The Former VP Responds

The following is an update to the post, The Truth Can Be Inconvenient:

The former VP responds:

...A spokeswoman for Gore said the former vice president invests in enough renewable energy to make up for the home's power consumption. The spokeswoman said Gore purchases enough "green power" — renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and methane gas — to balance 100 percent of his electricity costs.

"Sometimes when people don't like the message, in this case that global warming is real, it's convenient to attack the messenger," Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said. ...

Gore has said he leads a "carbon-neutral lifestyle." To balance out other carbon emissions, the Gores invest money in projects to reduce energy consumption around the globe, Kreider said.

"For every ton of carbon they emit, he offsets that by doing investments in renewable energy sources," Kreider said. ...

Johnson said Gore's home has gas lamps lining the driveway, a heated pool and an electric gate, all of which would be easy to do without.

Kreider confirmed that Gore's home has a heated pool and an electric gate, but noted that the gate is important for security and that the driveway has only one gas lamp.

Focusing on Gore's personal electricity consumption misses the point of "An Inconvenient Truth," Kreider said, which is that governments and the public can work together to reduce emissions.

Hmmmm, government and public. Gore is no longer government, so that would put him in the public category. But he must not see himself as such, since he doesn't seem to be "working together." I look at it this way: is it really okay to burn more fossil fuel as long as you spend more on renewable energy? Why not burn less fossil fuel and still spend more on renewable energy? A little too inconvenient, maybe?

Joe

Senator John McCain to Formally Announce Tonight - See It Now

Tonight on The Late Show With David Letterman (11:35 to 12:37 ET), Senator John McCain will formally announce his candidacy for President of the United States in 2008.

Be one of the first to see this announcement.

Joe

THR3E on DVD - April 24

The movie adaptation of Ted Dekker's best seller, THR3E, will be released on DVD on April 24.

Preorder Today!

Watch the movie trailer.

Joe

Skin: It's Just A Book - Episode 3

Coming from Ted Dekker, April 2007: Skin.



Joe

Skin: It's Just A Book - Episode 2

Coming from Ted Dekker, April 2007: Skin.


Joe

The Truth Can Be Inconvenient

"An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's global-warming horror flick, picked up an Oscar the other night for Best Documentary. Yesterday the Tennessee Center for Policy Research issued an inconvenient report on Gore's own personal "carbon footprint." The center obtained utility records from Gore's mansion "located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville": The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh--more than 20 times the national average. Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh--guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore's average monthly electric bill topped $1,359.

Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore's energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006. Gore's extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore's mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.

Not every wealthy politician lives in a vast private mansion, and TreeHugger.com reports on one who lives more simply: Is it possible that George Bush is a secret Green? Evidently his Crawford Winter White House has 25,000 gallons of rainwater storage, gray water collection from sinks and showers for irrigation, passive solar, geothermal heating and cooling. "By marketplace standards, the house is startlingly small," says David Heymann, the architect of the 4,000-square-foot home.

"Clients of similar ilk are building 16-to-20,000-square-foot houses." Furthermore for thermal mass the walls are clad in "discards of a local stone called Leuders limestone, which is quarried in the area. The 12-to-18-inch-thick stone has a mix of colors on the top and bottom, with a cream-colored center that most people want. "They cut the top and bottom of it off because nobody really wants it," Heymann says. "So we bought all this throwaway stone. It's fabulous. It's got great color and it is relatively inexpensive."

Bum Rush the Charts

Bum Rush the Charts

Podcasting gets little respect from traditional media. To them we're little more than a joke, than amateurs. What they don't understand is that podcasting is more than just a delivery mechanism - it's a social movement. People are growing sick of the watered-down, cookie-cutter content that networks and record companies expect us to enjoy. We want and deserve more. Big corporate media derives its power by having the resources to mass market their product in a unified effort, which is why they think they're better than us. On March 22, 2007, we're going to give you a chance to change that.

A bunch of us podcasters started thinking, we can do better. We can match and exceed the reach of big media, corporate media, labels, and the entrenched interests. That's why, on March 22nd, the podcasting community is going to take an indie podsafe music artist to number one on the iTunes singles charts as a demonstration of our reach to Main Street and our purchasing power to Wall Street. The track we've chosen is "Mine Again" by the band Black Lab. A band, mind you, that was not just dropped from not just one, but two major record labels (Geffen and Sony/Epic) and in the process forced them to fight to get their own music back. We picked them because making them number one, even for just one day, will remind the RIAA record labels of what they turned their backs on - and who they ignore at their peril.

What's more, we're going to take it a step beyond that. We've signed up as an affiliate of the iTunes Music Store, and every commission made on the sale of "Mine Again" will be donated to college scholarships, partly because it's a worthy cause, but also partly because college students are among the most misunderstood and underestimated groups of people by big media.

If you believe in the power of new media, on March 22nd, 2007, take 99 cents and 2 minutes of your time to join the revolution and make iTunes "Mine Again". If you're a content producer (blogger, podcaster, etc.), we're asking you to join up with us and help spread the word to your listeners. Nothing would prove the power of new media more than showing corporate media that not only can we exceed their reach and match their purchasing power, but that we can also do it AND make a positive difference in the world. If we can succeed with this small example, then there's no telling what can do next.

