sox4lifeinPA

ok, the spreadsheet is ready to go. I just need WilliamTell's starting numbers. (I took everyone Feb 5th starting weight) I have it set up to measure until december, so if people reach their goal before then, that's fine. any questions or want to be added, let me know. good luck!

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 7, 2008 -> 10:29 AM) Is someone really going to cheat? I mean, no prizes are involved, and we're all at different weights with different goals anyway. I wouldn't even bother with anything to "keep everyone honest". Plus my scale is at the gym. I guess I can use my camera-phone, if I can figure out how to email the pictures from it. I'll do whatever. it was just a suggestion. Maybe it's just me, but I don't trust any of you On the biggest loser, they go by % weight loss, not just pure lbs.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Feb 7, 2008 -> 10:33 AM) I've got no problem with that, but I don't see any reason to cheat unless I missed the fact that the winner gets $100k! maybe they will...

ok, I was just suggesting a saturday night cap to the list of people I'll be tracking...but I suppose people can join as they want. They'll need to PM so I can put them on my spreadsheet. I thought about it this morning, and I think if everyone can take a picture of their scale to start us off and then weekly pictures to keep everyone honest. Is that too hard for folks? if so, maybe we can just do a honesty policy on a weekly basis, but do pics at one month, 3 months and/or 6 months. thoughts?

QUOTE(Shadows @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 10:54 PM) Not a bad idea, is there gonna be deadlines or is it pretty much do whatever saturday midnight? NS, belly shots might be funny. good idea

like wild fire.... awesome guys. I will set up the spread sheet tomorrow and like I said, it'd be cool if we had before and after photos (no nudes, even "tasteful" ones, Jims)

QUOTE(Iwritecode @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 02:50 PM) I had one buyer that won the auction and then absolutely refused to answer a single email I sent him. I ended up reporting him to Ebay and he didn't respond to them either. Finally Ebay agreed to drop the costs from the auction and let me re-sell it. I left him negative feedback and only THEN did he finally respond and left me negative feedback as well. He tried to claim that he'd sent out 2 checks and that I was trying to scam him. He's no longer a member so the feedback is gone. That is one change that Ebay is making that I like. that is good.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 02:42 PM) I do not believe that having a "Royal" last name is a qualification for office. If anything, 8 years ago should have taught us to reject any and all candidates looking to capitalize on the name of immediate family. It's unfortunate that much of the country does not feel this way. Name recognition, more than any other single factor, is the key to winning an election in this country. You have to appeal to the masses, the LCD, the people who think that "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" is great show with tough questions. And yes, I vote against the grain whenever possible. I vote against every judge in local elections. I vote against incumbents unless I really (and I mean really) agree with their policy and voting record. I voted for my incumbent congresswoman and Senator yesterday, which was the first time I've ever voted for than one incumbent. So, yeah I pretty much hate Hillary. I hated when she handpicked New York as her new home when they first started mapping out a 2008 path to the White House. I hate that there are many woman in my life, woman I consider smart informed citizens, who (presumably) voted for Hillary yesterday not on policy but on sisterhood. omg...I agree with The Cheat. Satan needs a scarf and mittens.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 02:34 PM) Seriously PA, of the pictures you have posted, you look nowhere near 300. Pards, around these parts, we call that sandbagging . . . you callin' me a liar? I'm 6'3" and have a football/baseball player frame. Honestly, my goal of 225 would mean I either lost my legs or should be playing AA ball. We definitely need to include before and after pictures for proof.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 01:59 PM) I have a "big ass" meeting I have to go to. But I will chime in and be nice and actually give reasons without the hyperbole later. is that like Alcoholics Anonymous? you can always join the Soxtalk's Biggest Loser club

I'll be the nerd that works the weekly/monthly spreadsheet to track percentages, etc. I just need to know everyone that is isnvolved... my list so far: PA Middle Buffalo Texsox FlasoxxJim Northsider72 Steve9347 Bigruss22 anyone else?

