A while ago, I wrote to Pizza Hut, just being goofy for the most part… commenting on how Pizza Hut’s sauce rips through me like… well, have you ever seen a cat with its head stuck in something & it flailing round to try to get it out?  Yeah.  It’s like that.

They wrote back, and the message from Mr. Kronenwetter actually raised a little concern for me.  I noticed that some of their foods may contain shellfish allergens, although there is no shellfish to be found on the menu.  If you’ve read the background on my shellfish allergy, you’d know that it freaked me out a little.  I say just a little becuase I’ve eaten there without any allergy-related problems (that I know of)…  so far.

I don’t have a response yet, but I thought I’d share my most recent email to them…

from ERiC AiXeLsyD
to Dave Kronenwetter
cc Ed Holt
date Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 2:17 PM
subject Re: Pizza Hut Incident Eric Aixelsyd
mailed-by gmail.com

Thank you Mr. Kronenwetter,

You are, as of yet, the only representative from Pizza Hut or Yum! Brands that has answered my original query.  I applaud your dedication to service and customer satisfaction.  I used the contact form on the website, and acquired some email addresses from around the web when I discovered that was to no avail.

I am interested in the linked allergen information though.  I do have a severe shellfish allergy, and it concerns me that items with an “•” are notated with the ominous “products are prepared in common equipment and therefore may contain allergen” warning.

More interesting to me are the items marked…

• SAUCES; All-Natural Pizza Sauce, All-Natural Sweet Pizza Sauce, All-Natural Old World Pizza Sauce
• TUSCANI PASTAS; Lasagna, Chicken Alfredo, Meaty Marinara
• APPETIZERS Served with dipping sauce; Breadsticks
• WS Bone Out Wings; Garlic Parmesan
• WS Crispy Bone In Wings; Garlic Parmesan
• WS Traditional Wings; Garlic Parmesan

I see from the menu & nutritional info available online that there’s no shellfish available to order, so the “prepared in common equipment” line really really confuses me.  Am I to assume that the common equipment is in the manufacturing/processing/

canning facility with the sauce?

Are the breadsticks & garlic Parmesan wings listed simply because they’re served with the sauce?  Are the wings breaded alongside shrimp at the factory?  Are the breadsticks marinated in butter beside lobster at the processing plant?

Are the pastas listed simply because they contain the sauce?  But then, there’s the Alfredo… which is a wholly different kind of sauce.  Are the noodles the culprit?  I must say that the whole thing has me befuddled.

Basically, you’re telling me that if I’m allergic to shellfish… I might want to avoid everything that contains pizza sauce …from a place called Pizza Hut?

Also, the text from the bottom may require a little clarification…

The allergen information displayed on this site is based on standard product formulations and is current as of March 2009. Variations may occur due to differences in suppliers, ingredient substitutions, recipe revisions, and/or product production at the restaurant.

Anchovies (Fish) are offered in many Pizza Hut restaurants. Shrimp (Shellfish) is offered in a very limited number of Pizza Hut restaurants. Customers with concerns should contact their restaurant directly to determine if these ingredients are handled in the restaurant.

Huh?  How is one to be made aware if there are different circumstances regarding  suppliers, ingredient substitutions, revisions, or product production?  I’ve never had a hostess seat me, list the specials, then divulge any information about new suppliers, possible substitutions, or about new preparation methods.  I’ve never seen it written on a dry-erase board inside the door, or in a menu insert.  How am I supposed to be sure that Pizza Hut isn’t going to inadvertently send me into Anaphylactic shock?

Does the second line about shrimp make all the above listed possible concerns no longer a concern… or is that in addition to already existing concerns?

Please, don’t take my questions as lashing out at you personally, but really… can you understand the frustration I have at learning of these menacing shellfish issues?  Certainly you can appreciate the humor of having to go to Pizza Hut only to avoid pizza sauce?  Perhaps the allergen information page needs updated and clarified?

I realize that I am sending a lot of questions your way at once.  I would like to thank you in advance for your time and I hope that you will give all of my concerns some serious contemplation, and perhaps pass it on to others at Pizza Hut or Yum! Brands for their additional input.

According to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Alliance website, “Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from food allergy. Food-induced anaphylaxis is believed to cause 50,000 emergency room visits and about 150 deaths annually.”  I really don’t want to be one of those 150, or even one of the 50,000 any time soon… but I would like to be able to enjoy some fantastic pizza (without the aforementioned disastrous after-effects).

