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April 28, 2005
Inside Pit Road
I thought this was interesting. It was on tonight's news on the local Fox affiliate. This is race week for us in the area...this week at Wal-Mart it is all about the Talladega Race. Anyways, hope you enjoy!
Windows Media file for dial-up users 1.54 MB
Windows Media file for broadband users 9.3 MB
Posted by Chris at 09:36 PM
Cingular's Response
I sent Cingular Wireless an e-mail about this whole situation with the bill payment fee. I still think it is a bunch of BS to treat their customers this way. Here is their response:
Thank you for contacting Cingular Wireless about your account. I apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced regarding the bill payment fee. I will be happy to assist you with your inquiry.
In an effort to reduce your wait time in our Retail Stores and your hold
time when calling Customer Service, Cingular Wireless has provided you
with more convenient ways to pay your wireless phone bill. Many of these
Free Bill Payment Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You may want to consider one of our convenient payment options:
- Dial *PAY (729) on your wireless phone. (You can only pay the full
balance)
- Call 1-886-CINGULAR to use our automated phone system.
- Log on to My Account on Cingular.com to pay online or sign up for auto
pay.
- Use our payment machine located inside many of our retail stores.
If you make a payment with a Retail Store Representative or a Customer
Care representative, there will be a $2 Bill Payment Fee charged.
Unfortunately, this is not a fee we can issue credit for. Please utilize
one of the many convenient options you have available to you when making
your payment in the future to avoid such fees.
Most of the information that you would want to know about our wireless
service is located on our website. Just click on this link to get
started: www.cingular.com/customer_service/common_questions. Please
visit our website at www.cingular.com for the latest updates and
promotions available. We know you have a choice when it comes to
wireless service. We appreciate and thank you for choosing Cingular
Wireless.
Sincerely,
xxxx xxxxxx
Cingular Wireless
Online Customer Care Professional
Posted by Chris at 05:48 PM
April 27, 2005
This is real
This picture is real. I found it when I was going through some digital pictures on the computer. It dates back from February 2002. I wish gas prices were $1.01 a gallon today.
Posted by Chris at 08:58 PM
Update
I have updated the About Me page. I realized that is was out of date....actually VERY out of date. So, it is now up to date...for the moment.
Posted by Chris at 08:57 PM
I think this is terrible
Look at what I found on my Cingular Wireless bill this month:
Customer Service Payment Processing Fee
Please be advised that payments processed by a Customer Service Professional will be subject
to a payment processing fee. Our Representatives will be happy to provide assistance on how
to make payments using one of our self-service options. These options can also be referenced
on the 'How To Pay' section on page 2 of your invoice.
Now, I pay all my bills using my bank's Internet banking so I don't have to worry about this, but I think this is just so terrible. You are basically telling your customers we don't have time to deal with you paying your bill with the assistance of our associates...if you bother them, we will charge you. All I can say is that is sooooo wrong.
Posted by Chris at 08:24 PM
April 26, 2005
Wal-Mart follows suit in pseudoephedrine restrictions
From DSN Retailing Today:
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Wal-Mart follows suit in pseudoephedrine restrictions
Email | Print | Reply to Editor
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - April 26 - Following in the footseps of rivals Target and Albertsons, Wal-Mart announced that all of its stores in the United States by June would move over-the-counter cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter.
The company said it already had been making such changes, and estimates that 60% of its stores currently are selling pseudoephedrine-containing products behind the counter.
"We will continue with our plan to move the most commonly abused products containing pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter in all our stores by early June," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jacquie Young. "The remaining solid-dose products containing multi-ingredients will be moved behind the pharmacy counter by September."
The move is part of a larger effort by retailers and state and federal agencies to cut down on the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, of which pseudoephedrine is a primary component.
Over the past week, Albertsons and Target announced similar moves.
Posted by Chris at 06:11 AM
April 23, 2005
Grand Jury reviews allegations against Wal-Mart's Coughlin
from Discount Store News
BENTONVILLE, Ark. - April 22 - A federal grand jury is reviewing allegations of misspending within Wal-Mart, an investigation the company brought on when it handed over internal documents to the Justice Department.
"We have committed fully to cooperate with the federal authorities, and we're doing that," a Wal-Mart spokesperson said.
The investigation, and subsequent grand jury hearing, are related to the recent firing of Wal-Mart board member Tom Coughlin. At the time of his ouster, Wal-Mart said that Coughlin improperly used company gift cards and personal reimbursements, while a separate report indicated that Coughlin used company money to fund anti-union activity.
Posted by Chris at 06:33 AM
April 18, 2005
Target to Clamp Down on Cold Medicines
Look at this article that I found today. I think this is a good thing and I feel that Wal-Mart will soon follow suit. But I think it is the wrong thing NOT to sell the items in stores without a pharmacy. They should put it at the customer service counter or somewhere where it can be controlled. It is wrong to just quit carrying it because it is not convenient for them to put them in a locked case or behind a different counter. Hello Target??!?!? Do you even care about your customers...apparantly not!
