This is topic Who do you Boycott & Why? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 12-21-2002, 12:28 AM:
 
I have just been wondering lately what places/companies/organizations users of Film-Tech avoid at all costs & what caused that to happen.
(I wonder if Technicolor will be listed ever? )
I'll start it out.

SAMS CLUB :
Who the f k doesn't accept Visa or Mastercard? (It was one of those days, your not in the best mood & your sick of the human race all together.) After about an hour getting through the store, picking out the assortment of food that in actualality I really didn't need. Wait in line for what seems like hours, I get to the check out, the total comes to $80. No problem, I whip out the old Visa & to my horror they accept nothing but Sam's Credit, Discover & personal checks. Well being the dumbass I am(not knowing my personal pin to use the ATM), I am forced to leave the store empty handed & soon very hungry. Never again would I visit them again.
But some good came of it, I brought my Sams Club card to CostCo (another type of warehouse wholesaler) & they proudly cut up my Sam's Club card & gave me a free year at there place.
 

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Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 12-21-2002, 12:40 AM:
 
Nate,

Not to demean you or anything, but how often have you gone to Sams? They have never taken VISA due to the payment percentages VISA charges them for CC usage. I've been an avid Sams Club member for 13+ years and I've never had a problem with them at all. Seems like I even remember them having signs posted that on the entrance doors of the cards they accepted.

That said, I personally boycott SunCom. What used to be a seemingly good company (Cellular One) had been run into the ground since the takeover by SunCom. Customer Service sucks worse than Technicolor and I thought that was hard to beat.... Anyway, There is never anyone there to hand your payment to, and me, being the kind of person I am, I'm simply not going to wait 10-30 minutes to simply hand someone a cash payment because the are only 3 people in the main branch that serves a town of 100k+ people! That's a sure fire way to lose business regardless of how cheap your service!

I could think of more I'm sure, but it's late, I'm tired and my Crown/Coke combo is calling! Bob, here's to you...
 

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Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 12-21-2002, 12:44 AM:
 
I will give this Sam's one thing: It had only been open for less than a week, so maybe they didn't have any signage at all yet. They sure as hell didn't have any at the register. Only the cashier telling people. I like CostCo better anyways.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-21-2002, 01:38 AM:
 
Personally I boycott Visa and Mastercard. I only use Discover. It gets me into great places like Sam's Club. They have the hottest deals ever! Oh wait, I recently got a Visa and use it more often because the interest is way lower than on my discover. Personal checks are for paying bills only. I hate people ahead of me in line who slow things down by waiting until they see the total before even taking out their checkbook.

I used to boycott Circuit City because of the whole DivX issue. But I recently bought a router from them because they were close and I needed one NOW.

I boycott Chuck Norris movies.

I wish I could boycott certain motion picture projection equipment companies' products, but I won't bash them here right now. Except ORC. I boycott ORC! One day my boycott will put them out of business for good!
 

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Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-21-2002, 01:54 AM:
 
Plitt Amusement Company of Washington (while they were running theatres) didn't take any credit cards or checks, PERIOD!

Cash only!
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-21-2002, 02:02 AM:
 
I almost forgot:

I boycott the color orange!
 

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 12-21-2002, 03:47 AM:
 
Wallace Theatres in Hawaii for terrible presentations I had mentioned before.

-Claude
 

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Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 12-21-2002, 04:54 AM:
 
Who doesn't take credit cards? We have major gas station chains here that don't accept credit cards!
 

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Posted by Dennis Atkinson (Member # 345) on 12-21-2002, 08:26 AM:
 
Wallmart - for the way they treat their employees and the rest of the world. http://www.ua.org/Walmart.htm

They just lost a court case involving forced unpaid overtime

Dennis
 

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Posted by Ray Brown (Member # 1449) on 12-21-2002, 11:23 AM:
 

quote:

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Plitt Amusement Company of Washington (while they were running theatres)

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Running as in actually operating theaters or RUNNING them into bankruptcy Paul?

BTW, I would be lost without my Visa Check Card & all 5 local gas stations accept it with no problem. Rarely write checks anymore.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-21-2002, 11:42 AM:
 
I pretty much stay out of the large chain stores and try to find the local small guys store first, if possible. If not then I will visit COSTCO first(they take only Am Ex!), and then I might seek out a large chain store. After that it doesn't exist and I don't need it anyway.
Mark @ CLACO
 

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 12-21-2002, 11:44 AM:
 
WalMart. I hate everything about them and the way they do business. They are known for being abusive and demeaning to their employees, while running happy-face TV commercials. They are predatory in their business strategy. Bah.

Costco here has never taken Visa or MC, unless they've changed their rules in the last year or so, I haven't been there lately.
 

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Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 12-21-2002, 11:51 AM:
 
My theater just started taking credit cards (Visa & Mastercard only) about a month ago, and no personal checks!

I boycott a local Roast Beef Restaurant called Chicks because they refused to take $3.00 in quarters for payment and called one of my friends fat...NOT PHAT! Jerks...
 

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Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 12-21-2002, 11:59 AM:
 
Wal-Mart -- for reasons described above.

Kmart -- bans music with a "Parental Advisory" sticker (just like Wal-Mart).

Best Buy -- urged Bush to bust a dockworkers' strike on the West Coast under the guise of "Homeland Security".

Roberts Theatres -- New Jersey chain run by Bob Roberts (his real name). In 1994 he booked Priest into the Brook Theatre in Bound Brook NJ. A gang of local right-wing Catholics bitched about Priest and planned to picket the theater. Bob Roberts not only pulled Priest, he actually encouraged right-wingers to complain about anything they don't like. The Brook Theatre was flooded by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and no longer shows movies. Bob Roberts died last month.

FWIW Cineplex Odeon (pre-Loews) in Menlo Park Mall/Edison NJ also was targeted by right-wingers for showing Priest, but Cineplex held its ground and ran the movie without any problems.
 

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Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 12-21-2002, 12:44 PM:
 
Blockbuster, for their refusal to carry NC-17 rated films, which has had an effect on the number of films released with that rating (most are cut down to an R because of this.)

Any theatre that does not at LEAST have optical stereo in 100% of its auditoriums, and/or any theatre that has been twinned or otherwise chopped up.

Any TV network or station that continuously shows an onscreen logo during shows.
 

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Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-21-2002, 01:18 PM:
 
Ray, I will say "running" as in operating. I don't think the "cash only" policy had to much do with their bankruptcy.

However, the cash only policy did piss off alot of people.
 

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Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 12-21-2002, 01:33 PM:
 

quote:

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Any TV network or station that continuously shows an onscreen logo during shows.

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You have stations in CA that don't have logo's?
 

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Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 12-21-2002, 03:31 PM:
 
IVWNET.com internet service provider. They've got a bunch of Nazi "SS" men checking to see if you stay connected too long (without activity every 10 min). Then they knock off your service and won't refund your unused money!! Never Again!!
 

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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 12-21-2002, 07:24 PM:
 
Ditto for Walmart. Locally, our city planning commission just approved two GIANT SUPER Walmarts (geez, we already have THREE ordinary-sized ones. This despite many local protestors (nearby residents, union members, environmentalists) who objected. Things got pretty ugly. It was so ironic when an article talking about the SUPPORTERS who showed up (there were employees talking about what an employee-friendly this place is)appeared in the same edition (different section) than an AP story about how Walmart has screwed employees out of overtime pay in Oregon.

