FRR, I also found your joke about a hammer in poor taste. It's very messy, can take several swings, and the surge of hormones from the cat in it's last fighting moments can ruin the flavor. There's no worst way to ruin the taste. So can kitty tranquilizers for that matter. I prefer to eat my cats Kosher with a good swift cut of the throat.

p.s. JUST KIDDING cat lovers, I'd never hurt any animal :-)!

Could we start a Cat Forum? Sub headings for manx, tabby, siamese...some of them may have discrete codes, some toggles, but most don't respond to commands at all....

I have 2 daughers and a wife but the only female in my house who loves me uncoditionally is my Siamese. At what ever time I manage to struggle home she comes out to greet me. I also let her test each of my GUIs as I figure if a Siamese cat can operate the equipment then most humans ought to have a fighting chance.

Two secrets have been revealed at long last. 1. QQQ is of Korean discent and 2. He keeps kosher.

Alan

Ok, I'm here now.

Minneapolis is quite a bit colder than the bay area, but I haven't been crucified for my political leanings (left of left) or musical tastes (punk, classical and singer/songwriter). They also make it possible for me to remain a vegetarian with many natural food stores and veggie restaurants.

I haven't been able to make a consistant connection to my hotmail account, but I can read emails on my old corporate email ([email protected]). Thanks for all of the kind words, I wasn't sure what kind of response I'd get from everyone considering my new job. I've already gotten started on my new project and I'll try to share some training success stories with you all down the road.

On a related note, have any of you created a repeatable training program for your installers? I have the resources here (we've already built and demolished a massive wall to practice wire running skills) to try just about anything, as long as I can justify it. I plan on attending CEDIA and other installer training programs to pick up some good ideas. Since I already have quite a bit of experience teaching salespeople how to sell custom (was a regular part of my job previously), the creating and delivering of content isn't a challenge for me. I just need to figure out a way to maximize my one week of class to get these installers (many of them newbies) ready and functional. I'll happily look over any suggestions.

Jeff

PS. The cats were pretty good, just complaining for the first hour of every day and during stops for gas and food. Gas milage was horrible after a couple of days so the gas stops became much more frequent...

Good luck Jeff. Maybe when CEDIA returns to Minneapolis again we can hook up for some pool at that Irish pub we all went to a few years ago. ;-)

Mike
Surf Audio Video

Thanks Mike,

I need to figure out where that place was. While I've got an apartment in the Uptown area where there seem to be any number of dive bars (my usual haunts), I still need to find places like that pub where I can play pool on a nice table.

Jeff

It was the Local at 10th & Nicollet.

I'll be there for sure in the summer of 2006 for my niece's wedding. My sister and her family live in Bloomington.

but I haven't been crucified for my political

So. Your a socialist!

That explains why you've been 'relocated' to the coldest place on earth and have to teach 'newbies' !!!!

Sorry.

I couldn't resist.

Professionaly, I hope you do well.

Polticaly, your already 'spinning down the drain' !

The name of the pub is Brits. It is located on the Nicolette Mall. This is just a short drive from uptown. I would think that the grass roof top will be opening soon!

How can anyone make money installing when the client doesn't buy the equipment from you?

Also, how is it possible for the salesman at the store to know what kind of cables you will need? What are you suppose to do when you come up a foot short-- go buy another $100.00 Monster cable? Talk about screwing the customer. Most salespeople at Best Buys don't know much about A/V equipment. All they know is how to jam Monster down your throat and maybe an extended warranty.

Good luck, Jeff. I don't know how any installer could turn a profit doing work for Best Buys. People that shop there go there for one reason only--because they are cheap bastards. They make the worst clients for installers and are always expecting something for nothing.

With so much business out there, why would anyone want that type of client?

Actually, our sales training materials have improved dramatically. Currently I'm working on training installers and sales people at our Magnolia Home Theater stores, which are located inside select Best Buys. Once this project gets rolling I'll be assisting the folks who are responsible for the Best Buy core stores.

Visit any of our MHT locations (currently only on the West coast, soon to be in many states) and think you'll find that the caliber of sales professional we've hired and trained to be as good or better than what you'll find in many mom and pop locations.

In addition, all of our installers are Best Buy or Magnolia Home Theater employees. I'm hoping that there will be no work for outside installers for our customers as we can (or will be able to) provide quality, professional installation directly from our retail locations. Getting the sales staff up to snuff is only one of my challenges, but I've done it before and I'm certain that I can do it again.

To SSI and Surf: I'll figure out what the name of the place is soon - I'm planning on visiting many of the drinking establishments that are within staggering distance from my apartment over the coming weekends. I'm open to any suggestions from folks who are familiar with this city as to where I can best enjoy a brew, play some pool, chat up the ladies and (unlikely) enjoy a veggie meal.

Jeff

Food. Lucia's in uptown is very good. Cafe Brenda, downtown, does vegetarian very well. Campiello, uptown, Italian, should offer enough alternatives for veg. Indian restaurant on Lake Street at Emerson is very good. Lotus on Hennepin is fine Vietnamese, cheap.

Bars: Uptown Bar is historic, music orientation back in the Mpls Sound days. Haven't been in years. Famous Daves does blues. Check out Paul Metsa, tell him Fred sent you. Lots of fancy pants joints in the neighborhood that I haven't been to.

Music downtown: Steve McLellan has been programming First Avenue for a good, long time. Get their calendar. Take a chance. Fine Line is more of an upscale joint. If that's your taste, go.

City Billiards, downtown of fourth street. Good food, good tables.

Groceries: check out Lunds on Lake street or Whole Foods.

Liquor: Hennepin Lake is best wine/champagne store in the state. Depot does single malt scotch better then anybody else. Surdyks in Northeast for full value store.

Wow, Fred wasn't kidding when he said he knew the area!

I've already joined the Wedge co-op, they seem to have a great organic produce section.

I hit a local liquor store and paid way too much for beer last weekend - still trying to figure out the whole 3.2 beer thing.

I'll check out your local suggestions (hopefully this weekend) for bars - I don't do fancy places, having a hard enough time dressing business casual for work.

And, for all of you smokers out there, cigarettes are cheap here! I smoke Winston Lights, which I've paid anywhere from $3.50 - $6 a pack during my move, and I can get them here for $2.65. That means 3 packs, with tax, is still less than $9. I may smoke myself to death here...

Lived here my entire life.

Wedge is a great coop; my omission is not meant to be misinterpreted.

I'm going to miss you Wagner!

It's a good thing I've already hired your replacement...

Nevertheless, I'll still throw it out there that Magnolia's hiring installers in Hayward!

mb