Amazon is beginning to feel the weight of its own size. Making a guarantee of "same-day" or "next-day" delivery has been shown by this year's Christmas shopping season to be a near-impossibility.
With one exception, all of my recent purchases have arrived in a timely fashion. BUT, several of them seem to have taken an around-the-world trip in getting here.
One that comes to mind is a certain recipe book. On one day, I ordered a copy for a family member. It was delivery WEEKS before Christmas. Two days later, I reconsidered and ordered an additional THREE copies, both for personal use and for potential gifts. Just two days. These books are still out there somewhere.
When I checked two days ago, the infamous shipping flow chart showed that they had been shipped and were "Out For Delivery", even though the location they were being distributed from is 60 miles away.
Today, when I checked the status again, this same order was now located not even within 500 miles; in New Jersey.
Why do we tolerate this? Because we've been trained to believe that "Your Order Has Shipped" means that it's actually moving somewhere. In fact, this has really meant that your item is no longer considered part of THEIR inventory. And, you'll get it when you get it.
I'm starting to get the feeling that "Out of Stock" is NOT part of their business model; that they glue down that ONE last item, just so it can't be placed into the queue of purchases.
Let's hope "Big Brother" Amazon doesn't creep further into our society. This waiting for package delivery is starting to sound standing in line in the Socialist environment.
Now I can't seem to get Ron Howard singing ….. "O-ho the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin' down the street. Oh please let it be for me....."
31 December 2019
19 December 2019
QUID PRO QUO
IF there is no "quid pro quo" in government and politics, especially in the Capitol, then we should insist that Speaker Pe-lousy should be required to appoint the three Democratic members of the House, who voted AGAINST Impeachment, to "Chairman" of a House Committee.
Then again, Party Chairman Tom Perez very likely already has them on his "HIT LIST", and they'll all be shunned and ignored, having their Party Membership challenged or revoked.
12 December 2019
China Is Older
Consider this..
China, as a "country", has probably been in existence for over FIVE thousand years. Its language and culture has been developed for over thousands of years, long before the birth of Christ. The people have organized under numerous leaders, both self-declared and "elected". It is known to have created and championed a plethora of innovations throughout its history. The peoples have introduced, formulated, adapted, and adopted improvements of agriculture, manufacturing, and technology from the start. People still refer to Confucius for wisdom and guidance. It is the "tortoise".
The United States of America has been in existence for LESS than 250 years. It's language was borrowed from elsewhere. It's culture is under constant change, from decade to decade to the current hour to hour transformation. It has, without question, been a leader of change from the time of the Industrial Revolution. The innovations it has brought forth have impacted the entire globe. Social Media is now it's guiding light. It is the "hare".
China has seen societies, cultures, and countries grow, blossom, challenge it, fade away, and die. NO ONE has ever conquered China. NO. ONE. EVER.
To be so naïve to think that China "needs" anything from the USA in order to survive is pure fantasy. It's trade "negotiations" mean nothing. Industrial pollution is just the cost of keeping citizens employed. As long as there is no widespread revolt, and those in power can remain in power, nothing will change. If thousands of its people must perish in order for the state to continue, so be it. It matters little. Just don't drink the water.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few".
There is no such thing as "personal space" in their culture. (Have you ever encountered someone from China in a public setting and wondered how they could be so rude? They aren't rude. They just don't know that personal space is a "thing". ) What's theirs is theirs. What's yours is theirs. That's just a matter of fact.
In recent history, both Hitler and Stalin "negotiated" their positions toward one of conquest. Their gains were made mostly under the belief by western leaders that they spoke in only truths. And, yet, each regime lasted less than 60 years. Communist China is over 100 years old, has had repetitive change in leadership, and shows no sign of slowing down. It shows no desire for conquest. It is just patiently waiting for everyone else to fail.
It is just waiting for the hare to die.
China, as a "country", has probably been in existence for over FIVE thousand years. Its language and culture has been developed for over thousands of years, long before the birth of Christ. The people have organized under numerous leaders, both self-declared and "elected". It is known to have created and championed a plethora of innovations throughout its history. The peoples have introduced, formulated, adapted, and adopted improvements of agriculture, manufacturing, and technology from the start. People still refer to Confucius for wisdom and guidance. It is the "tortoise".
The United States of America has been in existence for LESS than 250 years. It's language was borrowed from elsewhere. It's culture is under constant change, from decade to decade to the current hour to hour transformation. It has, without question, been a leader of change from the time of the Industrial Revolution. The innovations it has brought forth have impacted the entire globe. Social Media is now it's guiding light. It is the "hare".
China has seen societies, cultures, and countries grow, blossom, challenge it, fade away, and die. NO ONE has ever conquered China. NO. ONE. EVER.