I look forward to your thoughts!

Inquisitively,
-Eric
world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com

I really hope to get an actual response with some clarification.  It is worded/displayed in a goofy manner, don’t you think?

]]> http://eideard.wordpress.com/2010/02/06/shackleton%e2%80%99s-whisky-a-treasure-trove-in-antarctica/ Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:00:45 +0000 eideard http://eideard.wordpress.com/2010/02/06/shackleton%e2%80%99s-whisky-a-treasure-trove-in-antarctica/ http://thesightlesssentinel.wordpress.com/2010/02/06/the-prisoner/ Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:51:41 +0000 THe SIGHTLESS SENTINEL http://thesightlesssentinel.wordpress.com/2010/02/06/the-prisoner/

“DURANCE VILE” Photographic print – Courtesy of the FANTOM FACTION

Masyarakat Arfak, Kamis (4/2/2010), mengikuti pawai budaya dalam memeriahkan Hari Pekabaran Injil ke-155 di Manokwari Papua Barat.

MANOKWARI- Suasana toleransi kental terasa saat rombongan Majelis Muslim Papua melintas di sela-sela pawai budaya, Kamis (4/2) sore ini WIT, untuk memeringati HUT ke-155 Hari Pekabaran Injil di Tanah Papua. Peringatan dipusatkan di Manokwari, Papua Barat.

Tak hanya melintas, sekitar 20 orang wanita berjilbab menari-nari dengan sapu tangan putih di tangan. Mereka disambut meriah pula oleh puluhan ribu warga Manokwari yang berjajar di sepanjang jalan dari Sanggeng hingga Kwawi.

Selain Majelis Muslim Papua, masih ada puluhan tim peserta lain yang turut menyemarakkan pawai ini. Sepanjang lima kilometer jalan yang dilalui, peserta menari-nari, ada juga yang menabuh tambur diiringi seruling tanpa lelah.

Sementara, masyarakat Pegunungan Tengah turut berpartisipasi dengan menampilkan tari-tarian perang, lengkap dengan pakaian adat. Lelaki memakai koteka (holim) dan wanita hanya bertelanjang dada. Dengan tubuh yang hitam oleh jelaga dan tangan menggenggam busur panah dan sege (tombak), pemuda-pemuda Wamena itu berlarian secara liar. Alhasil, anak-anak pun berlarian ketakutan, panik.

Namun, itu bukanlah bermaksud menyerang secara sungguh. Mereka hanya menceritakan kehidupan tradisi lama yang gemar berperang antarsuku. Hingga kini, pawai masih berlangsung. Tim-tim dari Raja Ampat masih menunjukkan kekompakan dan kerancakan bermain seruling tambur.

Sementara, tuan rumah Manokwari memperagakan tari-tarian khas suku Arfak. Kerukunan Batak serta kerukunan warga lain pun tak mau ketinggalan. Kegiatan tahunan ini, kini terasa semarak. Dipastikan, Gubernur Papua Barnabas Suebu, Pangdam Cenderawasih Mayjen Hotma Marbun, Kepala Kejaksaan Tinggi Papua Palty Simanjuntak, hadir dalam hari raya warga di Papua ini.

sumber : regional.kompas.com

Tim peserta pawai seruling tambur, Rabu (3/2/2010) sore, menunjukkan atraksinya di Manokwari dalam rangka HUT Pekabaran Injil di Tanah Papua ke-155.

MANOKWARI — Peringatan Hari Ulang Tahun Pekabaran Injil ke-145 di Tanah Papua disemarakkan dengan berbagai kegiatan yang diikuti hampir seluruh jemaat gereja dari berbagai kabupaten/kota di Provinsi Papua dan Papua Barat.

Puncak perayaan akan berlangsung pada 5 Februari mendatang di Pulau Mansinam Manokwari, tempat penginjil Ottow dan Geissler memulai pekabaran injil di Tanah Papua pada 1855. Sebanyak 45 grup seruling bambu dari kabupaten/kota, Rabu (3/2/2010), berunjuk gigi dengan berpawai sambil mengalunkan lagu-lagu rohani dari perempatan Bank Mandiri hingga Gereja Kwawi di Manokwari.

