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Are you a fan of radishes? I'm not exactly into this particular root vegetable. I don't like how it tastes. I always pick the slices out of my salads.
Did you know that the radish is related to wasabi? Wasabi, a type of horseradish. It's part of the Brassicaceae (mustard or cabbage) family. Other related root vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, kale and of course horseradish, among others.
A whole cup of radish slices is only 19 calories. WOW! If you are on a diet and love radishes this would make a great snack food.
According to Natural News, radishes contain Vitamin C, protein and calcium. They have been used to treat kidney and skin disorders, fight cancer and soothe insect bites.
Here are some more interesting facts about this little root veggie.
Who knew? Knowing all of this I am going to look at that little reddish veggie in a different light (but I still won't eat it :-)).
The topic of this post is about spring cleaning. What in the world do radishes have to do with cleaning?
Let me start by saying I'm a fan of the cleaning products from Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, most especially their seasonal scent, Iowa Pine. I always try and stock up on that scent when I can find it.
Other lovely scents from Mrs. Meyers Clean Day that I've tried include Lemon Verbena, Lavender and Basil. Other scents available that I have not tired yet include Bluebell, Geranium, Rosemary, Honeysuckle, Rhubarb, Parsley, Apple and Baby Blossom. Eventually I'd love to try all the available scents.
Mrs. Meyers has a new scent they added to their product line – Radish. Never in a million years would I think to make products that were scented like a radish. Lilac, Rose or chocolate maybe (imagine chocolate house cleaners? YUM!).
A bundle of ripe Radishes provide a peppery crispness to gardens and kitchens. Grown in a brilliant spectrum of colors—white, plum, pink and ruby red, this hardy root vegetable is not only pleasing to the palate, but to the eyes as well. With this zippy scent, cleaning is sure to be a snap.
All of Mrs. Meyers products are available in this scent including dish soap, all purpose cleaner, counter top spray and even liquid hand soap.
I was surprised when a mystery package arrived at my home filled with Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products in the Radish scent. I love the products so I know they work well. It was the scent that I was really anxious to try out. I never even thought radishes had much of a scent.
Honestly I can't tell you that the products truly smell like a radish you picked from your garden. I can tell you that the scent is wonderful. I love it! I keep smelling it to figure out what it reminds me of. I can't really tell. It might be radish. As you know I'm not a fan of the veggie so I don't really know what a garden fresh radish smells like. I imagine it does smell the like Mrs. Meyers products. It has a delicate, fresh scent.
If I were to see the Radish scent products on the store shelf, alone with my other favorite scents, I WOULD purchase the Radish scented products again. I really like the scent.
I love Mrs. Meyers products because they DON'T have chemical or toxic scents. They smell fresh and clean. That is because they are made with essentials oils from herbs and flowers. All the products work well as far as cleaning your hands, counter tops and other surfaces. Best of all the products are all Earth friendly and cruelty free.
You can find Mrs. Meyers at retail stores (I often find the products at Target). They are also available online including the Mrs. Meyers Clean Day website and Amazon.
For more information or to check out the available products and scents visit www.MrsMeyers.com. You can also follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and even Pinterest.
*I received free sample products in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced in any way.


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Subject: Re: [htdig] Advice wanted: Multiple mailing lists
From: Wayde Allen (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Date: Fri Mar 17 2000 - 12:35:17 PST
On Fri, 17 Mar 2000, Gilles Detillieux wrote:
> According to Wayde Allen:
> > In my mailing list archives the messages are archived by thread, author,
> > subject, date, and also stored as a large text file (month.txt). I've
> > tried setting the exclude_urls line in the htdig.conf file to:
> >
> > exclude_urls: /cgi-bin/ .cgi subject.html author.html \
> > .txt
> >
> > This sort of seems to work, but I was wondering if anyone has a better
> > solution? I don't like excluding anything with a .txt extension for
> > instance, but also don't want to have to add an exclusion line explicitely
> > for each month.txt file.
> Search the archives on www.htdig.org, for words such as mhonarc. There
> have been a number of similar threads already dealing with this. The best
> approach involves insersion of tags in parts of files to prevent certain
> sections from being indexed.
OK, I've used mhonarc before. Right at the moment I'm using Mailman as my
list server and the default archiving software is pipermail. As I
remember mhonarc is quite configurable and may be a better solution.
Thanks for the tip about the indexing tags. I'll look into that.
- Wayde
To unsubscribe from the htdig mailing list, send a message to
You will receive a message to confirm this.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Fri Mar 17 2000 - 11:34:44 PST

subset: commoncrawl


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Facing the prospect of difficult elections ahead, three Arizona Democrats are stocking up on campaign cash - with help from their colleagues and leaders in Washington.Read More »
Home (page 3)
Arizona delegation responds to Obama health care speech
President Obama on Sept. 9 offered what could be his administration's last direct attempt to convince Americans to rally around his health care plan, offering an outline Democrats found encouraging. But even as Democrats hope for a new wind on health care, Republicans were largely unswayed, with Arizona Rep. Trent Franks calling the address "divorced from reality completely."Read More »


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Onward too came forth the kurus, by the matchless Bhishma led, Shouts arose and cry of anguish midst the dying and the dead!
After his fall, the kurus were led by Karna, the prince of the Angas.
Thus, rightly or wrongly, the Pandus were brought into the family of the kurus.
And, O best of the kurus, it is the Yatis only who have access to it.
And ablutions done, the kurus slow and sad and cheerless part, Wend their way to far Hastina with a void and vacant heart.
This exalted personage is ready to slay all the kurus in battle.
I do not see that foremost of kurus, accomplished in arms, skilful in fight, and matchless among bowmen.
People are said to go to the kurus or Panclas, not to Mithil or any other city.
The kurus may have been late-comers who formed a military aristocracy, and displaced earlier settlers who opposed their rule.
If he had accepted my words thus addressed, the welfare of the kurus as also virtue itself would both have been secured!
kuru ku·ru (kur'ōō)
A progressive, fatal spongiform encephalopathy, probably caused by a slow-acting virus, that is endemic to certain peoples of New Guinea and may be transmitted through cannibalism.
A rare, progressive, degenerative neurological disease found in certain peoples of New Guinea and associated with cannibalism. It is thought to be caused by a prion and results in a fatal encephalopathy. See Note at prion.


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About JogjaDrew:
I have traveled fairly extensively throughout Japan, China, Taiwan and, most recently, Indonesia. I really enjoy Asian food & architecture, particularly the trend toward "tropical modern." My wife (Suzanne) & I started IMPACT IMPORTS in 2001, & we travel Indonesia's islands looking for unique, one-of-a-kind items to impact your home & garden. We specialize in reclaimed old growth teak furniture, architectural elements, home accessories, marble & onyx vessel sinks & bathtubs, hand carved lava & limestone garden stone, and much more. We were the first company to create & provide petrified wood tile & we have completed many custom projects for both commercial & residential clients. Impact Imports has a 10,000 Sq Ft warehouse in Boise, Idaho, and a showroom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (in Old City at 2nd & Arch).
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From: Delphine12
Very nice :)
Posted 2 Years Ago
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From: JustEliana
Hey there! I'm Eliana, your newest ThisNext fan. Just wondering...what kinda stuff do you like? Click the "recommendations" link above to tell us about your favorite products. Don't forget to tag your items "TN Cupcake" to enter to win a cupcake prize package! Need help? AIM me at "ElianaTN".
Posted 9 Years Ago


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A 22-year-old Borden-Carleton man will be appearing court in September to answer to charges of refusal to provide a breath sample and possession of cannabis marijuana.
On Saturday, July 26 at just before 4 a.m., members of the East Prince RCMP responded to a single-vehicle collision in North Tryon on Highway 1.
Police determined the man had been the operator of the vehicle and had the smell of liquor on his breath.
The 22-year-old was given a demand for a breath sample, and was subsequently arrested when failing to comply.
He was also found to be in possession of cannabis marijuana, and it was determined he was on parole and was in violation of one or more of the conditions of his parole.
A parole warrant was issued for his return to custody in the federal prison system.


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Meet 'Step Up Revolution' Stars Kathryn McCormick And Ryan Guzman
Step Up Revolution is the latest in the most successful film dance franchise in the world, and the latest film features to new stars – Ryan Guzman and Kathyrn McCormick.
You may very well recognize both of them.
Ryan is a former Calvin Klein model and Kathryn is a former, top female dancer on So You Think You Can Dance. They bring the heat and the skills to Step Up Revolution, which is directed by Scott Speer, who was part of Jon M. Chu's (a producer on the film) The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (The LXD).
This installment of the franchise takes place in Mimai. Emily (Kathryn McCormick) arrives in Miami with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer and soon falls in love with Sean (Ryan Guzman), a young man who leads a dance crew in elaborate, cutting-edge flash mobs, called "The Mob."
When a wealthy business man threatens to develop The Mob's historic neighborhood and displace thousands of people, Emily must band together with Sean and The Mob to turn their performance art into protest art, and risk losing their dreams to fight for a greater cause.
Launch the gallery to check out photos from the film as well as Ryan and Kathryn hitting the red carpet. Watch the trailer for the film below.
Step Up Revolution is in theaters July 27, 2012.


