Another Side…

 
Columbus Knew a Thing or Two About Tenacity
 Some lessons transcend time “If Columbus had turned back, no one would have blamed him. Of course, no one would have remembered him either. Finish what you start.” That quote appeared below the signature of a sales executive in a recent email, so I can’t take credit. I can take advice, however, and in this economy and political season, it is sage...
Why the US Beef Ban in Japan and China? Blame the World Order
 COLORADO—If you were Japan or China, would you rather take your chances with mad cow disease, or meltdown and arguably the worst air pollution in the world? The two U.S. senators from this state, Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, know the answer. That’s why both have urged the U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk...



Cash and Cart Thieves Prove Stupidity Knows No Boundaries
 Up NORTH, Down SOUTH—Theft has no boundaries, and though the venues vary, the absence of common sense does not, either. In East Providence, R.I., a man chooses to target restaurants and becomes a star on ­surveillance cameras. Over the course of seven weeks, a Mr. Person (not an alias, his real name) made his way through the back door of four...
Sunflower, Show-Me States Celebrate Native Sons
 KANSAS/MISSOURI—Last month two favorite sons from these neighboring states were honored: One whose likeness is on the latest U.S. postal stamp, the other who has made an indelible stamp on the political landscape of America. Bob Dole, never one for glitz or fanfare but a wit as quick as a pen stroke, is as much of the ­fabric of small-town America...



Whether New York or New Orleans, More Grocery Choices Welcome
 Up NORTH, Down SOUTH—There is a tale of two cities in need, one looking for a special kind of grocer, the other looking for, well, any kind, please. In Colonie, N.Y., near Albany, the buzz at the corner of Wolf and Sand Creek roads is: Will it be Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods? Tom Burke, developer of the three-acre lot, would neither confirm...
Government on All Levels Add Burdens to Business
 ON THE BORDER—With both the White House and FMI addressing the quest to erase “food deserts” around our country, there has been substantial press on the subject. The reference is to rural, or even urban areas, where there is an insufficient supply of supermarkets or grocers to serve the community with healthy, nutritious food. A noble cause,...



No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service. Guns OK
 OHIO—Come late summer, your potato skins may not be the only thing loaded when ordering at Applebee’s or any other restaurant. Likewise, when you pull your car into a space at your favorite supermarket, “Mother Teresa” might be by your side. This state was on the verge of enacting a law that many other states already have, or have proposed:...
Homeless Man Stays Afloat With His Trusty Canine
 No city in America has a monopoly on the homeless, but Seattle has one of the most unique. Although his name and “address” were identified in the local newspaper, we will call him Thirteen Moons and his dog Waverley, for his dog is indeed his best friend. A wolf and husky mix, the canine doesn’t really know that he is homeless, just that he is loved. What...



FMI’s Future Connect a Sound Investment in Your Company’s Future
It’s time to reconnect with the future. Sounds like yet another sequel to Michael J. Fox’s classic movie “Back to the Future,”...
Another Side: 4+1=48
 Numbers which don’t add up? They do if you are using Shelby math. While some periodicals have been subtracting, we have been adding. Since the first Southeast issue (1967) to the Southwest (1976), we have added The Shelby Report of the West (2008), The Shelby Report of the Midwest (2009), and now The Shelby Report of the Northeast (2011). Equally...