Selama perjalanan 5 km itu, alunan musik dari seruling dan tambur bertalu-talu membuat pengunjung berdecak kagum. Warga Manokwari berdiri di sepanjang jalan yang dilalui sambil membawa anak-anaknya.

Kabupaten Raja Ampat tampak menurunkan seluruh pemusiknya yang diwakili berbagai klasis. Lebih dari tujuh grup dari Kabupaten Bahari itu tampil all out berarak sambil bergoyang rancak. Sementara itu, Kabupaten Biak Numfor tampil lebih tradisional dengan mengenakan pakaian dari daun rumbia.

Pawai ini diperlombakan panitia HUT PI dan akan diumumkan pemenangnya pada 5 Februari saat puncak perayaan. Selain lomba seruling tambur, kemarin panitia juga menggelar lomba perahu dayung dan perahu naga. Esok, akan kembali digelar lomba pawai budaya yang juga diikuti berbagai suku di Papua.

sumber : regional.kompas.com

I’ve been thinking about the Magnetic Island house. Looking at my photo again, it looks more like the type of Asian home we saw on TV after the boxing day Tsunami than a residence in affluent Oz. I suppose it just goes to show that even the UK migrants’ dream land has pockets of financial inequality.

I visited Magnetic Island in a month where the prevailing theme was destruction. I flew to Australia a week after turning 18, a couple of days after my final A-level exam and about two hours after being dumped, a rucksack of clothes and a friend in hand. Within one week I found myself beside a motorway returning from the Western Australian desert to Perth, the bus I’d been travelling in ablaze in front of me.

A few minutes into the bus fire we heard from an Australian teenager that there had been a bombing in London. The message he received, and read excitedly to us, was that “the tower” had been bombed. We thought from this meagre information that Big Ben or Tower Bridge had been attacked. It was of course July 7.

We never did find out where this red herring came from, but we spent the next few hours worried and confused as the replacement bus rattled back to the city and our phone calls home repeatedly failed. Thank goodness no-one we knew was hurt.

Later on in the month I also destroyed a scooter by flying into the side of a Ute, which in turn destroyed a fair bit of skin on my arms, stomach, hips and legs, and ripped massive holes in my trousers!

But going back to Maggie Island, the house I saw there fit the refrain of destruction. The island was ruggedly beautiful, with lush green palms sprouting from dark clambering rocks and spindly wooden huts propped up on stilts above the cliffs. It rained heavily for our whole stay, wind lashing against the windows and tossing salt into the hostel kitchens and washblocks, all of which were also wooden huts.

We discovered that the rocks were sharp enough to break coconuts easily, as were one dog’s teeth. We also discovered that a roll-down plastic “window” isn’t sturdy enough to keep a whole bar dry and warm, and that during cyclones it is difficult to ship Vodka over from the mainland. Perhaps the real mystery of the house with the front ripped off, on such a turbulent island, was why it was the only building in such a state.

Question: What do Pizza Hut, Fulham FC and a Christian TV Channel have in common? Answer: I’m an employee at all three.

I have got two more jobs to add to the one (Genesis-Revelation TV) I have had for 4 years.

To make extra funds for I and Elena’s relocation from the UK (London), to the US (Los Angeles), I have been in need of some part time work.

A few weeks ago I went out job hunting. Armed with CV’s (Curriculum Vitae’s) I targeted restaurants, pubs, hotels, cinemas and any other organizations that offered part time, evening/weekend work.

About a week or two after the aforementioned mission, I have had success. I now have two extra jobs. I’m now an employee at Fulham FC – a steward on match days. And a pizza deliverer at Pizza Hut.

So on weekday mornings/afternoons, I’ll be designing/editing at one of the most watched UK Christian channels, Genesis-Revelation TV. On some weekday evenings I’ll be delivering pizza for Pizza Hut. And on some weekends I’ll be a steward at Fulham FC.

God Bless

Obed

I had vowed to write here more often, so here I am. My new resolutions went really well for the first day and I then got sidetracked by the whole football playoff frenzy. But it really means a lot to me so I’m gonna get up a keep trying.