It was especially sickening to hear one woman on television say how important a food section that a Super Walmart would bring is so important to her lifestyle, and shopping at Walmart is a way of life. Geez.
 

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Posted by Justin West (Member # 920) on 12-22-2002, 12:26 AM:
 
Non-union theaters...Hey, that's just about ALL of them!!! OK, then multiplex shoeboxes, at least. Give me a classic single screener or I'll just wait for it to appear at the drive-in!
 

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Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 12-22-2002, 03:10 AM:
 
Staples: because a popular restaurant I used to frequent for THIRTY YEARS was evicted (as were all the other tenants) so the building that they were in (which, coincidentally, also housed the late Cinema West Washington Square 5 and Cinema West's main offices) could be converted into a nice shiny new Staples store. Staples and Washington Square Properties!!!!

Pacific's Rohnert Park 16: This was supposed to be the Cinema West Expressway Cinemas (and my new base of operations), before a business partner screwed us [the company] about five months before our scheduled opening and bailed and partnered with Pacific Theatres. I am friends with the booth steward there and our DM's sister is the manager there, but I (and some close friends, to include my former DM) refuse to set foot in the place as a matter of principle.

-Aaron
 

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Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 12-22-2002, 03:36 AM:
 
Blockbuster and any other video stores that only carry pan and scan dvds.
 

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Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-22-2002, 05:29 AM:
 
Isn't the owner or one of the owners of Blocksucker Video Johnny Depp?
 

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Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 12-22-2002, 07:14 AM:
 
Blockbuster is owned by VIACOM, which also owns Paramount Pictures, CBS, and in turn Viacom is owned by National Amusements.
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-22-2002, 10:53 AM:
 
So wait a minute...you will boycott Sams Club because they won't take Visa or Master Charge er Mastercard but you promote CostCo since they also don't accept Visa or Mastercard? You make abosolutely no sense. Heck, Costco only accepts their card or AmEx (a card with a hefty annual fee). This is like saying you are going to use this black kettle because the pot is black!

As to credit cards in theatres...oh give me a break...the exhibitor only can make as little as 8% on the boxoffice and you want that to go to the credit card company? Credit cards slow down the line unless that have an adequate number of kiosks.

I generally "buy American" so I have a first line of boycott by looking only at American made products first. I'd much rather pay some one to make a product than pay for them to stand in the unemployment line. Seems to me either way I'm paying.

For movie theatres...I generally boycott the chains...they haven't a clue about presentation and only seem to care about what they can advertise. We are now up to over 20 minutes of ads and previews ahead of Lord of the Rings.

I'm sure more boycotts will be coming forthwith as I think of them though! Happy Holidays!

Steve
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 12-22-2002, 11:36 AM:
 

• Virgin Trains. There so unreliable it's a bad joke, the new ones about as comfortable as one of Saddam's torture chambers and they're hiking the fares by double the rate of inflation next year. From now on I'm paying extra to do my regular commutes to Newcastle on their rival, GNER.
• The Guardian newspaper. It's an extreme left-wing publication written by feminists and tub-thumpers which believes that white, law-abiding heterosexual males are evil and should be punished. It also regularly publishes editorials in support of terrorist organisations. I would never, ever pay money for it.

 

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Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 12-22-2002, 01:09 PM:
 
Is Starbucks & Blockbuster owned by the same corporation? They always seem to be right next to each other.
 

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Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-22-2002, 01:28 PM:
 
Ray:

Plitt did lose alot of their customer base because of that. Soon after they orginally bought us, Mr. Plitt was whining about box office grosses and per cap was so low. Many customers simply walked out and never returned. When a 14 screen Cineplex opened about 3 miles away with stadium seating and digital sound, that was the nail that sealed the coffin. No Plitt theatre had digital sound up here. Most of the sound systems were center-surrounds, and some were just plain CP-50 and JS200 sound systems.

We accept credit cards, and allow provisions for that in concessions, too. Out per-cap is very good. We had an ATM machine installed outside one of our theatres, and that helps the lines moving at the box office.

Once in a while we get stung with a rubber check, but usually we are able to collect on it.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-22-2002, 04:06 PM:
 
I don't use any of my CC's at COSTCO...usually just write a check there.......I do like COSTCO though.
Mark
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 12-22-2002, 04:41 PM:
 
Anybody ever use a "Speedpass?" That would be great at the boxoffice. (It's a little keyring type thing that links to the credit card of your choice...just hold it up to the sensor, and you're done...no signing, approving or anything.)
 

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Posted by Nate Lehrke (Member # 1460) on 12-22-2002, 05:50 PM:
 
Steve : The new CostCo here in Denver accepts Visa & Mastercard as well as Amex & personal checks. Maybe just the new ones that are accepting them, or possibly it's just one that's trying it out.

Also you said:

quote:

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Credit cards slow down the line unless that have an adequate number of kiosks

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We accept credit at concessions/box/lounge and all they do is speed up lines. With credit, all we have to do is swipe & instantly the sale is over, plus it eliminates all employee cash handling mistakes. BUT, I do say that not knowing what a "kiosk" is. (I must not be as smart as you in that dept. )
 

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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 12-22-2002, 06:16 PM:
 
A kiosk in this sense is an automated ticket dispensing machine that lets customers use ATM or credit cards to print up their own tickets.
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-22-2002, 06:20 PM:
 
Most certainly CostCo in your area is different then...here (DC area) it is AmEx or Costco only.

As to the credit card...in the theatres I've been in...first there is the swipe...then the wait for approval, then the signing of the receipt...FAR longer than a half way decent cash transaction. Perhaps your theatre doesn't have the approval/signing part of the transaction. I'll give you that a simple "swipe" is quicker than exchanging money.

Steve
 

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Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 12-22-2002, 07:26 PM:
 
From watching cash and credit transactions at the box office it seems to take the same amount of time. We just recently starting accepting credit and the lines have not seemed to slow down or speed up. We are accepting basically the same amount of people into the theater per minute then we did before credit cards were accepted. Receipts do have to be signed here.
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-22-2002, 07:40 PM:
 
Rachael, how can a simple cash transaction take as long as it takes to have a computer verify a credit card? With the holiday season, the credit card machines seem to take even longer.

Steve
 

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Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 12-22-2002, 07:47 PM:
 
Mike,
Good idea at first glance, , but what if you needed multiple tickets on the speedpass? How would the ticket issuing be implemented?

I think this would be a MUCH faster form of payment than ATM/Debit/CC transactions *if* there were a smooth implementation.

Maybe someone here can work on that?
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-22-2002, 07:51 PM:
 
Steve-

Probably the "check book syndrome". People wait until the final total is rung up, then get the look on their face like "Oh I have to PAY???" and then finally get their wallet out. Then they fiddle trying to find the exact amount so they don't get back any coins.
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-22-2002, 08:43 PM:
 
Then again, they do the same thing when they get to the doorman and by god he wants to tear their ticket...now where did I put those tickets?

