So Looks like I'll be picking up my pictures at Walgreens on wens-day not going back out in that cold, great. I'm pictured out currently so this will not be the sabres post it is about why wal-mart is good.

1st. Full disclosure where I work we sell product to Wal-Mart, Target, CVS,Walgreen's, Rite Aid, and a bunch of other places and I have no how the money end of things work, I just pick the orders

2. I love target you can get any thing there really, well mostly.

3. I have gone to wal-mart near where I work and they aren't bad.


Yes Often times Wal-Mart get a lot of bad press and some of it they deserve. But there is often another side to that debate that people don't talk about. I'm talking about wages and how they are good that people are paid low rates.

So if you believe that Wal-mart is cheaper then say K-mart or someplace like that the first question is why. Since they are a big box store I'm sure we can assume that they pay the same price for a TV from Sony as anyone else does. Maybe they do have some ways to get it cheaper then target. But I suspect that they pay the same but that their mark up is less then Target. Yes there are some items that aren't name brand that they get for cheaper then SaY Target. But if this is the case that is because they buy things that cost less then target does. Yes in some cases maybe the workers who make it, make really low wages but for the country they work in that is the standard set there. In some places those are still good jobs, by comparison but that isn't what I'm really talking about.

Any store there goal is to make money. Yes it should be provide goods and Services people need, but it isn't. Since it is for profit that means that there is a certain profit margin on everything they sell. If a store spends x amount of dollars to run and that amount goes up, then their amount of profit drops. So that leads to an increase in price to make up for the less profit. Again though this is a tough balance if you raise prices to much people will stop buying stuff or shopping someplace else and you will lose even more money.

What keeps Wal-mart, Aldi, Price Rite and other places cheap is keeping there costs low. By doing this they can keep around the same amount of profit as other places. I have heard people say they won't go to wegman's because it costs to much. Well back about 10 years ago you could work at Wilson Farms for 3 years and walk into wegmans and on your first day as a Cashier you would be paid a higher wage. Yes they are a great company to work for, but those great things cost money so food costs more. The reverse is true also.

In other words what keeps prices low at wal-mart is that they don't pay very much. Most people think of that as bad. But what about people who want to buy stuff and don't have the money to go to
target. Some might say those are extras who cares. Well think about all the people who go to Price Rite or Save A Lot because Wegmans is to much. That is thought of as good but a retailer does it and they are evil, that is a double standard.

Generally speaking the Higher Paying Job, the tougher it is to get, and the more knowledge you need. Not to pick on anyone but I think there are a lot of people at Wal-Mart who that is the only Job they can get. If there was no Wal-Mart where would they work. What could they buy. Now working there they can at least buy stuff there.

Yes Wal-Mart is very powerful and when they abuse that power and push around workers and not pay them for overtime, that is bad. But that doesn't mean everything they do is bad. I also think protesting Wal-Mart is silly. Lets just say that it worked and no one went there. They would close and all those people would lose their Jobs. A job is hard to find where are those people going to go. What about the people who only can buy things at Wal-Mart how are they going to buy stuff. What about the places that Wal-Mart buys stuff from in other countries or even here, they could lose there jobs now that wal-mart isn't buying.

I think the entire wal-mart thing is another example of something that is very complex that people like to try and make simple and turn into a Political issue. You could make the point that it is a social issue but that is a different thing all together.

Oh one last point. I know that Wal-marts some times move into small towns and then all the local places close, or at least that is what I have heard. Then the guy who ran the local Hardware store has to get a Job there. That isn't wal-mart's fault. That is the town peoples lack of Loyality. They will go buy something at Wal-mart that is a little bit cheaper instead of buying from the person they know and trust, or atleast know. How about a little bit of loyality.

So Super behind so not sure when the post of some Penguins Vs. Sabres photos will go up, soon I hope it was part of my Birthday gift to my self. But for now here are some snow and Christmasy Pictures.





















































That reminds me I haven't put up any of My Train Tags Photo project either. I could at least put up a start to it in some form. I wish I had time to trek around and get all kinds of lights pictures there really are a lot of people who do a great job with them.

So These pictures are aimed at a few (e:peeps) but not only them I hope everyone enjoys these pictures from the mall and other places as well.

















