These original Kirt's Cogitations™ may be reproduced (no more than 5, please) provided proper credit is given to me, Kirt Blattenberger.

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   Cog·i·ta·tion [koj-i-tey'-shun] – noun: Concerted thought or reflection; meditation; contemplation.
   Kirt [kert] – proper noun: RF Cafe webmaster.

Family-Friendly Wal-Mart

Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Stores, bought his first corporate aircraft in 1957 — a 1948 Ercoupe. He flew the plane himself seeking sites for Wal-Mart stores and now has 28 aircraft — 21 are located at Bentonville, AR, the Wal-Mart headquarters. Only two were bought new. 19 are Learjets. Each business day they start to depart about 6 A.M. and about 3 P.M. they start returning, usually with a full load of eight passengers. Learjet passengers get coffee, water and Sam’s Cola. No snacks, meals, or gum. The 77 Wal-Mart pilots fly about 55 hours monthly, fly one weekend monthly, overnight 4 times monthly, but otherwise are home for dinner. They know a year in advance what their days off will be.