film maker Oliver Stone and historian Peter Kuznik about the United States becoming an "Orwellian state". I thought it rather odd that someone like Stone, one of Hollywood's glitterati, would do an interview critical of Obama. After all, I was sure he voted for him.
Or did he? Perhaps Stone is one of Hollywood's rare libertarian types?
Checking Wikipedia, I had to read all the way to the bottom, but was surprised to find this:
"In 2012 Stone endorsed Ron Paul for the Republican nomination for President, but ultimately voted for Barack Obama in the general election."
Hmmm???
Oh, more on the Orwellian police state here and here.
Or did he? Perhaps Stone is one of Hollywood's rare libertarian types?
Checking Wikipedia, I had to read all the way to the bottom, but was surprised to find this:
"In 2012 Stone endorsed Ron Paul for the Republican nomination for President, but ultimately voted for Barack Obama in the general election."
Hmmm???
Oh, more on the Orwellian police state here and here.
27 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
Tax Eureka's Empty Storefronts?
To contact us Click HERE
Yet another one of those Craigslist political movements. In this one, local blogger highboldtage seems to think owners of empty commercial buildings in Eureka have an agenda and are ripping off... somebody because their buildings remain empty.
It's their fault those buildings aren't filled with thriving businesses so we should tax them further. He goes on to suggest that those additional tax revenues to the city will "stimulate the local economy", among other things.
Never mind the owners of those empty buildings probably pay fairly hefty property taxes already. They don't have any revenue coming in from those empty buildings to help pay those taxes, either. We should be glad they're able to pay the taxes they can.
I suspect with so many empty buildings in town rent prices for commercial property must be relatively low compared to many areas of the state.
I hardly think those property owners are responsible for the lack of businesses coming to Eureka. You certainly won't find me supporting this idea.
It's their fault those buildings aren't filled with thriving businesses so we should tax them further. He goes on to suggest that those additional tax revenues to the city will "stimulate the local economy", among other things.
Never mind the owners of those empty buildings probably pay fairly hefty property taxes already. They don't have any revenue coming in from those empty buildings to help pay those taxes, either. We should be glad they're able to pay the taxes they can.
I suspect with so many empty buildings in town rent prices for commercial property must be relatively low compared to many areas of the state.
I hardly think those property owners are responsible for the lack of businesses coming to Eureka. You certainly won't find me supporting this idea.
Legislative Inflation?
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Democracy lovers might like this new idea to reform state government. Former Republican presidential candidate, John Cox, is working to get the Neighborhood Legislature Reform Act on the ballot in 2014.
How it works is we'd still have the same number of legislators, but they'd be elected differently. He wants the current senate and assembly districts broken into a bunch of smaller neighborhood districts. Those neighborhood districts, as part of a larger district, would elect each senator and assemblyguy.
There would be something like 12,000 paid neighborhood representatives. Passage of any legislation would need to be approved by the neighborhood reps before it could be passed into legislation by the senate or assembly.
This would supposedly make government more representative of the people and lessen the power of individual elected legislators by diluting their influence- inflating the legislature he calls it, just like inflation of money.
I suppose it's fun to consider but it seems like more California born political masturbation to me. Another idea along the lines of ....if we just elect the right people the right way...and the state will finally be run efficiently. I doubt it.
No matter how you try to mix it up you'd still have the same people running things as we have now- the same people that have run this state into the ground. Democrats would still vote for Democrats and they'd be the majority. Republicans would still vote for Republicans and we'd still have government meddling in more and more places it shouldn't. Probably even more so with so many more people in the mix and empowered politically.
On the bright side, one thing I could see coming from such an arrangement would be, with so many people involved, it could clutter things up enough that government might not get as much done. That would be a good thing, but I wouldn't count on it.
Let's see if this makes it to the ballot.
How it works is we'd still have the same number of legislators, but they'd be elected differently. He wants the current senate and assembly districts broken into a bunch of smaller neighborhood districts. Those neighborhood districts, as part of a larger district, would elect each senator and assemblyguy.
There would be something like 12,000 paid neighborhood representatives. Passage of any legislation would need to be approved by the neighborhood reps before it could be passed into legislation by the senate or assembly.
This would supposedly make government more representative of the people and lessen the power of individual elected legislators by diluting their influence- inflating the legislature he calls it, just like inflation of money.
I suppose it's fun to consider but it seems like more California born political masturbation to me. Another idea along the lines of ....if we just elect the right people the right way...and the state will finally be run efficiently. I doubt it.
No matter how you try to mix it up you'd still have the same people running things as we have now- the same people that have run this state into the ground. Democrats would still vote for Democrats and they'd be the majority. Republicans would still vote for Republicans and we'd still have government meddling in more and more places it shouldn't. Probably even more so with so many more people in the mix and empowered politically.
On the bright side, one thing I could see coming from such an arrangement would be, with so many people involved, it could clutter things up enough that government might not get as much done. That would be a good thing, but I wouldn't count on it.
Let's see if this makes it to the ballot.
White House Petitions To Sign
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Here's a couple of those White House petitions worth signing:
This one asks that Piers Morgan be deported back to England for attacking American's 2nd Amendment rights. I'm surprised it didn't take long to get the minimum 25,000 signatures on this one. I've seen other more important ones, as with the one below, that lag despite being of more serious nature.
This one urges the President to nominate former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense. Hagel is an outsider of sorts with Republicans as he's generally against U.S. interventionism and such. Antiwar dot com explains the War Party's attacks on him. This petition needs many more signatures, oddly enough.
This one asks that Piers Morgan be deported back to England for attacking American's 2nd Amendment rights. I'm surprised it didn't take long to get the minimum 25,000 signatures on this one. I've seen other more important ones, as with the one below, that lag despite being of more serious nature.
This one urges the President to nominate former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense. Hagel is an outsider of sorts with Republicans as he's generally against U.S. interventionism and such. Antiwar dot com explains the War Party's attacks on him. This petition needs many more signatures, oddly enough.
Local Recycling Update: Beverage Packs OK
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Beverage 12 and 24 packs are ok for recycling now. I suppose it may not matter to most folks since they've already been dumping them in their recycling bins, anyway, but beverage packaging- the 12 and 24 pack type boxes that beer and soda come in- used to not be ok for recycling. I was told that some time ago at City Garbage in Eureka.
I was under the impression it was considered "cold pack", which are containers used to store food and beverages under refrigeration. They're made differently than regular paper and cardboard, I was told.
Then I read a comment to a blog a while back that you could recycle beverage containers, but I read lots of stuff on blogs where people say things that aren't true. I decided to look further into it yesterday and noticed the Mckinleyville recycling depot and Willits Solid Waste Services, where Eureka's recycling is shipped now, both made no distinction between cereal or beverage containers. So I e-mailed Willits to ask.
The gal that replied says it's ok to recycle beverage packaging. So much for that. I noticed they also accept milk cartons (rinsed out) so I guess those are ok, too.
Since one long held belief of mine had been shattered, that made me wonder about the other "cold pack" stuff, like frozen food containers. Surely they're still not recyclable? Wrong again. I sent another e-mail to Anita Furia at Willits Solid Waste Services:
My question: Thanks for your quick reply. Would you know if frozen food containers; the boxes for frozen pizza, lasagna and such are also recyclable?
Her answer: Yes, those containers are recyclable,; however, the cardboard piece the pizza sits on would not be recyclable if soiled. Also, the container the actual food is placed in needs to have the recycle #1 thru #7 on it and must be clean. The plastic that covers the foods would not be recyclable.
Hmmm...According to her you can throw frozen food containers in the recycling bin. I've never bothered looking at frozen food containers for the numbers as I knew even non- recyclable items have numbers on them. Guess I'll have to look again.
I was under the impression it was considered "cold pack", which are containers used to store food and beverages under refrigeration. They're made differently than regular paper and cardboard, I was told.
Then I read a comment to a blog a while back that you could recycle beverage containers, but I read lots of stuff on blogs where people say things that aren't true. I decided to look further into it yesterday and noticed the Mckinleyville recycling depot and Willits Solid Waste Services, where Eureka's recycling is shipped now, both made no distinction between cereal or beverage containers. So I e-mailed Willits to ask.
The gal that replied says it's ok to recycle beverage packaging. So much for that. I noticed they also accept milk cartons (rinsed out) so I guess those are ok, too.
Since one long held belief of mine had been shattered, that made me wonder about the other "cold pack" stuff, like frozen food containers. Surely they're still not recyclable? Wrong again. I sent another e-mail to Anita Furia at Willits Solid Waste Services:
My question: Thanks for your quick reply. Would you know if frozen food containers; the boxes for frozen pizza, lasagna and such are also recyclable?
Her answer: Yes, those containers are recyclable,; however, the cardboard piece the pizza sits on would not be recyclable if soiled. Also, the container the actual food is placed in needs to have the recycle #1 thru #7 on it and must be clean. The plastic that covers the foods would not be recyclable.
Hmmm...According to her you can throw frozen food containers in the recycling bin. I've never bothered looking at frozen food containers for the numbers as I knew even non- recyclable items have numbers on them. Guess I'll have to look again.
A Mail Order Mattress
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I hesitate writing about buying a mattress online but I didn't feel we had much choice. I'd looked at some local ads recently and it seemed as if even a run- of- the- mill basic mattress started at around $500.00, or more. No way we could afford that and I figured I'd end up dying on the mattress we've been using for over ten years.
Turned out the wife was thinking the same thing. Her parents bought a mattress via Costco that cost around $400.00. She tried it, liked it and wanted to get one. For whatever reason we didn't get one of those, but I could see Connie had her heart set on a new mattress so we looked online for something along the line of what her parents had bought.
We ended up finding this one fairly quick. One of those memory foam types that only cost around $274.00 delivered(?). I was leery at buying something we couldn't try out first, but Connie seemed to have her heart set on it so I filled out the online order form. There; SOLD on December 17. Now we'll just have to see if it was worth the money. I'm guessing for that price it might well be junk, or at least not last very long.