So Later that Night My Niece, sis and friend went to famous dave's BBQ. It was a good time and very intersting. The Staff was great with dealling with a 1 year old who was all over the place, lets just say a thing of peper flew through the air wish I would have videoed that might have been interesting. Well here are some Pictures of the place. Oh yeah the food was good to.



















































Yes there are more pictures I want to post that are christmasy I'm hoping to make it to the live Navity and maybe get some pictures there on friday we shall see if that happens. I also want to write a post about how Wal-Mart is good. Yes they get a lot of bad press but there is some good things about them to. This last picture is of a picture I wish I thought to take. When checking out at Wal-mart this was pointed out to me, I should have got one of each 3 flavors. They Where Mountain Dew, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper Flavored lip balm, I wish I took a picture of all 3.





If I was thinking I would have bought extras so I could try them or maybe even send them out to people. That reminds me if anyone is going to a mall don't be shy and if you see a nice charity like Toys For Tots give something. I'm not saying you have to buy $100 toy or anything and I'm not saying you have extra money. But if you have some money that will be more usefull to someone else spend it on helping someone else if you can. Oh yeah and to all of those that give up your time and Volunter thank you.

First of all thanks to (e:pmt) for hosting. Second of all it was a great time. Third of all the toast to Tony's Birthday was nice as well. I heard I missed great conversation about she males, that would have been interesting. Everyone that I know of lived. Yes (e:tinypliny) was a blast as she all ways is with that huge knife and talking about things she has tasted that was so funny it really was, it was a great time. Well in no real order here are the pictures from that night hope you enjoy them. They are all candids so some faces might have odd expressions as people make a face or are talking or what ever.

























































































































































































































































Just wanted to add the food was all pretty good even the veggies, often I don't like them. Hopefully I won't work anther close to 12 hour day and on Wendsday I can post my pictures from the Christmas lights some mall stuff and Famous Dave's. I have started work on my train tag photo project and want to post those this week also. Hoping to get some more photos on wends but we shall see what happens with work.

So some time back in Nov. (e:Paul) posted this picture of a stuffed tiger that he wanted . I went on to explain that there are something that once you get one you wind up getting more of them, stuffed animals are and example of that. I guessed that was one of the reasons he wasn't allowed to get one. So I decided my next photo project would be to take stuffed animal pictures.

I will admit I'm not sure how my collection started. I know it started one of two ways. There was this credit card that if you filled it out you got a free bear with a Bomber Jacket and Bomber Glasses I have 23 and they are awesome, think I got them at the Fair. But I think my Panda Bears predate them. Those where free from using Fuji film.

I have also along the way got Stuffed animals with like Hard Rock Cafe stuff. The bear or dog with the Crazy Ears is from work. When we used to distribute Fishermen's Friend I got a couple of those. I Have a WWF bear from when I went to Wrestlemania. The Garfield I won with Candy at work. Then there is some Wrestling ones Like the Undertaker and Triple H and Sting. Then I have the Green Monkey from wicked, a Blue Christmas Stitch (Stitch is pretty good in that movie) and I think a couple version of white tigers. There is a part of me that says I shouldn't post these but here it goes anyways.























































On a Side Note I do remember that I have one bear that is hidden behind stuff that has a Halloween mask of Frankenstein. I also don't have any of the sex bears like any one in chains or with dicks or anything like that.

1st Day of Snow, of this winter (Not of the year that would have been in January I'm guessing). I can admit I'm a bit late on this but late is better then never I guess. I woke up on December 1st to find out it had snowed. I wish I had a car and a great camera there could have been a lot of amazing pictures. The snow looked great there where trees with half covered in snow. The tricky thing is that when it is snowing when you use a flash the flash hits the snow and reflects so everything else is dark but then if it is dark out then the picture is dark. I'm not good enough to find the balance. Well here are the pictures I took that day of the first snowfall. I did try to take some on the bus. The problem with that is there was to much light on the bus so through the glass you get reflections of the bus. If the overhead lights where off then maybe they would have came out. Well here they are:

So as I'm sure a lot of you know the KFC on Elmwood has been closed for some time. I will admit I didn't eat there very often. There are a few reasons for that.
1. KFC has been known to abuse there chickens in the process somehow
2. I eat a lot of bad food but KFC sometimes you eat it and you can feel your heart working overtime that stuff is really bad for you
3. KFC smells so good that when you walk past it, you or atleast I, Can taste it in my mouth, since I can taste it why buy it
4. I Called it KFC before the brand used that name, I use the name becuase saying Kentucky Fried Chicken is to long, they changed to KFC so people would froget it is fried, that pissed me off. Just be Honest about it.