For more details, come visit bumrushthecharts.com (bum rush the charts dot com) or send an e-mail to bumrushthecharts@gmail.com if you want to help out. It doesn't matter where you are or who you podcast with, we'd love to have you on board.

Bum Rush the Charts

Bum Rush the Charts

Podcasting gets little respect from traditional media. To them we're little more than a joke, than amateurs. What they don't understand is that podcasting is more than just a delivery mechanism - it's a social movement. People are growing sick of the watered-down, cookie-cutter content that networks and record companies expect us to enjoy. We want and deserve more. Big corporate media derives its power by having the resources to mass market their product in a unified effort, which is why they think they're better than us. On March 22, 2007, we're going to give you a chance to change that.

A bunch of us podcasters started thinking, we can do better. We can match and exceed the reach of big media, corporate media, labels, and the entrenched interests. That's why, on March 22nd, the podcasting community is going to take an indie podsafe music artist to number one on the iTunes singles charts as a demonstration of our reach to Main Street and our purchasing power to Wall Street. The track we've chosen is "Mine Again" by the band Black Lab. A band, mind you, that was not just dropped from not just one, but two major record labels (Geffen and Sony/Epic) and in the process forced them to fight to get their own music back. We picked them because making them number one, even for just one day, will remind the RIAA record labels of what they turned their backs on - and who they ignore at their peril.

What's more, we're going to take it a step beyond that. We've signed up as an affiliate of the iTunes Music Store, and every commission made on the sale of "Mine Again" will be donated to college scholarships, partly because it's a worthy cause, but also partly because college students are among the most misunderstood and underestimated groups of people by big media.

If you believe in the power of new media, on March 22nd, 2007, take 99 cents and 2 minutes of your time to join the revolution and make iTunes "Mine Again". If you're a content producer (blogger, podcaster, etc.), we're asking you to join up with us and help spread the word to your listeners. Nothing would prove the power of new media more than showing corporate media that not only can we exceed their reach and match their purchasing power, but that we can also do it AND make a positive difference in the world. If we can succeed with this small example, then there's no telling what can do next.

For more details, come visit bumrushthecharts.com (bum rush the charts dot com) or send an e-mail to bumrushthecharts@gmail.com if you want to help out. It doesn't matter where you are or who you podcast with, we'd love to have you on board.

Skin: It's Just A Book - Episode 1

Coming from Ted Dekker, April 2007: Skin.



Joe

The Turnip's Still Bleeding

I heard a confidential report recently that my company will be making some further cost-cutting measures, in addition to what I've already mentioned. First, the took away several of out benefits and put us on a plan that forces us to draw from a fund. It increased the out-of-pocket expenses of many employees. Then they took the logos off the work shirts for new Associates and cut my hours back so far that I don't have enough hours for all of my employees.

Well, I guess their next step is to fix that problem, by cutting employees. I have been given a maximum number of full time and part time employees I'm allowed to have. More specifically, there is a cap on the number of full time employees I can have, and a suggested number of part time employees. I can have more or less part timers, but I can't use more hours than what they allot me.

This cap on full time employees is -- are you ready for this? Four. That might not sound bad, but that's four, including me and two Assistant Managers! Which means I can have only one actual full time employee. These discussions will be rolling out soon, and I'm the one who has to deliver them to the employees. I've done this before with a past employer, and it never goes well.

I have to choose one employee to keep on as full time, then RIF (reduction in force) the others or offer them a part time position -- with no medical benefits, or vacation, or personal time, or sick time. Now are you seeing where the money is saved?

All of these crazy cost-cutting measures, and they have recently given away almost $100,000 to employees in a new lottery program designed to improve knowledge and awareness. I think most employees would rather have their benefits. What do you think?

Joe

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20070224.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "America has the best health care system in the world, because it puts doctors and patients in charge, encourages new technologies, and finds new ways to improve quality. By giving our states more flexibility and making our tax code fairer, we can reform our health care system and restrain costs. And by implementing these reforms now, we can help ensure every American has a future with better choices, better care, and greater hope for a healthy tomorrow."

Average Joe Radio Episode 12

The newest episode of Average Joe Radio is finally on the web and ready for download.

I've got a great new source for tunes in this episode.

Call the feedback line: 206-600-4JOE.




Enjoy!

Joe

SUBSCRIBE

Considering LASIK

I've been seriously considering LASIK surgery. I have worn glasses for as long as I can remember. I tried contacts a few years back, and they were okay, but it was difficult to get a pair of contacts that would fit properly in my eyes, so they constantly dried my eyes out. I would love to be able to see clearly without fumbling for my glasses when I wake up in the middle of the night.

My wife has helped by doing a little research for me. She found this video. What do you think? Should I do it?



Joe

Episode 15 Coming on Saturday

Sorry for the delay, but Episode 15 of Average Joe Radio is almost ready and will be available Saturday evening.

