BuffettNews.com

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

RinglingRingling wrote:

Key Lime Lee wrote:Never underestimate the resourcefulness of parrotheads.

I believe the plan was to announce that Jimmy was playing a double bill with bin Ladin, and the Parrotheads would find him where the CIA and spy satellites failed.

they should train us and turn us loose..... we have the connections.... the bastard would be in US custody in no time.....

the plastic @sses under grass skirts alone would be confusing enough to most Muslim border guards..

After treating their shareholders and associates to a week of star-studded events that included concerts by Jimmy Buffett, Jessica Simpson, Will Smith and others, Wal-Mart concluded its 2005 shareholder meeting without providing any real answers to their investors or the public.

During the business portion of the meeting, shareholders considered eight resolutions to make the company more transparent and diverse, but with the Walton family and company insiders firmly in control of a majority of shares, these sensible measures were voted down handily.

Instead, the audience was offered a five-hour pep rally that lacked any honest appraisal of the company’s health except from some well-known entertainers like Jon Bon Jovi who gave voice to Wal-Mart’s troubles with a cover of the Beatles classic, “Help” and Garth Brooks who dedicated his song “Friends in Low Places” to Wal-Mart’s associates, who indeed work for a company that takes them to some low places.

The presentations from company executives who were backed up by elaborate light shows, giant flat-screen TVs and choreographed cheers from employees bused and flown in from around the world did little more to shed light on the true state of Wal-Mart’s business practices.

Chairman Rob Walton admitted the company had made errors this past year, including the infamous Nazi ad, but quickly brushed it off as an honest mistake made by “human beings” who inevitably get things wrong on occasion. The audience responded with thunderous applause for Walton’s excuse making which left no doubt these insiders really aren’t sorry about Wal-Mart’s vicious campaign tactics.

CEO Lee Scott paid tribute to the efforts of our group and other Wal-Mart critics in his speech by calling us, “the best financed and most well organized corporate campaign.” He warned employees that we’re watching and, “you better be ready to be better.” Nevertheless, he refused to take any action to reform Wal-Mart’s business practices and instead would continue to focus his efforts on public relations.

While the content of the meeting did not provide any new information for those in attendance, the trip to Northwest Arkansas made a strong impression on us. The enthusiasm and energy of Wal-Mart associates is inspiring. The bond shared between workers and managers from China to the U.S. is real, regardless if the stores operate under a different name like Asda in Great Britain. It is obvious that Wal-Mart is a giant family and this event doubtless did much to strengthen their connection.

At the same time, we were disturbed that genuine efforts to improve working conditions and corporate behavior were met with such derision by Wal-Mart’s senior management. These concerns are real and evident even during a short trip to Wal-Mart’s heartland. Boarded up stores line the highway from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. Abandoned vehicles and run-down trailer homes dot the countryside just a few miles from the world largest corporation, which posted $10 billion in profit last year.

Only a few hours later, life is getting quieter here in Fayetteville, the small college town that hosted the meeting. Tomorrow morning, we plan to visit Bentonville which is normally the center of Wal-Mart’s world. We are eager to see if Wal-Mart’s Home Office will offer us anything more than souvenir Sam Walton trucks made in China.

Anyone interested in joining in our field trip tomorrow should meet up with us at Sodies Restaurant in Downtown Fayetteville.

oldtrougher wrote:I will try to ge the pictures uploaded some time this evening or tomorrow morning.

hey oldtrougher, how 'bout those pictures you promised? you must have some shots with the BGs also. c'mon, it's show and tell time

Here are some pictures I took at the concert. The ones of Jimmy are kind of far away, but you get a closeup of Bon Jovi. The concert was okay. Not going to complain about seeing Jimmy for free. Never been to a Buffett concert and not heard A Pirate Looks at 40. Fayetville was awesome. I had never been there before and had a great time. They had a piano bar on Dixon street that was lots of fun. I was really impressed.

http://community.webshots.com/album/361895294IzqrUT