Taxed Enough Already

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: 
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.

The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20." Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay. And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"
"That's true!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat better.

The Reality of Me

People often say I talk to much

They say that they ‘don’t care’

There's hardly topics I don’t touch

Me not talking is something rare

Theres been a time in my life where lips went silently

Then I saw just what happens when we speak too little

Our freedoms come under fire, and we forget our liberty

So say some more and say it loud, don’t be so stinking brittle

People often say I cling to the bible and hold too tight to God

But that’s just fine because I know that I can’t do it all

Theres hardly places that I go where with me He wont trod

Hes there to help me up in case along the way I fall

Theres been a time in my life where I spoke too loud

I said some things I didn’t mean when I was awful mad

I hang my head for Ive said words that haven’t made me proud

So watch your tongue and say a prayer before saying something bad

I often say people should learn about who you are first

Learn from me and teach me too, and then make your decision

Often times they think they do, and judge us at our worst

And when they say those nasty things, they say it without revision

Don’t write my biography for me, for it is filled with fiction

I wont write yours or pretend to know about things that I’ve not learned

For awful times lie ahead for such premature conviction

And just before you know it, another bridge has burned

Don’t play me for a fool, for in this gamble I’m all in

Ive placed a bet myself, and the deck is surely stacked

So whilst you think you’re on top, just know that I will win

And then you learn to find out first what is and isn’t fact

I often think that its not fair when people take their time

To let you learn about their hearts and learn who they really are

Yet all the while they say they know who you are through such a rhyme

But no time they take to sum you up and they turn out much too far

So judge me not and Ill do the same, lets start from this clean slate

We’ll shed our shame and renew our name, leave behind the senseless hate

Life is forward not in rear, so trust the Lord and have no fear

So you be paper, Ill be pen; Together we’ll write our stories again

Home of the Banger Burger

Writers block is a son of a gun. You have this grand idea that you are going to write about something that all sorts of people will find interesting, but you haven't the slightest idea what topic to cover. Even now I was just sitting here thinking, what the heck should I write about? And then it hit me. I realized where I was, and knew instantly what I should write about.

It makes perfect sense; it is a business built on an original idea, a one-and-only style, and a menu where you really do get your Bang for your Buck.

I first was introduced to this homely place when I visited College Station during a pass-through of a trip to see family in New York. I stopped to pick up my brother in College Station, and we prepared to embark. But first, he took me to this restaurant where he and his local friends liked to get a Banger Burger, some unique Texas Brews, or a plate of Old Army Fries. All the while, the back of the restaurant is bustling with washers, driers, and people clicking away on their computers using the Free WiFi they now offer.

In my many excursions here, I have become a personal fan of their Patty Melt. The Patty Melt has long been my favorite of mine, since I first started having them when I was a Maintenance Worker employed at the Historic Stagecoach Inn, in Salado TX. As an employee, I used to order a Patty Melt every day, without fail. It was just something I liked, and there was no questioning it.

However, four years later when I stumbled upon Harvey Washbangers, it was the first place that offered a Patty Melt that I thought was worth giving a shot and seeing if it topped off my old stomping grounds; and it did. My usual Patty Melt would consist of a light layer of Mayo (Not a fan, but it did the trick), mustard (also in a light layer), and sauteed mushrooms with Swiss Cheese. Harvey's version of this burger did not include mustard, but was a personal optional since they provide mustard and ketchup bottles, no mushrooms (a bummer at first), and no mayo (A major plus). Well, I gave it a shot. What I had been missing that truly makes a Patty Melt the best sandwich on earth is something I had been missing, something rather obvious.

Thousand Island dressing. I had never had this on a Patty Melt before, but when I came to Harvey's and tried it, I was thoroughly impressed. Im no sandwich connoisseur, but I know a good Patty Melt when I taste it, and they do one helluva job.