To be so naïve to think that China "needs" anything from the USA in order to survive is pure fantasy. It's trade "negotiations" mean nothing. Industrial pollution is just the cost of keeping citizens employed. As long as there is no widespread revolt, and those in power can remain in power, nothing will change. If thousands of its people must perish in order for the state to continue, so be it. It matters little. Just don't drink the water.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few".
There is no such thing as "personal space" in their culture. (Have you ever encountered someone from China in a public setting and wondered how they could be so rude? They aren't rude. They just don't know that personal space is a "thing". ) What's theirs is theirs. What's yours is theirs. That's just a matter of fact.
In recent history, both Hitler and Stalin "negotiated" their positions toward one of conquest. Their gains were made mostly under the belief by western leaders that they spoke in only truths. And, yet, each regime lasted less than 60 years. Communist China is over 100 years old, has had repetitive change in leadership, and shows no sign of slowing down. It shows no desire for conquest. It is just patiently waiting for everyone else to fail.
It is just waiting for the hare to die.
05 December 2019
What is China waiting for?
"Six months later, after a visit to Berlin from the rudely bumbling Molotov, Hitler gave the order
for a greatly expanded plan of attack that would take place in May 1941, while
his minions continued to negotiate with Stalin’s emissaries about the trade
agreements."
Deathride, John Mosier
Rephrased....
Six months later, after a visit to Beijing from the rudely bumbling Guiliani, Xi Jinping gave the order for a greatly expanded plan of attack that would take place in 2021, while his minions continued to negotiate with Trump's emissaries about the trade agreements.
You can't help but understand that the study of international "attacks" has been and will be used time and time again. The attack we will see will NOT be violent, resulting in immediate deaths and destruction. The attack we will experience will be on our technology and our dependence upon it. An satellite-borne EMP could paralyze our entire hemisphere, making all but the overly-paranoid survivalist an eventual target for death. Understand that we can't even receive clean drinking water once our computer-directed water system have been shut down.
for a greatly expanded plan of attack that would take place in May 1941, while
his minions continued to negotiate with Stalin’s emissaries about the trade
agreements."
Deathride, John Mosier
Rephrased....
Six months later, after a visit to Beijing from the rudely bumbling Guiliani, Xi Jinping gave the order for a greatly expanded plan of attack that would take place in 2021, while his minions continued to negotiate with Trump's emissaries about the trade agreements.
You can't help but understand that the study of international "attacks" has been and will be used time and time again. The attack we will see will NOT be violent, resulting in immediate deaths and destruction. The attack we will experience will be on our technology and our dependence upon it. An satellite-borne EMP could paralyze our entire hemisphere, making all but the overly-paranoid survivalist an eventual target for death. Understand that we can't even receive clean drinking water once our computer-directed water system have been shut down.
22 August 2019
If You Build It, Will They Come?
Joyce and I recently returned from a Buffalo-to-Seattle and back trip to visit with Michael, Sophia, and our newest granddaughter, Louisa. And, yes, we drove. Wanting to avoid certain known areas of high traffic, we used the "Canada Route" to get to Michigan and back. Having not been west of Minnesota in ANY of our vehicle-based vacations, I used the Good Sam Trip Planner to locate and reserve campsites along our route.
For some areas of the Country, we seldom saw other small RV's or travel-trailers sharing the road with us. But, in others, these numbers soared. And, depending on the time of day, they could be seen out-numbering all other vehicles with which we were traveling.
And, when it came to campgrounds, our over-night stays put us in some more-than-crowded campgrounds, regardless of how far off the beaten path we may have found ourselves; the UP of Michigan, rural Minnesota, no-where North Dakota, and mountainous Oregon. Then, when we began our return, destination-area campgrounds became larger, more numerous, and even MORE attended.
So, what was the overwhelming realization/conclusion?
What about "us"? Where do folks stay in Western New York when they travel here?
When I read an article last year mentioning where to go and where to stay when taking a "circle-route" around the US for those full-time RV'ers, the route COMPLETELY avoided all of this part of the State, including our "Seven Wonders of the Natural World", Niagara Falls.
Take a look at what campgrounds and the number of sites are available and you'll quickly see the probable answer.
There are NO campgrounds within 30 minutes of downtown Buffalo. There are NO campgrounds within 5 miles of the Falls in Niagara Falls, USA, the closest being outside of the City. In contrast, there are no less than a DOZEN campgrounds in Yellowstone and nearly as many within 10 minutes of Mount Rushmore, each garnering 100's, maybe even 1000's of RV-traveling visitors.
