Jay Kersting's Blog

First off, it is an icy mess here in Mid-Missouri.  Everyone here probably expects that to be the case.  I can tell you that when I left the house at 4:45 this morning, I wished that my car had skates.  I only slid six times before I got on to roads that had been treated.  Then I only slid four more times.  School is closed here today, not due to icy roads, but due to power outages.  Luckily for my family, where we are on ONLY electricity in our home, we never lost power, just flickered a few times.  Our neighborhood has underground utilities, but it is always a concern getting the power to THAT point.  Anyhow, we dodged a bullet.

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Saturday, I got a phone call from my older brother.  He wanted to let me know that my former employer, CompUSA, was going completely out of business.  Earlier this year or late last year, they closed down over half of their stores, including five of the seven locations that I worked at, leaving only Las Vegas and Knoxville remaining.   

By now, most people reading this are thinking, why do I care?  Not like I work there any more.  Not like I shopped there any more.  Well, let me explain.

Back in March 1992, I was working at a closed resort and attending school part time.  I was out shopping on a Sunday afternoon and I saw a sign for CompUSA.  They were opening soon and they were still hiring.  I was NOT exactly looking for a job, but I could use more money and maybe better hours.  On Monday, I called.  Then I went in and applied.  That afternoon, I interviewed.  I was offered the job and it paid about 50 cents more an hour than I was making.  Obviously, I took the gig.

Eight months later, I was working for them in Las Vegas.  There, I met Adrian Narvaez and we became friends.  Thirteen months later, Adrian was still working for CompUSA but by then living in Minnesota. He invited me to come for a visit.  When I got there, on New Years Eve, he set me up on a blind date.  She was someone he worked with at CompUSA.

Sixteen and a half months later, I married Adrian's co-worker....oh, and mine too.  Kathy and I, obviously, are still together.

Both Alex and Ben were born when I was working in the Corporate Sales division of CompUSA. 

Now, I do realize that in the demise of the company, I am focused on the positives.  Trust me, there were plenty of negatives.  Especially in the Knoxville location, where I was passed up for positions in favor of others full of promises they could not, and did not, ever fulfill.  I left the company on July 15, 1998.   I opened their 25th store, then their 38th store...and so on.  When I left, they were in the process of merging with Computer City and opening their 200th store.

So, I am saddened because CompUSA had a major impact on my life.  Specifically, the people I got to know by working there. 

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Oprah is helping Obama, and filling arenas and stadiums in doing so??? 25,000 went to Williams-Brice Stadium to see them in Columbia, South Carolina.

You have probably heard me offer more positive comments on Barack Obama than any other Democrat running for President.  I know that I disagree with a LOT of his policy positions, but I do like how he carries himself and how he answers some of the unimportant questions that candidates get.

The specific question was about his favorite TV shows.  Showing incredible honesty, Barack Obama admitted that he is a big fan of "Spongebob Squarepants" and a couple of other shows.  BUT, "Spongebob Squarepants" is the story.  Who else has the BALLS to admit that?

OK, John McCain said "Prison Break" was one of his favorites.  He probably sees that as a comedy, based on his experiences from October 1967 to March 1973.  

What I don't get about the stadium thing is the Oprah appeal.  She seems real nice, but I never thought she offered any real deep insight.  And I would never vote for someone because of a celebrity...especially not a talk show host.

Really, taking your cues from a talk show host?  Are you kidding me?

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Step outside this morning, especially those of us here in Mid-MO.  While Al Gore is getting his Nobel Peace Prize this morning, the rest of us know that he is full of shit!!! 

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Final thought, the local paper ran an editorial speaking out against casino gambling here in Jefferson City.  The stated that having legalized casino gambling is a double standard.  They say, if you operated the games as a private entity, you would be prosecuted.  But because the state allows it, it is OK.  I am paraphrasing, you can go to their website or grab a copy of yesterday's paper for the full text.  

Here is the real double standard, the very paper that is against state licensed casinos....runs advertisements from them.  In the very same issue of the paper no less.  

Actually, that is outright hypocrisy. 

Comment as you see fit.