Other menu items not to be taken lightly is their Ol' Army Fries. Their description from their online menu @ http://washbangers.com/menu tells you just enough to get your taste buds running out of your mouth and down Texas Ave. "A Harvey’s original – fresh cut fries covered in cracked pepper gravy, taco seasoned beef, melted Mexican cheeses, and sliced jalapeños."

Also on their menu is, as properly described, an Aggieland classic that has been named after the business; The Banger Burger; "a 1/3 lb. fresh beef patty, melted cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and mayo on a grilled sourdough bun." 

Their full menu is available at the link posted above, but does not include seasonal specials such as the White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake, a desert that incited a dramatic controversy when a friend of mine scarfed the last of mine down when I turned my back for just a moment. Revenge is yet to be taken for this intolerable deed! Additionally they offer another fantastic dessert that is a personal favorite, Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, which is available on their menu at the previously stated link. This is one darn good pie that I have a hard time finishing, as they are so generously cut and such a belly-filling treat. 

Finally, another personal favorite that I have a hard time turning down is their Reuben Burger. This is not to be mistaken for a Reuben Sandwich. This Reuben Burger is served with sauerkraut on salted corned beef with cheese, onions, and a rye bread bun. This son-of-a-gun Oktoberfest Special is a meal fit for a king, and is one juicy, tasty-fine burger.

Among their Texas Micro-Brews served are "Fireman's #4, Live Oak's Smoaktoberfest, Stash IPA, Bellows Amber Ale, Pedernales Brewing Co's Hefe, and No Label's Black Wit-O Anise infused black Witbier." 

 Their latest and greatest brews, burgers, and specials can be found as they come and go on tap. Simply click the following link to go to their FaceBook page, Like them, and stay tuned for their updates. 

Their specials include 

From 6pm till close.

• Monday – 45¢ Wings
• Tuesday – Texas Microbrew bottles are $1 off.
• Wednesday – Happy Hour all night.
• Thursday – Texas Tap Night, where all Texas Regional taps are a $1 off (New Republic, Fireman’s 4, Live Oak, Shiner)*

*Subject to change as we change the taps from time to time.

(Found at http://washbangers.com/specials)

For those of you unable to open an extra tab and find your way to Google Maps, geographically impaired, or otherwise expecting me to drop breadcrumbs to their doorstep, Im sorry. It would be a waste of a darn-good bun that could be better used on one of their awesome burgers! But I will post their address on here, so you can get there as fast as you can! 

Harvey Washbangers

1802 Texas Ave S

College Station, TX

Call 

(979) 696-6756

So if you are in Aggieland and you dont know what else to do, or you have your significant other is nagging at you to do some laundry but you would rather be drinking a beer and watching the game, come to Harvey Washbangers and do both! You can watch the game on any of their number of televisions, click away on WiFi, or just hang out at the bar and talk to their chill-as-can-be staff!

References and Sources from

http://washbangers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Washbangers?ref=ts&fref=ts

The author is, unfortunately, not affiliated with Harvey Washbangers in any fashion, besides being a regular customer and a bench-warming burger biter!

GDP versus GPI: Examining Economic Stability and Strength

One of the best ways to reference GDP is that is reports all that is produced from a country, but it does not record all that is spent in the process of producing the said goods. The costs of actually producing a good are just as important as the value of the product. A simple input to output ratio shows this. For a potential investor, if more money is spent producing the good than revenue is earned selling the goods produced, this would not a be a lucrative investment opportunity. On the other hand, if twice as much output value were to be coming out of the input, then this would look like a very healthy investment.

