Let me begin by saying, I am in no way against preserving the environment. I think we do need to take steps to make this world a better place to live, literally. BUT in this moment we are experiencing some economic hardships with more people losing their jobs every day. I just heard from a friend of a friend that his company laid off 30 of the 34 employees that work in his location…he happened to be one of the 4 and not one of the 30 with a giant sigh of relief and guilt. Circuit City is closing every one of their stores, putting some 30 thousand people out of jobs across the country in one fell swoop.

What is the point of this, you ask, besides a laundry list of statistics? The point here is that there are still environmental groups who are freaking out because someone wants to mine for coal or drill for natural gas in the barren wasteland that is the Great Basin Desert. Mining for coal and drilling for gas creates jobs. “Job” is really a commodity that will probably never “run its course” and now, especially, it is in the highest of demand. People are losing their jobs all over the place but these environmental groups don’t want to do anything that might harm the habitat of the Great American Dung Beetle – or make it hard to observe their migration patterns from the shoulder of the highway while sitting comfortably in your Subaru wagon. Forget humans, desert dwelling bugs are far more important.

Now before you get out your trusty brick and tie your hate mail to it… I understand that there are arguments larger than bugs. I understand that everything we do today will affect the Earth in the future but I can’t quit my job that I hate because there are no other jobs to switch to. And there are so many other people in my community (the same community where the illogical, irrational, human-hating tree-huggers reside) who have lost their jobs and have no other options ahead of them.

Things are in the works to help get us out of this but in the meantime, if someone has the money and backing to start a new business, to create new jobs in a time when they are slim, I don’t see any reason anyone should stand in their way. Human beings are just as much a part of the environment as dung beetles and have just as much right to protection as the beetle. And right now, creating jobs seems to be a pretty good way of protecting our fellow humans.

http://beshameless.net/archives/2009/02/06/some-people-just-dont-get-it/trackback/

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Nowadays, it is all in who you talk to. A couple of weeks ago, we went to WalMart on our weekly quest for groceries and other odd things. While we were there, we approached a CSA and asked where, in the store, would she suggest we look for ice melt. “They don’t send it here. They tell us it doesn’t get that cold here,” says the blue be-smocked lady.

Last night, the weekly quest led us through the outdoor/sporting goods department and there was a palette of …. ice melt. Bags stacked as high as me (which is not tall if you are a person but really tall if you are a pile of ice melt).

Over the summer, my sister called, different store, same chain, and asked if they had a specific Playskool playhouse that came with a slide. Through her attempts to find this specific playhouse, she had acquired its exact title and gave that to the CSA on the phone, who found one in the system then put Sis on hold to “go make sure it really was there.” She came back, said “I can’t put a hold on it but if you come in this afternoon we should still have one. I’ll set it aside and when you come in, ask for Melissa.” We went in, we asked for Melissa, Melissa was no where to be found. Nor was the playhouse. Nor was anyone in the toy department who might know where to find one or how to order one. “Go online,” was all the cashier in the garden department could offer.

I get not having authorization to do things but some CSAs or CSRs or GSAs or whatever their corporate title is simply don’t want to. It really does depend on who you talk to what kind of customer service you are going to get. Phone reps especially. You call a company once, ask if something can be done and “no way, no how, not gonna happen.” You call back the next day, ask the same question of someone else and you get, “Hmmm, I don’t know. Let me find out for you. Do you mind holding?” (Insert crappy hold music here) “Actually, it looks like, based on the fact that you have been a customer with our company for five years, you are entitled to….” Bingo, an affirmative answer to your question just because you talked to Susie today instead of Jim. Watch out for Jim. He might come into work tomorrow and start picking co-workers off with a high-powered sniper rifle.

Once upon a time, the adage was “the customer is always right.” Now, it’s “the customer is right if it doesn’t require me to do any extra work. Otherwise the customer is wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG!”

I guess that’s really it for this installment. I could go on for days offering examples of poor customer service but instead I think I’m going to find me a high-powered sniper rifle and go pick off a few CSRs.

Crimson

http://beshameless.net/archives/2009/01/17/when-did-we-forget-the-meaning-of-customer-service/trackback/

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“Laws are only words written on paper, words that change on society’s whim and are interpreted differently daily by politicians, lawyers, judges, and policemen. Anyone who believes that all laws should always be obeyed would have made a fine slave catcher. Anyone who believes that all laws are applied equally, despite race, religion, or economic status, is a fool.”- John J. Miller

“You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.”- Malcolm X

It’s passed time that I should have written about Proposition 8. It deserves more attention than I have given it. The paragraph on November 5th and the paragraph when it was introduced was no where near enough. I assumed because I was reading about it and knowing what was happening meant everyone else did. I’ve got to quit my assumptions.

Prop 8 was a California state ballot proposition that would amend the state constitution. It would make marriage strictly between a man and a woman, and in the process overturn a recent California supreme court decision which said same-sex marriage was a fundemental right.

