Plus and minus. Simple math right. Well we are not talking about math today. We will talk about the pluses and minuses of today's life.
On television the other day the Tampa Bay Rays coach was on talking about there being 700,000 people in the Tampa Bay area who do not have enough to eat on a daily basis. If they eat at the stadium I could see why. Nine dollars for a hot dog. Six dollars for a bag of peanuts. If you had to eat there it would cost about sixty dollars a day to have a reasonably balanced diet.
Working at a grocery store (one of many in our chain) we donate tons of food to the homeless (or whatever) every day. Going down about any street I do not see too many people at a skin and bones level. If fact most look like they have been eating too much.
As there are two sides to every coin there is a plus and minus. We have to be happy for what we have and not unhappy for what we do not have. People will always find some way to survive. And you can't hold that against anyone. Ultimately it is up to ourselves to determine if we are happy and OK with the way things are.
Take the plus side. Most of us have a place to stay. Food to eat. A job if you are able or want one. Clothes to wear. A TV and computer. Medical care of sorts. The opportunity to choose a life that we want to lead. do you really see anyone that down and out? If you take in consideration all the pluses, the minuses seem to be not so bad.
Sometimes we all feel spite. We are going to get back at everyone and anything that has done us wrong. So this builds to the point that you are driven by it. When all along you could be pleasant and helpful with less effort. So if we can discount these feeling that sometimes have become hard and fast you may find that there are less minuses.
We all run into things that are cannot be under control. An accident, medical, family matters, job problems and a plethora of things. Take them as they go.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Plus And Minus
Plus and minus. Simple math right. Well we are not talking about math today. We will talk about the pluses and minuses of today's life.
On television the other day the Tampa Bay Rays coach was on talking about there being 700,000 people in the Tampa Bay area who do not have enough to eat on a daily basis. If they eat at the stadium I could see why. Nine dollars for a hot dog. Six dollars for a bag of peanuts. If you had to eat there it would cost about sixty dollars a day to have a reasonably balanced diet.
Working at a grocery store (one of many in our chain) we donate tons of food to the homeless (or whatever) every day. Going down about any street I do not see too many people at a skin and bones level. If fact most look like they have been eating too much.
As there are two sides to every coin there is a plus and minus. We have to be happy for what we have and not unhappy for what we do not have. People will always find some way to survive. And you can't hold that against anyone. Ultimately it is up to ourselves to determine if we are happy and OK with the way things are.
Take the plus side. Most of us have a place to stay. Food to eat. A job if you are able or want one. Clothes to wear. A TV and computer. Medical care of sorts. The opportunity to choose a life that we want to lead. do you really see anyone that down and out? If you take in consideration all the pluses, the minuses seem to be not so bad.
Sometimes we all feel spite. We are going to get back at everyone and anything that has done us wrong. So this builds to the point that you are driven by it. When all along you could be pleasant and helpful with less effort. So if we can discount these feeling that sometimes have become hard and fast you may find that there are less minuses.
We all run into things that are cannot be under control. An accident, medical, family matters, job problems and a plethora of things. Take them as they go.
On television the other day the Tampa Bay Rays coach was on talking about there being 700,000 people in the Tampa Bay area who do not have enough to eat on a daily basis. If they eat at the stadium I could see why. Nine dollars for a hot dog. Six dollars for a bag of peanuts. If you had to eat there it would cost about sixty dollars a day to have a reasonably balanced diet.
Working at a grocery store (one of many in our chain) we donate tons of food to the homeless (or whatever) every day. Going down about any street I do not see too many people at a skin and bones level. If fact most look like they have been eating too much.
As there are two sides to every coin there is a plus and minus. We have to be happy for what we have and not unhappy for what we do not have. People will always find some way to survive. And you can't hold that against anyone. Ultimately it is up to ourselves to determine if we are happy and OK with the way things are.
Take the plus side. Most of us have a place to stay. Food to eat. A job if you are able or want one. Clothes to wear. A TV and computer. Medical care of sorts. The opportunity to choose a life that we want to lead. do you really see anyone that down and out? If you take in consideration all the pluses, the minuses seem to be not so bad.
Sometimes we all feel spite. We are going to get back at everyone and anything that has done us wrong. So this builds to the point that you are driven by it. When all along you could be pleasant and helpful with less effort. So if we can discount these feeling that sometimes have become hard and fast you may find that there are less minuses.
We all run into things that are cannot be under control. An accident, medical, family matters, job problems and a plethora of things. Take them as they go.
Poland , France And Germany
I would just like to thank you folks in Poland, France and Germany for reading my posts. Please check through the archives and see if there is any topics that may interest you.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to do so. If you have any suggestions for posts that would be welcome too.
Again, thank you.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to do so. If you have any suggestions for posts that would be welcome too.
Again, thank you.
Poland , France And Germany
I would just like to thank you folks in Poland, France and Germany for reading my posts. Please check through the archives and see if there is any topics that may interest you.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to do so. If you have any suggestions for posts that would be welcome too.
Again, thank you.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to do so. If you have any suggestions for posts that would be welcome too.
Again, thank you.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Spam, Egg, Tomato And Toast Breakfast Sandwich
For years I have made a breakfast sandwich that consists of Spam, a poached egg and tomato. You can get fancy and add cheese if you like.
First get a can of Spam (yuk). Spam was a food developed during World War Two (what was that?). It is a can of compressed ham products that could last for a long time when canned. It can be eaten straight out of the can, but I prefer is fried.
Open up your can of Spam. Slice it thinly. Put it into a frying pan. Brown it. Get a small plastic container in the shape of how you want your egg to turn out. Put just a few drops of olive oil or water into the container. Crack the egg into it. Mix it really well. Put into the microwave for about a minute and a half. A nicely poached egg should result.
A can of Spam should yield at least four nice sandwiches. Slice your tomatoes and you are done.
