A-Rod and Congress

Will all issues we have to deal with as a country, why does the US Congress need to ;hold hearings on this matter? Don't you think they have their hands full in dealing with a financial system that is imploding, two wars, out of control spending and an approval rating in the teens.

Let sports take care of themselves. People know that many baseball players were juiced up and most don't care. Here is a novel approach, take care of the issues that the American people elected you for and leave sports to the players and the fans. Don't waste anymore money on congressional hearings that take us nowhere!

Just in the Nick of Time

That is how I feel about leaving my job in Caldwell County. This entire week has been dominated by news that the Caldwell County Commissioners are going to vote February 16 to effectively destroy the Planning Dept. in the county and to severely limit the ability of the environmental health department to do their jobs.

These actions, if carried out will set progress back in Caldwell for many years. Who wants to build in a county that can't or won't enforce the rules on the books? I know I wouldn't. This is not a rational act and while it is within their authority, I hope something can happen to change their minds.

Even worse than this, is their efforts to roll-back wages of about 250 of the lowest and most under-paid workers in county government. These folks have been working for significantly less money than the average pay of workers in comparable jobs in other counties. This increase just brought them to a minimum and they are still near the bottom of the wage scale. These increases were long overdue and these actions seem punitive to me. There have been several options put forth to help avoid this action, but these have fallen on deaf ears. These include a general, across the board pay decrease to employees or other cuts in government services to help make up projected budget shortfalls. These have been largely ignored. It brings to mind a favorite quote that I have heard about the how frustrating it is to have a logical discussion with an illogical person.

Now is a time to work together, not to drive a wedge between good people, trying to do a good job. If these acts take place, I hope all county employees and their families remember "Who to Trust" in 2012, when these three come up for re-election. I am, afraid that by then, the damage will already be done.

Lessons in Advetising and Customer Service

I made a visit to pick up a new cell phone today. You would think this to be a simple and trivial process. Wrong! The first store had one person working and he was having a difficult time. We waited twenty + minutes for him to finish with the people in front of us and when it was our turn, here come bad mullet hair and wants to step in. If that wasn't bad enough, they didn't have the free phone the advertised and I was in no mood to wait on a rebate.

We thanked him and left. Went to a store in another town and were told that they didn't have free phones without a plan, maybe one of our employers had a deal that would help. After finally getting access to the proper program, we were in luck, there was a free phone and for just $40 more a month, we could add another line. Not the $9.99 the advertised but 4 times that amount. I only need the phone for emergencies and I refuse to be used that way. My wife thanked the lady and we left.

Maybe I don't understand how the game is played. I am a simple person and if I am told I can add a line and it will cost XXX, that is what I expect. The old bait and switch is alive and well. It goes from the cell phone industry to the finance industry to the auto industry and I guess people accept it. I thinks it stinks and the American public should say no.

Last Day in Caldwell County Service

I just got home from my last day working in Caldwell County. It has been a wonderful experience, I have met a lot of great people and made a lot of friends. I also don't think I left a day too soon. There are some really sweeping changes on the horizon and in my opinion, not for the better. I will be thinking of my former co-workers every day and my thoughts will be with them.

Thanks to everyone who came to the reception that was held for me. I was so happy that my mother was able to be there. She asked me afterwords what it had cost me to get all those nice things said. It was truly and humbling experience and I will carry those fond memories with me forever.

Now it is on to the future. I start my new job Monday and I hope that I can in some small way help the people in Stokes County to have better lives. I hope that I am leaving Caldwell a better place and that I end up being wrong about the changes that are just around the corner.

Hard Fouls and Fair Play

The end of the game between the Heels and the Woofies got ugly. There was no point to it and this type of thing should be stopped. This is twice this year that a Heel has been hacked at the end of a game by a team that is way behind. I don't mind playing hard. I myself played physically but to try and take a player down is uncalled for. The play against KY cost us Tyler Zeller and may cost us a Championship, when all is said and done. The play today just cost me my respect for McCauley (sp) and Lowe. Roy reacted as he should but everyone else seemed to think the woofies were the injured party.

If you don't want the Heels to try and score, hold the ball at the end of the game and run out the clock. If you want to play ball, play and take your medicine. The next time you "Hack a Heel", he may not take it so well.

I have tried to think of a single play when a Heel was called for a flagrant foul. There may be one and I am having selective memory loss but I can't recall any. Basketball should be a game of fluidity, not the hack and hold it has degenerated into. Go Heels, but don't go too hard, Henderthug is out there, just waiting to once again pounce and hack a heel

Where is the stimulus

I read a good article today on the current state of the economy. It was very concise and accurate about how we got to where we are, the cause and the effect. And finally how do we get out.

It ended by saying that a great deal depends on the POTUS and how he reacts during this very critical early part of this term. He must be decisive, positive and willing to make deals. If there is the slightest sense that he doesn't believe in what he is trying to do, we are in really deep s***.

I agree with this but also think that it is up to us to take responsibility for our actions and not expect to be bailed out. Even at 10% unemployment, 90% of us are working. Lets look for ways to help. We also need to be responsible and live within our means. We need to save, we need to teach our children to be responsible and once again we need to look for ways to help. I am not sure what my way will be. I already spend most of my waking hours trying to recruit new industry and help exiting companies survive. I will make a determination in the near term and share it here. I hope each of you will do the same. Lets pick up our friends and neighbors and show the rest of the world that Americans aren't the spoiled selfish lot they think we are!

Who's the guy on the right

A friend sent me this from a trip several years ago. This is Big John at the Anaheim Airport. I can't think about him, without thinking of my dad or the fact we named our son after one of his characters in a movie, "Big Jake". It is odd that he was so conservative and I am just the opposite and I love his movies so much.

It has been a long dry spell on the blog. For the four or five folks that read it, Sorry! I have been recuperating from surgery and have gone back to work. By the time I get home I am exhausted.

Since we have our new POTUS in the Whitehouse and the theme is change, I thought that change should be my theme as well. I have taken a new position as Economic Director in Stokes County, NC. Stokes is a county located between Forsyth County and the VA border. It has rugged beauty and a lot of potential. I have my work cut out for me but I love a challenge. Starting with ED 101 work, new web site, business directory and business visits. I hope I am up to it. The people seem really great and I can't wait to get started.

On the other hand, I will miss working with my board, my NCIC friends and the other folks from the area. I will still see them but not as often. We have had some good times, great successes but to move up, I must move on. If you aren't going forward, you are backing up. Wish me luck!