I was in Los Angeles for business yesterday and needed a car for the day, and I reserved a car online for about $50.00, including taxes and fees.
After dropping off the car, I took the shuttle back to LAX (Los Angeles International Airport), and looked at my receipt. Much to my surprise, there was a $13.99 charge for Fuel Service.
I was asked when at the counter if I wanted the “Fuel Option” where they charge you a full tank’s price regardless of how many miles you drove prior to taking possession of the car, but I declined, and said I would fill the tank, which I did at the gas station down the block from the return lot.
I called the 1-800 number on the back of the receipt and asked why I was charged $13.99. The semi-cordial customer service representative told me it was “a standard charge.” I asked why is it standard when I declined the fuel option and filled up the tank on own. She said it “just was,” without elaborating further. She then told me she would remove the $13.99 from my credit card bill “because I was unhappy with the charge.”
Please re-read the reason, “Because I was unhappy with the charge!” It was not because of an error, but because I complained. I am wondering just how many people actually check and complain and how many $13.99’s they have banked.
I am smelling a class-action lawsuit against Avis, unless I really missed something here.
China once is again showing why patents and copyrights are meaningless, and why companies who hold such intellectual property cannot trust the Chinese government. A Google look-alike site called Goojjle has launched in China, yes, China allows a fake Google.
Goojjle a Chinese Google Look Alike
Google has had a well-publicized spat with the Chinese government regarding its alleged hacking of gmail accounts, and threatened to leave the country. This bodes well for Baidu, the Chinese-run search engine, and the rip-off artists who take others’ ideas and copy them for their own profit, without risk of backlash from the lawless Chinese government.
A similar site in a country with enforceable laws would have been taken down almost immediately, with cease and desist letters sent within minutes of Google’s legal department becoming aware of the site.
It is pretty clear that China’s government is no friend of the United States legal system, and has no interest in enforcing laws within its borders so long as it can benefit monetarily. Our government seems to turn the blind eye when it comes to foreign relations with China, not wanting to upset them for fear of something, of which I am not certain.
While I am a huge proponent of using their limitless labor pool which helps us monetize the Chinese market from sales of McDonalds, Coke and eBay, any company that decides to use this labor to build a patented product should do so at their own risk.
Why are some really smart and intelligent people Democrats? It’s a really good question to ponder, and most of these Democrats cannot really tell you why, other than “because.”
I had lunch with a friend recently who is a registered Democrat, and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, arguably the finest public university in the United States. This person graduated with a degree in Economics, and a grade point average north of 3.5. If we add up the thousands of hours of studying in high school to keep an A-average that is required to gain admittance to Berkeley, unless you are a star athlete or an “under-represented” minority, and the additional thousands of hours to achieve the high class-standing, it is staggering. The level of sheer commitment and dedication is not only admirable it is commendable.
In review: UC Berkeley graduate who studied for thousands of hours over an eight-year period to find a great job, earn a healthy salary, drive a nice car and live in a clean, safe neighborhood is a Democrat. Q: Why? A: Because.
When asked if he felt that it would be correct to have some of his wealth re-distributed to level the playing field of life, there was a prolonged silence.
He asked for clarification, so I said, “I’m sure you know some people from high school that decided to hang out instead of study like you did, who made some dumb life choices and are now janitors, un(der)-employed or out on parole, right?”
He said, “Yeah, so, we all do…what’s the point?”
“Well, they made a choice to hang out on the corner, not study or skip going to class, while you were busting your ass to get in to Berkeley, right”
He said, “Yeah, so…the point?”
“Well, your president, the guy you voted for would like you to help them out, and not just with a hand, but a hand out…and not just once or twice, but basically forever,” I said.
“Essentially, what I am asking is this: Do you believe you should be rewarded for all your hard work, or should you be penalized for succeeding?”
“Rewarded, of course,” he said. “Why the hell should I be penalized for doing the right thing?” he asked.
My point exactly!
Why can’t more democrats and self-professed Obama lovers read between the lines and see reality? Tax investments, money that was already taxed the first time? Over tax and target the very people who start the companies that hire our citizens? This defies all logic!