Joe

OfficeDepot Not Taking Care of Customers

We recently made a new technology purchase at OfficeDepot.com. What we purchased and what we paid for it are irrelevant facts in this story. Following are the relevant ones.

We had two options to receive our purchase: next business day delivery or in-store pick-up. We chose in-store pick-up, and made a trip to OfficeDepot today. When we arrived I went to the register and waited for an Associate who was on the phone with his back to me. When he finally hung up and turned around, he asked if he could help me. "I'm here to pick up an online purchase," I said, presenting the online receipt I printed out from home. Looking at it as if he had never seen one before, he first looked in the area where I assume they hold online purchases for pick-up, then called for a Manager over the Fisher-Price headsets they all wear now. We waited several minutes, looking at other merchandise while he fumbled around the store looking for our product. This would not have bothered me half as much if I had not called the night before while placing the order and been assured that our purchase would be set aside for us. When he finally brought our merchandise to the counter, the Associate didn't seem to know how to finalize the transaction without the help of the Manager on Duty -- who just happened to be the same Manager I had spoken to the night before when asking about the online order process. Together, they stumbled through the transaction and presented us with our purchase. Nothing stellar, but not terrible, either. Then I asked for a copy of the rebate receipt that was advertised online. The Associate looked at me like I had asked him to translate our receipt into Swahili. "You should have printed that online," he said. That was my first clue that things were going to get worse. Why? Because this "Customer Service" Associate was beginning to suggest that I do his job for him and find the rebate myself online. When I repeated my request for the rebate form (which I had downloaded onto the computer at home the night before), he said he would try to print it for me. What felt like several weeks later, he returned to tell me that there was no rebate. "That's not what it said on your website," I corrected -- not letting on that I had already downloaded the form at home -- "and it's not what it says on the price tag on your shelf." He led me to the computer where he had searched for the rebate form to show me that I was mistaken. I searched through the rebates and saw that, indeed, the rebate form I had downloaded at home the night before was no longer available. "It was there last night," I said. "I downloaded it." "If you downloaded it, then all you need to do is print it out and send it in." I had started to doubt myself briefly, and didn't want to leave the store without the rebate form on the off chance that I had misread what I downloaded. Instead, I walked to the display shelf, removed the price tag, and returned to the Associate with it. "It shows the rebate right here," I said. He explained that the rebate was valid for in-store purchases only, not online purchases, then took the price tag from my hand and said, "I'll put this back," walking away to do just that. When he returned he said I would have to talk to the Manager after he got off the phone. I said, "Bottom line is, we're not leaving here without the rebate form or a refund. But I'll wait to tell your Manager that." Before walking away, the Associate explained that he and the Manager were the only ones working, though there were two other Associates in plain view. While I waited for the Manager to finish his phone call, I made one of my own to 1-800-GO-DEPOT. It proved to be a waste of time, as one person attempted to transfer me to another and cut me off in the process. In a later attempt to call again, I was informed that to make a complaint I would have to call the corporate headquarters long distance in Del Ray, Florida, but I would have to call tomorrow because there is no one available after 5:00 pm. When the Manager finished with his phone call, he disappeared into an office out of sight while we continued waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Until finally one of the Associates who was apparently invisible to everyone else asked me if I had been helped. I explained that I was waiting for the Manager, "but he may have forgotten because he went into the office." I asked, "Could you remind him that we're waiting?" Again with the Fisher-Price headsets. When the Manager finally emerged from the office, he walked the opposite direction, stood behind a display, and had a Fisher-Price conversation with the Associate that had reminded him we were waiting -- which proved that she wasn't actually invisible after all. After being reminded again that we were still waiting, the Manager finally made his way over to us. I told him there was some confusion with a rebate for an online purchase, and he repeated what the Associate had said, "That rebate applies to in-store purchases only, not online purchases." "It didn't say that online. I saw the rebate form there," I told him. "It would be on you to print it out then," he answered, again suggesting that I do the job he was being paid to do. "You mean if we came here to purchase instead of online, we'd get the rebate?" He nodded. "Can't you return it and resell it then?" He huffed over to the register and said, "I'll need your paperwork." Thirty seconds later, with a rude "Here you go" dismissal, the rebate form was in my hands and the Manager was walking away. After so much fuss and stink and making us wait and ignoring us and being rude to us, it took exactly thirty seconds to resolve our issue. I will be calling the corporate office tomorrow to complain, and the Store Manager (it was an Assistant Manager I dealt with) and the District Manager, as well, to waste their time with my story. I won't soon be making another purchase of any kind at OfficeDepot, and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone, either. By the way, when we got home and I looked at the rebate form I had downloaded, I was right -- it said absolutely nothing about distinguishing in-store purchases from online.

Joe

Presidents Day

On this Presidents Day, don't forget that three great Presidents were born in the month of February:

George Washington: our first President and father of our country, without whom we would likely have become a British protectorate.

Abraham Lincoln: defender of the nation, victor of the Civil War, and the Great Emancipator.

Ronald Reagan: champion of returning patriotism to America, architect of the end of the Cold War, and the Great Communicator.

This is more than just a bank holiday. It's a day to remember great men of the past and hope for great men in the future.