Steve
 

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Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 12-22-2002, 09:21 PM:
 
I used an "ATM" ticketing machine at Southland? in Melbourne.
It looks like it used the "best available ticket software." Input the amount of tickets req for your session, then swipe & pay. No problems, no wait, no worries.
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 12-22-2002, 09:41 PM:
 
Jason, the way it works in a convenience store is, you take your stuff to the counter and the clerk tells you the price...you say "I'll Speedpass it" and you hold your Speedpass near the sensor, it beeps and you are done. With gas, you just hold the Speedpass to the pump; a lite comes on, you pump your gas and drive away. It's great. It could work the same way in a boxoffice.
 

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Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 12-23-2002, 09:00 PM:
 

quote:

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Kmart -- bans music with a "Parental Advisory" sticker (just like Wal-Mart).

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Not any more. I have seen tons of unedited 'Parental Advisory' CDs there just the other day...

I just find it stupid that you can buy 'R' rated VHS and DVD movies at Wal*Mart but you are stuck with 'edited' CD's

Whatever.

-Aaron
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-23-2002, 09:20 PM:
 
Mike, I bet theft would be really easy with "Speedpass". I mean there are no signatures required, right? Can't someone just steal it and then go buy stuff with it? It's not a retina scan or anything, so I bet it would be easy. Am I wrong?
 

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Posted by Daniel Boisson (Member # 1027) on 12-23-2002, 10:57 PM:
 
Cumulus communications, which is owned by Viacom (I think), own almost every radio station in the country.
It wouldn't be so bad, except all the local stations that are owned by Cumulus pretty much plays the same songs over and over and over. That is of course between the hour blocks of straight commercials, non-stop:mad:
 

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Posted by Barry Floyd (Member # 385) on 12-24-2002, 09:19 AM:
 
HARDEES
The only fast food chain that can consistantly suck at every location you vist!!

KROGER'S (or any grocery store that requires "a key chain card" for discounts)

Several years ago, our local Kroger grocery stores started this "key-chain bar coded discount card thingy" that required you to sign up for it and provide too much information about yourself, your spending habits, your income, and home ownership status, that it drove us away from their stores forever. Now it seems though that all of the "bigger" chain grocery stores are going this route.

The other day we ran out of coffee at the office and I drove down the street to the closest grocery store (Kroger's)to pick up a can. The price was $5.99, or only $3.89 for "Plus Card Members". I got to the register to pay for it, and the girl asked for my "plus card", which I stated I didn't have one. I asked, "I really have to pay $2.10 more for this because I don't have a keychain card?" She said yes, which at that time I left the coffee on the counter, drove to Kmart and bought the same exact can of coffee for $3.79!
"Hey Kroger's YOU SUCK" (Outing Bad Grocery Pricing Tactics)

CRICKETT COMMUNICATIONS
$29.99 a month for unlimited minutes of cellular service seemed too good to be true. It works, but ONLY if you stay within a mile or so from the closest Interstate Route. If I wanted a phone I could only use on the Interstate.. I would have bought a CB radio.
 

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 12-24-2002, 12:15 PM:
 
What Barry said! I hate grocery store membership card deals. I've avoided Safeway for several years because of their card. Now Albertson's is doing the same thing. I was in line at Albertsons for something, and their entire staff was shoving those membership applications at everyone. The person behind me in line was pissed too. There's something about giving a freaking GROCERY STORE personal information about me that I just refuse to give in to.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-24-2002, 12:34 PM:
 
Steve G said "first there is the swipe...then the wait for approval, then the signing of the receipt...FAR longer than a half way decent cash transaction."

This all takes less than 12 seconds with the New Windows version of Sensible Cinema Ticketing/Concessions software. It does this with an open high speed internet line and a special service they set up through a special internet vender that is non phone line dependent. Its really fast, and faster than going to the cash machine at my bank. Also.....no signature is required for these transactions. Wanna know more.....call Rusty Gordon at Sensible, Cinema or go to www.sensiblecinema.com
Mark @ CLACO
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-24-2002, 01:09 PM:
 
I boycott whomever advertises on VH1's show "music behind bars", which showcases convicted murderes playing in prison bands, and gives them an opportunity to play a televised short concert.

I don't know about you, but I don't get that kind of opportunity at all, guess I will have to commit murder to become a musician eh?

The most recent Steven Segal movie advertised on it, to get the real hip audience in to the movie. However when approached, the producers of 8 Mile refused to advertise on the show. Good for them.

I also boycott the Republican Party of Utah.

Dave
 

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Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 12-24-2002, 02:03 PM:
 
There shouldn't be any advertising on VH1 anyway, since their satellite signal is scrambled and you have to pay to de-scramble it. VH1 was the first cable channel to bring us the continuous onscreen logo too, so they are forever on my shitlist.
 

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Posted by Paul Turner (Member # 832) on 12-24-2002, 08:31 PM:
 
When I had to apply for my Safeway card, I bullshat every answer. Since my daughter was with me when I filled out the card, I used her first name. My theatre name is the last name. So, when I ck out I get to watch the clerk start to say "Thank you . . . ." they look at the reciept for the name, decide that the beard must mean they got the name wrong, then just hand me the reciept.

Oh, yeah. I boycott:
-All TV because, well, it sucks.
-CostCo because they once charged my membership to a credit card I didn't even know I had, let alone without authorization.
-Wal Mart because I watched my old small town dry up and blow away after they came in and put a lot of small business out of biz.
-Stuff made in China as much as I can.
-Non-organic food.
-People who are fanatical about boycotting.

Tho, I don't stick to these religously (except maybe the TV one), I try.
 

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 12-25-2002, 04:18 AM:
 
BLOCKBUSTER.
For refusing to rent directors cuts that don't conform to their R Rated max. Also they have a habit of stocking only edited versions of movies that were originally released as something more than an R.

Also for limiting my choices as a consumer by buying up the indie stores that did give me the diversity in rentals.
 

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Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 12-25-2002, 05:53 PM:
 
Why don`t video rental stores like blockbuster offer uncut versions, maybe in a restricted section of the shop, in addition to the family compatible cuts?
 

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Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 12-25-2002, 07:02 PM:
 
Because Blockbuster's ownership/management is very right-wing and believes that censorship is ethically right. "go figure."

--jhawk
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 12-25-2002, 10:09 PM:
 

quote:

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Mike, I bet theft would be really easy with "Speedpass". I mean there are no signatures required, right? Can't someone just steal it and then go buy stuff with it? It's not a retina scan or anything, so I bet it would be easy. Am I wrong?

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Joe - It works the same as a credit card...your maximum liability is $50.
 

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Posted by Gracia L. Babbidge (Member # 582) on 12-25-2002, 11:24 PM:
 
Hmm... in general, blows, so I don't watch it. And I do mean that I do not watch television. I'll watch movies on VHS or DVD, and play video games, but that's the extent of my usage of my television set.

I tend to avoid shopping at any kind of chain store for music, with one exception. I'll shop at Bull Moose Music, but they're a local chain, usually have a pleasing atmosphere in their stores, carry an insanely diverse selection of titles, and have fairly reasonable prices.
I certainly avoid buying music at department stores!

Speaking of department stores - I avoid those as much as humanly possible also.
Malls blow, and the bigger they are, the more they suck!

AOL = ...at least in my opinion...

If I'm aware that a company tests on animals, I avoid their products.

If I'm aware that an establishment handles their employee (or customer) relations thus: - one more place to avoid...
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-25-2002, 11:52 PM:
 
Gracia, Film-Tech tests this web site on animals. I hope you stay with us.
 

