Open Thread #73
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Grand Forks Life is the first and biggest blog covering life in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. GrandForksGuy shares local news, rumors, and his own opinions.
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NOTE: The views expressed in original posts on "Grand Forks Life" are merely the views and personal opinions of the owner of this blog. No guarantee is given for the accuracy of content. The views expressed in reader comments are the views of those readers. "GrandForksGuy" and "Grand Forks Life" do not endorse the views of readers.
79 comments:
#1
#2
How about them Sioux. They rock.
I work at a fast food restaurant. Nothing glamourous just a decent paycheck while i'm going through college. But yesterday we were flooded with canadiens during the lunch hour. And I don't know if it was all of them, but they don't clean off their tables what so ever when they are done. Is that something that they expect in canada?? Cuz my job sux enough without having to clean up after adults who can't clean up after themselves.
Frozen Four baby!
I'd love to attend (I live in New England) but my $535 dollar oil bills need to be paid. Just an example how rising fuel prices are putting a damper on any travel plans.
Yes, i was in canada at a McDonalds! and NO one threw away there own plates, napkins, ect.... Dirty tables everywhere, so yea, that the canadiens for you.
oil you say... It's NEVER going to get better.....we need to look into other ways instead of fuel. THIS world is not getting any easier and never realy wil. Facing the Facts are crucial, i hope our kids and there kids always have collage under there belt. credit is everything.... everything.
This week GF will be busy with people. Seems like every venue has something going on. The Ralph, The Alerus, The Fritz. I would like to NOT hear about how bad people are. Money is being spent, wages are being paid, tips are being earned and bills are being able to be paid. Thank the Lord you're able to get up in the morning!
Why do cultural/regional differences always end up being Canadian bashing? Very small-minded and insular folks!
I don't think the 3.06am poster was bashing, just stating observations. Or were you there?
As for all the venues being busy . . . . "There's nothing to do in Grand Forks" (whine mode off)
:-)
1005 and 1008 anons- you obviously haven't had to work with some good ol' Winnipeggers have you? Some of them really make work much harder and frustrating then it has to be. Especially the rich ones that come down here, show off their rich clothes, and treat you like crap because you're working a meager food job and well, they're just better then you (it isn't the majority of them, but it's enough to be a problem). Oh yeah, and some of those snobs think they should be "thanked for keeping GF's economy propped up" (actual quote BTW).
Most Canadians are nice, respectful, clean, tipping folk; but there's enough to give all of them a bad name, and to make many retail or food workers cringe when they walk in the door- walk a mile in their shoes and spend for a month on their wages and you might understand a bit more.
fuel for my families last ski trip (just out to Lutsen and back) $200, granted, I drive a suburban, but I was hauling five humans and all the gear...
"Cuz my job sux enough without having to clean up after adults who can't clean up after themselves."
Just out of curiosity, what do you consider the responsibilities of your employment? Food preparation? Taking orders? Mopping the floor? Cleaning the kitchen. Did the manager inform you tables were not one of them? I do dump the refuse when I eat at a fast food place. But others may believe that is included in the price they pay for their meal.
GO SIOUX! BRING HOME #8!
"Cuz my job sux enough without having to clean up after adults who can't clean up after themselves."
Why not put signs up that state it is customary for the customer to clean their trash off the table? How many people don't realize how it works down here?
On another note, is it OK to tip in Canada? I wasn't sure when I got a few beers from a pub a week or two ago. Bartender walked away before I had a chance to give him a Loonie or two.
"Canadians are nice, respectful, clean, tipping folk"
So, why call them out. There are bad apples from this country too, but I don't hear people lumping all impolite people from Utah or Texans together and saying they're all this or that.
ouwxgesser,
That's too logical. People wouldn't have anything to gripe about.
"But others may believe that is included in the price they pay for their meal."
That's a lot to expect when you are only paying $2-3 for a burger. When I'm paying upwards of $7 for a burger, I can understand expecting someone to take my try, but particularly at some of the cheaper fast food restaurants, I don't think it's reasonable to expect that for less than $5 for an entire meal it is someone else's job to take your trash to the garbage. Also, why would there be so many garbages around the restaurant if you weren't expected to use them? I don't think they generally have a trashcan on every corner in an Applebee's or a Boston's restaurant.