I’ve been rooting for the Saints all season long, so their playoff game was definitely one I couldn’t miss. It’s actually a funny story. I became good friends with a guy that worked out at my gym. He’s a hardcore football fan and everyone in his family had to choose a football team when they were young and had to stick with it their whole life. So at the beginning of the season he forced me to pick a team. My biggest deciding factor was a team whose jersey I wouldn’t mind wearing since some of the NFL teams have weird colors. My choice boiled down to the San Diego Chargers and the New Orleans Saints and because I’m a huge jazz fan I went with the Saints. So here you have it. I’m now a Saints fan for life.

However, during the Saints game yesterday I got a phone call from a girl I had seen a couple times which I really, really, REALLY liked. She ended up telling me that she wasn’t into me. It basically ruined the whole game for me. I’ve never been a very confident guy around girls. I’ve been diagnosed with social phobia plus I’ve never really had a girlfriend. The thing is, in the past few months, I’ve changed A LOT. I’ve been using social medias to promote my website and I’ve been interacting with a lot of people I’ve been admiring for years. Turns out they also really look up to me, so I’ve had a huge confidence boost. This would actually make a really interesting research: conquering social phobia through social medias. In any case, for the first time in my life, I really love myself and who I am. I believe this has really transcended to all aspects of my life including girls. So when Cora told me that she wasn’t interested in me, it came as a real blow. All my insecurities and my past came back to me all at once. The Saints won, but I didn’t really care anymore. I felt miserable. I felt like no one would ever love me. I felt worthless.

Today, I woke up feeling great. I realized that I’m still the person I was before Cora told me she wasn’t into me. It sucks but it’s something that happens. Just like there are girls who I’m not attracted to. But this is really a HUGE breakthrough for me. Normally, I would have felt like shit for several weeks. Plus the Saints won! So I’m happy and I think I’ve made a lot of progress. I’m sure I’ll find the right girl for me. And probably sooner than I think…

I didn’t do much today, which is REALLY something I need to work on. I’m not hoping that tomorrow will be a better day. I KNOW tomorrow will be a better day. In any case, one of the things I did was begin to read Nelson Mandela’s autobiography. Up to now it’s been about his very early childhood. The book has been a HUGE culture shock. Mandela basically grew up in a hut in a tiny village in South Africa. He said that he started guarding cattle and sheep at the age of 5 and talks of the many chores he had to do for his family. The stuff I read felt like it was coming out the script of a movie. You never stop to think that people on earth are living these kinds of lives. I felt so grateful for who I was and the opportunities I was given throughout my life. It really put things back into perspective. I realize that I need to seize the opportunities that were given to me and truly make the most of them. I can’t keep wasting my life like I have done in the past. I don’t know exactly were this will take me, but all I want is to be proud of myself at the end of each and every day. This is not something that occurs regularly, but it’s up to me, and only me, to make sure it does more often.

On a lighter note, for the first time in my life I didn’t buy Tide, but instead I bought eco-friendly laundry detergent (whatever that means…). The packaging says EcoLogo certified and CO2 neutral. Apparently EcoLogo is an Environment Canada Program, so this doesn’t look like greenwashing. The weird thing is that it’s also a Vegan product. I really hadn’t planned on eating any of it…

It would be fantastic to escape from the lunacy of life and being stuck on a planet with six billion plus lunatics. Of course this hut is a little on the large side. I would prefer something much smaller, but it would do for a start. Maybe one day…

