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adventures in shopping.

Posted on November 30, 2008 
Filed Under Life In General | Leave a Comment

a very sad thing happened a few weeks ago… my sony receiver gave up finally. the amp had been shorting out and going into protector mode for a month or so, but usually would fire up. it finally got to the point where it would not run at all. it was going into protector mode with nothing plugged in… not good.

I searched out a repair facility for the amp and discovered that i was in for no less than $149 and could go to the flat rate service price of $275. all of this with no guarntee that they could even get it working at all. so the search for a replacement under $150 began. logic here was that was how much the old one would cost to fix.

so thanksgiving weekend seemed like a goof time to look. I jumped online and found a great amp at Circuit City for the right price. hopped in the car later in the day to make the purchase only to find that the site had been updated since I viewed it and that the price had gone up $60… and no they would not honor their yesterday price.

so off I went to try and find that amp at the price I saw online at Amazon.com. I checked at Best Buy… no luck… they did not carry the amp. I checked at Costco… also no dice. I made the fateful error of visitng Fry’s electronics.

they had the amp in stock. cool. they had it for a price $60 over the amazon.com price, but I know they price match… so I asked what the process was for price matching. the kid who worked there informed me that they only match local competitors. i reminded him that if amazon ships me a product and I can order it at home that they are local. he just looked at me when I said that. I asked him why they would not match. he said, “well they have advantages over us since they don’t have stores or employees”. at that moment I laughed. he asked if there was something else I needed, I muttered no and headed out.

so here is the thought that I am left with… until retailers are willing to recognize that amazon IS their competiton, then big box retailers are doomed to fail. seriously… does anybody really enjoy going to Best Buy… or do you just do it because you can get a good price. eventually I think these stores will only exist as the place where you can go and look at a product before you order.

at the end of the day… Fry’s lost out on a decent sale by not offering a discount to be even somewhat competitive with amazon.com.

duh duh du du… whamp.

Posted on November 17, 2008 
Filed Under work stuff | 1 Comment

after a thorough and exhaustive (or should I say exhausting) search the Copier Research Assessment Panel has spoken and it is not good news for Xerox. So here was what we learned in the process. (Click on the logo to hear how they likely feel)

• All things being equal… customer service wins. Xerox had some features that Canon did not… and vice versa. At the end of the day it was the ability to listen and respond that put Canon head and shoulders about Xerox. Our inital complaint and the reason for the assessment was the low reliability of our current Xerox machines. After hearing that for months and months, our sales team gave us a flier that assured us that if we resigned the contract we would be covered by a full replacement warrantee that would replace any machine that we were not happy with… for any reason. Newsflash… we already are unhappy with these machines!!
• Technology really is amazing. During this assessment we have been exposed to dozens of technological improvements that will give us a whole new set of capabilities. We are looking to add color capability as well as begin to explore a paperless office (ironic to say that when we are buying copiers whose job is to create paper documents)
• Teams see things that individuals do not. We were a cross functional/department team. We all were able to bring different needs and requirements to the table. At the end of the day we had lots of cool conversations that led to this huge decision.
• Kinkos is making a fortune on $0.59 copies. Our contract with Canon is small potatoes by the standard of a huge chain like that and there is a HUGE difference in price between what we pay and what is charged at a chain like that.
• Big decisions go from a simmer to a boil quickly. Our team has been working on this for several months, but at the end of the conversation this went from a theory to a signed contract in one day. Amazing when you think about it, but we were confident in the new solution and in the team that will be delivering and supporting it.

The full text of the announcement to the staff is below Read more

the transition begins.

Posted on November 3, 2008 
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

today begins my first day in the office during what will be a several week transition time. by the time we are sitting down to thanksgiving dinner, the transition will be complete and I will be fully engaged in my new role overseeing all things high tech here at mariners.

in the meantime, I will be dividing my time and honoring the role that brought me to mariners 2 years ago. today I will be formalizing a list of final projects to complete before I officially transition. i am excitied and looking to the future of my new role, and at the same time a little sad today to be thinking about the transition. so many great things have happened to me in this role. i have learned a lot and had the opportunity to work with an amazing team.

i know that this new role is a God thing in my life and so as i move forward i embrace God moving in my life and in my family. i thank him every day for walking alongside me as i grow as a leader and a servant. so today i am going to roll up my sleeves and figure out what needs to be done.

reflections on lighthouse weekend.