Should I, he, you, or anyone who does the right thing have to support others until the day they die simply because they are too lazy to look for a job or study for a class? I am not speaking of down-on-their-luck, disabled, handicapped, mentally or physically challenged folks here, but rather those who made bad choices and make no effort to remedy the situation. Government assistance, unemployment benefits and food stamps all have a place in our society to help people and families get back on their feet, not to become a way of life.
In San Francisco, for example, the Community College, City College of San Francisco has campuses all over town which are accessible by bus. They hold day classes, night classes, weekend classes…classes during the summer, spring and fall, and even winter session. If you cannot afford the tuition there are waivers and grants; if you need child care that is also offered at no cost. Pretty sweet deal.
The People’s Republic of Berkeley
Berkeley is a unique place, where freedom of speech means that your speech better be in alignment with their opinions, or you will be shot down (figuratively), assaulted (physically) and censored. I can understand how peer pressure can turn influential 17 year-old freshmen into Kool-Aid drinking liberals, the same way a particular dictator spread goose-stepping throughout a region.
Yes, Berkeley is a place where wearing a “Proud to be a Republican” t-shirt may lead to a physical assault by those who believe in freedom of speech…Welcome to The People’s Republic of Berkeley.
This is not a political issue though it could (should) be, as it wastes a monumental amount of our time, and costs us money, lots of money. I am not speaking of government pensions, lazy DMV workers or pothole crews that stand around drinking coffee instead of filling potholes. No, I am talking about SPAM. Spam cost Americans roughly $42 Billion in 2009 in lost productivity.
It’s not the pork shoulder and ham concoction that comes is in a blue can from Hormel, is a favorite in the Hawaiian Islands and contains more salt than a lake in Utah. No, it’s the irritating emails we all get each and every day trying to sell us something, try something at no cost, or help us get rich, really quick.
A can of Hormel Spam
Spammers are not content trying to get me to buy surplus land in Arkansas or get a free sample of paper towels. Nope, now since I am officially a blogger, they now spam my Comments section each and every day trying valiantly to get a cherished link from The Logical Republican!
Today I log in to check my emails (fortunately all comments must be approved before they appear), and what do I see: 19 Comments Awaiting Approval. Nine of them are in Russian characters, which I cannot read, so they get deleted right away. Another five are listing where you can get Viagra and Cialis online without a prescription. Then here are the funny ones – they write a semi-appropriate comment that somewhat addresses the blog topic, but, when I look closely, they have embedded a link to some company’s website trying to get a stealth link. Tricky, those Spammers.
Comments are a very valuable part of any blog, as it gives the readers a voice in what I write, and allows me to see things from another angle. The Spam is irritating, and other than filters that often do not work, there isn’t much we or I can do about this other than grin and have another slice. I like my Spam with steamed rice, a sunny-side-up egg and a dash of soy sauce!
Volvo was the car that was safe, boring and something that your friend’s parents drove. That was when safe meant dull, boring and I hope nobody sees me in this car.
Then they started to get a bit sporty when they paid top-dollar to have their new Volvo C70 coupe featured in the Val Kilmer movie, The Saint. Sales weren’t great, as they were competing against the Nissan Z, the Toyota Supra and Mazda RX, but they did have the cool-factor.
Volvo C70 in The Saint with Val Kilmer
The SUV craze hit and Volvo was there once again – not as a market leader but a company with a presence and a company that still pushed their safety records. Volvo was moderately cool, less dull and just as safe as our parents’ Volvo.
Owned by Ford, Volvo has been a money-loser and Ford has been seeking a buyer, and since neither General Motors or Chrysler are in the market for another under-performing car line, it was clear that either an overseas buyer would have to step up, or the brand would cease to exist similar to Saturn’s demise earlier this year. Volvo’s price tag is in the $2 billion range.
I have no issue with Chinese-made goods, in fact I am sure I am wearing something made in China at this very moment, I have a computer monitor made in China, and use cookware made in China on most nights. I don’t place my family in any of these Chinese-made items and travel at 65 mph down the highway, that’s the difference.
Let’s be real here, China has no semblance of laws when it comes to copyright laws – they are the global leaders in counterfeit goods, they have little or no litigation, and they have very little quality control. I am not China-bashing here, just pointing out reality: Chinese goods are generally cheaper than other goods for a reason – cheap unchecked labor and no laws governing consumer protection.