Janu and I were school mates. It is a shame to call it a school. A shed with thatched roof, leaking in monsoon rains, with three teachers who have to teach in all four standards, as our science teacher had been transferred elsewhere.
Janu was senior to me, but she failed twice and we became class mates.
My Papa worked in the gulf and came home only rarely.
Janu lived in the next plot in a hut, with her parents who were daily wage earners, doing odd jobs. She was helpful to Ma, in household work. I helped in her studies, as she was weak in all subjects.
The hills where we lived was full of small streams and wild trees. Janu and I would roam about, plucking fruits and berries. With my sling, I could accurately aim a mango, even at a good height and throw it down with a stone. And the mangoes were really very tasty. We used to share everything, leaving our parents’ share.
Hare, porcupines, wild fowl, honey etc. were also availabe occasionally.
Or we would catch fish. Janu was expert in catching them in the streams. They were not big, but that is all we had, as the nearest market was miles away.
There was a post office, two miles from our school. As the post man was reluctant to walk every day, he would come only once a week. I would carry Janu on my bicycle and bring letters and kitchen items on other days. Ma was reluctant to send me alone as I was too small, though I felt I am big enough.
One day Janu noticed a big ball of something I had not seen before. It was full of fibre and Janu could easily break it. She said it was elephant’s dung and we should hurry home, as the animal was near by.
We had hardly moved a few yards, when she suddenly pulled me and we climbed a hill, from the top of which we could espy the surroundings. I was panting. She held me close and asked me to look at the stream below.
I could not believe my eyes! There were a dozen of these animals, big and small, swimming and playing in the water. When a kid tried to escape on to the ground, its mother pulled it down. I felt sorry for it, but Janu said it was necessary that it must learn swimming. When Janu knew it was safe, we came back home.
One day we were bathing in the stream. I noticed that she had breasts like lotus buds. The circles around the tips were small and pink. Ma’s were dark. I asked her why it is so. She just smiled and kissed me.
On our way from the post office, a truck stopped near Janu. The driver took her bodily and was about to get back into his cabin. All were watching and the girl was yelling and shouting: leave me alone.
I always carried my sling and a small bag full of stones. In no time, a big stone hit the driver’s back. He fell down and we both hastened home. Thereafter Janu was not allowed to go to the post office. I became a hero.
As standards 5 to 7 were added to our school, I pleaded with my Papa to allow me to complete my studies there. I did not want to leave Janu.
We extended our mountain walk to hills several miles beyond, carrying our food with us. Once we noticed a man in pants and shirt coming with a tribal woman, completely naked, except for a few leaves around her groins. Janu indicated to me to hide ourselves in the bush and watch.They looked around and seeing no one in the surroundings, the woman lay down on the grass. The man removed his pants and inserted his big penis into the hole between her thighs. Then he went on putting it in, withdrawing and repeating the process for some time. Afterwards, he gave her some money and they went away.
I asked Janu what all this meant. She was very excited.
She asked: do you want to do it? Come.
Then she too removed her skirt and asked me to pull off my under wear. She lay down and parted her thighs wide, exposing the slit, which was pulled apart with her two hands. Do you see a hole?
I saw one, very small, through which I could insert only the tip of of my penis. She then pressed my buttocks hard, against her groins, when my penis entered her hole completely. I experienced a heavenly feeling.

Then I knew what to do.
The climax was so thrilling that we wanted to do it every day.

I asked her: how did you learn this?
Sometimes my parents did thus, in day time too. Then I watched it through the key hole of the door.

Are you still thinking about the mountain rat?
My wife awakened me from my pleasant reminiscences, offering me a cup of hot tea.
Don’t call the innocent girl a rat, I protested.
She new something about Janu; I said nothing about our secret encounters.
Why don’t you search her?
I wrote letters to the post master; he never replied.
Next time we go to India, we must go personally. I too want to see her.
So we searched the maps and located a point in the Vindhya ranges. We had to contact the forest officials who helped us to reach the post office.
The area is changed beyond recognition. Motorable roads and terraced buildings were not uncommon.
Near the school was her hut, still without any change. I hastened there and was shocked to see an old woman without teeth, her hair all white and the face crumpled with creases….Is it Janu?
She came and rested her face on my shoulder, wetting my shirt with profuse tears. I tried in vain to hide my tears.
Janu was wailing: I lost all. First my only son; then my husband.
I did not know what to say. I gave her a thousand rupees and we departed, promising to come again…….

by David Parsons

Some days can change your life forever.

As we drove away from the city on the first full day of our stay in Panama, the extreme contrast from the inner city living situation and that of the individuals living just outside the city became glaringly clear. The distribution of wealth in the country of Panama is far from even; it is almost as if no middle class exists.

From high rises to slums, and then to the remote indigenous living in the countryside – the landscape quickly changes from extreme prosperity to extreme poverty. With police at almost every corner and six vehicle checkpoints between our group and our destination, the day’s journey was just starting to become very real.

Throughout the trip, communication between the Elon students and the foundation was always shaky at best, having only one translator, and neither group having an individual that could bridge the gap. Maybe that’s the reason we felt so uneasy as we were lead away from our rental cars by Dayana, the foundation president, and into a dilapidated water taxi to take us across a river.