Put these sandwiches in plastic bags after letting them cool. Eat them at once or bag them up for later.
Just about as good as of a sandwich one could come up with.
First get a can of Spam (yuk). Spam was a food developed during World War Two (what was that?). It is a can of compressed ham products that could last for a long time when canned. It can be eaten straight out of the can, but I prefer is fried.
Open up your can of Spam. Slice it thinly. Put it into a frying pan. Brown it. Get a small plastic container in the shape of how you want your egg to turn out. Put just a few drops of olive oil or water into the container. Crack the egg into it. Mix it really well. Put into the microwave for about a minute and a half. A nicely poached egg should result.
A can of Spam should yield at least four nice sandwiches. Slice your tomatoes and you are done.
Put these sandwiches in plastic bags after letting them cool. Eat them at once or bag them up for later.
Just about as good as of a sandwich one could come up with.
Spam, Egg, Tomato And Toast Breakfast Sandwich
For years I have made a breakfast sandwich that consists of Spam, a poached egg and tomato. You can get fancy and add cheese if you like.
First get a can of Spam (yuk). Spam was a food developed during World War Two (what was that?). It is a can of compressed ham products that could last for a long time when canned. It can be eaten straight out of the can, but I prefer is fried.
Open up your can of Spam. Slice it thinly. Put it into a frying pan. Brown it. Get a small plastic container in the shape of how you want your egg to turn out. Put just a few drops of olive oil or water into the container. Crack the egg into it. Mix it really well. Put into the microwave for about a minute and a half. A nicely poached egg should result.
A can of Spam should yield at least four nice sandwiches. Slice your tomatoes and you are done.
Put these sandwiches in plastic bags after letting them cool. Eat them at once or bag them up for later.
Just about as good as of a sandwich one could come up with.
First get a can of Spam (yuk). Spam was a food developed during World War Two (what was that?). It is a can of compressed ham products that could last for a long time when canned. It can be eaten straight out of the can, but I prefer is fried.
Open up your can of Spam. Slice it thinly. Put it into a frying pan. Brown it. Get a small plastic container in the shape of how you want your egg to turn out. Put just a few drops of olive oil or water into the container. Crack the egg into it. Mix it really well. Put into the microwave for about a minute and a half. A nicely poached egg should result.
A can of Spam should yield at least four nice sandwiches. Slice your tomatoes and you are done.
Put these sandwiches in plastic bags after letting them cool. Eat them at once or bag them up for later.
Just about as good as of a sandwich one could come up with.
A Cow Don't Make Ham
A cow don't make ham sounds kind of silly. But it is so true. It can be applied to about any situation. It is what it is. There is no Superman, Batman, Spider Man, Star Trek, Transformers or any other if the things we have came to be true. They are sort of the salve that eases our daily pains.
We are taught that if we believe in something enough you can make it come true. Which brings another adage up, wish in one hand and **** in the other and see which one fills up first. All the wishing and hoping in the world is not going to change reality.
If you are 5 foot six inches tall and cannot run or jump you are not going to be a pro basketball player. If you cannot break 100 on the golf course you are not going to be a pro golfer. You can apply this to any sport.
You make $20,000 a year at a low end job. This doesn't necessarily make you a bad person. However you cannot expect to have a lot of material things and life's luxuries that a billionaire has. Simple as that. No matter how much you wish and hope. It isn't going to happen. So you have to just face that reality. You can run from it but you cannot hide. It may be hard but you have to resist the urge to become unpleasant. You can still be pleasant and practice good hygiene. It may be possible to find a way to make more money or just accept the fact that this is the way it is. A cow don't make ham.
The system chastises people who are in lower positions. It is not conducive to a market driven economy. Contentment with what you have does not sell things or services. The system does however need the lower classes to perform tasks that the other classes consider below them. The real players in life.
Realistically a trade or job that was a low class job one hundred years ago is still a low class job. Although you may have a nicer, easier life. Today chances are that you will live longer. As people years ago died in their forties and fifties. Now you can try to live to reach retirement. That great thing we have been conditioned to work and hope for. This way you invest money and buy insurance to bet that you will live a long and happy life. If you do not save and take care of your self you will just find that you are old, unhealthy and broke. A cow don't make ham.
If you are not considered beautiful you will most likely not be a big star, model, news caster or anything else that will be advertising a product that will make you feel that way. Most of us are not going to be on the cover of Cosmopolitan or GQ. So why worry about it. Being a nerd thinking otherwise is like putting air horns on a billy goat. Useless.
This is the way we are conditioned from cradle to grave. You have to reach for that brass ring. Play the game. Many times if you play the game you will get burnt. How many crimes and violence is a result of discontentment with one's personal circumstances. Leading to frustration at a catastrophic level. So we smoke, drink, eat, drug and purchase ourselves to oblivion. Ending up worst then where we started. After that good feeling and the either wears off.
Thing of it is, is that it is what it is. A cow don't make ham.
We are taught that if we believe in something enough you can make it come true. Which brings another adage up, wish in one hand and **** in the other and see which one fills up first. All the wishing and hoping in the world is not going to change reality.
If you are 5 foot six inches tall and cannot run or jump you are not going to be a pro basketball player. If you cannot break 100 on the golf course you are not going to be a pro golfer. You can apply this to any sport.
You make $20,000 a year at a low end job. This doesn't necessarily make you a bad person. However you cannot expect to have a lot of material things and life's luxuries that a billionaire has. Simple as that. No matter how much you wish and hope. It isn't going to happen. So you have to just face that reality. You can run from it but you cannot hide. It may be hard but you have to resist the urge to become unpleasant. You can still be pleasant and practice good hygiene. It may be possible to find a way to make more money or just accept the fact that this is the way it is. A cow don't make ham.
The system chastises people who are in lower positions. It is not conducive to a market driven economy. Contentment with what you have does not sell things or services. The system does however need the lower classes to perform tasks that the other classes consider below them. The real players in life.