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Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 12-26-2002, 12:29 AM:
 
Gracia,

They sure do.. look at what we did to Joe... Bwaaahhhaaaaaa
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-26-2002, 12:32 AM:
 
Oh yeah Jason! Well, well....... you look like a magician!!!!

That's the best insult I could come up with.
 

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Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 12-26-2002, 12:49 AM:
 
And the almighty Joe has spoken.....

Now look closely..

Closer...

I'm going to make something dissappear .....


 

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Posted by Gracia L. Babbidge (Member # 582) on 12-26-2002, 01:55 AM:
 
o_O

...I didn't think that TES employees technically counted as animals...
Or have you been testing the site elsewhere?

Don't mess with me dude - the color of my room is "calypso orange" ... and I still have some leftover paint!
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-26-2002, 10:48 PM:
 
Not necessarily a "boycott" (as sometimes there is no alternative), but any company that fails to provide an EASILY FOUND phone number or email address to contact them. I am talking about major companies that INTENTIONALLY hide this info to cut down on calls/emails.

An excellent example is Sprint. Can anyone find info on how to reach a human being? I think not.
 

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Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 12-26-2002, 11:15 PM:
 
Gracia said"Don't mess with me dude - the color of my room is "calypso orange" ... and I still have some leftover paint! "
Most of my office and wifes store in orange
And almost all the house is Blood orange with black trim
 

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Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 12-27-2002, 01:01 PM:
 
One of my foibles is that I read a lot of magazines. There was a coffee shop called the Newsstand Café that opened across the street from my house that featured magazines. My usual M.O. is to read quite a few and then buy one or two. As my roommates will attest, my bedroom floor is usually covered in magazines. The other unique thing about this shop is that they hired many of my former employees. So after about a month, the proprietor of the shop, who was a bull dike of the most stereotypical kind, cornered me and told me I wasn't welcome in her shop because I just read magazines and chatted with the employees.

I didn't set foot in her shop for 3 years. I figure she lost $1,800 worth of my business.

The joke is that after I started going in to her shop again, she treated me like a long lost friend. Heck I even started giving her passes. So about once per month we would have a chat. I even asked her about running her own business when I decided to open my theatre. She has since sold her shop and moved on in life. Starbucks had come to the neighborhood.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-27-2002, 01:23 PM:
 
Gord said "And almost all the house is Blood orange with black trim"

I'll vouch for that statement....I've been there.....

Ian said "Starbucks had come to the neighborhood."
Well I'll tell you Ian, You can have Starbucks....a coffee shop ain't nothin without magazines, and a magazine shop just ain't nothin without coffee!! I also read alot of mags so I go to Borders Books and have the best of both worlds.....they really do have it all together there.

Mark @ CLACO
 

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Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 12-28-2002, 04:57 PM:
 
I've been boycotting FoxTV Channel 5 for their trivializing news reports, shallow concept of entertainment, celebrity gossip, cheap sexploitation and right-wing editorializing.

But they can't be all bad. Last night I suspended my boycotting to watch The 30th Anniversary M*A*S*H Reunion. The show ran for eleven years from 1971 to 1983, beginning on CBS before there was a Fox 5 TV,
but I'm grateful for the opportunity to see that splendid reunion recapitulating that truly excellent series, with the surviving actors, writers and producers.
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-30-2002, 05:37 PM:
 
I boycott people who boycott people and others.

I actually boycott no one. In the history of this country, very few boycotts have ever worked, and in fact when they gain publicity, they usually cause the boycotted to get more money as a result.

I always have trouble with certain companies, but if I can get what I want, what the hell do I care about thier policies or politics? I mean if I get a better deal on a hammer, what do I care? I mean really? Most people don't care. If I cared about all the problems of the world I would spend MOST of my time stressed and depressed.

Oh wait, I already do that now! I, like most consumers are only interested in the bigger better deal. I as a consumer have little to no power to effect internal struggles and policies, other than not to shop there. But if that decision puts me in the red, then I really have to rethink what I really want to stand for.

I wouldn't shop at a pro nazi store, or a pro polygamy store, but when when it comes to how they treat thier employees or whatever, I just remember that MOST companies are like that. I leave it up to the internal struggle and stay the hell out of it.

Now when I become governor of Utah in 2005, then I will worry about it.

Dave
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-30-2002, 07:51 PM:
 
dave, I will givc you my vote here in 2005! Its time for some major changes in the Governers office here.
Mark
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 12-30-2002, 08:13 PM:
 
Believe it or not, I intend on running for Governor of Utah in 2004 for the 2005-2008 term. I will run as an Independant, which will alleviate the need to run on someone else's platform.

That way, I have no chance of winning, so I can say whatever the hell I want to.

You are right though, we need to change our monosyllabic political system here in utah, we are going to hell at the capitol.

Dave
 

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Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 12-31-2002, 04:05 AM:
 
That should be your campaign slogan!

"Dave Williams for Governor. I'm have no chance of winning and I'm gonna say whatever the hell I want to."
 

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Posted by Howard Johnson (Member # 62) on 12-31-2002, 04:20 AM:
 
Do you have to be a morman to be governer of Utah? Also, isn't this the strange state where convicted murderers have the choice of a firing squad or the noose for their demise?
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-01-2003, 12:03 AM:
 
Yes it is.

And no you dont.

Not in that order.

You don't have to be mormon to be governor here, I plan on running as Episcopalian, so at least there is some religeousness on my part.

Did you know that Workers Compensation Fund of Utah has a cash reserve of nearly 500 million dollars? They pay out a total of 111 million each year in internal and other medical and payroll replacement expenses, but take in 187 million in revenues, including investments from thier cash reserves.

This is a quasi-public company, run entirely by the state of utah. the WC rules are written to rape the employee in the case of catestrophic injury, only guaranteeing them payment for 6 years. after that you have to work a minimum wage job or you get no more medical.

The officers are paid plenty, but the employers who pay the premiums and the employees who get raped are the ones who pay for this wonderful department.

Since 1997, they have been growing by leaps and bounds, ever since the rules were written to make sure that if someone loses a foot, they dont get squat! But at least this state concern has cash up the bunghole!!!

Just so you know, there are only 800,000 workers in this state. Do the math, that is $625 per worker in cash reserves, which are not bieng paid out. there is no instance that could wipe this reserve out. It will just grow for no reason, while employers keep paying, and employees keep getting screwed when injured.

ANd this is one of about a million resons that I want to be governor.

Dave
 

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Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 01-01-2003, 12:28 PM:
 
But do you plan to push to make "Film Done Wrong" illegal? "Film Done Wrong" is not what the consumer paid for and should be accompanied by a fine for the offending business. Fines collected could be used to support the official Utah State Film Handler's Course.
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-01-2003, 01:00 PM:
 
Here is my plan for Cinema in Utah...

1. No advertising of sound format that is incorrect. If you play it in a sound format different from what you advertise it in, you will be entitled to a full refund of your ticket price, plus concession refund. This will keep theater owners from pulling switcheroos on the unsuspecting public. I am tired of going to a dolby digital film only to get mono analogue.