It was a large campaign on both sides. $35.8 million was raised for and $37.6 million was raised against this proposition. That made it the highest funded campaign with the exception of the presidental race.

As of right now, the vote is currently 52.4% in favor of the amendment. 2,738,695 absentee and provesional votes remain to be counted. Despite promises by many clerks offices of continuing to issue licenses until the vote was formally passed, they have stopped issuing marriage licenses.

Obviously, this vote has received national attention. Vigils and protests are being held not only in California but across the country as well. Protests have taken place since Wednesday, and will continue through the weekend.

Before I get into the remaining protest schedule I would like to stop and tell you a story. Many of you know that I spend a lot of my free time on a forum for my favorite band. They are a close knit group, and amazing people. Several of them live in California and living this mess. One poster in particular has seen more of this than we can imagine. His name is Mark. Mark went to a rally in West Los Angeles outside of a Mormon Temple in order to protest the Church’s involvement in helping the proposition pass. He was arrested.

Now because he doesn’t yet have a lawyer, he is not describing the details leading up to arrest. He has a video up which speaks plainly enough. You can see that video here. You can also read his account of what happened after on his Buzznet journal.

I mention this because, I obviously feel based on the video that he has not been fairly charged. And as I said, the forum which we belong to is a group of close knit people. Two of his friends (also on the forum) posted part of his bail. I am asking you to donate to help pay the friends back and to help with further legal fees. He has a donate button on the buzznet journal. If you would prefer to send a money order I’m sure that could be arranged because it was for me.

As a last note on that, I would like to thank Mark and Richard. Thanks for going out there and standing up for rights. Thanks for letting me share your story. Oh and thanks for just being generally bad ass.

The protests are continuing at least through the weekend are as follow:

*San Diego had a march today at noon. The march started behind 301 University Avenue.

*Laguna Beach- 5:30 pm Saturday at City Hall. Marching to Main Beach for a candlelight vigil.

*Los Angeles- 6:00 pm Saturday at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd. Organizers are estimating at least 20,000 people.

*Sacremento- 1:00 pm Sunday at the Capitol West steps.

Also a petition is underway to strip the mormon church of its tax exempt status. You can read the hows and whys HERE.

So that is all the information I have for you at this point. I’m sure you all know my feelings on Prop 8, and I really don’t have to start spouting curse words to make my point. So instead I’ll ask you to become involved in any way that you can. Sure it may be California and not your state. But in reality they are fighting for all of us.

Until next time, I’m lighting a candle for you all.
autumn

http://beshameless.net/archives/2008/11/08/im-asking-for-you-to-join-me/trackback/

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“The tears of the red, yellow, black, brown and white man are all the same.”- Martin H. Fischer

I just wanted to let you all know that I am holding off on my Prop 8 post till tomorrow. There is a story that I want to talk about but I’m waiting for permission first. So look for that tomorrow.

Until next time, I’m really still in disbelief.
autumn

http://beshameless.net/archives/2008/11/08/its-nowhere-near-enough/trackback/

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Wow, it’s hard to believe that 3 years ago, this site was just a brainchild in our heads.2 years ago it began it’s life. Now it’s growing, and hopefully will become something far greater than any of us.

Birthdays, in my opinion are the perfect time for resolutions. Autumn has already posted ours.

I will only say this. Life is funny, there always seems to be something new to laugh about and enjoy. It grows with you, changes, paths cross and people grow further apart. We say goodbye to some, and hello to others. This site is functioning in the same way. We’re preparing to make improvements which will hopefully bring our readers into the process and allow it to grow even more. To my fellow BeShameless teammates, you’re awesome. I wasn’t as committed to this as I should have been, and now that’s about to change. “A Shameless Guide to Relationships” will be a constant on here. Autumn will continue to baby this site with the love and affection it needs, and Ethan is still the blood that flows through its veins. I have a few new features in store for all of you, including our first ever video cast, which I hope to have up within the next few months.

For those of you who have stuck with us thanks, for those who are new, welcome. We’re all looking forward to entertaining you this year, and gaining your friendship and fanship.

http://beshameless.net/archives/2008/03/26/getting-older-and-still-got-it/trackback/

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So. Two years. I haven’t even been around for a full one of them but it has proven to be a terrific outlet for yelling and screaming about the things in the world that frustrate me. I am not too sure what to say in this moment. I took this moment of celebration to look back over ten months of posts and realized that I am very dry and sarcastic, which is probably why people have asked why I don’t write satire. So I’m finding it hard to say anything straight and happy even though I’m thrilled to have been invited to be part of and stay a part of beshameless.

Since straight and cheerful is apparently not my style, I’ll just say way to go, fellow shameless writers, on two super years, here’s to two more (and two more after that and two more after that….). Thanks for letting me be a part of it, and thanks to any readers I have gained in my few short months on the site. And to Autumn….where’s my treat? Better yet, what’s my treat? Maybe a dark-headed, hazel-eyed Italian of average height from the OC?

http://beshameless.net/archives/2008/03/26/happy-birthiversary/trackback/

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