[quote=Moraen] [quote=Ronnie Dobbs] I never said I knew everything. It’s obvious however, that I know as much as you about Germany, if not more and I’ve never been there. Maybe i’ve never walked down the streets of Berlin, but if we both were in germany and had to take a sht, atleast i’d be able to find my way to the bathroom without looking like a tourist, while you sht your pants asking for directions in English. Lucky for you, most germans speak English.



My father was in germany for the same amount of time as you, and i know 100 times more about Germany than him. Theory is not the same as practice, but if you don’t know Theory…you can’t f***in practice.[/quote]



Here we go:



Went to a GERMAN school for two years of primary school. 1 of secondary. Actually, I have never walked down the streets of Berlin.



Do you know what the protocol is in a German swimming pool? Can you navigate to Neuschwanstein? How many locks do you have to go through on the Rhine (total)? How many castles did Mad King Ludwig finish? How many didn’t he finish? I’ve been skiing in the German Alps with Herman Schepers and understand German farming more than I’d like to admit.



I have, in fact been in many Staus, and have driven there (as recently as last year). My mother is FROM Germany. My father lived there for five years before marrying my mother, spent the last three years there.



I’ve also eaten AUTHENTIC German food (since I was actually there). I have NEVER lived on a military base. We live out on “the economy” because that’s the way to really do it.



And NEWSFLASH Windy - they have PICTURES on the bathrooms! I’m surprised from all of your research you didn’t know that. And most Germans do NOT speak English for your information. Most Germans you will meet at an Airport will. [/quote]



Wrong buddy. As English is a mandatory study in high school, in Germany. I know that for fact. Now if you are talking about people from the old country in the hills that speach Hoech Deutsch, i would agree. But thats like going into the deep south in the U.S, they don’t even speak english in our own country. My family is from Germany as well, not to mention the many friends i have over there. One being a high school ENGLISH teacher. Which by the way is a high paying occupation over there. He drives a Benz.



I’m sure you went to an American School, Moraen.

Windy = Owned



I’m serious with my tractor question.

BJ Windy - Just do us all a favor and find a busy street to play in.

You don’t know anything for a fact. Have you been to school there? Who told you that?   English fluency is NOT mandatory. Even in this country. And, the German education system isn’t set up like ours.



Once again you have proven your ignorance by not experiencing something. Ever read the poem, “The arena”? You are like a TV pundit commenting on things you’ve never experienced. Branson, MO indeed.



Anyway, back to the original topic. Div trips are cool. But you can do more as an indy for less. Also, you never responded to my breakdown of my expenses. Why is that? You thought that being independent was just like being at Jones except you pay for the stuff yourself. Yet again, inexperience shows.

Morean, wind, lets just agree that insurance b/d are the best of both worlds. 
70% payout on loads
85% payout on 12b-1
80% payout on wrap


… and lets not talk about that $250k SEP plan we lost 2 weeks ago because we can sell existing but can not buy individual T-bills.  A couple more losses like that and we’ll be asking  about what we can get going indy

[quote=BerkshireBull]

Morean, wind, lets just agree that insurance b/d are the best of both worlds. 70% payout on loads85% payout on 12b-180% payout on wrap… and lets not talk about that $250k SEP plan we lost 2 weeks ago because we can sell existing but can not buy individual T-bills. A couple more losses like that and we’ll be asking about what we can get going indy

[/quote]



Ok. I’ll agree.

[quote=Ron 14] BJ Windy - Just do us all a favor and find a busy street to play in.

I wish I could have taken you on a few of my last few 'company' trips.  They were a little longer than you may have wanted--a little over a year each.  Twice to historic Iraq; did you know they have 7,000 years of civilization? Once for some lively time in Central America, and lets not forget Kosovo/Serbia. 

Still … How close did you come for qualifying for a trip?



… With respect to retention tools. Everything any company offers you including salary is a retention tool. Don’t think you uncovered a hidden secret. It’s also a production driver for multiple reasons.



The reason Jones comes up on Div. Trips is pretty simple. It’s the one common thread everyone shares. If I have a chance to “pick” the brain of a super star you better damn well believe I’m going to do it. Regardless of where it is. Only a fool turns down that chance. I’ve done it on reward trips before with no regrets.



Since M and Windy refuse to answer the tractor question I’m calling BS!!!

[quote=TwoTour]

I wish I could have taken you on a few of my last few ‘company’ trips. They were a little longer than you may have wanted–a little over a year each. Twice to historic Iraq; did you know they have 7,000 years of civilization? Once for some lively time in Central America, and lets not forget Kosovo/Serbia.

[quote=voltmoie] Still … How close did you come for qualifying for a trip?



… With respect to retention tools. Everything any company offers you including salary is a retention tool. Don’t think you uncovered a hidden secret. It’s also a production driver for multiple reasons.



The reason Jones comes up on Div. Trips is pretty simple. It’s the one common thread everyone shares. If I have a chance to “pick” the brain of a super star you better damn well believe I’m going to do it. Regardless of where it is. Only a fool turns down that chance. I’ve done it on reward trips before with no regrets.



Since M and Windy refuse to answer the tractor question I’m calling BS!!!

[/quote]



I"ll admit I don’t know anything about the tractors. My great-grandfather had a farm - HE had a tractor (two). But I’ve only seen them a few times outside of rural areas. Once in Stuttgart. Once in Kaiserslatern (four there).