Got an e-mail right away saying it should arrive around January 2, which was fine with us. I received another e-mail with a tracking number for UPS the next day. I didn't bother checking the tracking number until the morning of the 24th and it said the mattress was scheduled for delivery that day!That was fast!
The UPS delivery guy showed up around 4pm in the afternoon. Having read reviews on the mattress, I was expecting a medium sized box, but the guy showed up with a large roll that he carried over his shoulder. I had him set it down at the bottom of the driveway figuring I could just pick it up and take it into the house.
Nope. Age takes its toll and I couldn't lift it, at least without likely hurting myself. I don't know that it was so much the weight as its bulk. It was the length of a mattress and maybe two feet or more in diameter. I couldn't get a good grip on it so I brought out my Harbor Freight Tools hand truck, put it on that and rolled it up to the front door.
I didn't expect it to be packed like that. It was in a nice nylon bag. Untying the knot at the top took longer than you'd expect. Finally we realized we should just cut it as I couldn't think of anything we could use a bag that large for, yet Connie could still cut up and use the nylon.
We lay the bundle at the foot of our bed for the night to be deal with next morning.
Next morning we still had a plastic wrap to deal with and some kind of a nylon/burlap type layer. It took some expert slicing on Connie's part to remove the plastic cover without cutting the mattress. Once we got all that stuff off from around it, the mattress popped open and started expanding to its normal size. We laid it on top of the bed so it could expand naturally. Amazing they could roll something that big into a bundle that size.
Online instructions advised taking the plastic cover off and letting it set for 72 hours if for no other reason than letting the odors dissipate. We didn't notice it at first but, after reading mention of it in online reviews, Connie could. She said it smelled as if someone had been painting, but didn't find it as offensive as some reviewers did.
I was of the mind to just lay it on its side in the bedroom for a couple days, per instructions, but Connie seemed to have her heart set on sleeping on a new mattress so later in the day we dragged the old mattress out to the front porch where it still sits.
We let the mattress sit on the bed until just about dark and then Connie put on the sheets and covers. I didn't really like the idea of sleeping on something with odors of God knows what chemical, but Connie said she couldn't smell it after she put all the sheets on.
Yes, it was a nice mattress to sleep on these last two nights. I don't know that I felt all that much better the next morning as some reviewers have wrote, but I did notice I didn't toss and turn so much as I did on the old mattress. When Connie woke up the next morning she said it felt so good she didn't want to get out of bed, so it works for her.
We'll see how long it lasts. I'll be happy if it lasts a couple years at that price. Ecstatic if it lasts longer. I suppose I should write my own review for the web site, too. I'll give it five stars, so far.
Now the issue is getting rid of the old mattress. I've been trying to call City Garbage to set up an appointment for one of my two free bulk item pickups we get each year but nobody answers the phone number listed on their web site. What's with that?
Update: They answered the phone this morning and pick up is set for January 2.
I hesitate writing about buying a mattress online but I didn't feel we had much choice. I'd looked at some local ads recently and it seemed as if even a run- of- the- mill basic mattress started at around $500.00, or more. No way we could afford that and I figured I'd end up dying on the mattress we've been using for over ten years.Turned out the wife was thinking the same thing. Her parents bought a mattress via Costco that cost around $400.00. She tried it, liked it and wanted to get one. For whatever reason we didn't get one of those, but I could see Connie had her heart set on a new mattress so we looked online for something along the line of what her parents had bought.
We ended up finding this one fairly quick. One of those memory foam types that only cost around $274.00 delivered(?). I was leery at buying something we couldn't try out first, but Connie seemed to have her heart set on it so I filled out the online order form. There; SOLD on December 17. Now we'll just have to see if it was worth the money. I'm guessing for that price it might well be junk, or at least not last very long.
Got an e-mail right away saying it should arrive around January 2, which was fine with us. I received another e-mail with a tracking number for UPS the next day. I didn't bother checking the tracking number until the morning of the 24th and it said the mattress was scheduled for delivery that day!That was fast!
The UPS delivery guy showed up around 4pm in the afternoon. Having read reviews on the mattress, I was expecting a medium sized box, but the guy showed up with a large roll that he carried over his shoulder. I had him set it down at the bottom of the driveway figuring I could just pick it up and take it into the house.
Nope. Age takes its toll and I couldn't lift it, at least without likely hurting myself. I don't know that it was so much the weight as its bulk. It was the length of a mattress and maybe two feet or more in diameter. I couldn't get a good grip on it so I brought out my Harbor Freight Tools hand truck, put it on that and rolled it up to the front door.
I didn't expect it to be packed like that. It was in a nice nylon bag. Untying the knot at the top took longer than you'd expect. Finally we realized we should just cut it as I couldn't think of anything we could use a bag that large for, yet Connie could still cut up and use the nylon.
We lay the bundle at the foot of our bed for the night to be deal with next morning.
Next morning we still had a plastic wrap to deal with and some kind of a nylon/burlap type layer. It took some expert slicing on Connie's part to remove the plastic cover without cutting the mattress. Once we got all that stuff off from around it, the mattress popped open and started expanding to its normal size. We laid it on top of the bed so it could expand naturally. Amazing they could roll something that big into a bundle that size.
Online instructions advised taking the plastic cover off and letting it set for 72 hours if for no other reason than letting the odors dissipate. We didn't notice it at first but, after reading mention of it in online reviews, Connie could. She said it smelled as if someone had been painting, but didn't find it as offensive as some reviewers did.
I was of the mind to just lay it on its side in the bedroom for a couple days, per instructions, but Connie seemed to have her heart set on sleeping on a new mattress so later in the day we dragged the old mattress out to the front porch where it still sits.
We let the mattress sit on the bed until just about dark and then Connie put on the sheets and covers. I didn't really like the idea of sleeping on something with odors of God knows what chemical, but Connie said she couldn't smell it after she put all the sheets on.
Yes, it was a nice mattress to sleep on these last two nights. I don't know that I felt all that much better the next morning as some reviewers have wrote, but I did notice I didn't toss and turn so much as I did on the old mattress. When Connie woke up the next morning she said it felt so good she didn't want to get out of bed, so it works for her.
We'll see how long it lasts. I'll be happy if it lasts a couple years at that price. Ecstatic if it lasts longer. I suppose I should write my own review for the web site, too. I'll give it five stars, so far.
Now the issue is getting rid of the old mattress. I've been trying to call City Garbage to set up an appointment for one of my two free bulk item pickups we get each year but nobody answers the phone number listed on their web site. What's with that?
Update: They answered the phone this morning and pick up is set for January 2.
20 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
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I ordered it 2 weeks ago today and it was specified as taking 4-6 days. ( i live in aus) i also used this http://www1.auspost.com.au/gc/ and it said it shouldve arrived last friday. I spent $130 on this so its really important i find out a quick solution and the seller is unable to give a refund for 28 days. What is best to do in this situation?I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
Mailing times are always longer at Christmas, that's why we're always being told to post early! There will be a huge volume of mail coming from the UK and it all needs to be checked by Australian Quarantine before going into the mail system so expect some delays there. Plus Australia Post were on strike yesterday which doesn't help.
Expecting the package to get here in 4-6 days at this time of year was overly optimistic. A more realistic timeframe would be 2 to 3 weeks. If you haven't received it after 3 weeks contact the sender. I ordered something from Canada three weeks ago, and I honestly don't expect to see it until the New Year.
The link you gave is simply Australia Post's 'expected date calculator', not a guarantee that an item will arrive on a specified date.
Dunno, but I live in the UK and I can tell you that the postal system here is in crisis with loads of delayed mail piled up in sorting offices.I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
I think you'll find that Australia Post is on strike, nothing you can do about it I don't think. I hope it arrives for you before christmas.
Well the seller won't be able to do anything about it if the post lost it.
You should contact them and tell them if it still doesn't arrive by next week.I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
They cheated you. Call the company and threaten that you will sue them for false delivery and item.
Coo-ee! Maybe the postman left it at the billabong, and the bloody dingos got it!!
You either got ripped off, or there is a major lag: Holiday, shipping problem, wrong address, and kept..
Mailing times are always longer at Christmas, that's why we're always being told to post early! There will be a huge volume of mail coming from the UK and it all needs to be checked by Australian Quarantine before going into the mail system so expect some delays there. Plus Australia Post were on strike yesterday which doesn't help.
Expecting the package to get here in 4-6 days at this time of year was overly optimistic. A more realistic timeframe would be 2 to 3 weeks. If you haven't received it after 3 weeks contact the sender. I ordered something from Canada three weeks ago, and I honestly don't expect to see it until the New Year.
The link you gave is simply Australia Post's 'expected date calculator', not a guarantee that an item will arrive on a specified date.
Dunno, but I live in the UK and I can tell you that the postal system here is in crisis with loads of delayed mail piled up in sorting offices.I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
I think you'll find that Australia Post is on strike, nothing you can do about it I don't think. I hope it arrives for you before christmas.
Well the seller won't be able to do anything about it if the post lost it.
You should contact them and tell them if it still doesn't arrive by next week.I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
They cheated you. Call the company and threaten that you will sue them for false delivery and item.
Coo-ee! Maybe the postman left it at the billabong, and the bloody dingos got it!!
You either got ripped off, or there is a major lag: Holiday, shipping problem, wrong address, and kept..
Another Problematic and Inadequate Moving Alternative: Atlas' Smart Move Program
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As someone whose firm has helped over 100,000 customers with shipments less than 2000
lbs, moving from one state to another (interstate moving), I was shocked and surprised to see that one of the nation's leading Van Lines, Atlas, chose to embark on a unique Small Shipment
Program, aptly named, Smart Move.
I can't find anything smart about it.
As the first firm in the nation to actually interact with the Less than Truckload Freight Industry,
Box Brothers simply created a system that allows for small shipments to be transported across state lines, by utilizing the existing infrastructure of the United States Freight system.
