Choosing a beverage can be a complicated decision.  In this economy, every decision is complicated!  You need to squeeze every benefit you can from every penny you spend.  This got me thinking about what is in my fridge to drink.  Really it was based on a comment that was made earlier in the week about not having enough milk on hand.  I countered the complaint with “milk is too expensive!”.

I am a firm believer that food = fuel, and that health care starts in my own kitchen and in what we put in our mouths.

Unfortunately, as firmly as I believe that, I am like everyone else who succumbs to packaged foods and fast meals, and I have for years.

Something got me thinking about that this morning.  I was trying to figure out WHY I was always giving in…and I realized that it was just EASY. Too easy, in fact.

Growing up as a kid, my parents worked every day and Saturday was our ‘chores day’.  We ate out occasionally – and by that I mean once or twice a month.  There was no McDonalds in my home town (circa 1960- 1973).  The only “fast food” were a few burger joints in the 15 mile radius that actually cooked REAL meat on a grill. Stopping at a place like that was a major treat – usually reserved for a summer night, after one of my little brother’s “away” baseball games.  Otherwise, we only went out for a “fancy” dinner on Easter Sunday.  I didn’t know how lucky I really had it back then.

That is what got me thinking this morning.  I have fallen prey to buying a couple 2-litre bottles of soda when I shop (usually amounting to 4 a week) as an alternate beverage to the standard glass of water in our house.  It seemed cheaper than, say, an extra gallon of milk.

Today, I decided  to really VERIFY that was true.  So, while making a speedy run to the store this morning, I first checked out the prices of other things I tend to buy for my family to drink other than the water I push continously with each meal.

The soda aisle:  my experiment today proves that this aisle can, single-handedly, rob us blind – both financially over time, and nutritionally.

What I discovered this morning at my favorite store was:

2 litre bottles of soda today were priced at $1.79 (brand named).

Milk was priced at $3.19 a gallon.

I don’t know about your family, but if I am going to buy soda, I want the name brand.  If I want Coke, then “cola” will not do. $1.79 for a 2-litre bottle seems like highway robbery to me for a bottle of water and sugar mixed with chemicals.

One 2-litre bottle of soda = approximately 2 quarts.

Thus, two 2-litre bottles of soda = a little over a gallon.

$1.79 per 2-litre of soda x 2 bottles = $3.58

I gallon of milk = $3.19

Value for my dollar:  Sugar and water with zero nutrients  vs. calcium and protien and lots of nutrients?    NO CONTEST!

From now on, if we crave a soda, we will have to go buy one from the $1 menu and enjoy it like fine champagne. My house will no longer include soda and my  family is getting milk, water, real fruit juice (I squeeze myself) or ice tea (I brew myself)  for their choice.  Yeah, it takes work on my part, but then so does scheduling dental and doctors visits and driving to them!

Hey Pete – YOU WIN!

Next up:  COMPLETE elimination of “packaged foods” from my house.  THIS should be interesting – and it seems a daunting task, so check back with me the next 6 successive Fridays!

Google’s new Street View Snowmobile!

Just in time for the 2010 Olympics, Google announces their Street View Snowmobile.  I love this idea!  So many years I’ve wished for a more “community-centric” view of the Olympics – more visuals of the snowy peaks and the villages.

This year, we will be able to become even more immersed in the Winter Olympics than in years past!  All the thanks goes to Google’s newest addition to Street View – the Snowmobile!

This is such a great idea, it makes me wonder if they are working to retrofit a BOB with video equipment for the Summer Olympics!

That, too, would be a new perspective!

The BOB - a personal submarine!

Located throughout the United States – no restrictions – food stamps accepted. Restaurant Quality Food!!

Click the banner to ORDER & PAY ON OR BEFORE 2/18/10 for pick up at end of Feb. Buy online or in person, pick up locations throughout the U.S.

Economic hardship has impacted every facet of life – and that is also true for law firms (yes, I know you find that hard to believe, but they are experiencing layoffs as well).  One law firm has stepped up, listened to their clients, and answered a need clients were complaining about.

I read an impressive story that will be published in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s latest edition. Foley and Lardner, LLP, raised the bar in client satisfaction, and erased the biggest fear of anyone who is thinking of hiring a lawyer.

That fear is about receiving a bill for more than they expected in legal fees.

Its a universal problem – people don’t hire lawyers even when they should, because they do not believe they can afford to.  It’s not just the initial retainer, it’s the fear that once the attorney is retained for a matter, the bill becomes an unknown quantity – a day to day worry that they may have a second legal issue to deal with when they can’t afford to pay their lawyer.

Foley and Lardner, LLP get an A+ in client care, because they LISTENED to their clients, and answered their concern.

In fact, they may create a World Wide Rave as defined by David Meerman Scott in his book of that title.  They gave up control to the client – Rule 3 of the Rave!!   When it comes to billing and budgeting of legal matters, they have successfully taken away the fear of  that big ulgy surprise when their clients open the envelope containing their legal bill every month.

In response to client concerns (this is a concern of ANYONE who hires a lawer for ANY legal matter),  they developed a proprietary software system, part of which allows clients of all 1000 of the lawyers in the firm to interactively share real-time billing information and keep their legal matter on a budget.  Clients can go online anytime and see trending in the billable hours by their lawyer,  and make contact to discuss options for their case BEFORE they go over budget and have yet another legal matter to deal with.

The full story was reported in the Wall Street Journal on Jan 5, 2010.

To be honest, this system does more than just allow the client to manage their legal bills and budget, and that is why it cost $1 Million to put in place.  However, this is a true investment in the firm.  It serves as a management tool, as a client communication tool and as a marketing tool to attract new business!

Smaller firms will say they can’t afford $1Million investment to do the same thing.  They don’t have to.  Small firms can do the same thing, very easily, using much simpler tools.  The real question has always been:  will they come out from behind the curtain on fees and allow the client control?  Will they allow the client to speak honestly and hold them to a budget the client can afford?  If they are smart, they surely will do that – and reap the rewards of (a) honest communications with their clients; and (b) growth of their law practices.

The bar has been raised – let’s see if a precedent in billing practices has now been set,  and which lawyers and law firms creatively  rise to the occasion!