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I love the Wesleyan Quadrilateral because it is honest. Citing the four main sources of a Christian's theology—Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience—it describes reality and lays a foundation for Christian leaders to prescribe how Christians should do theology. The Quadrilateral is true to history, what people do with their heads, and what people actually live through while confirming the chief place of Scripture in the making of theology. Although teachers have to be careful when diagramming the Quadrilateral, it is far better than waving around a bald "sola scriptura!"
Sola scriptura is good doctrine when fully understood in its historical and doctrinal context. It was asserted against papal doctrinal tyranny on the one hand and the bloated prestige ascribed to extrabiblical Christian authorities on the other hand, like Church councils and papal decrees. However, sola scriptura is ineffective and obfuscating as a Protestant sound bite argument. It inaccurately represents the reality of evangelical Protestant belief because not all of our beliefs come from the Bible or from reasoning based upon the Bible. The Wesleyan Quadrilateral, while not a handy flaming dart for an apologetics conversation, accurately describes what goes into our understanding of God and of the Christian life as a whole.
A fuller definition of the meaning and usage of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral is as follows:
The phrase which has relatively recently come into use to describe the principal factors that John Wesley believed illuminate the core of the Christian faith for the believer. Wesley did not formulate the succinct statement now commonly referred to as the Wesley Quadrilateral. Building on the Anglican theological tradition, Wesley added a fourth emphasis, experience. The resulting four components or "sides" of the quadrilateral are (1) Scripture, (2) tradition, (3) reason, and (4) experience. For United Methodists, Scripture is considered the primary source and standard for Christian doctrine. Tradition is experience and the witness of development and growth of the faith through the past centuries and in many nations and cultures. Experience is the individual's understanding and appropriating of the faith in the light of his or her own life. Through reason the individual Christian brings to bear on the Christian faith discerning and cogent thought. These four elements taken together bring the individual Christian to a mature and fulfilling understanding of the Christian faith and the required response of worship and service.
As far as tradition is concerned, there are reasons why Protestants read the Bible in one way and not in another. Somebody older told somebody younger that passage X means X, passage Y means Y, and passage Z means Z, and so they passed it on down with further corrections and additions from scholars all down the line. While the history of Protestant theology may be studied in any decent seminary, what we hear today in modern churches is "biblical, biblical, biblical!" as though what is preached from the pulpit is the single obvious meaning of the biblical text. This is devoid of any sense of the intervening 2,000 years of active Christian theology! Tradition has a part to play in doing good theology.
Founding Protestant confessions and creeds have acknowledged the role of tradition in the formation of Christian theology, and they have made reservations to accepting tradition wholeheartedly. Article XXXI of the Westminster Confession addresses Church synods and councils, states that,
All synods or councils, since the apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both.
Though there has been error, historical theological conclusions must inform present theological work. An attractive element of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy is that they openly declare their connection to what came before, whereas Protestants have to dig a bit. If evangelical Protestants are serious about their distinctiveness, they need to be able to declare their historical roots and go all the way back to the beginning. Without being aware of when we started believing what we believe, theological leaps and jumps—even with appropriate biblical evidence—could untraceably unhinge our beliefs.
I love the Wesleyan Quadrilateral because it is honest. It says that tradition informs what Christians believe, and so it does. Sola scriptura torn from the setting of history—nay, tradition—is even halfway a lie. In the movie Lawrence of Arabia, a character says, "When we told lies you told half-lies. And a man who tells lies, like me, merely hides the truth. But a man who tells half-lies has forgotten where he put it." Tradition remembers the full truth and tells it, but sola scriptura waving forgets where it is kept.


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Grants are generally sums of money awarded to finance a particular activity or facility. Generally, these grant awards do not need to be paid back.
The MDA offers many grant programs to assist individuals and organizations with agricultural development.
AGRI Agriculture Value-Added Feasibility Study Grant - reimbursement up to 50% of the costs, with a maximum award of $35,000, for an independent third party consultant to conduct a feasibility study of your agricultural value-added business venture.
AGRI County Fair Grant - awarded to Minnesota's county fairs to ensure all Minnesotans have the opportunity to participate in programs that preserve and promote Minnesota's agriculture.
AGRI Crop Research Grant Program – funds for applied crop research that will improve agricultural product quality, quantity, and/or value and create public, transferable information with near term benefits for Minnesota farmers and the state's economy.
AGRI Food Hub Grant Program – supports food hubs or other alternative community-based food distribution systems in order to increase sales of Minnesota agricultural products.
AGRI Livestock Investment Grant - grants awarded to persons or entities who raise livestock in Minnesota, for the purposes of improving or expanding livestock production in Minnesota.
AGRI Minnesota Farm to Early Care and Education Grant Program - supports Minnesota early care and education programs in the processing of Minnesota agricultural products.
AGRI Minnesota Farm to School Grant Program - supports Minnesota school districts in the processing of Minnesota agricultural products.
AGRI Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant - awarded to innovative, promising and worthwhile demonstrations of sustainable agricultural methods or systems in Minnesota.
AGRI Value Added Grant Program – supports Minnesota agricultural producers and processors to expand markets for Minnesota products.
Dairy Business Planning Grant - encourages dairy business planning and modernization activities of Minnesota dairy farms.
Dairy Profitability & Enhancement Teams - for producers who are looking to make some changes in their operations.
Forest Protection Reserve Appropriation - grants to aid municipalities and organizations in preparing for new infestations of emerald ash borer or to respond to existing infestations of the invasive insect pest.
GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant - the Good Food Access Program (GFAP) supports grocery stores and small food retailers in increasing the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally-appropriate food for underserved communities.
MAWQCP Financial Assistance Grant - Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) financial assistance grant.
Specialty Crop Grants - grants to help specialty crop growers in Minnesota remain competitive in the marketplace.


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Rent Comprehensive Self-Study Manual for Retail Readiness Certification Prep 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Cynthia Greene. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by CENGAGE Learning.
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2000: Rush singer & bassist Geddy Lee released his first solo album My Favorite Headache.
1992: Judas Priest singer Rob Halford performed the first of two concerts fronting Black Sabbath opening for Ozzy Osbourne in Costa Mesa, CA filling in for Ronnie James Dio who refused to perform because Osbourne was re-forming the original Sabbath lineup as these concerts were advertised as Osbourne's farewell concerts.
1992: Bon Jovi reached number one on the U.K. album chart for the second time with their fifth album Keep the Faith which spent one week on top of the chart. The album peaked at number five in the U.S.
1991: Aerosmith were inducted into the Boston Garden Hall of Fame.
1990: Pete Townshend revealed he was bisexual in an interview with Newsweek. In a 2002 interview with Rolling Stone Townshend would later explain that he engaged in some brief same-sex experiment in the 1960's, he is heterosexual.
1989: Aerosmith kicked off their first European tour in twelve years at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. David Coverdale of Whitesnake joined them onstage for a rendition of The Beatles' "I'm Down".
1987: Billy Idol peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200 Album Chart with his first compilation album Vital Idol which went on to go Platinum in the U.S.
1977: Kiss kicked off their tour in support of Alive II at the Myriad Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience & Pink Floyd kicked off a U.K. tour at Royal Albert Hall in London.
Birthdays:James "J.Y." Young-guitarist for Styx born in 1949Frankie Banali-drummer for Quiet Riot born in 1951Alec John Such-bassist for Bon Jovi born in 1956
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1. What are the three phases of an intercept procedure?
2. If intercepted, you should attempt to communicate with the pilot of the intercepting aircraft on which radio frequency?
3. If the intercepting aircraft rocks its wings and then initiates a slow, level turn to a new heading, it means that you ____.
4. If the pilot of the intercepting aircraft wants you to follow him or her and you are not in radio contact, how should you signal that you understand and will comply?
5. If equipped with a transponder, you should squawk ____ when intercepted, unless ATC instructs otherwise.
6. At any point, to signal that you cannot comply, you should ____.
7. If the pilot of the intercepting aircraft decides to terminate the intercept procedure, he or she will ____.
8. If ATC provides you with instructions that conflict with the intercepting aircraft's signals, you should ____.
9. You've been intercepted, and the intercepting aircraft has designated a landing runway. After consulting the airport diagram, you think the runway may be too short. Must you land on the designated runway?
10. The AIM instructs pilots to ____.


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I knew she was in that mood when confession to a kindred soul is most consoling to the heart.
Given a kindred soul the two will talk and laugh by the hour.
She heeds you not; already she sees the spirits of the just advancing together to receive a kindred soul.
"To its kindred soul," was the reply which was not exactly what was first intended.
I did not know him long, but he was a kindred soul, and must have a place in my list of boys.
The soul had a right to seek its kindred soul: that I could not deny.
I've half a mind to take you home without even an introduction, for your impudence; as though I was not a 'kindred soul.'
She turned to her kindred soul and looked at him gently, almost wistfully.
Mrs. Doss, somebody interrupted you; you were talking about a kindred soul and an attic.
She turned abruptly to her kindred soul, who stood listening with a mien of wonder and dismay.


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- Left/Right construction for anatomical fit.
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- ArmourBlock Anti-Odor technology prevents the growth of odor causing microbes.
- Embedded arch support reduces foot fatigue.
- Seamless toe & contoured "Y" heel for the perfect, comfortable fit.
- Single pair.
- Polyester/Cotton/Nylon/Spandex.


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And I thought that the kid who had been with me in St. Martin was spreading lies, too.
His new memoir, I Left It on Mountain, will be published by St. Martin's Press.
My parents used to go to the same place in the Caribbean every year, to a hotel called La Samanna in St. Martin.
His new memoir, I Left It on Mountain , will be published by St. Martin's Press.
One of the revealing stories is his first time—with a hooker in St. Martin, courtesy of a well-meaning friend.
Now he halts at the corner of old St. Martin's church, turns and contemplates the scene before him.
And dance with tienne St. Martin until I am obliged to whip him?
St. Martin received a severe wound in the left side from a shot-gun.
The St. Martin's Islands are also in full view from this point.
The tower on the north side was erected to the honour of St. Martin, having a passage to it from the cloisters.
kind of swallow-like bird (Chelidon urbica), 1580s, from Scot. martoune (mid-15c.), from Middle French martin, from the masc. proper name in some sense. Writers in 17c. said it was named for St. Martin of Tours (d. 397 C.E.), whose festival day (Martinmas) is Nov. 11, about the time the birds depart.
masc. proper name, from Latin Martinus, derivative of Mars (genitive Martis), Roman god of war (see Mars).
Martin Mar·tin (mär'tn), Lillien Jane. 1851-1943.
American psychologist who is noted for her pioneering work in gerontology.