2. No persons under 18 to any Rated R movie, even with parental guardian present. We have a growing problem here of irresponsible parents bringing young children to adult themed movies. They disrupt the ambiance and make it pure hell! Here in Utah, this should pass without any problem.

3. Screen luminance to be within 85 percent of accepted presentation standards. Most here don't even get that one right! That at least gets us close!

4. Sound systems are to be properly eq'd, to proper levels with better protection against constant peaks that make our hearing go away. Some movies are so loud and constant on the peaks I wonder if they even pass muster on what is legal or moral on acceptable sound levels.

5. Film studios will be required to follow state guidelines regarding studio percentages of box office grosses, and distribution as in who can have prints and who cannot. This will allow smaller independant theaters to gain access to newer films without having to keep the print forever or paying out the rear end for it either.

6. Theater GM's shall not be under the age of 25. Just a personal gripe for me.

7. A minimum of 45 minutes will be mandatory between each film showing. CLEANING OF THEATERS is mandatory between each film showing. Also another personal gripe for me.

8. A mandatory intermission on all films that exceed 2.5 hours in length will be added. The films producers or studio may dictate at what scene or reel change as long as it is not in the first hour or in the last hour of the film. Intermissions shall not be shorter than ten minutes and shall not exceed 15 minutes.

9. And finally, The governor shall be entitled to a private screening of any movie he wishes, with free concessions for him and his crew.

Any input on these rules is highly requested. I got NO SLEEP last night.

Dave
 

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Posted by Howard Johnson (Member # 62) on 01-01-2003, 02:14 PM:
 
I like your policies Dave, I would vote for you if I lived in Utah, mind you I don't suppose they would let me in after mis-spelling "mormon" that must be a capital offence. I'll take the firing-squad! Regarding the workers compensation do you get a lump sum after an accident or just the weekly payments? Do you have to go to a lawyer and sue to get anything else?
 

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Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 01-01-2003, 02:42 PM:
 
No GM's under 25? Gotta disagree there ... I've been a GM since 20 (I'm only 23 now). 30 minutes between showings is sufficient to clean and seat a decent size theater, provided you have a decent staff.
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-01-2003, 07:07 PM:
 
Gotta disagree with the intermission thing. If you can't sit still for 3 hours then perhaps you should see the doctor about your incontinence. I hate disrupting the flow of a movie that was not designed for an intermission.
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-01-2003, 10:38 PM:
 
Have to disagree with you Joe. The Two Towers really needed an intermission. My ass really hurt after two hours and I hated that I could not stand up and start.... well making my ass not hurt.

Dave
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 01-01-2003, 11:29 PM:
 
Dave, Go to the new Stadium 8 in Providence and see it. I guarantee your ass won't hurt after the showing there.......NICE seating!
Yea, they do need to go back to intermissions though. I ahte to miss anything just to take a leak, or get a refill, or my 6th box of Goobers. I am more likely to bring in my own snacks so I don't have to get up and leave during long films.
Perhaps you need one of those doughnuts to sit on that Hemmoroid suffer's use.......
Mark
 

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Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 01-02-2003, 12:12 AM:
 
No GM's under 25? Why? I imagine that you must have had a personal bad experience with a young GM. I wont take it personally cuz im just a manager not a GM.... yet.

I know Rachel was a GM at 21 so you may have to watch out for her!!!
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 01-02-2003, 12:26 AM:
 
If I made a movie I'd be PISSED if it got an intermission I did not plan for just because Utah is too wimpy to handle it. Go to a nicer theater. I say theaters should have nicer seats instead of intermissions. I think most people are able to handle long movies. Look at Titanic. They may have whined in Utah (also probably whined because of the nudity, etc) but I didn't hear a peep from anyone here in Colorado.

Unless a movie is well over 3 hours, I do not like intermissions. And if a movie is that long, then an intermission should be built in, with the scene fading out and an "Intermission" tag coming in, then fading out with the lights coming up, etc. Doing it at a reel change looks sloppy, half-assed, and unprofessional.
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-02-2003, 12:34 AM:
 
Gotta agree with Joe here, you should bump up that intermission to 3 hours 15 minutes (including ALL trailers and advertising). Otherwise some films will just never get to be played in Utah. Some producers and directors are weird that way.

Also, you should place a fine on every single commercial advertistment shown before a movie. This fine should be at the governor's discretion, but not to be less than $10,000 per commercial shown which goes to the state and then a fine not to be less than $100 per paying customer that was in the auditorium.
 

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Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 01-02-2003, 12:29 PM:
 
Okay, let's see here:

1. This would lead to theaters not advertizing digital at all. And if you don't advertize digital, what would it matter if you used it or not? Those DTS discs left at the rewind bench would seem SO FAR AWAY to go get them all of the sudden.

2. Why have the R-Rated policy anyway? Why not just have G, PG, PG13, and NC17 then? There are plenty of mature people under 18 who behave themselves at the movies. And not letting them into an R feature, even with a parent, is absurd. Why do we need the MPAA ratings system if we're going to make our own rules?

3. A great idea, but how would this be enforced? Will the governor's office send out their own team of screen checkers to make sure standards are being followed? Who will pay for it?

4. Again, great idea, but how will this be checked?

5. This will never happen. Studios will probably end up waiting 3-6 weeks into a film's run before releasing anything to the state of Utah.

6. This is dumb. If someone is mature and qualified enough to be a GM at under 25, so be it. Personal gripes shouldn't encroach on your political platform.

7. 45 minutes is way too much. Our staff had Lord Of The Rings cleaned and ready to go on Saturday in 10 minutes. There's 15-20 between showings.

8. Again, I wouln't expect to see Utah getting any 2.5+ hour movies anytime soon after that.

9. Him and his crew? Does the theater get to impose a limit as to how large this crew can be? After all, they ARE losing hundreds of dollars just for the governor to enjoy himself at the movies.

Sorry Dave, you don't have my vote as of now. I'll have to wait to see the debates, though!

=TMP=
 

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Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 01-02-2003, 02:10 PM:
 

quote:

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Also, you should place a fine on every single commercial advertistment shown before a movie.

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That's a good idea.. but instead of a fine we could call it a tax. We could call it "The Rolling Stock Tax".
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-02-2003, 09:53 PM:
 
Sorry Thomas, you missed the point on why no minors to R rated films at the theaters.

Here is why. Here in Utah we have a growing problem with youth getting out of control. Understand that here in Utah, we used to have a handle on this. However, parents are starting to believe that children as young as 3 should be allowed into the R movie with them, just because the MPAA says they can be idiot parents.

I know this goes back to the Clintons, but it really does take a village to raise a child. If the parents are no longer willing to take proper responsibility for the future, meaning that our children, like it or not, are going to grow up and take over, then the government does have a responsibility to step in and start setting things straight.

Before anyone starts with the jack booted thugs routine about government intrusion, remember that we have several instances and laws created for the betterment of our children. For instance, we do not allow minors into bars and get liqoured up, but we do not control what happens at the home.

So this comes down to a "what is good for the public in general" solution. We prevent minors from attending public screenings of Adult themed material, but we do not stop thier parents from renting it and showing it to thier three year olds at home.

Does this hurt the industry? No. In utah, R rated fare does not do traditionally well, and this is not forcing an editing of movies. This is just a public interest. If we tell the parents of Utah that this movie is not only appropriate for your youngster, but you are not going to get them in either.

