Sometimes Imitation Isn’t Good Enough

What’s up with all of the pretzel buns? I understand some companies find it difficult to create original blockbuster products, but I believe that companies should first try to create successful new products in-house before they copy the products of other companies.

The saying that “imitation is a form of flattery” is true in certain circumstances, but outright copying in certain circumstances is borderline desperation.

It’s a reasonable strategy to follow a beaten path that’s successful. However, such a strategy is more successful in the tech industry that it is in an industry such as food. Therefore, I think companies that are in industries such as the fast food industry should tread carefully when imitating other companies products.

For instance, Taco Bell was successful in their push of their Doritos Locos Tacos, but no company would be able to completely copy such a product and be successful. Yet, a company could follow their footsteps in a relevant way that’s a success in and of itself.

For instance a fast food restaurant could easily give away flavoring packets in which customers could sprinkle on their french fries. Or they could create buns with a two tiered heal, and a Doritos type disc to place in the middle of such a heal.

 There are a lot of ways that companies can create new products based on successful hits of other companies that will become great products of their own, and I believe that in some cases it’s better to follow a beaten path up to a certain point.

The USPS has taken the phrase “penny-pinching” to a whole different level.

I’ve just recently heard that he had United States Postal Service has decided to raise the standard rate of postage from $.45 to $.64, and with such a move they are giving the term “pennypinching” a whole new meaning.

 

Right before the last two petty increases, I came to wonder why the USPS just didn’t merely raise the standard postage price to an even $.50, because let’s be real about the situation, most people that do light mailings won’t fret about such an increase–especially if they fully understand the financial dilemma that the USPS is currently in.

Now I can see (foresee) gripes coming from those parties that have to sign off a great deal of physical mail, and see how such a move would ruffle the feathers of modern-day Penny answers. But let’s be honest, with the bleak outlook that USPS currently has, it’s inevitable that standard postage is going to reach, if not bypass, that $.50 mark in the near future. Therefore, the extreme Penny answers will have to keep digging into their rainy day fund for those extra pennies every year.

 

In my eyes, a rate of $.50 is fair–since it would give the USPS more money to work with while they’re trying to find adequate solutions for the financial loss is that they continue to take. However, an increase in such a light but relevant magnitude won’t matter much if they fail to adequately invest in creating new sources of positive revenue flow.

 

I pretty much love the USPS–especially since it’s the only avenue that I currently have two package and mail my thoughts and/or feelings. However, I’m pretty sure in the near future even that will change, because no matter if I’m in jail or out of jail within the next decade’s time, I’m pretty sure that a lot of jails will start to allow prisoners to forward their thoughts and/or feelings in some sort of digital way, and I’m almost positive that the USPS won’t be the innovative force to bring such a fact into reality. Therefore, I can foresee the USPS losing another vital source of revenue… I just hope their branded bird can weather the storm, because ruffled feathers and tattered feathers do not carry equal loads.

About this blog…

This blog is about the everyday madness of the prison system here in Delaware, and about my thoughts about prison in general. The name “The Gun Line” is pretty much a new twist on a phrase that was used in the movie life, which featured Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence is convicts, it was a pretty funny comedy, but one of the songs that was featured in it had a significant meaningful undertone… “They gave me life, life…”

 

I remember being incarcerated at the time of a teenager or young adult, doing eight-year sentence for armed robbery at the age of 17. I was house around people doing life and heard the song playing in the background, and I used to wonder how such individuals felt doing so much time – especially hearing such a somber song. I could only remark one comment to myself in my conscious mind: “it couldn’t be me.”

 

About six years later, I found myself in a predicament, facing a life sentence or the death penalty. Most people feel as though a life sentence is the more lenient action, but at times I beg to differ (this agree).

 

Back during the times of that somber song, I remember meeting my brother on my fathers side of the family for the first time, or first face-to-face meeting in jail. At one point we were both Houston the same building, on different tiers, even though he had a death sentence.

 

I remember we used to sit next to each other and talk while we did research at the law library. And one time he talked about his case briefly and the fact that he wants to live until he could die of natural causes… He wanted to live for his mother, his kids, and in a very real sense, for himself. At that point I pray that he would live, not because he was my brother… But because I could see the pain and remorse in his eyes and hear it in his voice. Not all cheaters can be seen or heard, yet, some invisible tears can be felt.

 

Even though I can understand why he wanted to live, I couldn’t relate, because in my mind, at the time, I would’ve rather faced death in the near future then to live an indefinite, inhumane life. Before any trial, I was given a mental health evaluation, and later on the psychologist who evaluated me stated something similar to: “Mr. Walker seems not to realize the significance of the penalty he is facing.” It was on the hand that I would not sell my soul to spare my life. In other words: “the one who fears death also fears life.”

 

I remember at one point thinking the prosecutors and public defenders were pretty much on the same side. The first visit I had from the public defender, he practically dismissed my potential innocence, and told me I should work with the prosecution by using the second unknown suspect as a bargaining chip. Then he seemed surprised when I cursed him out.

 

By the time my trial ended, it seemed as though the defense in many ways butchered my defense, so much so that it took a lot of restraint not to punch out the lead attorney. I knew a guilty verdict was coming. I really knew such was going to come after opening statements. Because the state but one of its best prosecutors against an average public defender.

 

 During the opening statement presentation, it was clear who the better speaker was, and once trial started, it was clear who the best showman was. It’s bad when I (the defendant) new the case was over at the opening bell.

 

Even though I wanted to get on the stand and speak my mind, which would’ve probably gotten me the death penalty, I didn’t, only because my mother talked me out of it. Had it not been for my mother, I would be on death row.

 

Not long ago, a year or so, my brother got his wish… He’s no longer on death row and he’s now doing a life sentence.