Realistically a trade or job that was a low class job one hundred years ago is still a low class job. Although you may have a nicer, easier life. Today chances are that you will live longer. As people years ago died in their forties and fifties. Now you can try to live to reach retirement. That great thing we have been conditioned to work and hope for. This way you invest money and buy insurance to bet that you will live a long and happy life. If you do not save and take care of your self you will just find that you are old, unhealthy and broke. A cow don't make ham.
If you are not considered beautiful you will most likely not be a big star, model, news caster or anything else that will be advertising a product that will make you feel that way. Most of us are not going to be on the cover of Cosmopolitan or GQ. So why worry about it. Being a nerd thinking otherwise is like putting air horns on a billy goat. Useless.
This is the way we are conditioned from cradle to grave. You have to reach for that brass ring. Play the game. Many times if you play the game you will get burnt. How many crimes and violence is a result of discontentment with one's personal circumstances. Leading to frustration at a catastrophic level. So we smoke, drink, eat, drug and purchase ourselves to oblivion. Ending up worst then where we started. After that good feeling and the either wears off.
Thing of it is, is that it is what it is. A cow don't make ham.
A Cow Don't Make Ham
A cow don't make ham sounds kind of silly. But it is so true. It can be applied to about any situation. It is what it is. There is no Superman, Batman, Spider Man, Star Trek, Transformers or any other if the things we have came to be true. They are sort of the salve that eases our daily pains.
We are taught that if we believe in something enough you can make it come true. Which brings another adage up, wish in one hand and **** in the other and see which one fills up first. All the wishing and hoping in the world is not going to change reality.
If you are 5 foot six inches tall and cannot run or jump you are not going to be a pro basketball player. If you cannot break 100 on the golf course you are not going to be a pro golfer. You can apply this to any sport.
You make $20,000 a year at a low end job. This doesn't necessarily make you a bad person. However you cannot expect to have a lot of material things and life's luxuries that a billionaire has. Simple as that. No matter how much you wish and hope. It isn't going to happen. So you have to just face that reality. You can run from it but you cannot hide. It may be hard but you have to resist the urge to become unpleasant. You can still be pleasant and practice good hygiene. It may be possible to find a way to make more money or just accept the fact that this is the way it is. A cow don't make ham.
The system chastises people who are in lower positions. It is not conducive to a market driven economy. Contentment with what you have does not sell things or services. The system does however need the lower classes to perform tasks that the other classes consider below them. The real players in life.
Realistically a trade or job that was a low class job one hundred years ago is still a low class job. Although you may have a nicer, easier life. Today chances are that you will live longer. As people years ago died in their forties and fifties. Now you can try to live to reach retirement. That great thing we have been conditioned to work and hope for. This way you invest money and buy insurance to bet that you will live a long and happy life. If you do not save and take care of your self you will just find that you are old, unhealthy and broke. A cow don't make ham.
If you are not considered beautiful you will most likely not be a big star, model, news caster or anything else that will be advertising a product that will make you feel that way. Most of us are not going to be on the cover of Cosmopolitan or GQ. So why worry about it. Being a nerd thinking otherwise is like putting air horns on a billy goat. Useless.
This is the way we are conditioned from cradle to grave. You have to reach for that brass ring. Play the game. Many times if you play the game you will get burnt. How many crimes and violence is a result of discontentment with one's personal circumstances. Leading to frustration at a catastrophic level. So we smoke, drink, eat, drug and purchase ourselves to oblivion. Ending up worst then where we started. After that good feeling and the either wears off.
Thing of it is, is that it is what it is. A cow don't make ham.
We are taught that if we believe in something enough you can make it come true. Which brings another adage up, wish in one hand and **** in the other and see which one fills up first. All the wishing and hoping in the world is not going to change reality.
If you are 5 foot six inches tall and cannot run or jump you are not going to be a pro basketball player. If you cannot break 100 on the golf course you are not going to be a pro golfer. You can apply this to any sport.
You make $20,000 a year at a low end job. This doesn't necessarily make you a bad person. However you cannot expect to have a lot of material things and life's luxuries that a billionaire has. Simple as that. No matter how much you wish and hope. It isn't going to happen. So you have to just face that reality. You can run from it but you cannot hide. It may be hard but you have to resist the urge to become unpleasant. You can still be pleasant and practice good hygiene. It may be possible to find a way to make more money or just accept the fact that this is the way it is. A cow don't make ham.
The system chastises people who are in lower positions. It is not conducive to a market driven economy. Contentment with what you have does not sell things or services. The system does however need the lower classes to perform tasks that the other classes consider below them. The real players in life.
Realistically a trade or job that was a low class job one hundred years ago is still a low class job. Although you may have a nicer, easier life. Today chances are that you will live longer. As people years ago died in their forties and fifties. Now you can try to live to reach retirement. That great thing we have been conditioned to work and hope for. This way you invest money and buy insurance to bet that you will live a long and happy life. If you do not save and take care of your self you will just find that you are old, unhealthy and broke. A cow don't make ham.
If you are not considered beautiful you will most likely not be a big star, model, news caster or anything else that will be advertising a product that will make you feel that way. Most of us are not going to be on the cover of Cosmopolitan or GQ. So why worry about it. Being a nerd thinking otherwise is like putting air horns on a billy goat. Useless.
This is the way we are conditioned from cradle to grave. You have to reach for that brass ring. Play the game. Many times if you play the game you will get burnt. How many crimes and violence is a result of discontentment with one's personal circumstances. Leading to frustration at a catastrophic level. So we smoke, drink, eat, drug and purchase ourselves to oblivion. Ending up worst then where we started. After that good feeling and the either wears off.
Thing of it is, is that it is what it is. A cow don't make ham.
