So, I'm sitting here watching a really good movie, "Fires On The Plain" (1959), incredible movie. Suddenly, the power goes out. So I'm sitting here, on my laptop, my wireless modem upstairs is on a UPS so I have a while before losing internet. But I just have one question, and I've heard all the excuses.
Now I understand if something blows out. Happens. But, typically its something related to inclement weather; snow, ice, wind, whatever. So when the Power company, Puget Sound Energy in my case, has had all summer, to prepare, actually, has had decades, to prepare, then why, are we still losing power everytime the weather gets bad.
I'm sitting here earlier and I'm so enjoying watching this movie, stormy, horizontal snow, cold, temperature dropped to the teens, why, oh why, then, does the power have to go out. I was enjoying it so much, because I KNEW I was going to lose power. I always lose power in the winter.
The last place I lived, Covington, Washington, had these problems bad, every year. So one year, they cut back the trees. It was ugly. I hated it. I complained. That winter, we lost power, maybe, once, as I remember. I stopped complaining. So if it works for them, why not here? They gave a lame attempt at it, I noticed, but not what I would have cut back.
So, why can't we expect, considering that its freaking 2010, that we can have power on a regular basis, close to 100% of the time? I'm sure there is technology for it.
And so here I sit, in the dark, wondering why I didn't get that whole house generator so I wouldn't be going through this yet again. Well, maybe next year, but I keep thinking that the professionals would take care of it, because, well, hey, it IS their industry, isn't it?
And the same for the Cell phone companies. Why am I always losing cell service? Because they keep selling too many numbers so we over load the circuits? So, stop selling. No? Then GET MORE CIRCUITS! Or, whatever it is, but its your business, make it work. Not some of the time, not most of the time, but nearly ALL of the time.
If you're going to have a business, how about making your product working nearly all the time? And when you are talking about cell phones, but more importantly, power companies, how about 100% up time; with redundancies, protections, backups, on and on and well, how about it?
I've heard all the excuses, but what it comes down to, is you are performing a service. Make it quality.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Another benefit bites the dust
Friday, I had a blog on how Health Insurance companies are finding that they are doing well in one area in particular, that of people not going to the doctor's office anymore, as often as they used to. This is in part because of an active attempt on education on the part of the Health Insurers, but also because people simply can't afford a doctor visit and because in recent years, they have become "gunshy" at going, because of the expense out of pocket.
Well, on another front, on the side of the employees at these health insurance companies, as well as at many many other companies, I've been watching our benefits dwindle down to nothing. Life is hard lately. People out of work. Companies cutting costs, people, benefits, on and on and on and....
We have all agreed that we are willing to help in this time of reinventing companies and the workforce, in order to keep the company afloat, and keep out jobs. Too many people are already out of work. We've not gotten a raise in a couple of years, little or no bonus for a while, healthcare cuts, budget cuts, layoffs, its been rough and getting rougher. Next step is being out of work. For some of us, that just happened a week ago.
It is that time of year, that dreaded month we call "Open Enrollment" where you can pick and choose the minimal options you have about your healthcare and other things. In my selecting my options I discovered something about one of our benefits. We had heard about it as a change, but no one gave it much thought. Till now.
Some years ago, the company had combined our vacation days and our sick days in one bin, called it Paid Time Off. I've heard this at many companies. Pretty standard. I'm not sure if its better for employees or not, but companies love it. But then, companies seem to love a lot of things the past few years, and not all of them are good for the employees. But some of these things, people just don't understand and they slip by; or by time they notice its too late and old news.
We used to be able to sell back our PTO, up to two weeks worth a year. A couple of years ago they said you have to have a week remain available to sell back a week. Then they said you have to have two weeks to sell one week. Then they said, you can only sell back one week a year. Now, for 2011, they say you have to select the "option" of selling back up to a week and if you choose to do so, you will receive that money in your first check of August 2011. It used to be that you had to submit a request, then depending upon the timing, you would get it on your next paycheck, up to three weeks typically, as the longest period of time you would have to wait, but you could do it any time during the year.
