PSPINC CEO Kenichi Uchikura's Blog

Nano misses her mom

9月

11日

I think Nano is missing her mom ... I will take care of her while Mayumi is in Japan.

#Animals #Pets

You might remember that our company Prius' wheels were stolen by four people two weeks ago. They have not returned the wheels so we had to get new ones. Because it is a leased car, we need to put factory original wheels and tires at the dealer. It costed us over $3,600 dollars. Of cause we have an insurance, which is covering everything except $500 deductible. We also purchase snow tires on steel wheels which costed another $900. I think after everything, our out of pocket expenses were $1,400.

Now the wheels have a locking rug nuts.

#Life #Politics #Society

How are we going to pay for those???

9月

10日

First, it provides a tax cut for small businesses, not big corporations, to help them hire and expand now and provides an additional tax cut to any business that increases wages.

How are we going to fund this tax break? Are the government asking us to pay more in wages so we can pay less tax? If we can get by without hiring more people, we will not hire more people. We are not holding hiring people because of the tax we have to pay, because there is no demand. Abolish the minimum wages so that there is a job for lower paid employees.

Second, it puts people back to work, including teachers, first responders and veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and construction workers repairing crumbling bridges, roads and more than 35,000 public schools, with projects chosen by need and impact, not earmarks and politics.

Where is the money to do all this. Are we going to print more money or borrow more money. That is what get us to this recession, isn't it.

Third, it helps out-of-work Americans by extending unemployment benefits to help them support their families while looking for work and reforming the system with training programs that build real skills, connect to real jobs and help the long-term unemployed.

Again, where is the money to do this. People need to work. It is easier not work and collect unemployment. Jobs will go to where labor costs are cheeper and where motivated people are. It is not just a cost.

Fourth, it puts more money in the pockets of working and middle class Americans by cutting in half the payroll tax that comes out of every worker's paycheck, saving families an average of $1,500 a year. And it removes the barriers that exist in the current federal refinancing program (HARP) to help more Americans refinance their mortgages at historically low rates, save money and stay in their homes.

I think there are people who should not have purchased the houses in the first place. Government bailed out banks that made this mess. Have them pay for it.

I wish the government can do those things and get the economy up ... but what this proposal is exactly how we get here. Let people fail so that people can succeed too. It is not President Obama who does not get it, it is so far all the policy makers in any government, democrats or republican.

If this is a company and the CEO of the company proposed this spending plan, and you are a shareholder of this company, would you keep him as a CEO. I guess you would if you do not have anyone else.

#Life #Politics #Society

Be Green Web Hosting in Seattle

9月

10日

As an operating company of data centers that hosts close to 38,000 companies web site and email with redundant power, backup generators and powerful cooling system to maintain 500 servers in operating temperature, it is very difficult to be green.

We are replacing all the windows to be more energy efficient. Our five company cars gets better than 40mpg except Toyota Minivan. We maintain our generators frequently to perform at t most efficient condition. We replaced all old light fixtures in the office to 2 bulb lights from 4 build lights. We upgraded all air conditioning systems to the newest and more energy efficient ones. We use natural air to cool servers when the outside temperature is cool. We use alternate energy to power our office from Puget Sound Energy for last few years.

We are doing everything we can to offset the power usage by the servers and data centers.

#Business #Marketing

Really?

9月

9日

This is one bad design.

#Bikes #Cars

Windows Replacement

9月

9日

Our HQ Building's windows have been replaced with beautiful & energy efficient new windows. Now we are starting our R&D building window replacement. This will save us lots of energy which we will see in the electric bill in the winter.

#Business #Marketing

It is getting cold.

9月

8日

It is getting cold in the morning in Seattle. Daylights are getting shorter.

#Email

Wash Base not Included

9月

7日

I ordered Braun Shaver System from the Credit Card Reward Program. This is the page that shows the product I ordered. When I received the product, it did not come with the base unit which cleans the shaver. I called the Reward program support but they told me the vendor did not include the base unit as a part of reward program.

This is very stupid on the Reward Program part to supply incomplete product. I was frustrated but in the end I just ask the Reward Program people not to do this again and possibly drop this vendor. It will hurt the reputation of the the credit card issuing company.

When you do business, you must think customer is always right. Beside, the support is there to support customer, not there to prove the customer is wrong.

#Business #Marketing

Walking with Pompom

9月

6日

Beautiful holiday morning in Seattle.

#Email

Not Made in America

9月

5日

Compared to few years ago, US dollars are much more affordable which makes things in the US much more affordable. So, why aren't we seeing more things made in America? Why aren't we making thing in the US?

It is the cost ... It is always a cost. What cost? Isn't it getting cheaper?

Well, yes and no. When you talk about cost, it i snot just what it costs now. You really think about 2, 5, 10 years from now. Also, rules and regulations in the US makes it more costly than places like China. You also need to think "Made in the USA" must mean better quality. If it is not, it does not mean anything.

I would like to see more thing made in the USA, but it may not be possible.

#Life #Politics #Society