Posted on October 20, 2008 
Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment

this past weekend was amazing. our whole service was dedicated to teaching about how important it is to love those who are poor and in need. kenton shared some really cool insights from his study. one of the most impactful ones for me was that Jesus comes to us every day cleverly disguised as the poor and needy. we choose how to respond to jesus by how we respond to those in need. another powerful insight was gained in kentons office… not in the service. we create distance with the poor because that is safer for us. we do not want to acknowledge that we could be them, and franly we do not want to be faced with the need. when we do what jesus commands we collapse that distance and come face to face with poverty and we have no choice but to be compassionate.

Laurie also spoke about how we can respond. she was confident and poised. she shared from her heart and she motivated our church to action. In her message she shared this cool blessing.

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort…
at easy answers, half –truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with Anger…
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with Tears…
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness…
To believe that you can make a difference in their world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.

the weekend wrapped up at sunday night service. what an amazing experience that was! zimmerman had prepared this community for two weeks that the challenge was going to be 100% participation, and that if you were not going to be all in… to stay home. and they did not. the came in droves. in fact attendance was up over previous weeks. and when the call went out people responded. they took food boxes, promised to bring blankets, signed up for events and gave generously. being able to see the response was really cool.

this was my last lighthouse weekend to be involved with. by the time the next weekend rolls around I will be in a new role at mariners, and I will participate as a staff member, but not as a part of the core team. this dedicated staff works hard to move the congregation to be more like jesus, and it was a priviledge to be part of that.

the times are changing.

Posted on October 3, 2008 
Filed Under work stuff | 3 Comments

i’ve got a new role in ministry here at mariners church… and I could not be more pumped!! here is the email that was sent out to the staff here…

Staff,
For the past several months, Blair Farley has been working with Jack and several others to assess our implementation of Fellowship One and how we as a church we could be using it better. Throughout the course of this evaluation, it has become clear that Blair has many gifts and talents that are not being used in his current position as the Outreach Communications Director. With his unique knowledge of and experience with both Fellowship One and ministry, we’ve realized that he is a perfect fit for our IT Director position. While Outreach is very sad to lose him, we recognize what a valuable contribution he will make for our church in his new role. Blair will begin transitioning November 1 on a part-time basis, with a complete transition by December 1.

Please join us in congratulating Blair!

Robin Riley
Outreach Pastor

Jack Swan
Executive Pastor of Operations

so i am going to be on a new ministry adventure here at mariners… more to come on what kinds of things later. for now I am finishing strong in outreach and helping to transition my role… busy couple of months ahead!

recent discovery.

Posted on October 2, 2008 
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this week I had the opportunity to visit several mixed use development sites in the la area as preparation for planning commission. i grabbed my camera on this particular trip and thought I would capture some imagery for further consideration. I did find a few neat features of the structures, that I did photograph (link to album), but you want to know the coolest thing I saw the whole day? that’s right… angela lansbury’s star on the walk of fame. guess what i did to celebrate. right again. i watched “murder she wrote” had some peaches and went to bed early.

on the west wing.

Posted on September 28, 2008 
Filed Under For Sure | Leave a Comment

it should come as no surprise to people that the west wing is one of my favorite shows of all time. aaron sorkin rocks! well the new york times op/ed section thought it would be fun to see what president bartlett would advise candidate obama. the following is that conversation (as written by mr. sorkin)  original article

BARACK OBAMA knocks on the front door of a 300-year-old New Hampshire farmhouse while his Secret Service detail waits in the driveway. The door opens and OBAMA is standing face to face with former President JED BARTLET.

BARTLET Senator.

OBAMA Mr. President.

BARTLET You seem startled.

OBAMA I didn’t expect you to answer the door yourself.

BARTLET I didn’t expect you to be getting beat by John McCain and a Lancôme rep who thinks “The Flintstones” was based on a true story, so let’s call it even.

OBAMA Yes, sir.

BARTLET Come on in.

BARTLET leads OBAMA into his study.

BARTLET That was a hell of a convention.

OBAMA Thank you, I was proud of it.

BARTLET I meant the Republicans. The Us versus Them-a-thon. As a Democrat I was surprised to learn that I don’t like small towns, God, people with jobs or America. I’ve been a little out of touch but is there a mandate that the vice president be skilled at field dressing a moose —

OBAMA Look —

BARTLET — and selling Air Force Two on eBay?

