Pokémon Go; The Saga Continues

Nintendo stocks are on the rise, and the nerds are getting exercise.

Since the release of Pokémon Go, the unlikely group of people who don't go outside and walk, are now outside. They aren't only walking around, but socializing.

Pokémon was that game that I played all the way back in elementary school, on my brick of an original GameBoy that too four AA batteries to run, and had a black and white screen. The game where the cheaters had their way. Some believed winning the game meant catching them all (at the time that was 150), and to do so trading and working with others was necessary. Some Pokémon - Graveller, Haunter, Pidgeotto - needed to be traded to evolve to their final evolution - Golem, Gengar, Pidgeot. Other Pokémon could only be found in one of the two original games. Other players believe winning the game was defeating all gyms and The Elite Four.

This new game has trainers not needing to work together to level up and trade to evolve. They are divided into teams. In some ways it creates a divide between players. But people need to remember Team Mystic, Team Valor, and Team Insight although opposition, are rivals. Not enemies.
Teams battle to stake claims on gyms, but that doesn't mean we should hate each other. It just means we all need to train hard "to be the very best." A lyric in the original theme song.

Niantic needs to work on player communication and therefore team work. If players could know where teammates are and can communicate and trade with them, it could help game play. Allowing CP to increase just like gym prestige within team play battles.
Opposition battles could be good too; but as there have already been robberies of players, telling opposing players where others are is a bad idea. But if they're close by battles could be... fun. Trading too. But actually learning who is the opposition an getting real time locations could be a really really bad idea.
John Hanke did say this was to promote teamwork. That you couldn't catch them all alone; but the inability to trade makes everyone's hands tied on working together to build our Pokédexes.

As for Niantic not doing a worldwide release, it's a bit unfair to other players. Australian and New Zealand players got a head start on catching them all, and leveling up. Just as American players now have a head start on Canadians. and Canadians who won't download illegally, are hugely behind of the ones who will, and they will never know the thrill of a neutral gym, or battling a gym they actually have a chance at.

Walmart vs Visa

This has turned into such a big deal for some reason. Everyone is losing their minds over Visa and Walmart having a spat, but no one is willing to look at the details from either perspective.

Walmart is a business. They're in business - as is every other business - to make a profit. They pay fees to all credit card companies to be able to accept. So when a bargaining agreement comes up, they are going to bargain and negotiate, to increase their profit margin. Same as the NHL lockout, and the NFL when their Collective Bargaining Agreements come up.

Visa is also a business, doing the same as Walmart.

How negotiations started, I can't say for sure. Who wanted more? Did Visa ask for more, or did they want to stay as they had been? I don't know. But seeing a contract ending, and knowing you will need to negotiate a new one, you should never step to the table claiming to want nothing. This is assuming this was Visa's course of action. Because in saying you want nothing, you have no bargaining chips to work to what you want.
Maybe Walmart was happy as is and came to the table with wanting lower fees as an ability to make sure all worked out. And perhaps Visa saying they wanted nothing simply offered Walmart the ability to negotiate for more. This - ladies and gentlemen - is business. As foul as it sounds, I respect Walmart for holding their ground.

July 18th is the day Walmart looks to stop accepting Visa. But only in Thunder Bay. Three stores in Thunder Bay will not be accepting Visa as of July 18th. One more time, only three stores in Thunder Bay will stop accepting Visa on July 18th.

Walmart is applying pressure. Same as a defensive line in football knowing were to push and poke. The new kid in the middle of the offensive line. The quarterback with the bum knee. It'll hit both businesses profits, yes. But it shows Visa that Walmart is taking no prisoners.

Visa has taken a very public approach, being outright with this dislike of Walmart's use of customers to get their way. But again, this is a negotiation. Customers - as uncivilized as it sounds - are another bargaining chip. If Visa's more worried than Walmart, they'll budge. Otherwise Walmart will keep pressing.

We need to remember that Walmart as about 400 across Canada. Three currently isn't gonna hurt too bad. And on top of that, they have their own MasterCard. So if Visa wants to stay in the game, offer another offerable credit card maybe. With better benefits to the customer than the current MasterCard.

Sens and Pats

Tuesday... I usually have for sports. Been a bit, but here goes.

Some block buster trades went down in the NHL this last week. P.K. Subban left the Habs. Who else is shocked? Some other decently known players moved about. But I'm not paid to do this, so... my only area of true car is that the Ottawa Senators did nothing. Livid. I'm livid. Feeling like we're starting to turn into the blue team; it kills me to say that. *grips chest*

New England Patriots feel confident in Jimmy Garoppolo; IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!
Players feeling confident in him starting up the season while Tom Brady needs to stay seated for 4 games. I think they need to let this kid shine.