Witty Bits: It's All Gas

Witty Bits: It's All Gas
by Wendy Harmon March 14 2012 (10:03AM EST)

Let's be honest, the above image is exactly how we all feel. We're constantly shoving money into our gas tanks, one dollar at a time. We are paying some of the highest prices in gas since the so-called war in the Middle East started. Does that really have anything to do with it? Hard to say when I'm watching the prices of crude oil drop. So why is gas still so high!? Simple and basic economic law and politic; ah ELP, remember that class in high school? It's all about supply and demand! The more you get out and go, the more gas you use, the more you need it. There's the demand, you NEED gas. The suppliers see you need gas and guess what, they'll supply but at a cost. Oh and what a cost it is, ouch! Also, to add onto this was the recent state tax increase on fuel. Did you know that currently North Carolina is 6th in highest taxes out of 50 states!(According to API.org) Combined State and Federal tax is 57.6! Just last year in 2011 we were 9th highest; and yes that's still extremely high, with a combined taxation total of 53.7

It's a rip off, and the families of North Carolina feel it every time we pull up to fill up. Individuals are having to make choices of: "Do I cut back on groceries so I can put gas in my car?", "Do I cut back on the medications I need to take so I can afford gas?", "I HAVE to put gas in my car so I can get to work, so I can get money!". Sadly, most work places have not given a pay increase to increase cost of living expenses. So, they're still paying employees as if gas was still $2.00 a gallon (or around about).
You're probably wondering if I'm going to start lecturing you on driving less and taking public transportation. If it's available in your area, sure go for it! It would probably help de-stress yourself as well for letting someone else do the driving so you're not dealing with more than half the knuckle-heads on the road! I digress, if you can then great, but for many of us who live in rural areas or have large families that becomes much less of an option. So, what do we do now? Well, it is an election year . . . do I think that will make much of a difference, let's be truthful with one another. Gas prices have steadily increased over time for the past several presidents. It's not been the fault of one. The gas prices today are not the same as when our parents drove, nor is it the same price you paid when you were in high school or last year. Could it be lower, I would hope so! However, as with time the value of everything increases, so to some extent you're going to have to swallow your pride and your nativity and realize gas prices are not going to get below $1 a gallon. If you do, you are in need of a serious wake up call!

So, what can we do to help lower prices or at least get the most for what we put in? First, voice your concerns to the right people. The Ceo of Shell, BP, Citgo, etc. they're the ones that have the influence. Sorry to say, but you yelling and cussing out your local attendant at the Wilco is not helping your day or his. He has no control over what the price is today, tomorrow, yesterday or even a week from now. He's living paycheck to paycheck just like the rest of us. Another thing you can do is make sure your car is well maintained. Not only will this increase your gas millage, but will increase your safety and the value of your car. Make sure your wheels are correctly aligned. This can make a HUGE difference in your gas millage as well as the wear on your tires. If you're car is pulling, it's resisting, creating drag and making everything work harder than it needs to, thus making is less efficient. Have appropriate tires! Make sure your tires are in good condition, not slick and balding, and that they are inflated correctly. Too little or too much air is a bad thing. Also, don't have on winter tires in the spring and summer, that's just silly! Check your plugs and wires! If one is dying its making the others work more, yet again decreasing the efficiency of your car.

Finally, don't top off your gas tank. By doing so you're actually hurting not only your wallet by paying more; just so you can round up, but you're also damaging the system. Say what? Topping off the gas tank can result in your paying for gasoline that is fed back into the station's tanks because your gas tank is full. The gas nozzle automatically clicks off when your gas tank is full. So why continue to push more in? Gas station pumps are equipped with vapor recovery systems that feed back gas vapors into their tanks to prevent vapors from escaping into the air and contributing to air pollution. Any additional gas you try to pump into your tank may be drawn into the vapor line and fed back into the station's storage tanks. So you're essentially paying the station more for something you're not even getting. Also, you need extra room in your gas tank to allow the gasoline to expand. If you top off your tank, the extra gas may evaporate into your vehicle's vapor collection system. That system may become fouled and will not work properly causing your vehicle to run poorly and have high gas emissions. Remember, the harder you make your engine work, the less effective it is. Finally, topping off your gas tank may foul the station's vapor recovery system. Adding more gas after the nozzle has automatically shut off can cause the station's vapor recovery system to operate improperly. This contributes to the air pollution problem and may cause the gas pump to fail to work for the next person. (All of the information about topping off your tank came from EPA.gov

So, there you have it. Probably not the magical solution you were hoping for, but the necessary work that is needed to be put forth in order for you to get the maximum benefit. Remember, what you put it in, is what you get out.