Well, on another front, on the side of the employees at these health insurance companies, as well as at many many other companies, I've been watching our benefits dwindle down to nothing. Life is hard lately. People out of work. Companies cutting costs, people, benefits, on and on and on and....
We have all agreed that we are willing to help in this time of reinventing companies and the workforce, in order to keep the company afloat, and keep out jobs. Too many people are already out of work. We've not gotten a raise in a couple of years, little or no bonus for a while, healthcare cuts, budget cuts, layoffs, its been rough and getting rougher. Next step is being out of work. For some of us, that just happened a week ago.
It is that time of year, that dreaded month we call "Open Enrollment" where you can pick and choose the minimal options you have about your healthcare and other things. In my selecting my options I discovered something about one of our benefits. We had heard about it as a change, but no one gave it much thought. Till now.
Some years ago, the company had combined our vacation days and our sick days in one bin, called it Paid Time Off. I've heard this at many companies. Pretty standard. I'm not sure if its better for employees or not, but companies love it. But then, companies seem to love a lot of things the past few years, and not all of them are good for the employees. But some of these things, people just don't understand and they slip by; or by time they notice its too late and old news.
We used to be able to sell back our PTO, up to two weeks worth a year. A couple of years ago they said you have to have a week remain available to sell back a week. Then they said you have to have two weeks to sell one week. Then they said, you can only sell back one week a year. Now, for 2011, they say you have to select the "option" of selling back up to a week and if you choose to do so, you will receive that money in your first check of August 2011. It used to be that you had to submit a request, then depending upon the timing, you would get it on your next paycheck, up to three weeks typically, as the longest period of time you would have to wait, but you could do it any time during the year.
So, as for this 2011 PTO cashout, first of all I realized it was kind of out of left field for most of us
when we first heard of it. For myself, I do not foresee that I will need or want a cashout next
year; but I really don’t know at this time, nor can I know…yet. Can I.
From what I understand, once you select the OPTION to cashout, it’s not
really an option at all, because then you have to cashout a week next year.
What I mean by that is, as I understand it, is that if you select that option in order to even have the
What I mean by that is, as I understand it, is that if you select that option in order to even have the
capability to be able to do it next year, but should you later decide that you would rather use your days off than to cash them out, well, at
that point, you would then be obligated to go through with the cashout.
If, you can't cancel the cashout and take the days off, then, just how is THAT an option? As in, they are calling this the PTO cashout option. Doesn't really sound like a lot of option to me.
If, you can't cancel the cashout and take the days off, then, just how is THAT an option? As in, they are calling this the PTO cashout option. Doesn't really sound like a lot of option to me.
If I need to select to have the cashout, for that option to
be available to me, okay; but if that also meant that I HAVE to take the cash
next year, well, as I said, I don’t so much like that option.
The thing that was nice about the capability to cash out a
week (or two, as it once was), was that if you needed it for some reason,
it was there. That is almost no longer true, if you prefer your days off. If
you see what I’m getting at.
It appears that now, that the company has eliminated that
capability and decided we should no longer have that option, should we need or
desire it. What I felt was a down side on this new format, was that in consideration
of the current economy, to make it so it is no longer a viable option, is to
remove yet another helpful protection and benefit, should there later be a need
for it, by way of the employee’s consideration and evaluation.
So if that’s the case, then the company is saying, this
cashout is only for planned recreational use, and not for any kind of help or
protection to your family’s budget, regardless of the situation.
But, PTO is for good and bad times.
Seems kind of a funny thing to do, from that perspective, in consideration of the state of the economy and people trying to make it through these difficult times.
Its further interesting, as PTO covers both vacation time off, AND sick days, that PTO is quite obviously for both recreational and difficult personal times (sickness) usage. I won’t even touch on how money matters can make you sick, and a cashout could keep you from getting sick over a situation; but that’s another issue entirely.
But, PTO is for good and bad times.
Seems kind of a funny thing to do, from that perspective, in consideration of the state of the economy and people trying to make it through these difficult times.
Its further interesting, as PTO covers both vacation time off, AND sick days, that PTO is quite obviously for both recreational and difficult personal times (sickness) usage. I won’t even touch on how money matters can make you sick, and a cashout could keep you from getting sick over a situation; but that’s another issue entirely.