OBAMA Joke all you want, Mr. President, but it worked.

BARTLET Imagine my surprise. What can I do for you, kid?

OBAMA I’m interested in your advice.

BARTLET I can’t give it to you.

OBAMA Why not?

BARTLET I’m supporting McCain.

OBAMA Why?

BARTLET He’s promised to eradicate evil and that was always on my “to do” list.

OBAMA O.K. —

BARTLET And he’s surrounded himself, I think, with the best possible team to get us out of an economic crisis. Why, Sarah Palin just said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had “gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers.” Can you spot the error in that statement?

OBAMA Yes, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac aren’t funded by taxpayers.

BARTLET Well, at least they are now. Kind of reminds you of the time Bush said that Social Security wasn’t a government program. He was only off by a little — Social Security is the largest government program.

OBAMA I appreciate your sense of humor, sir, but I really could use your advice.

BARTLET Well, it seems to me your problem is a lot like the problem I had twice.

OBAMA Which was?

BARTLET A huge number of Americans thought I thought I was superior to them.

OBAMA And?

BARTLET I was.

OBAMA I mean, how did you overcome that?

BARTLET I won’t lie to you, being fictional was a big advantage.

OBAMA What do you mean?

BARTLET I’m a fictional president. You’re dreaming right now, Senator.

OBAMA I’m asleep?

BARTLET Yes, and you’re losing a ton of white women.

OBAMA Yes, sir.

BARTLET I mean tons.

OBAMA I understand.

BARTLET I didn’t even think there were that many white women.

OBAMA I see the numbers, sir. What do they want from me?

BARTLET I’ve been married to a white woman for 40 years and I still don’t know what she wants from me.

OBAMA How did you do it?

BARTLET Well, I say I’m sorry a lot.

OBAMA I don’t mean your marriage, sir. I mean how did you get America on your side?

BARTLET There again, I didn’t have to be president of America, I just had to be president of the people who watched “The West Wing.”

OBAMA That would make it easier.

BARTLET You’d do very well on NBC. Thursday nights in the old “ER” time slot with “30 Rock” as your lead-in, you’d get seven, seven-five in the demo with a 20, 22 share — you’d be selling $450,000 minutes.

OBAMA What the hell does that mean?

BARTLET TV talk. I thought you’d be interested.

OBAMA I’m not. They pivoted off the argument that I was inexperienced to the criticism that I’m — wait for it — the Messiah, who, by the way, was a community organizer. When I speak I try to lead with inspiration and aptitude. How is that a liability?

BARTLET Because the idea of American exceptionalism doesn’t extend to Americans being exceptional. If you excelled academically and are able to casually use 690 SAT words then you might as well have the press shoot video of you giving the finger to the Statue of Liberty while the Dixie Chicks sing the University of the Taliban fight song. The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it.

OBAMA You’re saying race doesn’t have anything to do with it?

BARTLET I wouldn’t go that far. Brains made me look arrogant but they make you look uppity. Plus, if you had a black daughter —

OBAMA I have two.

BARTLET — who was 17 and pregnant and unmarried and the father was a teenager hoping to launch a rap career with “Thug Life” inked across his chest, you’d come in fifth behind Bob Barr, Ralph Nader and a ficus.

OBAMA You’re not cheering me up.

BARTLET Is that what you came here for?

OBAMA No, but it wouldn’t kill you.

BARTLET Have you tried doing a two-hour special or a really good Christmas show?

OBAMA Sir —

BARTLET Hang on. Home run. Right here. Is there any chance you could get Michelle pregnant before the fall sweeps?

OBAMA The problem is we can’t appear angry. Bush called us the angry left. Did you see anyone in Denver who was angry?

BARTLET Well … let me think. …We went to war against the wrong country, Osama bin Laden just celebrated his seventh anniversary of not being caught either dead or alive, my family’s less safe than it was eight years ago, we’ve lost trillions of dollars, millions of jobs, thousands of lives and we lost an entire city due to bad weather. So, you know … I’m a little angry.

OBAMA What would you do?

