Miss Beatrice, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been married. She was admired for her sweetness and kindness to all.
One afternoon the pastor came to call on her and she showed him into her quaint sitting room. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea....
As he sat facing her old Hammond organ , the young minister noticed a cute glass bowl sitting on top of it. The bowl was filled with water, and in the water floated, of all things, a condom!
When she returned with tea and scones, they began to chat. The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist.
'Miss Beatrice', he said, 'I wonder if you would tell me about this?', pointing to the bowl.
'Oh, yes,' she replied, 'Isn't it wonderful? I was walking through the park a few months ago and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to place it on the organ, keep it wet and that it would prevent the spread of disease. Do you know - I haven't had the flu all winter.
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Saturday, September 26, 2009
Rain Or Shine
Tomorrow (Sunday) we will be awarding the "HotKarz Best of the Best" awards at thr Durham show, rain or shine.
Originally, there were three trophies, but a number of folks got so many votes that they deserve recognition, so we have added (5) Honorable Mention Awards, for a total of (8) awards.
After the show, we will post the total vote counts for everyone who participated, so look for that later tomorrow.
My doc says I am not to spend much time in cold, damp conditions (because of my COPD), so I may arrive late, but not to worry - we'll be there in time for the award ceremony.
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Originally, there were three trophies, but a number of folks got so many votes that they deserve recognition, so we have added (5) Honorable Mention Awards, for a total of (8) awards.
After the show, we will post the total vote counts for everyone who participated, so look for that later tomorrow.
My doc says I am not to spend much time in cold, damp conditions (because of my COPD), so I may arrive late, but not to worry - we'll be there in time for the award ceremony.
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Friday, September 25, 2009
Reminder
For those who may not have heard, there will be NO show at the Windham WalMart tomorrow, or at any other time. However, the show that was at WalMart last year is expected to have a new location next year, so, as the organizer said, "Sorry for the inconvenience but watch for next year's announcement".
WalMart no longer allows car shows at any WalMart location nationwide.
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WalMart no longer allows car shows at any WalMart location nationwide.
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Just Curious
We all know of the furor over OOB charging $15 to enter their show - a show that lacks organization and fairness. A show that caters to out-of-staters because Massachusetts and Canadian folks have, and spend, more money. That is understandable - go where the money is. But many Maine folks feel that OOB is not treating Maine folks fairly. Charging Massachusetts prices for a sub-standard show.
HotKarz has heard from both sides of the issue. And that makes us curious - what percentage of folks think the $15 fee is appropriate, and what percentage think it is not. So, to the left of this blog there are two polls, to see what you, the folks, think. One poll asks if you think the fee is FAIR, or if it is OVERPRICED. The second poll asks if you plan on attending the show next year if the fee remains at $15 (or goes even higher).
I realize that typically most folks do not bother with polls, so the actual number of responses will not matter so much as the PERCENTAGE of one side versus the other. I think it will be interesting to see how many folks are on each side of this issue.
Bear in mind - there is no way anyone can tell how you voted. Even my weblogs don't discern who voted, or how. So, please share your thoughts.
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HotKarz has heard from both sides of the issue. And that makes us curious - what percentage of folks think the $15 fee is appropriate, and what percentage think it is not. So, to the left of this blog there are two polls, to see what you, the folks, think. One poll asks if you think the fee is FAIR, or if it is OVERPRICED. The second poll asks if you plan on attending the show next year if the fee remains at $15 (or goes even higher).
I realize that typically most folks do not bother with polls, so the actual number of responses will not matter so much as the PERCENTAGE of one side versus the other. I think it will be interesting to see how many folks are on each side of this issue.
Bear in mind - there is no way anyone can tell how you voted. Even my weblogs don't discern who voted, or how. So, please share your thoughts.
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Thursday, September 24, 2009
Next Wednesday
The latest from Beef & Ski, in Bridgeton: next Wednesday will be their final cruise-0in of the season, and they have scheduled a live band, and will have a lot of give-aways.
