Merry Christmas, Happy holidays!

 

My friends and family  have kept me busy for the past two weeks and I have not posted anything….Also there have been a number of issues that have bothered me, but I have kept quiet.

The only important thing right now is peace on earth annd good will to all.

Lets hope and pray for that.

Alex

Looking at the auto bailout from a different direction.

Back in the 1950″ and 60′s when I was a  teenager we worshiped  U.S. automobiles. They were the only cars made. Those VW’s and Renault’s and even the English Cars were laughed at as sissy cars.  Even the Fiats were mocked as being poor pathetic bugs not worth of our attention.

We looked forward in the 50′s to each years Chevy or Dodge or Ford design or model.  The 1954 Chevy & Ford were different. The Chevy had rounded lines following the designs od the 30′ & 40′s..  The Ford had straight lines  with round tube tail lights. A bit daring for that time… Then boom, 55-56-57-58  were the wonder years for the U.S. auto makers.They were on the cutting edge of design and performance.

I had a good friend whose grandfather owned Southern Chevrolet  at that time period. He was the luckyest kid in town because his birthday present in 55 was  one of those new cars called a Corvette. Polo White with red seats…We drove that car in the ground. When he wore it out he got a 57 with fuel injection. A real death  machine for a teenager.

But as we went into the 60′s the cars became for some reason more de-personalized . More plastic and less metal..Everyone liked them but the designn did not excite in anyway.

I  bought a 53 Jaguar XK-120 in the late 60′s and something magical happened. I found out there were other brands of cars that were just as exciting. I was on the fence so to speak. I liked American and English autos. I was made fun of by some of my peers.

The years passed and all of the foreign imports arrived on our shores. Their main selling point was price and better gas mileage. Design was so-so.

As much as I hate to say it the U.S.  car makers became complacent. The Unions drove the cost of car making up. The quality became at best fair to poor. Corners were cut.  Emission Legislation drove the cost up even more. The foreign automakers concentrated on upgrading their quality while keeping their price down. They built plants in the U.S. and hired non union labor to keep the cost down. They were able to build a better product at a lower price.

The U.S.  car makers just kept on cranking out their barely passable cookie cutter cars and imagined  they were competing. Only  to just fall further behind every year.

I would shop for a car and start comparing the quality of construction and finish. I would look at the U.S.  cars and their foreigh counterparts. The foreign cars won out   every time. I doubt today I would buy a U.S. brand car. They just dont meet todays standards.  The Corvette of today has only their reputation to live on. Several foreign built similar cars will put the vette to shame.

And we wonder how we got to this point?

A lot of stupid mistakes on the upper managment of the U.S. car makers thinking they could pull the wool over the buyers eyes…And yes, the dreaded Union’s…

The days of the 57 Fords and Chevys are gone forever. All hail Nissan and Toyota and Lexus….

It’s a shame though.

Alex

Louisiana #2 Public corruption convictions. 1998-2007

As Gomer Pile would say….SUPRISE, SUPRISE…

from an aol story…

State: Louisiana | Rank: 2
Public Corruption Convictions, 1998-2007: 332
Convictions per 100,000 Residents: 7.7

The Christmas season is upon us.

I hate to shop for anything. If I had my way I would snap my fingers and the item I wanted would magically appear. But I also live in the real world. It’s much more complicated than that.  My major gripe is the fact that in today’s  world there is no customer service or even the clerk being civil  at  the  checkout counter. I feel in most cases or about 75% of the time I am imposing on the clerk to even be standing in line.

What has happened to, did you find everything your were looking for?  

Thanks for shopping.

 Please come back.

Lets see if I can find that item for you. 

Just common  friendliness and a smile on their face. 

 All I see is sullen expressions and most of the time no comments other than , here,  when they shove the package in your general direction. 

 I realize that most of the clerks work  for minimum salary, but do they not have enough drive to better themselves by experience. Why go through life either at the checkout line or on the  welfare line.   Push yourself just a little bit, show some enthusiasm  and perhaps step up the ladder in the business world.

  I know, I am standing out in the middle of the woods preaching to the trees..

If their managers would just take the time to explain this to them rather than just show them how the register works. I believe a pleasant experience at the register will increase sales 25% or more, because the people who buy will come back. I can list about 10 stores in Cenla that have this problem  and I am sure you can too.

So enjoy your Christmas shopping.. and dont ask me where any thing is in the store, because I just work here.

Alex

Public buildings, etc.

This morning I made the rounds of the other local blogs as I do almost every day. I came upon the post of Cenlamar about his objection to the  new library in the lakes district. (which by the way I agree with wholeheartedly)   http://cenlamar.wordpress.com/

The branch off Jackson street is used to some degree and is in the middle of a thickly populated area. The main branch on Washington Street although a bit run down is a busy bustling place, always..  As Cenlamar states the new branch being built serves a very limited population base. And it was plainly built to augment the upper income segment in a now semi-secluded area.

I also look at the Rapides Parish Coliseum building. It has not been mantained  nor  managed efficiently…. There is a tax referendum on the building coming up…… It will probably be voted down….. If it is—– the public will be playing into the hands of the same situation… The Police Jury will sell the area….. (that has already been set up by one of the Jury members calling for a property assessment.)   40 or 50 million dollars or more will be spent of your money to replace a building that has been purposely  run down to set up this scenario…. I hope the tax on the maintenance of the Coliseum is passed.

(  Because I believe that there is a plan to replace the building already boiling in the pot.)

 That would disappoint a few people looking to make big bucks….

Alex

Louisiana History Museum fundraiser project. DVD

 Received this email from The Louisiana History Museum.

 Sounds like a good gift idea to help the museum.

 Alex

 

Happy Holiday’s

 

The Louisiana History Museum Proudly announces the release of the Central Louisiana Photographic Retrospective. A 35 minute DVD featuring some of the photographs shown on Cable Channel four and some until now unpublished photograph’s of central Louisiana from 1860′s to the 1960′s. Featuring the music used on the original 5 and 6  minute programs shown on the Alexandria, La. cable channel. This  would be the ideal Christmas gift for a lot of friends on your list this season. Cost is $20.00 per DVD with all the proceeds going to the museum operating fund. Please view the file flyer attached. Copy’s of the DVD can be obtained beginning Wednesday December 3rd at the museum located at 503 Washington Street or by contacting Dale Genius, Museum Director  at 318-445-7730 between noon and  nine p.m. any day of the week. Payment should be made out to the Louisiana History Museum. For more information please contact Dale by email at lahistorymuseum@aol.com.

This DVD  is sold to provide funds for the museum operating fund.

Please pass this email on to all your friends.

 

Thank You!!!

 

Dale

 

 

Dale Genius
Director
Louisiana History Museum
503 Washington Street
Alexandria, La. -71301

office- 318-487-8566
cell- 318-308-8887
Home- 318-445-7730
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louisianahistorymuseum.org

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