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Halloween on the Valor: Carnival Valor Cruise Review by MistyRo76
Overall Member Rating
Halloween on the Valor
Destination: Western Caribbean
Embarkation: Miami
We had a large group on the Carnival Valor on the 10/24/09 sailing from Miami to the Western Carribean (Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan Island and Cozumel). We were celebrating one member of our groups 30th birthday. In all, we had 17 people. Ages ranged from mid 20's to mid 40's. Some of our group had cruised many times and we also had several first timers. We also had people book various cabin types from an Interior to a Balcony. Our group was mostly from the Kentucky/Ohio area, with some joining us from Montana and California.
For me, this was my 11th Carnival cruise and first time on the Valor. I had previously been to all of the ports except for Roatan Island, Honduras. Many people in our group (including myself, previously) worked for a commercial airline. Many of us flew in the day before standby. For the first time since my 2nd cruise, I booked confirmed airfare. Me More and three others from our group flew into Ft. Lauderdale the morning before our cruise. We flew Delta non-stop to FLL and arrived right on time. I had arranged sedan service to pick us up from FLL and take us to our hotel in downtown Miami. When researching different types of transportation, I found this to be the most bang for our buck. I got a taxi quote for about $60 not incl. tip. And we did not want to do a long shared shuttle service that stopped at multiple hotels. We were able to secure the sedan for approximately $65 incl. tip. A couple days before we left our group of three flying together went up to 4. So I called the company and they upgraded us to an SUV for no extra cost. While we were waiting for our luggage, I received a text from our driver and he said that he was at the airport and to call when we had our bags and he would drive around to baggage claim and pick us up. We had our bags a few minutes later, so I called him and he was curbside in about 3 minutes. It only took us about 20 minutes to get to our hotel. I would highly recommend this service instead of a taxi or shared ride. In 30 minutes from the time we stepped off the plane we were at our hotel. Totally worth it. Other members of our group, used the ride share and it took them 45 minutes to an hour to get from MIA to our hotel.
Our group stayed in several places for the night before the cruise. Some stayed with friends in Ft. Lauderdale and some were at the Courtyard Marriott downtown. We also had 4 rooms booked at the Intercontinental Miami Downtown. I stayed at the Intercontinental, which I booked on Easy Click Travel for on $84/nt. per room. This hotel usually goes for $250+ on other hotel sites. It is a beautiful hotel and in a great location. The rooms are spacious and we had a teeny corner view of the port. A real harbor view would have cost us much more. This hotel is just a short 5-10 minute walk to Bayside Marketplace. Those of us already in town, walked over to Bayside for lunch and a few drinks. Bayside is a great spot for different types of resturants and shops. The weather was beautiful as it had just stopped raining right when we got to our hotel and the sun had just come out. We spent the afternoon at Bayside and then waited for the rest of our group to get to town. We ventured out downtown to find a liquor store to stock up on some liquor and wine to take onboard the ship. There are several liquor stores within walking distance of the Intercontinental. Once our whole group had made it to town, we walked back to Bayside and had a great Italian dinner.
I had arranged a shuttle van to take those of us who stayed at the two hotels downtown to the Port the morning of the cruise. The van picked us up at 10:00AM and we were at the port by 10:20 after making the pick up at the 2nd hotel. We left our bags with the porter on the pier and proceeded to the security checkpoint. There was no line at the checkpoint and we were through it and checked in within 15 minutes. We waited in the holding room until boarding began and were on the ship by 11:45.
Ship: The ship was wonderful. It was being cleaned constantly. Our room steward was one of the most attentive and sweet that I have had in my 11 Carnival cruises. He intorduced himself to us immediately and always stopped to chat when passing us in the hallways. Our cabin was 1220, a Category 4A on the Riviera Deck. It was your standard Interior cabin. It was more than sufficient in size for me and my sister. There is ample closet space, which included more hangers that I remembered having on prevoius ships. I always bring a decent supply of extra hangers, but barely needed to use them this time. The bathroom has a standing shower and large vanity. Shampoo and Shower Gel are provided and there are samples of other items (toothpaste, rolaids, etc.) in a basket on the counter. Bring a small power strip with extra outlets tho, as there is only one standard outlet at the vanity in the main part of the cabin. All of the ship's crew were outstanding. We never received less than great service and crew members were also quick to say hello when passing in hallways or riding in elevators.
A couple quick shout out's to a couple crewmembers who helped many our cruise that much more memorable:
Benjamin - Our waiter in the Main Dining Room, was outstanding. He was prompt, funny, sweet and took great care of us. He also was a willing participant in the many pranks some of our group member liked to play on each other, including putting a boost chair in the seat of one of our group before he came to dinner one night and bringing the other a small bowl of butter with a candle in it on his "non" birtday! He was a great sport.
Pinky - She was a server in the Piano Bar and was an absolute delight. We made a point to go in there each evening to have a drink just to see her. And by the end of the week, she was giving us big hugs everytime we came in.
Food: I thought that the food was really great. We usually had the buffet for breakfast and lunch. The wait time was never more than it should have been. And any wait can be avoided by avoiding the peak times. We had dinner each night in the Main Dining Room at the late seating. We had two tables of 8 adjacent to each other. And we were able to put a chair at the end of one of our tables for a person in our group who booked his cruise a week before sailing and did not get seated with us initially. As I mentioned, we had Benjamin and he was fabulous. Some favorites of the food were the Warm Roasted Pumpkin Soup, Escargot, and any of the pasta dishes. Everything I ordered was prepared as I wished and I never had to send anything back. I am not a huge dessert eater, so I can't comment too much on those. The only dessert that I had was the Cheesecake. But several members in my group got the famous Warm Chocolate Melting Cake several times and raved about it. I brough a bottle of wine on board with me and had that with my dinner. I also ordered several times through room service and usually had the grilled cheese sandwich. Of the specialty eateries on board, I really enjoyed the burrito bar and deli. I never ate at the Tandoori Grill or the Fish N Chips spot.
Entertainment: We saw both comics and they were good. They were not the best that I had seen on Carnival but they were way better than the worst. We also spent quite a bit of time in the Piano bar on this cruise. I have a love/hate relationship with Carnival's piano players. Some I love (Ed Rocks from years ago on the Triumph) but more often than not, I have not enjoyed the piano bar much in recent cruises. The piano player on the Valor, Larry, was really great. He really interacted with the crowd and was great about taking requests and getting to know the crowd. When he asked us the first night where we were from, we told him Kentucky, but almost from Cincinnati, OH. So the rest of the cruise he called us Almost Ohio! He was a lot of fun. We also spent alot of time in the night club and also in the casino.
Halloween: This was my first cruise over any major holiday and I was really excited for it. We all brought costumes to dress up for Halloween. And the ship was decorated all over the place. They had Trick or Treating for the children all over the ship and there were a lot of passengers dressed up. But unfortunately, I came down with a terrible sore throat that day and by the time dinner was over, I was feeling so bad that I spent the rest of the night in my cabin. Others in our party went to the Costume Contest...the winner was a woman who dressed up as one of Carnival's Towel Animals. :)
Grand Cayman - I had been to Grand Cayman several times and had already been to most of the "must-see" places: Stingray City, Hell, Turtle Farm, Rum Factory, etc. And since we had pretty active tours planned in the next two ports, we just had a lazy beach day here. We took a taxi shuttle to Seven Mile Beach for about $5 per person. This is a very inexpensive way to get to the beaches, but they won't leave until the whole shuttle is filled. We sat in this hot, unairconditioned shuttle van for about 15 minutes waiting for more people. She finally left, when we threatened to get off and look for other transportation. We were dropped off at a nice beach club where we spent most of the afternoon. The weather was beautiful, sand was soft and the water was clear and calm. We had a nice lunch for about $15 US. Most of the day was just spent goofing off in the ocean and relaxing on the beach. You can rent lounge chairs or umbrellas for an extra cost. The beach itself was free to use. Although, I didn't find out for myself, a couple in our group said the restroom facilities were pretty gross. Grand Cayman really is a great island due to it's beaches and unique activities such as swimming with the sting rays. Due to the amount of wealth on the island, you do not have to deal with agressive vendors in the shops or on the beachers, which is nice.
Roatan Island - In Roatan, we booked the Pirates, Birds and Monkey's tour through the ship. This tour took place at Gumbalimba Park and you had to buy the tour to gain access to the park area. Several members of our group wanted to just try to meet up with us after our tour at the park and they couldn't without paying the same amount as the cost of the tour. We were taken to the park in shuttle vans. The driver stopped along the way to point out different places of interest and allow us to take pictures of the gorgeous scenery along the way. Gumbalimba park is part jungle, part beach, part resort. There are some little "shops" selling some locally made items like hammocks, artwork, etc. There is also a pool with a walk up resturant/bar and a little beach area. The tour itself started out with a walk through the bird sanctuarys. Some of the birds are in large natural setting cages and others just roam around. You can pose with a bird and take photos. Most of these are Macaw/Parrot type birds are very beautiful. They are very used to people being around and many seem to actually pose for photos. We then went up further into the wooded area to see the monkeys. Some of these monkeys are chained. The chain allows them to go only so far within the trees. One of the monkeys that was chained had been a little more agressive lately. Others just roam free in the trees. They will come right up and jump on your head or shoulders. You are advised by the tour guide to not wear hats or large earrings as they are attracted to shiny objets and the little button on the tops of ballcaps. My sister had on small hoops that the tour guide said should be fine and one of the monkeys ripped an earring right out of her earlobe. As soon as he had it, he scurried back up into the trees and began chomping on it. The guide coaxed him back with a peppermint and he dropped the earring in favor of the mint. So she got it back...dented! It was pretty funny. The pirate part of the tour was informative but not all that entertaining. Maybe because it came last and my feet were hurting from all the walking, but I couldn't pay attention to it at all. I would make sure to wear comfortable shoes as you are walking and standing for the duration of the tour. I had on flip flops and my feet and legs were sore by the end. After the tour, we went to the pool and ordered lunch from the restuarant. Lunch was decent and inexpensive. There were people walking around trying to get us to sign up for a massage on the beach. They wanted $25/per person. We got them down to $30 for two of us, so we did it. It was NOT the best beach massage I had ever had. They had me lay on a hard plastic beach chair and it was more rubbing on my back and legs than actually massaging them. But the ocean breeze was nice and I couldn't really complain about the price. After the tour, we headed back to the ship. We didn't really see anything else in port due to the duration of our tour.
Belize - I had been to Belize once before and had already done the Cave-Tubing/Zip-line tour. This time we booked the Raiders of the Lost Mayan Ruins tour. I feel like you really need to do a tour in Belize or go to a reputable beach. There is not much near the port area and many areas of the city are not safe for tourists. The tour itself was great and a lot of fun. Not so much fun was the nearly 90 minute ride each way to get to the tour location. We were in an old school bus type vehicle for the ride. The last 30-45 minutes was on a gravel road. And the tour guide told us everything we could ever want to know about Belize on the ride. To make matters worse, my stomach was not feeling good on the way out there. Luckily, I had grabbed a cuple boxes of dry Cheerios from the buffet before leaving the ship to help settle my stomach during that long, bumpy ride. The tour is pretty intense and physical, so those who have mobility or endurance issues might have difficulty completing it. The tour starts with about a 10-15 minute hike uphill through some pretty rough terrain. There is no clear path and what path exists is obstructed with trees and rocks. It was a pretty taxing hike. Once you get to the hike, you are guided through the ruins in various ways. Some areas you have to rappel down the rocks or crawl through small openings in the caves or wade through knee deep water. There are a couple ziplines and wobbly suspension bridges. It was really neat. Dress comfortably though. I wore long yoga type pants and a T-Shirt with tennis shoes. If you have older shoes, wear them instead of news ones because they WILL get wet and dirty. Also bring bug spray and use liberally under your clothes and over them. I thought I used it pretty thouroughly but I still got pretty bit up especially around my ankels. The tour group provides all safety equipment including helmet with lamp and harness. The tour guides are really great. Very informative and entertaining. Like I said, the only negative to this tour is the long drive, but that can't really be helped. Just be prepared for it. After the tour, they took us to another part of the area for lunch. Lunch included some shis-ka-bobs, rice and fruit punch. You can also buy photos that they take of you throughout the tour if you choose. After lunch, it's back on the bus heading for port. This tour took about 6 total hours, so there is not much time for anything else.
Cozumel - Cozumel is one of my favorite ports and I have been here probably about 8 times. We usually spend most of the day at our favorite beach, Playa Mia. Cozumel tends to be our drink and party day. So we hopped in a cab for Playa Mia and our cab driver told us about a deal on the all inclusive package if we book it through him. We ended up getting the all-inclusive package for around $40 including the buffet lunch. I love this beach. The beach is great and so is the pool area. The food was actually really good. Large variety on the buffet and the quailty was really good. Our waiter kept the drinks coming and was very sweet. He totally took care of us.
All in all, it was another great cruise and we had a fantastic time. Shortly after returning, we booked another cruise, this time on the Splendor out of LA down to the Mexican Riviera for my brother's 15th wedding anniversary. So far we have 18 booked on this one and we still have 6 months until sailing! I will write another review of that cruise when we return (hopefully it won't take me 6 months to write that one).
Thanks, Less
Published 04/14/10
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text:
Railroad mishap rattles nerves in Sewickley area
Up to 70 trains travel daily through the Sewickley Valley, passing underneath the Sewickley Bridge; traveling by playgrounds and ball fields, along rivers, past businesses, next to schools and beyond the backyards of many homes.
Most often those trains pass without much notice from locals, except maybe a railroad enthusiast or driver stuck at a crossing.
But on July 2, two of three engines from a Norfolk Southern train burst into flames when they slammed into the back of a second train near the border of Sewickley and Edgeworth, which forced evacuations from nearby homes, businesses and the Sewickley Community Center on Chadwick Street.
The two locomotives spilled 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel when one engine flipped on its side, Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Alvin Henderson said.
The train that caught fire was pulling 82 cars, 80 of which were empty ethanol tankers that emergency officials said could have caused an explosion because they likely contained residual ethanol and fumes, which are flammable.
The slower-moving train was carrying 56 empty intermodal cars, which are flat beds that typically carry stacked shipping containers. An engineer and conductor aboard the train were treated at a Pittsburgh hospital and released, a Norfolk Southern spokesman said.
The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the cause of the incident, spokesman Michael Cole said in an email.
"Safety is our No. 1 priority," he said. "Once completed, our investigation will identify the root cause of the accident, and we will take all appropriate enforcement actions."
The railway is one of the busiest in the country and connects New York to Chicago, Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband said.
The collision and safety of nearby neighborhoods is a concern the region and nation faces, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said.
"When you see something like this, it could obviously have been a lot worse," Fitzgerald said. "It could have been a train that rolled the other way into the residential area or rolled into the river. We've got a lot of water treatment plants that take their intakes along the river. Luckily, nobody downstream on the Ohio River is going to be impacted.
"Carrying any materials through a community, what would be the impact if there is a derailment, what could happen? It's something you got to continue to look at."
With an infrastructure built more than a century ago, it's impossible to relocate the rails, Fitzgerald said.
"Our rail systems pretty much run along our rivers, not just here in Pittsburgh, but nationally," he said. "It's something to be concerned about. There's no way to move the tracks off river."
Bobby Cherry is an associate editor for Trib Total Media. Reach him at 412-324-1408 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
|(Photo by Carlye Calvin.)
The deal was arranged by Jim Huning (NSF Atmospheric Science Division), who oversees UCAR and NCAR's observing facilities. "When I was at NASA headquarters," Huning says, "due to changing requirements and budgetary concerns, I had to ground that C-130. It has been on the ground since 1995. When I came to NSF in May, one of the issues that came up was that they were hoping to upgrade the engines that are currently on the [NSF/NCAR] C-130. I knew the NASA plane had upgraded to Dash-15 engines, and they only had about 400 hours on them." Huning notes that the staff at Dryden Flight Research Center and also at NASA HQ were "incredibly cooperative" in arranging the transfer.


