My troubles with my PC continue. 1 week and counting with me wanting to throw my laptop out the window.
Trouble started last Thursday when my laptop's hard drive crashed. I ended up losing a bunch of work files that would have been extremely helpful PLUS all my school files (which included a paper due for class that day). Fast forward past the 4 hours working with Target systems recovery to retrieve the files (unsuccessfully), 1 PC reload, 3 re-loads of MS office, 4 additional program requests and I still don't have Flash working correctly on my browser. Target has the laptop so locked down I cant even download a stupid Active x control to view Youtube. Frustrating.
I shall try again tomorrow to get the help desk to fix the flash issue. I needs my youtube (and our new talent acquisition system website doesn't work either...)
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Business on the mind
Thoughts for the day
Shot some emails back and forth with friends about the current state of the economy and the bailouts. Some of my views
-I am very much a free market, capitalist person...with a little a bit of a guiding hand involved. Markets work best when they are left alone to sort things out (survival of the fittest) but rules or incentives need to be put in place to guide business to do the right thing (pollution control, executive pay, protect workers, etc...)
-I hate the idea of the bailout but something must be done to stabilize the economy and the debt markets. How do we do this with out rewarding banks and home buyers for making poor decisions is the question.
-I am very much anti auto bailout. The big 3 have been run piss-poor for quite awhile and we shouldn't be expected to support business that cant figure it out nor should we support bad union contracts.
Microsoft is planning on opening retail stores
-They have tasked the head of the initiative to figure out when and where as first priority. How about how or why?
-I view it as a interesting chance to bring the cool back to Microsoft. Also could be a great way to show off the xbox and other innovative products.
-One problem, it could backfire...badly. Not sure how they could easily bounce back from that
Target Q4 analyst call: I listened in to the Target 4th quarter analyst call. As always its interesting stuff. Doug Scovanner, the CFO of Target, is awesome to listen to. He really knows his stuff and is pretty engaging in person and on the phone. Here is what I gleamed:
-Target is in great shape with its inventory. We shouldnt be seeing tons of markdowns and clearance this spring
-The CEO, Gregg Steinhaffel emphasized that Target will not damage the brand of Target for short run financial gains. That strategy is one of the things I love about Target.
-Look for consolidation in Target's private brands in order to streamline items and drive sales
-2009 will have 60 net new stores. 2010 could range anywhere from 5 new stores to 30 new stores
-Here are some nice indicators of the financial position of the company
Shot some emails back and forth with friends about the current state of the economy and the bailouts. Some of my views
-I am very much a free market, capitalist person...with a little a bit of a guiding hand involved. Markets work best when they are left alone to sort things out (survival of the fittest) but rules or incentives need to be put in place to guide business to do the right thing (pollution control, executive pay, protect workers, etc...)
-I hate the idea of the bailout but something must be done to stabilize the economy and the debt markets. How do we do this with out rewarding banks and home buyers for making poor decisions is the question.
-I am very much anti auto bailout. The big 3 have been run piss-poor for quite awhile and we shouldn't be expected to support business that cant figure it out nor should we support bad union contracts.
Microsoft is planning on opening retail stores
-They have tasked the head of the initiative to figure out when and where as first priority. How about how or why?
-I view it as a interesting chance to bring the cool back to Microsoft. Also could be a great way to show off the xbox and other innovative products.
-One problem, it could backfire...badly. Not sure how they could easily bounce back from that
Target Q4 analyst call: I listened in to the Target 4th quarter analyst call. As always its interesting stuff. Doug Scovanner, the CFO of Target, is awesome to listen to. He really knows his stuff and is pretty engaging in person and on the phone. Here is what I gleamed:
-Target is in great shape with its inventory. We shouldnt be seeing tons of markdowns and clearance this spring
-The CEO, Gregg Steinhaffel emphasized that Target will not damage the brand of Target for short run financial gains. That strategy is one of the things I love about Target.
-Look for consolidation in Target's private brands in order to streamline items and drive sales
-2009 will have 60 net new stores. 2010 could range anywhere from 5 new stores to 30 new stores
-Here are some nice indicators of the financial position of the company
- Q4 expenses were lower than Q4 2007 in terms of cash
- A share now is worth $84 dollars in sales compared to 5 years ago when it was worth $40 dollars in sales. Share price 5 years ago was around $40
Monday, February 23, 2009
Random thoughts 1
Random musings
-Dogs 101 on animal planet is a pretty cool show.
-Rhodesian Ridgeback's are fricken sweet
-Great Danes are one of the tallest breeds of dog out there, along with the Irish Wolfhound.
-Great Danes live on average 7 years
-I have been afraid of two dogs in my life,
Think of a filtered ask yahoo. No flaming or sarcastic comments, seems to be just pretty good Q&A.
-Dogs 101 on animal planet is a pretty cool show.
-Rhodesian Ridgeback's are fricken sweet
-Great Danes are one of the tallest breeds of dog out there, along with the Irish Wolfhound.
-Great Danes live on average 7 years
-I have been afraid of two dogs in my life,
- My brothers former golden retriever, Harley, who he found on the side of the road, beat up and wandering around. Broc picked him up and ended up keeping him. This dog was huge, we believe a mix of golden and rotweiller. Anyways, not knowing his history and with his size he rather freaked me out the first time I saw him. However, he ended up being one of the most gentle and wussy dogs of all time. He passed away several years ago and I miss him (and my bros other dog, Bodie).
- A friends Great Dane. The size of these dogs is alarming when you first see them. This dog was to be feared, as Travis eventually found out.
Think of a filtered ask yahoo. No flaming or sarcastic comments, seems to be just pretty good Q&A.
Blog intro
So this I guess is my 1st attempt at really trying to create a online blog. Lets begin with the random incoherent thoughts!
What am I doing?
-Great question - not sure I know.
-I think my main goal here is to jot down things that intrigue me on a day to day basis. Perhaps from a knowledge sharing perspective, perhaps from a personal journal perspective.
-I think it would be cool to be able to store those random thoughts or impressions that occur one day and are forgotten the next
-I guess I could see this ultimately having three levels of success
1. helps me remember that song I made a mental note to download that one day
2. Potential springboard for thought leadership
3. My communication tool as leader of the inevitable human resistance to the coming zombie plague.
Caveats:
-Feel free to ignore this blog!
-First off let me say that my writing skills could be described as mediocre at best. And I say that as if anyone has ever tried to describe it, which they haven't.
-My English can be brutal at times. For instance, I am always trying to get people to borrow me stuff and affect vs. effect frightens me
-this could really suck.
-I might give up after 3 days
What am I doing?
-Great question - not sure I know.
-I think my main goal here is to jot down things that intrigue me on a day to day basis. Perhaps from a knowledge sharing perspective, perhaps from a personal journal perspective.
-I think it would be cool to be able to store those random thoughts or impressions that occur one day and are forgotten the next
-I guess I could see this ultimately having three levels of success
1. helps me remember that song I made a mental note to download that one day
2. Potential springboard for thought leadership
3. My communication tool as leader of the inevitable human resistance to the coming zombie plague.
Caveats:
-Feel free to ignore this blog!
-First off let me say that my writing skills could be described as mediocre at best. And I say that as if anyone has ever tried to describe it, which they haven't.
-My English can be brutal at times. For instance, I am always trying to get people to borrow me stuff and affect vs. effect frightens me
-this could really suck.
-I might give up after 3 days
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