Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Can we all agree that this fall if any college football game gets cancelled because lockdowns haven't been lifted in that state then that the home team has to take a forfeit loss? Enough is enough - looking at you California... When I was a kid as an Irish-Catholic we were told that if we ate meat on Friday during Lent that we'd go to hell. Then the church relaxed the stance to "no big deal" because so many people felt it was a stupid rule and were leaving the church. I think the "woke" religion will be facing a similar backlash over some of the things they are insisting on. "You want me to use what as your pronouns?"... Some good advice from Tim Ferris... Self-driving RV's will be one of the next big things and I can see them cutting into air travel revenue. Why spend all that time in the airport when you can kick back in an auto-pilot RV?... Still say the best way to have saved Sears would have been to convert it to a retailer who only sold products Made in the USA. People would have paid a little more and made more of an effort to shop there. Perhaps some retailer may still take that tack?...  

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

If CNN did decide to leave Atlanta because of the new Voting Laws - how many journalists would have to lose their jobs to help pay for the move? It's not like CNN is flush with ratings cash at the moment... This was a cool little story... The White House Correspondents Dinner was supposed to be April 24th but guessing from the zero discussion about it that there will be no event this year and no explanation as to why it was cancelled. Any explanation would prove politically inconvenient and we can't have that... Marvel should come out with a new character - Super Harpy. It would be a character named Karen whose super power would be hectoring people over every little thing until the person loses their will. Of course this character would be a villain... Is there a more common or unimaginative name than Branch River? Every State must have at least one... 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

"I'm kind of looking forward to the day the Musk announces he's a nuclear power, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were to happen soon." - Stephen Green of PJ Media. More evidence that Elon Musk may be morphing into a Bond villain in front of our very eyes.... So if Spotify is the big winner in signing Joe Rogan to an exclusive deal - who is the big loser? My guess might be Pandora as some will switch preferred music streaming platforms just to get the Joe Rogan Experience... Once baseball comes back one of the big differences will be - NO SPITTING. Chewing tobacco may finally have met its match... Still say there was a missed opportunity about a decade or two ago to transform Sears back into a catalog store but one who only sold products Made in USA. "Yes the prices might be a little higher but the quality is better and it is made in America" could have been the overall message. That would be pretty popular right about now... "What's up my Glip Glops." - Rick...

How I'd Save Sears

Sears is in trouble. They are about to file for bankruptcy. Here's what I'd propose as a course of action to save the once iconic brand.

First I'd close all the K-Mart locations. That was a marriage that never should have happened. Then I'd sell off the Kenmore brand which would generate a guaranteed $400 million.

Then I'd come out with an all new catalog and website specializing in goods that are MADE IN THE USA. That would be the new hook. Selling only products made in America. I would keep many of the existing Sears locations as showrooms and distribution hubs.

I'd also play up Sears history in helping to sell products. People would eat that stuff up. Show pictures of products from the 1800's next to today's offerings.

Prices may be higher but people would feel good that they are buying goods made in this country. WalMart for good or bad has become identified with selling products made in China. Play up the American angle.

It's probably the only way to save Sears.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I was not aware that Sears had a policy of supporting their employees on active duty this way. This holiday season I will be sure to shop at Sears and their policy will be the reason... Jonathan Hock who directed the Chris Herren 30 for 30 biopic Unguarded also wrote the 30 for 30 episode The Best That Never Was on Marcus Dupree. Both films were very powerful... In case you missed it - Colin Quinn has been taking shots at Will Farrell on Twitter saying among other things that Farrell stole the premise for the movie Anchorman from Quinn... Speaking of supporting the troops... Who knew? Teddy Roosevelt thought Thomas Jefferson was most incompetent chief executive in US History. Worse than Buchanan even... Today would have been Daniel Boone's 277th birthday. He not only killed a Grizzly bear with his bare hands - he once swam to the North pole and drown two polar bears... Congratulations to Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez and Jacoby Ellsbury for winning Gold Gloves. All well deserved and worthy choices...