Letters to the Editor
cstrother
Published Letters: 32 Editor's Choice: 4
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confusing
[Read the article: A business deal with a friend went bad, and he never paid me back]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I like Cary's advice, a lot, but I find the situation described very confusing, and many of the letters even more confusing.
The writer seems to say that his friend was going to auction an item on-line. He bought the item and shipped it to Japan, apparently at a cost of $1000, and things went "wrong," but his friend never gave him a very satisfactory story. He does say that his firend in the past had said he would pay him the $1000. There is too much left to the imagination here. For instance, is the friend unable to explain where the items currently is? Did he send it so some on-line buyer and not get paid, or did he end up keeping an item not useful to furthering a profitable business venture, but still worth $1000. Business, friend, or whatever, I would be pretty annoyed if I could get a straight answer out of the guy as to what happened. If this is the case--that is, I logically all I can conclude is that Japan guy is intentionaly trying to deceive me to justify keeping my money--I agree with the letters that say this is a relatively inexpensive lesson in life, or at least as to this particular fellow. This guy is neither a worthwhile friend, nor a worthwhile business partner. Let it all go.
Many of the letters seem to assume, even though Japan guy said he would send the money, that this was a business deal where the writer knew that his investment was at risk and so he should not be whining now and expecting the Japan guy to pay the dollars. But I did not get that out of the writer's letter. Also, the concept that the guy is embarassed that the deal went bad, suggests that he screwed up in an area he was responsible for, and thus in a business sense would be expected to take responsibility for the loss. If Japan guy is saying "I do not owe you the money, because it was a business deal that we were both taking known risks on, and we lost," and I as the writer think differently for some reason, then it is a different scenario from the he is lying to me or dissemblin scenario. I disagree with certain good friends and good business partners about lots of things, and I do not dump either because of that, if i think they are sincere in thinking differently about something than I do. Adults recognize that misunderstandings and legit differences of opinion are the nature of the beast, whether friendship or business. To think otherwise is to "rail against reality" and to be grandiose and perfectionistic. Besides, it is only $1000.
That is why I think Cary's inventory is brilliant. That is, if I conclude it is my internal stuff that is really what is getting me down about this situation, and clouding my understanding and judgement, then I have really learned something worth more than $1000.
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Grammys were awful, as usual
[Read the article: Dixie Chicks win, Grammys lay an egg]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The Dixie Chicks for crying out loud? No way, those are awards on the merits of the music. It was not the Dixie Chicks that were filling the radio waves in 2006. (Not that I dislike the Dixie Chicks. They do a solid, workmanlike job, and are easy to like.) It was those asscociated with Timbaland, plus creative forces like Gnarls Barkley. I am closing on on 55, but it seems to me that 2006 was a good year for music, and it was not because of the Dixie Chicks, or Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder (not that I do not love both). I think Justin is a tremendous performer. What more would we have Shakira do to win an award? Infectious stuff she does. Carrie Underwood for best new performer. I feel bad for her. That award seems like a death sentence for ever having another hit. The Red Hot Chili Peppers seem about ten years ago. The one hip choice, I thought, was Ike Turner for blues album. Just dumb stuff overall. I am just surprised that Jethro Tull did not win again for heavy metal. Or U-2 for some minor effort in an off year, as seems to happen year after year. I hope no one takes this stuff seriously. Seems to have nothing to do with the quality of the music, its popularity, or anything else that is apparent. It is a shame, as there was excellent popular music released in 2006.
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Cary is exactly correct
[Read the article: My boyfriend wants me to move, my daughter wants me to stay]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The writer herself called it correctly at the beginning of her letter. When you have a kid you make better decisions so long as you are deciding for the benefit of the kid. But this is not just about the kid, it is about the writer. I see no percentage at all in the writer moving to the big bad city to be with art guy. Hardly worth discussing, except as an example of what folks can talk themselves into. Not that I am down on the writer, she seems lovely. And her longing for love, is becoming, so long as does not go nuts over it.