At the time, everyone in the moving industry, simply felt that they had nothing in common with the freight industry, as plain and simple, the movers were specialists and the freight guys were just haulers. As is often the case, there has always been more synergy between these two industries than anyone in either industry has admitted.
After all, about 25 years ago, it was a railroad, Norfork Southern, who owned North American Van Lines, and who decided it was foolish to have drop frame trailers, as someone there theorized that if they had equipment and orders but not the right equipment to haul freight, even if they were going in the same direction, they could not capitalize on it, due to the fact that
drop frame trailers were not suitable for palletized freight shipments.
Conceptually, this was not a bad idea, but it never worked and North American Van Lines, never seemed to get up to speed hauling a lot of freight. It could be that the Moving and Storage Industry is sometimes, decentralized with agent drivers and agents, who did not want the freight and of course, there were those who argued that it would be penny wise and pound foolish
to have a van line driver miss a job to load 5000 lbs when the freight firm needed 400 lbs picked up and delivered in a few days--something that the household driver and industry was simply not prepared to work out--then.
So here comes Atlas with this idea to create these heavy duty plastic type containers, similar to what we call a lift van, but much sturdier, and I suspect, as a very high cost. Never mind the carbon footprint so often discussed today.
But then, Atlas did something new in its program, it announced that it would not use the Atlas
over the road fleet to help facilitate the movement of these units, instead, deciding to put the
whole program onto a freight platform, to most likely obtain the benefit of quicker delivery dates than the moving industry can deliver, due to its structure of utilizing owner operators for interstate service.
Of course, the problem here is the same problem with all of the other small shipment solutions
the van lines have come up with in the past, merely addressing the need to offer a small shipment alternative, but with nothing compelling to the customer or nothing that moves the service and price quotient any closer to giving the customer a good and valuable transparent service, which is just what the industry is lacking today.
How does one size fit all a good solution. If you have 200 pounds to move, it will cost over $10.00 a pound just to ship it through their system. How come they can't tell the customer that the coverage they claim to provide to the customer that is included with each shipment,
is bogus. I think you would need to have a spaceship land on your container for you to be able to make a claim, as the whole issue here as with all of these new alternatives, is that the customer, becomes self insured and two, he moves himself, but pays as much as he would for a
full service move and does not have insurance to cover any losses.
This is the crap we get from one of the nations largest van lines. No transparency, no value in pricing and they do not tell anyone that their coverage will not cover the customer for self loading or packed by owner boxes. If this is a do it yourself service, how come they can't just tell you the truth? Why do they need to lie. Do you go to the market and buy fruits and vegetables, do you have to pay for 5 lbs of carrots, if you only want to buy one lb?
How does this help the moving industry, to promote a non transparent and one size fits all service, when the entire industry is about being able to deliver good service for a fair price. In
this day and age of renewed called for more regulation, not less, do we get a service that only promises an 11 day transit, over the freight system.
Maybe someone should tell Atlas and their "Smart Moving" program that Fedex, for example,
will take LTL freight from my dock on Monday, 4/16/12, and have it delivered to someone's
new home by this Friday, in New York, on 4/20/12, with standard freight delivery.
I might be wrong, but when we created our Small Shipment Services Program at Box Brothers, over 20 years ago, we set out to create an environment that leveled the playing field for the
smaller loads and their customers: We gave them certain dates and specific times for our crews
to do the pick ups; we took professional inventories; we packaged their possessions like they were our own, utilizing more and better packaging (air cushioning, void fill, eps foam sheeting, ethafoam for very heavy and breakable items like stone, glass, and statues, piano's, etc, and we boxed everything in customized cartons that were made to fit the item, not the other way around, and finally, palletized the shipment so that the only way that the shipment was moved, was with a forklift or a pallet jack--so that no item would be moved individually.
We also worked to obtain a mutually beneficial insurance program with a third party insured,
who specifically covers all items which need to be declared and valued prior to the move. We offer different deductibles, replacement cost protection and in the event of a claim, 99% of them are closed within 30 days after a formal claim form is submitted by the claimant.
But the biggest factor in our continued success is that we have a top to bottom commitment to the customer and to rendering top quality service, no matter how small the job is. You turn your lemons into lemonade and and you do not mislead your customer, nor do you convince him or her that a one size solution is best for all.
Atlas is a fine van line, one of the best, but I think this program, including suggesting the use of stock boxes, not official moving boxes is also a mistake by Atlas here, as on the one hand, they tell people that dish packs should be used for packing dishes and glasses--the standard for many decades in the moving industry--and they encourage the use of a single wall carton if you do it
yourself. Why?
I just wish that sometimes, large firms do their due diligence correctly, as we seem to forget what we have learned over the years, that we need to be service oriented and we need to provide good solutions for our customers, not something that is only a partial and not a complete
solution for their current and future small shipment customers. At the same time, these efforts only ensure that firms like Box Brothers will continue to play a part in this segment of the industry.
lbs, moving from one state to another (interstate moving), I was shocked and surprised to see that one of the nation's leading Van Lines, Atlas, chose to embark on a unique Small Shipment
Program, aptly named, Smart Move.
I can't find anything smart about it.
As the first firm in the nation to actually interact with the Less than Truckload Freight Industry,
Box Brothers simply created a system that allows for small shipments to be transported across state lines, by utilizing the existing infrastructure of the United States Freight system.
At the time, everyone in the moving industry, simply felt that they had nothing in common with the freight industry, as plain and simple, the movers were specialists and the freight guys were just haulers. As is often the case, there has always been more synergy between these two industries than anyone in either industry has admitted.
After all, about 25 years ago, it was a railroad, Norfork Southern, who owned North American Van Lines, and who decided it was foolish to have drop frame trailers, as someone there theorized that if they had equipment and orders but not the right equipment to haul freight, even if they were going in the same direction, they could not capitalize on it, due to the fact that
drop frame trailers were not suitable for palletized freight shipments.
Conceptually, this was not a bad idea, but it never worked and North American Van Lines, never seemed to get up to speed hauling a lot of freight. It could be that the Moving and Storage Industry is sometimes, decentralized with agent drivers and agents, who did not want the freight and of course, there were those who argued that it would be penny wise and pound foolish
to have a van line driver miss a job to load 5000 lbs when the freight firm needed 400 lbs picked up and delivered in a few days--something that the household driver and industry was simply not prepared to work out--then.
So here comes Atlas with this idea to create these heavy duty plastic type containers, similar to what we call a lift van, but much sturdier, and I suspect, as a very high cost. Never mind the carbon footprint so often discussed today.
But then, Atlas did something new in its program, it announced that it would not use the Atlas
over the road fleet to help facilitate the movement of these units, instead, deciding to put the
whole program onto a freight platform, to most likely obtain the benefit of quicker delivery dates than the moving industry can deliver, due to its structure of utilizing owner operators for interstate service.
Of course, the problem here is the same problem with all of the other small shipment solutions
the van lines have come up with in the past, merely addressing the need to offer a small shipment alternative, but with nothing compelling to the customer or nothing that moves the service and price quotient any closer to giving the customer a good and valuable transparent service, which is just what the industry is lacking today.
How does one size fit all a good solution. If you have 200 pounds to move, it will cost over $10.00 a pound just to ship it through their system. How come they can't tell the customer that the coverage they claim to provide to the customer that is included with each shipment,
is bogus. I think you would need to have a spaceship land on your container for you to be able to make a claim, as the whole issue here as with all of these new alternatives, is that the customer, becomes self insured and two, he moves himself, but pays as much as he would for a
full service move and does not have insurance to cover any losses.
This is the crap we get from one of the nations largest van lines. No transparency, no value in pricing and they do not tell anyone that their coverage will not cover the customer for self loading or packed by owner boxes. If this is a do it yourself service, how come they can't just tell you the truth? Why do they need to lie. Do you go to the market and buy fruits and vegetables, do you have to pay for 5 lbs of carrots, if you only want to buy one lb?
How does this help the moving industry, to promote a non transparent and one size fits all service, when the entire industry is about being able to deliver good service for a fair price. In
this day and age of renewed called for more regulation, not less, do we get a service that only promises an 11 day transit, over the freight system.
Maybe someone should tell Atlas and their "Smart Moving" program that Fedex, for example,
will take LTL freight from my dock on Monday, 4/16/12, and have it delivered to someone's
new home by this Friday, in New York, on 4/20/12, with standard freight delivery.
I might be wrong, but when we created our Small Shipment Services Program at Box Brothers, over 20 years ago, we set out to create an environment that leveled the playing field for the
smaller loads and their customers: We gave them certain dates and specific times for our crews
to do the pick ups; we took professional inventories; we packaged their possessions like they were our own, utilizing more and better packaging (air cushioning, void fill, eps foam sheeting, ethafoam for very heavy and breakable items like stone, glass, and statues, piano's, etc, and we boxed everything in customized cartons that were made to fit the item, not the other way around, and finally, palletized the shipment so that the only way that the shipment was moved, was with a forklift or a pallet jack--so that no item would be moved individually.
We also worked to obtain a mutually beneficial insurance program with a third party insured,
who specifically covers all items which need to be declared and valued prior to the move. We offer different deductibles, replacement cost protection and in the event of a claim, 99% of them are closed within 30 days after a formal claim form is submitted by the claimant.
But the biggest factor in our continued success is that we have a top to bottom commitment to the customer and to rendering top quality service, no matter how small the job is. You turn your lemons into lemonade and and you do not mislead your customer, nor do you convince him or her that a one size solution is best for all.
Atlas is a fine van line, one of the best, but I think this program, including suggesting the use of stock boxes, not official moving boxes is also a mistake by Atlas here, as on the one hand, they tell people that dish packs should be used for packing dishes and glasses--the standard for many decades in the moving industry--and they encourage the use of a single wall carton if you do it
yourself. Why?
I just wish that sometimes, large firms do their due diligence correctly, as we seem to forget what we have learned over the years, that we need to be service oriented and we need to provide good solutions for our customers, not something that is only a partial and not a complete
solution for their current and future small shipment customers. At the same time, these efforts only ensure that firms like Box Brothers will continue to play a part in this segment of the industry.
