Unemployment Rate

As of December 2011, the number 2 state for lowest unemployment rate would be Nebraska, who has a Right-To-Work law.  So, if a state that can boast an unemployment rate of just 4.1%, has a Right-to Work law, and 6 of the Top 10 States with the lowest unemployment rate are right-to-work, why not Indiana?  It’s not as detrimental to the economy as opponents would like you to believe.  At the same time, Indiana has twice the unemployment, setting at 9%, but can this be attributed even in part to a lack of right-to-work law?

Free Rider

Opponents to the Right-To-Work law insist that it will create a free rider problem, allowing employees to benefit from the unions negotiations, without contributing.  Such arguments even go so far as to insist that work conditions are lowered and a worker becomes endangered.  Unfortunately no statistics could be found that indicate such an accusation, which is prohibitive in any kind of intellectual conversation.  Perhaps this is a factor holding unions back from properly expressing their problems with passing a right-to-work law.

Factually speaking, one study did find that there are some negative effects to income levels and benefits in states that do not have a right-to-work law.  For example, the think tank Economic Policy Institute found that wages are on average 3.2% lower for full time employees.  In addition, there is a 2.6% lower chance that employers will offer health insurance benefits.  These are measurable figures, taken from 2009 and 2010 census reports, that can be found in a February 2011 EPI publication.

Higher Wages or Lower Unemployment

I argue that the decision to pass a Right-to-Work Law in Indiana should focus on whether it is more important for residents to have  slightly higher wages or a drastically lower unemployment rate?  Shouldn’t considerable time be spent educating the importance of a lower unemployment rate, rather than slightly improving our average salaries for full time employees?  In regards to benefits, doesn’t higher competition in the work force, through lower unemployment, stress that employers offer benefits to compete for jobs?

In closing, I stress and encourage the House to pass the Right-To-Work Bill in Indiana.  We all benefit from lowered unemployment and the proof can be found in any of the other 22 States that already have this protection in place.  Let’s not let the opposition hang their hat on uncertainties and accusations that cannot be proven.

My problem, is that if they are going to enforce a ban on the city, it should encompass ALL businesses.  There should be no favors, no exemptions, everyone should be included, and  that means Aztar would have to deal.  That said, I can’t and do not support any kind of smoking ban.

Yes, I’m one of those people who feels that this is another intrusion upon our personal rights as US citizens.  No, I don’t plan on smoking in restaurants or around other people, but the fact remains that it’s up to the business owners discretion.

Imagine if you just launched your life long dream, you finally own your own bar and want to run it your way.  However, the city steps in and says, nope, sorry no smoking allowed.  Shouldn’t that be your decision to make?  After all, people can make their own decision to patronize your bar or simply drive another 15 mins to another county and enjoy a beer and cigarette there.  Is doing what’s best for our health, best for our business, right now?

Who exactly is pushing this smoking ban?  They can’t be local businesses owners, because I have yet to meet a business that supports it.  As a matter of fact, restaurants/bars falling outside of city limits, yet under the Vanderburgh County ban are feeling the pinch.

People have habits, some people have bad habits, and when enough of them get together, they want to enjoy their habits in peace.  This doesn’t mean they will intrude on others, but if a business supports their habit and respects their rights, why can the city intervene?

Can the Evansville economy really support a smoking ban?

For starters the only coverage I could find leading into the storm was on WFIE 14.  This would be fine, except for the fact that their studio was struck by lightning, which caused their audio to cut out every few seconds.  FOX wasn’t covering the severe weather, other than a ticker at the bottom of the screen.  My preference, Wayne Hart, couldn’t be found until the storm actually hit and the sirens sounded.

Once I found Wayne Hart, it looked like his budget had been cut so much that he could barely be seen on the TV, the quality was just awful.  Was it just me or did it look like a cardboard cut out standing in front of an 80′s console TV?

We need more choices in Evansville for severe weather coverage.  The door is open, someone please stand up.

P.S. WFIE 14, please, oh please change your graphic and depiction of windshear, it looked like the map was covered in blood.  Not the nicest way to communicate when people are freaked out over severe weather in Evansville.

The real problem with the bill they are passing is that it gives too much power to the government, in their ability to censor what’s online.  Essentially it allows them to hold websites responsible for what their web visitors post.  Think Facebook, the entire website could be shut down, because just one person posted something illegal.  Sound fair?

If passed, this law could force companies like Google to completely remove websites from search results and force website hosts to delete a sites content.  Further bastardizing this entire ordeal is the fact that there is no level of due process.  It’s scarily similar to what China is already doing, to keep information under lock and key and not a step toward innovation.

Online websites create jobs, jobs that exist right here in Evansville.  How does your website interact with local customers, are you using social media to reach new clients?  These are the very things that would not be safe under SOPA and would risk being shut down.  Remember, it’s not just big companies like eBay, Google, and AOL that risk being affected by SOPA, it’s real people and local businesses as well.

Find out more about SOPA and PIPA.

Around 11:30 at night, fearful he may freeze to death, Ryan Tibbs dialed 911 in hopes that the police would not question his situation.  He was found out, but saved from freezing, and taken to Fairfield Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.  Oh yeah, he’s also in jail now.

After this experience I can only hope he gets his life turned around and back on track.  Or at least takes some driving lessons.

Ryan Tibbs

So, I have to ask, why is it ok for a UPS driver to assume he’s the center of the business universe and drop packages at the most convenient place for them?  99% of the UPS drivers I encounter are bent on interrupting my business to sign for a package, that may or may not even be within seeing distance.  I’ve been interrupted on the phone, while talking with another customer, even bothered when on my way to the bathroom.