I heard they closed for two reasons one was some kind of sewage problem that wasn't really their fault. I think they also had a rodent problem but that was after that.

This not I'm here to bash KFC and the bad ellement it brought to that corner, that once it closed was no longer around. I am a fan of the KFC/Taco Bell/Pizza Hut brand they used to be Partners with Pepsi who owns Sobe and Fritolay but not sure if they are. In fact when they had the big Star Wars Episode promotions I got some cups at that KFC. In Fact I was Hoping that KFC would get Turned into a Taco Bell but it didn't. I forget what it will become but here are a few pictures that I took on my way to see Ninja Assasin (Very good think it is based on the Animee of the same name).















Those Pictures are from friday not sure how it looks currently

I've been so behind in posting with stuff going on and work that some how I never got to The Sabres pictures on here. If you see the pictures you may notice that my view is the same as the last game I went to. I guress if I got my mini pack when I should have my seats might be different but for me at least they are the same for each game. I kinda like to move around and get different views but that is ok to be in the same spot, I mean I am for the Bandits games.

















































Well I guess that is enough photos from warm ups. The thing I like so much about warmups is you get to see both Goalies and sometimes even all 3 plus you have all the players on the ice.

















































I like that they put the fights up on the Junbotron. Sometimes you can't see it from where you are, One of the fights was like this. Where it was right on the boards on my side it was tough to see it. I think this was the best game I've seen in a long time. Yes it is ironic that the sabres are playing right now so I don't get to see it.



































































Well assuming anyone is reading this, this is something you won't hear me say or read me write. I'm tired of uploading pictures so I guess I'll jump over the rest of the second and 3rd peroid right into overtime. Well no one scored so it went to a shot out and Buffalo won. I think one reason why I'm not as into it as I would be sometimes is that it is like from 2 weeks ago. So here are some of those shots.





















Well so once I got Home I watched Sons Of Anarchy, great show it really is and took some pictures and they had a preview for Avatar. Visualy it will be amazing and storywise and action wise it looks pretty cool to. Since this event I have seen a South Park episode that breaks on the movie a little bit "Dancing With The Smurfs" or something it was a great episode.





















Well for anyone who made it all the way through and didn't see enough Sabres Pictures they are all on my webshots page.

Allso for anyone going out tonight I hope it is a great time. Hope everyone has a great thanksgiving, think mine is going to be lame. I just wish I had NFL networki so I could watch all 3 games. To me that is what it is really about just eating and watching football, yeah something is wrong with me but that is ok. That being said I think that is true of many people. I wonder if there is anyplace where you can like buy 1/2 pound turkey (cut like it would be at dinner) 2 huge pieces of Pie, Mashed, Crannberry sausce enough for like 3 people . I think there would be a market for it then you can eat and watch football and be Happy. Also hope everyone enjoys the long weekend and for those that are brave have a safe and fun Black Friday.

I went to see two movies today. The first was Twilight. I liked it but had a big problem with it, way to much love story Vs. Action. I think what makes a Vampire movie good is the vampires and action and suspense, and yes a love story. But see the love story need to part of the story. The movie shouldn't be a love story and then there is this conflict and the conflict between the people is that one is a Vampire and one is a Warewolf. I can't say much with out giving stuff away but if you stay till the end you get to find out kinda when the next movie is coming out and the name. My other problem with the movie is that as good as the previews are it gave away a lot of the story, not all of it or the ending but It still gave away to much. That being said I had a good time and it was shocking to see so many people at an 11am showing, this movie is bringing a lot of people out to the show and that is a good thing. The 2nd movie I saw was "Law Abiding Citizen". I will admit it was a bit violent and a bit distrubing, but over all it was pretty good. It wasn't only action it had a story and was about Justice, It kinda reminded me of The Punisher, not the newest and not the first but the middle movie (thought that middle one was pretty sweet).