Mother's Day is Coming........
To contact us Click HERE
Just a friendly reminder to all of you that Mother's Day is only 14 days from today, May 13th.
It is very important not to wait till the last minute to ship Mom her gifts, as if you do it early, it
will be less expensive to ship, since we have time this week to ship the presents ground, and not
air, which is a lot more money.
My mother, unfortunately, is no longer alive, but I remember what she often told me in her later years, which, for some reason, still rings true: a mother can take care of 10 kids, but 10 kids cannot take care
of one mother......I think my Mom told me this when I first forgot to get her a mother's day gift.....but
after hearing that statement, I was never late again.
Ask me, one day is not enough to celebrate mothers, as without them, where would be all be......
Happy Mothers Day.
It is very important not to wait till the last minute to ship Mom her gifts, as if you do it early, it
will be less expensive to ship, since we have time this week to ship the presents ground, and not
air, which is a lot more money.
My mother, unfortunately, is no longer alive, but I remember what she often told me in her later years, which, for some reason, still rings true: a mother can take care of 10 kids, but 10 kids cannot take care
of one mother......I think my Mom told me this when I first forgot to get her a mother's day gift.....but
after hearing that statement, I was never late again.
Ask me, one day is not enough to celebrate mothers, as without them, where would be all be......
Happy Mothers Day.
Vote for Box Brothers Reader's Choice Award 2012
To contact us Click HERE
You may log out and come back to finish up at your convenience.
Voting ends Tuesday, JULY 3, 2012
Here Is The Link : http://la-dev.com/ReadersChoice/LADN/index.php?action=displayLogin
Welcome to the Los Angeles Daily News Reader's Choice Contest!
Some of the worlds best people, places and things are found right in our own community. That is why we are asking our readers to choose their favorites in a number of categories. Please take a moment to complete the survey below.We like to thank you for participating in this year's Reader's Choice Awards. Please provide your e-mail address to register to vote. One ballot per valid e-mail address.You may log out and come back to finish up at your convenience.Voting ends Tuesday, JULY 3, 2012
Here Is The Link : http://la-dev.com/ReadersChoice/LADN/index.php?action=displayLogin
Post Danmark to Reduce Mailbox Access
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Digital migration has forced Post Danmark to consider cost cutting efforts that wouldn’t have been conceivable just ten years ago. That’s because the amount of letters sent through the system has been cut in half since that time.
Post Danmark will be removing 1,500 mailboxes from service within the next few months to rein in costs of service. The remaining boxes will be redistributed to ensure adequate availability. In addition to new placement, collection frequency from these boxes will be reduced to further trim costs.
Earlier this year, the struggling postal organization announced that it would be reducing the number of post offices around the country and adding services inside strategic supermarket locations. Post Danmark encourages customers to search its website for a mailbox or facility near them to avoid confusion with network changes.
What do you think of Post Danmark’s solution to reduced mail volume?
16 Aralık 2012 Pazar
My Asian Americana by Anida Yoeu Ali for White House AAPI "What's Your Story?"
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My Asian Americana by Anida Yoeu Ali for White House AAPI "What's Your Story?" Tube. Duration : 3.00 Mins.
WE WON THE POPULAR VOTES. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE DECIDED TO SILENCE THIS ISSUE OF DEPORTATION BY REFUSING TO INVITE US TO THE "CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE" EVENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON APRIL 5TH, 2012. And this is the follow-up video "Return To Sender" (8min) that was meant to be shown to the president Obama in person. www.youtube.com Please write to Ms. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, and ask her to investigate the way her Office of Public Engagement silenced this issue despite the popular vote outcome during the White House AAPI's "What's Your Story" video contest. email: vjarrett@who.eop.gov AND/OR valerie_jarrett@who.eop.gov ------------------- THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES and making this the highest hit video amongst all the finalists!! The contest is over now. We're waiting to hear from the White House. The news should come within a couple of weeks. We will post the result here. Best. Studio Revolt studio-revolt.com ============ WE ARE FINALISTS!! We want to go to The White House and present this video to the president as part of White House AAPI Video Contest. PLEASE VOTE!! (www.whitehouse.gov There is no legal review required in these "criminal alien" deportation procedures. No appeal. ( www.uscis.gov ) I once met a guy who was shipped out here for DUI, leaving his two teen daughters, 12 and 14 yrs old, fatherless in California. After coming out of prison, another guy started a straight life and had a small business in Philly, eventually having a happy marriage ...
Keywords: Immigration, deportation, deportee, returnee, kosal khiev, anida yoeu ali, masahiro sugano, white house video challenge, asian american, b-boy peanut, dollah, cambodia, phnom penh, what's your story?, khmer exiled american, exile, spoken word, education, juvenile intervention, social issue, aapi, white house, thea som, returnee's orientation
WE WON THE POPULAR VOTES. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE DECIDED TO SILENCE THIS ISSUE OF DEPORTATION BY REFUSING TO INVITE US TO THE "CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE" EVENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON APRIL 5TH, 2012. And this is the follow-up video "Return To Sender" (8min) that was meant to be shown to the president Obama in person. www.youtube.com Please write to Ms. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, and ask her to investigate the way her Office of Public Engagement silenced this issue despite the popular vote outcome during the White House AAPI's "What's Your Story" video contest. email: vjarrett@who.eop.gov AND/OR valerie_jarrett@who.eop.gov ------------------- THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES and making this the highest hit video amongst all the finalists!! The contest is over now. We're waiting to hear from the White House. The news should come within a couple of weeks. We will post the result here. Best. Studio Revolt studio-revolt.com ============ WE ARE FINALISTS!! We want to go to The White House and present this video to the president as part of White House AAPI Video Contest. PLEASE VOTE!! (www.whitehouse.gov There is no legal review required in these "criminal alien" deportation procedures. No appeal. ( www.uscis.gov ) I once met a guy who was shipped out here for DUI, leaving his two teen daughters, 12 and 14 yrs old, fatherless in California. After coming out of prison, another guy started a straight life and had a small business in Philly, eventually having a happy marriage ...
Keywords: Immigration, deportation, deportee, returnee, kosal khiev, anida yoeu ali, masahiro sugano, white house video challenge, asian american, b-boy peanut, dollah, cambodia, phnom penh, what's your story?, khmer exiled american, exile, spoken word, education, juvenile intervention, social issue, aapi, white house, thea som, returnee's orientation
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Megamillions Scandal McDonald's Employees in Maryland Are Outraged!!!
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Megamillions Scandal McDonald's Employees in Maryland Are Outraged!!! Tube. Duration : 3.62 Mins.
Employees at a McDonald's in Maryland are outraged at a co-worker who claims she won a 5million Mega Millions jackpot which she is not planning on sharing - despite the fact they had pooled their money for tickets. Workers at the fast food outlet bought a number of tickets together for the biggest lottery in world history but Mirlande Wilson, 37, claims she separately bought one of the three tickets nationwide that will split a record 6 million payout. 'We had a group plan, but I went and played by myself. [The 'winning' ticket] wasn't on the group plan,' Wilson told The New York Post.
Tags: Megamillions, lottery, winnings, prize, lottery winner, winner, scandal, Maryland, mcdonalds, Mirlande, Wilson, Mirlande Wilson, employees, office pool, employee pool
Employees at a McDonald's in Maryland are outraged at a co-worker who claims she won a 5million Mega Millions jackpot which she is not planning on sharing - despite the fact they had pooled their money for tickets. Workers at the fast food outlet bought a number of tickets together for the biggest lottery in world history but Mirlande Wilson, 37, claims she separately bought one of the three tickets nationwide that will split a record 6 million payout. 'We had a group plan, but I went and played by myself. [The 'winning' ticket] wasn't on the group plan,' Wilson told The New York Post.
Tags: Megamillions, lottery, winnings, prize, lottery winner, winner, scandal, Maryland, mcdonalds, Mirlande, Wilson, Mirlande Wilson, employees, office pool, employee pool
Stroller Frame Car Seat Wen Hair Care Reviews
Marijuana State's Rights Bill Introduced
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Reason.com reports a Democratic congress gal from Colorado has introduced a bill to congress that will end conflicts between states that legalize marijuana and the Controlled Substances Act. H.R. 6606, the State's and Citizen's Rights Act of 2012 has only 9 co- sponsors, so far.
You may want to call our local congresscritter, Mike Thompson, and ask him to sign on. The phone number for his Eureka office is 269-9595. Personally, I don't think he'll do it, but I'll be glad to be proven wrong.
You may want to call our local congresscritter, Mike Thompson, and ask him to sign on. The phone number for his Eureka office is 269-9595. Personally, I don't think he'll do it, but I'll be glad to be proven wrong.
What's In A Name?
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The Times- Standard reports there's talk of changing the name of the Arcata/ Eureka Airport to the Redwood Coast Regional Airport. The idea being it will attract more people to the area. Tony Smither, Director of the Convention and Visitor's Bureau cites at least one example where such a name change supposedly increased traffic to an airport in Wyoming.
That line of thought doesn't really make sense to me, though. The few times I've flown anywhere, I've never made that decision because of the airport name. Heck, I usually didn't know the name of the airport until I arrived, if I even noticed it then.
I pick a place to go and have the airline or travel agent make arrangements for me- the airport name never enters the process. Either that, or pick the location then find what airport services the location, not the other way around. I'm sure most people do the same thing.
Whatever. It's not like it's going to cost a bunch of money and it likely won't cause any harm.
That line of thought doesn't really make sense to me, though. The few times I've flown anywhere, I've never made that decision because of the airport name. Heck, I usually didn't know the name of the airport until I arrived, if I even noticed it then.
I pick a place to go and have the airline or travel agent make arrangements for me- the airport name never enters the process. Either that, or pick the location then find what airport services the location, not the other way around. I'm sure most people do the same thing.
Whatever. It's not like it's going to cost a bunch of money and it likely won't cause any harm.
Eureka's Pension Tsunami?