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From MSN Money
April 18, 2005 9:19 PM ET
By MARTIGA LOHN
Discount retailer Target Corp. will no longer allow unfettered access to cold medicines that are used to make the illegal stimulant methamphetamine.
Target stores nationwide will pull many cold, allergy and cough remedies from their regular shelves and sell them only from pharmacy counters, the Minneapolis-based company announced Monday.
The restrictions apply to all over-the-counter drugs containing pseudoephedrine, including children's medicines, tablets, liquids and gel-caps, spokeswoman Carolyn Brookter said. Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient for meth, which can be made in makeshift labs.
The products won't be sold at all by about 300 Target stores that don't have pharmacies. Target operates 1,330 stores in 47 states and is the nation's second largest discount retailer after Wal-Mart.
Brookter said the shift, which will take effect in two to three months, was in response to a growing number of state and local restrictions on the sale of the medications.
"We know that this is going to be a change in behavior for our guests," Brookter said. "The products won't be on the shelves. It'll be a little different."
Target says it's the first national retailer to take the step. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores couldn't immediately confirm whether Target's announcement was the first of its kind for a national retailer. A Wal-Mart spokeswoman didn't immediately return phone messages.
Target's move won praise from Minnesota lawmakers pushing for tougher measures to fight meth, which can be made using a variety of household chemicals and pseudoephedrine.
"For them to take this lead I would assume that Wal-Marts and all the rest of them will have to follow them very shortly," said state Sen. Julie Rosen, a Republican who has been pushing strict restrictions on the sale of meth ingredients. "There is a certain amount of community responsibility these retailers should assume."
Target already had limited purchases of pseudoephedrine-containing drugs to two packages at a time, Brookter said.
A number of states are following the example of Oklahoma, where restrictions on sales of some cold medicines were followed by a dramatic drop in the number of meth lab seizures.
Posted by Chris at 08:34 PM
April 15, 2005
Wal-Mart Freezes Coughlin's Benefits
AP
Wal-Mart Freezes Coughlin's Benefits
April 15, 2005 5:30 PM ET
By CHUCK BARTELS
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. disclosed Friday that it has frozen millions of dollars in benefits for former vice chairman Tom Coughlin, who resigned from Wal-Mart's board amid allegations of improper spending and a possible government investigation.
According to a regulatory filing, Wal-Mart has suspended Coughlin's vesting of 186,407 shares of restricted stock, worth $9.77 million at the end of the company's last fiscal year, and 302,503 stock options exercisable within 60 days "pending further review of the information developed in the investigation" that led to his departure.
The proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission does not specifically address whether Coughlin will receive his base salary of $1.03 million for two years, part of his retirement agreement.
© 2005 AP
Wal-Mart would not comment on the filing.
Coughlin retired as a Wal-Mart officer last year but remained on the board until March 25, when an internal probe turned up expense account improprieties of up to half-a-million dollars. Three Wal-Mart employees, including a company officer, lost their jobs, in connection with the probe, and the company turned over materials to federal prosecutors.
Coughlin has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyer is pressing the company for documents given to federal prosecutors related to his conduct.
U.S. Attorney Bob Balfe's office in Fort Smith has not discussed the case and refused again Friday to say whether it is conducting a probe.
A Wall Street Journal report last week cited former employees as saying Coughlin had diverted thousands of dollars in expense account reimbursements for secret payments to union members willing to identify pro-union employees at stores. Wal-Mart has strongly denied that any such payments were made.
The allegations prompted The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which is trying to organize workers at Wal-Mart, to file unfair labor practice charges against the retailer.
According to Friday's filing, Coughlin received bonus and other income of $3.09 million on top of his salary for Wal-Mart's most recent fiscal year.
The filing also makes note of the company's retirement agreement with Coughlin that obligates him to maintain "cooperation and confidentiality" with the company, and to not compete with Wal-Mart through Jan. 24, 2012.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Lee Scott had compensation of $12.59 million for fiscal 2005, including salary of $1.24 million, $4.12 million in incentive payments and $6.33 million in restricted stock payments.
In trading Friday, Wal-Mart fell 26 cents to close at $47.70 on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has traded in a 52-week range of $47.77 to $59.15.
Posted by Chris at 05:15 PM
Today is Tax Day
What people have been dreading all year is finally here. Today is April 15th and your income tax returns are due today. Do you have yours done? For me, I have been done with mine already, but I waiting very late in the season for me. I did my federal return in Janaury so I could get my refund back very quickly. As for the state return. I didn't mail it in until April 1st. I meant to do it earlier. Even though I had to pay state, it wasn't that much and I didn't want to wait until so late to do it. Oh well.....