I would buy a Korean-made car before I buy a Chinese-made car, and I won’t buy a Korean car. Socks, televisions, staplers, telephones, basic electronics, fine. A Volvo from China? Sorry, Charlie.
‘Tis the season to be jolly, the song goes, so we often reach a bit deeper into our pockets and drop some coins or bills into the Salvation Army red bucket outside the post office, or other worthy causes this time of year. Some of us also may slip an extra buck or two to the waiter or waitress for great service or going out of their way for us. It’s the Christmas Spirit.
This brings up the question of when to tip, how much should we tip, and who deserves a tip. I was in New York City this past week on business, and while not as bad as Chicago service workers for always having their hand out, service people in Manhattan seem to expect something for doing very little.
Cab drivers help you calculate the tip when the ride is over with a screen that shows how much 15%, 20% and 25% would amount to, on top of the fare. Dinner for four at the Roxy Deli on Broadway and 47th totaled $95.00, and the restaurant was considerate enough to add 18% on the bill as a tip regardless of how shoddy the service was. I had no choice in the matter.
The Roxy Delicatessen on Broadway in New York
Saturday morning when I was checking out of my hotel, a nice boutique hotel right off 49th and Broadway in the Theater District called The Time, the doorman who I had seen for the last few days opened the door for me and asked if I needed a cab. This doorman, other than greeting me when I walked in and out, really didn’t serve a purpose other than offering a presence at the front door, but I knew he expected a tip and I ran out of small bills. I immediately apologized, telling him, “hey, I’m really sorry…I ran out of cash…” He smiled and said it wasn’t a problem.
The Time Hotel Doorman Shakes Down The New York Taxi Driver
As we walked out into the morning cold I looked down the block at a line of taxis that were waiting for people like me who were headed to the airport, as he tried to sell me on the Lincoln Towne Car for $65.00. I told him that due to a previous experience, I prefer a yellow cab – a real taxi, and he proceeded to flag down one for me.
As the car pulled up and I put my bags into the trunk and settled into the back seat, the previously friendly doorman began shaking down the cab driver. It went something like this:
Doorman: Hey, you gonna take care of me?
Cabby: Huh, what do you mean?
Doorman: You know what I mean, you gotta take care of me if you sit in front of my hotel. That’s how it works.
Cabby: That’s not right…
Doorman: C’mon…(as he rubs his fingers together)
Cabby: (handing over a couple of dollars and quickly pulling away) That’s wrong…
I wound up covering the few dollars the doorman extorted from the cab driver, and I am not sure if he did this to cover for the $2 he didn’t get from me, or if he does this to every taxi driver, but it doesn’t leave a very good taste in the mouth of the hotel guest as he or she heads back home. I would stay at the hotel again, I just won’t trust the hotel’s staff.
Whenever there is a loss of jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector, the cries begin from union leaders and pro-union politicians that we need to protect “our” jobs. What they really mean is we Americans need to keep the status-quo, not deal with the progress of technology, the global economy, and reality.
Cars are made by robots and machines with an assist from humans, automated attendants help callers navigate through phone systems at companies large and small, but there are still jobs here at home – just maybe not the same job your grandfather held decades ago. It is called progress.
Because of the perceived loss of jobs, the word “import” has negative connotations in some areas, but we have to realize it is a balance and that American-made exports are nothing to sneeze at.
Exporting American Intellectual Property
Hollywood movies are played around the world to audiences in hundreds of countries, and Justin Timberlake doesn’t just sell CDs and iTunes downloads in Ohio. Yes, many software development and tennis shoe manufacturing jobs are now in Sri Lanka and Vietnam, but Boeing still builds jets in Washington, not in Bulgaria. In fact, Boeing’s revenue in 2008 included $23.8 billion from outside the United States.
Workers become more specialized as technology advances, and this is the reason why horses are no longer used to plow fields, and why toll takers on bridges are being replaced with electronic devices such as FasTrak which sticks to your windshield and is read by a scanning device.
One sector shrinks and another expands – always has and always will.
In a perfect world there would be no discrimination in society, the work environment, within companies, or in the actual hiring process. We have laws in place to protect such instances from occurring, as federal law prohibits any form of discrimination against workers for race, color, religion or disability – but do they really protect?
A number of years ago I recall interviewing a candidate for a management position at our San Francisco Financial District location. His resume warranted a call and a phone interview, which he passed.