text:
TMG-L ArchivesArchiver > TMG > 2004-04 > 1080861006
Subject: Re: [TMG] Carriage Returns
Date: Thu, 1 Apr 2004 18:10:07 EST
In a message dated 4/1/04 2:28:33 PM Central Standard Time,
> 2) Create a custom tag whose sentence would be
> [:CR:][:CR:], placed before the tag I want to begin each
> paragraph.
> Option 2 is my preference. Unfortunately, that results
> in [space][space][period] after the last sentence in the
> previous paragraph and a [space] before the first word in
> the new paragraph.
If you make the sentence [:CR:][:CR:]"event types", i.e.
start of education tags, etc.
it solves that particular problem.
This thread:
|Re: [TMG] Carriage Returns by


text:
Mike keeps it low key in his performance music video, while Cali Swag opt to barge in a hotel and wreak havoc in their clip.
Mike Posner debuts his new music video almost at the same time Cali Swag District premiere theirs. The "Looks Like Sex" singer supports his mixtape track "A Perfect Mess", while the "Teach Me How to Dougie" hitmakers promote their single "Burn Out (Drive Fast)".
Mike keeps his video simple by focusing on him singing to the camera in an empty room. The Cali Swag video, meanwhile, is not a low key one. The boys sneak into a hotel after pulling a prank on the security. While evading a group of police, they steal a bride and crash a party.
"A Perfect Mess" is taken from Mike's street album "The Layover", which precedes his new album "Sky High". As for "Burn Out (Drive Fast)", it appears in Cali Swag's debut album "The Kickback".


