Wal-Mart used to be the place everyone made fun of. Now, it’s what everyone wants to be.
Target is plastering ads with claims that it has the lowest prices. They renamed their store brand “Up and Up.” How that is supposed to convey “low prices” I don’t know.
Like most Americans I have a love/hate relationship with [...]
Archive for the ‘Margin Call’ Category
What Wal-Mart does right
Posted in Margin Call, tagged Wal-Mart on August 6, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The final Margin Call
Posted in Margin Call on July 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The goat was unforgettable.
Just a little kid, he weighed less than a pound. The farmer who raised him was delighted to talk to a News-Press reporter about the adorable little creature.
Other story assignments provided some exciting experiences, but the ones that linger most are ordinary people.
The Harms family at Weatherby shared about the ups and [...]
Margin Call: Raising a glass to dreamers
Posted in Margin Call on June 25, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
If you’re feeling down about the future of American business, may I suggest buying milk.
Trek out to the Shatto Milk Co. country store near Osborn and chug a glass of ice-cold chocolate milk. It will be refreshing on a hot day and the story behind it is pure inspiration in a bottle.
The first time I [...]
One facebook friend at a time
Posted in Margin Call, tagged Facebook, Steve Booher on June 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Of all the things Facebook has given our society, the greatest, I believe, is that it has transformed the word friend into a verb.
Before the social networking site pervaded interactions, you could only make friends or be friends. On Facebook, you put up a page with your photos, as much personal information as you [...]
Margin Call: Pony Express rides again!
Posted in Margin Call on June 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Pony Express Rider
Dueling mayors attended the send-off for the Pony Express this week.
Mayor Ken Shearin, standing tall in a Stetson, administered the oath to the riders who on Tuesday morning re-enacted the historic event of the first letter to leave St. Joseph for the West Coast.
From the rooftop of the Patee House Museum, Bob [...]
Margin Call: Show me a recovery
Posted in Margin Call, tagged Chick-fil-A, East Hills Shopping Center, economy, Menards, Mr. Goodcents, Shoppes at North Village, Waffle House on May 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
On the quiz “How Missouri Are You?” I earned the top score.
Except for one best-forgotten year, I have lived in Missouri my whole life. That’s why you’ll have to “show me.”
Consumer confidence shot up this month. The move was unexpected by economists, but not to most working folks. The economists simply underestimated how grim [...]
Margin Call: Mirage vision of downtown
Posted in Margin Call, tagged downtown on May 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Consultants, with the trendiest of vocabulary, recently met with “stakeholders” to “map out” a “vision” for revitalizing Downtown St. Joseph.
I sat in on a bit of the planning session. It included a survey of Downtown’s strengths and weaknesses. I didn’t turn my survey in for the consultants, so I’ll share my responses here.
What are your [...]
Garden is where the heart is
Posted in Margin Call, tagged garden, green beans, tomatoes on May 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The sun broke through the light haze of a July morning in Northwest Missouri.
It was Fourth of July and with family visiting, we were up early to get the most out of the day.
I ventured out to the garden, the sense of expectation building as I walked down the green bean row to peek under [...]
Margin Call: A tip for the tight fisted
Posted in Margin Call, tagged St. Joseph School District, waiters on May 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The teacher can be pleased that she motivated me to do some math.
The teacher placed a call to “It’s your call” with a word of warning. She — I just picture the caller as a woman — said she had endured her third pay freeze and was having to watch her money. As a result, [...]