How does this prevent them from just showing it at home to thier kids? Well it doesn't, but like a waiting period to buy a gun, it provides a cooling off period. By the time it comes on video, the percentage of people that are going to show it to thier kids comes down. How can I prove that? Well that goes back to the original problem. The problem really isn't parents that WANT to show this to thier small children, it is parents too lazy or cheap to get babysitters. At the video point, they will usually wait to later hours to enjoy it, when they get the kids to bed.

Its all a crap shoot any way you look at it.

But if the MPAA, which we all claim to love and trust so much, says it is inappropraite for minors, then why the hell would we want them in there?

Back when the MPAA was created and the ratings put in place, parents were more responsible then. They got sitters and went to the movies. Now not so much. They just take the kids along for the ride.

So this comes to societal responsibility. Do we just say "hey its not fair, lets let the parents bring all thier kids cuz its thier right and we want thier money!!!', and let the countries children continue on this path?

It is in the first six years of life that people learn thier value system. If the parents are unwilling to instill one in them, this country is better off just dying and becoming some sort of anarchy.

Dave
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-02-2003, 10:02 PM:
 
And on the issue of intermissions, I can bend a bit.

HOWEVER,

Utah would not be passed up for films if we had different rules or laws. There are federal protections in place to prevent a studio or producer from keeping a film from an entire state.

now as to forcing an intermission, I would be willing to bend on that one, instead I would allow a tax credit to theaters and studios who can come to an intermission aggreement.

Thomas, there is a very huge problem with your argument that is is wrong to have intermissions without the director or producer deciding if there can be one...

HERE IS WHY...

Except for the DVD of Mulholland Drive, which contains no chapter stops....

The director and producer can only make a film, they can even decide its best presentation standard, but they cannot dictate how EVERYONE is going to see the film. Some will see it at home on DVD, even on PAN AND SCAN.

To suggest that studios would even try and FORGO actual MONEY because we had some archaic rule that dictated intermissions, would be just silly. Studios continue to allow movies to be played at horrible cinemas and they dont seem to care about that.

And besides, there used to be intermissions all the time. I just would like to have film be enjoyable for all who attend.

Imagine someone suing the studio because thier bladder exploded, all because the movie was so intense they dare not leave! AND IT WAS SO LONG.

Look, I am not suggesting putting anyone out of business, I am only suggesting improvements to our society as a whole, and to create a business friendly atmosphere that does NOT directly or indirectly try to destroy children at the hands of lazy irresponsible parents.

Dave
 

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Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 01-02-2003, 10:07 PM:
 
And as far as not allowing personal feelings to get involved? Well in that case lets just let the whole world walk all over us and just say "thank you sir may I have another".

Ok, maybe 25 is to round a number. How about 16? Old enough? So what constitutes OLD enough? Skill? Maturity? Knowledge?

Would you upset if I wanted a return of the unions?

Would YOU want an 18 year old telling you what to do?

I know there are plenty of young and talented GM's UNDER 25. Just not in Utah.

I am willing to let go of the 25 YO restriction. That's the advantage of having an OPEN mind. I can change it, or even... GASP... modify my own opinions... WOW!!!

Really though, I am not crazy, just merely insane.

Dave
 

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Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-02-2003, 10:09 PM:
 
HEY! 3 posts in a row in under 15 minutes??? You're just trying to pad your posts there Mr. Dave! I know you are excited to get to 1000, but Joe is going to start docking 50 off of people's post count for every "double posting" to teach people to use that edit button.


 

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 01-02-2003, 10:11 PM:
 
When "THE RIGHT STUFF" was released many years ago, one of the Waikiki Twin theatres was offered a 70mm print but was not able to run it because Warner Brothers did not permit an intermission. I was told that the platter in this theatre was not large enough to hold the entire print and had to split it in order to run it. The Waikiki ran a 35mm print instead.
Bummers!

-Claude
 

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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 01-02-2003, 11:15 PM:
 

quote:

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When "THE RIGHT STUFF" was released many years ago, one of the Waikiki Twin theatres was offered a 70mm print but was not able to run it because Warner Brothers did not permit an intermission.

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Ironically, I saw this film at a first run theatre in Bakersfield in their 70mm house, with a 35mm print. AND, they stuck an intermission it, right after John Glenn said to his wife he would be the first in space. Another theatre stuck an intermission in Sophie's Choice. This wasn't that uncommon with local theatres back then.
 

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 01-02-2003, 11:28 PM:
 
A good friend who was vice president of theatre operations for Consolidated at the time told me that Warner Brothers had insisted that "THE RIGHT STUFF" play without a pause and that was what Faith dicided to do and passed on the 70mm. Faith was good about following orders from her superiors and that is the reason she was well liked.

-Claude
 

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Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 01-03-2003, 01:51 AM:
 
While I agree that very young children (6 and younger) shouldn't be allowed into R features at all, I did not miss the point as that doesn't address those kids who are 13, 14, 15, 16 who may want to enjoy an R rated film with their parents or older friends. I saw "Good Will Hunting" at the age of 15. I heard "Fuck" 144 times, along with some sexual (*gasp*) dialogue. I'm still here, still alive and well, and 3 years into a college education.

There was a case near the turn of the century (the older century, not this one ) regarding obscenity and the banning of certain reading material because it could "harm children" who read it. That case was thrown out for the simple reason that, if a law were created to ensure that books didn't contain material that wasn't suitable for children, everyone would be writing (and reading) at a child's level.

quote:

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Thomas, there is a very huge problem with your argument that is is wrong to have intermissions without the director or producer deciding if there can be one...

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I see no problem, as I never made such an argument.

And for the record:
- I would be thrilled if Unions returned.
- I would not have a problem with someone younger than me telling me what to do. As I have no problem with questioning something someone older tells me to do. It all depends on the situation.
- I hate the MPAA.

=TMP=
 

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Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 01-03-2003, 02:10 AM:
 
I boycott Thomas Procyk.
Anyone in a straight jacket is to be avoided like a plague of wild fandangos.
 

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Posted by Thomas Procyk (Member # 1170) on 01-03-2003, 02:23 AM:
 
In that case, I boycott James R. Hammonds, Jr. Anyone with a "Jr." name is obviously lacking originality, and is as boring and tired as any other sequel.

Oh, and the fact that he cut his hair (was that supposed to be a secret?) is just unacceptable. Boycotting for lack of Afro.

=TMP=
 

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Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 01-03-2003, 09:43 AM:
 
James cut his hair? Oh no! Shame on you, James!

If I see a picture of James without the bushy hair, I'll probably be in as much of a shock as when I saw what Orlando Bloom looked like (with short dark hair) rather than the nice long blond hair as Legolas in Lord of the Rings.
 

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 10-23-2003, 10:03 PM:
 
Operation: Rollback

I thought I'd dredge up this old thread since Wal-Mart is in the news today. It illustrates Reason #17 why I hate Wal-Mart: They beat their suppliers and contractors to a bloody pulp to get stuff as cheap as possible. Thus encouraging such practices as the hiring of undocumented workers by those contractors. I bet as this story unfolds we'll find out these workers were not paid in accordance with US wage laws.

