tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post8343176216895144285..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-68778252898521839492009-03-26T11:01:00.000-05:002009-03-26T11:01:00.000-05:00Was Shella on that junket? I would like to know who from Channel 8 went.M Theoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01892309818226431745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-42606626591982977182009-03-26T10:33:00.000-05:002009-03-26T10:33:00.000-05:00Nope - probably not fakes. Just a sign that shiny, sparkly things can still be used to make people feel important. It kinda makes you feel sorry for them, in a backwards sorta way. <BR/><BR/>"Look at me - I used to be special. Now I'm VERY special"<BR/><BR/>FYI - I have no problem with a company who rewards sponsors, promoters, or other types of supporters and business partners. I even like a few shiny, sparkly things. Make mine the onyx face Movado with the diamond 12 - in platinum or white gold please. Nice but not stupid rediculous.<BR/><BR/>Where I have a problem is when the organization uses that forum in order to buy cheap media and political influence. Face it - 4 days at a 2nd rate joint in Cancun costs less than $2,000 per couple - including airfare. <BR/><BR/>But my biggest beef is that after funding this trip they turn around and tell us that they need millions of public dollars. They can't have it both ways. If you can afford to reward supporters and media with shiny, sparkly things and 2nd rate all-inclusives, you don't NEED extra money. You WANT it. <BR/><BR/>But then again, maybe I'm looking at this all wrong. 'Maybe' the 2nd rate activities of the Simons are signs that we should actually be feeling sorry for them and we should part with some of our earnings so that they can do things right the next time. Maybe a private chartered yacht for a couple of days, followed by a night or two at a seclude spot in St. Kitts - somewhere that's not defined by college kids guzzling tequila and margarita mix in a simultaneous pour while bent backwards over their chair. Or maybe the Conrad Maldives? I hear the boat ride to the island is great but some folks prefer the sea plane because they can get settled faster.<BR/><BR/>Yeah, maybe they do need more of our money. If the le Blanc is as good as it gets, these folks are hurting. Either that, or it's like I said earlier. They're sitting back for a good laugh afterwards because their pocket change made a few fly-over folks feel "exclusive". I'd vote for the latter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-19625024627208650252009-03-25T23:08:00.000-05:002009-03-25T23:08:00.000-05:00What does that say about the watches and jewelry they supposedly gave their guests. Cubic zirconias? Fake Rolexes?Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-72736602302827530822009-03-25T22:59:00.000-05:002009-03-25T22:59:00.000-05:00Gary - here's the funny part: The le Blanc doesn't come close to several other Cancun all-inclusives. <BR/><BR/>Last month my company paid for over 60 employees to a Cancun resort that makes the le Blanc seem 2nd rate. Each employee could also bring one guest as well. More than 130 people in total. <BR/><BR/>And we weren't trying to bribe anyone or gain influence over officials. Just giving folks part of their annual reward for a job well done. And... the Simons probably gross 100's of times more annual income than my company.<BR/><BR/>So here's the wrap-up: Now we know that Simon bribes local officials with junkets. And the junkets aren't even high end. Trust me on this one. All-inclusives in Cancun are a dime a dozen. They picked a relatively cheap place, got a package deal for a large group, and they bought themselves millions of dollars by sending local officials from a fly-over city on the junket of a lifetime. <BR/><BR/>As nice as it seems to have unlimited top-shelf liquor in the room, it was a chintzy, 2nd rate, snake-oil con job to win over a group of folks who probably wouldn't know that their all-inclusive is dirt cheap in comparison to a weekend at Disney World. Just thinking about it makes me feel dirty.<BR/><BR/>But hey - if local officials are that cheap, why would the Simons pay more? I guess I can't blame them. They probably laugh about it when the returns roll in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-31649696076480967282009-03-24T18:14:00.000-05:002009-03-24T18:14:00.000-05:00Jon, I've asked Ruth to see if her source can divulge names of attendees.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-73939748604962681062009-03-24T17:42:00.000-05:002009-03-24T17:42:00.000-05:00Does anyone have a list of the attendees? It would be enlightening to know whose influence has been bought and paid for by the Simons.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09490253182039581408noreply@blogger.com