Accepting the invitation for an in-person interview, he arrived in a wheelchair. It wasn’t the type of wheelchair one uses when you’ve broken or lost a leg; it was an all-in-one motorized job and the man sitting in the seat was rather tiny and truly handicapped, likely from various birth defects. He was legally protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, at least in a perfect world.
This put me in an awkward position knowing that the job consisted of not only navigating around an office and showroom floor, it also included demonstrating computer hardware and some lifting. I had to be very careful in what I said and how it was said, and to be honest, from a technical standpoint, he was qualified for the job. The company, which no longer exists, failed to fully detail the job requirements to include lifting and moving boxes containing computers and related products and taking physical inventory of these products.
This gets to the study that some MIT economists conducted that show the employment numbers for disabled Americans is declining because, in part, companies appear to be wary of potential lawsuits. How much does a company need to alter its workspace and environment for a person with a disability? What if that person cannot complete all the tasks? Does the company release the individual and risk a lawsuit, or simply live with the mistake and hope he or she finds another job?
In my case I was fortunate to have a large pool of qualified applicants from which to choose. Unfortunately, this brings up a huge issue – does a company do the right thing and hire the best qualified individual regardless of physical attributes, or do they play it safe?
Companies I’ve worked for have been victims of frivolous lawsuits from a woman who was fired because she was consistently late to work and got into regular shouting matches with her soon-to-be ex-husband over the phone on company time in the office. She sued for sexual harassment. Her lawyer eventually dropped her due to lack of any evidence.
Another suit was filed by a salesman who was habitually late due to a self-diagnosed sleeping disorder. He sued claiming racial discrimination. He was Chinese-American and the company was Taiwanese-owned, so that didn’t work out too well for him.
A Human Resource professional, who is also a friend, told me the way to weed out potential headaches is done in the resume review process. They look for anything that may go against the culture of their company: the mention of any religious, ethnic or racial fraternities or clubs in school are a red flag, as are listed political or environmental affiliations. Some companies, from what I understand, also go so far as to eliminate “older” people from consideration because they may not fit the company’s youthful culture, may be unwilling or unable to work long hours, or put a burden on the healthcare plan. Too many lines on a resume and dates on college degrees are dead giveaways in getting a rough estimate as to an applicant’s age, as youth equals less expensive in many cases.
I had a discussion recently with my Aunt Vera, a wonderful lady in her 80’s who still lives in the house she and my father grew up in San Francisco. She, like many of her era were raised to believe that unions and union jobs were the way to achieve middle-class lifestyles, and that companies owed lifetime employment to their workers.
As my kids were running around and making more noise in the house than she is used to, she mentioned to me between sips of tea just how horrible it is that all the jobs are being outsourced to India and Mexico, and that there are no good jobs left for hard working Americans.
I asked her what she meant, and she went on to say that all the factory jobs and the jobs that made the Bay Area and our country strong were being sent to places where labor was so cheap. I knew where she was going but I wanted to hear it from her, since if I were in her shoes I’d likely feel the same way. My goodness, MADE IN THE U.S.A. used to mean something is what she was trying to say.
Levi’s 501 Jeans Are Made in Haiti
My dad used to drive cool Thunderbirds and even had a 1965 Firebird. I had an RCA TV in the house growing up, and my Levi’s 501 jeans were made in America, now they are made in Haiti. American cars were cool, pre-Pinto, Vega and Pacer, then the 1970’s happened when Detroit got lazy and Toyota and Datsun took their lunch money.
Levis 501 Jeans Made in Haiti
I started talking a bit about progress, and how technology moves things along for the betterment of not only our society, but also the global economy by allowing workers in countries that do manufacturing to earn good livings so they can buy our Nike sneakers, watch Disney movies and have a Coke with a smile.
Then I asked her how, when she was a kid, she made a phone call. “Didn’t you pick up the ear piece and crank the handle on the side of the box to alert the operator who then asked for the number?” She nodded and I jokingly said, “But those poor operators – they’re all out of work!” She chuckled.
Then I commented on her new TV in the living room, a nice model that was about 32”. I then mentioned the number of TV’s manufactured in the United States was right around zero, and hers’ was likely made in China. (Vizio, a company headquartered in Irvine, California, led by Taiwan-born William (not his given name) Wang, claims to be America’s #1 LCD HDTV Company. Their televisions are made in China.)