Dayana was actually following Zurleika, the indigenous mother of Yazmin, a newborn suffering from OI. We were being led to Zurleika’s home in the remote countryside, far from the reach of what we Americans would consider “modern civilization.” On the other side of the river, Dayana haggled a good price with a local man driving a pickup truck, our next form of transportation leading away from the river and up the countryside. After a bumpy, twenty minute ride in the back of the truck, we were let out at a path on the side of the dirt road.

All the while, for the duration of our journey, Zurleika carried tiny Yazmin leaning against her shoulder. We traversed up hills, over bridges, through creeks, and finally, after a 30 minute trek away from the river, (not without some mild complaining and joking to attempt to make the trip more bearable) we came to Zurleika’s home – a two-sided, thatched-roof hut. The floor was made of dried, compact mud, while Zurleika’s bed was

It is a strange site to imagine, let alone see for ourselves. A type of building that could easily be compared to a makeshift horse stable was where this mother was raising her daughter, a daughter with bones so brittle that even the slightest twist, fall, or misplace step could cause massive damage.

We stayed for a while taking pictures and conducting a quick interview with Zurleika as she held baby Yazmin in her arms, but an uncomfortable silence fell upon the members of our group. Each conducting their own personal reflections of the situation in their minds, the trip to Zurleika’s home had changed us all.

During the trip back to the city – the 30 minute hike, the 20 minute truck ride, the water taxi, and the six police checkpoints throughout the 90 minute car ride – there was no complaining. No jokes. No personal defense mechanisms attempting to make the situation less real than it was.

Zurleika’s journey is one that she travels often, with baby Yazmin propped on her shoulder. In the early morning hours before the sun rises, in both the dry and rainy seasons, having a child with OI cause this courageous mother to brave the long voyage into the city so that her daughter can receive treatment whenever a fracture occurs. Although baby Yazmin is healthy at the moment, it is difficult to think about the possibility of her next break, and at what point the journey may become too difficult for Yazmin to endure.

Sometimes, we wish we all have a crystal ball to see the future! Here is an inspiring management/leadership reading that brings us down to reality — all taken with a grain of salt. Some nuggets of sound advice from Enterpreneurs: “Expertise, Wisdom and Resources for Startups and Entrepreneur”

“To be an entrepreneur requires great optimism, and a very strong belief in how much customers will love your product. Unfortunately this same attribute can also lead entrepreneurs to believe that customers will beat a path to their door to purchase the product. A quick look around all the B2C startups shows that, although viral growth is often hoped for, in reality it is extremely rare.”

“In addition to team, product, and market, there is actually a fourth, equally important, core element of startups, which is the need for a viable business model”. Read more from Startup Killer: the Cost of Customer Acquisition.

Also, read our food for thought today: Entrepreneurial and technologically-savvy quotes to inspire us!

Bookmark & Share

Since the weather is pretty cold here in Canada I took my needles out after I finished the wonderful entrelac scarf and worked on this fun Hat and Mittens.  Very quickly they appeared on my knitting needles.  Those needles just don’t get a rest and nor do my hands….but that’s ok as I love my knitting

 Finished them….. now they are already on their way to Europe as a surprise for a special Girl’s First Birthday. 

 Hope she will enjoy it as much as I had fun knitting them.  And as promised the Teddy Baer is going along on the trip.  Have fun….be good and keep my friend snugly warm.

 You can find the pattern for the Hat at: http://www.double-ewe-yarn.com/patterns/hats/that-hat

Unser Wetter ist ziemlich kalt hier in Kanada so nehme ich halt meine Stricknadeln wieder heraus. Erst kuerzlich habe ich den wunderbaren Entrelac Schal fertig gearbeitet. So wird auch dieser lustige Hut und Handschuhe schnell erscheinen auf meinen Stricknadeln. Die Nadeln bekommen einfach keine Ruhe sowie auch meine Hände …. aber das ist ok, ich liebe mein Stricken.
 Fertig ….. jetzt sind sie bereits auf ihrem Weg nach Europa als Überraschung für einen besonderen Ersten Geburtstag..
 Und wie versprochen der Teddy Bär geht mit auf die Reise. Viel Spaß …. halte meine kleines Maedchen warm in der Kaelte.

WHISTLE BLOWER AT DOMINO’S PIZZA “TERMINATED” ???
This Domino’s Pizza Store is owned by Dan Cahee of Rhinelander, Wisconsin. He also owns the Domino’s Pizza in Rhinelander and in Escanaba, Michigan.

