Corporate vs Private

I found out today that I will have to end a business relationship I've developed with a private entrepreneur. Corporate restructuring is forcing my hand. I understand completely from the Corporate standpoint why the decision was made. It doesn't make it easier knowing that in the near future I will have to inform this small business owner that we can no longer use his services. We are one of his biggest clients. How will this loss affect his business which he works so hard to run?

Maybe I'm worried about my own loss. He is my most reliable vendor. His company jumps through hoops for me. I'm reluctant to loose such an asset. I'm reluctant to pull the rug out from under a man and an organization which has worked so hard on my behalf.

Not that I have a choice in the matter. The decision has been made. This time, I'm not the decision maker, but simple the messenger of bad news.

From a Corporate viewpoint, this is the best move we can make. I know this. I agree with this. Business is business, I guess.

THANKSGIVING

For the first time in my life I have shared Thanksgiving Dinner with both of my parents. It was rather strange to say the least. In fact the only occasion I can recall ever spending time with both of my parents (not counting custody battles) was at my wedding.

It was a good Thanksgiving though. My mother seemed out of place at times (I don't think she is accustomed to hanging around non-mormons). A little boring at times. For some reason the usual jovialness seemed to be lacking.

Maybe it's cuz I was too mentally preoccupied to really engage the occasion. Anyhow, I enjoyed the break from life.

Now back to reality.

Headline News (unless you live in America)

I ran accross this article online. It's aphalling and grotesque and apparently completely overlooked by US News Media, who never fail to catch a US soldier in a compromising situation.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20726085-2703,00.html

Apparently the brutal beheading of three young Christian girls is less newsworthy than Abu Grabi and congressman Foley.

What would you eat for 2.7 Million Dollars?

An LA fireman was recently awarded 2.7 Million Dollars in a settlement. What horrible crime was committed against him that warrented such a large settlement. His fellow fire fighteres as a prank, put dog food in his spaghetti sauce. He ate two whole bites of it before his fellow fire fighter (who were of course laughing) let him in on the joke.

But why did we give him millions of dollars? Well apparently, according to his lawyers, this was a humiliating event racially based (he was black of course) to imply he was a slave dog.

If you aren't shaking your head yet, it gets better. Apparently this 22 year veteran was well know as a prankster himself. This very large man was also know for calling himself "BIG DOG" and for screaming out sayings like "feed the Big Dog" at LAFD volleyball games.

But since he is black and his pranksters are white and hispanic, their prank was obviously race based and deserving of 2.7 million dollars.

Now lets just assume for two seconds that this prank had anything to do with racial degredation. Even if that were true (which I think the fact show it to be completely false) why do the taxpayers of LA have to fork over 2.7 Mil? Why do we have to pay anything? Why am I and my fellow taxpayers responsible for the individual action of a few men? IF they are truly guilty of some crime, should not any retribution be made by the offending parties. Would that not be just. But why does all of LA County have to pay because someone was offended at a joke?

How many more cops or firefighters could we put on the streets for 2.7 Mil? How many roads could we fix? How many streets could we light?

I think this man a total disgrace to the spirit of firefighters (to help those in need). He instead has chosen to rob LA's citizen of their hard earned money, because someone played a prank on Mr Prankster and it offended him.

Only one city council member spoke out saying how ridiculous this settlement was. He was apparently laughed off the stage while they signed away my hard earned money.

So, what would you eat for 2.7 Million Dollars?