Joe

Sick of Snow!

I know there was much more snowfall in New York than here in Indiana, but I'm sick of it, anyway. It was fun long enough to take my son sledding, but now it can't possibly melt fast enough for me to be happy.



Joe

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20070217.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "Reforming health care is a bipartisan priority. ... From my conversations with Democrats and Republicans, it is clear both parties recognize that strengthening health care for all Americans is one of our most important responsibilities. I am confident that if we put politics aside, we can find practical ways to improve our private health care system, and help millions of Americans enjoy better care, new choices, and healthier lives."

Joe

Coming Soon to Average Joe Radio.....

has teamed up with



to bring you

A whole new world of music!

Average Joe Radio now has access to the full libraries of two
of the world's largest independent music sources.



Coupled with the proven ability to be granted legal use rights
to content from other artists who don't usually make
their music availabile to the podcasting community:

Scot Longyear, Go Fish, expanded offerings from Steadman.

With the exclusive commentary from Average Joe American
that you've grown to love (or hate).

Tune in to the next episode of Average Joe Radio, and see what you've been missing.

All music, commentary, and download hosting provided by:

SUBSCRIBE

Coming Soon.....

has teamed up with



to bring you

A whole new world of music!

Average Joe Radio now has access to the full libraries of two
of the world's largest independent music sources.



Coupled with the proven ability to be granted legal use rights
to content from other artists who don't usually make
their music availabile to the podcasting community:

Scot Longyear, Go Fish, expanded offerings from Steadman.

With the exclusive commentary from Average Joe American
that you've grown to love (or hate).

Tune in to the next episode of Average Joe Radio, and see what you've been missing.

All music, commentary, and download hosting provided by:

SUBSCRIBE

Family Sacrifices

I was talking with someone at work today about how little time I actually have at home with my family in the evenings. I get home most nights shortly after 7:00 pm. My wife will usually have dinner ready when I get there. We'll sit down as a family for 30 to 45 minutes over dinner. Every other night is bath night for the kids, which comes right after dinner time. Probably 15 minutes for my daughter, and 30 (if I'm lucky) for my son, which puts us very close to their bed time. If I'm lucky enough to squeeze in a half hour of play time with my son, then it's a good night.

As I was having this conversation earlier -- in which I didn't go into nearly as much detail -- it dawned on me that my family -- my wife and kids -- sacrifice quite a bit for the sake of my job. I doubt that I've actually shown them the kind of appreciation they deserve.

Joe

Total Lack of Communication

I ranted recently about some changes within my company that put my store under the oversight of a new District Manager. It has been almost two full weeks now, and I've learned one thing: communication is not his strong point. In fact, there seems to be a near total lack of communication on his part so far. My former District Manager used to send out several emails each day. Some would complain that he emailed too much, but at least he kept us informed.

I haven't received so much as an average of one email a day from my new District Manager. I mean, not even the most basic communication from him. No response from him when I contacted him yesterday. I emailed him this morning about inclement weather compensation for the time that the store had to close, and I've still received no response. In fact, when my Assistant Manager tried to contact him on Tuesday during the storm about closing the store, he repeatedly had someone else return the phone calls and make the closing decision for him.

I just spoke with another Store Manager in my market, and he expressed the same concerns and dissatisfaction that I have. It's like culture shock to go from one extreme to the other. What I wouldn't give to have things back as they were. Change is not always a good thing.

Joe

Snowed (& Iced) In

So for all the ranting I did yesterday about employees whining about the snow, here I am today stranded at home. We had several hours of freezing rain (sleet, really) yesterday, followed by snow throughout the night. There is literally two inches of ice in my yard buried under several inches of snow.

I got up this morning at 4:00 am to assess the situation and the likelihood of making the 85 mile trip to work. The local State Police posts (near home and where I work) both advised me against driving. One cautioned that two major state highways (one on my normal route to work and one on my alternate route) could be clear in spots and have snow drifts of two feet in other spots.

After calling and waking one of my Assistant Managers before 4:30 am to see if he was going to be able to get to work, I hit the icy streets.

I drove for 45 minutes -- which is usually almost half my travel time -- and still hadn't made it out of town. 30 miles per hour was the fastest I dared to drive, and even that was pushing my luck. When I started to slide on a major US highway, I decided that it would be both futile and foolish to continue on. Rather than make what would have been a four-hour trip if successful, and a nasty wreck if not, I returned home.

After a quick voicemail and email to my District Manager to report my stranded status, and a couple of quick calls with my Assistants about the status of the store, I've spent a rather pleasant Valentines Day at home with my family.

Joe

Average Joe Radio: Episode Eleven

The newest episode of Average Joe Radio is on the web and ready for download.

It's a very short new music episode, with a great new song from Kevin Reeves (with Ian Baird). Let me know what you think.

Call the feedback line: 206-600-4JOE.



Enjoy!

Joe

SUBSCRIBE

Winter Weather Whining

I'm home today from a meeting that was canceled due to the weather. We got about half an inch of snow over night, but freezing rain has been falling all day long. My car is literally covered in a sheet of ice.