text:
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text:
Michigan State Takes Home Weekly Accolades
Dec. 14, 2010
Park Ridge, Ill. -
The conference office announced on Tuesday the 10th weekly men's swimming and diving honors. Michigan State's Cameron Bartlett and Ivan Zalessov were tabbed Swimmer and Diver of the Week, respectively.
Men's Swimmer of the Week
Junior Cameron Bartlett garners his first weekly swimming laurel after earning three first-place finishes to lead the Spartans to a 181-107 victory over Ball State in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday afternoon. Bartlett opened the meet by swimming the second leg of the 200-yard medley relay in which the team posted a winning time of 1:33.77. The New Paltz, N.Y., native later turned in a 57.84 in the 100-yard breaststroke, which was good for first place. He completed the breaststroke sweep when he posted a time of 2:07.84 in the 200-yard breaststroke, topping the next closest swimmer by 5.09 seconds.
Last Michigan State men's Swimmer of the Week: Jacob Jarzen (Nov. 23, 2010)
Men's Diver of the Week
Ivan Zalessov captured the 1-and 3-meter titles on Saturday, finishing with a pool-record score of 355.87 on the 1-meter board. The Okemos, Mich., native went on to sweep the diving events with a score of 391.50, in the 3-meter event, topping the next diver by 124.87 points. The honor marks the second career weekly accolade for Zalessov, who was also the last Spartan diver to take home the honor in December 2009.
Last Michigan State men's Diver of the Week: Ivan Zalessov (Dec. 15, 2009)
2010 Big Ten Men's Swimmer/Diver of the Week
Oct. 12
Schools Illinois Indiana Iowa Maryland Michigan Michigan State Minnesota Nebraska Northwestern Ohio State Penn State Purdue Rutgers Wisconsin
Men's Sports Baseball Basketball Cross Country Football Golf Gymnastics Hockey Indoor Track & Field Lacrosse Soccer Swimming & Diving Tennis Outdoor Track & Field Wrestling
Women's Sports Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Golf Gymnastics Indoor Track & Field Lacrosse Rowing Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis Outdoor Track & Field Volleyball


text:
- Home
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After Hours
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Rush urgent-care clinics provide care for:
- Medical conditions that require prompt attention but that are not an immediate or serious threat to your life
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- Medical problems when your physician's office is closed
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No appointment is needed at any of the clinics listed below. Our compassionate staff will see you as quickly as possible on a walk-in basis.
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Open daily, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
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text: He's already sold out living rooms from Fort Collins, Colo. to Brooklyn, N.Y. to Austin, Tex. But David Bazan's Living Room tour hasn't yet sold out in Missoula. The musician (formerly of Pedro the Lion) played the Palace last April in support of his album Curse Your Branches. This time the location of his show is a big secret. If you're up for that kind of intrigue—and you should be—you can buy a ticket on Bazan's website and get in on the action, on March 19, in a living room near you.


text:
"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." –Michael Jordan
We at YourStory are all about stories. You may ask why? Because we believe that in life, experience is the best teacher, and a compelling story comes a close second.
Over the past years, we've worked day and night to bring you compelling stories to inspire and motivate you. We started with 'dot in' domain name (yourstory.in) and made a transition to 'dot com' (YourStory.com) enlarging our scope & reach globally because stories have no boundaries. One of the platforms we used to tell stories was our twitter handle @YourStorydotin
Now we bring you the rebranded new shorter twitter handle @YourStoryCo
Building on these two letters that we added to our handle (Co), we'll be doing collaboration themed campaigns. We ask you to share with us what collaboration means to you. Please tweet us on our shorter handle (@YourStoryCo)
We present an infographic of a very old story with an underlying moral for collaboration.
Startups are filled with stories of collaboration. We look forward to hearing your stories. Please share them with us one tweet at a time (images, YouTube links, Gif are all allowed)


text:
Saturday Night Funny Video: Putin Bags a Tiger While Obama Bags....a Pie
Another entry in my semi-regular series of Saturday night humor postings for NewsBusters drawn from the clips Bret Baier runs at the end of FNC's Special Report which he and his staff usually select from video montages picked up off the late night comedy shows.
Tonight, a fresh one from Friday night's program which comes from the Colbert Report on Comedy Central in which Stephen Colbert contrasted Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's safari adventures with what excited Barack Obama during a stop at a store during his bus trip.
My previous videos in this intermittent series:
> Saturday Night Funny Video: Putting the Wrong Guest Expert on Air
> Saturday Night Funny Video: Colbert Ridicules Reid Who Mused Over His Pomegranate Trees
> Saturday Night Funny Video: Confusing the Weather Woman with Rudolph Hess
> Saturday Night Funny Video: 'ObamaCare,' 'ObamaCare,' 'ObamaCare,' 'ObamaCare,' Then Herman Cain...
> "Funny Clips" compilation presented in May at the MRC's "2011 Gala featuring the DisHonors Awards: Roasting the Most Outrageously Biased Liberal Reporting." Scroll down the main page.


text:
Date of Release: May 25, 2007 0100 hours
Reference: Weapons Offenses – Portsmouth New Hampshire
On May 24, 2007 at 9:30 PM, Portsmouth Police officers responded to the area 101 Chapel St. for a report of an altercation involving a handgun.
Witnesses reported that several people leaving St. John's Episcopal Church had attempted to help a female in apparent distress. An altercation ensued when a male suspect, identified as the distressed female's boyfriend, assaulted one of the individuals attempting to help the female. In the chaotic scene that ensued, the aforementioned female brandished a handgun and threatened several individuals on scene. The suspect male also gained possession of the handgun at one point and threatened another individual with it.
Responding officers located the male and were confronted by him carrying a knife and shouting "Shoot me" as he charged at them. The officers were able to avoid using deadly force to stop the suspect when one of the officers deployed his X26 Advanced Taser. As a result, the male was taken into custody without injury to him or the officers. The male suspect is identified as:
Lawrence S. Lang
8 Osprey Drive
Portsmouth, NH
Lang was charged with the following:
Second Degree Assault
Criminal Threatening with a knife (felony) two counts
Criminal Threatening with a handgun (felony)
Simple Assault (misdemeanor)
Reckless Conduct with a firearm (felony)
The female suspect was identified as:
Jaimee L. Ruccolo
8 Osprey Drive
Portsmouth, NH
Ruccolo was charged with the following:
Reckless Conduct with a firearm (felony) four counts
Criminal Threatening with a firearm (felony) four counts
Second Degree Assault
Carrying a Concealed Firearm without a License (misdemeanor)
Bail was set on Lawrence Lang at $30,000 CASH
Bail was set on Jaimee Ruccolo at $50,000 CASH
Both individuals were unable to post bail and will be arraigned in Portsmouth District Court on May 25, 2007 at 9:00 AM.
One victim was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital Emergency Room. He was treated and released for non-life threatening injuries resulting from the assaults.