====================================

U.S. Arrests Hundreds of Workers at Wal-Mart Stores
By James Vicini

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of workers at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. locations across the country were arrested on immigration charges in an investigation into contractor cleaning crews, and some company executives knew about the alleged illegal hirings, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

They said the investigation, known as "Operation Rollback," involved allegations the contractor had recruited illegal immigrants, mainly Eastern European nationals, to work on cleaning crews at stores of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer.

Two officials initially said about 300 workers had been arrested at 61 stores in 21 states. But the officials later revised the numbers and said about 250 had been arrested at some 60 stores. They said investigators were still pursuing at least 50 workers.

Federal law enforcement officials said some Wal-Mart executives had direct knowledge of the alleged scheme, based on recorded conversations, surveillance and monitoring.

One official said federal agents conducted searches at the Bentonville, Arkansas, headquarters of Wal-Mart, the largest U.S. private sector employer, with about 1.1 million workers in the United States and 1.4 million worldwide.

Another official said federal grand jury subpoenas have been issued for the Wal-Mart executives to testify. The executives were not identified.

An official said the U.S. investigators believe Wal-Mart has shown a "reckless disregard" for U.S. immigration laws, exploiting workers, and has continued to hire some contractors who were already convicted of felony violations.

A Wal-Mart spokesman said the company was "committed to cooperating" with federal officials, who he said came to company headquarters with specific requests for information.

"These are third-party contractors," spokesman Tom Williams said. "We require that the contractors use legal workers."

"We don't know at this point if the current investigation includes one or more outside contractors. We use hundreds of them," he said, adding that about 1,000 of Wal-Mart's U.S. stores have outside cleaning services.

Wal-Mart already faces dozens of lawsuits alleging discrimination and violations of wage-and-hour rules. The company has drawn fire from labor groups, who say the company has an anti-union stance.

WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT EFFORT

Garrison Courtney, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the arrests were part of a "worksite enforcement" effort.

"If a company knowingly hires illegal workers it can be penalized up to $10,000 per person," he said.

The latest arrests stemmed from two prior investigations by federal immigration officials involving contractors and Wal-Mart stores, one in 1998 and the other in 2001, the officials said.

One official said the cleaning contractor at issue in the latest investigation was owned by two Illinois men and a Missouri man.

The company, which was not identified, allegedly hired illegal aliens, who had been recruited in the United States and in Europe, the official said.

Kurt Barnard, head of the consulting firm Retail Forecasting Group, said, "This is going to be a major public relations problem, with lots of tongues wagging about it."

Still, he said the news would probably have little effect on Wal-Mart's sales or profits because the company's low prices will continue to attract shoppers by the millions. Wal-Mart estimates more than 100 million Americans visit their stores every week.

On Wall Street, the stock closed up 47 cents at $58.71 on the New York Stock Exchange (news - web sites).

In March, a federal court jury acquitted leading poultry processor Tyson Foods and three of its executives of conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants to work at its U.S. plants. (Additional reporting by Deborah Charles and Emily Kaiser)
 

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Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 10-24-2003, 11:59 AM:
 
WalMart has previously faced anti-labor charges and many complaints that workers were forced to return to work after clocking out for the day, to perform unpaid overtime.
 

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Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 11-18-2005, 09:43 PM:
 

It has been 756 days since the last post.

 

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Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 11-18-2005, 09:43 PM:
 
Continued from here

quote:

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they screw workers out of overtime

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quote:

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Wal-Mart receives huge subsidies from localities to build stores

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quote:

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hideous working conditions of the factory workers in China

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quote:

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the ultimate version of what happens when corporate suits get their way with everything

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quote:

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At least Target workers are unionized. Aren't they? I'm not a big fan of unions, but in the case of Wal-Mart I'd love to see them be unionized. That'd learn 'em!

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Ha, Here they are not unionized! Jewtah is a Right To Work State.... The girlfriend worked at Target for a short while till I made her quit. They hired her for a stock position but gave her some other job on day one and she never got to do the job she was hired for.... They also treat their employees like dogs in a slum kennel, just as bad as Wal-Mart from what I've seen. She(and I) endured those assholes for three weeks, about 2 weeks 6 days too long!

When I shop I seek out local independents no matter what I shop for even if the cost is a bit higher. Even the food store chain Albertson's is up for sale because they have had too many Wal-Marts pounded down on top of them and they say they just can't compete anymore. I don't think anyone is going to want to buy them though.

Now on to Wal-Mart..... What a great law abiding company.....

125 Illegal Workers Found at Wal-Mart Site

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, Associated Press Writer

SCRANTON, Pa. - An immigration raid at a Wal-Mart distribution center under construction led to the arrests of 125 illegal workers, all of whom will be deported, federal officials said Friday.

The workers from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico were detained Thursday at the construction site in eastern Pennsylvania, according to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Some of the 125 used fake documents to obtain employment with subcontractors, officials said.

The arrests came after search warrants were executed for six companies at the site outside Pottsville, about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

"Employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens, and those who utilize false documents to gain employment, face significant criminal and administrative charges," John Kelleghan, acting special agent-in-charge for ICE in Pennsylvania, said in a statement.

Agents obtained the search warrants after learning that 10 workers employed by Destin Drywall & Paint were using Social Security numbers that did not match their names. Another three used Social Security numbers that were never issued by the government, according to an affidavit unsealed Friday at U.S. District Court in Scranton.

Houston-based Destin has worked on Wal-Mart projects around the country, according to office manager Cindy Wyman. She said the company verifies that employees are permitted to work in the United States.

"As far as I know, their Social Security numbers are good," Wyman said of the Pennsylvania workers.

A Wal-Mart spokesman has said the detained workers were not employed by Wal-Mart but by the subcontractors. Wal-Mart's contracts with the companies require that they follow local, state and federal employment laws, the company said.

The Pennsylvania job site remains shut down, Wal-Mart spokesman Marty Heires said Friday. He did not know when construction would resume.

Last month, Wal-Mart shut down work on seven stores under construction in North Dakota to check for illegal aliens after two illegal immigrants working on Wal-Mart projects in Bismarck were charged with molesting two 13-year-old girls. Charges against one of the suspects were dropped after authorities found out he was a juvenile.

In 2003, a raid of 60 Wal-Mart stores in 21 states led to the arrests of 245 illegal workers. An affidavit claimed a pair of senior Wal-Mart executives knew cleaning contractors were hiring illegal immigrants. The retailer agreed to pay $11 million in March to settle the case but denied senior executives knew of the hirings.

Mark
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 11-18-2005, 11:45 PM:
 
The Wal-Mart stuff, even this latest news of "undocumented workers" building a distribution center, should surprise no one. Damn near every American home getting built, or even having a roof replaced or lawn landscaped is being made possible by illegal alien labor. Our elected officials and law enforcement guys simply look the other way. That's because their "friends" are breaking the law instead of some penniless black guy in a ghetto.

The way I see it, this Wal-Mart bust happened because some "friend" in Pennsylvania pissed off some other "friend" at a country club gathering or some shit like that. Payback's a bitch.

We have a bunch of businessmen who are walking contradictions running things. They wave the American flag and talk all high and mighty about "patriotism" and other shit like that. In the same breath they'll say "outsourcing is a good thing" even if it involves selling out to the Communist Peoples Republic of China.