 

Sometimes I feel as though a life sentence in the death sentence of its own in many ways, but it’s hard for some people to understand such logic because they can only view death in the light of a person’s physical vital signs diminishing and then flatlining. To the contrary, life and death are more complex than such simplicity.

 

As they say: “everything happens for a reason.” And defends, I’m glad everything lead up to a life sentence instead of a death sentence, because,    had such not occurred, I don’t know how my life would have turned to this point.

 

I’m currently appealing my conviction, and hope that my appeal gets granted, because in every real sense, I was not given a fair trial.

 

No matter the outcome of my appeal process, my goal is to get transferred to a prison system outside of this state, because in all actuality, a lot of the personnel here in this prison system fail to accept and respect one underlining the fact of reality within these walls… “The gunline runs both ways!”

 

Why didn’t you design a beer bottle tops changed?

I’ve witnessed many techniques being deployed at the task of opening a beer bottle from using a bottle opener to the bite and twist method, and thinking about such, I asked myself the following two questions:

 

1)      Why hasn’t anyone made a commercial about the many techniques used to opening a beer bottle? Because at the end of such a commercial that viewers could be asked to submit their prescribed way to such a task.

2)      Why hasn’t anyone invented a better design for a beer bottle cap so it would be easier to open?

This second question came to my mind once I read an article in the Delaware news Journal about an inventor of a grenade shaped bottle opener. Now, don’t get me wrong, I like the product, but it seems to be the same old spin (no pun intended) on a decades old challenge.

 

Now don’t get me wrong, even though I’m not a muscle head (a dedicated weightlifter), nor do I have overly callous or calloused hands, I can put my shirt over a beer bottle Interested off. However, I’ve seen many of people who were difficulties pulling off such a task. And with such people in mind, I ask such a question.

 

I would think it wouldn’t be that hard to come up with a sufficient solution to such an issue, because a bottle cap can only be configured in so many ways, right?

 

At first thought I would think that a pressure but it on top of the bottle cap would work, but then I would have to consider the metadata that use the box and transport such beer bottles. With something mind, another question emerges: “wherein pressure but things/pressure points undersides of the bottle cap work?”

Sorry for the added delay… Here’s what’s new:

Trying to obtain justice for the blatant destruction of my property (drawings, composition books with addresses, to more composition books filled with notes, etc.).

 

I’m trying to follow the proper procedures here in the prison in order to resolve this problem. However I have been down a similar road like this before (which I’ll talk about more in my new blog…), And it normally and edited in. Therefore, I’ve only got two other avenues to pursue in this matter. Filing a lawsuit or inflicting physical harm. Since I’m a humble man, I decided to pursue a lawsuit in small claims court.

 

With such being said, I need to have my artwork (drawings) upraised before I file the lawsuit. Therefore, I need your input on such a matter, because the artwork was created in order to post for you (my followers). So I would appreciate it to the utmost degree if you would make a comment in response to this blog post as to the average price of my drawings. And keep in mind that I don’t currently in my mind had a set price estimate of value, but I can say that in one sentence, they are priceless, because I put my heart and time into each one of them.

 

I also want you to keep in mind that any price you feel to be appropriate invoice will be appreciated, because I don’t claim to be Edvard Much, van Gogh, or Rembrandt… Nor would I want to be. The most important thing is not the price of money that I recoup from the foolish action of the guards, what matters the most is the point that he needs and will be held accountable for its actions.

 

If this matter has to go to court I will keep you updated to any new progress that I make with such a lawsuit, because I’m 90% sure that I’m going to end up filing such.

 

As a thank you for your feedback, I will post some of the drawings I did before I started this blog.

 

As I stated before, I’m starting a new blog that I will update on a more frequent basis than this blog. In such a blog is about my thoughts on prison life in general. He

 

I will talk about the past, present, and future. A lot of it will be about the past, since I’ve been incarcerated for almost 9 years now.

 

I felt the need to start such a blog in order to get my views out, vent, and so forth. I just hope you’ll also sign up to receive notification on the newest host of such a blog, because in many real ways, such a blog will be more entertaining than this one.

 

Even though I’m going to spend more time posting on such a blog, I’m still going to be committed to posting on this current blog. My postings on your will pick up because I gotten myself back together.

 

Thank you for your support and patient… My new blog is: thegunline@wordpress.com

 

Sorry For the Delay In Postings

On the 10th of this month I was moved to a higher security building, due to a higher classification as A result in me having a stinger/burner (a homemade device or boiling water). Such is considered contraband in this prison, even though inmates can purchase products to boil water in other prisons… Go figure.

Once I finally received my property back, several days later, I noticed that the guard that inventory my property threw away all the drawings I worked on over the past couple of months, and a composition book in which I have all of my address in… I hope he gets a lot of prayers on his behalf, because I am a true believer in karma.

With the above being said all be unable to post any more drawings for a while–especially since I can’t possess pencils are other basic art supplies run currently house. However, since I can own a pen and plain paper, I’m going to start practicing with such. And don’t try to figure out a way to use the overly dyed juice or newspaper ad inserts/circulars for color. My main focus right now will be on practicing drawing comic strips… So please have a little patience, and I will start posting art content soon enough.

Now that I got my property back I will start to pull the written content again later this month or early next month. Due to the circumstances of this current move, I decided to also start another blog that will focus on my random thoughts about prison… When I get such a blog together I’ll post about it.

Until next time.

I Appreciate All Comments, And Will Respond To All Questions…

I truly do appreciate all of the comments that have been left in response to my blog articles, and look forward to all future comments.

Furthermore, due to time restraints and so on, I’m unable to send instant responses to questions that are posed… but I will respond to each and every question that comes in. Therefore, if you leave a question in the comment section of my blog pertaining to a posting, et cetera, please have a little patience, and I’ll reply when time permits.