NOTICE – UPS Driver, you are not the most important person in my day to day dealings, wait your turn and do your job.

I am paying for a service, which includes picking up packages in a designated area in my business and delivering packages to my recipient.  Delivery does not mean what’s easiest for the driver.  Delivery should mean they are handed either to the individual receiving or dropped off in a designated area for receiving items.  I will no longer sign, nor tolerate receiving packages that are out of my eye sight, nor will I walk through my warehouse searching for where they were dropped off.  UPS drivers be warned, you will be wasting yours and my time if you fail to do your job properly.

Happy New Year!  Sorry for the anger filled post so early in the season.  Hopefully I’ll have more fun things to report on after Star Wars night at the Icemen game tomorrow night.

Text to win an Icemen VIP package tomorrow night.

First theme park in the world, predating Disney, and still setting industry firsts.  Holiday World is also the first amusement park to create a blog, for use to communicate with guests and strengthen their relationship with their customers.  It’s not just corporate drivel found on the many HoliPosts, but real world information and behind the scenes pictures that help tell a HoliStory.  For example, the latest blog post features a punny title and features pictures of the construction on the new water slide, The Mammoth.  This blog is designed to connect with customers, keep us interested in the off season, and ultimately bring us through the turn styles.  It works because I don’t feel like I’m being sold to, I’m being introduced to what the company is proud of.

Holiday World doesn’t stop at blog posts, they also are active on Twitter and Facebook.  This theme park does an amazing job at keeping all channels updated and interact directly with the public.  New media allows for easy two-way interaction, that benefits the company and the customer.  Again, Holiday World does an amazing job at this by sticking around after a tweet, responding to wall posts, and making sure blog comments are addressed.

I’m excited to share that Paula Werne will be speaking at the next Social Media Club of Evansville meeting on November 21st.  From 6:00 to 8:00 PM Paula will talk about how Holiday World has navigated the peaks and valleys of mastering the new media frontier.  Everyone is invited, so please sign up today.

Have a question to ask Holiday World about social media?  Fill out the ‘Ask Holiday Word Form‘ and we’ll make sure Paula sees your question.

Stuff:

• Holiday World on Facebook
• Holiday World on Twitter
• HoliBlog
• Social Media Club of Evansville Event Signup
• Ask Holiday World Form

The event will be open to the public and I would encourage everyone to attend.  It’s a unique opportunity to hear what our candidates have to say about accountability within an information age.  I am personally interested in how they intend to keep it a 2-way street and encourage feedback through tools like Facebook, Twitter, and others.  I don’t think that the election process ends at the polls, it continues through the elected officials term and can be shaped and molded through social media.  Accountability in office can only be attained by keeping the doors open and social media gives us that ability.

Evansville Mayoral Discussion Event – Register Now, it’s FREE.

Social Media Risks and Challenges

Google- (Google Minus) is an application that monitors the circles you are in and notifies you when you are removed.  It’s a shame it doesn’t come with a reason, or perhaps its a blessing that you don’t have to enter a reason when removing someone from a circle.

Get Google- http://apps.kynetx.com/installable_apps/4549-GoogleMinus

First Impression

It’s a small restaurant and not very accommodating for groups larger than 4, unless you get lucky and can push some tables together.  When ordering you can see into the kitchen area where the sandwiches are made and it looked very clean.  Like the kitchen, the tables and fountain drink areas were clean as well.  For nicer days there were a couple tables outside on the side walk.

The employee taking our order was knowledgeable when asking about specific sandwiches and welcoming as soon as we walked through the door.  Other employees walking around the restaurant delivering food and picking up empty plates were also friendly and made sure we were happy with our experience.

The Food

The Smiling Moose sandwiches and food offerings are comparable to Panera Bread.  Each sandwich comes with your choice of chips and a pickle on the side.  Servings were adequate, on par with what you would expect from a sub sandwich shop or any other delicatessen.

I ordered The Bambino, which was a concoction of Pastrami, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and spicy mustard.  The sandwich was fantastic, but nothing that would put the Moose ahead of it’s competitors.  Furthermore, the basic offering of pick-your-chips and get a pickle is boring.  I can buy the same bag of chips at the gas station, nothing new to see here.  I’d love to see a restaurant start making their own chips or add some sort of flavor to a side item with a sandwich.

The Smiling Moose also offers a number of menu items that can be prepared gluten free.  The gluten-free diet is the only treatment for people who suffer from celiac disease.  Therefore, if you are not one of the very small percentage of people with this disease, the gluten free offerings may not appeal to you.

Cost

Very reasonably priced menu and when coupled with coupons, I would consider it a deal.  Right now you can head over to the Smiling Moose website and print off a coupon for a free kids meal, with the purchase of a sandwich, chip and drink.  This coupon allowed my family of 3 to eat for $16, which is difficult to do even at McDonalds.

Visit the Smiling Moose Deli on Wednesdays and get a free cookie!  I got a Macadamia Nut Cookie, which was hot and fresh out the kitchen.

Short and Sweet

The Smiling Moose offers good food at a fair price, but not at a level that would keep me from choosing a competitor.  The seating is truly awful and a reason to avoid the restaurant if you are in a group of more than 4, parties need not apply.  I feel to garner more business they will need to come up with a hook, because as it’s offered now, they are not doing anything better than their competitors.

Smiling Moose Facts

• Located at 724 N. Burkhardt
• Get a Free Kids Meal Coupon
• Smiling Moose Deli Official Website
• Free Cookie on Wednesdays
• Yelp Reviews of Smiling Moose