My store, which is two hours away, is open for business. If I'm to believe the reports of my Assistant Manager that is there running things for me today, it's probably the only store in town that's still open for business. Reports are that there are already several inches of snow on the ground, with several more on the way. It's just been reported to me that a snow emergency has been declared, that the roads have been closed, and that anyone who attempts to travel will be stopped and ticketed for violating the snow emergency. The area (where my store is) is under a Blizzard Warning until midnight tonight, while the area where I live is under a Winter Weather Warning.

So I'm stranded at home with my family on what is now my day off (I'll have to try to make it into work some time tomorrow if the roads are passable), while I have two Assistant Managers who are more concerned with closing the store and going home than trying to get some work accomplished and doing a little business. They don't seem to understand that the safest place to be if things are as bad as they tell me is right where they are, indoors, off the streets. They would rather take their chances out on the streets in whatever traffic there might be trying to get home.

I can understand their desire to be home. I would prefer to be home with my family. But if I was stuck there at my store, two hours away from home, I would make the best of it and see what I could get done rather than putting all of my energy into whining about the situation.

* * * UPDATE ***

I just received an update from my store that the powers that be in the company have officially closed the store for the rest of the day due to weather conditions. I guess they can all go home and whine to their own families now.

Joe

Kevin Reeves' New Song Out Soon

You've heard him on Average Joe Radio. Now see him perform live at a benefit for the Nashville Artist Association.

Kevin Reeves ROCKS! He has a great new song out that I'll hopefully be able to play on an episode soon. In the meantime, check him out at his website.

Joe

Barack Obama Officially Announces '08 Run

From CBSNews.com:

Democrat Barack Obama declared himself a candidate Saturday for the White House in 2008, evoking Abraham Lincoln's ability to unite a nation and promising to lead a new generation as the country's first black president.

The Illinois Senator said, "In the face of impossible odds, people who love their country can change it."

For more, visit: http://www.cbsnews.com/track/sumtxt2007021015/stories/2007/02/10/politics/main2458078.shtml

Also from CBSNews.com:

THE AUDACITY OF BARACK OBAMA
The very audacity of it, the very unlikelihood of a black man becoming president of the United States is now the driving force of Barack Obama's campaign.

For more: http://www.cbsnews.com/track/sumtxt2007021015/stories/2007/02/10/politics/main2458144.shtml

And for a rundown (by CBSNews.com, so expect a little media bias) of the Democratic Presidential field:

DEFINING THE DEMOCRATIC FIELD
With the Democratic presidential field all but set, Vaughn Ververs takes a look at each candidate and how they're marketing themselves to the party faithful.

Full story: http://www.cbsnews.com/track/sumtxt2007021015/stories/2007/02/09/politics/main2453481.shtml

Joe

Average Joe Radio: Episode Ten

The newest episode of Average Joe Radio is on the web and ready for download.

It's a loooooooonnnng Valentine episode, with some great songs, some poems, and even a story. And it's dedicated to my wife. Let me know what you think.

Call the feedback line: 206-600-4JOE.



Enjoy!

Joe

SUBSCRIBE

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20070210.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "Every Member of Congress who cares about strengthening our economy, protecting our national security, and confronting climate change should support the energy initiatives I have set out. By working together to pass energy legislation soon, we can help solve one of the great challenges facing our generation. And we can leave behind a cleaner and better world for our children and grandchildren."

Blood From A Turnip

It seems that every year my company goes through some kind of disruptive realignment. This year has proven to be no exception.

This particular realignment didn't result in any job loss or job creation, so far as has been reported. It did, however, involve the shuffling around of many District areas that resulted in the breaking up of many multi-store teams that have worked well together for years. Supposedly for operational and geographic considerations, many of the Indiana locations of my company are now in a District with several stores in Ohio rather than Chicago. This means that many of us also have new leaders as well as new team mates.

In addition, I'm growing increasingly concerned that my company might be making itself ripe for acquisition. Many cost-cutting measures that have been implemented (and I've mentioned here before) are just the type of measures a company implements when an acquisition is on the horizon. That, coupled with a new frequency of store visits from "shareholders" (none in my market yet) is potential cause for concern.

I said all of that to say this: you can't get blood from a turnip. Payroll has been greatly reduced for the month of February (130 hours less for the month in my location), causing me to cut my full time employees down to the bare minimum required to remain benefits-eligible as well as eliminate two part timers from the schedule completely.

I've been watching the payroll closely all week, and we were doing pretty well. We were actually underspent for the week by six hours going into yesterday. But after a terribly light sales day (compared to last year) we are now overspent by 13 hours. And my new District Manager, predictably, is calling for me to cut more hours.

I have nowhere else to cut! If I cut any more full time employees, I'm in danger of making them eligible for partial unemployment benefits and ineligible for many of their other benefits. If I cut a part time person I'll save hours, but be understaffed for the heavier weekend selling period.

I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. There's not much I can do but sit back and prepare for the inevitable discussion that will follow after overspending payroll this week.

But it felt good to get that off my chest.

By the way, is anybody out there looking for an experienced Retail Manager? I'd just like to keep my options open.

