[Eug-lug] Linksys router WRT54GL

[Darren Hayes]

Here's a yet to be edited clip I will be posting to my blog tomorrow that
kind of sort of relates to the thread. I embellished it a bit at the end to
fit the theme of things here.

And if all else is equal (mostly) please remember to try and buy local!
-----

Radio Shack was the official sponsor of the Rolling Stones 2006 Fall tour!

Get it... RS sponsors RS.

It is not clearly known how much the Shack paid the Stones. And it is not
well understood how this arrangement benefited the Shack (RSH)?

RSH Ticker - Jan 2005: $34
RSH Ticker - Current: $17.29.

Between the time the tour sponsorship was announced in late July when RSH
was at $16, and mid October when the price peaked at $20.50, the stock price
gained 25%. Then abruptly came back down to low of $16.80 and at the end of
October settled at $17.50, matching the 10% price gain the Dow also showed
during the same time range.

And just after Thanksgiving, when the Stones fall tour concluded, RSH was at
$17.51 (where it also opened today). So for comparison, since the tour
sponsorship was announced, RSH is up 7.5% and falling, whereas the Dow is up
12%.

Note the grand finale of the Radio Shack sponsorship included the big grand
prize give away to lucky fans including trips to the Stones last show of the
tour in Hawaii. But that went bust when the Stones cancelled the show to
Jagger throat issues. Even a Mr. Microphone from Radio Shack could not save
the show.

So the end effect of the tour sponsorship? You make the call.

News and press releases from 2006 report RSH closed 500+ stores, shut down
distribution centers, and implemented a "planned" lay off of 500+ workers at
it's Ft. Worth headquarters (notifying many of them of their doom via
email). And not to forget that the CEO, CFO, president/COO and some board
members resigned. It is worth noting, that in addition to the severance
package provided to the former CEO, he is receiving a half mil a year thru
2008 for "strategic planning work".

And third quarter 2006 results show a 16 million loss during the quarter,
compared to 100 million profit in the third quarter 2005. Q3-06 same store
sales down 9.6% compared to Q3-05.

But they did pay the $0.25 dividend.

On the flip side the Stones cost $180 per ticket in Nampa (plus
T-shirt/dinner/drinks/motel/gas/driving time/two-days-off-work).

(Could have purchased a couple routers and some accessories and a Mr.
Microphone from Radio Shack for the price of a Stones ticket. But I'm sure
memories of the Stones show will out last both 802.11g and Radio Shack).

Seeing how well Keith recovered after falling out of the Fiji palm tree, it
appears the Rolling Stones might be needed to sponsor the Radio Shack 2007
Big Turnaround.

Maybe Radio Shack should change their name to Rolling Stones Electronics and
begin using the big lips logo.

Start Me Up!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Newton" <newton at efn.org>
To: "Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group" <euglug at euglug.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2006 10:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] Linksys router WRT54GL (was AVG)


Sounds like to me these red faces are like the Radio Shack Sales genies -
not that smart know it alls! Hmm, just what I call the RS syndrome. At least
they learned how to use the internet from an well informed computer user,
geek and tiger. And with the complete finish and toping on the plate with Mr
 O., cool ending to the saga.

Jeff