So, if you are looking for somethin' to do next Wednesday, why not check it out? It's right there on Rte 302 just a bit south of downtown.
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So, if you are looking for somethin' to do next Wednesday, why not check it out? It's right there on Rte 302 just a bit south of downtown.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Misunderstanding
I have received email from folks who do not understand what all the fuss is about with OOB charging $15.00.
The case is made that everyone has a good time, the location is beautiful, the beach is nearby, and you can walk to town for pizza.
And, while that is all well and good, the question must be asked: "What am I getting for $15.00 that is not already there? Even if I do not go to the show, I can walk the beach and overpay for a slice of Lisa's Pizza (I can buy a large, complete pizza at CHOP for less than 2 slices at Lisa's). So, since I have access to those things, anyway, what VALUE do I get for my $15.00? What is OOB offering that is not already available?"
That is what folks are griping about.
No, they do not care if the gate fee is $15, as long as they are getting something WORTH $15.00. People want value for their hard-earned bucks. But at OOB, they are not getting $15.00 of value. There are much better shows at 1/3 the cost.
People do not mind paying extra if they are getting extra. But OOB offers nothing "extra" that isn't already there to be had.
To put it in perspective, most stores get about $3.89 for a gallon of milk. But let's say you pick up some milk at another store, and they charge you $10.00 for a gallon. Same milk. But THIS store charges you so much more just because they happen to be near a beach, or a pizza parlor. Does that justify charging you three times as much? Not on your life.
And that is what folks are objecting to. It's not the $15.00. It is the lack of VALUE for the $15.00. If someone pays $15, they want to get $15 of value.
Parsem, Andover and Settler's Green are all better shows, and all are $5.00 or so. Why would anyone in their right mind want to pay three times as much for a worse show?
If OOB wants to charge $15, that's fine - as long as they provide $15 of VALUE. No one likes to be screwed, or gouged. OOB is disorganized, and entrants are not treated fairly. Everyone knows that. So, who would willingly pay $15 just to get used and abused?
And we all know how this works - the other shows see that OOB got away with a $15 gate fee, so now others will charge that, until everyone is. For many folks, over a season that could cost an extra $200 or more in fees! What those "other" shows may not understand is that OOB gets few "local" car buffs - the majority of their entrants are from MA and Quebec, where $15 is chickenfeed. If the other shows try charging $15 and they do not cater to the MA folks, they would see the number of entrants decrease dramatically - perhaps to the point that their show goes under. Everyone loses.
If OOB wants to get their heads outta their butts and actually put in the effort to host a good show that is fair to all, then MAYBE it would be worth $15.00. But as it stands, their show is not even worth $5, so I will not be paying $15 next year. I'll find a better use for my money. It's not about the $15.00. It's about getting gouged.
It is also worth noting that not everyone is made of money. To some folks, $15 is still a lot of $$$ to pay for showing their car, and they have to sacrifice to pay it. We are in a recession - a lot of folks are out of work. This was not the time for OOB to put the screws to the very folks that contribute so much to their economy.
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The case is made that everyone has a good time, the location is beautiful, the beach is nearby, and you can walk to town for pizza.
And, while that is all well and good, the question must be asked: "What am I getting for $15.00 that is not already there? Even if I do not go to the show, I can walk the beach and overpay for a slice of Lisa's Pizza (I can buy a large, complete pizza at CHOP for less than 2 slices at Lisa's). So, since I have access to those things, anyway, what VALUE do I get for my $15.00? What is OOB offering that is not already available?"
That is what folks are griping about.
No, they do not care if the gate fee is $15, as long as they are getting something WORTH $15.00. People want value for their hard-earned bucks. But at OOB, they are not getting $15.00 of value. There are much better shows at 1/3 the cost.
People do not mind paying extra if they are getting extra. But OOB offers nothing "extra" that isn't already there to be had.
