The Laughing Wolf

A Letter To Hilton's chairman and ceo

crossposted at Blackfive

I have just finished my letter to Hilton's chairman and ceo, and thought I would share it with all of you.

Mr. Stephen F. Bollenbach Chairman and CEO Hilton Hotels Corporation 9336 Civic Center Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Sir,

Enclosed are the remains of my Hilton honors card, and notice of termination of my account (#redacted).

My cancellation comes as a result of the treatment of Fran O'Brien's at the Capital Hilton, and the callous disregard shown them and the disabled veterans whom they treat as family. Indeed, having read the latest spin campaign (http://getonthe.blogspot.com/2006/04/giving-credit-where-credit-is-due.html) wherein Matt Hard and Marc Grossman engage in the - to be polite - disingenuous smear of failure to pay rent, it is clear that honor is only word for the Hilton Corporation. Such disgusting and despicable tactics, sadly, are hardly surprising at this point given a response that has ranged from feeble to a general manager who greeted the wounded veterans for the first time only when the cameras were rolling and the heat was on.

Know that I plan to give my business to any competitor rather than stay in any Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn and/or Suites, Embassy Suites, Doubletree, Conrad, or other property owned or controlled by the Hilton Corporation. Know also that I am encouraging my employer, clients, family, friends, business colleagues, and any others I can influence to do the same.

Even were you to intercede and do what is right at the last minute, I would have no faith or confidence that such an action would be real, or would hold, given the abhorrent behavior shown to date.

If they don't like the language, they do not want to hear how I am phrasing it where I am not trying to behave for polite company...

My card did make a nice bit of statuary though...

LW

It's Not That...

There is not a lot to blog about, just not a lot of time. Huge project at work calling for some long hours and a lot of effort. Lots to do at the Lair, both in terms of the lair itself and the yard. A few other things going on as well. So, just saying that things will continue to be sporadic, esp. if we keep getting storms like of late.

Open Letter To The Lawn: There is no need to take the warmth and rain as a challenge, much less an invitation to unbridled growth. If you will see fit not to grow four inches in less than five days, both the lawn mower and myself as its mover, would be most appreciative.

LW

Operation Perish Hilton: Questions For Hilton Management

Crossposted at Blackfive

Andi at Andi's World has heard from Brian Kelleher, the General Manager of the Capital Hilton. He has agreed to take questions from the Milblog Community in regards the eviction of Fran O'Brien's -- which will terminate their longstanding Friday night meals for wounded veterans. You can submit your questions for him here at Andi's for submission on Monday. Please ask questions not already asked and do so in the comments, per her request. My own advice remains to keep it rational, reasonable, and polite -- which does not rule out asking hard questions.

As I noted here in the comments, this smells to me. First, I have questions about due diligence. In any business decision, there are various elements of due diligence. Most apply it to the financial end, but true due diligence involves looking at non-financial obligations, good will, and impacts. Second, I have questions about the process of the lease renewal/non-renewal. There are some conflicting reports, but generally such things are handled openly and reasonable efforts are made to keep everyone updated so that whatever happens does so in a reasonable and orderly manner. I will note that giving a two-week notice of non-renewal of a lease is not something nice, and is most especially something you don't do unless you are trying to use the rotary connector to attach someone to a wall. Not nice, and a couple of the reports are such that I want to know about the process. Third, I want to know when Hilton began to truly care about the veterans and the dinners. I have a strong suspicion, though I will say that I hope I am wrong.

Given my concerns, my questions are as follows:

1. Was the impact to the veterans considered as a part of due diligence in the decision not to renew the lease?

2. There are reports that indicate that during the lease renewal process, the owners of Fran O'Brien's were told that a new lease was being developed, then no information, then a two-week notice. Is this accurate, and if not, please describe the steps taken to keep the parties informed?

3. Is a two-week notice of non-renewal of a lease standard procedure for Hilton Corporation? If not, what is the normal period of notice?

4. When, precisely, did planning begin to keep hosting the veterans?

5. When, precisely, did Hilton reach out to WRAMC and/or the Assistant SecDef?

6. Was anyone with corporate communications/public relations involved in this decision prior to it getting publicity?

7. Who from corporate communications/public relations and legal were involved in reviewing and/or vetting the answers to these questions?

8. Was this a local business decision, i.e. made by you or within the management of the Capital Hilton; or, was this decision made on a corporate level? If the latter, where in the corporate hierarchy was this decision made?

9. When was the decision made?

It will be interesting to see what answers are received. Go on over, read the questions there, and add your own. Keep it reasonable, and pour it on. Fire for effect.

