http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/ Atkins Diet en Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:03:05 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/ http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/538-i-predicted-car-crash.html Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:03:46 GMT A very strange thing happened to me today. I was driving with my inlaws and we pulled up to an intersection. I told them "this intersection is very dangerous because people dont see the stop sign"

As soon as I got the words out of my mouth ... less than 2 seconds ( I was still at the stop sign ) a car from the other direction blows through the stop sign and gets hit by a car coming from the other direction. ( fairly major car accident totalling both cars )

it was like I predicted it.

Another time I was in south america and I told my wife ( I have no idea why I said it ) "There is going to be an earthquake" . three days later we were in a restaurant in the andes and there were fairly signifigant tremors ( like all the stuff on the wall was shaking and you could feel the ground moving under your feet ). i have never experienced an earthquake or tremor or anything before or since. ]]> Tom http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/538-i-predicted-car-crash.html http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/200-bait-switch-economics.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:37:40 GMT Well here is another frustrated blog entry. I remember in the past people used to make an honest living. People used to buy quality things and make quality things with those. They would sell these quality items at a fair price and make a fair profit. Those were the days of the simple... Well here is another frustrated blog entry.

I remember in the past people used to make an honest living. People used to buy quality things and make quality things with those. They would sell these quality items at a fair price and make a fair profit.

Those were the days of the simple economics. Supply and Demand would determine the pricing.

Now-a-days I seem to think that everyone is out to rip you off. In fact I think this is so extreme that this seems to be the main way companies make money these days.

Everything is always on sale, they make you think that you are getting a bargain because you are getting 75% off of something that would never sell at 4x what you are currently paying for it.

Banks ... ug forget about it. Hidden fees, late charges, they tell you something is free but by the time they work their magic you are losing out somewhere. Mortgages another thing ... how can someone figure out what is the best deal?

Cars and car financing. ever try to go to two dealerships and compare the deals they have to see what is the better price? They somehow can sell you a car for $5 and charge you $299/month ...

When you bring in your car to get a "Free" oil change, they high pressure sales you to purchase the $300 service package that will void your lease if you dont get it. They also dont tell you the price of maintenance. Recently at 20,000 miles I needed to change my brakes. The dealership charged $1000.
Hotels ... ever grab a drink from a mini bar? $9 for a bottle of water? Forget about telephone calls.

Interest rates on credit cards.

Oh god dont get me started on cable TV. They offer you the world for $39 ( * for the first 3 months ) in the hopes that you are too lazy to cancel it back to only the services that you wanted in the first place.

Ug ... and how about those things that are cheap or free for 30 days ... but you need to call them up after 30 days to cancel or else they charge you an arm and a leg.

Yes people ... I really think that the economy is run on trickery ... cant people just provide quality goods and services and charge reasonable prices? What is wrong with that?

One thing I believe is a factor is the internet. There are too many people who will go to the local store and waste the store owners time picking out and trying out a model that they want ... then go home and search the internet for the cheapest price.

I personally try to support local businesses even if I pay a little more. ]]> Tom http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/200-bait-switch-economics.html http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/153-negative-energy.html Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:33:42 GMT Wow ... today I must have really woke up on the wrong side of the bed. From basically 5 minutes after I woke up until now ... I have been spreading bad kharma or bad feelings or negative energy whereever I go. Trying to shake out of it. Ever get like that. Wow ... today I must have really woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

From basically 5 minutes after I woke up until now ... I have been spreading bad kharma or bad feelings or negative energy whereever I go.

Trying to shake out of it.

Ever get like that. ]]> Tom http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/153-negative-energy.html http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/142-22-hamburger.html Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:37:28 GMT OK OK OK .... I know ... I am an idiot for paying $22 for a hamburger .... but I was curious. My wife was away on business and I went to a restaurant that I knew nothing about. When I got in I realized that it was expensive. I sat at the bar and looked at the menu and asked if they had a... OK OK OK .... I know ... I am an idiot for paying $22 for a hamburger .... but I was curious.

My wife was away on business and I went to a restaurant that I knew nothing about. When I got in I realized that it was expensive.

I sat at the bar and looked at the menu and asked if they had a hamburger or some bar food. They said yes they have a kobe beef hamburger for $22. Split second decision I said OK I will take it. Asked for it Medium rare as I figured the rarer the better with such good quality meat going in.

I get the burger and they cooked it well. The burger was OK at best. I would have preferred a burger from Fridays.

The restaurant was "Water and Wine" in watchung NJ.

I mean why would a burger cost $22. Does the chef think that the ingredients used were so far superior to ground chuck that he needed to use kobe beef?

And come on ... for $22 dont you think they can pay attention to the burger and cook it medium rare, maybe even test it with a thermometer?

How hard is making a good burger? Especially when they have $22 for ingredients. ]]> Tom http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/142-22-hamburger.html http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/89-doctors.html Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:19:13 GMT Ug went to the doctors today for a routine visit. I realize that doctors are really kind of a rip off. I take lipitor. All I really needed was a refill, but my doctor left the practice and they needed to see me before they can renew my prescription. I went there and the receptionist... Ug went to the doctors today for a routine visit. I realize that doctors are really kind of a rip off.

I take lipitor. All I really needed was a refill, but my doctor left the practice and they needed to see me before they can renew my prescription.

I went there and the receptionist was rude, the nurse was rude I waited 20 minutes in the room for the doctor. He comes in and tells me that they lost my records from the last time I was there.

He looked at my blood work which they no longer do and then wrote my prescription.

I really dont understand why after I am prescribed the initial prescription why I HAVE TO see a doctor in person. I mean they recommended that I get on this medicine. But then if I dont keep seeing them regularly they will take me off and not allow me to get the medicine that I supposedly need to keep me alive? On top of all this they realize that they hold all of the cards and I feel they abuse this.

I mean cant every time I pick up my medicine the pharmasist ask me the 3 questions or so and maybe they can keep track of the blood work or make me bring in an updated copy with liver counts and colesterol numbers?

What really is the doctor doing? They now have computers. The doctor plugs in some info and the bad numbers for the blood tests are highlighted. Anyone can interpret the readings.

This time they seemed to have run some other test that he didnt order and it seems like there may have been a chance that they mixed up my blood samples.

Now they charge me $20 on top of the money my insurance charges. He wouldnt schedule me for a full physical so he only gave me a three month prescription for the lipitor and he wants me to get a new blood test and a full physical by then.

I am just not sure what doctors do anymore other than create a bunch of beauracracy.

Oh ... then when I asked about my old doctor he told me he moved to Pensylvania and hinted that doctors dont make enough money to live in NJ. OMG ... please I dont need to hear how doctors dont make enough money. I realize that they spend lots of time in school and all of that but they make money.

Well anyway that is my blog for today. I have another gripe coming up.

I think I will title it : Bait and Switch Economy ... look for it. :dancing1 ]]> Tom http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/blogs/tom/89-doctors.html