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I can't find the earlier posts from a few years ago where I casually asked where Eureka and the county might stand in regards the public pension crisis that's caused some cities in the state to declare bankruptcy. With Eureka's city council working on purchasing bonds to fund their public employee pension fund, maybe we'll be able to find out soon?
Santa Rosa has a growing pension problem, according to the Santa Rosa Press- Democrat. There was also a commentary in the Press- Democrat yesterday suggesting Sonoma County is facing some serious problems with funding its pension plans as well.
It might be interesting to juxtapose City of Eureka's (and Humboldt County's) pension numbers with those of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. I wouldn't be surprised if we're worse off. I won't be disappointed if I"m wrong, either.
Santa Rosa has a growing pension problem, according to the Santa Rosa Press- Democrat. There was also a commentary in the Press- Democrat yesterday suggesting Sonoma County is facing some serious problems with funding its pension plans as well.
It might be interesting to juxtapose City of Eureka's (and Humboldt County's) pension numbers with those of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. I wouldn't be surprised if we're worse off. I won't be disappointed if I"m wrong, either.
12 Aralık 2012 Çarşamba
'Battlefield to Business' in WPB, 11/16
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On Friday, November 16, the Small Business Development Center atPalm Beach State College will welcome the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), hostof the second annual ”Battlefield to Business” event for veterans and smallbusiness owners who seek information on landing prime governmentcontracts. The event will take place on the college campus at 3000 Saint Lucie Avenue Boca Raton
In cooperation with theFlorida Small Business Development Center West Pa lmBeach
The PTAC supports service members and veterans in business successby offering this opportunity. USPS employees and veterans mayseek expert advice on procurement of government contracts in accordance withUSPS policies and regulations.
Friday’s free expo will feature over 30exhibitors. Speakers will include Sergeant Major Jack Tilleyand Dan Sturdivant, Department of Homeland Security; Gerald Paulsen, PaulsenGroup; Scott Denniston, The Scott Group; and Major General Joseph Taluto (USARet.) and Paul Simpkins, Assistant Director, U.S. Department of Defense, Officeof Small Business Programs.
TheOrlando Vet Center
To register for the freeevent you may go online to: https://clients.floridasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=700320318
Attendance is voluntaryand off-the-clock for postal employees. For further local information, contact:LuAnn Wa rner,Customer Relations Coordinator, West Pa lm Beach
In cooperation with the
The PTAC supports service members and veterans in business successby offering this opportunity. USPS employees and veterans mayseek expert advice on procurement of government contracts in accordance withUSPS policies and regulations.
Friday’s free expo will feature over 30exhibitors. Speakers will include Sergeant Major Jack Tilleyand Dan Sturdivant, Department of Homeland Security; Gerald Paulsen, PaulsenGroup; Scott Denniston, The Scott Group; and Major General Joseph Taluto (USARet.) and Paul Simpkins, Assistant Director, U.S. Department of Defense, Officeof Small Business Programs.
The
To register for the freeevent you may go online to: https://clients.floridasbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=700320318
Attendance is voluntaryand off-the-clock for postal employees. For further local information, contact:
There's a 'Passport Princess' in WPB
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The West Palm Beach Main Office Passport Acceptance Facilitywas recently recognized as a top 10 Performer in the State of Florida for “Exemplary service to the communityand the U.S. Department of State, Passport Service.”
Durron Swain, Passport Specialist, Miami Passport Agency, presentedthe award to staff at the unit. The Award was based on the number ofapplications executed in 2011, out of an approximate 270 acceptance facilities.
The award comes as no surprise due to the efforts put forthby Lead Passport Clerk Adrienne Fortunato. Adrienne is a proud grandmother ofnine and uses that experience when taking photos for children’s passports. Shehas the little girls tell her “what Princess they want to be” and for the boysshe will ask what “Super Hero they want to become.” Adrienne has found this practice to “worklike a charm” avoiding any panic for the children. Adrienne also advises customers, especiallythe elderly, to choose a passport book over a card when booking a cruise. “I don’t recommend a card for a cruise,because in the event of a medical emergency, they would not be able to be flownoff the ship.”
The West Palm Beach Post Office proudly accepted the awardfor its “conscientious execution of passport applications, excellence incustomer service, and commitment to ensuring the integrity of theU.S. passport." The West Palm Beach Acceptancefacility is staffed Monday through Saturday, no appointment necessary, andserves customers on a first-come first-served basis.
Durron Swain, Passport Specialist, Miami Passport Agency, presentedthe award to staff at the unit. The Award was based on the number ofapplications executed in 2011, out of an approximate 270 acceptance facilities.
The award comes as no surprise due to the efforts put forthby Lead Passport Clerk Adrienne Fortunato. Adrienne is a proud grandmother ofnine and uses that experience when taking photos for children’s passports. Shehas the little girls tell her “what Princess they want to be” and for the boysshe will ask what “Super Hero they want to become.” Adrienne has found this practice to “worklike a charm” avoiding any panic for the children. Adrienne also advises customers, especiallythe elderly, to choose a passport book over a card when booking a cruise. “I don’t recommend a card for a cruise,because in the event of a medical emergency, they would not be able to be flownoff the ship.”
The West Palm Beach Post Office proudly accepted the awardfor its “conscientious execution of passport applications, excellence incustomer service, and commitment to ensuring the integrity of the
New 'Lobby Assistants' Coming to a South Florida Post Office Near You
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USPS is expanding its use of “lobby assistants”at select Post Offices to help customers take advantage of new self-serviceopportunities and to help improve the customer experience.
In the South Florida District, a new generationof Self-Service Kiosks has been deployed at theCoral Gables , Olympia Heights , and QuailHeights Post Offices. Self-Service Kiosks will be deployed in 13additional South Florida Post Offices in January.
The new kiosks feature a brighter and largertouch screen and also have a scanner for pricing greeting cards and ReadyPost products, along with a scale. The Postal Service’s expanded use of “lobby assistants” is intended tointroduce customers to the new kiosks and show them how they work. The lobbyassistants also will greet and prepare customers waiting in line to make theirtransactions with retail associates quicker and easier.
USPS is expanding its use of “lobby assistants”at select Post Offices to help customers take advantage of new self-serviceopportunities and to help improve the customer experience.
In the South Florida District, a new generationof Self-Service Kiosks has been deployed at the
The new kiosks feature a brighter and largertouch screen and also have a scanner for pricing greeting cards and ReadyPost products, along with a scale. The Postal Service’s expanded use of “lobby assistants” is intended tointroduce customers to the new kiosks and show them how they work. The lobbyassistants also will greet and prepare customers waiting in line to make theirtransactions with retail associates quicker and easier.
How Young is Your Post Office?
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It’s estimated that the Earth is several billion years old. Given its longevity, the human civilization seems as young as a recently planted crop. With this in mind, the Postal Service’s 237-year history seems fresh and new. While this might seem like a lengthy period of time compared to the average human life span, there are other posts in the world with an even longer history.
The oldest post office in the world, as recognized by the Universal Postal Union and the Guinness Book of World Records, is the Sanquhar office in Scotland. It recently received a plaque to honor its 300th anniversary, and its subpostmistress, Penny Murphy, was pleased to accept the recognition.
The second and third oldest Post Offices are in Stockholm, Sweden, and Santiago, Chile, respectively.
How young is the post office in your town?
I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
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I ordered it 2 weeks ago today and it was specified as taking 4-6 days. ( i live in aus) i also used this http://www1.auspost.com.au/gc/ and it said it shouldve arrived last friday. I spent $130 on this so its really important i find out a quick solution and the seller is unable to give a refund for 28 days. What is best to do in this situation?I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
Mailing times are always longer at Christmas, that's why we're always being told to post early! There will be a huge volume of mail coming from the UK and it all needs to be checked by Australian Quarantine before going into the mail system so expect some delays there. Plus Australia Post were on strike yesterday which doesn't help.
Expecting the package to get here in 4-6 days at this time of year was overly optimistic. A more realistic timeframe would be 2 to 3 weeks. If you haven't received it after 3 weeks contact the sender. I ordered something from Canada three weeks ago, and I honestly don't expect to see it until the New Year.
The link you gave is simply Australia Post's 'expected date calculator', not a guarantee that an item will arrive on a specified date.
Dunno, but I live in the UK and I can tell you that the postal system here is in crisis with loads of delayed mail piled up in sorting offices.I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
I think you'll find that Australia Post is on strike, nothing you can do about it I don't think. I hope it arrives for you before christmas.
Well the seller won't be able to do anything about it if the post lost it.
You should contact them and tell them if it still doesn't arrive by next week.I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
They cheated you. Call the company and threaten that you will sue them for false delivery and item.
Coo-ee! Maybe the postman left it at the billabong, and the bloody dingos got it!!
You either got ripped off, or there is a major lag: Holiday, shipping problem, wrong address, and kept..
Mailing times are always longer at Christmas, that's why we're always being told to post early! There will be a huge volume of mail coming from the UK and it all needs to be checked by Australian Quarantine before going into the mail system so expect some delays there. Plus Australia Post were on strike yesterday which doesn't help.
Expecting the package to get here in 4-6 days at this time of year was overly optimistic. A more realistic timeframe would be 2 to 3 weeks. If you haven't received it after 3 weeks contact the sender. I ordered something from Canada three weeks ago, and I honestly don't expect to see it until the New Year.
The link you gave is simply Australia Post's 'expected date calculator', not a guarantee that an item will arrive on a specified date.
Dunno, but I live in the UK and I can tell you that the postal system here is in crisis with loads of delayed mail piled up in sorting offices.I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
I think you'll find that Australia Post is on strike, nothing you can do about it I don't think. I hope it arrives for you before christmas.
Well the seller won't be able to do anything about it if the post lost it.
You should contact them and tell them if it still doesn't arrive by next week.I ordered a parcel from the uk and it still hasn't arrived after double the specified delivery time?
They cheated you. Call the company and threaten that you will sue them for false delivery and item.
Coo-ee! Maybe the postman left it at the billabong, and the bloody dingos got it!!