Entertainment: Barrel Tasting

Entertainment: Barrel Tasting

by Wendy Harmon on March 13 2012 (11:53AM)

Starting now on Tuesdays I will bring you just a taste of what's going on around our area. Hopefully, it'll be something to entertain several of your senses and not just one or two! Also, by posting on Tuesday, this gives you plenty of time to prepare if this event is something you would enjoy doing!

Raffaldini Vineyards in Ronda, NC is hosting a very rare and exclusive event! The opportunity to sample wines from their cellar straight out of the barrel with winemaker Kiley Evans. This intimate, wine-focused event is limited to the first 36 Wine Club members to RSVP. The tickets are $20 and are available to Wine Club Members only. If you are a Wine Club member then you need to contact the Raffaldini Event Planner at 336-835-9463 or email eventplanning@raffaldini.com to RSVP. This exclusive tasting will run from 2-4PM on Saturday, March 17.

Well, that's great and all, but what if I'm not a Wine Club member? Well, sorry to say you missed out on this event, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on future events. Not only does Raffaldini Vineyards already give value to their name; beautiful location, top-notch service, friendly and engaging owners and operators (all this is free which they give you automatically, customer or not!) but once you're a member of the Wine Club, your self value really increases because you are now one of the elite! Access to exclusive events, an invitation to their quarterly Four Seasons Wine Tasting Dinner, recipes, discounts, and oh yeah . . . THE WINE! Like to know more on how to proceed? Want your questions answered? Follow the path, my friend! ----> Raffaldini Wine Club.

Even if that's not what you really have an interest in, there's still plenty to enjoy! The sights, the sounds, and the smells are truly an assault to the senses. I personally have never been to the rural parts of Italy (I haven't been to Italy at all, rural or not!), but this is how I imagine it to be, and for those who have been to Italy or LIVED in Italy, I have heard responses of, "It was coming home again".

Do yourself a favor, instead of being bored or watching reruns of House or Law and Order, go and embrace some culture! You'll feel better if you do, and you'll be smarter than your friends (unless they decide to come with you, then they are smart as well!).

Want to know more? Want to find Raffaldini Vineyards?

Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery, LLC.
450 Groce Road
Ronda, NC 28670

Telephone: 336.835.9463
Raffaldini.com

NOTE: Raffaldini Vineyards in closed every TUESDAY! Also, their hours of operations are from 11AM-5PM (except on Sunday, it's 12PM-5PM)

Fresh Air: Leprechaun Leap 5K

Fresh Air: Leprechaun Leap 5K
by Wendy Harmon on March 12 2012 (7:30PM)

This upcoming Saturday; March 17, the Leprechaun Leap 5K will take place on the City of Lenoir Greenway. The race will start and finish at the Lenoir Aquatic and Fitness Center. The running start time will begin at 9AM (Registration will begin at 7:30AM and cut off registration for the run is 8:30AM.) The entry fee (which is non-refundable is $20)

If you'd like more information you can contact:
Anna Coleman
P.O. Box 958
Lenoir, NC 28645
phone:(828)757-2196
email: acoleman@ci.lenoir.nc.us.

Also the Registration Form (PDF) can be found here---> Leprechaun Leap 5K, Registration Form

Entertainment: Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase

Entertainment: Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase
by Wendy Harmon on March 9th 2012 (9:40AM EST)

Posting this article on Entertainment today on Friday, but for future reference the Entertainment articles will be posted on Tuesday. This will give you plenty of time to plan or purchase tickets if you see something posted here that catches your interest.

Showcasing at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir, the Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase is entering it's 14th year of presentation. For the last 13 years the Broyhill Civic Center has hosted this event to the delight of locals and musical patrons far and wide across the Carolinas. The civic center brings together some of our areas most talented musicians and singer/songwriters for an evening of homegrown entertainment! This is a wonderful event to attend in helping support local theaters and entertainers!