To put it in perspective, most stores get about $3.89 for a gallon of milk. But let's say you pick up some milk at another store, and they charge you $10.00 for a gallon. Same milk. But THIS store charges you so much more just because they happen to be near a beach, or a pizza parlor. Does that justify charging you three times as much? Not on your life.
And that is what folks are objecting to. It's not the $15.00. It is the lack of VALUE for the $15.00. If someone pays $15, they want to get $15 of value.
Parsem, Andover and Settler's Green are all better shows, and all are $5.00 or so. Why would anyone in their right mind want to pay three times as much for a worse show?
If OOB wants to charge $15, that's fine - as long as they provide $15 of VALUE. No one likes to be screwed, or gouged. OOB is disorganized, and entrants are not treated fairly. Everyone knows that. So, who would willingly pay $15 just to get used and abused?
And we all know how this works - the other shows see that OOB got away with a $15 gate fee, so now others will charge that, until everyone is. For many folks, over a season that could cost an extra $200 or more in fees! What those "other" shows may not understand is that OOB gets few "local" car buffs - the majority of their entrants are from MA and Quebec, where $15 is chickenfeed. If the other shows try charging $15 and they do not cater to the MA folks, they would see the number of entrants decrease dramatically - perhaps to the point that their show goes under. Everyone loses.
If OOB wants to get their heads outta their butts and actually put in the effort to host a good show that is fair to all, then MAYBE it would be worth $15.00. But as it stands, their show is not even worth $5, so I will not be paying $15 next year. I'll find a better use for my money. It's not about the $15.00. It's about getting gouged.
It is also worth noting that not everyone is made of money. To some folks, $15 is still a lot of $$$ to pay for showing their car, and they have to sacrifice to pay it. We are in a recession - a lot of folks are out of work. This was not the time for OOB to put the screws to the very folks that contribute so much to their economy.
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Cruiser of the Year
A special award was given out this evening at the Cumberland House of Pizza - the "Cruiser of the Year" award. It was presented to a fellow who has been a loyal cruise-in fixture throughout the area - Bill Pierce (see pic).
Congrats, Bill!
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Congrats, Bill!
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Monday, September 21, 2009
Your Comments DO Count
If any of you doubt that your comments posted about shows do not have any effect, here is even more proof that your comments DO count. And it helps validate the part HotKarz plays in providing you with a means to have that effect. The following is an email I received earlier today:
"Thanks to all your readers for attending the Windham Auto Show. I’ve been looking at the comments on your blog regarding the show. We are having a meeting tonight to discuss the show and things that we can do better. We take feedback very seriously, and while you can’t please everybody, we will certainly try our best to improve every year. Our show is scheduled for September 12th next year. Please spread the word that we hear you and are always working to make this a great experience for all.
Thanks,
Scott Gordan
President, Windham Athletic Boosters "
So, folks, don't be afraid to express your opinions on the pros and cons of shows you attend - the show organizers are starting to pay attention...
Of course, this does not necessarily mean the show will improve, but it does indicate they have the desire, and that YOUR input provides the info they need.
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"Thanks to all your readers for attending the Windham Auto Show. I’ve been looking at the comments on your blog regarding the show. We are having a meeting tonight to discuss the show and things that we can do better. We take feedback very seriously, and while you can’t please everybody, we will certainly try our best to improve every year. Our show is scheduled for September 12th next year. Please spread the word that we hear you and are always working to make this a great experience for all.
Thanks,
Scott Gordan
President, Windham Athletic Boosters "
So, folks, don't be afraid to express your opinions on the pros and cons of shows you attend - the show organizers are starting to pay attention...
Of course, this does not necessarily mean the show will improve, but it does indicate they have the desire, and that YOUR input provides the info they need.
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Sunday, September 20, 2009
CHOP
Well, tomorrow (Tuesday) is the last cruise at CHOP this year (Cumberland House of Pizza). So sad, as this is our favorite cruise. We want to thank the gang who host this cruise for a great summer. But lest y'all forget, if you have a vehicle at least 25 years old, they are having a show at the Cumberland Fairgrounds, Thursday October 1st at 6:00pm.