Joe

Border Patrol Agent Severely Beaten

Other posts on this topic are available here and here.

Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean -- both serving a combined 23 years in prison for pursuing an illegal alien drug smuggler -- are NOT safe in federal prison! That was the speculation of many who believe the Agents were wrongly convicted when they began serving their prison terms last month. And, it would seem that our worst fears are now coming true. According to WorldNetDaily.com, Agent Ramos' family confirmed that he was "severely beaten" at the Yazoo City Federal Correctional Complex by "a group of five Hispanic inmates who Ramos took to be illegal immigrants." The beating took place Saturday night shortly after the television show America's Most Wanted aired a segment on the two border agents. According to the WorldNetDaily.com report, Agent Ramos told his wife that the assailants "threatened him in Spanish, taunting him with, '**** la migra' insulting him -- 'migra' roughly translating as 'immigration,' slang for Border Patrol agent." Here's what Agent Ramos' wife, Monica, told WorldNetDaily.com: "He told me they were in the television room watching 'America's Most Wanted.' After that, some time after 10 p.m., he went back to his cubicle and was almost falling asleep. He awoke to the sound of shoes stomping." "He said he didn't have a chance to turn around and look at any of the guys attacking him at that time. He just felt a blow to the back of his head. The prisoners were kicking him with steel-toe shoes, the work boots they are issued in prison. They kept kicking and kicking. And they kept calling him in Spanish a **** immigration officer, saying 'darle, darle,' which means, 'give it to him.' They were cussing him out in Spanish. He couldn't fight back he was outnumbered." Folks... we've all heard the horror stories about "good guys" in prison. Especially law enforcement officials who are no friend to the drug dealers, murderers and other criminals that Agents Ramos and Compean likely helped put there. This beating will not be an isolated incident. We have to do something to help Ramos and Compean and we have to do it now -- there's not a moment to lose! There's More... And what about prison security? According to WorldNetDaily.com and Monica Ramos: "No security came to his rescue... Another inmate came and... walked my husband over to security." Did the prison give him any medical treatment? Monica Ramos again: "As of the time we talked this afternoon, the prison still hadn't given him any medical treatment," she said, adding that he told her, "'I asked all day yesterday.' I'm in a lot of pain and I have blood coming out of my left ear.'" But to add even more insult to injury, Ramos' family told WorldNetDaily.com that the decision to place Ramos in a medium security prison violates a promise from federal authorities that Agent Ramos would be kept in isolation at a minimal security prison. Agents Ramos and Compean should not spend another minute in prison! And how did the Administration react? At first, Press Secretary Tony Snow dismissed the question of a pardon as "nonsensical," a note of contempt in his voice. Perhaps members of the Administration thought that no one would remember Ramos and Compean by the following Thursday. But if that was the case, you disabused them of that notion! CFIF activists have sent more than 150,000 faxes to the President and other conservative legislators -- that's 150,000 faxes jamming legislators' fax machines constantly over a period of many weeks -- protesting the shameless persecution of these Border Patrol Agents and American heroes. And after you started the ball rolling and started to speak out against this injustice -- others joined the fight. This all resulted in the White House beginning to realize they need to take a serious look at this injustice. Phyllis Schlafly -- one of the most highly regarded conservatives in America -- wrote: "President Bush pardoned 16 criminals, including five drug dealers, at Christmastime, but so far has refused to pardon two U.S. Border Patrol agents who were trying to defend America against drug smugglers." Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher was more blunt: "This is the worst betrayal of American defenders I have ever seen. It's shameful this was done by someone who is in the Republican Party. He obviously thinks more about his agreements with Mexico than the lives of American people and backing up his defenders." Even John Walsh of America's Most Wanted profiled the case before a nationwide audience on Saturday and plainly told the American people, in so many words, that the more he hears about what is happening to Ramos and Compean, the more it stinks! Let's make sure the Administration and our conservative leaders know -- beyond a shadow of a doubt -- that this matter IS NOT simply going away! The American people want Agents Ramos and Compean pardoned. They should not spend another minute in prison. We are making progress. Let's continue to make our voices heard! Following Rep. Rohrabacher's lead, 51 Congressmen signed a letter demanding that President Bush pardon Agents Compean and Ramos. In language crackling with outrage, they told the President what they thought of this prosecution as public policy: "This episode sends the wrong message to those who defend America at our border, to the American people, and especially to the criminals who operate at our southern border. How can anyone believe we are serious about border security when the lives of two agents sworn to protect those very borders are torn apart, but a vicious drug smuggler is given medical care [at a U.S. military hospital in Texas] and allowed to walk free? It is inhumane and a betrayal of the American people's trust to allow the sentences of Agents Ramos and Compean to be carried out." But they went even further, pinpointing the blame, and calling into question the morality of the episode: "We can think of nothing more immoral than to allow the lives and families of those who protect us to be destroyed by an overly aggressive and questionable prosecution by the U.S. attorney's office. The severity of the charges brought against these men, and the harshness of the punishment is totally disproportionate to the violation in question." Finally, they demanded: "At this time, the only just course of action is to commute the sentences of Agents Ramos and Compean. We implore you to become personally involved in this case, and bring a holiday miracle to these agents and their families." Usually friendly columnists like Rick Amato also weighed in: "The White House stance is not only a slap in the face to families of murder victims and law enforcement. It is a slap in the face to American working-class families of all ethnic backgrounds." And still no pardon. We can remedy that RIGHT NOW! Finally -- with your faxes jamming legislators' machines and conservatives expressing outrage and disgust -- the White House began to alter its rhetoric and at least PRETENDED to be concerned. Tony Snow said the White House would take a second look at the issue: "What we're doing is getting the entire trial transcript so everybody can see what happened in trial, and we can try to discern the real facts of the case." Snow also invited Dana Rohrabacher to pay him a friendly visit to chat about the case. Rohrabacher told WorldNetDaily.com: "The very fact that they are now willing to look at this case is indication of some progress. However, if they don't do an honest assessment -- for political reasons, or for ego reasons or for reasons of friendship with the prosecutor -- then it doesn't make any difference if they take a second look, or a first look at the facts." Phyllis Schlafly was also courted. Early in January she got a call from U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, who may not have known that Schlafly was a brilliant lawyer. "He tried to make his case," she said, "and he was completely unpersuasive." Schafly also had a few words for Tony Snow's announcement that the White House now intended to review the transcript. She called it "a stall." "We've looked at the facts, and the facts are it's an outrage. The bottom line is the drug smuggler was given immunity and went Scot free, and two border guards went to prison for 11 and 12 years." Is It A Stall? Well, it's been a couple of weeks now and still no pardon! Does the Administration really believe that this time we'll forget about Ignacio Ramos, Jose Alonso Compean, their heart-broken wives, and their six children? That may be what they think. But forget it. It won't happen. Either the President corrects this injustice and returns these men to their families and to the Border Patrol, or the grassroots pressure will continue, and the indignation will keep mounting. Let's act again. Let's let our political leaders know -- in no uncertain terms -- that we WILL NOT forget these two brave Americans who so desperately need our help! Let's FLOOD the White House and these congressional offices with faxes until these men are returned home to their families! Use the hyperlink below to send your urgent, personalized and individual 57 Blast Fax messages to President Bush, the GOP leaders in the United States House of Representatives and all 49 GOP Members of the United States Senate. Tell them patriotic Americans are sick and tired of the stalls! The time to pardon Ramos and Compean passed weeks ago and now, unless our conservative leaders act quickly and get the job done, they will face the scorn and defection of Americans who once believed in the integrity of our conservative leaders. http://www.cfiflistmanager.org/compeanxix.html AOL Members Use This Hyperlink If the above hyperlink does not function, please copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser. The CFIF Action Alert is a service to the conservative community. If you would like to subscribe please go to www.cfif.org/signup. Center for Individual Freedom 113 S. Columbus St., Suite 310 Alexandria, VA 22314 703-535-5836 Fax:703-535-5838