You either got ripped off, or there is a major lag: Holiday, shipping problem, wrong address, and kept..
11 Aralık 2012 Salı
Mother's Day is Coming........
To contact us Click HERE
Just a friendly reminder to all of you that Mother's Day is only 14 days from today, May 13th.
It is very important not to wait till the last minute to ship Mom her gifts, as if you do it early, it
will be less expensive to ship, since we have time this week to ship the presents ground, and not
air, which is a lot more money.
My mother, unfortunately, is no longer alive, but I remember what she often told me in her later years, which, for some reason, still rings true: a mother can take care of 10 kids, but 10 kids cannot take care
of one mother......I think my Mom told me this when I first forgot to get her a mother's day gift.....but
after hearing that statement, I was never late again.
Ask me, one day is not enough to celebrate mothers, as without them, where would be all be......
Happy Mothers Day.
It is very important not to wait till the last minute to ship Mom her gifts, as if you do it early, it
will be less expensive to ship, since we have time this week to ship the presents ground, and not
air, which is a lot more money.
My mother, unfortunately, is no longer alive, but I remember what she often told me in her later years, which, for some reason, still rings true: a mother can take care of 10 kids, but 10 kids cannot take care
of one mother......I think my Mom told me this when I first forgot to get her a mother's day gift.....but
after hearing that statement, I was never late again.
Ask me, one day is not enough to celebrate mothers, as without them, where would be all be......
Happy Mothers Day.
Vote for Box Brothers Reader's Choice Award 2012
To contact us Click HERE
You may log out and come back to finish up at your convenience.
Voting ends Tuesday, JULY 3, 2012
Here Is The Link : http://la-dev.com/ReadersChoice/LADN/index.php?action=displayLogin
Welcome to the Los Angeles Daily News Reader's Choice Contest!
Some of the worlds best people, places and things are found right in our own community. That is why we are asking our readers to choose their favorites in a number of categories. Please take a moment to complete the survey below.We like to thank you for participating in this year's Reader's Choice Awards. Please provide your e-mail address to register to vote. One ballot per valid e-mail address.You may log out and come back to finish up at your convenience.Voting ends Tuesday, JULY 3, 2012
Here Is The Link : http://la-dev.com/ReadersChoice/LADN/index.php?action=displayLogin
Marijuana State's Rights Bill Introduced
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Reason.com reports a Democratic congress gal from Colorado has introduced a bill to congress that will end conflicts between states that legalize marijuana and the Controlled Substances Act. H.R. 6606, the State's and Citizen's Rights Act of 2012 has only 9 co- sponsors, so far.
You may want to call our local congresscritter, Mike Thompson, and ask him to sign on. The phone number for his Eureka office is 269-9595. Personally, I don't think he'll do it, but I'll be glad to be proven wrong.
You may want to call our local congresscritter, Mike Thompson, and ask him to sign on. The phone number for his Eureka office is 269-9595. Personally, I don't think he'll do it, but I'll be glad to be proven wrong.
Obama Closes Point Reyes Oyster Farm
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Yep. I'd say this lies squarely at Obama's feet. The Sacramento Bee reports the Secretary of Interior decided not to renew the Drakes Bay Oyster Company's lease on the Point Reyes National Seashore. The company produces about 40% of California's oysters.
He hasn't closed down all other commercial activities in the park, but you can bet it won't be long before he decides otherwise. The few environmentalists commenting to the article are already saying this doesn't go far enough.
I'll have to admit this could well be one instance where having someone else in the White House might have made a difference.
He hasn't closed down all other commercial activities in the park, but you can bet it won't be long before he decides otherwise. The few environmentalists commenting to the article are already saying this doesn't go far enough.
I'll have to admit this could well be one instance where having someone else in the White House might have made a difference.
Humboldt Dentist Shortage?
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I was surprised to read this letter to the editor in the Sacramento Bee from a dentist in Ukiah. He claims there's a shortage of dentists in California. I'm sure that's true in some places but I was wondering if the opposite wasn't true in Eureka?
Driving around town I see so many dental offices I've often wondered how they all stay busy. I know there's a shortage of primary physicians up here, but dentists? Anybody had a problem finding a dentist? I wouldn't know because I haven't even tried to see a dentist in decades.
Addendum: Maybe I'm not too far off about how many dentists are up here? Just noticed another comment to the letter I've referred to which claims there's plenty of dentists, just not ones that accept government insurance (as is an ever growing problem with physicians).
I'll copy the entire comment here since SacBee is a pay site and many may not be able to read it:
BALONEY.
If you're a real dentist, Dr Lewis, then you know that many dental practices in CA are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. There is not a shortage of dentists. There IS a shortage of dentists willing to accept DentiCal reimbursement that doesn't even meet their overhead. And you also should know that the various federally funded clinics operate is via an infusion of additional federal funds, either grants to the clinics, loan repayment lures to the dentists, or both.
If the feds simply ensured everyday practicing dentists could be adequately reimbursed, there would be no shortage. If the feds allowed cash basis offices to write off the cost of pro bono care, there would be no shortage. Please be honest.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/30/5021569/more-help-needed-to-treat-dental.html#storylink=cpy
Driving around town I see so many dental offices I've often wondered how they all stay busy. I know there's a shortage of primary physicians up here, but dentists? Anybody had a problem finding a dentist? I wouldn't know because I haven't even tried to see a dentist in decades.
Addendum: Maybe I'm not too far off about how many dentists are up here? Just noticed another comment to the letter I've referred to which claims there's plenty of dentists, just not ones that accept government insurance (as is an ever growing problem with physicians).
I'll copy the entire comment here since SacBee is a pay site and many may not be able to read it:
BALONEY.
If you're a real dentist, Dr Lewis, then you know that many dental practices in CA are teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. There is not a shortage of dentists. There IS a shortage of dentists willing to accept DentiCal reimbursement that doesn't even meet their overhead. And you also should know that the various federally funded clinics operate is via an infusion of additional federal funds, either grants to the clinics, loan repayment lures to the dentists, or both.
If the feds simply ensured everyday practicing dentists could be adequately reimbursed, there would be no shortage. If the feds allowed cash basis offices to write off the cost of pro bono care, there would be no shortage. Please be honest.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/30/5021569/more-help-needed-to-treat-dental.html#storylink=cpy
8 Aralık 2012 Cumartesi
New 'Lobby Assistants' Coming to a South Florida Post Office Near You
To contact us Click HERE
USPS is expanding its use of “lobby assistants”at select Post Offices to help customers take advantage of new self-serviceopportunities and to help improve the customer experience.
In the South Florida District, a new generationof Self-Service Kiosks has been deployed at theCoral Gables , Olympia Heights , and QuailHeights Post Offices. Self-Service Kiosks will be deployed in 13additional South Florida Post Offices in January.
The new kiosks feature a brighter and largertouch screen and also have a scanner for pricing greeting cards and ReadyPost products, along with a scale. The Postal Service’s expanded use of “lobby assistants” is intended tointroduce customers to the new kiosks and show them how they work. The lobbyassistants also will greet and prepare customers waiting in line to make theirtransactions with retail associates quicker and easier.
USPS is expanding its use of “lobby assistants”at select Post Offices to help customers take advantage of new self-serviceopportunities and to help improve the customer experience.
In the South Florida District, a new generationof Self-Service Kiosks has been deployed at the
The new kiosks feature a brighter and largertouch screen and also have a scanner for pricing greeting cards and ReadyPost products, along with a scale. The Postal Service’s expanded use of “lobby assistants” is intended tointroduce customers to the new kiosks and show them how they work. The lobbyassistants also will greet and prepare customers waiting in line to make theirtransactions with retail associates quicker and easier.
Waves of Color
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There’s a new stamp gracing the postal catalog that’s sure to demand attention. The new Waves of Color stamp collection peaks interest through its vibrant colors and flowing lines. These stamps are sure to bring grace and elegance to any package, large envelope or other mailings.
The printing process for the stamp collection is similar to that of engraved bank currency. This makes the design of each stamp particularly difficult to copy. Also of interest is the size of each stamp. Each individual issue represents a $1, $2, $5, or $10 denomination. The greater the value of the stamp, the larger its size, with $10 being the largest.
The Waves of Color stamp collection is now available online and at a Post Office near you.
Do you think postage stamps could be used as future currency for other retail transactions such as groceries and gasoline?
Rich Don't Influence Politics Enough - Billionaire Romney Backer
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Rich Don't Influence Politics Enough - Billionaire Romney Backer Video Clips. Duration : 9.38 Mins.
Via Think Progress: "In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Ken Griffin, a hedge fund billionaire who is one of the 400 richest people in America, argued that the ultrawealthy in this country don't have enough influence over politics. Griffin went on to say that the ultrawealthy "have a duty" to step forward and save the US from what he says is a drift toward Soviet-style state control of the economy...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down. * thinkprogress.org Subscribe to The Young Turks: bit.ly Find out how to watch The Young Turks on Current by clicking here: www.current.com The Largest Online New Show in the World. Google+: www.gplus.to Facebook: www.facebook.com Twitter: twitter.com
Tags: money in politics, ken griffin, hedge fund, hedge fund manager, super pac, american crossroads, mitt romney, romney super pac, rich tax cuts, top one percent, 'top, 1%, richest americans, corrupt politicians, political donations, citizens united, money speech, 2012 elections, political donors, romney donors
Via Think Progress: "In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Ken Griffin, a hedge fund billionaire who is one of the 400 richest people in America, argued that the ultrawealthy in this country don't have enough influence over politics. Griffin went on to say that the ultrawealthy "have a duty" to step forward and save the US from what he says is a drift toward Soviet-style state control of the economy...".* The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down. * thinkprogress.org Subscribe to The Young Turks: bit.ly Find out how to watch The Young Turks on Current by clicking here: www.current.com The Largest Online New Show in the World. Google+: www.gplus.to Facebook: www.facebook.com Twitter: twitter.com
Tags: money in politics, ken griffin, hedge fund, hedge fund manager, super pac, american crossroads, mitt romney, romney super pac, rich tax cuts, top one percent, 'top, 1%, richest americans, corrupt politicians, political donations, citizens united, money speech, 2012 elections, political donors, romney donors
Reviews Handheld Steam Cleaners Pool Pumps Filters
My Asian Americana by Anida Yoeu Ali for White House AAPI "What's Your Story?"