text:
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:44 AM
annabanana (51,867 posts)
Do they REALLY think MOOD is the reason for less holiday spending??
How clueless are they anyway? Henry Ford (that miserable old bigot) had that one thing right. People can't buy stuff if they don't have any money.
That is a mistake of someone who is not in danger of having too much Month left at the end of the paycheck.
Is it willful ignorance or stupidity? This whole "supply side" business is pretty damn moldy as a philosophy and policy. Can we please bury it?
76 replies, 6825 views
|76 replies
Do they REALLY think MOOD is the reason for less holiday spending?? (Original post)
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Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:46 AM
hobbit709 (41,694 posts)
1. My mood improves when I have money, so technically correct.
Response to hobbit709 (Reply #1)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:48 AM
liberal N proud (56,799 posts)
2. Funny how that works.
They always try to tell you its not about the paycheck but when I have a paycheck, I feel better about everything and that paycheck makes me able to buy the things I need.
Response to liberal N proud (Reply #2)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 09:40 AM
Odin2005 (53,521 posts)
10. There was a study out a while ago saying...
...that money DOES by happiness up to about $75,000 a year. All the more reason for a minimum wage that is a living wage. And to tax the rich.
Response to Odin2005 (Reply #10)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:26 AM
liberal N proud (56,799 posts)
15. Can you imagine what Christmas shopping would have been like for retailers if they paid their people
If they paid people $75,000/year, people would have enough money to shop for Christmas gifts and then some and the economy would scream along like a jet.
But the greedy want it on both ends, low wages, increased sales and high profits at all costs.
Response to liberal N proud (Reply #15)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:20 AM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
34. Yep, 'cause they think a reaganomics trickle-down-piss system works so well and
Last edited Thu Dec 27, 2012, 12:16 PM - Edit history (1)
can only be fixed/maintained through austerity. I have no idea how it's going to be fixed, but one can be sure these guys aren't going to do sh** to fix anything if it costs them a buck in a rigged corrupt greed-filled economic system. Damn I miss George Carlin.
Response to Odin2005 (Reply #10)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:39 AM
tblue37 (24,469 posts)
22. Those who say money can't buy happiness
overlook the fact that having enough money can protect a person from a lot of things that cause misery.
Response to liberal N proud (Reply #2)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:36 AM
global1 (16,586 posts)
19. And When You Buy Things You Need You Pay Taxes & Create Jobs To Make More Of Those Things You Buy...
so other people have a bigger paycheck so they can buy things they need and pay taxes and that puts more people to work to make more stuff for others to buy and pay taxes. All those taxes that are paid - go back into the system to support those things that keep the world around us functioning optimally - like roads, police, fire, libraries, etc.
So if these merchants want to see more people out buying during the holiday seasons - the trick is to pay their employees well so that they could go out and buy things to. They should pay a decent wage so that ultimately everyone feels better about everything and their paychecks make them able to buy the things that they need.
This isn't rocket science. This is the stuff that feeds this economy and makes it work. When jobs go away or when people are worried about how they are going to make it from week to week - then they stop spending. They hunker down. So yes - mood plays into this equation.
It seems to me that we can leap out of this economic funk we are in if all employers would just increase peoples pay and make them feel secure in their jobs.
When people feel secure and know that they have some money to spend - they spend it. When they spend it - it creates opportunities for others to be able to feel secure and spend their money. People start going out to restaurants to eat. They go to see movies. They travel. They buy appliances. They buy other items to make their day to day living more comfortable.
The system feeds itself. This generates jobs for others. Pays for social programs. Provides the governments - local, state and federal with the funds to be able to afford all those things that makes the government function optimally.
Again - its not rocket science and we can climb out of this mood depression/recession tomorrow if only this was the path that corporations and business would embrace rather than cutting back, laying people off, offshoring, outsourcing, etc.
Response to global1 (Reply #19)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:46 AM
liberal N proud (56,799 posts)
24. Why is it that this simple economic fact has been removed from the US economy?
Response to liberal N proud (Reply #24)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:41 AM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
39. +++ 1,000,000 +++ Pure and Simple! n/t
Response to liberal N proud (Reply #2)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:13 AM
CTyankee (50,175 posts)
32. In my Econ class I beleive it was called "the wealth effect." Correct me if I'm wrong...but it
is an actual term that I remember from my graduate studies (one of them being Econ).
Response to liberal N proud (Reply #2)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:24 AM
PoliticalBiker (328 posts)
37. Funny....
I have a paycheck. I am NOT happy.
My paycheck runs out well before the month does.
I MUST work 40hrs/wk EVERY week or I fall behind on something.
Mind you I live alone, in a trailer park, single-wide. My needs are modest if not low. I don't want much, just a decent wage to make living not so on the edge.
Utilities, lot rent, food, vehicle ins, vehicle fuel and meds, then the money is gone.
When my house got foreclosed on, I got a storage for a lot of my stuff- mostly garage. Haven't been able to afford to make a payment on it since. It's probably gone and collectors are calling.
I can't even go out to breakfast when I lose power without going over-budget.
Vehicle breaks... I'm out of a job because I can't get to work.
I'm a memeber of the under-employed and working poor. I make over min. wage, but not a lot more.
I don't see how people can make it making min. wage. If I did, I'd be living in a shelter and eating at the local soup kitchen.
I have skills, but I'm not very marketable... I'm over 50, no degree, bad credit and savings are gone. Even though discrimination because of age is illegal, who is going to hire someone 50+ for a good wage? Easier and CHEAPER to hire some young'n for half as much and train him/her up. Don't think that isn't one of the most often discriminatory abuses there is.
I used to make much more... before I got laid off
I was, along with my s/o, bless her heart, part of the middle-class. Lower end, but still middle class. We could afford our two Harleys, could go out to dinner on occasion, afford xmas. When the house got forclosed on, we parted ways. Now? Well...
Response to PoliticalBiker (Reply #37)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:58 AM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
41. Here it's getting hard to pay the grocery bills. Five major corporations I worked for, all gone
now because of corporate greed at the top and mismanagement. Of course, the guys at the top made out just fine, but 10's of thousands of others are left without jobs, and they went offshore and that included high-paying R&D jobs. So, anyone tells me we need more education, fuck them. This is NOT about education and skill sets, much of it's about greed, mismanagement and a dumb-fuck obsolete system called capitalism whose time has come and passed.
Response to RKP5637 (Reply #41)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:35 PM
PoliticalBiker (328 posts)
52. I still believe in capitalism...
... but much more regulated.
Executives should not be able to make obscene, ulimited amouts of money while their workers are paid a pittance non-living wages where job secuity is a thing of the past. The stresses workers are under and the threat of termination for anything at all on the forefront of management coersion tactics are making working conditions intolerable.
As much as I dislike the current incarnation of unions, they are again, much needed in every sector of the job market. Like when unions just started, the working conditions for the workers are abhorrant. Worker organization was needed. Used to, it was the physical working conditions... dangerous to the physical body as well as wages. Now... dangerous to the mental body as well as wages. More and more gets piled on less and less people and they are getting paid less and less with absolutely no recourse. Couple that with the republicon assault (war) on worker rights, wages and union membership, we are fastly becoming a Facist Oligarchy.
The outrage MUST continue... in fact, it needs to be expanded. The mainstream major media has to be forced to cover the truth... not what makes them brownie points with their investors/shareholders.
Employers have to be forced to pay living wages to their workers and executive salary and benefit packages must be severly curtailed to pay for it. Back in the 50's (where the republicons want to go back to except for salaries of the execs and tax rates), when the country was prosperous, the CEO's lived on the same street as the worker. Their houses were a bit bigger, but not the mansions you see today. They shopped at the same stores as their workers and ate at the same resturants. The workers bought the goods they made... because they had the money to do so. Workers were paid enough to live on... unlike today where workers pay for the extravgance of the executive with their lifestyle.
Response to PoliticalBiker (Reply #52)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:19 PM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
58. Yes, I agree 100% with you, about the type of capitalism you discussed. ... problem is, as you
outlined, the capitalistic system today has been rigged to work against most Americans. We need a well regulated capitalistic system. Today, most workers have nowhere to turn. HR, what a joke, that's like talking to the executioner for help.
Your reply was extremely well said!!!
Response to PoliticalBiker (Reply #52)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 02:19 AM
Jim Warren (2,736 posts)
67. Couple really good posts biker
In similar shoes, best to ya and hang in.
Response to hobbit709 (Reply #1)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:50 AM
HappyMe (20,277 posts)
4. I agree.
Some dollars in the pocket make for a better mood.
Response to hobbit709 (Reply #1)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:48 AM
KansDem (28,498 posts)
26. So true. I find that I'm elated every other Thursday...
[font size="1"]geld...geld...geld...geld...geld...geld...geld...geld...geld...geld...
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:48 AM
In_The_Wind (69,500 posts)
3. I hope they aren't that stupid.
Response to In_The_Wind (Reply #3)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 02:08 AM
tavalon (27,820 posts)
61. Oh, yes, they really, really are
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:54 AM
GoCubsGo (17,372 posts)
5. That's a good part of it, but...
There's also the MSM's fear-mongering over this "fiscal cliff" bullshit. It has been relentless, and it's not surprising that it's scaring the crap out of the low-information types.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:57 AM
graham4anything (11,464 posts)
6. Who says there is less holiday spending?
Just because brick/mortar stores might be down, online is up
so I can't say that there is any less spending
besides, Holidays should be about non-commercial things anyhow.
Best gifts I ever get are ones made not purchased.
Response to graham4anything (Reply #6)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:23 AM
BlueStreak (8,377 posts)
14. Online dropped too
But I think there are many reasons for this. In addition to the reasons already listed on this thread, here are a couple of others:
1) I am sick of this "war on Christmas" bullcrap. The retailers didn't cause this directly, but the idea of hyping "Christmas sales" as early as September is ridiculous. And most Christians go along with this. I guess they think it is free advertising for their brand. In recent years I've decided to do minimal shopping during that season. If I want something in March, I buy it in March. If somebody needs something in June, I buy it is June. Why would anybody buy anything non-essential in December, knowing that the prices are likely to be lower in January?
2) I manage several holiday-related events, and part of that is small holiday-themed prizes. I buy these months ahead. If I see something in April at a good price that would make a good prize, I buy it, and I might buy 2 or 3 years' worth. I know other people who approach their "Christmas shopping" the same way. This is where online retailers have a big advantage because brick-and-mortar retailers don't offer stock at that time.
Personally, I think it is a very healthy, optimistic sign that people are resisting the year-end retailing orgy. Maybe they will take their kids to see a show or take the time to read a book to them rather than just buy them another violent video game to stack on top of the 50 they already have.
It is time for Americans to take stock: of our entire system, of our politicians, of our own priorities.
Response to BlueStreak (Reply #14)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:19 AM
CTyankee (50,175 posts)
33. Or, people like me have actual spending budgets for xmas. It is a line item in my personal yearly
