Amazon Go will Revolutionize Brick-and-Mortar Shopping.

Have you heard about Amazon's latest venture? It's sure to shake-up the brick-and-mortor retail world! What is it? There's no cash, no cash register, no cashier...no hassle! It's Amazon Go: the grocery store that allows you to walk in, grab what you want, and then walk out! The best part is, it's no longer just a concept! The first-of-it's-kind store opened it's doors yesterday! Unfortunately, for now, it's only available in Amazon's HQ city of Seattle. But, give it time...it's sure to be a success and find it's way into a neighborhood near you!

A lot of people are complaining about the #AmazonGoCashierless concept. Common complaint themes are:

1. Furthered loss of social interaction

2. Industry-wide job loss.

I happen to think that it's a wonderful idea! I mean, really, who goes to the supermarket for social interaction? 

Assuming you're familiar with the store layout, how many times do you interact with store employees? Twice...maybe, if you're getting a free sample or something, then there's the obligatory small-talk with the cashier. Can you recall the last real conversation you had at a Publix, Safeway, or King Soopers? That's some quality social interaction, isn't it? 

No real loss there. Next please...

As far as job loss is concerned, I doubt anyone will even notice. Unless you live in Oregon, I'll bet that you don't even think twice when you roll up to a gas station and need to pump your own petrol! Who misses the telephone switchboard operator? 

The point is: Times change. Technology changes business, and unless you change with it, you'll be left behind...

Wow, what a difference!

That's What Up, Blogg...

My Letter to the NFL Commissioner: I Can Take-A-Knee Too...

The following (minus the pictures) is the letter that I wrote to the NFL Commissioner to express my disgust with recent on-field player behavior. If you'd like to write your own letter To Roger Goodell, his email address is: officeofcommissioner@nfl.com

I'm a life-long Broncos fan, and I was ELATED last season when they brought home the Lombardi trophy! 

The Sherriff

Ever since then I've been teetering on the edge of buying some team-autographed helmets to place in my Broncos-Den!

Unfortunately, this season isn't shaping up to be quite what I'd hoped for. Although I'm happy that Denver is 1-0, LB Brandon Marshall's decision to take-a-knee during the Star Spangled Banner has infuriated me!

Other players' actions on 9/11 have only compounded this feeling. As a result, I have decided that as long as  the NFL allows it's players to disrespect my country by taking-a-knee during the National Anthem, then I will not participate in any NFL related activities. I will not watch a single game. I will not attend, even though I've been planning for weeks to attend the Jaguars vs. Broncos game in December. I will not participate in social media posts that are pro-NFL or pro-player, and I most certainly will not purchase any NFL merchandise...including autographed helmets.

Mr. Goodell:
As long as you allow your players to take-a-knee during my anthem, my family and I will take-a-knee on this season, and any other subsequent seasons...until this matter has been resolved.

Thank you for your time. I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,
Christopher M. Fennell

14 Simple Ways to Prepare for Back-to-School

August has arrived, and you know what that means...that's right! It's Back-to-School time! For some, the Back-to-School sales have already begun, while others may not even be aware that their summers are nearly over!

Here are 14 tips to help you prepare for the coming school year.

1. Sleep on it

Children don’t always have strict sleeping schedules over the summer. Help your child get used to the back-to-school routine by starting the transition early. Establish earlier bed times and wake-up times at least a week before school starts.

2. Eat it up

A growling stomach can make it harder to concentrate. Nutritious meals play a large role in proper brain development. Children who eat a healthy breakfast and lunch often do better in school.

3. Check it out

Most schools require up-to-date immunization records. It’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician before school starts to ensure that your child is healthy and up-to-date. Don’t forget to get a copy of any documents that the school might need!

4. Turn it off

Establish rules about acceptable TV programs and time spent on the tube. Consider placing an overall TV time limit. The Mayo Clinic recommends that children do not watch more than 1 or 2 hours of television per day.

