Did you see the episode of “Undercover Boss” on Sunday night right after the Super Bowl? At first, I thought it would be a lame show – BUT it wasn’t! It was very interesting and inspirational.

Waste Management is a huge company throughout North America. The company serves nearly 20 million municipal, commercial, industrial, and residential customers through a network of 367 collection operations, 355 transfer stations, 273 active landfill disposal sites, 16 waste-to-energy plants, 134 recycling plants, and 111 beneficial-use landfill gas projects

The President and COO of Waste Management went undercover to see what it was like out in the “trenches”. He visited several plants throughout the U.S. working as a port-a-potty- cleaner, picking up garbage, sorting garbage and working in a very busy office. What he found was that the people who work for the company are hard working people. He also found that some of the company’s policies and procedures were stifling his people.

Take for example, the administrative assistant who was overworked and underpaid. She spent hours multi-tasking and not seeing any benefits from the company. He changed that around by promoting her to a supervisory position and hiring two more people to do the same job she was doing. Now that’s creating jobs!

He also found that women in the company driving garbage trucks have to use a “pee” can because they are monitored during their routes. Now for a man that’s no problem, but for women – a different story. As a result, he put the woman he rode with in charge of finding solutions to women working with Waste Management.

Finally, and I like this one, he had an operations manager at one of his plants that docked employees two minutes for every minute they punched in late. There wasn’t a company policy on this one so the operations manager was “gently” reprimanded and his policy was abandoned.

The next episode on February 14^th will feature the CEO of Hooters. This should be interesting. Wonder if they will cover the guy who wants to be a Hooters girl?

 Until later,

Linda

Have you seen this app yet?

 According to Canada Free Press, you can now see live video streaming of Obama’s public events at the White House, take part in frequent web chats with “Administration officials”, and get in on other events like key speeches and press briefings in real time.

 This app is free and available for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. According to the article, now you can get all the propaganda that the White House wants you see with only a touch on your phone.

 The article makes a good point when it says, “Tuning in on da Prez through their phones is something the poor, for whom he claims Patron Saint status, will likely never be able to do. The White House’s latest technology bells and whistles were launched at a time when Americans are hurting through loss of jobs and homes.”

If you have an iPhone it costs roughly $150 a month. Many Americans can use that kind of money for other things such as feeding their kids or buying them warm winter boots.

Statistically, thirty-one percent of iPhone users are 35-49 years old, while only 12 percent of iPod touch users fall in this age segment.

But if you must have an iPhone now you can “connect” with the White House and Obama any time you want to.

 Until later,

Linda

What will they think of next? Another great app for your iPhone helps you to get information about crime in your area. CrimeReports publishes crime data on a national crime map. This site is providing this app for your iPhone.

While this is a simple site, it holds important information. The application allows you to

 - Filter data by location or address, incident type and date

- View recent neighborhood level crimes

- Sign up for free, automated, email crime alerts

 Now you can keep up to date on crime in your neighborhood by downloading the app to your iPhone.

 Until later,

Linda

Aren’t apps wonderful? Here’s one app that you should have on your iPhone. This app comes in handy when you go out for an evening of socializing and drinking with friends or if you are planning to enjoy a Super Bowl party.

 The app is “R-U-Buzzed BAC Calculator,” . It is a free app and is in the “Top 25 Free Healthcare & Fitness” apps since its debut. The free app allows users to calculate blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels based on information like amount of drinks consumed, length of time drinking and body weight.

 Check it out at http://appstore.modmyi.com/r-u-buzzed-baccalculator-iphone-88263/app and remember – please drink responsibly.

 Until later,

Linda

Here is a great app for those of us who have too many customer loyalty cards. CardStar app for your iPhone offers a convenient way to carry all of your membership loyalty cards in one application. You can store all the information for numerous national and regional merchants such as CVS, Blockbuster, PetSmart and more.

Simply download the app, enter all of your customer loyalty cards numbers and when you get to the counter you pull up the app from your iPhone and select the icon of your customer loyalty card and your done!

How cool is that? Check it out at CardStar website. http://www.mycardstar.com/theapp.html

Until later,

Linda

I’m sure you have heard the latest brouhaha surrounding the comments that Senator Harry Reid made in his book about Barack Obama. Reid wrote in his book that the U.S. was ready to elect a black president, especially someone like Obama who is “light skinned” and speaks “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” While this statement is stupid, does this show that Reid is a racist or a bigot?

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary on-line a “racist” believes that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. A “bigot” is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.

Let’s see which definition applies to Harry Reid. During the past years, Harry Reid has said some insensitive remarks about just everyone and everything. When George W. Bush advocated a surge in Iraq, Harry Reid claimed that the war was lost and we shouldn’t do the surge. However, history showed that the surge worked. Now with the Health Care Reform bill, Harry Reid has done closed-door deals with his democratic senators just to pass his agenda on Health Care Reform. He keeps claiming that the Republicans have no good ideas. Well heck, Harry, you probably haven’t listened to the republicans or even taken in consideration their ideas.

It seems to me even after his remarks in his book; Harry Reid is more of a bigot than a racist. He obstinately or intolerantly devotes his own opinion and prejudices and treats members of a group with hatred and intolerance.

Do we want bigots running our Congress? Do we want to tolerate the divisiveness that Reid has brought to the Senate?