budget. A lot of people don't want to make a budget for fear it will be too psychologically damaging, when actually it is the OPPOSITE, I have found, much to my delight! I can look and see what is running over budget (like fuel bills) and what is running on budget, then I look in the "discretionary spending" section (stuff I can control as opposed to "fixed and allocated". I delight in little ways I can save money, such as having my hair cut every 5 weeks instead of 4. Budgeting for one vacation instead of 2 or 3 little ones or vice versa. Consulting my closet instead of running out and buying something new but unnecessary. It is kind of a game but I enjoy it, along with clipping coupons and buying good quality food but on sale or just giving up something really unnecessary in the first place (chewing gum, flavored seltzer water, etc).
Response to graham4anything (Reply #6)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:42 AM
ieoeja (9,748 posts)
23. Nobody said there was actually less holiday spending.
Overall sales were up 0.7% from last year. They were predicting sales to be up 3% to 4%. So it is "less" than expected. But still "more" than last year.
Response to ieoeja (Reply #23)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:26 PM
BlueStreak (8,377 posts)
51. Right. An expectations game.
The thought process was that it should be up more because the last several years have been lower than pre-2008 when you adjust for inflation. And also one would think it should grow in proportion to the population growth.
Our whole economic system (fractional banking and credit) is only viable with a growing population and a growing economic base. It is like a Ponzi scheme. It just doesn't work in a steady state.
We need to enter a serious worldwide discussion about what a society looks like that can provide a quality of life WITHOUT overpopulating, WITHOUT polluting, WITHOUT stealing resources from the less powerful people of the world. There is plenty of capacity to make that happen, but you can't feed the billionaire beast and also have a sustainable society. We are nearing the time when we'll have to face that. For 30 years, Americans have seen this up close and personal. In another 30 years, it will be everywhere. I'll p[probably be dead, but I hope to see the world at least begin to deal with that.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 09:13 AM
adigal (7,118 posts)
7. And my small shop was up
We have local and American made goods, only. Maybe everyone is buying locally and with more cash.
Response to adigal (Reply #7)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:21 AM
CTyankee (50,175 posts)
35. I pay cash now when I have pedicures and it saves me a surcharge. That enables me to keep
tipping at the 20% level, which is very important to me. And yes, as I can older pedicures are worth it to keep my toenails in good shape since I can't bend and do it myself and have no family members around to help on a regular basis.
Response to adigal (Reply #7)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 02:10 AM
tavalon (27,820 posts)
62. Doing my best on that
Spending locally, I mean. And no credit cards. I am a debit card queen though.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 09:33 AM
kydo (2,152 posts)
8. well, yeah they do and it is part of it kind of, but
mood is a catch all phrase. Lots of things effect mood, and it is regional. The biggest factor in mood is employment. If your job is not in jeopardy and your income is steady, all the doom gloom, massacres, end of the world, and blizzards probably don't effect your mood as much.
But if your home was destroyed in Sandy, if you working for a company that is going to be effected by the self made republican trap aka fiscal cliff, if you are any where near Sandy Hook and or employed in the education system, if you are in unions, if you are unemployed, if you are on a fixed income, if you watch tv, if you like milk, if you don't want to live in a police state, then your mood and bank account may have effected your holiday mood and holiday spending.
But mood is just a part of the bad sales. For me I refuse to buy crap I don't need for people that in most cases I barely know or don't even like (yeah, family). I hate Christmas shopping. I gave up years ago trying to live up to the media version of a perfect Christmas.
I also refuse to shop at certain stores, and eat at certain places because of their stupid owners. And I hate being told to shop! Especially when I don't really need anything.
Mood however while is part of the reason for bad Holiday sales, the mood just reflects all the reasons why we can't buy things. When they really start to try and figure out why we are in a bad mood most will find we are sick and tired of being sick and tired of being poor and buying things on credit and then being poor again and their stuff sucks and the crowds suck.
So yeah no money usually means no spending so probably a bad mood. And thats how its a apart of it. Besides tomorrow we will all move on and talk about something else and our moods will still suck cause we still won't have money. And then it will be spring.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 09:38 AM
Odin2005 (53,521 posts)
9. Rich people don't understand what it is like living from paycheck to paycheck.
They think the 99% buys things the same way they and their fellow 1%ers buy investments.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 09:56 AM
quaker bill (7,951 posts)
11. My sales were up
However I do not press through the holidays as my fall show season ends with Thanksgiving weekend. I caught a burst of spending right after the election. I do not know if it was sustained.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:04 AM
Puzzledtraveller (5,663 posts)
12. No money was my issue and I work full time for the state
I live within my means and by no account am wasteful or have the latest anything.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:07 AM
Rain Mcloud (812 posts)
13. If you have no money
then you are supposed to max out the credit cards.
Otherwise you have no balls/ovaries and are a stinking atheist,commie!
Is that not the real message here?
Response to Rain Mcloud (Reply #13)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 12:02 PM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
42. Yep, if you're not in debt up to your ears in US, Inc. = United Stupidity, then that's
exactly what one is, a stinking atheist, commie! The American Dream = total debt and foreclosure. GO USA!!! GO USA!!! GO USA!!!
Response to Rain Mcloud (Reply #13)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 02:11 AM
tavalon (27,820 posts)
63. And here I thought I was a socialist
No credit cards. If I don't have the money, I don't buy the thing.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:29 AM
Siwsan (7,161 posts)
16. Maybe people are paying more attention to needs and less to wants
There are a lot of things I want, but I'd rather have the money available for unexpected needs. Don't get me wrong, I don't live an austere lifestyle but I can be more comfortable without the worry of how I would pay for a new furnace, roof, or unforeseen medical expenses.
My rule of thumb is, if I can't afford to pay cash for a want, and still have cash left, it stays a want. And I mean cash, not through a credit or debit card. If I have to watch that cash go from my hand to someone else's hand, I'm more likely to be mindful of what I'm spending and if it's worth what I'm spending it on.
Response to Siwsan (Reply #16)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 02:13 AM
tavalon (27,820 posts)
64. A debit card is just like cash
You can't go beyond what you have in your checking account. I find I have more accountability to myself when I use my checking debit card than when I use cash.
Response to tavalon (Reply #64)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 12:39 PM
Siwsan (7,161 posts)
75. I know they are, but the actual slight line of cash flow keeps me financially grounded
I had a debit card and never used it. Admittedly I have a slight paranoia about leaving an electronic spending trail but by living a pretty much cash only life for day to day usual purchases, my spending always stays under control.
Response to Siwsan (Reply #75)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 10:03 PM
tavalon (27,820 posts)
76. And I find that cash just leaks from me
And it sounds like otherwise, you and I are on the same page. No deficit spending in this house or yours.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:33 AM
Cracklin Charlie (3,745 posts)
17. Hubs and I watched the local evening news last night.
In a thirty minute broadcast, there were four stories about going shopping on the day after Christmas, and how that was the busiest shopping day of the year. Just a couple of weeks ago, it was a different day that was the busiest.
I think they may be starting to realize that not enough people have enough money to spend on non-essentials.
Response to Cracklin Charlie (Reply #17)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:03 PM
DJ13 (23,671 posts)
56. the day after Christmas, the busiest shopping day of the year
For the first time in many years I went shopping yesterday morning when the stores opened up for a couple of small items my wife and I needed.
Went to our local Sears at 8am, just after the doors opened and for the 15 minutes I was in there I only saw one other customer.
Very (very) low customer counts at Best Buy, Walmart, and Target as well.
No real sales (outside of Xmas stuff @ 50% off) either, so I dont see where the retail industry gets off claiming the sales are so great the day after Christmas.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:35 AM
LP2K12 (877 posts)
18. Mood was my issue.
Rarely is it my wife looking forward to Christmas in our household. It's usually me, but this year I didn't find the spirit until maybe a day or two before.
Money/finances was not the issue.
I'm sure it was for many though.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:39 AM
sybylla (7,622 posts)
20. Was it mood or the fact that there wasn't really anything all that worthy to buy?
I don't disagree with you. I think that for a lot of people, mood=paycheck (including one person I'm living with who lost her job in May). Kind of hard to spend money when you don't have any.
But I don't have paycheck woes to speak of beyond the usual middleclass stuff. So when we got over our Thanksgiving colds and I headed out to the stores, I was prepared to be wooed and wowed by the "great deals" the MSM were telling me that retailers were offering.
I saw none.
Not one great deal. In fact, the store that I usually do most of my shopping at had very few of the items on sale that I usually buy at the holidays. So I went to another. Found a few better deals there, but still not much to speak of.
I had a certain amount of money set aside for the holidays - a dollar amount that hasn't changed for several years. Even loaning some of it to the unemployed person in my household for x-mas gifts, I can tell you I spent only about 2/3rds of what I set aside.
Worst shopping season for me ever.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:39 AM
Yo_Mama (8,299 posts)
21. You always get a series of wacky explanations when the economy goes bad
I remember reading them in 2007 and 2008 - mostly the weather, but I also saw explanations as varied as the consumers didn't like the merchandise to the color that the store walls were painted was wrong.
It is ridiculous, but there is a whole industry out there bent on selling consulting, so you always see this.
One interesting note - store closures continue to mount, so "comparable store" increases in retail sales this year start with a lower denominator in most cases. For some chains, a small "comparable store" sales increase can translate into an overall small decrease.
We know that people just don' t have money. Watch the electronic sales in particular - that will be very telling.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:47 AM
Myrina (12,296 posts)
25. I heard a couple talking heads try to blame it on 'fear of the cliff' ...
... honestly, they'll say anything to preserve the tax breaks for their billionaire bosses ....
Response to Myrina (Reply #25)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:53 AM
Honeycombe8 (21,487 posts)
28. I think it's true. I saw a shopper on tv interviewed in the mall, who said that...
fear of the fiscal cliff and taxes going up. So she wasn't spending as much.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:52 AM
Honeycombe8 (21,487 posts)
27. Henry Ford didn't really think that way. It was his WIFE who made him give raises to his workers.
Not because she was altruistic, but because of the strikes at the Ford factories (some workers were killed, I believe), the situation had gotten serious enough to threaten the existence of the company. And Ford's wife wanted that company to exist, so it could be passed down to their children. So, she told him that he needed to give raises to his workers, or she'd leave him. He caved in, tired and out of steam after long fighting giving his workers decent wages.
Response to Honeycombe8 (Reply #27)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:30 AM
HughBeaumont (23,778 posts)
38. That's really how all the robber barons were.
They just had varied degrees of lousiness . . . Jay Gould & Hank Frick being on the low end of the scale, Rockefeller and Field in the middle, and Andrew Carnegie providing some sense of legacy and charity.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:56 AM
dkf (37,305 posts)
29. So if holiday spending actually increased 0.7% does that mean people are in a good mood?
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:56 AM
Honeycombe8 (21,487 posts)
30. Shopping is a reflection of "consumer confidence" in the economy, is what I've always heard.
Whether in good times or bad times, year after year, that's been a consistent message.
As for me, shopping at Christmas depends on a lot of factors. How much $ I have to spend, how confident I am in keeping my job, what do others need or want.