Only 2 more Wednesday cruises left for Two Trails Diner in Standish.
Not yet certain how long Charlie Beigg's will be hosting cruises on Thursday, but at least through September.
But the biggie is at 5 Points Shopping Center in Biddeford on October 3rd, 4-7, and put on by Maine Coastal Cruisers. Be there or be square.
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Only 2 more Wednesday cruises left for Two Trails Diner in Standish.
Not yet certain how long Charlie Beigg's will be hosting cruises on Thursday, but at least through September.
But the biggie is at 5 Points Shopping Center in Biddeford on October 3rd, 4-7, and put on by Maine Coastal Cruisers. Be there or be square.
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Financials
Friday at OOB there were nearly 400 vehicles. That represents about 700 persons. As we filed by in the parade, one could see several hundred spectators. Roughly 1500 persons total. If only half of those ate or drank anything, or shopped the stores, and spent even a minimum of $15.00 each, that comes to well over $10,000.
On Saturday, about 350 vehicles, average of 2 persons per comes to 700 folks. In addition to the $15 entry fee ( over $5,000 total), at least 25% got food and drink from town, totaling over $1000. At least a couple hundred spectators, paying $2 entry each comes to another $400-$500. Most of them would likely get pizza and fries and spend an average of $8 per person, or over $3000.
So far, we, the car folks, boost the OOB economy by over $20,000. And this does not include the hundred or so folks from Massachusetts and Canada who rent hotel rooms for the weekend, eat in the restaurants and drink in the bars for the weekend. Each of them likely spends an additional $400, or $40,000.
So, thanks to the folks with the hot cars, OOB likely gets an economic boost of over $60,000 in the one weekend. And this does not even count the bucks made from vendor leases or 50/50.
For them to tell us they had to raise the entry fee to $15.00 because of "rising costs" is a whole lotta hooey!
Considering how much we contribute to their economy, they should eliminate the entry fee altogether. The local businesses sponsor (pay for) the trophies, so it's not like it would be a strain on them.
Maybe we should charge THEM $15.00 to have us bring our cars - they would still make a $50,000 profit.
Let me be clear - I do not have a problem with the $15 entry fee. What I DO have a problem with is that OOB does not put in more effort into making the show a fair and honest venue for all participants - everyone pays the fee, so everyone should be treated fairly. If OOB does not want to put on a better, more fair show, then they have no business raising the fee. We do a LOT for Old Orchard Beach and their September economy. They need to do more for us.
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On Saturday, about 350 vehicles, average of 2 persons per comes to 700 folks. In addition to the $15 entry fee ( over $5,000 total), at least 25% got food and drink from town, totaling over $1000. At least a couple hundred spectators, paying $2 entry each comes to another $400-$500. Most of them would likely get pizza and fries and spend an average of $8 per person, or over $3000.
So far, we, the car folks, boost the OOB economy by over $20,000. And this does not include the hundred or so folks from Massachusetts and Canada who rent hotel rooms for the weekend, eat in the restaurants and drink in the bars for the weekend. Each of them likely spends an additional $400, or $40,000.
So, thanks to the folks with the hot cars, OOB likely gets an economic boost of over $60,000 in the one weekend. And this does not even count the bucks made from vendor leases or 50/50.
For them to tell us they had to raise the entry fee to $15.00 because of "rising costs" is a whole lotta hooey!
Considering how much we contribute to their economy, they should eliminate the entry fee altogether. The local businesses sponsor (pay for) the trophies, so it's not like it would be a strain on them.
Maybe we should charge THEM $15.00 to have us bring our cars - they would still make a $50,000 profit.
Let me be clear - I do not have a problem with the $15 entry fee. What I DO have a problem with is that OOB does not put in more effort into making the show a fair and honest venue for all participants - everyone pays the fee, so everyone should be treated fairly. If OOB does not want to put on a better, more fair show, then they have no business raising the fee. We do a LOT for Old Orchard Beach and their September economy. They need to do more for us.
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