TC, TP and ME

Editor’s Note:
I subscribe to a number of newsletters and blogs. Rarely do I re-print one in its entirety. Bail out and blame wastes a lot of energy, time and money while often not getting the job done. ME and WE get the best results directly!

The gulf oil spill is a real mess. It is still causing a lot of damage, and the estimates are now even higher on how much oil is spewing forth.

Each disaster scenario has these three elements: TC, TP and ME.

TC is the entity that caused the disaster. TC is The Company. In this case it’s the formerly named British Petroleum now known popularly or unpopularly as BP. Some disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes are acts of God harping from above. TC is the big company or entity that caused the thing whether you know all of the true details of the cause or not.

There is a lot of justifiable focus on TC. This time TC appears to have been neglectful in their duties to responsibly do things and thus caused the disaster simply by sloppiness.

Those affected by the disaster have a right to be angry at TC.

Then there’s TP. TP is The President. He is the second target of the mess caused by TC. People get mad at TP because he (or someday she) didn’t act fast enough, decisively enough, intelligently enough or compassionately enough. TP didn’t do what we thought he should do and he didn’t do it when we thought he should do it.

When stuff really goes wrong, people blame TP.

Maybe if TC had done everything right the well could have still blown up. Stuff does happen. Maybe if TP acted with the speed of a Blackbird jet, stuff still would have flowed as fast and gummed and slicked up the environment just as much. Maybe.

The point is, no matter how much we fuss and blame the TCs and TPs during the current and future disasters (for they will come), the only entity whom we really have control over is ME.

What am I (ME, not TC or TP) going to do about it?

In the gulf crisis, people’s incomes have been surely hurt. Fishermen are suffering. The tourist industry is down tremendously because most Americans have cancelled their vacation plans to go to the stricken areas and have decided to go elsewhere.

This is what ME is going to do.

I’m going to the gulf within the next 30 days. I’m going to find one of the worst hit areas. I’m going to book a hotel on the beach. I’m going to look for one with oil on it. I’m going to go to the local restaurants and leave extra big tips because the waiters and waitresses will probably be some of the hardest hit during the crisis. I will leave a large tip in the room for the maid.

I will go along the beach and try to patronize some businesses that have been hard hit by the disaster. My feet may get oily but my soul will feel cleaner. Perhaps, I will put a little watery crude in a jar and bring it back. Like it or not, this is history and I have a chance to be a part of history instead of just watching it on TV.

That’s what ME can do. Not TC or TP – ME!

We can shake our heads and say what a terrible job TC and TP are doing or we can look in the mirror and realize that we can’t change the entire situation but if 5% of Americans took the ME responsibility, together we could ease the plight of many on the coast.

TP asked Americans to vacation in the affected areas. People complained and asked if TP was going to take his family there. It doesn’t matter whether TP takes his family there or not, that’s on TP not ME.

What matters far more is will ME (and you) take the family there.

When The Times invited several eminent authors to write essays on the theme “What’s Wrong with the World?” The great writer G. K. Chesterton’s contribution took the form of a letter. It was the shortest response of any of the great writers.

His full letter is below:

Dear Sirs,

I am.

Sincerely yours, G. K. Chesterton

President Kennedy said it best, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Ask not what TC and TP are going to do for our stricken countrymen and women. Ask what will ME do.

TC, TP and ME.

Fuss, fuss or act (donate, volunteer, vacation).

Choose

~A MountainWings Original~

>From The Mountain: If you are in an affected area, contact MountainWings on why a MountainWings reader should come to your town. We may publish your story.

I don’t ever recall specifically asking you to forward a MountainWings issue to your friends, but the people in the gulf could use all of the help and encouragement they can get.

Your face (and money) showing up would be a great boost to them. If you can’t go and directly help the people, at least send this issue to people who can and might go. So forward this email or copy and paste the link below to your friends and it may increase the number who go and get oily feet and cleaner hearts.

TC and TP may not be moving as fast as you think they should. You cannot control their speed, but you can sure control the speed of ME.

Thank you for inviting MountainWings into your mailbox. Change a life, give a friend MountainWings. See you tomorrow.