LW

Storm Blogging

Haven't done this in a while, but we have just had two super-cell thunderstorms pop up, along with some rotation. So far, no sign of the rotation reaching ground, but some serious hooks in the radar -- no relation to a certain sgt. Big problem seems to be large hail, but nothing so far. Def. thunder, no sustained rumble, but the sky is a bit weird. Sirens have gone off, but nothing showing up close by. More later.
*****
2010 hours. No offense to the Lafayette television station, but I miss the stations in Huntsville right now. Trying to pull up NEXRAD or whatever I can find...
*****
2019 hours. Continuous rumble from almost continuous lightning. Got dark real quick. Report of a rotation north of Lafayette, no sign out near me. Ooops, too quick, confirmed report of a touchdown near Ambia(sp?)
*****
2022 hours. Do wish I could zoom in on some of the online radars, as the Lafayette guy tends to get fixated on things, to the point of ignorning others IMO.
*****
2035 hours. Rain, not too bad so far, but thankfully no hail or such so far. Lots of cloud-to-cloud lightning, or what appears to be such, no sign of cloud-to-ground near me. Wish this guy would scan back right just for a minute. I understand the really interesting stuff is to the east of Lafayette, but do wish he would show north and west a bit too. About bleeping time... well, not so much. Seems to yo-yo between super micro and micro... Finally, a brief area view. So far, not too bad except for what is coming across strongly as babling.
*****
2045 hours. Interesting formation up around Kankakee, IL, hope sunset takes the energy out of it. Getting it off NWS radar. Really would help if the local TV station radar on the web was not slaved to what he was showing on TV at the moment, make it easier for people in other areas to monitor. Feh. Really am tired of hearing baby talk about going to your safe spot -- take freaking shelter is what he means, if we could get him to quit with the damned baby talk. Feh. Bah Humbug even.
*****
2052 hours. So far, so good, looks like most/worst is missing me. Am watching back up towards Kankakee and Rennselaer just to be safe using NEXRAD, sort of, to get some better info. Lafayette is closest to me, FYI, in terms of television. Indy seems to be better, but they also seem to ignore Lafayette and above apparently figuring that Lafayette or South Bend will cover.
*****
2100 hours. Worst seems to be by, unless the cell out of Kankakee holds together and tracks my way. Super cells are by, and seem to be doing some damage down towards Indy and Kokomo, moving SE. May start tuning in to Indy more for weather, kept waiting for the Lafayette guy to offer a lolipop for being good. Indy, much better, much more towards the type of coverage, info, and such I am used to. No baby talk, no babble, and educated talk. Don't understand it, since Lafayette has Purdue and should have a fairly educated audience that is clearly not being addressed.

LW

UPDATE: See why Indy has the A-teams for weather -- That area is getting hammered, possible multiple tornadoes in a range from Crawfordsville across towards Lebanon and headed to Indy. Be safe down there. We seem to be clear now.

Did Comedy Central Just Cave?

If Comedy Central really did refuse to allow South Park to show Mohammed, who has been seen on the show before, then they have wussed big time. If it is true, then Comedy Central can kiss my fuzzy rump, and they and their sponsors can kiss my patronage good bye.

LW
who actually stayed up to watch it

Woo Hoo: Woks Are Here

I had hoped to have them for the weekend, but my woks from The Wok Shop have arrived. As many know, my kitchen is a bit bare in certain critical areas and the resources sparse.

I found the store many years ago during a business trip to San Francisco, and have bought woks for others from there. This time, I bought for me and obtained a traditional cast iron wok and a hand-hammered Peking-style wok. I will have to clean and season, but they e-mailed me their own tips for doing so and I will be following them. It will be later this week before I can start that process, but I am so looking forward to it. More on the woks as things progress.

LW

A Delightful Weekend

My friend Waldo came to visit this weekend, and I certainly enjoyed myself. I think the proof that we both needed some time to relax and unwind showed up in both of us taking a nap Saturday afternoon after lunch, and the fact that neither of us was truly game to get up early on any day.

She reminded me that we have now known each other for more than ten years. We met online, through an online writer's list that a friend forced me to sign up for at the point of one of my own guns. That's my story and I'm sticking to it... The list was full of interesting people and more than a couple of good writers. Indeed, a couple of the members have gone on to be published and successful authors (no sneer of mere midlist writer from me, and on the off chance the originator of that phrase does stumble by, bite me). That list also went from online to real-life, as some semi-regular meetings were held that brought in people from around the world. Some truly delightful people, ones I miss seeing to this day. The catalyst for the list departed, and it is a mark of how special it was that the list not only survived, but remained robust and productive for several years after.

All such good things end, and a good bit of the weekend was spent playing catch-up. What have you heard about so-and-so, where's Waldo (couldn't resist), and who is the latest to be published. A lot of good memories to go on top of a nice weekend, icing on the cake indeed.

Saturday was largely spent talking and resting, and Sunday found us outside picking up limbs and burning up my brushpile. Lunch was s'mores made with bittersweet chocolate instead of milk chocolate, for a delightful and healthy lunch. At least it was by the time we got through justifying and rationalizing. Supper was hamburgers cooked on the grill, and I sent her home with some smoked chicken breast (chicken marinated in orange juice from Friday night to Sunday morning, then covered with macadamia nut oil and a bit of truffle oil, then a spice mixture) and some beef (brined in molasses, water, salt, vinegar, and a touch of spice for the same time, then a good rub applied) smoked for several hours (and brushed with macadamia nut oil on the odd occasion). We both picked up a bit of sun, but it was worth it.

Add to that various bits of good news that came in (friends safe, my relative E finding out that the cancer has NOT spread to the brain, etc.) and I shed some stress. I hope Waldo did too, even if she did find the house a bit cool for her tastes. Hey, I was nice, I finally did cut the heat up.

This weekend: just what was ordered.

LW

I Am Alive

Just have been very busy at work this week and have company this weekend. More soon.

LW

The Best On Illegal Immigration

Why should I write anything, when there is this outstanding piece? And he doesn't think he's good enough for a Basil interview...

LW

The Only Thing Worse

Than bodies are parts. Parts no longer fresh. Nuff said.

LW

Being A Real Friend Today

Friends help you move
Real Friends help you move dead bodies

LW