Category Archives: Social Issues

The Customer is Not Always Right

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That darn Alec Baldwin is at it again.  Seems the pompous buffoon was removed from an American Airlines flight yesterday because he was in the middle of playing “Words with Friends” and didn’t want to turn off his phone after a flight attendant repeatedly asked him to.

The 30 Rock star later boarded another American Airlines flight, but tweeted it would be his last flight on that airline and also tweeted that’s “where Catholic school gym teachers from the 1950’s go to find jobs as flight attendants.”  Pretty funny stuff from a not so funny guy.  Why people find him amusing is beyond me, but everyone is entitled to like what they like.

What will American Airlines response be?  So far, the only comment has been “no comment” citing customer privacy concerns, but that seems out the window to me after he tweeted to the world what took place.

I hope that American Airlines interviews the flight attendants and other passengers and, if what has been reported (he supposedly slammed a bathroom on the way out just to make his point clear that he should have been allowed to play his video game), they should announce that he is banned from ever flying on American Airlines.

The customer is not always right, and I believe it would send a strong message to their employees that the company they work for has their back.  Do you really think tickets sales will take a hit because they don’t allow some over-hyped actor fly with them?

Show that kind of borish behavior is not going to be tolerated, by anyone.  I don’t usually stand up for big business, but in this instance I’m with the airline. Maybe he might even learn a lesson that, just because you’re an ass doesn’t mean you should always get your way, but somehow I doubt it.

Could Someone Please Explain…

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Let me start off by admitting I am not an expert in the world of high finance.  How bad I am?  I still take off my shoes off whenever I try to balance my check book.  (OK, that’s a bit of a stretch, but it is true that I took Algebra twice in college and not because I had enjoyed it the first go around).

Still, my head spins around like Linda Blair in the movie “The Exorcist” whenever I hear someone try to explain the economy to me.  The pundits claim our economy is fragile and teetering.  The Stock Market reacts to Europe hiccuping and the Dow drops 320 points, but then retailers break all sales records during “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” and the Dow ends up gaining 400 points back.  Lets face it, it’s easier to make sense of a Kardashian wedding than what Wall Street likes and doesn’t like.

Today the news is all about Citigroup getting a slap on the wrist (if you consider a $285 million settlement small potatoes)  because they misled (allegedly) investors in a $1 billion CDO linked to sub-prime residential mortgage securities. Investors ended up losing about $700 million.

Why is Citigroup getting off so easy?  Because the SEC does not have the money and/or time to prosecute them, and if they did decide to take them to court, they would not have the resources to go after other institutions that are violating the system.  In other words, it’s easier for us to settle then to punish.  And the worst part is that Citigroup does not have to admit any wrong doing under the terms of the settlement. I’m sure Bernie Madoff is fuming that he didn’t get to make the same deal.

I would love to know how financial institutions plan a budget for when things like this happen.  Let’s see, we better put 5% of the revenue generated to the side in case we get caught and have to settle.  Who needs less regulation and government interference when you have a system like this in place?

What really gets me is when my 401k takes a nosedive because some A-Hole throws a Molotov cocktail in Syntagma Square in Athens because they want to retire with a full pension when they turn 12 (or something like that). I’m still waiting for an economist to explain why I need to pay for that.  Some people will suggest the world is simply becoming smaller, and I’m beginning to think that is not such a good thing.  I say let Greece drown itself with self inflicted wounds and keep their problems over there (but make sure we keep those yummy Spanakopita pies and dreamy Frappe drinks coming).

It’s been 10 years since the collapse of Enron, and what exactly have we learned?  It appears not much.  I read somewhere Presidential contender John Huntsman, who has as much of chance of winning the Republican nomination as Barney Frank does, believes banks are too big and should be made to be smaller in size and scope.

I have to say I agree with Huntsman.  Any financial institution that can bring an entire economy down is too damn big, but then again, I may be wrong; after all I didn’t end up taking Algebra II in college.

Honoring Veteran’s

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Veteran's Day

I want to take a moment to say thanks to the men and women for serving our country and protecting our freedoms.

I often wonder if I would have the courage to serve in harms way if needed.  I don’t know the answer to that questions, but I’m grateful to those who do.

A Teachable Moment

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There’s a lot not to like about college football these days.  All you have to do is look at what’s happening at Penn State to know something is very wrong.  While the events in “Happy Valley” are shocking and horribly disturbing, it’s just the latest symptom of a beloved fall tradition spinning out of control.

Just consider what’s taken place this year…

  • The University of Texas launch their own cable channel causing other schools to have TV envy.
  • Tired of living in the Longhorn’s shadow, Texas A&M jumps to the SEC.
  • Not to be outdone, Missouri also jumps to the SEC, West Virgina is trying to get to the Big 12 and Boise State could be in the Big East.  (and we wonder why Americans don’t know their geography anymore)
  • And bowl games aren’t exempt from the fun.  Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker was fired after a report came out, exposing the Bowl paid for his 50th birthday party with a bill of $33,188.

It begs the question, who is in charge; the NCAA?  They’re scared to death the big schools would leave and form their own super conference.  No, it seems that the almighty dollar is still King of the Hill of college football. 

What Me Worry?

The decent thing for Penn State would be to forfeit its remaining games, but with all that money at stake, it’s not going to happen. 

Some might say it’s not fair to the players, but it would be a great teaching moment for all of us that sometimes life isn’t fair and there are some very bad people out there.  Just ask the victims who were abused.