Vintage Photos from a Family Album

Thomas A. Worrall (seated right) on a business trip to Shanghai, China (Circa October 1926)

Two important world events shaped the destiny of the Rimar Family. Shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, Thomas Worrall helped smuggle Peter's grandfather and great-grandmother out of Russia. After leaving Russia, he married my great-grandmother. Later, sometime during the short period before the Nazis crossed the border into France (April 1940), he relocated the Rimar family out of Europe.

"The Hall of Supreme Harmony" 太和殿

Original photograph taken by Thomas A. Worrall

(Peter's Step- Great Grandfather)

Circa October 1926

The Forbidden City, Beijing (Peking), China

French Army

Medical Evacuation Exercise

Circa 1935

Original Vintage Photo by Eugene Rimar

(My Grandfather)

What if F.D.R. wasn't elected President? It's amazing how certain moments in history impact the destiny of the common man. In the summer of 1934, Peter's Grandfather (George Mullenix) traveled to Panther, West Virgina as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It was during this period that he met and eventually married a young college student named Darcus Bailey (my grandmother).

Wal-Mart goes GREEN?

In January 2003, for various political and economic reasons, this blogger decided to boycott shopping at Wal-Mart. Five years later, in February 2008, I walked back into a store in Beijing.

I believed corporations actually respond to the purchasing power of consumers. For example, if Americans demand more products "Made in the USA", eventually, retailers will respond by stocking more locally manufactured items. It's really not that complicated. It's called "give the people what they want" economics.

CNN Money
Wal-Mart returns to 'Buy American' roots. Really?
May 12, 2011
Read More...

Another case in point is Wal-Mart's recent business decision to install solar panels on 130 of its California stores by 2013:

PC Magazine
Walmart Goes Solar In California
September 23, 2011
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I've always found that if something is important, people, governments & corporations always find the time, energy & money to pay for IT (whatever it is).
Force of Nature: The Unlikely Story of Wal-Mart's Green Revolution (Hardcover)

Corporation Update: Shortly after I wrote this POST, Wal-Mart announced it would cut health care benefits for some part-time workers. Read More...
*Derivative photograph of marketing montage, Wal-Mart Visitor's Center, Bentonville, Arkansas (May 2010).
*Wal-Mart Store Entrance, Beijing, PRC (February 2008)