On the other hand, if one is a wise investor, face value is not something that is acceptable for an investment, especially not long turn. Sure, its true you could invest your money and possibly double or double and a half your initial input into a company. However, money goes as fast as it comes, and long term investments sustain a higher rate of return. Therefore, the intelligent investor will look into the past of the firm. Under GDP, one would see that this company has $3.6million of input, and produces $7.2million dollars of output in produced goods. This looks good, no? Well, if one inquired into the history, one might find that the said firm once had an input of $1.8million and an output of $5.8million ten years ago. Again, at this face value one would think “Their output level has increased! See!? It was a grand investment!” Not so fast there, because the input level was doubled over ten years, but the output level only increased by just barely more than quarter of the initial output level. So what does that mean? It would be safe to say that over a long period of time, the level of output will be less than the level of input. Under the same marginal formulas, one could expect in ten more years an increase to $7.2million in input expenditures, and an output level of roughly $8.9million.

This is why the GDP is not the lucrative method of examining a corporates value – because it does not show how the company has improved. Even so, GPI not only calculates how much the company value is, but how far it has come, its growth rate, the value of assets and puts a value on more than just input and output – It puts a value on reputation, standards of the workplace and living when in reference to countries. 

On Market Structures

One of the leading companies in the whole food supermarket industry would be H-E-B. Among some of its competitors are Wal Mart, Target, and a short list of others. These companies seek to provide varieties of products to a consumer base so wide and so broad that it does not alienate individuals from shopping there due to the content. The market structure of these companies is an Oligopoly. There are indeed many companies that compete is the whole food market, from Brookshire Brothers to mom and pop shops like Baumanns, a locally owned, non-chain whole food marketer. However, in circumstances like my home town, Baumanns was closed within the first week of the opening of H-E-B, as is the case among many places where supermarkets spring up. The market structure varies from location to location and is determined largely by geography. In Central and South Texas, that market structure is pure competition. This is clearly shown because in places like San Antonio and Austin, the market share domination is vastly different than places such as Houston or Corpus Christi.

In San Antonio, for example, H-E-B dominates 64% of the market share. Just the same, H-E-B has about 60% market share in Austin, TX ("Shooping Centers Today", 2005). In the Houston area, ICSC similarly reports the following; “Right now HEB is duking it out with Wal-Mart for Houston market share and has raised its stake there from 10 percent to 14 percent over a five-year span, behind Wal-Mart’s 24 percent and leader Kroger’s 27 percent, according to Trade Dimensions.” What this inherently indicates is that in areas like Austin and San Antonio, H-E-B is a market dominator, but not a monopolize. Other businesses like Wal Mart continue to work in the market very competitively. If H-E-B is giving Wal Mart a run for their money in the most literal sense possible, it is clear that companies like Brookshire Brothers and other small whole food companies are in for a rough ride when it comes to competing with the big dogs.

These companies have a multitude of products in dozens of different classifications from groceries to auto parts, and from electronics to clothes. In the current market structure, each of these companies takes a unique approach to a similar market and tunes is strategies to outpace its competitors in one area, while inadvertently falling slightly shorter in another area. Through this, each is able to see substantial profit whilst also being kept in line by the competition. Because there is legitimate local competition, it is clear that this is not a monopoly, but seeing as the dominion of the market shares is so polarized by region, as a whole it cannot be considered an oligopoly.

The strategies of these different competitors varies accordingly, and take unique angles on the market. Continued from Shopping Centers Today; “Low price points, varied formats and a customized product mix coupled with broad selections of private-brand products that outsell many national brands, give the edge in south central Texas to the privately held firm, which operates as H.E. Butt Grocery Co. Their private-label products are just incredible,” said David J. Livingston, managing partner of DJL Research, a retail consulting firm in Pewaukee, Wis. “The people who work there really come up with great ideas and unique ways to merchandise their stores. Management listens to its front-line people, not Wall Street (Shopping Centers Today, 2005).” This market strategy of H-E-B differs from Wal-Mart, who takes a national approach to marketing. While H-E-B tends to move with the fluidity of local and regional trends, its competitors tend to follow national trends. This seems to be because H-E-B is a locally run, locally produced company, whereas companies like Wal-Mart import their products form mass production factories overseas, and universal productivity is their main way of keeping prices down.