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My Asian Americana by Anida Yoeu Ali for White House AAPI "What's Your Story?" Tube. Duration : 3.00 Mins.
WE WON THE POPULAR VOTES. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE DECIDED TO SILENCE THIS ISSUE OF DEPORTATION BY REFUSING TO INVITE US TO THE "CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE" EVENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON APRIL 5TH, 2012. And this is the follow-up video "Return To Sender" (8min) that was meant to be shown to the president Obama in person. www.youtube.com Please write to Ms. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, and ask her to investigate the way her Office of Public Engagement silenced this issue despite the popular vote outcome during the White House AAPI's "What's Your Story" video contest. email: vjarrett@who.eop.gov AND/OR valerie_jarrett@who.eop.gov ------------------- THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES and making this the highest hit video amongst all the finalists!! The contest is over now. We're waiting to hear from the White House. The news should come within a couple of weeks. We will post the result here. Best. Studio Revolt studio-revolt.com ============ WE ARE FINALISTS!! We want to go to The White House and present this video to the president as part of White House AAPI Video Contest. PLEASE VOTE!! (www.whitehouse.gov There is no legal review required in these "criminal alien" deportation procedures. No appeal. ( www.uscis.gov ) I once met a guy who was shipped out here for DUI, leaving his two teen daughters, 12 and 14 yrs old, fatherless in California. After coming out of prison, another guy started a straight life and had a small business in Philly, eventually having a happy marriage ...
Keywords: Immigration, deportation, deportee, returnee, kosal khiev, anida yoeu ali, masahiro sugano, white house video challenge, asian american, b-boy peanut, dollah, cambodia, phnom penh, what's your story?, khmer exiled american, exile, spoken word, education, juvenile intervention, social issue, aapi, white house, thea som, returnee's orientation
WE WON THE POPULAR VOTES. BUT THE WHITE HOUSE DECIDED TO SILENCE THIS ISSUE OF DEPORTATION BY REFUSING TO INVITE US TO THE "CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE" EVENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON APRIL 5TH, 2012. And this is the follow-up video "Return To Sender" (8min) that was meant to be shown to the president Obama in person. www.youtube.com Please write to Ms. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, and ask her to investigate the way her Office of Public Engagement silenced this issue despite the popular vote outcome during the White House AAPI's "What's Your Story" video contest. email: vjarrett@who.eop.gov AND/OR valerie_jarrett@who.eop.gov ------------------- THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES and making this the highest hit video amongst all the finalists!! The contest is over now. We're waiting to hear from the White House. The news should come within a couple of weeks. We will post the result here. Best. Studio Revolt studio-revolt.com ============ WE ARE FINALISTS!! We want to go to The White House and present this video to the president as part of White House AAPI Video Contest. PLEASE VOTE!! (www.whitehouse.gov There is no legal review required in these "criminal alien" deportation procedures. No appeal. ( www.uscis.gov ) I once met a guy who was shipped out here for DUI, leaving his two teen daughters, 12 and 14 yrs old, fatherless in California. After coming out of prison, another guy started a straight life and had a small business in Philly, eventually having a happy marriage ...
Keywords: Immigration, deportation, deportee, returnee, kosal khiev, anida yoeu ali, masahiro sugano, white house video challenge, asian american, b-boy peanut, dollah, cambodia, phnom penh, what's your story?, khmer exiled american, exile, spoken word, education, juvenile intervention, social issue, aapi, white house, thea som, returnee's orientation
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Megamillions Scandal McDonald's Employees in Maryland Are Outraged!!!
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Megamillions Scandal McDonald's Employees in Maryland Are Outraged!!! Tube. Duration : 3.62 Mins.
Employees at a McDonald's in Maryland are outraged at a co-worker who claims she won a 5million Mega Millions jackpot which she is not planning on sharing - despite the fact they had pooled their money for tickets. Workers at the fast food outlet bought a number of tickets together for the biggest lottery in world history but Mirlande Wilson, 37, claims she separately bought one of the three tickets nationwide that will split a record 6 million payout. 'We had a group plan, but I went and played by myself. [The 'winning' ticket] wasn't on the group plan,' Wilson told The New York Post.
Tags: Megamillions, lottery, winnings, prize, lottery winner, winner, scandal, Maryland, mcdonalds, Mirlande, Wilson, Mirlande Wilson, employees, office pool, employee pool
Employees at a McDonald's in Maryland are outraged at a co-worker who claims she won a 5million Mega Millions jackpot which she is not planning on sharing - despite the fact they had pooled their money for tickets. Workers at the fast food outlet bought a number of tickets together for the biggest lottery in world history but Mirlande Wilson, 37, claims she separately bought one of the three tickets nationwide that will split a record 6 million payout. 'We had a group plan, but I went and played by myself. [The 'winning' ticket] wasn't on the group plan,' Wilson told The New York Post.
Tags: Megamillions, lottery, winnings, prize, lottery winner, winner, scandal, Maryland, mcdonalds, Mirlande, Wilson, Mirlande Wilson, employees, office pool, employee pool
Stroller Frame Car Seat Wen Hair Care Reviews
7 Aralık 2012 Cuma
Global Warming Stuff
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A couple commentaries on global warming I stumbled upon that I thought were pretty good.
This first one is from Forbes magazine back in February. The writer tries to "explain" the global warming debate. I have a hard time following him but think I see where he's coming from. Do you?
One difference between his line of thinking and mine is he seems to accept the planet is warming. I'm more skeptical, but I don't think that's exactly his or my way of looking at it. After reading it twice I think his thinking might be close to mine:
That the atmosphere might be warming (or might end up cooling, imo), but man's contribution to it is insignificant. Not sure he'd want to use the word insignificant, though.
This second one is from The Independent Institute. The writer starts out by opposing carbon taxes but accepting the position that man's CO2 is causing global warming.
He believes carbon taxes will be bad for the economy. They could also make the carbon problem worse as more manufacturers move to countries without the environmental regulations we have.
The comments show how polarizing the issue has become. The first one claiming the planet isn't warming, the second one claiming it is- an argument the writer points out he was trying to avoid.
It's hard to get past the is vs. is not on issues like this no matter how you try to frame the discussion, isn't it?
This first one is from Forbes magazine back in February. The writer tries to "explain" the global warming debate. I have a hard time following him but think I see where he's coming from. Do you?
One difference between his line of thinking and mine is he seems to accept the planet is warming. I'm more skeptical, but I don't think that's exactly his or my way of looking at it. After reading it twice I think his thinking might be close to mine:
That the atmosphere might be warming (or might end up cooling, imo), but man's contribution to it is insignificant. Not sure he'd want to use the word insignificant, though.
This second one is from The Independent Institute. The writer starts out by opposing carbon taxes but accepting the position that man's CO2 is causing global warming.
He believes carbon taxes will be bad for the economy. They could also make the carbon problem worse as more manufacturers move to countries without the environmental regulations we have.
The comments show how polarizing the issue has become. The first one claiming the planet isn't warming, the second one claiming it is- an argument the writer points out he was trying to avoid.
It's hard to get past the is vs. is not on issues like this no matter how you try to frame the discussion, isn't it?
A Homeless Bill of Rights?
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Not sure what to make of this. The San Francisco Chronicle reports Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has introduced AB5 which targets local ordinances against homeless folks. Here's what Ammiano sees as homeless "rights":
-- Sleeping in public spaces such as sidewalks and parks
-- 24/7 access to bathrooms, showers, water and clean syringes.
-- Car camping on city streets without restrictions
-- "Life sustaining activities" such as urinating and collecting recycling trash
-- Welfare cash payments
-- Meditating or praying in public
-- Panhandling
-- Payment for possessions seized in a roust
-- Right to refuse the offer of a homeless shelter
-- Right to a lawyer in most encounters with the law
I've probably been as supportive of homeless "rights" more than most. I strongly opposed Arcata's anti- panhandling ordinance, for example, but I don't know that it's fair to anyone to override local ordinances to this extent.
I'm not sure what the answer is to vagrancy problems, if there even is one. Leaving things as they are and letting it work out at the local level is probably better than passing this law.
-- Sleeping in public spaces such as sidewalks and parks
-- 24/7 access to bathrooms, showers, water and clean syringes.
-- Car camping on city streets without restrictions
-- "Life sustaining activities" such as urinating and collecting recycling trash
-- Welfare cash payments
-- Meditating or praying in public
-- Panhandling
-- Payment for possessions seized in a roust
-- Right to refuse the offer of a homeless shelter
-- Right to a lawyer in most encounters with the law
I've probably been as supportive of homeless "rights" more than most. I strongly opposed Arcata's anti- panhandling ordinance, for example, but I don't know that it's fair to anyone to override local ordinances to this extent.
I'm not sure what the answer is to vagrancy problems, if there even is one. Leaving things as they are and letting it work out at the local level is probably better than passing this law.
Another Problematic and Inadequate Moving Alternative: Atlas' Smart Move Program
To contact us Click HERE
As someone whose firm has helped over 100,000 customers with shipments less than 2000
lbs, moving from one state to another (interstate moving), I was shocked and surprised to see that one of the nation's leading Van Lines, Atlas, chose to embark on a unique Small Shipment
Program, aptly named, Smart Move.
I can't find anything smart about it.
As the first firm in the nation to actually interact with the Less than Truckload Freight Industry,
Box Brothers simply created a system that allows for small shipments to be transported across state lines, by utilizing the existing infrastructure of the United States Freight system.
At the time, everyone in the moving industry, simply felt that they had nothing in common with the freight industry, as plain and simple, the movers were specialists and the freight guys were just haulers. As is often the case, there has always been more synergy between these two industries than anyone in either industry has admitted.