In fact, for the 14th year appearing at this Saturdays concert a community favorite will be performing, Strictly Clean and Decent. Strictly Clean and Decent is an acoustic trio which features Patrick Crouch, Ron Shuffler, and Kay Crouch whose blend of brilliant vocal harmonies tops a solid instrumental foundation. They are dedicated to performing a variety of musical styles in an acoustic setting. This group is so popular that since 1989 they have performed in Ireland 8 times! So if you're preparing for St. Patrick's Day which is next Saturday on the 17th, you might want to get your folk grove going on with this group this weekend!

______________________________________________

Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase

Dates: 3/10/2012 to 3/10/2012 (ONE NIGHT ONLY!)

Single Price tickets start at $12.00

Box Office: 828-726-2407

Venue Address: PO Box 600
1913 Hickory Blvd. SE
Lenoir, NC 28645

What's Up With That?: What happened to customer service?

What's Up With That?: What happened to customer service?
by Wendy Harmon on March 8th 2012 (10:11AM EST)

Every Thursday NWNC Today brings you What's Up With That?, an insightful look into what's happening around us; socially, psychologically, and mentally. How are things in today's society affecting the way we think, work, play and/or conduct business.

Today we're going to be discussing customer service, or the lack there of (as demonstrated in the photo above). You probably hear your parents or grandparents talk about this a lot (or you yourself may recall), when customer service was a common occurrence and not a passing phase. I can remember when I would be with my grandparents and they would stop at the local Sunoco gas station on Bridge Street in Elkin. Not only would an attendant come out to greet you (no matter the weather) and put gas in your car, he would also wash your windows, check the air pressure in your tires and check your fluid levels. Today I'm lucky if I can get the outside machine to read my card or when I do go inside have the cashier actually look me in the eye without her rolling them (you know, how dare I interrupt her while she's texting her friends while on the job!). These events seem like they happened on different worlds, not the same county in a span of less than 30 years! I truly wish I could state that this is an isolated incident, but the truth of the matter is it happens everyday all around us. There's a lack of respect for each other that is growing day by day. Who's to blame? Technology, big business, employers, employees, that guy that cut you off in traffic, or society as a whole? Honestly, who's to say 100% what the correct answer is, even if there is one! But, the truth of the matter is that each one of us as an individual is part of the problem and a part of the solution!

Remember my previous article on Responsibility with the fool, the wise man, and the brilliant man? I hope you do since it was posted the day before ;) Again, we need to take responsibility. If you don't take it then your only adding to the problem that we all dislike very much. With an attitude of, "It's not my problem.", "That's above my pay grade.", or "Well, that's just the way things are done now." I call BS! Attitudes and views like this are what is compounding the problem! To fix the problem take responsibility and fix your attitude. Whether it's your problem or not, fix it! Even if you can not fix the problem wholly (I can understand management issues) at least get the ball rolling so it can be fixed! Don't think something is being done to the best of its abilities, speak up! Things will stay the same if you remain quiet. Silence gives consent. If you're tired of the status quot it's up to you to change it. Here's a news flash, businesses need YOU! If the business (no matter how big or small) lacks on customer service and it makes you unhappy, then stop giving them your business. If they're belittling your value, why do you increase theirs? No business can run without customers, and without customers there is no income, no income means no need for employees, and finally complete failure of a business.

So, if you've ever been one of those people who thought, "That's above my pay grade" or "It's not my problem", it better become YOUR problem, because the individual (customer) whom you've just ticked off is truly who controls your paycheck!

Witty Bits: Wise or Brilliant

Witty Bits: Wise or Brilliant
by Wendy Harmon on March 7th 2012 (10:26AM EST)

"The difference between a fool and a wise man is that a fool goes and does something blindly. A wise man knows it's a bad idea, but does it because he has to. A brilliant man finds a way to make it into a good idea."