I'm spending more this year than last because a niece graduated college, and a relative in a nursing home needs a couple of things that were stolen. I'm also buying a few clothing items for myself because I have some special work functions to attend next year.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:10 AM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
31. It is greed, willful stupidity/ignorance and a serious lack of business sense. As business leaders
they are an absolute failure. Supply side economics requires a demand. In this case the demand is fueled by discretionary income $$$$$. This is not a hard concept to understand. I had to study economics for 2 years as a core university requirement. I don't think most of these guys could make it through a grade school level economics course. Of course, then again, they are blinded by greed and keep pumping the supply side wondering WTF, why aren't people happy and buying ... a huge DUH. In the land of United Stupidity = US ...
Some days, it's just not worth it, often I think only a catastrophic financial failure will wake these fools up! That's how FDR came about.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:22 AM
HughBeaumont (23,778 posts)
36. Unfortunately . . .
. .. the idiots who subscribe lovingly to "Trickle Down" think people having too much month at the end of the money means "TAX CUTZ!!" are needed, and not "higher wages".
The owners want us to consume, but don't want to part with even one cent of their precious hoarded wealth/profit/cash store for us to do so.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 11:47 AM
plethoro (594 posts)
40. My wife and I decided to spend less this year on Christmas once we learned of
Obama's intention to cut Social Security. We normally give a little of what we have to charity quarterly when I'm doing ET. We will reduce this amount now. The neighbors are scaling back even further than us. We went and saw Les Miserables Christmas Day. I wondered during the movie if this is what it will be like. The periodic cuts to the safety net... Well, I don't care what the rich do, but my family is scaling back. But, if in the end, we have to hide behind furniture and fire whatever weapons the government has left us into military companies armed with machine guns, then that's the way it will be. Better that then being on the one end of an email going into a round file.
Response to plethoro (Reply #40)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 12:10 PM
daa (2,621 posts)
43. +1
Response to plethoro (Reply #40)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 12:13 PM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
44. I think the future is going to be pretty bleak for the majority of Americans, because
austerity seems to be the only solution TPTB come up with. And more and more most Americans settle for less and less. And, exactly as you said, eventually armed forces will be used to maintain the wealth gap. None in the top few % are going to give up one cent ... instead, forces will be used to keep the masses in line.
And hence, all of the surveillance going up around the country, all of the money being poured into the militarization of local/state police. This is NOT about them over there, it's about keeping the majority of Americans in line and adhering to a failed economic system that benefits only the top few %.
When I try to explain this to most people in a prophetic way, all I generally get is a deer in the headlight look. Most Americans just can't come to grips with the fact that economic systems do fail.
Response to RKP5637 (Reply #44)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 12:38 PM
plethoro (594 posts)
47. Thank you for your response. It is as if I wrote it
myself. Your last paragraph is the most efficacious. People just don't get it. We spare the Bush crew. We spare the telephone companies from publishing our information. We say, duh, when Bush reverses posse comitatus (sp). We whistle while Section 32 of NDAA is implemented, reversed, then re-implemented. We kill everyone from anywhere at will. We now have drones watching major cities and more to come. And we are now in full-blown fascists MO with a president making moves to reduce the social safety net. And on this very board we have a group developing an acceptance while saying " a spoon full of sugar will make the medicine go down." It is total insanity. Thanks so much for your post. I will be putting some Commemorativo in one of my canteens when hiding behind all the furniture. I'll be happy to give you a swig.
Response to plethoro (Reply #47)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 12:50 PM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
48. Commemorativo - Thanks!!!
Response to RKP5637 (Reply #48)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 10:27 AM
plethoro (594 posts)
69. RKP, I wanted to ask you something and I could not figure out another
way to do it, so I'm doing it under this post.
My question is: If we go over the fiscal cliff (whatever that is), do you think the government (whoever that is now) will use this event to suspend Social Security payments under some kind of guise?
Response to plethoro (Reply #69)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 11:11 AM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
70. It could be used as tremendous leverage ... but my gut feel is it won't happen. There will be
some type of miraculous solution and all of them will pat each other on the back. Each year, year after year, we go through this. A lot of it's all theatrics and chest beating IMO.
Response to RKP5637 (Reply #70)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 11:23 AM
plethoro (594 posts)
71. Thanks. I wish I was as sure as you seem to be.........nft
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 12:27 PM
jwirr (39,215 posts)
45. Being broke is the reason for the mood.
Response to jwirr (Reply #45)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:21 PM
Puzzledtraveller (5,663 posts)
50. Exactly and furthermore
I have even noticed this attitude of some here that things are improving thus we all are, no, we aren't all doing well, or even slightly better, infact many of us on DU, me included are barely making it at all.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 12:27 PM
ReRe (10,593 posts)
46. Absolutely...Give me the shovel!
...we'll have a digging ceremony and the whole nine yards. Exactly what I thought when I heard the big sucking sound after they passed NAFTA & GATT back in the '90s. They said we would all work in the service industry (McDonalds & Starbuck, etc) and everything would be hunky-dory. Anyone with half a brain knew it was all a big lie. And here we are. We've been downsized, outsourced and kicked to the curb, and they think we're in a bad mood! ARITHMETIC!!! And I tell you whose grave I'd like to dance on: Milton Freidman's! And even though that shit was passed in the '90s, it was cooked up in the '80s under Reagan and GHWB.
Give me the shovel....I will dig with a vengeance!
Response to ReRe (Reply #46)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:03 PM
RKP5637 (46,363 posts)
49. +1, n/t
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:41 PM
QED (1,189 posts)
53. I am scared to spend right now...
In the past several months my reserves were wiped out by a number of expenses piling up. I usually set a little aside so I have money for new brakes or whatever. But - I needed new brakes, the dog needed surgery, the washing machines was beyond repair. Those were manageable, barely. I crossed my fingers nothing else would happen.
Then I was injured around the house - homeowners won't cover it because it was me. I needed surgery and a hospital stay. For the first time ever, I hit my deductible and out of pocket limits on my health insurance. But I can't pay the out of pocket now. The bills have started arriving. I don't know what to do.
The thought of Christmas gifts, etc. was just out of the question. I stayed home, feigning a cold, and snuggled with my dog.
Extreme frugality rules right now - I'll see if the hospital will make payment arrangements. And the surgeon. And ambulance company. And ER docs. And the anesthesiologist. And hope nothing else happens.
I'm scared.
Response to QED (Reply #53)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 09:33 PM
lunasun (8,824 posts)
60. If you contact the services rendered and make an arrangement make sure they do not try to
make your payments more than you can afford.
List all the bills from the injury while setting it up so they each are aware of what you total in medical bills = negotiate + don't let them assign you a monthly amount that is unrealistic
but do contact them so as not to go to a credit agency.
Plus once people make an arrangement they often comment that it takes it off their mind when it is broken down in to affordable payments.
Most will work with you.
We have seen folks claim bankruptcy over medical but that should be your last resort( imo ) but sometimes it is needed
Limiting holiday social events was a good move and there is always another time too. Why add more debt now on gifting when you are already scared about spending. I wish you better times in the new year
Response to lunasun (Reply #60)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 11:47 AM
QED (1,189 posts)
73. Thank you for this...
I'm still waiting for all the bills to come in so I know where I stand - then I'll make the calls.
Response to QED (Reply #53)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 02:18 AM
tavalon (27,820 posts)
65. Advice that may be worth more than you paid for it ..........
Call each of these billers, explain your situation and set up monthly payments. If they say "we can't take less than this", they are lying and you need to reiterate that you can pay X amount and they will relent. Also, you could check and see if the hospital has any charity funds, but even if you don't qualify, they will take monthly payments of pretty much anything you can pay.
Response to tavalon (Reply #65)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 11:52 AM
QED (1,189 posts)
74. Thanks...
I think my biggest worry is the surgeon. The specialist the ER called and did the surgery is out of my insurance network. I wasn't in a position to investigate this and didn't find out until the post-op appointment. Insurance covers 50% of this - and I don't know how much it will be but suspect it will be wicked.
I'm venting here, anonymously, about my fear over this. Meanwhile, it's a happy face and goshdarnit I'll get better and do my PT.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:42 PM
coalition_unwilling (14,180 posts)
54. Technical question on content\context: Is your OP referring to the release of
some official report about holiday spending? If so, which one? (I feel like I'm missing the context for your OP, so flying a bit blind.)
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 01:42 PM
OneMoreDemocrat (913 posts)
55. Well, I have as much money as I did last year (possibly a little more)...
and I haven't really been in the mood for 'CHRISTMAS !!!!!' this year, primarily because of Sandy and Sandy Hook and then the other shooting of FireFighters on Christmas Eve, and as such haven't really had much zest where Christmas shopping and such has been concerned.
So, on some level yeah mood does in fact affect holiday spending.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 02:08 PM
lunatica (33,952 posts)
57. I for one, am glad they don't have us totally figured out
This year has proven that they don't understand us at all. Our actions, for example on election day, surprised the living crap out of them. Out of the 1%, the media, and the idiots running against President Obama.
They're still scratching their heads in utter confusion, and tripping all over themselves to figure out what happened. And they still don't get it.
I like that they don't get to act like we're their marionettes.
Response to lunatica (Reply #57)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 02:19 AM
tavalon (27,820 posts)
66. Actually, they do act like we're their marionettes
That's why it shocks them every time we give them the middle finger.
Response to tavalon (Reply #66)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 10:00 AM
lunatica (33,952 posts)
68. Actually that was what I meant
They still think they have us where they want us in spite of all the evidence to the contrary.
For years DUers and political junkies in general have been whining and complaining about how people need to wake up. Well this last elections showed us all that people are waking up. That even surprised me a little, so I give a lot of credit to the younger Americans who have a different way of gathering information. It seems to be more accurate, and they seem to be under the radar to the pundits and the majority of politicians. And they're far more diverse now, and they've been paying attention.
When you have a population of people who are paying attention you're in deep trouble if you're the kind of party that counts on a low information electorate. The Republicans have received their first major defeat because of an informed and interested electorate, and, of course they think that's a terrible thing. But they can't figure out how to deal with it. Honesty and real service are just not in their vocabulary, so they keep missing the point with their wild gyrations on what and who to blame. It's everyone and everything but themselves.
It's fun to watch.
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 04:51 PM
Skittles (114,006 posts)
59. maybe people are wising up to buying crap
certainly they have caught on to how badly made is cheap offshore garbage
Response to annabanana (Original post)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 11:29 AM
SoCalDem (102,673 posts)
72. It's all the wimpy, wussie, buzz-kill consumers' fault, dammit..
Our lack of spending is distressing those corporations to the very core of their person-hoods..
Pf course they would never think that maybe we are just finally saturated to the brink, and our homes are filled to the brim with "stuff" and maybe we are hoarding OUR cash for frivolous things like food, rent & transportation..,oh and for interest payments on the stuff we bought 5 years ago..