Iām crushing on Dronette āŗļø - her style, wit, and creativity is amazing, I always feel a subdued sexual tone in her writing, and her use of humour is impressive. Always enjoy her stories.
Kistinspencil is, well, Kistin - impressive storytelling in micros, and thereās an intriguing presence I feel in her writing.
There are many others, for a variety of reasons.
Quote by ElCoco
Iām not sure what revolution Fordās EV battery plant was supposed to start, but itās a step back for US EV efforts. (embedded links!)
Battery technology is changing fast, using different materials, designs, and chemistry. By the time they get the product to market, it will likely be obsolete. Development of the new solid-state and non-lithium battery tech will be a game-changer, and will require massive re-investment by many of the auto makers as it moves along the next 10-15 years. Right now it's all about getting the free "green energy" money and tax credits flying around.
I believe the point of this thread was to point out how Organized Retail Crime is contributing to the decline of neighborhoods. The article states it was a contributing factor to already poor performing stores, not the main reason.
It is easier and cheaper for them to walk away than it is to invest in additional security and changes to the location to make it perform better.
Itās always about money, tax write offs, and investors.
Amazon has lower shrinkage, unfortunately their customers do not. They bear the cost associated with the theft of the products they paid for, from āporch piratesā, many of who are organized and resell the goods, and from the scam retailers. Amazon, and the other platforms, have no liability, so it is ābuyer bewareā.
I think we all agree that some retail theft is a result of poverty, it has always been there, there are always desperate people who need to steal to survive for a variety of reasons. No one can dispute that.
Organized Retail Crime is all about making money, same as any business. Thereās a CEO, district mangers, and front line employees. The front lines go into the store and retrieve the goods to deliver to their managers, who report to the CEO, and are the ones who are identified and arrested. The CEO is untouched and protected, and when shit hits the fan walks away.
So the poor person who gets $50 to steal a $400 item gets arrested on a misdemeanour, the CEO just hires someone else and makes the profit reselling the item. Same corporate structure in a different environment.
One of the biggest issues relating to this situation is the loss of employment that results. Most ābig boxā stores, in this case Target, have 150-250 employees (or associates, if you prefer that term) in full and part-time positions.
It takes 20-30 new, not existing, small retailers to provide that level of employment, just to offset one Target store.
Since online retailers are already providing the gateway between manufacturers and buyer, which is what online retail platforms are, just gateways, the small retailers have little opportunity at success.
At the end of the day, the consumer controls what happens by where they spend their money, and more is going to online every year.
What industries are going to provide enough employment to cover those job losses, especially in a low income, high crime area?
Quote by RowanThorn
Just like the boogey man and Chinese spies. All over, it's all their fault. But we can't find any. Very tricky. I'm sure there are a few, but the numbers don't support any evidence of this happening en masse. If you want to save more retail locations, contact your congressman about the importance of enforcing anti-monopoly laws against Amazon.
No, they find them all the time, even here in Canada ( no boogey man, though). Itās not reported in the media unless itās a very large arrest. If you want save retail stores, donāt buy online and donāt buy at large retailers, support smaller, local businesses.
Quote by RowanThorn
And for all these talks on warehouses and highly organized gangs the police have made 11 arrests in three years tied to organized retail crimes and have yet to actually prove these warehouses exist. The supply chain and mass consumerism of stolen goods would be impossible to hide.
They are everywhere, from residential houses and garages, strip malls and storage units to large warehouses disguised as legitimate businesses. They hide well and sell items individually on multiple platforms and websites.
Organized crime is not stupid, itās very clever and difficult to prove, much like white collar crime. Itās just dealing in a different economy.
Organized Retail Crime is not done by poor shoplifters taking one or two items. They are coordinated groups that utilize multiple resources to steal high value goods, from mainly large retailers, to sell online through various platforms. They target goods that are easy to sell- clothes, appliances, tools, electronics for example. Some are gangs that sell to the people in their neighborhoods, making a profit on the goods, most are more organized and take the stolen items to the online seller. Many have warehouses full of stolen merchandise that they sell online.
It can have very detrimental consequences on neighborhoods, and bitch all you want, the retailer is there to make profits by selling products, and if profit suffers substantially the retailer closes. It applies to businesses of all sizes, not just the corporate giants.
Regardless of your politics, it is a real problem adding to the poverty and decay of numerous neighborhoods in multiple cities, and a growing challenge to overcome.
Early evenings. I work out at home, Iām not a gym person. A mix of walking, rowing, weights, and a tread-climber. I like to stay limber, and though I do physical work most days, I usually have a lot of energy in the evenings. Of course, if my wife wants to help use up that energy she has first dibs š
In my opinion there is no real answer. People feel the way they feel, for a variety of reasons- upbringing, religion, fear, personal experiences, and biology. There is always fear, anger, and judgement when something different is involved, especially when it conflicts with their values, beliefs, and insecurities.
Iām straight. I have known gay/lesbian/ trans/bi people since I was a child, but never labeled them as such. It never did, and still doesnāt, matter to me. Same with race, religion, politics- I accept people for who they are, but I know I am in the minority in that respect.
Hopefully it will change for the better as time passes and society progresses.
I don't feel any real obligation to read other author's stories, or have mine read, but I do like to try. I also try to read all the comp entries (only after submitting my own), hard to do with the number of entries sometimes. I will try to add a comment on each one I read, but try to stick to the positives- especially on newer authors or unusual stories with low reads to encourage them to continue.
There is such a vast difference in writing styles, genres, content, and quality of stories it can be overwhelming, so I do focus on the authors I am familiar with first, then try to get through the rest. As far as those I follow that may not read or comment on my stories, that is not an issue for me. If they read it and comment, fantastic, if not, that is fine.
If you enjoy longer stories or series, please check out my older series - āWeekend At Daveās Cottageā - the 14-part tale of a young manās journey into the swinging lifestyle and discovering love. Hope you give it a read and let me know if you enjoy it. š
It's a turn on for me, and for her she says. We have done threesomes and swaps with other couples, and watching each other is always a big part of the fun. In most cases she prefers another women, but on the occasions with another guy she likes to make sure I get a good view as she doesn't like to do it apart in those cases. I always participate in some way, that's what she wants if another guy is involved.