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Haggling or bargaining is the negotiation process of buying something using less cash than the original asking price. Bargaining is an alternative pricing strategy to fixed prices. Bargaining presents risks.

You may:

• lose out on an item.
• over pay on a item.
• get a great deal
• not like the whole first hand shopping participation
• enjoy the unique buying experience

Some points to ponder:

• If your destination market place is known for price negotiations enjoy the experience. Jump in and learn if is new to you.
• If prices are posted at all they will be inflated and can fluctuate wildly.
• When bargaining, a good starting point is half the requested price.
  • Be sure you really want the bargain.
  • Be firm and ready to walk
  • If vendor can bend at all, he/she will call you back.
  • If you want the object no matter what (that must have, cute, embroidered dress for your grand daughter for example) your strategy changes.
  • If you are not really into bargaining, give it a try – what do you have to lose
• It is best if you have knowledge of the item. I would not know a bargain in jewelry if you hit me over the head with it.
• Sometimes vendors are more like traders and they will be insulted if you don’t try to deal.
• In India, a sign posted with the phrase fixed price indicates that bargaining is not allowed, although quite often this is not the case.
• Do some homework before arrival.
  • Check online, ask your agent, ask your friends or attend ship seminars about the ports if you are cruising. Take it all with a gain of sea salt, there are often ulterior motives involved in recommendations.
  • There are known scams in some pockets so be forewarned and avoid entrapment.
  • Find out what is hot and what to avoid

Sources:

• Wikipedia, Bargaining technical definitions
• Trip Tip – Haggle expands on above tips and more

As a school teacher, I had to pull information from students with leading questions and prompts. As a traveller wishing to take advantage of your friends’ first hand experiences, you have to pull the true meaning from their statements. You’ll love, you’ll hate or any opinions in between are those of your friends and won’t necessarily be parallel with your own wants in a vacation.

Travellers today have information overload. Too many choices and opinions can be confusing especially when contradictions cloud the process. Some of the worst problems can come from listening to your friends advice. It may be genuinely well intentioned but…

My in laws had close friends (veteran visitors to Florida) who insisted they could have a wonderful shared vacations. A hellish two week bus tour ensued. The experienced couple just pulled out a deck of card and insisted on 4 handed whatever every time the bus stopped. They wanted to go nowhere because they had already been and it’s “not that great anyway”. A friendship was lost as well as the vacation.

Quotes that can be very opinionated and biased:

• I hated the room
• There’s nothing to do there
• It’s too expensive
• What a cheap trip
• My wife like it but I hated it
• Don’t worry about pre-booking
• Booze when ever you want it
• Lots of things for the kids to do
• Everything is old and tired looking
• A place for an active vacation or a nightlife

Each person has definite ideas about what they like about destinations or travel.

A Thought
Most people brag about bargains and exaggerate, just like in advertising. You may wonder how their $99 bargain flight is costing you $624! Exaggerating the deal, to make themselves feel better may be misleading. Is it per person, for two, return including taxes? It makes a difference in your perception not necessarily your friend’s deception

Just as a counter point for some of the vague statement above:

• wide variety of rooms, rooms change over time, amenities and exclusions come and go, any accommodation has some advantage to it
• friends mean well, but nothing at all in a city of a million – dig deeper
• What is your definition of expensive?
• Your friends are not going to brag about over spending.
  • Is the cheapest what you really want?
  • What is a reasonable price?
• Compromise – what is a great vacation combination?
• What is your adventure level
  • Hardly ever use public transportation at home – don’t try and adapt to it in a strange land
  • If you are a careful, safety first type with routines galore then pre-book and know what you are getting
  • Adventuresome, hiker, biker, then go for it
  • Are you travelling with kids or elderly?
• Liquid refreshments are a matter of taste and tolerance – be wise, be careful
• Vacationing with different aged children will always be a challenge
• Maybe you like old and tired – relics and antiquities can be an important vacation consideration
• I wanted a place for sitting on the beach and drinking at the beach bar.

Be sure to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Take what your friends say with a grain of salt and ask for details as to why, how, when, what, who to support their feelings.