BARTLET GET ANGRIER! Call them liars, because that’s what they are. Sarah Palin didn’t say “thanks but no thanks” to the Bridge to Nowhere. She just said “Thanks.” You were raised by a single mother on food stamps — where does a guy with eight houses who was legacied into Annapolis get off calling you an elitist? And by the way, if you do nothing else, take that word back. Elite is a good word, it means well above average. I’d ask them what their problem is with excellence. While you’re at it, I want the word “patriot” back. McCain can say that the transcendent issue of our time is the spread of Islamic fanaticism or he can choose a running mate who doesn’t know the Bush doctrine from the Monroe Doctrine, but he can’t do both at the same time and call it patriotic. They have to lie — the truth isn’t their friend right now. Get angry. Mock them mercilessly; they’ve earned it. McCain decried agents of intolerance, then chose a running mate who had to ask if she was allowed to ban books from a public library. It’s not bad enough she thinks the planet Earth was created in six days 6,000 years ago complete with a man, a woman and a talking snake, she wants schools to teach the rest of our kids to deny geology, anthropology, archaeology and common sense too? It’s not bad enough she’s forcing her own daughter into a loveless marriage to a teenage hood, she wants the rest of us to guide our daughters in that direction too? It’s not enough that a woman shouldn’t have the right to choose, it should be the law of the land that she has to carry and deliver her rapist’s baby too? I don’t know whether or not Governor Palin has the tenacity of a pit bull, but I know for sure she’s got the qualifications of one. And you’re worried about seeming angry? You could eat their lunch, make them cry and tell their mamas about it and God himself would call it restrained. There are times when you are simply required to be impolite. There are times when condescension is called for!

OBAMA Good to get that off your chest?

BARTLET Am I keeping you from something?

OBAMA Well, it’s not as if I didn’t know all of that and it took you like 20 minutes to say.

BARTLET I know, I have a problem, but admitting it is the first step.

OBAMA What’s the second step?

BARTLET I don’t care.

OBAMA So what about hope? Chuck it for outrage and put-downs?

BARTLET No. You’re elite, you can do both. Four weeks ago you had the best week of your campaign, followed — granted, inexplicably — by the worst week of your campaign. And you’re still in a statistical dead heat. You’re a 47-year-old black man with a foreign-sounding name who went to Harvard and thinks devotion to your country and lapel pins aren’t the same thing and you’re in a statistical tie with a war hero and a Cinemax heroine. To these aged eyes, Senator, that’s what progress looks like. You guys got four debates. Get out of my house and go back to work.

OBAMA Wait, what is it you always used to say? When you hit a bump on the show and your people were down and frustrated? You’d give them a pep talk and then you’d always end it with something. What was it …?

BARTLET “Break’s over.”

on politics.

Posted on September 28, 2008 
Filed Under Life In General | Leave a Comment

there are technical requirements to run for president. one must be a native u.s. citizen of the age of 35 willing to swear an oath to the constitution. there are pragmatic requirements as well. one must be a leader with a strong ability to understand and manage a great amount of complexity. one must also have flawless judgement of character, as the president is responsible for choosing people to run the various departments in the executive branch.

while policy debates and stances on particular issues are important as a part of this political season, it is just as important I believe to measure the character of the choices that are made with relationship to a vice president and a staff. history has shown that most modern presidencies have been defined more by the people who surround the president than the policies he stands for upon entering office. doubt that? heard of h.r. halderman, john dean, henry kissinger, michael deaver, james a bakker III, janet reno? if you have heard of these people it is because of actions that they took on behalf of the president who selected them.

so why the rant? because I am disappointed in the choices that have been made so far. i am disappointed by both men running, but for very different reasons. i believe that mr. obama picked a very qualified candidate to be his vice president. he is intelligent, hard working & very service oriented. he just was not the candidate who had proven that people desired him to be president. over many previous attempts, mr. biden has been very unsuccessful at getting the support of the american public. mrs. clinton, however, did. she should have been the choice. mr. mccain in my judgement made a choice based purely on political theatre. while I believe that mrs. palin may be a wonderful christian woman, I do not believe that she is ready to stand the test of the presidency.

so where does that leave me? still wondering. still pondering. still processing. still listening.

what could candidates do differently? how about discuss who they would choose to lead in their cabinet. most presidential candidates spend so much time discussing plans and policies that rarely ever get passed. I would rather talk about how they will make choices and how they will lead.

oh… and one more thing. this is just really really really funny.