5. Book it

Summer time often results in a shorter attention span for kids. Reading aloud together can help prepare to focus in the classroom. Plus, asking questions about the story can help kids focus on the story while improving memory skills that will also come in handy in the classroom!

6. Plan it

Planning meals ahead of time often results in healthier meal choices and more time saved. Meals can also be prepared in advance, which saves even more time! Many families find that meal pre-planning and preparation allows them enough free-time to be able to focus more on each other, or to help-out with homework.

7. Lay it out

Deciding what clothing to wear can be a huge issue for younger kids—and many adults! In order to avoid a clothing catastrophe, many families choose to lay out weekly options for kids to choose. That way you know that you’ll approve and they still feel like they get a choice!

8. Work it

When tasks are simple to do, they’re more likely to be done.  Establishing a workstation for homework & stocking it with supplies helps to take some of the thought process—and dread—out of homework time.

9. Supply it

Eliminate the stress and guesswork of school supply shopping by obtaining a supply list directly from your child’s teacher. If you’re unable to contact the teacher, most schools will post supply lists on their websites. If you still can’t locate a supply list, many retailers will have printed lists conveniently located next to the school supplies!

10. Save it

Once you have located the supply list, why not save a little money? Check store flyers and websites for sales. You should also consider buying in bulk. Warehouse stores, discount stores & online bid sites can be a great place to get basics in bulk. 

How do they fit 1,000 #2 pencils into one package anyway?

Some states even offer “Tax Free Days” for school supplies.

http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/sales_holiday.html#chart

11. Organize it

Few things are worse than finding important papers waded-up in the bottom of your kids’ backpack. Plus, you usually find them 2 weeks after you needed them! Help them get—and stay—organized with binders that they don’t mind showing off. Colorful, playful or sports themed binders can help remind kids to protect their papers.

12. Organize it again

Take advantage of your smartphone. There are apps dedicated to class schedules, sports schedules, homework due dates, field trips, flashcards, there are even digital tutor apps. Many apps will sync to multiple devices, which could come in handy if your child also has a smartphone.

13. Post it

Stay in-the-know by sharing daily schedules on a dry erase board. This way you can avoid heartache and confusion by addressing conflicting schedules in advance. Plus, you don’t want to forget about Timmy’s football game…not that he’d let you!

14. Take it easy

Dry erase boards are also an excellent place to write and keep track of chore lists for your kids. Kids can often handle a lot more responsibility than we give them credit for! Start with simple things like putting away their own backpacks. Then, establish age-appropriate chore lists for your kids so that you can have a chance (as slim as it may be) to feel sane, if only for a little while!

Does my vote really matter?

Jacksonville, FL-- 

Have you ever heard the phrase "every vote counts?" I've talked to a lot of people who feel otherwise. Heck, at times I've felt the same way. Many times, especially within the last few years, it has felt like my vote has fallen to the wayside. But, with voter turnout quickly declining (especially in primary elections), that clichéd term is proving to be truer than ever.

Case in point: 

Yesterday's election results for State Representative is really too close to call. As of last night, a mere three votes separate the two candidates. That's right...three! Three, out of nearly 12,000 votes, separate the two Republicans eyeing the vacant House seat. 

The close result of the race between Jay Fant and Paul Renner  has triggered an automatic recount, so the actual victor won't be announced until later this afternoon (at the earliest). In all likelihood, the results will be reported Thursday.

If you ever feel like your vote doesn't matter, just think about this: if this count holds true then four measly votes could have changed the victor! Some people think that "voting is for suckers" but I think that this race proves that not voting is for suckers.

Not voting is for suckers!


*In my friends defense, I think she was trying to be funny

A/C guys have us hot--and not in a fun way!

Their webpage claims that they are “dedicated to client satisfaction.” Well, from what I’ve experienced, they have no clue what that even means.

Last night, our A/C stopped blowing cold air. We called Kemm Smith (President of A Comfortable EnvironmentHVAC Company), the guy who installed our A/C about a year and a half ago. It was around 8:30 p.m. and it was 83 degrees inside our home. We desperately needed to schedule an appointment!