Don’t dismiss all of your fiends advice and rely completely a trusted travel agent. Don’t get overwhelmed in the process of enjoying a vacation. The best choice is simple, what feels right to you. You won’t be inclined to feel buyer’s remorse about your vacation if you stay true to your principles and desires.

If your choice is not what your friend recommended from their point of view, that’s fine. Tell them maybe they should make a different choice next time.

Canadians Must Have Medical Insurance When Travelling to Cuba

Here is a summary of the new, as of May 1, 2010 requirements for Canadian travellers heading into and out of Cuba. Basically you must have medical insurance to get in and all medical bills must be paid before you are allowed to leave Cuba.

• Travellers must present proof of health insurance in order to enter the country
• Upon arrival, an insurance policy, insurance certificate, or medical assistance card must be presented
• No proof of insurance means you must obtain health insurance from a Cuban insurance company at the airport
• Temporary residents also have to hold valid health insurance policies
• Proof of Canadian provincial health insurance is sufficient to enter Cuba
  • Your provincial plan:
    • may cover only part of the costs Health Insurance
    • will not pay the bill up-front
    • Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses, it may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs
• some private insurers also require the traveller to pay costs up-front and be reimbursed later
• Cuban authorities will not allow anyone with outstanding medical bills to leave the country
• All health insurance policies are recognized, except those issued by U.S. insurance companies
• Some credit cards offer health and travel insurance
  • Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage

Additional tips

• Carry details of your insurance
• Tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer
• Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada
• Submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received, most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.
• Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. Consult with your insurance carrier and your travel agent to eliminate or minimize losses.

Supplementary travel insurance to top up provincial plans or credit card insurance coverage is always a good idea. Travel insurance policies cover much more than health risks, but the small investment in coverage may make a huge difference in your liability for personal injury. Usually the travel insurance provider, like RBC, will pay all covered risks up front and then sort out the province or credit card coverage for you.

Peace of mind when you travel… Don’t leave home without it.

Sources:

• Canadian Government
• Country Facts and Cultural Information – Cuba

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Airlines around the world are gradually developing and expanding upon the concept that a ticket is solely for the limited seat space between points “A” and “B”. Nothing more and nothing less. Luggage, including first checked bag on some airlines, is an added feature that must be arbitrarily paid for. Using a credit card is an added convenience to be paid for separately. Food if offered at all is an extra charge. The latest to be added is an extra fee for carry-ons. Being considered by Ryan Air is “pay as you go” restroom privileges. The list goes on and changes almost weekly.

The fees are “mathematically” arrived at and are being applied to almost any form of alleged optional, or not so optional, services. The airlines then can offer ridiculous air ticket prices and boost their profits on selling these extras to a captive audience.

After all, nobody really has to fly, there are ships, trains, buses, cars and hitch-hiking as alternatives. Airlines are severely clouding the actual ticket price cost and confusing their customers the travelling public.

A separate fee, for what used to be included, air services appears more and more like a con game where greed is in and honesty is out. The main retort from the airline executives to customer dissatisfaction is shop around and pay for what you use. This is not a new phenomena. Read this 20 year old commentary on selling paint as the airlines sell tickets.

I guess it’s a sign of the times. Every business or government is trying to polish their bottom line by shifting the pea from one walnut shell to another. It wasn’t as bad when the shill had three walnuts to cover his slight of hand, now we have to look under all kinds of walnut halves before we find the actual charges in total for almost anything we have to pay for these days. The computer was supposed to help make sense of the masses of data for the general public. It seems business “leaders” are many steps ahead in creating the “baffle data” that makes a mockery of truth, fairness and honesty. There are statistics and damned statistics. The airlines and others are using statistics to rob the damned public. They champion their actions as truly, fair and honest ways of making a profit for the shareholders and securing their golden bonuses.

Not flying is not an option.

More Info:

• Interview with Ben Baldanza, Spirit Airlines’ chief executive
• Elliot.org
• Spirit Airlines’ April 6 Announcement
• By unbundling, airlines make a bundle
• Transportation Secretary Ray Hood
• Airline Reviews
• Flyer Guide

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