A very special day is coming up....no Easter is past...no not tax day....not pay day....Come on Cinco De Mayo is in May...It's my birthday. Same time every year 100th day of the year..Unless its a leap year then 101.
My wish list for my birthday.
Money. simple easy,like the colour.
Brit shows on DVD....A list can be gotten upon request.
Money.
Tires for the Blazer.
Lilac scented candles. I used up most of the ones I have.
A decent pizza...its a pizza wasteland down here...
money..in case you forgot.
Checks will be accepted...paypal is ok too..
My misadventures in life with the help of my cast of supporting characters.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
The Sitcom Of My Life
I was working at Borders today at the registers helping a guy when he asked me out of the blue...."Do you know where the nearest Target is at?" I suddenly notice that Mackenzie to the left of me is giggling like a 2 year old...and Jane to the right of me is chuckling in front of a confused customer. I must have had a expression like I just got hit by a dead fish because then he ask....."Target its a store have you ever heard of it...Is there one near?"....Now I have out and out laughing on both sides of me....
Target...MMMMM.yes I believe I have heard of it..I think that you can step out side and look west...you can't miss the giant red bullseye on the horizon. How he got to Borders from the interstate like he said he did and not seen the Target building is beyond me...I guess never ask him to be a witness at an accident.
Target...MMMMM.yes I believe I have heard of it..I think that you can step out side and look west...you can't miss the giant red bullseye on the horizon. How he got to Borders from the interstate like he said he did and not seen the Target building is beyond me...I guess never ask him to be a witness at an accident.
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Who Is William Ackman And What Does He Mean To Me?
In the last couple days Borders Books Music and Cafe has been making the news. Not in a good way. The CEO George Jones (not the country singer) announced we aren't doing so good. Well this takes me back to my days at Montgomery Ward. But that's a whole other post.
The media is making it out to be worse then it really is...or from what I've read. And there is a lot out there to read. It goes from the bad....Borders to be sold to rival Barnes and Noble...to the worse...Borders closing...People don't see the coulds...the maybe...the possibles.... The answer is no....no... and no...The company is just facing a little cash shortage and need a little help.
Well the name that keeps coming up in this and has been a small presents in the back til now is one William Ackman. He's CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management LP. A hedge fund place. I don't know what all that means but Mr. A. could end up owning 40% of the company and that would mean he's my boss.
So who is William Ackman? I did my little research and didn't find that much. He's 41 which means he was born in 1966 or 1967. He went to Harvard Class of 1988 and then Harvard Business School Class of 1992. Pershing Square was started in 2003. And his home base is New York City. He looks like Anderson Cooper with his salt and pepper hair.Growing up wealthy in New York must turn guys hair gray at an early age.It does seem like the family must have had money for him to go to Harvard. But I don't know that for a fact.Still checking.
But really who is he. Does he like books,CDs.Dvds ? Is he a coffee drinker or is he just in it for a quick buck? He helped turn around McDonald,Wendys and Target. Three places I didn't know needed help.
Is there a Mrs that he goes home to at night. Kids the inherit dads billions. Does he like puppies and sunsets?
So will he become a four letter word around my co workers and I with his ideas or the saint who is spoken of in reverent tones.
Only time will tell....note to self update resume on Monster.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Monkey Wards All Over
Facing Cash Crunch, Borders Mulls Sale
By DAVID RUNK,
AP
Posted: 2008-03-20 11:47:21
DETROIT (March 20) - Borders, the nation's second-largest bookseller, said Thursday it may put itself up for sale and has lined up $42.5 million in financing to help continue operating. Borders Group Inc. said the financing commitment comes from investment funds affiliated with Pershing Square Capital Management LP and includes an offer to buy Borders' international businesses.
"We believe that consummation of the transactions under the commitment will make us fully funded for 2008, where absent these measures, liquidity issues may otherwise have arisen in the next few months," Borders CEO George Jones said in a statement.
After postponing its scheduled fourth-quarter earnings results Wednesday, the company reported net income of $64.7 million, or $1.10 a share, compared with a loss of $73.6 million, or $1.22, during the same period last year.
Revenue fell 2 percent to $1.35 billion, from $1.37 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected profits of $1.42 per share on sales of $1.37 billion.
Quarterly results included a $7 million loss from the sale of Irish and British businesses for $13 million.
The sales agreement for international businesses announced Thursday gives Borders the option until Jan. 15 to require Pershing Square to pay $125 million for the international business, which includes Borders' Paperchase, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore subsidiaries. But Borders said it must pursue the sale of those operations first before any deal with Pershing.
"This will be a challenging year for retailers due to continued uncertainty in the economic environment," Jones said. "Looking forward to 2008 and beyond, the company determined that additional capital was required to execute our operating plan, and as a result we began to explore various financing options.
"The current credit environment has made many of these alternatives prohibitively expensive or entirely unavailable."
Borders group a year ago announced a restructuring that included a fresh face for its U.S. superstores and a jump back into online bookselling. Borders opened the first of its new concept stores last month near its headquarters, and has said its new Borders.com Web site was to make its debut shortly.