Joe

Remembering The Gipper

A man of simple origins, Reagan always and waveringly did what was right for America. He brought trust, dignity, and humility to the presidency.

..[A]s a nation we must embrace our faith, for as long as we endeavor to do good---and we must believe that will be always---we will find our strength, our hope, and our true happiness in prayer and in the Lord's will." ---Ronald Reagan

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." ---Ronald Reagan

"And I hope that someday your children and grandchildren will tell of the time that a certain president came to town at the end of a long journey and asked their parents and grandparents to join him in setting America on the course to the new millennium---and that a century of peace, prosperity, opportunity, and hope followed. So, if I could ask you just one last time: Tomorrow, when mountains greet the dawn, would you go out there and win one for the Gipper?" ---Ronald Reagan

"[Today] would have been Ronald Reagan's 96th birthday, which is amazing when you consider he is, in a way, more with us than ever: his memory and meaning summoned in political conversation, his name evoked by candidates. I remember 10 years ago when there was controversy over the movement to name things for him---buildings and airports. I was away from home at the time, and I realized that to talk to people in Washington about it, I'd have to land at JFK, take the FDR Drive and go through the Lincoln tunnel. This is America; we remember our greats. You tell yourself who you are by what you raise a statue to... It's part of why when you next fly to Washington, you'll land at Reagan National Airport." ---Peggy Noonan

"[T]he trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so." ---Ronald Reagan

"I believe that everything happens in God's time and His time and our time is not always on the same plane. We wanted my father to get the nomination and win in '76 but God had other plans. Now, looking back, those plans are clear as they were not at the time... If Dad had won in 1976, who would have been in place then to bring about the momentous events in the 80s that saw the Evil Empire destroyed? Think about it, none of the key players in the drama were onstage. In 1976 Mrs. Thatcher was not Britain's prime minister, Karol Wytola was not the pope, Mikhail Gorbachev was not in charge in Moscow and Lech Walesa was an obscure electrician in a Polish shipyard. Anybody familiar with Ronald Reagan's plans for dealing with the Soviets and their domination of Eastern Europe knows that his determination to bring down the Soviet monolith depended on a number of factors, and having the right allies in the right places at the right times eventually proved to be the key to victory. Those factors were not present in 1976... I believe that everybody is here on earth for a purpose. God arranged for them to be where he wanted them to be, when he wanted them to be there---and it wasn't in 1976." ---Michael Reagan

"I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, butI don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind swept, God blessed and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here... And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure and happier than it was eight years ago. But more than that; after two hundred years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home. We've done our part. And as I walk into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time, we made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad. Not bad at all. And so, good-bye. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America." ---Ronald Reagan

http://PatriotPost.US/

Ronald Reagan's Birthday

It should not go unnoticed that today would have been Ronald Reagan's 96th birthday.