Monday, October 27, 2014
The Dentist Appointment
After putting off going to the dentist for over a year and having a major tooth ache I went today. You can't put things off forever. I was supposed to start treatment last fall but the advent of my father's three month stay at the hospital delayed that. Plus I did not want to spend the money I did not have.
Now I have two teeth that need a crown. One that will need a root canal and crown. Three teeth that need fillings. Not so good but a reality. So this is going to cost several thousand dollars for treatment. But the dentist was willing to extend credit albeit though an outside source.
But it is to the point that I do not enjoy eating and is making me physically sick. This is putting me in a bad position at work as I have called out from my shifts. When I do eat I sweat like a pig then get cold. Infection.
Every time I go to the dentist they have a new parlor trick. This one was taking something very cold and seeing if I could feel it. I could not. Meaning the teeth were essentially dead. So I trust them in the proposal that they can make them function. I will be able to chew meat but however will not be able to buy meat!
I have to wonder if a lot of this doesn't go back to when I got braces in Kentucky in 1987. The primary cause for my teeth being out of alignment was my wisdom teeth. They were impacted. Pushing forward on the other teeth making them crooked. I now feel that if the wisdom teeth were removed at that point in time the braces ordeal would have been more successful. Do you realize what it was like living at almost and past thirty years old with braces in Kentucky? If you would have got hit in the mouth you wold get cut up badly. Every Thursday for years I had to go to the orthodontist. It would hurt to eat, people made fun of you and girls looked at you like you were some kind of drip. I guess I was a drip anyway. This just reinforced the drip and nerd mode.
I am afraid this is just going to usher in a plethora medical phase. As I have to go the cardiologist and regular doctor. All of which are going to put me through a battery of treatment and tests. So with the deductibles I will end up broker then broke.
But I guess that this is something I need to do.
Now I have two teeth that need a crown. One that will need a root canal and crown. Three teeth that need fillings. Not so good but a reality. So this is going to cost several thousand dollars for treatment. But the dentist was willing to extend credit albeit though an outside source.
But it is to the point that I do not enjoy eating and is making me physically sick. This is putting me in a bad position at work as I have called out from my shifts. When I do eat I sweat like a pig then get cold. Infection.
Every time I go to the dentist they have a new parlor trick. This one was taking something very cold and seeing if I could feel it. I could not. Meaning the teeth were essentially dead. So I trust them in the proposal that they can make them function. I will be able to chew meat but however will not be able to buy meat!
I have to wonder if a lot of this doesn't go back to when I got braces in Kentucky in 1987. The primary cause for my teeth being out of alignment was my wisdom teeth. They were impacted. Pushing forward on the other teeth making them crooked. I now feel that if the wisdom teeth were removed at that point in time the braces ordeal would have been more successful. Do you realize what it was like living at almost and past thirty years old with braces in Kentucky? If you would have got hit in the mouth you wold get cut up badly. Every Thursday for years I had to go to the orthodontist. It would hurt to eat, people made fun of you and girls looked at you like you were some kind of drip. I guess I was a drip anyway. This just reinforced the drip and nerd mode.
I am afraid this is just going to usher in a plethora medical phase. As I have to go the cardiologist and regular doctor. All of which are going to put me through a battery of treatment and tests. So with the deductibles I will end up broker then broke.
But I guess that this is something I need to do.
The Dentist Appointment
After putting off going to the dentist for over a year and having a major tooth ache I went today. You can't put things off forever. I was supposed to start treatment last fall but the advent of my father's three month stay at the hospital delayed that. Plus I did not want to spend the money I did not have.
Now I have two teeth that need a crown. One that will need a root canal and crown. Three teeth that need fillings. Not so good but a reality. So this is going to cost several thousand dollars for treatment. But the dentist was willing to extend credit albeit though an outside source.
But it is to the point that I do not enjoy eating and is making me physically sick. This is putting me in a bad position at work as I have called out from my shifts. When I do eat I sweat like a pig then get cold. Infection.
Every time I go to the dentist they have a new parlor trick. This one was taking something very cold and seeing if I could feel it. I could not. Meaning the teeth were essentially dead. So I trust them in the proposal that they can make them function. I will be able to chew meat but however will not be able to buy meat!
I have to wonder if a lot of this doesn't go back to when I got braces in Kentucky in 1987. The primary cause for my teeth being out of alignment was my wisdom teeth. They were impacted. Pushing forward on the other teeth making them crooked. I now feel that if the wisdom teeth were removed at that point in time the braces ordeal would have been more successful. Do you realize what it was like living at almost and past thirty years old with braces in Kentucky? If you would have got hit in the mouth you wold get cut up badly. Every Thursday for years I had to go to the orthodontist. It would hurt to eat, people made fun of you and girls looked at you like you were some kind of drip. I guess I was a drip anyway. This just reinforced the drip and nerd mode.
I am afraid this is just going to usher in a plethora medical phase. As I have to go the cardiologist and regular doctor. All of which are going to put me through a battery of treatment and tests. So with the deductibles I will end up broker then broke.
But I guess that this is something I need to do.
Now I have two teeth that need a crown. One that will need a root canal and crown. Three teeth that need fillings. Not so good but a reality. So this is going to cost several thousand dollars for treatment. But the dentist was willing to extend credit albeit though an outside source.
But it is to the point that I do not enjoy eating and is making me physically sick. This is putting me in a bad position at work as I have called out from my shifts. When I do eat I sweat like a pig then get cold. Infection.
Every time I go to the dentist they have a new parlor trick. This one was taking something very cold and seeing if I could feel it. I could not. Meaning the teeth were essentially dead. So I trust them in the proposal that they can make them function. I will be able to chew meat but however will not be able to buy meat!