The point is, in the US we know that fast food prices come with the responsibility to clean up after ourselves. It's customary...learned behavior. It might be the case, that in Canada, prices are slightly higher to afford extra help whose job it is to clean off tables. I don't know that's the case, just speculating.
The flood notwithstanding, it's hard to imagine a week when Grand Forks has been as much of a presence on the national scene: Sioux Hockey, Obama, now Clinton.
Anon 2:27: Add to that World Curling ;)
I go to Tim Horton's on a regular basis when I'm in Canada. If anyone doesn't know Tim Horton's, it's pretty much the national fast-food chain of Canada--a truly Canadian institution! Even though people order their meals at the counter, I 've never seen a trash can inside the dining area at any of the multiple locations that I've visited throughout numerous provinces. So maybe Canadians aren't accustomed to throwing away their garbage at restaurants. Personally, I think Canadians are far more polite and socially conscious than Americans, so I doubt that they're intentionally leaving a mess just because they think that they're too good to do otherwise.
Kinda funny if you see everyone throwing away there mess, they don't think of doing also... hmmmmmmm. *knock *knock* anyone in there* Follow the leader boys and girls... haha
If your going to go to a different country learn the social norms there. It gives everybody a little less of a headache
Perfect your use of "their" before taking on "snark." In the words of one fine American, If you see others using English properly, follow the leader boys and girls.
Hillary coming too! Wow, GF will be the center of the political world this weekend...Obama AND Hillary! Even if you don't agree with their stances or political leanings, you have to admit it is impressive to have them both here. It is a great opportunity to learn about the candidates and what they stand for.
If you think you will learn anything from the few minutes that either candidate will be in GF that you can't learn on various web sites, I have a bridge for sale.
I'm really excited to see not one but two presidential hopefuls in the grand state of ND in one night. We have the good fortune of seeing their speeches back to back and make well informed decisions on the candidates. I'd love to see a poll of who plans to attend the event this Friday. Doors open at 3:30 and I plan to be there early...anyone else as well? I don't mind standing in line for awhile, but it could be a long night...especially if Hillary doesn't talk til 8 PM.
Please tell Barrack and Hillary to allow four hours for the 15 minute trip to The Alerus from the airport.
Thank you
Hillary and Obama are probably flying into the Fargo airport to save money and to not have a four hour layover in MSP...
The 5:48 and 7:05 posts make one smile: y'gotta love that North Dakota sense of humor! Thanks for that...
...on the negative side: I remember---someplace along the line---being told that newspapers are written for the average 12-year-old to read. From the immature comments on today's Herald article about the upcoming candidates' visit, one would seriously question whether the average reader is even that mature.
What gets into people's heads when they have to spoil every big event that happens in this rural setting?
(I only hope they're not old enough to vote...)
Uhh, anon @ 7:41 pm. . . what makes you think they were kidding?
If the Red River crests at 25 ft, every blogger owes me money.
What is with all the state patrol on Hwy 2 and Demers and 32nd outside of town. It is unbelievable. Every day I've seen at least 3 cops patrolling. Is there some sort of problems occurring on these roads?
Recent scene on HW2:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/don_veto/mad_max/madmax.jpg
I wonder if any members of the GFPD plan to keep Obama standing out in the cold until he gets frostbite. He is part black, after all.
Anyone having issues with the Herald web site this morning? I haven't been able to bring it up for the past hour.
anonymous @ 8:39 - you are real funny...you can easily accuse when you hear one side of the story. There are reasons for the officers actions. Look into the "poor guy's" past, and you will see!
slowness and database errors... the Herald's website has it all!
Don't blame it on the Herald. They're at the mercy of the Fargo Forum setup and if you check, the Forum and Area Voices also have the same problems this morning.
But don't worry, the editor of the Forum will probably blame everything on those of us trying to browse the websites...
anon at 839 am...to think that is what you can come up with with Obama is coming to town. Boy all I got to say is pitiful...thank goodness you did sign anon as I never have to meet you nor know any human out there who can make a comment like that actually exists.