The 2010 election is 10 months away. Can we wait that long to allow bigots in Congress to stay and write legislation that is not for all the people of the U.S.?

My opinion is that Harry Reid should resign.

Until later,

Linda

DONNY OSMOND!

Congratulations to Donny and Kym for their outstanding performances and gaining the love of the fans. I wonder if all of Utah voted for Donny?! No matter, he was the only one that showed great performances, showmanship and truly progressed as a great dancer.

A hint to all the women stars who want to win: quit your whining and just perform. We don’t care if performing on Dancing with the Stars took your personal life away, heck you are paid for this don’t you? We care that you are doing the best you can, improving every week and having lots of fun that shows in your dance routine. As most improved I would agree that Kelly Osbourne should win a prize for that. Hope she keeps up the positive attitude and starts enjoying life.

Last night’s show was two hours long. At least they broke it up with some nice entertainment. Whitney Houston performed. I wish she would cut her hair so we can see her eyes, she looked like a sheep dog! Then there was the Loser’s Club that was a fun parody.  Tom Delay’s Texas Two Step was okay but it was nice to see that he could dance again. I didn’t care for the dance segment with Joanna Krupa and Cloris Leachman, Jerry Springer and Steve Wozniak. I thought it was dumb. I would have rather see Joanna and Derek dance the Waltz again.

The most fun segment was the battle of the football stars. Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice danced the Paso Doble with their partners. I totally agreed with the judges that Michael Irvin won the dance. But the judges were politically correct and felt like no one goes home a loser so they awarded the “Mirror Ball Ring” to both stars. Michael for his dance and Jerry for his body. What can I say?

Once again, congrats to Donny, this time I know that the fans got it right – you and Kym deserved the Dancing with the Stars Mirror Ball Trophy.

Until later,

Linda

After ten weeks of entertainment from our stars, the Final was fantastic. The stars did a Latin dance, free style and mega mix. Here’s how they did:

Mya’s first dance was the Paso Dobla. I thought it was okay but the judges loved it and gave her 30 points. She also came in first in the Mega Mix where all the stars danced together three dances, a Waltz, Jive and Samba. Her Free Style dance wasn’t all that terrific and finally the judges agreed with me, she didn’t shine in this dance at all. At the end, her total points were 87 and she is first in the leader board.

Kelly Osbourne danced the Argentine Tango and I thought it was fantastic. Her lines were great and she seemed to have gotten into the dance, but the judges gave her no love with a measly 26 point. She came in third in the Mega Mix and her Free Style wasn’t very good. It seems she got lost in embarrassment by her many missteps and didn’t perform very well. The judges gave her 24 points. Her total points were 76 and she is third on the leader board.

Donny Osmond is a true entertainer and a professional. I loved his Cha Cha Cha that included a Disco flavor. The judges gave him 27 points. In the Mega Mix he looked just as good as the professionals dancing but came in second place. His Free Style brought down the house. Showmanship, flair and lots of fun. Carrie Anne said that his Free Style is in the Hall of Fame of Free Style dancing. I totally agree. His final points were 85.

It seemed that the judges were favoring Mya throughout the night. But when Donny danced the Free Style, this convinced me that he should win the Mirror Ball Trophy. What changed my mind? Mya said something tonight that I didn’t like. She said that she worked very hard and gave a lot of personal time for this show. Well boo hoo, so did all the other dancers. Donny is a true professional and a star and his attitude – he never complained about the time and effort he had to endure – should win the trophy.

We’ll see tonight.

Until later,

Linda

Tonight’s Dancing with the Stars results show was shocking! Joanna Krupa was eliminated. Come on people, she has more class in her little pinky than Kelly Osbourne. Joanna was a much better dancer and should have competed in the Finals.

This Result Show was terrible. It started off with a dance group dancing to a tune – “Be Italian” – it was aweful! Sleazy, dancing and definitely not PG. If my granddaughter would be watching, I would have turned the channel. What’s up with 6 women all dressed looking like hookers and one man throwing them around like rag dolls. That’s not dancing, that was pathetic and should not have been shown on TV.

Then Alicia Keyes performed – what was up with those thigh high blue boots?? And those dancers should have gotten a room! Another aweful performance.

The only fun performance were the Bee Gees. They rocked and it was fun watching Melissa Rycroft dance with Tony even if it was for only a minute and a half.

The finalist for next week are Mya, Donny Osmond and Kelly Osbourne. I can’t believe it. This show has definitely gone down hill in a short time.

Until later,

Linda

Let’s be honest with each other, the two best dancers that should be going on to the Finals are Joanna Krupa and Mya. Since Dancing with the Stars also has a third finalist, I say Donny Osmond should be there.

Donny is a great entertainer, performer and a pretty good dancer. It seems that the judges weren’t giving too much “love” to Donny last night. His total score was 74 and he is at the bottom of the leader board.

Come on folks. He is much better than Kelly Osbourne. Her dances last night were okay and I gave her an “A” for effort but not much more. She also had missteps and her dancing was okay but not great. However, the judges were giving her all the “love” and not to Donny. There is a disconnect somewhere.

Tonight we’ll find out who the finalists are. I say, Joanna, Mya and Donny. Kelly’s time has run out and she did progress throughout the season and should be proud of what she has accomplished.

Until later,

Linda