On Wendsday I went out to Mohawk Place, yes it was the 1st time I have ever been there to see this band from Japan (are they from Japan if they are singed to Good Charmel records and are doing a US tour?) Called Shonen Knife. I only knew a few of their songs but them and all the opening bands where pretty good.

Agent me was good:












I don't know the Name of this Next band (maybe Tony does):













This band here was interseting the guy has an acustic guitar and would Joke about like how that doesn't mean the song has to be sad. Oh yeah and the chick could play and was kinda cute to. They where a good time.

















Towards the end Of Shonen Knife I ran into some I knew taking pictures that was interesting and there where these two pretty chicks dancing near me not sure why I didn't say hey lets look like we know each other and get a picture, Kidding we where there to see the show not talk through it. It was a great time here are some pictures of Shonen Knife.













































































Just Dawned on me I still haven't done my Sabres Post, man I need more time. Well hope someone liked these shots. If that for some reason that wasn't enough I have more of Shonen on my webshots page but only of them not the other bands. It was a great time. On a side note not sure how many pictures I have here on (e:strip) but this sould break the 12,000 mark.

So for those that don't know I think Gay, Plural, and Interacial Marriage is fine and they should all be legal. The Fact is that marriage is supposed to be about love and commitment but it is also a legal contract that gives all kinds of different rights to people. On to the Plural thing real quick. I don't just mean that one man can have 2 wives as a way to have multiple partners or child brides. I think that as long as a relationship works then it should be legal.

The Term Gay Marriage needs to be changed and allways used as Same Sex Marriage.
-Their are some people who support gay marriage and some people who think it is wrong and evil. Then there are that other group of people who don't care to much either way and don't want to know about it. The problem is that I think that using "GAY" and making it all about civil rights gets those people upset and will get them to Join the in on the anti gay marraige movement.
-Yes most people who would get married would be gay. But the problem is if it is only for gays then what about strights people who are the same sex? Those people should be included also. Two Examples
1. How about Women who are old and have lost their husbands many years ago and are best friends or maybe even living together. These two are companions but not sexual with each other. Now if they could get married they would be more capable of taking care of each other. (This would also be true of men think of the old guys on the muppet show).
2. Have you ever seen those two girls who are best friends and you wonder those two sure seem close I wonder if they are into each other. Or the sterotype of the gay boy and gay girl who are best friends. Well these two people never meet the person of their dreams. Well know they could be married (so the guy and girl could be but now it might be more excepted) and get rights that they could only get through marriage. Some of these rights are really things that tie into work like being covered on Health insurance and the like.


Something I mentioned above about how there are some people who think gay marriage is wrong and those people all ways will. People need to understand that , that is true. There are people who will allways think that it is wrong. You can't change those peoples minds. Because of that doing things that piss them off might do more harm then good. Don't try to convert them all that does is make them protest more and get more people to Join there side.

I left what I think would work the best till last. Same Sex Marriage needs some great advertising people to sell it. They need math people as well, they need Buisness people also. Most companies in this country do most of what they do for money and profit. Yes they also do give to things like Toys For Tots or other community efforts. Not sure if they do that to be good, or they know it is great free press. If someone is going to go Target or Kmart I know Target gives back to the community. Do I want to order from Amazon or Bestbuy, oh thats right when at best buy I could give to toys for teens or what ever there program is. I will admit that I don't know why what companies do what, but I'm sure giving does help there bottom line.

That leads to next part of my point. Big companies have a lot of lobbyists and try to get laws passed that help them. Some people would say that they are the ones running the country. That is why Activists need to work on those companies. If you had people reserach and do what ever they do with pie charts and studies and showed that Same Sex Marriage would encrease sales by say 10% a year those companies would quietly put pressure on people to change the laws. Of course someone else might have to come in and say it would cost this much to get this to happen and then you would make this much more. I don't just mean go to Target and wal-mart and I don't mean the same people either. The Same group of 10 people would make it seem like a sell or a shell game. Then of course people would do the same thing with anyone in the wedding industry. How about the people who supply wedding cake places, in every city the local places or national chains where wedding receptions are held, or Hotels where people stay, The Card industry. Weddings are a big business and lots of people make lots of money on them. If all or most of these companies couled be conviced that Same Sex Marriage would have more weddings each year and that would mean more money for them, then they would invest it to try and get laws changed. And if that isn't enough the next step would be the Baby industry, but that is a much harder sell.