Talk Radio Host Michael Savage Mulls Presidential Run

From NewsMax.com:

Michael Savage Mulls Presidential Run

Michael Savage, the nation's third-most listened to radio talk-show host, says he may leave his top rated show to make a bid for the GOP nomination for president.

"I know it sounds bizarre but when you consider the people running for the presidency, none . . . seems to be qualified," Savage told NewsMax....

"I would think that somebody who's not a politician might be a viable candidate," Savage stated, stressing that he would focus his campaign on his mantra: "Borders, language, Culture." ...

Savage readily admits he has little chance of being elected.

Still, he's convinced he could help push the Republican Party back to its conservative roots.

For the moment he remains cautious about running and leaving his lucrative radio show.

"I'm only exploring this," he said and will be testing public reaction to such a move.

Joe

Rudy Giuliani Officially a Presidential Candidate

From NewsMax.com:

Rudy Giuliani Officially a Presidential Candidate

...In a sign that he's serious about running for the White House, the two-term mayor was filing a so-called "statement of candidacy" with the Federal Election Commission. In the process, he was eliminating the phrase "testing the waters" from earlier paperwork establishing his exploratory committee, said an official close to Giuliani's campaign. ...

The steps Monday put Giuliani on the same level, legally, as McCain and Romney, the other two top-tier GOP candidates who have formed regular exploratory committees and filed statements of candidacy. ...

Joe

Why I Didn't Watch Even One Down of Super Bowl XLI

-vs-

If you haven't already heard, the Indianapolis Colts have won Super Bowl XLI. Oops, can I even say that? "Super Bowl," I mean.

From SportsIllustrated Online:

The NFL has nixed a church's plans to use a wall projector to show the Colts-Bears Super Bowl game, saying it would violate copyright laws. ...

Initially, the league objected to the church's plan to charge a fee to attend and that the church used the license-protected words "Super Bowl" in its promotions. ...the NFL objected to the church's plans to use a projector to show the game, saying the law limits it to one TV no bigger than 55 inches. ...

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league's long-standing policy is to ban "mass out-of-home viewing" of the Super Bowl. An exception is made for sports bars and other businesses that show televised sports as a part of their everyday operations. ...

"It just frustrates me that most of the places where crowds are going to gather to watch this game are going to be places that are filled with alcohol and other things that are inappropriate for children," [the church's Pastor] said. "We tried to provide an alternative to that and were shut down." ...

Furthermore, my own church ran into a similar problem. In a message they sent out to members, they cited the following for canceling their Super Bowl party:

...the NFL has stated that churches hosting Super Bowl parties are in copyright violation if:

1. They use the copyrighted name "Super Bowl."
2. Charge an entrance fee.
3. View the game on a screen larger than 55 inches.

While we have disagreements with the policy of the NFL, we are finding it difficult to get clarity on the true legalities on such short notice. We would be in violation of #3.... We are choosing to do what we always teach: do the right thing and take the high ground. We are canceling the party....

So, if you didn't catch it in there, as far as the NFL is concerned, it's okay to watch the Super Bowl in your own home, or the home of a friend, or at a bar. Places where you might be tempted to drink to excess and make a public nuisance of yourself if your team should win (or lose, even). But it's not okay to gather together with other members of your church inside the church building and watch the game. Does anybody else see anything wrong with this?

If you got those same people together that planned to watch the game inside the church building and took them to the local bar to watch the game, allowed them to eat all the free peanuts they can hold and not buy one drop of alcohol, the NFL would presumably be okay with that, but I'll bet the bar owners would be pretty upset.

So, the Indianapolis Colts have just won Super Bowl XLI, and I watched exactly none of the game. Not one minute. Not one down. Not one touchdown or interception. Not even one of the extremely over-priced commercials that gets so much hype every year. And I'm sure the NFL didn't miss me. But you know what, I didn't miss the game, either. Instead, I got to enjoy some time with my wife and son watching the "Scooby Bowl" on Nickelodeon.

Go Scooby!

Joe

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20070203.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "...I will work with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to continue reforming the budget process, expose every earmark to the light of day and a vote in Congress, and cut the number and cost of earmarks at least in half."

Average Joe Radio: Episode Nine

The newest episode of Average Joe Radio is on the web and ready for download.

With a special artist you won't find on any other music podcast. Let me know what you think.

Special Guest Host this Episode: My 3-1/2 year old son

Call the feedback line: 206-600-4JOE.

Enjoy!

Joe

SUBSCRIBE