So, I am sorry for me and the rest of us as its seems to be just one more
little nibble on our benefits that no one is noticing. Don’t you think?
And if I am understanding this
all correctly, then I suppose I would like to select to not use the option to
cash out next year.
Because, I need all the paid time off I can get from this....
Because, I need all the paid time off I can get from this....
Enter, the new Murdock Book Store
I have been trying over the years, to find a way to put some of my works online, rather than go through a store like Amazon. I am already on Amazon, through a publisher, but I'm also looking to put some special pieces online that would be educational, informational, or simply entertaining and interesting.
To that effort I have created the Murdock Book Store.
What started this, was reading a book, "Secrets of a Freelance Writer" by Robert Bly. In it, he talks about informational pamphlets that I found rather interesting; basically, "How to" leaflets. That got me to thinking, and then I thought about other pieces I could put online.
The results of that, was that I spent all day yesterday and some today, looking to see if technology had advanced enough for me to fluidly set up a transaction site. I have tried this in the past and thrown up my hands in frustration, for one reason or another, either glitchy software, or pricing removing any chance of doing this. But now, on my web site host iPage, I found a seamless solution I have put into play. So, I have been working on this new site to make available, purchasable works with no middle agency involved.
And so, I now have pages devoted to Short stories, non-Fiction articles, (and soon to come) informational Guides and Pamphlets (and some of those should be quite interesting, if things go well, and in areas, you may never have seen a pamphlet talk about before); as well as a page devoted to those sites where I did go through a publisher. Currently there are only links to The Undead Nation Anthology (Zilyon Publishing), but hopefully others will follow quickly; I do now have my own book anthology at Knight Romance Publishing.
Currently online at the store, is "Marking Time". This is a story I wrote long ago, based upon a true story that I was told by a fellow search and rescue person, while we were up in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State on practice maneuvers with the elite "Wing Team" of the Civil Air Patrol organization, a group that has been around since civilian pilots during WWII were patrolling the coasts of the Western US for signs of enemy actions against us.
This short story was rewritten to be included with my anthology that is now at the publisher. Were you to read both stories, you would most certainly recognize their roots, but the new story is quite different and takes place in a far more relevant and modern setting in the Middle East. Should you ever buy the anthology when it comes out, this would make for an interesting addendum. This story is $1.
Also within the store under the non-Fiction area, are a couple of papers, one on Synesthesia (the cross-modal translation of sensory input; where you can "see" sounds, "hear" colors, etc.); and one on the Field Theory and the need for contextualism in Psychology. These are each $5.
At this time, it is not feasible to set up automatic downloads, but once I receive notice that a payment has been sent and verified, I will email the pdf file to the purchaser. If this works well, then I will be able to afford the costs of setting up an automatic download and begin to possibly offer more works than my own. And we'll see how it goes from there.
I will try hard to make this a useful, entertaining, informational, and where possible, educational, tool.
Even if you decide not to purchase, feel free to let me know your thoughts on how to make this a better service for you all.
And, Thanks!
To that effort I have created the Murdock Book Store.
What started this, was reading a book, "Secrets of a Freelance Writer" by Robert Bly. In it, he talks about informational pamphlets that I found rather interesting; basically, "How to" leaflets. That got me to thinking, and then I thought about other pieces I could put online.
The results of that, was that I spent all day yesterday and some today, looking to see if technology had advanced enough for me to fluidly set up a transaction site. I have tried this in the past and thrown up my hands in frustration, for one reason or another, either glitchy software, or pricing removing any chance of doing this. But now, on my web site host iPage, I found a seamless solution I have put into play. So, I have been working on this new site to make available, purchasable works with no middle agency involved.
And so, I now have pages devoted to Short stories, non-Fiction articles, (and soon to come) informational Guides and Pamphlets (and some of those should be quite interesting, if things go well, and in areas, you may never have seen a pamphlet talk about before); as well as a page devoted to those sites where I did go through a publisher. Currently there are only links to The Undead Nation Anthology (Zilyon Publishing), but hopefully others will follow quickly; I do now have my own book anthology at Knight Romance Publishing.