That's something I also don't understand about Wal-Mart. This is a company based in the heart of the bible belt, within the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. But they seem to have no problems making bedfellows with Red China. Human rights violations? Impoverished workers threated with SARS and bird flu? Intellectual property theft? A communist government ramping up military spending to match our own? Who cares!!! The extra profit on the next quarterly report is the only thing that matters. Who gives a shit what predicament the United States falls into 20 years from now? Us rich guys will be dead by then!

The corporate honchos don't give a shit. They live on some kind of "it'll all work out in the end" kind of sappy faith based economics. They have the attitude, "I'll be a greedy shithead and grab all I can from everyone else, but trust in everyone else to do the right thing." Trouble is they're not the only ones thinking this way. Many people copy the same ideology.

Golf courses across America are filled with people seething with hatred for anyone who has the title "employee" instead of "business owner." If you're an employee you're a socialist loser and deserve to starve in poverty. Of course, that doesn't make any sense economically. Most businesses live and die on the basis of what employees do, not what the owner does. That's even true of most small businesses. The vast majority of businesses in this country depend on the employees of other businesses for survival. Business owners are a tiny minority. Their dollars are not what keeps this country afloat. They don't have the spending power to do that.
 

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Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 11-19-2005, 01:20 AM:
 
I'm boycotting golf courses because each year my golfing seems to get worse and worse, so of course I blame them.

Seriously, I would LOVE to boycott Walmart for all the right reasons, especially since I work at a 'mom and pop' store. But they're the only shop in town opened 24 hours (other than Walgreens) Since I'm a night owl, it's the only place I can go late at night to get food, etc. However, my boyfriend is a die hard anti-Walmart kind of guy and has not stepped into a Walmart since 2001.

If only Target was opened 24 hours...::sigh::. But I'm sure Target has a few skeletons in their closet as well. Not as much as Walmart I'm betting.

Oh, If there is a Super Walmart in your area (or more than one like we have) what is their restaurant/fast food joint in that store? Most of ours has McDonalds but our biggest one in East Peoria has a Subway. I find this odd since people go to Walmart for 'great prices' but then have to spend 5-6 bucks on a Subway sandwich if they want to opposed to a $1 hamburger at McDonalds.

I remember when Walmarts slogan was something like "Made In America" back in the early 90's. Hmmmmmm Whatever happened to that...?
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 11-19-2005, 06:05 AM:
 
Since my post three years ago, Virgin Trains has come off the list - they've become a lot more reliable. British Airways (Shitish would be more accurate) is now on it, though. In summer 2003 I had to go to a meeting in Frankfurt with a broadcaster to whom a big footage sale was on the cards, with a lot of potentially valuable revenue for my archive. The Newcastle to Heathrow plane was two hours late ('due to staff shortages'), meaning that I missed my connection. I just made the meeting, but there were delays and hassles coming home, too. Then the following New Year, a friend came to stay from Washington DC. Despite having checked in three hours early, she was 'bumped' from the overbooked flight, and had to wait six hours for the next one. She also asked the check-in agent to 'phone me and let me know. This BA failed to do, meaning that I spent six hours in the middle of the night in the Manchester arrivals area. Even then it was a battle to get the BA staff at Manchester to tell me what was going on. What with that and all the wildcat strikes that have affected them, this all says to me that travelling on BA is one big risk to be avoided.

For both of my US trips this year (one in September and one coming up at the end of this month), their quotes were pretty competitive: but I've still gone with the slightly more expensive KLM/Northwest option, because (so far at least) the extra £20 or so has guaranteed an on-time arrival and a high standard of service.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 11-19-2005, 10:08 AM:
 
Whilst KLM might be ok NWA is to be avoided at all costs here in the US. They are famous for their drunk pilots and odd ground incidents that seem to occur with some regularity.... Once inside the US I reccomemnd flying Delta, United, or American.

Shades of Airbus and Jet Blue!


Both the pilot and co-pilot received a bad owie from this one.

 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 11-19-2005, 11:00 AM:
 
Now that's what I call blowing your no-claims bonus! How did it happen, though? If the DC-9 had run forwards into the larger plane, then at that angle its wing would surely have hit the larger plane's fuselage long before the DC-9's cockpit got anywhere near the larger plane's (don't recognise what type it is) wing. My only guess would be that the larger plane was reversing away from an airport gate when the impact happened, and the impact itself caused the back of the DC-9 to rotate. In that case the impact must have been quite hard and the DC-9 pilots had a lucky escape.

I've made three NW transatlantic trips now, and all have been on time, safe and trouble-free. OK, the DC-10s are showing their age; but I'd much prefer a noisy old plane to massive delays and being left stranded by wildcat strikes, both of which BA seems prone to.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 11-19-2005, 12:14 PM:
 
Boycott NWA Airlines? You can't do that! It's the airline of Dr. Dre, Eazy E, Ice Cube and MC Ren! Straight Outta Compton, Biatch!
 

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Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 11-19-2005, 12:36 PM:
 
I worked at Target for about 5 years during college, and there was one weekend where there was no one in the back stockroom, as that Friday immigration raided the place or something like that, and nearly 90% of the backroom workers turned out to be illegals.
 

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Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 11-19-2005, 01:32 PM:
 

quote:

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Boycott NWA Airlines? You can't do that! It's the airline of Dr. Dre, Eazy E, Ice Cube and MC Ren! Straight Outta Compton, Biatch!

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quote: Paul Mayer

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The industry needs to see about half the ASMs (Available Seat Miles) out there simply disappear.

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quote: Paul Mayer

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Many air transportation industry observers have concluded there is simply too much product (ASMs) in the market. This condition has lead to a buyer's market which has forced air carriers to give away the product in order to have any revenue at all, let alone profit. Hence, lots of packed airplanes flying yet almost no one is making any money.

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quote: Jeremy Fuentes

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Is Dave the Governor of Utah yet?

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I was going to run, but my job got in the way. I couldn't get enough time off to make an effective campaign, or vote. Plus, it turns out that people don't like it when they have to choose between the anti christ (me) and the guy they actually end up voting for. Not sure which would have been the better bet.

On the plus side, I know that I am good enough, smart enough, and people do like me. Or so I tell myself when I drink myself to sleep at night. And during the day. Sometimes at lunch.

I will run for Gov of utah, if I can stay out of prison long enough to.

Ciao
 

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Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 11-24-2005, 09:12 AM:
 
I was going to run for President on the "I'm not corrupt, yet." platform. (This is NOT political....I think all career politicians are corrupt, regardless of party.) Louis
 

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Posted by Chad Souder (Member # 343) on 11-26-2005, 01:00 PM:
 
Be careful, Louis, even with your disclaimer. Rather than just ignore posts they don't care to read or comment on, they choose to ban entire subjects here. Yeah, it doesn't make sense to me, either.
 

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Posted by Robert Burtcher (Member # 3227) on 01-22-2006, 06:52 AM:
 

quote: Allison Parsons

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Oh, If there is a Super Walmart in your area (or more than one like we have) what is their restaurant/fast food joint in that store?

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quote: Allison Parsons

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I remember when Walmarts slogan was something like "Made In America" back in the early 90's. Hmmmmmm Whatever happened to that...?

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The day that Sam Walton died and his family took over the company was the day that the company went all to . Sam Walton's offspring care only about profits and nothing more.
 

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