BETTERBOX

Back in 2001 I was working for Stolt Sea Farm selling Salmon. The Salmon companies were making way too much money and they kept spawning more fish each year as demand grew. In 2002 the salmon market collapsed due to over production. Too many fish and not enough salmon eaters. The companies were too greedy.

My boss, the President of Stolt USA, was fired and after about 90 days they got around to firing me too. All this was done to cut cost. Stolt was losing over $1 million a month. Stolt sold their business to Marine Harvest and closed their LA Plant. The good news was my employment agreement, which called for 6 months severance.

Pam and I discussed my next career move and Meredith and I went on the Journey of Self Discovery. I was in no real hurry to get a new job. Pam joked that I should "think outside of the Box". We talked and agreed what I really needed was a "BETTERBOX".

Well, I got a new job and we put Betterbox on hold. But my recent lay off from Empress and the poor economy has us back discussing our own business. It's no secret that I am ready to retire in the broad sense of the word. This does not mean I am ready to stop earning money. Jack, Colleen, and Meredith all need some level of support for the next few years. Pam has a great job and could easily support us but my income is helpful.

So now is the time for us to launch Betterbox. We formed an LLC [Limited Liability Corp] and set up a Business Banking account. I have been working as a Seafood Broker selling products for three different companies. It is not easy to start a business and make three clients happy at once. I have been working long days and weekends just to keep up. This Saturday I fly to Seattle to meet with another potential client. If all goes well, we should be working together next week.

I set up a simple web page and asked a couple of seafood guys to join me in a Network of Seafood Brokers. I still have some work to do on the Web page but Betterbox Sales & Marketing is coming along. You can visit the site at: http://www.betterboxsales.com


Pam is on the Board of Directors and is VP of Finance.

IT'S ABOUT EQUALITY

I have been busy. I hate to say I have been preoccupied with starting our Food Brokerage Co. [Betterbox Sales & Marketing] and I have not been Blogging or reading the on-line news. I will Blog about Betterbox later and give you the web site info.

I was blown away yesterday by the California Supreme Court decision to uphold Prop 8. We call it Prop H8 because it supports unequal treatment for some California Citizens.

This is clearly and most importantly an equal rights issue. Many people try to make it about sexual preference. It is not. Others try to make it about religion. This is not a religious issue. Simply stated, it is an issue about the government [California] treating one group of citizens differently than they treat others.

If this were Blacks, being told they could not marry, there would be moral outrage. If women or Hispanics were treated differently, they would be upset. Prior to the 1950's Blacks were told they could not marry whites. Prior to 1920, Women could not vote. All this has changed and Prop 8 will not stand. The rule of law is really simple in this case. Everyone should be treated the same.

I am not a liberal or progressive in the current use of the jargon. I believe in strict interpretation of the Constitution. I have always voted Republican, even when I was sad about the candidate. As such I think everyone should be treated the same. This means men, women, blacks, Asians, and people we don't like for any silly reason.

It is wrong for government to withhold service to one group of citizens and I am going to work to get this Prop 8 law changed. I am asking everyone I know to help change California law so anyone can marry the person they love. Please join me by signing up at: http://www.eqca.org/site/pp.asp?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=4026385

Hurray Hurray the first of May

EJ used to say this every year. I'm thinking of you Ed. Up tip.

Oh.....THE LAW WON

So, the Judge went to the freeway and looked at the place where I was riding. Then he agreed with Officer friendly and found me GUILTY. I got a nice letter in the mail.

My next court date for the second ticket is on May 26. I'm working on my defense. Stay tuned