Currently online at the store, is "Marking Time". This is a story I wrote long ago, based upon a true story that I was told by a fellow search and rescue person, while we were up in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State on practice maneuvers with the elite "Wing Team" of the Civil Air Patrol organization, a group that has been around since civilian pilots during WWII were patrolling the coasts of the Western US for signs of enemy actions against us.
This short story was rewritten to be included with my anthology that is now at the publisher. Were you to read both stories, you would most certainly recognize their roots, but the new story is quite different and takes place in a far more relevant and modern setting in the Middle East. Should you ever buy the anthology when it comes out, this would make for an interesting addendum. This story is $1.
Also within the store under the non-Fiction area, are a couple of papers, one on Synesthesia (the cross-modal translation of sensory input; where you can "see" sounds, "hear" colors, etc.); and one on the Field Theory and the need for contextualism in Psychology. These are each $5.
At this time, it is not feasible to set up automatic downloads, but once I receive notice that a payment has been sent and verified, I will email the pdf file to the purchaser. If this works well, then I will be able to afford the costs of setting up an automatic download and begin to possibly offer more works than my own. And we'll see how it goes from there.
I will try hard to make this a useful, entertaining, informational, and where possible, educational, tool.
Even if you decide not to purchase, feel free to let me know your thoughts on how to make this a better service for you all.
And, Thanks!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Weekend Wise Words
Two quotes today, both so full of truth and power that we need no more for this weekend....
"Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact."
"Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact."
- William James
"Each man [and woman] must for
himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is
patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide
against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor,
both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may."
- Mark Twain
Friday, November 19, 2010
Health Insurance companies surprised they are doing better than they thought?
Are health insurance companies doing a little better than they thought they would? Yes, to some degree, they are. And something about it, sounds a little like the oil companies to me. Funny how things are so terrible, oil is in desperate situation, yet, Oil Companies are turning in record profits.
Awww, how nice for them.
Health Insurance companies are finding that they are doing well in one area in particular, that of people not going to the doctor's office anymore, as often as they used to. This is in part because of an active attempt on education on the part of the Health Insurers, but also because people simply can't afford a doctor visit and because in recent years, they have become "gunshy" at going, because of the expense out of pocket. Its brilliant how the insurers have come up with the plan to "educate" and how it has been able to cover over, how people are simply afraid now to go to the doctor because of how expensive it is.
I was in an insider meeting with a big health insurance company, just this week. They were saying they are losing money, but are cutting costs in different ways, like their programs, their computer and internet related costs and other things. But then they said, they are doing rather well, better than they thought, in certain areas. One, was in people not going to the doctor as often.
People are avoiding, going to the doctor. So the Health Insurance company, is saving money. Whoohooo!
Right?
Except for one thing. I can relate, myself. I don't want to go to the doctor lately. The past year or two, its been expensive. Its a bit scary. We can't handle any more high costs of health care. So, we don't go.
Is that a good idea? No!
Preventative care, saves us a huge amount of money. Its taken years, decade after decade, for industry to realize this. If we take care of ourselves, if we go to the doctor and get things taken care of BEFORE they become out of control, we save money.
So, eventually, the economy will get wrestled under control. It may even take a few more years. Or, longer. But, at some point, these people that are now avoiding the doctor, are going to HAVE to go to the doctor, or the hospital. And then, what they have missed by skipping the doctor now, by skipping preventative measures ahead of time, are going to cost us.
Its going to costs us in our pocketbooks, wallets, savings, and health.
So the next time, you think, "Hmmm, maybe I should go to the doctor."
No, don't just go. Use your head, think about it, ask family, call a Nurse.
But don't just, NOT go. Use your head. Some insurance companies offer free calls to a staff Nurse. Talk to them, they will tell you whether or not you should go, or not go. That alone, could save you money, or your life.
As always, if its an emergency, just call 911. If you are going to die, CALL SOMEONE, stop worry about the cost. I'd rather owe a lot and be alive, than die and be debt free.
But, if its reasonable that you need to see someone, then go.
It may, in the long run, save you a lot of money, or your life.
Awww, how nice for them.
