A toothpaste factory had a problem: they sometimes shipped empty boxes, without the tube inside. This was due to the way the production line was set up, and people with experience in designing production lines will tell you how difficult it is to have everything happen with timings so precise that every single unit coming out of it is perfect 100% of the time. Small variations in the environment (which can’t be controlled in a cost-effective fashion) mean you must have quality assurance checks smartly distributed across the line so that customers all the way down to the supermarket don’t get pissed off and buy another product instead.
Understanding how important that was, the CEO of the toothpaste factory got the top people in the company together and they decided to start a new project, in which they would hire an external engineering company to solve their empty boxes problem, as their engineering department was already too stretched to take on any extra effort.
The project followed the usual process: budget and project sponsor allocated, RFP, third-parties selected, and six months (and $8 million) later they had a fantastic solution – on time, on budget, high quality and everyone in the project had a great time. They solved the problem by using high-tech precision scales that would sound a bell and flash lights whenever a toothpaste box would weigh less than it should. The line would stop, and someone had to walk over and yank the defective box out of it, pressing another button when done to re-start the line.
A while later, the CEO decides to have a look at the ROI of the project: amazing results! No empty boxes ever shipped out of the factory after the scales were put in place. Very few customer complaints, and they were gaining market share. “That’s some money well spent!” – he says, before looking closely at the other statistics in the report.
It turns out, the number of defects picked up by the scales was 0 after three weeks of production use. It should’ve been picking up at least a dozen a day, so maybe there was something wrong with the report. He filed a bug against it, and after some investigation, the engineers come back saying the report was actually correct. The scales really weren’t picking up any defects, because all boxes that got to that point in the conveyor belt were good.
Puzzled, the CEO travels down to the factory, and walks up to the part of the line where the precision scales were installed. A few feet before the scale, there was a $20 desk fan, blowing the empty boxes out of the belt and into a bin.
“Oh, that,” says one of the workers – “Thomas put it there ’cause he was tired of walking over….. “every time the bell rang”.
This is not your average Dominican Republic real estate posting…that’s why I have no title for this entry. I have been sat here trying to find an adequate direction to take this post and it’s very hard to do so. But enough about my inadequacies with the English language.
Yesterday – a busy Sunday on Sosua beach, like any other, 10 or 15 busloads of visitors are enjoying the sunshine, sand and sea…most of them are getting drunk, listening to music or eating…I was one of those also. Yet there were 2 visitors that will not have the pleasure of doing much less strenuous activities than those previously mentioned.
These 2 young boys of 7 years old, who’s names I did not ask to their father who was pushing them along the beach at the time they passed by the area I was sat down at, were born with serious illness at birth (again I did not ask specifics) and during the time I was speaking to their father, one was having what I can only assume some kind of epileptic fit.
They cannot speak, cannot walk unassisted, they both wear pampers (nappies), have very little bladder control, they are in need of food, vitamins, medicine, therapy – the list goes on…
The father was not begging, nor were the children. It may have been rude for me to make a small donation, but I did so. The father of these 2 young boys was telling me about how he receives no assistance from the government, that stopped 8 months ago – he used to receive RD$700 per month (approximately US$20).
I had some juice and food ordered for the 2 boys and their sister, while this was being prepared several people came over, some with tears in their eyes and passed the father some donations in the form of money and food. This was a heart wrenching scene.
This man was not out begging, but he needs some help. I know where they live, in a place called San Marcos, in Puerto Plata – if you read this message and are compelled to help these people in any way, ask after the Police “cuartel” in San Marcos for “los 2 ninos” and anyone will tell you where they live or take you to their home directly.
Back to why no title to this post, it was either about giving thanks for what you have or it was about asking you to give something to someone who needs and I couldn’t make the decision, but I do want as many people to know about this as possible, and if you can help please do. I will not ask over the internet to receive donations for these children, but if you can’t make it to Puerto Plata, find a way of helping if you can.
After the 2 boys sister ate her food, the family left. Less than 3 minutes later a woman no older than 40 with no physical disabilities, walking around with her daughter of 15 or so (slightly overweight but not disabled), stuck her hand out asking for something…I may have been wrong in doing what I did, but I told her that she could go and clean a house if she wanted to. She walked away, 1 minute later came back and said to me “Young man you are right”.
Last night Monday 22nd August, and continuing into the early hours of the morning, Hurricane Irene passed by the north coast of The Dominican Republic, leaving a 30 mile or so wide berth. Lots of rain and wind, but no serious damage to account for. In fact the main street of Sosua was more lively than usual for a Monday night – in this town it takes more than a category 2 hurricane for people to stop partying!
Arguably the nicest park on the whole north coast of the Dominican Republic, on Friday 5th August 2011, the Parque Mirador Sosua was inaugurated by the Mayor Ilana Neumann and other political/social figures.
The park, which overlooks Playa Alicia, is the replacement for what was known as Calle Sin Salida. The works had taken over 10 months to finish, but now the park is ready and includes homage to the Jewish community settlers, stairs that access the beach directly, various lighting effects including sunken lighting, plenty of places to sit and also there are guard rails all along the perimeter of the park.
There is ample parking for at least 15 vehicles, trash cans and 24 hour security on the form of Politur officers.
Soon there will also be a cafeteria, which is not quite finished.
This park is in my opinion the greatest social work completed by any mayor or political figure in Sosua…one the cliffs of one of the most amazing beaches the country has to offer. This is paradise…
Valerie Bartholomew and Corwin Combdon are turning a short winter’s break into a prelude to a move. With a love of adventure and dreams of the beach, they’re quitting their jobs to call the Dominican Republic home.
Realtor Tay Oz shows them how far their budget can go and offers a variety of options from private living to beachside paradise. Will they make it work? Will they find work? Tune in when House Hunters International sets sail for Sosua in the Dominican Republic.
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