She winced.
Then I quickly jumped in and said, “Just think, 20 years ago a 19” Sony TV cost about $500, and today you are getting a 32” TV for the same price that gives you a better picture.”
I would love to buy American-made products, but I am not willing to support the unions that seemingly ruin a good thing whenever they can, in the “best interests” of their rank and file. In other words, I am not willing to pay a large premium to buy goods made in this country, when I know the Sony TV made across the Pacific Ocean is of better quality and price than any comparable set that could be made here.
This past week, there have been several large companies announcing layoffs because of drooping stock prices, lower than expected sales, or simple job overlap. That’s business in the real world, where if the company needs to meet the bottom line or appease shareholders, the appropriate cuts are made. Companies do what is best for the company – end of discussion.
When a city government lays off workers, union workers, all hell breaks loose. Let’s see, cities are broke and many in deficit mode due to over-bloated benefits and pension packages, they support illegal immigrants’ health care and social services all while crimes go unsolved and potholes unfilled, and there is griping over layoffs?
Yes, Mr. Shareholder, we donated $7 million to the Guatemalan orphan relief fund and upped our warehouse manager’s benefit package to include his grandparents in Burma, and lost $27 million last quarter, and no, we cannot lay anyone off because that would be unfair. Can you imagine?!
Sprint, Electronic Arts and Microsoft Cut Jobs
Sprint lays off 2000 workers and Electronic Arts cuts 1500 from their force, and since there is no union involved, Nancy Pelosi is not butting in asking for better severance or government assistance. Heck, even Microsoft eliminated 800 jobs, but that didn’t even ring a bell or get a mention in the paper or evening news. These are technology jobs, the theory goes, so these people will just go to another tech company or start a company, right?
Actually, that is right. That is correct because that is the way technology jobs go…one company goes up another slips and so goes the workforce. It’s not the end of the world when Oracle buys PeopleSoft or Siebel System and lays off 10,000 because they bounce back or decide to start a company themselves.
But heaven forbid, the City of San Francisco decides to lay off 500 workers to help close a $438 million budget deficit and the world stops. Yes, you read correctly, San Francisco has a $438 million budget deficit! How is that even possible? They tax the hell out of businesses, San Franciscans pay the highest sales tax rates in the country, then there are hotel, airport, gas, payroll, parking and other assorted taxes, and they are still $538.00 short per resident.
Apparently Union Workers Lack Drive and Ambition
Apparently city and union workers are helpless, lack drive and ambition, and have no visible levels of talent, and a layoff will cause them to wilt away and die. Good for Gavin Newsom for not protecting these coddled workers from the chopping block as the some members on the Board of Supervisors wanted.
Losing a job sucks, we all know that, but (bleep) happens, and you deal with it. The trans-gendered union boss, Robert Haaland of the Local 1021, stated¸”This is about fairness and equity,” since most of the affected workers are women and minorities. OK, so make it more fair and equitable – lay off more workers and make them straight, male and majority.
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Google look alike site Goojjle launches in China
Monday, February 8th, 2010China once is again showing why patents and copyrights are meaningless, and why companies who hold such intellectual property cannot trust the Chinese government. A Google look-alike site called Goojjle has launched in China, yes, China allows a fake Google.
Goojjle a Chinese Google Look Alike
Google has had a well-publicized spat with the Chinese government regarding its alleged hacking of gmail accounts, and threatened to leave the country. This bodes well for Baidu, the Chinese-run search engine, and the rip-off artists who take others’ ideas and copy them for their own profit, without risk of backlash from the lawless Chinese government.
A similar site in a country with enforceable laws would have been taken down almost immediately, with cease and desist letters sent within minutes of Google’s legal department becoming aware of the site.
It is pretty clear that China’s government is no friend of the United States legal system, and has no interest in enforcing laws within its borders so long as it can benefit monetarily. Our government seems to turn the blind eye when it comes to foreign relations with China, not wanting to upset them for fear of something, of which I am not certain.
While I am a huge proponent of using their limitless labor pool which helps us monetize the Chinese market from sales of McDonalds, Coke and eBay, any company that decides to use this labor to build a patented product should do so at their own risk.
Tags: baidu, china, copyright laws, fake google, google, goojjle, patents
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