I think he closed this store to cover-up the thefts that were taking place.

This blog is totally about my thoughts. Any thing I say will be something I saw with my own eyes.

This past weekend Dan Cahee was in Iron Mountain, Michigan the entire time. I thought that after the previous blogs he was finally going to take action against NATHAN (NATE) JOHNSON and KIM STRANC. These were the 2 on top of this whole conspiracy. When I say conspiracy, they conspired to cover-up the stealing they were doing by having the previous asst manager (H) and her husband (C) suspended. They called the police and had them escorted off the property and the TOLD Unemployment they were terminated for reasons NOT DUE to theft.. They seemed to take the entire blame, kicking and screaming still, are collecting unemployment at home – They want to tell their story about HOW NATE AND KIM TAUGHT THEM TO STEAL………

I witnessed Nate Johnson stealing money on numerous occasions, there are 3 others that will say the same.
When I first started with Domino’s Pizza in Iron Mountain, MI I was asked by KIM STRANC if I wanted to “Coupon-off” some of the orders. KIM STRANC told me, in front of the General Manager NATE JOHNSON that IF I DIDN’T MAKE ENOUGH IN TIPS WE COULD just APPLY COUPONS to the orders. This meant that I would be stealing from the owner of this store. I have 2 young boys at home and need to set a good example, why would I steal?? Nate Johnson just laughed and said “Ha ha, I didn’t hear that…” well I heard it, they just asked me to steal from Domino’s Pizza.

Many times over the next few months money was continuously missing after Nate worked. I witnessed him many days putting the $1 pizza slice sales in his pocket, for safe keeping as he put it.. Safe keeping alright because a lot of days it never left his pocket.

Kim Stranc was staying clocked into the computer on days she didn’t even work. There are plenty of witnesses besides me for that. Nate Johnson was clocked in WAY MORE than he was even there.. Sometimes leaving at 5pm and not clocking out, one time no big deal but this was every day.

HAVE YOU EVER BOUGHT A PIZZA WITH A CREDIT CARD??????

I hope everything is alright. I WITNESSED along with quite a few others NATE JOHNSON hooking HIS HARD DRIVE to our computer and DOWNLOADING INFO onto it. He then took this info home with him. I can only guess that credit card info is stored into this system and he took it home.

SUNDAY was busy, Dan Cahee FINALLY started to advertise and we could tell… We sold out all of our Medium Pizza’s!! For the entire time I was there Dan Cahee Never advertised anywhere for this store. This is what we were told. A employee there who worked there for 3 years said he hasn’t been advertising for an entire year. So these ads and tv spots were taking it’s toll on us, we were swamped…

MONDAY – 1/11/10 – DAN CAHEE was supposed to come to the store early in the morning with more pizza dough and other supplies until we got the next truck. He did show up but it was to CLOSE THE STORE… He had the store cleaned out by the time he started calling employees. He DID NOT CALL all of them.. One employee showed up to work at 4pm only to learn that he didn’t have a job anymore. The other found out on Facebook and others telling him…

He called me at 12 noon to say that he was “Letting me go..” Now I have been fired before and this is what it felt like. He was slurring his words and ranting and raving about no sense. Hell, he wasn’t making any sense at all.. My wife was in the car while he was talking to me. To my knowledge, TV6 News was there with a news crew, I wonder what he said to them, I’m sure it wasn’t the truth….

I confronted Dan Cahee along with some other guys, come to find out one of them was Dan’s Father- Dan Cahee Sr. I wanted to get Dan Cahee to admit on tape that Nate Johnson was stealing. That he did.. I posted this video to youtube @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQxJPX16bvA

Now my approach might be questionable BUT I wanted to cover my butt first of all over bringing back the topper for the car. I had a cell phone in one hand and this video camera in the other. Both Cahee’s looked down at it, I watched their eyes. I ambushed them at the end when I brought the camera up and got Dan Cahee’s face on camera as to who was saying what. His response?? He giggled and walked around the store before putting his hand up and telling me “OK, thats enough…” He never ONCE said to stop taping… The other guy that was there was his father who proceeded to come at me when I was going out the door. He purposely showed his face and then threatened me not to post HIS PICTURE on the internet… Good thing I used a video camera..