I have to wonder if a lot of this doesn't go back to when I got braces in Kentucky in 1987. The primary cause for my teeth being out of alignment was my wisdom teeth. They were impacted. Pushing forward on the other teeth making them crooked. I now feel that if the wisdom teeth were removed at that point in time the braces ordeal would have been more successful. Do you realize what it was like living at almost and past thirty years old with braces in Kentucky? If you would have got hit in the mouth you wold get cut up badly. Every Thursday for years I had to go to the orthodontist. It would hurt to eat, people made fun of you and girls looked at you like you were some kind of drip. I guess I was a drip anyway. This just reinforced the drip and nerd mode.
I am afraid this is just going to usher in a plethora medical phase. As I have to go the cardiologist and regular doctor. All of which are going to put me through a battery of treatment and tests. So with the deductibles I will end up broker then broke.
But I guess that this is something I need to do.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Does Money Hold You Back From Everything?
Does money hold you back from everything? Not an abundance but a lack there of. Unfortunately most of us fall into the lack there of category. Does every purchase have the potential of wrecking your whole monthly budget? Have you put off medical, dental and vision care because of money? Are you eating unhealthy food not because you want to but because you have to? Do you shy away from social activities because you cannot afford to participate? Is all your clothing out of date, shabby and ill fitting?
If you answered yes to any one of these questions money is probably holding you back in some fashion. Yes it is true that you cannot have everything and you are always going to want something you just can't have. So we have to adapt to a lifestyle or lack there of to get by. Getting by is not really a great thing if it keeps you from having some kind of a fulfilling life. You withdraw from society in shame. As you can not and after a while do not want to participate. You remember the saying If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch. A simple saying but how true it is.
So what do you do? Work harder and longer. So you work harder, but you are paid by the hour so you just end up doing all the work. You work longer, but your company has cut out overtime. You get a second job but your primary job schedule fluctuates so much you cannot commit to a second schedule.
Maybe a hobby that you have can generate some money. Maybe you are good with carpentry, gardening, bicycles, tutoring, housecleaning, sewing, handy person, decorating, painting, watch repair, sports, writing, musical instruments, auto detailing, auto repair, computers, appliances and any number of things that you may have a good working knowledge of. One caution is that you may create a liability and do not have a license. So any revenue must be on a cash basis with the understanding that you are not a professional. This then may not be a viable option then.
Magazines show the rich and famous spending enormous amounts of money on everything form houses to partying. Clothes, cars, everything. And we feel so sad when they are break up, turn out at a party in ugly clothes, get fat or thin, pregnant, cheat on each other and everything else. Famous athletes and stars were not created for nothing. They were created to generate revenue for someone and it ain't you. People love and feel for them. Then in the twilight of their careers they are still generating revenue for someone selling you make up or insurance. For the most part if you were laying on the ground on fire, they would not pee on you to put you out.
The bottom line is that money is important is your life. It is the instrument that motivates most of every action we take. What you eat. What you live in. What you drive (if you do). What you wear. Who you know. Who you hang out with. Your quality of life if you will. In the event that you prefer a quiet life that is up to you also. There is nothing wrong with that. You go to work. You go home. You do your chores. You do not bother anyone. Best for a low budget. Be pleasant to who you see and go on. Keeps you out of trouble too!
To a certain extent money does hold you back.You just cannot have everything Cart Blanche. But it does not have to hold you back from everything. There are things to do without spending money. Every form of entertainment or hobby does not have to cost money. Or maybe not that much.
If you have to spend money on people to have friends they are probably not friends anyway. You know you have friends as long as you are paying the bar tab.
Another thing to remember is that most people are so busy with what they have on their plate they are not paying as much attention to you as you would think. As long as you are somewhat pleasant and not offensive it doesn't make that much difference. So do not worry about it.
Also do not force yourself upon people. If they want to talk to or be with you they will. And if they do not they will not however much you try. This will only lead to disappointment and ill will.
Being said you do not make that much money. You feel that it is holding you back. But it is not holding you back as much as you think. It is your perception that money is holding you back. If you thought a new car, clothes and a Rolex watch is going to make you Mr. or Ms. special you are wrong. If people truly like you you will know it. If they don't most will be cordial and just be pleasant and get away from you. Unless you really make them mad and they have to get in your face.
A lot of happy people in the world do not have a lot of money. But personality. And if you do not have personality no amount of money can buy that for you. After you get over the denial period just realize that it is not the amount of money you have. It is your personality. That is what is probably holding you back from what you think you want. I say what you think you want because when you are at a juncture to achieve what you want you don't want it anyway. Then you end up hurting someone who thought you were cool and turn out to be the butt hole everyone else thinks you are.
Going back to the Running with the big dogs, this may not be possible. As the big dogs may not have a lot of money. But some personality. And no matter how much money you have you will eternally be the yelping Yorkie on the porch.
If you answered yes to any one of these questions money is probably holding you back in some fashion. Yes it is true that you cannot have everything and you are always going to want something you just can't have. So we have to adapt to a lifestyle or lack there of to get by. Getting by is not really a great thing if it keeps you from having some kind of a fulfilling life. You withdraw from society in shame. As you can not and after a while do not want to participate. You remember the saying If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch. A simple saying but how true it is.
So what do you do? Work harder and longer. So you work harder, but you are paid by the hour so you just end up doing all the work. You work longer, but your company has cut out overtime. You get a second job but your primary job schedule fluctuates so much you cannot commit to a second schedule.
Maybe a hobby that you have can generate some money. Maybe you are good with carpentry, gardening, bicycles, tutoring, housecleaning, sewing, handy person, decorating, painting, watch repair, sports, writing, musical instruments, auto detailing, auto repair, computers, appliances and any number of things that you may have a good working knowledge of. One caution is that you may create a liability and do not have a license. So any revenue must be on a cash basis with the understanding that you are not a professional. This then may not be a viable option then.
Magazines show the rich and famous spending enormous amounts of money on everything form houses to partying. Clothes, cars, everything. And we feel so sad when they are break up, turn out at a party in ugly clothes, get fat or thin, pregnant, cheat on each other and everything else. Famous athletes and stars were not created for nothing. They were created to generate revenue for someone and it ain't you. People love and feel for them. Then in the twilight of their careers they are still generating revenue for someone selling you make up or insurance. For the most part if you were laying on the ground on fire, they would not pee on you to put you out.