What is one of the largest complaints we constant from Niagara Falls business owners? People come. Visit the Falls. Then, leave within 2 hours after arriving. Having recently visited the Niagara Falls Reservation State Park, Joyce and I saw parking lot after parking lot after parking lot, with empty store front after empty store front after empty store front. The only "density" of people/vehicles was seen directly around the Seneca Niagara Cassino. GAMBLING should NOT be what Niagara Falls retains any tourist with.
Granted, western towns like Cle Elam, Custer, and Jackson have a, well, "western" appeal to them, but once you get past all the souvenir stands, there are still the bars, restaurants, and "necessaries" that every traveler still demands; banks, drug stores, grocery stores. BUT, neither downtown Niagara Falls OR Buffalo have addressed any of these same offerings. And what WORSENS the whole experience for either urban area is the total lack of parking accomodations within a reasonable distance of the urban core. Try taking an RV into the downtown core of Buffalo and tell me where you finally find a place to park. I'll wait.
For some areas of the Country, we seldom saw other small RV's or travel-trailers sharing the road with us. But, in others, these numbers soared. And, depending on the time of day, they could be seen out-numbering all other vehicles with which we were traveling.
And, when it came to campgrounds, our over-night stays put us in some more-than-crowded campgrounds, regardless of how far off the beaten path we may have found ourselves; the UP of Michigan, rural Minnesota, no-where North Dakota, and mountainous Oregon. Then, when we began our return, destination-area campgrounds became larger, more numerous, and even MORE attended.
So, what was the overwhelming realization/conclusion?
What about "us"? Where do folks stay in Western New York when they travel here?
When I read an article last year mentioning where to go and where to stay when taking a "circle-route" around the US for those full-time RV'ers, the route COMPLETELY avoided all of this part of the State, including our "Seven Wonders of the Natural World", Niagara Falls.
Take a look at what campgrounds and the number of sites are available and you'll quickly see the probable answer.
There are NO campgrounds within 30 minutes of downtown Buffalo. There are NO campgrounds within 5 miles of the Falls in Niagara Falls, USA, the closest being outside of the City. In contrast, there are no less than a DOZEN campgrounds in Yellowstone and nearly as many within 10 minutes of Mount Rushmore, each garnering 100's, maybe even 1000's of RV-traveling visitors.
What is one of the largest complaints we constant from Niagara Falls business owners? People come. Visit the Falls. Then, leave within 2 hours after arriving. Having recently visited the Niagara Falls Reservation State Park, Joyce and I saw parking lot after parking lot after parking lot, with empty store front after empty store front after empty store front. The only "density" of people/vehicles was seen directly around the Seneca Niagara Cassino. GAMBLING should NOT be what Niagara Falls retains any tourist with.
Granted, western towns like Cle Elam, Custer, and Jackson have a, well, "western" appeal to them, but once you get past all the souvenir stands, there are still the bars, restaurants, and "necessaries" that every traveler still demands; banks, drug stores, grocery stores. BUT, neither downtown Niagara Falls OR Buffalo have addressed any of these same offerings. And what WORSENS the whole experience for either urban area is the total lack of parking accomodations within a reasonable distance of the urban core. Try taking an RV into the downtown core of Buffalo and tell me where you finally find a place to park. I'll wait.
29 January 2019
Look in the mirror
Global warming? Maybe.
Climate change? Probably.
Man-made? More likely than not.
The United States as the largest contributor? Depends.
Depends on what? Depends on whether or not you consider the US CONSUMER as part of that contribution. And NOT just considering what your daily fossil-fuel usage might be; heating, cooling, electricity, travel fuels.
Consider first what device upon which you may be viewing this. Consider how much energy it takes to locate, mine, process, and refine those milligrams of rare earth metals that are used in IT and every other phone, pad, laptop, computer, server, switch, and satellite needed to type and see this message.
Consider next how the country in which these resources are produced cares LITTLE about how it hurts our world's environment, and cares more about an economy strong enough to keep its peoples employed and fed. Consider how NOT doing so would result in MILLIONS of its citizens revolting, showing the world another failed communist/socialist attempt at government.
The leaders and governments of both India and China are in NO position to have a concern about how an American consumer might need to dispose of another lithium-ion battery, how much arsenic there might be in the pigments that color that child's toy or drinking cup, or how many tons of pollutants are spewed into the atmosphere or oceans. They need to provide their manufacturing firms the opportunity to provide just enough employment wages for a majority of their population to keep them housed and fed. If the air everyone breathes or the water everyone drinks causes a deadly disease, so much the better; fewer people to worry about.
So, saying that the United States and its citizens are the largest contributors to climate change, you'll have to qualify that by asking how much "new" is enough. We've raised generations on "disposable" to the point where anything that lasts longer than 10 years is TOO old-fashioned to be worthwhile.
There's a reason that some of these items have lasted that long. And very little of it has to do with heavy metals.