 

The A/C may not blow, but this company does!

Kemm Said that it sounded like the system was definitely not working right (seeing as though it was hotter inside than it was out, we were inclined to agree).  He told us that he would be over the next morning (8/23/14) between 10:00 and 11:00. He advised us to turn the system off for a couple hours and then see if it works again. We were thinking “Really, the turn it of and turn it back on approach works with HVAC too? Okay, we’ll try it!” He said “If it works, call me in the morning and let me know.”

It did not work.

We lined up every fan that we own to try and keep cool. 

That didn’t work much either.

We were miserable all night; the only thing that got us through was the thought that A Comfortable Environment would be out in the morning. Well, that and the box of popsicles that we devoured!

10 O’clock came and went, as did 11. At 11:45 we decided to call Kemm to make sure he was still coming. When he answered his phone, he was rude and immediately started yelling at my wife. “Why didn’t you call me?” he asked. “Because you said to call you if it started working again…and it’s not working again.” she responded. To which he asked, “What am I supposed to call all of my customers regardless? Well, I’ll have to send someone else (thank god).

Hey Kemm, if this is how you usually treat your customers, don’t worry about calling them because you won’t be in business long enough to have any more customers.

So now I’m hot, in many aspects of the word (not all aspects because I’m not good looking). I’m upset as to how my wife was treated, I look at the thermostat which reads 86° and I get even more hot! I’m actually sticking to my chair as I write this!

There’s a knock at the door. It’s 1:40 and they’re here! I’d dance a jig if I weren’t stuck to my seat…it’s Kemm’s son, “ready” to work on our A/C.

Apparently there’s a low voltage issue so the guy bypassed the control board by wiring straight to the contactor. I asked if he planned on coming back at some point to replace the defective board (which is still under warranty) and he said, “Oh, it can work like that forever.”

That may be, but I’d rather have our system—which is still under warranty—not be rigged “forever.”

[UPDATE]

It’s now 3:30 P.M. and the temperature has actually risen. It’s now 89°!!!

We called Kemm again and surprise…his attitude has not improved. He proceeds to inform us that his son “says that it’s workin’ so it’s workin’.” He then tells us that it’s hot outside today, perhaps the hottest day of the year and that some A/C’s wont even cool to 80°. 

We don’t doubt that, it is hot! Just ask Siri:

But, why would our temp RISE to 89?

He said that he’d send his son back but he’s busy so he doesn’t know when he’d make it back.

So, know we’re waiting in the slow cooker that we call our home to see when someone gets here and what B.S. is fed to us next…

[UPDATE]

He has arrived! It’s now 91° in our home. He spends about an hour outside before even letting us know that he’s here. Then he comes to the door and tells us the he’s sorry but it won’t be fixed until Monday. “There’s a leak somewhere and we’ll be out here first thing Monday morning to find it.”

I ask how bad the leak is. He tells me it’s pretty bad and that he just filled it up. “What was the charge the first time you checked it?” I asked. His reply: “I didn’t check it.”

Wait…. it’s been a while since I worked on A/C’s but isn’t that supposed to be one of the first things you check????? Also, doesn’t that mean that it’s possible that there wasn’t a short in the board and the unit simply wasn’t running because it was low on Freon? Who knows? Although this whole situation has got me thinking: maybe I should be an A/C guy…I can not-fix things just as well as these guys!

I hope that I didn't make a mistake when I talked to the guy, but I felt that it had to be done. He apologized for not checking the Freon the first time and blamed it on the locking caps that they put on when they installed the unit. Apparently he did not have a key to unlock them. I told him that I understand mistakes happen and I'm more upset by how his father spoke to my wife. 
That is just not cool! (Pardon the pun)

So now we have to cook for another day.

It’s now 11:00 A.M. on Monday August 25^th and I’m still waiting for them to show up, call, or something. Maybe I just don’t understand what “First thing” means?

I cannot wait to see what lame excuses are to follow…

Screenshot from company homepage