The bottom line is that money is important is your life. It is the instrument that motivates most of every action we take. What you eat. What you live in. What you drive (if you do). What you wear. Who you know. Who you hang out with. Your quality of life if you will. In the event that you prefer a quiet life that is up to you also. There is nothing wrong with that. You go to work. You go home. You do your chores. You do not bother anyone. Best for a low budget. Be pleasant to who you see and go on. Keeps you out of trouble too!
To a certain extent money does hold you back.You just cannot have everything Cart Blanche. But it does not have to hold you back from everything. There are things to do without spending money. Every form of entertainment or hobby does not have to cost money. Or maybe not that much.
If you have to spend money on people to have friends they are probably not friends anyway. You know you have friends as long as you are paying the bar tab.
Another thing to remember is that most people are so busy with what they have on their plate they are not paying as much attention to you as you would think. As long as you are somewhat pleasant and not offensive it doesn't make that much difference. So do not worry about it.
Also do not force yourself upon people. If they want to talk to or be with you they will. And if they do not they will not however much you try. This will only lead to disappointment and ill will.
Being said you do not make that much money. You feel that it is holding you back. But it is not holding you back as much as you think. It is your perception that money is holding you back. If you thought a new car, clothes and a Rolex watch is going to make you Mr. or Ms. special you are wrong. If people truly like you you will know it. If they don't most will be cordial and just be pleasant and get away from you. Unless you really make them mad and they have to get in your face.
A lot of happy people in the world do not have a lot of money. But personality. And if you do not have personality no amount of money can buy that for you. After you get over the denial period just realize that it is not the amount of money you have. It is your personality. That is what is probably holding you back from what you think you want. I say what you think you want because when you are at a juncture to achieve what you want you don't want it anyway. Then you end up hurting someone who thought you were cool and turn out to be the butt hole everyone else thinks you are.
Going back to the Running with the big dogs, this may not be possible. As the big dogs may not have a lot of money. But some personality. And no matter how much money you have you will eternally be the yelping Yorkie on the porch.
Does Money Hold You Back From Everything?
Does money hold you back from everything? Not an abundance but a lack there of. Unfortunately most of us fall into the lack there of category. Does every purchase have the potential of wrecking your whole monthly budget? Have you put off medical, dental and vision care because of money? Are you eating unhealthy food not because you want to but because you have to? Do you shy away from social activities because you cannot afford to participate? Is all your clothing out of date, shabby and ill fitting?
If you answered yes to any one of these questions money is probably holding you back in some fashion. Yes it is true that you cannot have everything and you are always going to want something you just can't have. So we have to adapt to a lifestyle or lack there of to get by. Getting by is not really a great thing if it keeps you from having some kind of a fulfilling life. You withdraw from society in shame. As you can not and after a while do not want to participate. You remember the saying If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch. A simple saying but how true it is.
So what do you do? Work harder and longer. So you work harder, but you are paid by the hour so you just end up doing all the work. You work longer, but your company has cut out overtime. You get a second job but your primary job schedule fluctuates so much you cannot commit to a second schedule.
Maybe a hobby that you have can generate some money. Maybe you are good with carpentry, gardening, bicycles, tutoring, housecleaning, sewing, handy person, decorating, painting, watch repair, sports, writing, musical instruments, auto detailing, auto repair, computers, appliances and any number of things that you may have a good working knowledge of. One caution is that you may create a liability and do not have a license. So any revenue must be on a cash basis with the understanding that you are not a professional. This then may not be a viable option then.
Magazines show the rich and famous spending enormous amounts of money on everything form houses to partying. Clothes, cars, everything. And we feel so sad when they are break up, turn out at a party in ugly clothes, get fat or thin, pregnant, cheat on each other and everything else. Famous athletes and stars were not created for nothing. They were created to generate revenue for someone and it ain't you. People love and feel for them. Then in the twilight of their careers they are still generating revenue for someone selling you make up or insurance. For the most part if you were laying on the ground on fire, they would not pee on you to put you out.
The bottom line is that money is important is your life. It is the instrument that motivates most of every action we take. What you eat. What you live in. What you drive (if you do). What you wear. Who you know. Who you hang out with. Your quality of life if you will. In the event that you prefer a quiet life that is up to you also. There is nothing wrong with that. You go to work. You go home. You do your chores. You do not bother anyone. Best for a low budget. Be pleasant to who you see and go on. Keeps you out of trouble too!
To a certain extent money does hold you back.You just cannot have everything Cart Blanche. But it does not have to hold you back from everything. There are things to do without spending money. Every form of entertainment or hobby does not have to cost money. Or maybe not that much.
If you have to spend money on people to have friends they are probably not friends anyway. You know you have friends as long as you are paying the bar tab.
Another thing to remember is that most people are so busy with what they have on their plate they are not paying as much attention to you as you would think. As long as you are somewhat pleasant and not offensive it doesn't make that much difference. So do not worry about it.
Also do not force yourself upon people. If they want to talk to or be with you they will. And if they do not they will not however much you try. This will only lead to disappointment and ill will.
Being said you do not make that much money. You feel that it is holding you back. But it is not holding you back as much as you think. It is your perception that money is holding you back. If you thought a new car, clothes and a Rolex watch is going to make you Mr. or Ms. special you are wrong. If people truly like you you will know it. If they don't most will be cordial and just be pleasant and get away from you. Unless you really make them mad and they have to get in your face.
A lot of happy people in the world do not have a lot of money. But personality. And if you do not have personality no amount of money can buy that for you. After you get over the denial period just realize that it is not the amount of money you have. It is your personality. That is what is probably holding you back from what you think you want. I say what you think you want because when you are at a juncture to achieve what you want you don't want it anyway. Then you end up hurting someone who thought you were cool and turn out to be the butt hole everyone else thinks you are.