Now most of these employees that lost their jobs have told me IT ISN’T YOUR FAULT.. I was only turning in the GM for theft.. What could happen? Close the store?

It is my plan to get video of Dan Cahee’s other stores in Rhinelander and Ecanaba. I then will post them all over the internet with this story attached. He just messed with the wrong Asselin!!!!

So I got a warning from Domino’s pizza telling me that I better be careful about what I post in this blog. Domino’s Pizza say that the owner of this store is ultimately the one responsible for his own store… So are they telling me that I am on my own?

Is this how BIG corporations handle “Whistle Blowers”? Domino’s Pizza SAYS they have stuff set in place for employees to report theft and misconduct. What Domino’s Pizza doesn’t say is that they WILL NOT do anything about it, what ever it is you are reporting. Is this how they escape liability? They want ALL the info you can give them, then they lead you on a goose hunt and tell you that YOU are on your own..

I turned my EMPLOYER or my GENERAL MANAGER in for stealing. I can prove it too. I have over 4 witnesses that will testify against him.
I have video that I WILL publish…. I told Domino’s Corp, as well as the owner of this Domino’s Pizza… The Owner in turn is telling the GM stuff that is supposed to be kept quiet. This whole situation is a conspiracy…..

SECRET VIDEO TAPES WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON IF NEEDED….

If this General Manager only knew the VIDEO I have of his laziness, poor management and of him LEAVING ME ALONE in the store, leaving the KEYS in plain sight.

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE for the till and the safe!!!!

I have already released this VIDEO once on YouTube and I WILL do it again if I feel forced to do it…

FORMER EMPLOYEE HAS MADE A VIDEO THAT NAMES THIS STORE, TOWN, STATE, MANAGERS NAME, OWNERS NAME, ETC…..

THIS EMPLOYEE WILL DISCUSS HOW THEY WERE TAUGHT BY THE MANAGER TO STEAL, THIS MANAGER ENCOURAGED AND PROMOTED STEALING BY OTHERS- COMING SOON TO YOUTUBE…….

Thats it for my late night talk… More detailed blog later

I have never seen such a messy store before working here. Yes there are times that we are really busy and don’t have the time to clean.. Then there are times that you are just completely lazy and don’t care.. that would be the store manager..

Time after time we have come into our shift at 4pm and had to clean and pick up his mess for the day. We come to work, there is piles of trays laying about, cheese all over the floor, pizza screens piled up, etc.. Pick any day the the Store Manager is working, come in around 2-3pm and see the “School Pizza” that is still sitting out for customers to see after 4 hours.. I think it is funny that we go to throw the waste pizza away and get yelled at because he was planning to eat that.. WTF??

The other closer who works most of the time has been here for 3 years, she is a really good person who cares about this store and it’s customers, she spends hours trying to get this store the way it needs to be.. Always fighting against the ways of the manager- without him knowing. She is constantly making sure all the dates are the right ones. She is always cleaning, something our GM doesn’t know how to.. She makes this place bearable to work..

Our manager uses any products he has and will not change out pans to save dishes. He uses the same pan over and over for any bread or cheese sticks.. even though we have 50 of them. He leaves his messes for others to clean and is irresponsible to the fullest. I have filled out my W-4 Tax Form over 5 times and he keeps losing it!! I just mailed my W-4 to the owner directly to make sure he gets it. We have a “Drivers safe” at work which is a box out of wood that we can lock. Cool if you couldn’t pull bills out in between the wood, it’s a piece of crap that I refuse to leave me money in..

Have you been to a Domino’s Pizza place lately? How many boxes do you see that are folded? At our store you won’t see many because our GM refuses to let us fold more than a few. Doesn’t seem like a big deal until you get screamed at for making boxes and stacking them.. Seems that he CAN’T COUNT.. He said so, it’s too hard to count boxes that are stacked in stacks of 10.. Gosh I know how hard it is.. Counting 10, 20, 30… So we don’t do that until we desperately needs them..

The floors and walls need work but don’t tell him that, the light that hasn’t worked for years isn’t his problem either.. Or the top 1/2 of the oven that doesn’t work, the bag warmers that keep our pizza’s hot until we deliver them isn’t working either.. again not his fault, he’ll tell you so. But he won’t lift a finger to fix or have them serviced. But if it is the computer he is the man.. I Bet.