After all, about 25 years ago, it was a railroad, Norfork Southern, who owned North American Van Lines, and who decided it was foolish to have drop frame trailers, as someone there theorized that if they had equipment and orders but not the right equipment to haul freight, even if they were going in the same direction, they could not capitalize on it, due to the fact that
drop frame trailers were not suitable for palletized freight shipments.
Conceptually, this was not a bad idea, but it never worked and North American Van Lines, never seemed to get up to speed hauling a lot of freight. It could be that the Moving and Storage Industry is sometimes, decentralized with agent drivers and agents, who did not want the freight and of course, there were those who argued that it would be penny wise and pound foolish
to have a van line driver miss a job to load 5000 lbs when the freight firm needed 400 lbs picked up and delivered in a few days--something that the household driver and industry was simply not prepared to work out--then.
So here comes Atlas with this idea to create these heavy duty plastic type containers, similar to what we call a lift van, but much sturdier, and I suspect, as a very high cost. Never mind the carbon footprint so often discussed today.
But then, Atlas did something new in its program, it announced that it would not use the Atlas
over the road fleet to help facilitate the movement of these units, instead, deciding to put the
whole program onto a freight platform, to most likely obtain the benefit of quicker delivery dates than the moving industry can deliver, due to its structure of utilizing owner operators for interstate service.
Of course, the problem here is the same problem with all of the other small shipment solutions
the van lines have come up with in the past, merely addressing the need to offer a small shipment alternative, but with nothing compelling to the customer or nothing that moves the service and price quotient any closer to giving the customer a good and valuable transparent service, which is just what the industry is lacking today.
How does one size fit all a good solution. If you have 200 pounds to move, it will cost over $10.00 a pound just to ship it through their system. How come they can't tell the customer that the coverage they claim to provide to the customer that is included with each shipment,
is bogus. I think you would need to have a spaceship land on your container for you to be able to make a claim, as the whole issue here as with all of these new alternatives, is that the customer, becomes self insured and two, he moves himself, but pays as much as he would for a
full service move and does not have insurance to cover any losses.
This is the crap we get from one of the nations largest van lines. No transparency, no value in pricing and they do not tell anyone that their coverage will not cover the customer for self loading or packed by owner boxes. If this is a do it yourself service, how come they can't just tell you the truth? Why do they need to lie. Do you go to the market and buy fruits and vegetables, do you have to pay for 5 lbs of carrots, if you only want to buy one lb?
How does this help the moving industry, to promote a non transparent and one size fits all service, when the entire industry is about being able to deliver good service for a fair price. In
this day and age of renewed called for more regulation, not less, do we get a service that only promises an 11 day transit, over the freight system.
Maybe someone should tell Atlas and their "Smart Moving" program that Fedex, for example,
will take LTL freight from my dock on Monday, 4/16/12, and have it delivered to someone's
new home by this Friday, in New York, on 4/20/12, with standard freight delivery.
I might be wrong, but when we created our Small Shipment Services Program at Box Brothers, over 20 years ago, we set out to create an environment that leveled the playing field for the
smaller loads and their customers: We gave them certain dates and specific times for our crews
to do the pick ups; we took professional inventories; we packaged their possessions like they were our own, utilizing more and better packaging (air cushioning, void fill, eps foam sheeting, ethafoam for very heavy and breakable items like stone, glass, and statues, piano's, etc, and we boxed everything in customized cartons that were made to fit the item, not the other way around, and finally, palletized the shipment so that the only way that the shipment was moved, was with a forklift or a pallet jack--so that no item would be moved individually.
We also worked to obtain a mutually beneficial insurance program with a third party insured,
who specifically covers all items which need to be declared and valued prior to the move. We offer different deductibles, replacement cost protection and in the event of a claim, 99% of them are closed within 30 days after a formal claim form is submitted by the claimant.
But the biggest factor in our continued success is that we have a top to bottom commitment to the customer and to rendering top quality service, no matter how small the job is. You turn your lemons into lemonade and and you do not mislead your customer, nor do you convince him or her that a one size solution is best for all.
Atlas is a fine van line, one of the best, but I think this program, including suggesting the use of stock boxes, not official moving boxes is also a mistake by Atlas here, as on the one hand, they tell people that dish packs should be used for packing dishes and glasses--the standard for many decades in the moving industry--and they encourage the use of a single wall carton if you do it
yourself. Why?
I just wish that sometimes, large firms do their due diligence correctly, as we seem to forget what we have learned over the years, that we need to be service oriented and we need to provide good solutions for our customers, not something that is only a partial and not a complete
solution for their current and future small shipment customers. At the same time, these efforts only ensure that firms like Box Brothers will continue to play a part in this segment of the industry.
lbs, moving from one state to another (interstate moving), I was shocked and surprised to see that one of the nation's leading Van Lines, Atlas, chose to embark on a unique Small Shipment
Program, aptly named, Smart Move.
I can't find anything smart about it.
As the first firm in the nation to actually interact with the Less than Truckload Freight Industry,
Box Brothers simply created a system that allows for small shipments to be transported across state lines, by utilizing the existing infrastructure of the United States Freight system.
At the time, everyone in the moving industry, simply felt that they had nothing in common with the freight industry, as plain and simple, the movers were specialists and the freight guys were just haulers. As is often the case, there has always been more synergy between these two industries than anyone in either industry has admitted.
After all, about 25 years ago, it was a railroad, Norfork Southern, who owned North American Van Lines, and who decided it was foolish to have drop frame trailers, as someone there theorized that if they had equipment and orders but not the right equipment to haul freight, even if they were going in the same direction, they could not capitalize on it, due to the fact that
drop frame trailers were not suitable for palletized freight shipments.
Conceptually, this was not a bad idea, but it never worked and North American Van Lines, never seemed to get up to speed hauling a lot of freight. It could be that the Moving and Storage Industry is sometimes, decentralized with agent drivers and agents, who did not want the freight and of course, there were those who argued that it would be penny wise and pound foolish
to have a van line driver miss a job to load 5000 lbs when the freight firm needed 400 lbs picked up and delivered in a few days--something that the household driver and industry was simply not prepared to work out--then.
So here comes Atlas with this idea to create these heavy duty plastic type containers, similar to what we call a lift van, but much sturdier, and I suspect, as a very high cost. Never mind the carbon footprint so often discussed today.
But then, Atlas did something new in its program, it announced that it would not use the Atlas
over the road fleet to help facilitate the movement of these units, instead, deciding to put the
whole program onto a freight platform, to most likely obtain the benefit of quicker delivery dates than the moving industry can deliver, due to its structure of utilizing owner operators for interstate service.
Of course, the problem here is the same problem with all of the other small shipment solutions
the van lines have come up with in the past, merely addressing the need to offer a small shipment alternative, but with nothing compelling to the customer or nothing that moves the service and price quotient any closer to giving the customer a good and valuable transparent service, which is just what the industry is lacking today.
How does one size fit all a good solution. If you have 200 pounds to move, it will cost over $10.00 a pound just to ship it through their system. How come they can't tell the customer that the coverage they claim to provide to the customer that is included with each shipment,
is bogus. I think you would need to have a spaceship land on your container for you to be able to make a claim, as the whole issue here as with all of these new alternatives, is that the customer, becomes self insured and two, he moves himself, but pays as much as he would for a
full service move and does not have insurance to cover any losses.
This is the crap we get from one of the nations largest van lines. No transparency, no value in pricing and they do not tell anyone that their coverage will not cover the customer for self loading or packed by owner boxes. If this is a do it yourself service, how come they can't just tell you the truth? Why do they need to lie. Do you go to the market and buy fruits and vegetables, do you have to pay for 5 lbs of carrots, if you only want to buy one lb?
How does this help the moving industry, to promote a non transparent and one size fits all service, when the entire industry is about being able to deliver good service for a fair price. In
this day and age of renewed called for more regulation, not less, do we get a service that only promises an 11 day transit, over the freight system.
Maybe someone should tell Atlas and their "Smart Moving" program that Fedex, for example,
will take LTL freight from my dock on Monday, 4/16/12, and have it delivered to someone's
new home by this Friday, in New York, on 4/20/12, with standard freight delivery.
I might be wrong, but when we created our Small Shipment Services Program at Box Brothers, over 20 years ago, we set out to create an environment that leveled the playing field for the
smaller loads and their customers: We gave them certain dates and specific times for our crews
to do the pick ups; we took professional inventories; we packaged their possessions like they were our own, utilizing more and better packaging (air cushioning, void fill, eps foam sheeting, ethafoam for very heavy and breakable items like stone, glass, and statues, piano's, etc, and we boxed everything in customized cartons that were made to fit the item, not the other way around, and finally, palletized the shipment so that the only way that the shipment was moved, was with a forklift or a pallet jack--so that no item would be moved individually.
We also worked to obtain a mutually beneficial insurance program with a third party insured,
who specifically covers all items which need to be declared and valued prior to the move. We offer different deductibles, replacement cost protection and in the event of a claim, 99% of them are closed within 30 days after a formal claim form is submitted by the claimant.
But the biggest factor in our continued success is that we have a top to bottom commitment to the customer and to rendering top quality service, no matter how small the job is. You turn your lemons into lemonade and and you do not mislead your customer, nor do you convince him or her that a one size solution is best for all.
Atlas is a fine van line, one of the best, but I think this program, including suggesting the use of stock boxes, not official moving boxes is also a mistake by Atlas here, as on the one hand, they tell people that dish packs should be used for packing dishes and glasses--the standard for many decades in the moving industry--and they encourage the use of a single wall carton if you do it
yourself. Why?
I just wish that sometimes, large firms do their due diligence correctly, as we seem to forget what we have learned over the years, that we need to be service oriented and we need to provide good solutions for our customers, not something that is only a partial and not a complete
solution for their current and future small shipment customers. At the same time, these efforts only ensure that firms like Box Brothers will continue to play a part in this segment of the industry.
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