Going back to the Running with the big dogs, this may not be possible. As the big dogs may not have a lot of money. But some personality. And no matter how much money you have you will eternally be the yelping Yorkie on the porch.
If you answered yes to any one of these questions money is probably holding you back in some fashion. Yes it is true that you cannot have everything and you are always going to want something you just can't have. So we have to adapt to a lifestyle or lack there of to get by. Getting by is not really a great thing if it keeps you from having some kind of a fulfilling life. You withdraw from society in shame. As you can not and after a while do not want to participate. You remember the saying If you can't run with the big dogs stay on the porch. A simple saying but how true it is.
So what do you do? Work harder and longer. So you work harder, but you are paid by the hour so you just end up doing all the work. You work longer, but your company has cut out overtime. You get a second job but your primary job schedule fluctuates so much you cannot commit to a second schedule.
Maybe a hobby that you have can generate some money. Maybe you are good with carpentry, gardening, bicycles, tutoring, housecleaning, sewing, handy person, decorating, painting, watch repair, sports, writing, musical instruments, auto detailing, auto repair, computers, appliances and any number of things that you may have a good working knowledge of. One caution is that you may create a liability and do not have a license. So any revenue must be on a cash basis with the understanding that you are not a professional. This then may not be a viable option then.
Magazines show the rich and famous spending enormous amounts of money on everything form houses to partying. Clothes, cars, everything. And we feel so sad when they are break up, turn out at a party in ugly clothes, get fat or thin, pregnant, cheat on each other and everything else. Famous athletes and stars were not created for nothing. They were created to generate revenue for someone and it ain't you. People love and feel for them. Then in the twilight of their careers they are still generating revenue for someone selling you make up or insurance. For the most part if you were laying on the ground on fire, they would not pee on you to put you out.
The bottom line is that money is important is your life. It is the instrument that motivates most of every action we take. What you eat. What you live in. What you drive (if you do). What you wear. Who you know. Who you hang out with. Your quality of life if you will. In the event that you prefer a quiet life that is up to you also. There is nothing wrong with that. You go to work. You go home. You do your chores. You do not bother anyone. Best for a low budget. Be pleasant to who you see and go on. Keeps you out of trouble too!
To a certain extent money does hold you back.You just cannot have everything Cart Blanche. But it does not have to hold you back from everything. There are things to do without spending money. Every form of entertainment or hobby does not have to cost money. Or maybe not that much.
If you have to spend money on people to have friends they are probably not friends anyway. You know you have friends as long as you are paying the bar tab.
Another thing to remember is that most people are so busy with what they have on their plate they are not paying as much attention to you as you would think. As long as you are somewhat pleasant and not offensive it doesn't make that much difference. So do not worry about it.
Also do not force yourself upon people. If they want to talk to or be with you they will. And if they do not they will not however much you try. This will only lead to disappointment and ill will.
Being said you do not make that much money. You feel that it is holding you back. But it is not holding you back as much as you think. It is your perception that money is holding you back. If you thought a new car, clothes and a Rolex watch is going to make you Mr. or Ms. special you are wrong. If people truly like you you will know it. If they don't most will be cordial and just be pleasant and get away from you. Unless you really make them mad and they have to get in your face.
A lot of happy people in the world do not have a lot of money. But personality. And if you do not have personality no amount of money can buy that for you. After you get over the denial period just realize that it is not the amount of money you have. It is your personality. That is what is probably holding you back from what you think you want. I say what you think you want because when you are at a juncture to achieve what you want you don't want it anyway. Then you end up hurting someone who thought you were cool and turn out to be the butt hole everyone else thinks you are.
Going back to the Running with the big dogs, this may not be possible. As the big dogs may not have a lot of money. But some personality. And no matter how much money you have you will eternally be the yelping Yorkie on the porch.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Shopping At A Chain Grocery Instead Of Running To Different Stores
For the next couple of weeks I am going to do all my shopping at the store I work at. It is a large chain super market in the southeast. After months of shopping around at other venues I am going to only buy from my store. I did an earlier post about chains, big box and discount earlier.
The only way I am going to get close is the store brand generic goods. Which ours is of very high quality. Take advantage of buy one get one frees and and two for ones. In many instances I have still found that a place like Aldi is less expensive per item. Many of the the individual items are 20 to 50 cents a peice difference.
The last time I was at Walmart the difference in canned goods and staples was not that much. Walmart has seemed to eliminate a lot of their great value line. I still have to drive a car to get there.
Shopping at Aldi or Save A Lot means getting into a car and driving across town. Taking your own boxes and bags. And driving back. Taking an hour or two. Plus gas. Plus worrying about getting into an automobile accident.
At my store lets just talk about paper towels. You get a pretty big roll for $1.30. At Aldi a smaller roll for 99 cents. Plastic garbage bags, sandwich bags, and storage bags are about the same in price. Our house brand detergent is $2.99 theirs is $1.99. Spaghetti is $1.29 vs 99 cents. Again that 20 to 50 cent difference holds true.
Meat wise our beef is much better. I have not noticed much difference in prices on chicken and pork. The beef sirloin I bought at Aldi fell apart like it was a bunch of Steak Ums glues together when cooking. I haven't had any issues with the chicken of pork. Just a limited selection. Things like smoked sausage and Italian sausage are consistently less expensive at Aldi. Unless there is a sale at our store. Likewise for cold cuts.
Frozen convenience foods are less costly too. But check the portions as they may be smaller. Condiments like salad dressing, mustard, ketchup are less too on the house brand. Dry seasonings like minced onion, salt, pepper, oregano, season salt etc are too.
Produce is of a limited selection but less expensive most of the time. They have a few teasers like potatoes for $1.79 for a five pound bag or sometimes ten pound bag. But I cannot use a ten pound bag before it goes rotten.