In the statement above I give you the option of three choices. The fool, the wise, and the brilliant. Most of us know why the fool is a fool, he (or she) jumps in without thinking and blindly charges in. Perhaps they are fueled by their emotions (which can be a good and powerful thing) or perhaps they were fueled by pride or ego (isn't that part of your emotions? I suppose technically, but lets keep it separate for now). We've all seen the fool; perhaps even in ourselves, as they are in that "go get'em" attitude but for several of the wrong reasons. If the entire time you're trying to achieve your goal and you're constantly saying to yourself; "Call ME an idiot will you! You said I didn't do my best, I'll show you!", at first this seems like proper motivation, but is it really? True, proving self-worth is very important especially to yourself because if you don't put value in yourself who will do so likewise. Ah ha! The first mistake of the fool! He is not proving his self-worth or value to himself, but his perceived value toward the individual who damaged his pride and bruised his ego. If you're entirely fueled by the sole desire to prove one individual wrong who said something that hurt you, you're either going to run out of steam quickly, or be fighting an uphill battle for a LONG time.

So, the wise man KNOWS it's a bad idea, but does it because he has to. Well, isn't he going to do the same thing? If he's truly a wise man than, no. Let's put our wise man in the same situation as our fool. He was called an idiot and was told that he did not do his best. Obviously someone who is influential in his life has some persuasion over him (be it a boss or manager or father figure). Yet again it may flare the temper of our wise man, but hopefully only enough to get him to think, "Why would I be told such a thing?" Our wise man might be fueled by his emotions as well in order to perform or achieve better, but since he is a wise man he will do something the fool did not. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!!! He is responsible for how he performed, how he acted, and how he handled the situation. No one else, the entire responsibility is on him! Now, with this step included with our wise man unlike or fool, even if he goes about with a somewhat similar mind set of "I'll prove you wrong." He has a much higher chance of success because he will be evaluating himself, not the world and circumstances around him.

Finally, we come to our third individual, the brilliant man. He in a sense is the twin brother to the wise man but has taken his awareness one step beyond. Not only has he admitted responsibility and has taken it, he has also challenged himself to increase his value. He stays positive, focused, and takes a bad idea and turns it into a good idea! He knows that life is a balance, a yin-and-yang, a darkness to the light, so when he is presented with the darkness, he goes in search of the light. It's there; it always has been, sometimes it takes some spelunking to find it. Thomas Edison once stated, "I did not fail 5,000 times in making the light bulb, I FOUND 5,000 ways NOT to make a light bulb!" He took responsibility, admitted that it was all on him but in reverse took a negative and turned it into a positive.

My challenge to you for today, and tomorrow, and next week, and . . . well you get the idea . . . Is to start taking responsibility and instead of viewing or stating things negatively, look for the light side and start thinking positively. I can assure you you'll be a happier person in the long run and will succeed more often!

Fresh Air: Local Community Marches On

Fresh Air: Local Community Marches On
by Wendy Harmon on March 6th 2012 (9:30PM EST)

To see Barry Williams around town in Wilkesboro you might not even take a second glance. This linebacker coach at Wilkes Central High School is modest and humble and considers himself a shy country boy and lucky, despite the fact that he's battling cancer. Wait . . . Did I just call him lucky and he has cancer? Yes I did, because that's what he said. In a one-on-one interview on WXII12 Williams told the reporter that an average lifespan for being diagnosed in stage 3 of esophageal cancer is 11 months and yet he's still here. Does he feel sorry for himself? No! He gets up every morning, showers, puts his clothes on like many other men in Wilkes County, and goes about his day, doing as much as he can.

Barry is no stranger to cancer, in fact he was only 13 years old when he was introduced to his nemesis. At this point in time of his life it was Burkitt's lymphoma, but chemo treatments helped to get him healthy. Everything was going great for him until 2010 when he found himself standing toe-to-toe with cancer once again. This time it was with esophageal cancer. Each day Coach Williams fights on, pushing forward and pushing down the barriers that this sickness tries to impede upon him. Luckily for this well loved coach he's not alone!

On March 4 2012, The March 4 Barry took place at Wilkes Central High School. "Around 800 people showed up raising over $20,000.00!"; Darren Pierce, founder of the event stated. It was an uplifting experience, even the pep band was present and cheers of "Go Barry, beat the cancer!" could be heard echoing in the cold air as walkers made their way around the Wilkes Central track. All of the money raised from this event (as well as future events) will be used for Coach Williams' medical expenses.

Even though the march is over there is still plenty of opportunities to help out. If you're interested in knowing more check out the website in Barrys' honor March4Barry.org