Yeah, could you imagine using sarcasm to actually make a point about racial relations in Grand Forks! INCREDIBLE! Maybe you can ask somebody to explain the comment to you.
What of this guy's past allows the police to serve up justice in such a brutal manner as to force him to stand in the -40 degree weather to the point of getting frostbite? Is he dangerous? Then get him in the cruiser. Does he possibly have drugs on him or in the car? Then get him in the cruiser.
To Serve and Protect, indeed.
Curious. What was the outcome of the arrest incident?
The officers have been to court, correct?
Hillary ! Just picked up 2 tickets to "The Hillary Show" on Friday at 8:00 pm at The Alerus Center. Also a Hillary Button for $4 "Ready for Change, Ready to Lead ! Hillary for President ". Plus great article in May 2008 Playboy Magazine page 100, "The Men Who Hate Hillary" by Laura Kipnis. Best quote is, "Hillary is a sophisticated diagnostic instrument for calibrating male anxiety ". Plus the photos of Jennifer Leigh are good too. greenglass4.
I've never seen so many quotation marks in one post in my entire life.
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
`"'greenglass4'"`
Why bother with tickets when there is no control over the number of tickets. Print all you want and come on out to the Obamarama - Hillarally.
Seatbelt enforcement this week.
Commie Triplet was afraid she would lose her commission seat so she decided to quit while she was ahead.
Cheap shot.
Thank goodness for open threads.
If someone judged GF solely by the blog posts here, you would think that malls, strip malls, and tenants of malls and strip malls were the only subjects of civic discourse in this town.
Connie is a nice person.
So, do you think the park district will vote yes on the Riverside Park Pool? They did not vote tonight as Jay Panzer was not at the meeting, but they are having a special meeting on Thursday to vote.
Anyone hear that George Strait is in town and will be performing on Friday at the Alerus? I heard it from someone who said they heard it on the radio - the Herald says nothing of it, so I'm assuming he's wrong.
According to George Strait's website, he has a concert in Baltimore on Friday and one in Columbia, SC on Saturday.....so I think your source was wrong.
Sounds like it - thanks
PLEASE remember people, yesterday was April Fools Day...
If we're talking Obama, we're talking April Fools Day everyday.
Go Hillary!
I wonder if Hillary or Barack would come if we had republican senators. I also heard Hillary and Barack are joining a curling team for next weeks World Mens' Curling Championship. And their letting one woman play, Hillary.
An extra end!
JK
The city should sue whoever constructed 32nd Avenue. The eastbound right lane is collapsing in a number of places between Washington and Columbia, and the other side of Columbia has a few issues as well!
If that lane isn't reconstructed, and soon, it will be undriveable (and, to be honest, it probably shouldn't be driven on today.)
"The city should sue whoever constructed 32nd Avenue. The eastbound right lane is collapsing in a number of places between Washington and Columbia, and the other side of Columbia has a few issues as well!"
ROFL, them Canadians and their overpacked cars full of US goods making them sink?
Roads giving away to their natural, preroad state?
"The POTATOS....are coming HOME....to ROOST"!
greenass 4, you forgot to sign the last post.
I think the "dip" in 47th Avenue is actually a designed speed bump to slow people around South Middle School.
Those speed bumps behind Target are absolute BS. There is nothing to hit back there.
anon: that's why you gotta slalom around them at a high rate of speed for fun :)
SPEED bumps. Speed. Get it? It's to prevent immature drivers from exceeding a speed that is safe.
Geez. Kids!
I love it when I go to a store like the Gap, Old Navy, or any other trendy store, and they ask "Will you be paying for this with your Gap card?", and I say no, and they ask "would you like to open one?", and again I say no, and then the cashier tries to tell me how I will save 10% on my purchase and it only takes 2 minutes to apply.
This is seriously the most annoying marketing/sales pitch. First of all, opening up an unsecured line of credit with one of these stores is not the best financial decision. Why you ask? Well for one even though you are getting 10% off your purchase, you are going to pay huge APR's, usually around 14%. So in the long run you will basically be paying more for your clothes than you would if you just pay cash (i.e., roughly 4% more). The sales associate usual remark to this is that you can just pay off the balance in full to avoid incurring interest...Well what is the point of having a line of credit at a clothing store if you are going to pay it off right away. The idea behind credit cards (generally) is to buy now, pay back some later. Also, there are sometimes annual fees associated with the cards.