Ann Arbor-based Borders said J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co. have been retained as the company's financial advisers to assist the company as it explores strategic alternatives.
The company said it can give no assurances that a transaction of any kind will occur.
Or this happy article
Borders Explains Financing Moves
by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 3/20/2008 9:38:00 AM
Slowing sales late in the fourth quarter, the collapse of talks to sell its Australian/New Zealand operation and the disarray in the capital markets were the main factors prompting Borders to seek a quick infusion of capital from Pershing Square, executives told analysts in this morning’s conference call. The refinancing appeared to catch many analysts by surprise and some expressed concern about the cost of the deal with Pershing which carries a 12.5% interest rate.|
CEO George Jones, who noted the company has carried a high debt level for some time, said Borders felt it needed financial stability in the current year, both to move ahead with its strategic plan as well as to ease any concerns vendors may have about Borders’s financial health, although he added that Borders is not aware of any vendors who are planning to stop shipping books.
Jones said the “top priority” for the company in 2008 is to improve the company’s bottomline and its ability to generate cash. The company will reduce costs has much as possible in in headquarters, stores and supply chain, said CFO Ed Wilhelm. The company will also work to cut inventory while improving inventory turns.
In the past year, Borders had a net loss of $157.5 million compared to a loss of $151.3 million in 2006. The loss included a $125.7 after tax loss related to the sale of its U.K. and Irish stores plus $27.7 million of after-tax non-operating charges. Total sales rose 2.6%, to $3.82 billion, over 2006, which had an extra week.
Asked why Borders decided to look for strategic options after it received the funding from Pershing, Wilhelm said the company is looking to maximize shareholder value. He said Borders believes the strategic plan it is working on is the right one, but that it could be more beneficial to stockholders to sell the company. The new funding gives Borders time to conduct a full review of its options, Jones noted.
By DAVID RUNK,
AP
Posted: 2008-03-20 11:47:21
DETROIT (March 20) - Borders, the nation's second-largest bookseller, said Thursday it may put itself up for sale and has lined up $42.5 million in financing to help continue operating. Borders Group Inc. said the financing commitment comes from investment funds affiliated with Pershing Square Capital Management LP and includes an offer to buy Borders' international businesses.
"We believe that consummation of the transactions under the commitment will make us fully funded for 2008, where absent these measures, liquidity issues may otherwise have arisen in the next few months," Borders CEO George Jones said in a statement.
After postponing its scheduled fourth-quarter earnings results Wednesday, the company reported net income of $64.7 million, or $1.10 a share, compared with a loss of $73.6 million, or $1.22, during the same period last year.
Revenue fell 2 percent to $1.35 billion, from $1.37 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected profits of $1.42 per share on sales of $1.37 billion.
Quarterly results included a $7 million loss from the sale of Irish and British businesses for $13 million.
The sales agreement for international businesses announced Thursday gives Borders the option until Jan. 15 to require Pershing Square to pay $125 million for the international business, which includes Borders' Paperchase, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore subsidiaries. But Borders said it must pursue the sale of those operations first before any deal with Pershing.
"This will be a challenging year for retailers due to continued uncertainty in the economic environment," Jones said. "Looking forward to 2008 and beyond, the company determined that additional capital was required to execute our operating plan, and as a result we began to explore various financing options.
"The current credit environment has made many of these alternatives prohibitively expensive or entirely unavailable."
Borders group a year ago announced a restructuring that included a fresh face for its U.S. superstores and a jump back into online bookselling. Borders opened the first of its new concept stores last month near its headquarters, and has said its new Borders.com Web site was to make its debut shortly.
Ann Arbor-based Borders said J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch & Co. have been retained as the company's financial advisers to assist the company as it explores strategic alternatives.
The company said it can give no assurances that a transaction of any kind will occur.
Or this happy article
Borders Explains Financing Moves
by Jim Milliot -- Publishers Weekly, 3/20/2008 9:38:00 AM
Slowing sales late in the fourth quarter, the collapse of talks to sell its Australian/New Zealand operation and the disarray in the capital markets were the main factors prompting Borders to seek a quick infusion of capital from Pershing Square, executives told analysts in this morning’s conference call. The refinancing appeared to catch many analysts by surprise and some expressed concern about the cost of the deal with Pershing which carries a 12.5% interest rate.|
CEO George Jones, who noted the company has carried a high debt level for some time, said Borders felt it needed financial stability in the current year, both to move ahead with its strategic plan as well as to ease any concerns vendors may have about Borders’s financial health, although he added that Borders is not aware of any vendors who are planning to stop shipping books.
Jones said the “top priority” for the company in 2008 is to improve the company’s bottomline and its ability to generate cash. The company will reduce costs has much as possible in in headquarters, stores and supply chain, said CFO Ed Wilhelm. The company will also work to cut inventory while improving inventory turns.
In the past year, Borders had a net loss of $157.5 million compared to a loss of $151.3 million in 2006. The loss included a $125.7 after tax loss related to the sale of its U.K. and Irish stores plus $27.7 million of after-tax non-operating charges. Total sales rose 2.6%, to $3.82 billion, over 2006, which had an extra week.