H-E-B also has a few other tricks up its sleeve, also reported to us by ICSC. Firstly, H-E-B does not deal with the struggle of unions, which drive many factoring prices sky high and prevent them from accessing certain avenues of marketing. Additionally, they are excellent at the game of real estate. For in-line tenants, H-E-B is a most loved company. The company is now associated with value added, and whenever there is a store nearby, high premiums are paid on property. The marketing strategy of real estate happens to be a very unique and successful one. Additionally, it takes a more pre-emptive take on real estate and store location. San Antonio Metropolitan, for example, has been spreading at record paces. If one were to look at its Northern location in comparison to a few decades ago, they would not recognize the developed and vastly spreading frontier of this booming city. The southern end of the city, on the other hand, has been slower to take off. However, a mere 15 miles outside one of the busiest intersections of highway 410 and Rigsby Avenue is a little town of La Vernia, where the opening of a new H-E-B has drawn a large customer base from the surrounding county where the nearest Wal Mart or H-E-B from San Antonio was previously 45 minutes south of town.

The strategy of moving in pre-emptively is one that many companies wont take, and it was followed by the construction of Subway, Whataburger, Cowboy Liquors, and many other chain businesses. With the value-added factor and the following it has created, this has proven to be a successful move by HEB. The president himself commented that two of the dozen and a half new stores would be located in vastly low populated and country cultured areas where there is not a large customer base, but rather a large potential for growth (Kaplan, 2005). This may prove to be a major financial move in the long run when the metropolitan of San Antonio starts moving southward into a territory already accessed and harvested by H-E-B. Trying to ease the grip of local customer loyalty will prove difficult for customers in the long run.

H-E-B marketing is the contortionist of the whole foods market. Their stores contrast and tailor their shelves to fit every different situation that they may come across. From the ethnicity of the local population to the climate and culture of the town, H-E-B has proved able to market to specific groups. They do so more direct than selling some T-Shirts that resemble local sports teams, but changing their entire grocery stocks to the ethnic food preference. Even down to the environment of their stores to the atmosphere of the location, H-E-B marketing truly is a benchmark. When asked how H-E-B has tailored itself to Houston, President Craig Boyan stated the following: “We've had to reinvent ourselves often here. We started in Houston as H-E-B Pantry stores. We weren't relevant for all of Houston. Now you see Central Market, Mi Tienda, Gulfgate and Beechnut. We want to make our stores really resonate with our customers and make each store different in every neighborhood (Kaplan, 2005).”

He continued to elaborate on the Mi Tienda format of stores that are specifically made to suit Hispanic families. President Boyan elaborated as such; “We love the Mi Tienda format. H-E-B Houston president Scott McClelland led a team that studied Hispanic stores around the world and in places like East L.A. and wanted to make it a celebration of Hispanic culture and food. It's a great store and one of our more exciting concepts. But we're studying it and talking to customers to keep improving it, and we hope to have more (Kaplan, 2005).” In this day and age where everything is produced at one level and it is thrown onto a truck, shipped and sold on shelves in record speeds, it becomes increasingly difficult to find a company that takes the time to examine such factors in quite as much detail.

If I were to recommend strategies to H-E-B I would insist that they also consider local markets such as mom-and-pop gift shops and such. For many small towns that they move into, smaller stores produce products that cannot be mass produced of that are specific to that store. A way of supporting local shops that do not compete with its supermarket production, they can market locally produced products like textiles in their storefronts and in small sections of their stores. This promotes a thriving local economy to guarantee the survival of the local money circulation and also creates a loyalty with other industries as well as the other businesses loyal customers will be drawn in as well.

Shooping centers today. (2005, May). Retrieved from http://www.icsc.org/srch/sct/sct0505/cover_story_3.php

Kaplan, D. (2010, January 23). Chron. Retrieved from http://www.chron.com/business/article/Q-A-H-E-B-s-new-president-is-bullish-on-Houston-1597418.php