In addition, opening a line of credit also means they first check your credit, which means that your FICO score could possibly be affected. Generally, if you have a few credit inquiries on your file, your score will lower. In some situations, like applying for financing a vehicle, you are allowed 3 inquiries within a short period of time before your score is lowered. Well, do you really want to risk lowering your score for a Gap card? Simply not worth it.
In any event, one of these days I would love to explain this all to the person trying to get me to open a Gap card, but whats the point?
Unfortunately, the poor kid trying to sell you on the card doesn't even WANT to get you to sign up for the damn thing. His/her job probably depends on how many people they can get to sign for it.
It sucks. Most retail clerks are obligated to get a certain amount of signers or they are terminated.
Up selling happens everywhere.
I once knew a kid who was fired by Carmike's corporate office because a secret shopper didn't get offered candy on top of his popcorn and soda order. Always did his job, was never late, BOOM, fired the next day for not annoying a customer into to spending even more money.
The next time it happens, don't lay in on the kid, ask for the store manager and let them have it. Let them know that predatory credit practices are not the way to get repeat customers. If they give you the "hands are tied" speech, ask for the corporate NUMBER, not the email. All you'll get is a message with pre-written blurbs about "Thank you for writing us here at ________, We understand your concerns, yada, yada."
They'll never ask you at that store again, I assure you.
I agree its not the sales associate/cashiers fault. While I was in college I worked at a clothing store and basically had to do the same thing, regardless of whether I wanted to or not, it was part of the job.
The problem is that it is not considered a predatory practice to merely offer someone a line of credit. Only if the ALL terms of credit are not disclosed AND those terms are inherently unreasonable would you have a possible cause of action against the creditor. This is usually not the case with unsecured lines of credit that you obtain from a merchant. This is because the terms are generally set forth immediately upon acceptance which means you would have had the opportunity to decline
Ok. I can see that.
But, they tend to market these things to impressionable college students the most. They use young clerks to sell to young customers. They sometimes offer 10%-20% (I've seen it go as high as 50%!) off on that purchase that day JUST for signing up. What cash-strapped student wouldn't take a moment to think hard about that?
It doesn't affect me now, I'm in my thirties and I don't need the immediate savings, but at 20? Yeah, I would have considered it thinking, "They'll never accept me. I'm making out on the deal."
Kelly Clow:
Your totally right. These lines of credit are aimed at those in their teens and early twenties. Unfortunetly, most young people dont fully understand finance and the trouble they can get into if they are not wise with their credit cards! While I said that its not a predatory lending practice because of disclosure, I think there may be an argument if you could somehow offer proof that the company's intent was to target young and naive consumers. However, again this would be difficult because the company's likely defense would be that anyone is allowed to apply for the credit and everyone who purchases from the store is asked if they would like to apply (i.e., Mom, Grandpa, people in their 20's, 30's etc).
An excellent point.
The only question that remains for me is if they are not engaging in predatory lending practices toward naive buyers, why do most retail stores offer the credit at the point of sale?
Their own research has shown that products offered at the point of sale such as magazines, accessories, candy, etc. are more likely to be purchased by impulse buyers, the very demographic that is most likely to accept an offer of reduced prices in exchange for signing for a line of credit through the store.
BTW, This has been an interesting debate so far!
Don't teach the young kids about credit. Let them figure everything out on their own. In the long run, just means easy riding for people who are smart and prepared.
Kelly Clow:
Interesting debate indeed. Something that certainly needs to be addressed by consumer advocate groups!
Another irritating complaint I have is about car rental companies like Avis and Enterprise trying to sell me the "Pre-Pay Gas Option".
I have gone through the numbers, and basically the only way that you will benefit from pre-paying for the gas is if you literally roll in on fumes into the car rental return parking lot!
I love how they try and pitch it! They'll say "We only charge $2.85 per gallon" What they dont tell you is that even if you return the car with 3/4 of a tank, you will still be charged for a FULL TANK!
So how is that saving money?
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