Asked why Borders decided to look for strategic options after it received the funding from Pershing, Wilhelm said the company is looking to maximize shareholder value. He said Borders believes the strategic plan it is working on is the right one, but that it could be more beneficial to stockholders to sell the company. The new funding gives Borders time to conduct a full review of its options, Jones noted.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Sounds Like Good News...For Me
Crow Says She'll Sing With Fleetwood Mac
Mar 14, 6:59 AM (ET)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sheryl Crow says she'll soon be singing with Fleetwood Mac, a move sure to give new life to the classic rock band, which hasn't toured in several years.
"I don't want to make any official announcements, but I will say that we definitely have plans for collaborating in the future, and we'll see what happens," Crow told the AOL music Web site Spinner.com in a story posted Thursday.
The 46-year-old singer didn't give a date, but said it could happen next year.
She's already thinking about what she'd like to perform. "I'd love to do 'The Chain,' I'd love to do 'Second Hand News,'" Crow said.
Crow said she looked forward to working with friend Stevie Nicks.
"I think the person I learned the most hands-on from is Stevie Nicks because she allowed me not only to co-write with her but also to produce her, and she's a true artist," she said.
Crow would give the band and Nicks a boost. According to Spinner.com, Nicks had said she wouldn't continue with Fleetwood Mac without keyboardist Christine McVie, who retired from touring in 1998. McVie joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 shortly after marrying the band's bass guitarist, John McVie.
Fleetwood Mac last toured in 2004.
Crow is currently touring after the release of her latest album, "Detours."
Phone and e-mail messages left with representatives for Fleetwood Mac and Crow were not immediately returned.
Mar 14, 6:59 AM (ET)
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sheryl Crow says she'll soon be singing with Fleetwood Mac, a move sure to give new life to the classic rock band, which hasn't toured in several years.
"I don't want to make any official announcements, but I will say that we definitely have plans for collaborating in the future, and we'll see what happens," Crow told the AOL music Web site Spinner.com in a story posted Thursday.
The 46-year-old singer didn't give a date, but said it could happen next year.
She's already thinking about what she'd like to perform. "I'd love to do 'The Chain,' I'd love to do 'Second Hand News,'" Crow said.
Crow said she looked forward to working with friend Stevie Nicks.
"I think the person I learned the most hands-on from is Stevie Nicks because she allowed me not only to co-write with her but also to produce her, and she's a true artist," she said.
Crow would give the band and Nicks a boost. According to Spinner.com, Nicks had said she wouldn't continue with Fleetwood Mac without keyboardist Christine McVie, who retired from touring in 1998. McVie joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 shortly after marrying the band's bass guitarist, John McVie.
Fleetwood Mac last toured in 2004.
Crow is currently touring after the release of her latest album, "Detours."
Phone and e-mail messages left with representatives for Fleetwood Mac and Crow were not immediately returned.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
A Good Slice
The other night I didn't feel like cooking and I had a craving for pizza. I didn't feel also like driving the 1-3hrs to get my favorite so I called one of the places here in the hood. Uncle Bills. I went and picked it up the smell of hot pizza filled the inside of the Blazer and I was ready right then to dig in. I opened the box and found it was a Harris pizza knockoff...Sadness.
Well it was too late now and I didn't have a really strong reason to return it and I was hungry. So with closed mind, I drove home and tucked in. What don't I like about it. It could be the square slices...the sweet sauce...the sausage paste....To me a pizza needs to be round...there are square ones out there,beware..the slices need to be triangle, rounded crust at one end and a point at the other. The sausage needs to be seen. Little meat balls would be nice. I don't know if that is what they call Chicago style or not. Harris and all it's clones have been around here for years and people rave about it. Not me...I also don't like Maid-Rites but that's a whole other food group.
So the next time I have a craving for pizza I guess a quick trip up to Rock Falls to Angelos or if I really have time to kill maybe Chicago for Gino's. Oh the lengths I go for my eats.
Well it was too late now and I didn't have a really strong reason to return it and I was hungry. So with closed mind, I drove home and tucked in. What don't I like about it. It could be the square slices...the sweet sauce...the sausage paste....To me a pizza needs to be round...there are square ones out there,beware..the slices need to be triangle, rounded crust at one end and a point at the other. The sausage needs to be seen. Little meat balls would be nice. I don't know if that is what they call Chicago style or not. Harris and all it's clones have been around here for years and people rave about it. Not me...I also don't like Maid-Rites but that's a whole other food group.
So the next time I have a craving for pizza I guess a quick trip up to Rock Falls to Angelos or if I really have time to kill maybe Chicago for Gino's. Oh the lengths I go for my eats.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Just from one sheet of paper
I'd like to thank my Co-worker Miz Mayberry for sending these pictures my way.There are many more examples of this amazing art,but the computer said that was enough after four.
Entries for an art contest at the Hirshorn Modern Art Gallery in DC
The rule was that the artist could use only one sheet of paper.
the best I could get would be a lope sided snowflake.
Entries for an art contest at the Hirshorn Modern Art Gallery in DC
The rule was that the artist could use only one sheet of paper.
the best I could get would be a lope sided snowflake.
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