Health Insurance companies are finding that they are doing well in one area in particular, that of people not going to the doctor's office anymore, as often as they used to. This is in part because of an active attempt on education on the part of the Health Insurers, but also because people simply can't afford a doctor visit and because in recent years, they have become "gunshy" at going, because of the expense out of pocket. Its brilliant how the insurers have come up with the plan to "educate" and how it has been able to cover over, how people are simply afraid now to go to the doctor because of how expensive it is.
I was in an insider meeting with a big health insurance company, just this week. They were saying they are losing money, but are cutting costs in different ways, like their programs, their computer and internet related costs and other things. But then they said, they are doing rather well, better than they thought, in certain areas. One, was in people not going to the doctor as often.
People are avoiding, going to the doctor. So the Health Insurance company, is saving money. Whoohooo!
Right?
Except for one thing. I can relate, myself. I don't want to go to the doctor lately. The past year or two, its been expensive. Its a bit scary. We can't handle any more high costs of health care. So, we don't go.
Is that a good idea? No!
Preventative care, saves us a huge amount of money. Its taken years, decade after decade, for industry to realize this. If we take care of ourselves, if we go to the doctor and get things taken care of BEFORE they become out of control, we save money.
So, eventually, the economy will get wrestled under control. It may even take a few more years. Or, longer. But, at some point, these people that are now avoiding the doctor, are going to HAVE to go to the doctor, or the hospital. And then, what they have missed by skipping the doctor now, by skipping preventative measures ahead of time, are going to cost us.
Its going to costs us in our pocketbooks, wallets, savings, and health.
So the next time, you think, "Hmmm, maybe I should go to the doctor."
No, don't just go. Use your head, think about it, ask family, call a Nurse.
But don't just, NOT go. Use your head. Some insurance companies offer free calls to a staff Nurse. Talk to them, they will tell you whether or not you should go, or not go. That alone, could save you money, or your life.
As always, if its an emergency, just call 911. If you are going to die, CALL SOMEONE, stop worry about the cost. I'd rather owe a lot and be alive, than die and be debt free.
But, if its reasonable that you need to see someone, then go.
It may, in the long run, save you a lot of money, or your life.
Randy Quaid's Star Wackers - special ed.
So, what has happened to Randy Quaid and his wife? There was an explosion of news, then suddenly, nothing. Did the Star Wackers, finally get them?
Wouldn't we all like to know what's going on? Is Dennis Quaid, Mel Gibson, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan all in dire danger? Was Mel Gibson drugged leading to all his different rants going on this past year or two?
More at:
Kansan.com
ABCnews
Wouldn't we all like to know what's going on? Is Dennis Quaid, Mel Gibson, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan all in dire danger? Was Mel Gibson drugged leading to all his different rants going on this past year or two?
Kansan.com
ABCnews
Opening Theme in TV shows
Not since and having set the pace for, The X-Files, TV shows made me want to always watch the title sequence. Even though I've seen it time and time again, I either always look forward to seeing it again, or it actually very much sets the tone for the episode I'm about to watch.
These shows for me are:
I was very fond of this show and sad to see it go off the air. I couldn't find the full title sequence for this next one, but when I would watch it, it would send chills down my spine, the good kind:
Saving Grace
This song is such a perfect contrast with the subject of the show that I can't believe it:
Dexter
Again, I couldn't find the actual title sequence here either, but its a perfect video for the show opening:
True Blood
It took me a while to "get" this song for the show, but after a while, it kind of grew on me. I would still prefer a different song, different genre of music, but perhaps, this really is a perfect match of song and show:
Justified
Have fun.
These shows for me are:
I was very fond of this show and sad to see it go off the air. I couldn't find the full title sequence for this next one, but when I would watch it, it would send chills down my spine, the good kind:
Saving Grace
This song is such a perfect contrast with the subject of the show that I can't believe it:
Dexter
Again, I couldn't find the actual title sequence here either, but its a perfect video for the show opening:
True Blood
It took me a while to "get" this song for the show, but after a while, it kind of grew on me. I would still prefer a different song, different genre of music, but perhaps, this really is a perfect match of song and show:
Justified
Have fun.
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