Climate change? Probably.
Man-made? More likely than not.
The United States as the largest contributor? Depends.
Depends on what? Depends on whether or not you consider the US CONSUMER as part of that contribution. And NOT just considering what your daily fossil-fuel usage might be; heating, cooling, electricity, travel fuels.
Consider first what device upon which you may be viewing this. Consider how much energy it takes to locate, mine, process, and refine those milligrams of rare earth metals that are used in IT and every other phone, pad, laptop, computer, server, switch, and satellite needed to type and see this message.
Consider next how the country in which these resources are produced cares LITTLE about how it hurts our world's environment, and cares more about an economy strong enough to keep its peoples employed and fed. Consider how NOT doing so would result in MILLIONS of its citizens revolting, showing the world another failed communist/socialist attempt at government.
The leaders and governments of both India and China are in NO position to have a concern about how an American consumer might need to dispose of another lithium-ion battery, how much arsenic there might be in the pigments that color that child's toy or drinking cup, or how many tons of pollutants are spewed into the atmosphere or oceans. They need to provide their manufacturing firms the opportunity to provide just enough employment wages for a majority of their population to keep them housed and fed. If the air everyone breathes or the water everyone drinks causes a deadly disease, so much the better; fewer people to worry about.
So, saying that the United States and its citizens are the largest contributors to climate change, you'll have to qualify that by asking how much "new" is enough. We've raised generations on "disposable" to the point where anything that lasts longer than 10 years is TOO old-fashioned to be worthwhile.
There's a reason that some of these items have lasted that long. And very little of it has to do with heavy metals.
I Don't Need To Turn My Furnace On When I'm Not Home
I remember when having a Remote Control for a television was a HUGE convenience. Just think. You needn't stand up and walk across the room and turn the DIAL to get the next station OR to raise/lower the volume. You didn't have to adjust the "Color" and "Hue", "Contrast" and "Balance". Then, once you disconnected from your chimney-mounted 32-prong antennae, with its TV-top directional locator, and sold your soul to "the cable company, they took care of all that for you.
You no longer had to stand in line for your $5.00 popcorn and $3.00 soda once Home Box Office arrived. You just popped an Orville Redenbacher in the microwave and saved that $8.00. On top of that, you needn't drive to your local mall and it's TWO screen theater. That $1.50 ticket price now seemed EXPENSIVE compared to the entire MONTH of movies right at home.
Now? Two generations later, the "Big Screen" isn't seen in Panavision stretched across a 65 foot stage. Penny candy now costs a buck. And "Recliners" aren't just for falling asleep in while watching the late evening news.
Forget about signing up for another "loyalty" or "frequent shopper" key-tag. Those new "chip" cards, the ones that are more secure, keep track of every cup of coffee, every head of cabbage, each and every beer and order of nachos you ever had or will have for the rest of your life. That information is then collated, organized, evaluated, and recorded, then SOLD to the highest bidder so they can glean whatever they want. You think that the shower curtain you just searched for on Amazon is now Magically appearing on your cellphone by chance? Good one.
Last week, an AI program was introduced to the game of Chess and, within FOUR HOURS, without even being given ANY guidance, was able to beat a Grand Master. FOUR HOURS. Why? Because it was NOT following any man-made approach, using its own, self-taught agenda. What did it do? It had NO regard for or assigned any emotional attachment to the pieces. It only wanted to win. And it did.
You no longer had to stand in line for your $5.00 popcorn and $3.00 soda once Home Box Office arrived. You just popped an Orville Redenbacher in the microwave and saved that $8.00. On top of that, you needn't drive to your local mall and it's TWO screen theater. That $1.50 ticket price now seemed EXPENSIVE compared to the entire MONTH of movies right at home.
Now? Two generations later, the "Big Screen" isn't seen in Panavision stretched across a 65 foot stage. Penny candy now costs a buck. And "Recliners" aren't just for falling asleep in while watching the late evening news.
Forget about signing up for another "loyalty" or "frequent shopper" key-tag. Those new "chip" cards, the ones that are more secure, keep track of every cup of coffee, every head of cabbage, each and every beer and order of nachos you ever had or will have for the rest of your life. That information is then collated, organized, evaluated, and recorded, then SOLD to the highest bidder so they can glean whatever they want. You think that the shower curtain you just searched for on Amazon is now Magically appearing on your cellphone by chance? Good one.
Last week, an AI program was introduced to the game of Chess and, within FOUR HOURS, without even being given ANY guidance, was able to beat a Grand Master. FOUR HOURS. Why? Because it was NOT following any man-made approach, using its own, self-taught agenda. What did it do? It had NO regard for or assigned any emotional attachment to the pieces. It only wanted to win. And it did.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)