JeraDarklighter

Well, it's about time. :)

I saw a billboard about this on my way to work, and so I had to look it up when I got home... apparently Fred Meyer has a policy of firing employees for a SINGLE error with money. (For those that don't know, Fred Meyer is a Pacific Northwest chain of large department/grocery stores, sort of like Super Wal-Marts, only with nicer name brand clothes.)

This is ridiculous; even Wal-Mart (another place I don't shop) doesn't treat its employees this way. Freddie's must be having financial difficulties (like everyone else)... I guess they decided that enforcing a little-known rule would be a good way to cut costs: axe a bunch of loyal employees while having a legitimate (on paper, anyway) reason for doing so.

I'm not a rich woman, and I had always viewed Fred Meyer's as a very nice place to shop, but usually too spendy for me (I shop at Grocery Outlet and Big Lots most of the time). But I kept seeing these billboards extolling Fred Meyer's "new LOW prices" and decided to check it out. Sure enough, the prices for the most part seemed much cheaper than what I remembered. I guess this is how they are paying for the price cuts. :(

Freddie's previously had my goodwill, and I liked shopping there for housewares and things when I had need of higher-end stuff. But until these practices stop, I won't go there ever again.

Nice article! There are some other really great indie music web sites, like Soundclick.com... but he hit most of the big ones.

I work in a call center for a company that shall remain unnamed.

I get these sorts of stupid lies ALL THE TIME.

We both know you are lying. I will try my best to make you happy without you lying to me about dumb things like calling your lawyer over something pretty inconsequential. Empty threats make me laugh, and make me less likely to take you seriously.

Being nice to representatives, and being honest, will get you just as far if you know how to ask. If you are considering another company, or even just have the price comparisons to another company, call in and we'll do what we can to match them. It's not rocket science and doesn't require bald-faced lies.

This is a hilarious read... if a disturbing one.

What really got me is the Obama Administration hiring 5 RIAA lawyers to the Justice Department, and upholding these ridiculous penalties. I can't tell you how disappointed I am to learn this. I'm headed over to the Electronics Frontier Foundation (eff.org) right now to do some more research and write some letters. I am beyond appalled.

Immortality is a nice idea, but I'm not very interested in becoming a cyborg unless we're talking about replacement of a heart or lung or something that isn't functioning anymore.

I don't really want holograms popping up in my mind, or to be able to write a book in a few minutes. I am editing my first novel right now, and it's a slow process but a labor of love. Things would not be special or worthwhile if they were not difficult. I don't think a book written in a few minutes is going to have much value to anybody.

I am definitely filing this away for future reference. I am so tired of being told that sex, religion and politics aren't good for polite conversation. I want some debate, some controversy! People need to learn to enjoy being exposed to different viewpoints.

I was all set to not really like this much... but it turned out to be surprisingly good. It's not EASY to follow these principles in everyday living, and like anything else, they can be taken too far. (Breaking ALL the rules at once is obviously a bad idea.) While perhaps it didn't tell me anything particularly new, it was a concise little reminder of some important ideas.