As for Still - Munich is a big city - just like Paris or Madrid. A lot of business people. English is the international language of business. Just sayin’. And if you knew anything about Germany - Bavaria is not part of Germany . At least that’s the joke among Bavarians.



FWIW - Have fun on your first div trips volt and Wind. Volt your wife will love it, Wind, so will your GF. My guess is that you both will love it. Be prepared for a kool-aid fest though. But I also know it won’t be what you expect.

[quote=voltmoie] [quote=TwoTour]

I wish I could have taken you on a few of my last few ‘company’ trips. They were a little longer than you may have wanted–a little over a year each. Twice to historic Iraq; did you know they have 7,000 years of civilization? Once for some lively time in Central America, and lets not forget Kosovo/Serbia.

[quote=voltmoie]Still … How close did you come for qualifying for a trip?



… With respect to retention tools. Everything any company offers you including salary is a retention tool. Don’t think you uncovered a hidden secret. It’s also a production driver for multiple reasons.
[/quote]

Qualify for a trip???

as for retention…I thought I was pointing out the obvious.

[quote=Moraen]
As for Still - Munich is a big city - just like Paris or Madrid. A lot of business people. English is the international language of business. Just sayin’. And if you knew anything about Germany - Bavaria is not part of Germany . At least that’s the joke among Bavarians.


[/quote]

Oh, I wasn’t talking about geography…I was talking about beer! You know, it’s a weekend!

…maybe I will read up on Bavaria this afternoon with a nice cold Schneider Weisse.

[quote=Still@jones]

[quote=Moraen] [quote=voltmoie]
As for Still - Munich is a big city - just like Paris or Madrid. A lot of business people. English is the international language of business. Just sayin’. And if you knew anything about Germany - Bavaria is not part of Germany . At least that’s the joke among Bavarians.


[/quote]

Oh, I wasn’t talking about geography…I was talking about beer! You know, it’s a weekend!

…maybe I will read up on Bavaria this afternoon with a nice cold Schneider Weisse.
[/quote]

I don’t know how people drink that crap. Those European beers are gross…

[quote=SometimesNowhere]

[quote=Still@jones]



[quote=Moraen] [quote=voltmoie] As for Still - Munich is a big city - just like Paris or Madrid. A lot of business people. English is the international language of business. Just sayin’. And if you knew anything about Germany - Bavaria is not part of Germany . At least that’s the joke among Bavarians.



[/quote]Oh, I wasn’t talking about geography…I was talking about beer! You know, it’s a weekend!..maybe I will read up on Bavaria this afternoon with a nice cold Schneider Weisse.[/quote]I don’t know how people drink that crap. Those European beers are gross…[/quote]



Thats because American Beer is watered down crap, compared to German beer. Your just used to crap. It’s sorta like eating fast food all the time, then you start craving it, when in fact a nice home-cooked healthy meal actually taste SO MUCH BETTER.



Moraen - We’ll call it even. Don’t want to argue and I’m sure you know some stuff about Germany. The point is though, you can definitly have an idea of something, without actually doing it. I’m sure we will love the trip. I don’t mind pickin the GP’s brain when he/she takes us out to dinner (for our first div trip), but i’ll admit that I won’t be at every dinner. Just aint happenin. Besides, I’ve been told by about 10 different advisors that the “meetings” are a joke and the wholesalers are usually quick to get you out. If I was a wholesaler, I would be. Hell, their on vacation too.

[quote=Ronnie Dobbs] [quote=SometimesNowhere]

[quote=Still@jones]



[quote=Moraen] [quote=voltmoie] As for Still - Munich is a big city - just like Paris or Madrid. A lot of business people. English is the international language of business. Just sayin’. And if you knew anything about Germany - Bavaria is not part of Germany . At least that’s the joke among Bavarians.



[/quote]Oh, I wasn’t talking about geography…I was talking about beer! You know, it’s a weekend!..maybe I will read up on Bavaria this afternoon with a nice cold Schneider Weisse.[/quote]I don’t know how people drink that crap. Those European beers are gross…[/quote]



Thats because American Beer is watered down crap, compared to German beer. Your just used to crap. It’s sorta like eating fast food all the time, then you start craving it, when in fact a nice home-cooked healthy meal actually taste SO MUCH BETTER.



Moraen - We’ll call it even. Don’t want to argue and I’m sure you know some stuff about Germany. The point is though, you can definitly have an idea of something, without actually doing it. I’m sure we will love the trip. I don’t mind pickin the GP’s brain when he/she takes us out to dinner (for our first div trip), but i’ll admit that I won’t be at every dinner. Just aint happenin. Besides, I’ve been told by about 10 different advisors that the “meetings” are a joke and the wholesalers are usually quick to get you out. If I was a wholesaler, I would be. Hell, their on vacation too.[/quote]

I agree that the big “American” brewers are watered down crap, but there are a lot of great beers in that next tier down in terms of size. I am saying that there is a distinctive sweetness/filminess that some of those European beers have that a decent red ale just doesn’t. I just don’t understand why people like that, a matter of taste I suppose.

Oh, and for what it’s worth I wholeheartedly believe that the most beautiful women I have ever seen were dancing in the clubs in Munich.

lol…of the german women i’ve met, except for 1…Agreed…

The only time I’ve ever “drank” one of the “Big American” beers was while doing a hand-stand over a keg or when I had a few in the funnel. Other than that, I need a beer with some flavor.