They Got It- The Right Stuff

NAHREMAN ISSA

 Just this past Tuesday, a part of my childhood returned as the New Kids on the Block returned to Edmonton, 18 years after their last visit. Mind you, I was roughly seven when they were at their peak, so I didn’t have an obsession on them like my older sisters did. But I do credit them for my love affair with the five guys from Boston. 

Now please don’t judge me for being a pop lover because I’m not. This was my very first pop concert. I didn’t know what to expect. But the guys PUT ON A SHOW!

While I wasn’t excited for their new stuff, it was pretty decent. But c’mon, you know everyone was there to hear the big hits such as ‘Step by Step’ and ‘Hanging Tough’. Even though they haven’t performed together for such a long time, they still had it. They sang (no lip-synching thank God!), they danced all around the stage, and they engaged in the audience. Well, everyone but Jonathan Knight. It was as if he didn’t want to be there, but I guess he was always the shy one.

Nice touch with them moving to the back of the arena to another small stage to get closer to fans at the other end at Rexall Place. And of course, the occasional bra was thrown on stage.

My piece of advice with any band that comes to Edmonton, if you want to get on the crowds good side, ALWAYS MENTION HOCKEY! NKOTB are huge sports fans, incorporating it into videos being played at the concert, and Donnie Wahlberg’s Boston hats worn with every outfit change. But the icing on the cake was at the end, when they were performing ‘Hanging Tough’ the boys came out in Oilers away jerseys. That was definitely one of the highlights of the night for me. You can’t go wrong with the Oilers! 

I’ll have a more in-depth concert review in the Nait’s newspaper, The Nugget. If you can’t get a copy, I’ll post it.

 I give this concert FIVE STARS.

When it comes to customer service in our city, where is it?!

NAHREMAN ISSA

It’s a question that has plagued hundreds of thousands of Albertan’s ever since the “Boom”. Where is the customer service we used to have? Bill Fortier over at CTV did a two part series in regards to this pressing question. He went in undercover to a couple of stores here in our city, and the results are pretty bad. Sadly, they’re not too surprising.

It’s been brutal trying to get any sort of help in many stores. You need to wait a while for any sort of assistance if you’re shopping at any big chain. You get some employees who feel the need to not offer you an enjoyable experience just because they know they can’t get fired for just half-assing it at work.

All I ask for when I go into a store is for the worker to say hello. That’s it! I can’t stand when I walk in and I don’t get acknowledged. If you and I can engage in some partial form of eye contact, how hard is it to say hi.

I understand with the lack of available workers, employees are getting overworked and not appreciated for it. But I acknowledge the efforts these people put in when I actually see them work hard. There are some employees though who are just lazy and couldn’t give a care about anything. How many times have you walked into a store and seen the employees standing around talking to each other, totally oblivious there’s a customer there. It’s always those people who just get on my last nerve.

Here’s my motto… the company you work for may not be your store, but show some initiative. If there’s a huge lineup at your till, instead of gingerly just ringing up the items, work just a little harder to get that line moving faster.

I’m not asking you to work so hard that sweat beads are coming down your face; just please put some effort into it. This may not be your career but it’s your job.

But in the end, while we should hope to get good customer service, the consumer should also be considerate. If the worker is trying their hardest, let them know you appreciate their hard work.

Let’s just hope Fortier’s feature might get employers shaking things up at their work place… and please say hi to every customer that walks in.

Thanks!

All Hail President Obama

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The moment has finally arrived. After two years of heavy campaigning, Barack Obama is the first black President of the United States of America. It has a great ring to it, hey?

America got it right this time around. Obama is exactly what the States need to change their image worldwide. Now it’s time to put the magic that is Barack Obama into American foreign policy. Change was needed and Obama will provide that.

Watching him accept his presidential win, listening to the words come out of his mouth during his speech made me tear up. I had goosebumps… I’m not even American but this meant so much to the entire world.

Every second Facebook status mentioned Obama (and all in a good light). My parents spent all night watching Arabic satellite. The presidential race was all over the news. When they announced Obama as winner, my parents were ecstatic.

News stations showed countries across the globe all cheering for this man. Even terrorist group Hamas is planning on sending a congratulatory letter to Obama for his historic win.

The reason why every one is going crazy for him is because he promises hope… change… optimism.

Here’s hoping to four unbelievable years with Obama. Correction, let’s hope for eight more years of Obama!

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The biggest factor in this election was the economy. We can thank George Bush for basically giving Obama the keys to the White House. When the economy is in the tank, American voters like to back up the Democrats. When it’s national security at stake, it’s the Republicans who get the call.

Because Bush basically drove the economy into the ground sending America into an evitable recession, America responded by voting for someone who will concentrate on fixing issues on their home turf. If you’re going to spend billions on something, it should be your people and not a war overseas.