Posted by Chris at 08:49 AM
April 13, 2005
New Store Opens
Today, the second new Wal-Mart store in the area opened. This one is in Gadsden, which is about 30 miles north of Oxford. This brought back some memories for me from last year's grand opening of the Supercenter in Roanoke. It will be a long time before I forget that day. I think everyone in town came out to see and shop in our new store that day. I bet the same happened in Gadsden today. I am really fond of this new store in Gadsden for several reasons: One is that the exterior of the building looks soooo nice (picture is below). It doesn't look like a Wal-Mart from the exterior. Second it is in a great location, part of the new Coosa Town Center that has an Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Petco, and many others. It was a long time before I knew where the old store was in Gadsden, it was kinda off the main drag in Gadsden, well at least what I condisder the main drag. And Third, it is sooo nice to work in a new store. Oh well, I will have to suffice with good ol' Oxford for now. At least I won't have to deal with the "growing pains" that a store goes through when relocating to a new store. It hasn't set in for them in Gadsden yet, but it will in about a week or so. I have been there and done that in Roanoke.
Here is the link to the Press Release at walmartfacts.com.
Article from the Gadsden Times on the grand opening.
Posted by Chris at 09:39 PM
April 10, 2005
I have seen it all
Take a look at this Auction on Ebay:
Charlotte, NC) -March 31, 2005- Today YOU can become part of the most extreme experience of a lifetime – sitting in the co-pilot’s seat in Tornado Attack One. This made for TV adventure will STAR the lucky bidder. The adrenaline rush of a lifetime – venturing into the heart of one of the most powerful forces of nature – will go to the highest bidder in the most exciting auction ever on eBay. Tornado Attack, LLC and ‘Team Tornado’ will post for bid on March 31 to April 10, 2005 the opportunity to sit in the co-pilot seat of Tornado Attack One. The winner will be part of an expedition which will conduct a mobilized chase of tornadoes with a specialized scientific vehicle designed to enter and record activities inside the eye.
Right now the current bid is $121,800.00. So everyone bid early and often!
Posted by Chris at 12:34 AM
April 09, 2005
This is nice.
I have stepped into the 21st century and purchased a 17" LCD Monitor and I tell you it is sooo nice. Besides having such a nice looking, easy to read screen, one side effect is the extra desktop space I have gained. It is like night and day.
Posted by Chris at 08:53 PM
April 08, 2005
First Contact day
With me being a Star Trek fan, I thought I would mention this. On April 5th, the Star Trek Community celebrated First Contact Day. As Startrek.com writes,
"First Contact Day is celebrated throughout the United Federation of Planets to commemorate the first official contact between humans and an extraterrestrial race which took place on April 5th, 2063. On that day, Zefram Cochrane successfully tested his warp drive engine and the resulting warp signature attracted the attention of a nearby Vulcan starship which immediately initiated contact with the slightly inebriated Cochrane."
So there you have it. Let's all mark our calendars and see what really happens on April 5th in 58 years!
Posted by Chris at 10:56 PM
April 06, 2005
Shuttle Discovery Moves Toward Florida Launch Pad
Posted by Chris at 08:52 PM
Cable Modem Problems
Both myself and my parents have been experiencing problems with the cable internet service the past two days and when I go to call the help desk they say something along the lines of "We are experiencing problems with our cable modem service that is affecting ALL cableone customers..." That is so reassuring that the problem is affecting ALL cableone customers. I have never known them to have a problem with all customers. Now there have been a few incidents with the service here in Anniston but this is a first.
Then I get an e-mail from them today:
Dear CableOne.net Customer,
We are currently experiencing a disruption of high speed Internet service in some areas. You may notice a loss of connectivity periodically throughout the day. If you lose your connection to the Internet please power cycle all of your equipment per the instructions listed below. If the Internet service is not restored immediately please try again later. Although we do not currently know the estimated time of repair, we are working on resolving the issue as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Cable One’s email and domain hosting service are not impacted by this issue. The disruption in service is only affecting web browsing, new customer registration and access to My Account Services. If you have other means to connect to the Internet you may check your email by logging into http://mymail.cableone.net.
How to Power Cycle
1) Power down and turn off your computer, this also includes other computers and or routers.
2) Unplug the power from the Cable Modem. If applicable do not use the Power/Standby button.
3) After the lights go out on the Cable Modem, count to 5 then plug the power back in.
4) Wait until the "Cable" light goes solid, depending on the type of modem there may not be a designated "Cable" light.
5) Once solid, power up your computer, this also includes other computers and or routers.
Thank you for your patience,
Cable One, Inc
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Must be a big deal.
Posted by Chris at 08:14 PM
April 01, 2005
April is here
April is here. I have one week to work then it is vacation!!! Can't wait.
Posted by Chris at 09:01 PM