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 12:42 PM) He's from Chicago...so rock on dude! he's probably a cub fan...he looks like it.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 12:26 PM) This is an interesting issue. More and more, employees' tenures with each of their employers is becoming shorter and shorter. The average person holds many more different positions now than he/she did 10 years ago, 20 years ago, etc. And that's not because they decide to move on to better opportunities, but because so many more companies are cutting jobs, going bankrupt, shifting positions overseas, etc,etc. The job market has become increasingly unstable for the average person. Employer loyalty is absolutely not where it once was. Older workers are now phased out for younger, cheaper workers. Employers now ask employees to move to other locations much more so than before. Thus, it has become increasingly necessary for employees to keep their eyes open for other opportunities. Shouldn't they be allowed to do so to protect themselves? Should employers be able to punish employees who look for better opportunities, despite the fact that employer loyalty basically is a dying concept? I think it depends upon the sector of industry you're talking about. The banking industry is vastly understaffed...then again, it depends upon which institution you look at. I think you're just looking at one side of it. From my standpoint as a manager, I see employee loyalty as all but completely gone. In fact, my bank is working on employee retention plans (i.e. employer loyalty). We offer some great packages and are working towards really creating careers for people if they want them...if they stay loyal to us.

QUOTE(Brian @ Feb 4, 2008 -> 09:42 PM) Evan should win it all barring injury. so he gets to become a gladiator when he wins???? his nickname should be graphite.

QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 11:51 AM) Evan isnt freaking human. He's a machine! and he's a tool. how ironic.

my count is running from last year, so I guess I can change that to match a fresh start with you guys. start a sub category, that'd be great.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 11:03 AM) The system is flawed and since most people are so afraid of a negative feedback, it holds everyone in check and we get this worthless system. Then add to the system, you silly billion dollar company, don't take away from it. I understand your side and I know that less than 100% positive feedback hasn't hindered me, but it's the principle.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 10:31 AM) As a seller I always refund whenever someone asks. So I never would have had your problem. Including the person who bought a video game from me, played it for at least a week, then claimed it was defective. Managed to work in two other systems when I got it back. No problem, I re listed, it cost me a couple bucks, but she was happy. I was also as accurate as I could be with why it was negative. my dude never asked for a refund and I was accurate when I said I didn't know if the minidisc player even worked. He spent 5 bucks on something I clearly didn't know about and he was mad when it didn't work. I've eBay'ed over 150 times half and half as seller and buyer. I've only encountered this twice (both as a seller), so it could be a fluke...but I've never had a bad purchasing experience.

you guys can steal the pic from my sig if you want... could be fun to keep organized so we can all track with each other. (great thread btw, Tex)

QUOTE(knightni @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 02:15 AM) Prepare a backup plan, then wait it out. Seems awfully... unpleasant to be reading someone else's private emails, even if you can as the boss. he said it was company email...so it's not a private email.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 09:42 AM) The system doesn't work perfectly as it was. As a seller, I always gave immediate feedback as soon as the buyer paid for the product. As a buyer, as soon as I received the product and was happy with it. One thing that is not reflected in the system are the sellers with 20,000+ transactions, they are running a business like any other and should offer a higher level of service then someone like PA. If I'm unhappy with an item after I receive it, you're damn right I will speak up. I bought a 8 port USB hub that was crap from a seller. The case would not stay shut, and had compatibility issues with HP printers and Western Digital external drives. It was new in box, unopened, and they were selling hundreds of them each week. They refused to do anything, so I left negative feedback. I also bought some memorabilia that was suppose to be mint, and it had some drawer dirt and a couple smudges. It was a private seller who did not know what we considered "mint" in this hobby. They also refused to do anything and I gave them neutral, allowing for their ignorance in the field. now we're getting somewhere. I knew there was something more to it. We've both had negative experiences from two different sides. eBay is screwing the pooch by lumping me in with bigger businesses. They should perfect the system, not elminate it. Talk about thinking inside the box that's inside another box.

QUOTE(knightni @ Feb 6, 2008 -> 02:21 AM) That's funny. As a seller, I refuse to give feedback first because people rarely leave me any otherwise. I consider feedback given to me as validation of my good business practices. I used to give it automatically until I realized how few feedback I was getting in return. I have like, 900 feedback given while I have only received around 650 back. Two hundred and fifty lazy people out there who never took 5 minutes to complete the feedback area on our transaction; both sellers and buyers have been guilty of this. exactly. Your responsibility as a buyer ANYWHERE goes beyond simply paying on time. If you go to a restaurant you behave because you're in public. If you take a dump on the table, but paid on time, I don't care...you're not geting a positive feedback. You're not coming back to my store and I'll share with other sellers the fact that you're a bum customer. That's the point: COMMUNITY.

do you have an HR dept? You could always say that HR clued you in and you wanted to talk about her about her job satisfaction, mobility, etc. What does she want, how can you as her mgr and/or the company help her achieve those goals. Find out what her "hot button" issues are and press your game from there.

which was nice for a change