If the cost per item is usually 20 to fifty cents difference lets average that out to 30 cents. So on fifty items you will save $15 per trip and 100 items $30. That can add up to $795 a year based on a weekly trip of fifty items.
It just depends upon what is important to you. Selection, service and convenience. Or just best prices. For those who do not have an automobile your local grocer is you only choice anyway. Our store has a pharmacy, bakery, deli, produce department and a staffed meat department for custom assistance. The deli has business that would make most restaurants jealous. It is also a kind of social place. Were neighbors run into each other and chat. And if you are not a bar fly, club grouper, or belong to organizations this may be your biggest social venue. Did I mention the hot chicks that come into the store? Everyone at Aldi is just kind of moving along in an efficient manner hoping that no one will see them and think they are a cheapskate.
The only way I am going to get close is the store brand generic goods. Which ours is of very high quality. Take advantage of buy one get one frees and and two for ones. In many instances I have still found that a place like Aldi is less expensive per item. Many of the the individual items are 20 to 50 cents a peice difference.
The last time I was at Walmart the difference in canned goods and staples was not that much. Walmart has seemed to eliminate a lot of their great value line. I still have to drive a car to get there.
Shopping at Aldi or Save A Lot means getting into a car and driving across town. Taking your own boxes and bags. And driving back. Taking an hour or two. Plus gas. Plus worrying about getting into an automobile accident.
At my store lets just talk about paper towels. You get a pretty big roll for $1.30. At Aldi a smaller roll for 99 cents. Plastic garbage bags, sandwich bags, and storage bags are about the same in price. Our house brand detergent is $2.99 theirs is $1.99. Spaghetti is $1.29 vs 99 cents. Again that 20 to 50 cent difference holds true.
Meat wise our beef is much better. I have not noticed much difference in prices on chicken and pork. The beef sirloin I bought at Aldi fell apart like it was a bunch of Steak Ums glues together when cooking. I haven't had any issues with the chicken of pork. Just a limited selection. Things like smoked sausage and Italian sausage are consistently less expensive at Aldi. Unless there is a sale at our store. Likewise for cold cuts.
Frozen convenience foods are less costly too. But check the portions as they may be smaller. Condiments like salad dressing, mustard, ketchup are less too on the house brand. Dry seasonings like minced onion, salt, pepper, oregano, season salt etc are too.
Produce is of a limited selection but less expensive most of the time. They have a few teasers like potatoes for $1.79 for a five pound bag or sometimes ten pound bag. But I cannot use a ten pound bag before it goes rotten.
If the cost per item is usually 20 to fifty cents difference lets average that out to 30 cents. So on fifty items you will save $15 per trip and 100 items $30. That can add up to $795 a year based on a weekly trip of fifty items.
It just depends upon what is important to you. Selection, service and convenience. Or just best prices. For those who do not have an automobile your local grocer is you only choice anyway. Our store has a pharmacy, bakery, deli, produce department and a staffed meat department for custom assistance. The deli has business that would make most restaurants jealous. It is also a kind of social place. Were neighbors run into each other and chat. And if you are not a bar fly, club grouper, or belong to organizations this may be your biggest social venue. Did I mention the hot chicks that come into the store? Everyone at Aldi is just kind of moving along in an efficient manner hoping that no one will see them and think they are a cheapskate.
Shopping At A Chain Grocery Instead Of Running To Different Stores
For the next couple of weeks I am going to do all my shopping at the store I work at. It is a large chain super market in the southeast. After months of shopping around at other venues I am going to only buy from my store. I did an earlier post about chains, big box and discount earlier.
The only way I am going to get close is the store brand generic goods. Which ours is of very high quality. Take advantage of buy one get one frees and and two for ones. In many instances I have still found that a place like Aldi is less expensive per item. Many of the the individual items are 20 to 50 cents a peice difference.
The last time I was at Walmart the difference in canned goods and staples was not that much. Walmart has seemed to eliminate a lot of their great value line. I still have to drive a car to get there.
Shopping at Aldi or Save A Lot means getting into a car and driving across town. Taking your own boxes and bags. And driving back. Taking an hour or two. Plus gas. Plus worrying about getting into an automobile accident.
At my store lets just talk about paper towels. You get a pretty big roll for $1.30. At Aldi a smaller roll for 99 cents. Plastic garbage bags, sandwich bags, and storage bags are about the same in price. Our house brand detergent is $2.99 theirs is $1.99. Spaghetti is $1.29 vs 99 cents. Again that 20 to 50 cent difference holds true.
Meat wise our beef is much better. I have not noticed much difference in prices on chicken and pork. The beef sirloin I bought at Aldi fell apart like it was a bunch of Steak Ums glues together when cooking. I haven't had any issues with the chicken of pork. Just a limited selection. Things like smoked sausage and Italian sausage are consistently less expensive at Aldi. Unless there is a sale at our store. Likewise for cold cuts.
Frozen convenience foods are less costly too. But check the portions as they may be smaller. Condiments like salad dressing, mustard, ketchup are less too on the house brand. Dry seasonings like minced onion, salt, pepper, oregano, season salt etc are too.
Produce is of a limited selection but less expensive most of the time. They have a few teasers like potatoes for $1.79 for a five pound bag or sometimes ten pound bag. But I cannot use a ten pound bag before it goes rotten.
If the cost per item is usually 20 to fifty cents difference lets average that out to 30 cents. So on fifty items you will save $15 per trip and 100 items $30. That can add up to $795 a year based on a weekly trip of fifty items.
It just depends upon what is important to you. Selection, service and convenience. Or just best prices. For those who do not have an automobile your local grocer is you only choice anyway. Our store has a pharmacy, bakery, deli, produce department and a staffed meat department for custom assistance. The deli has business that would make most restaurants jealous. It is also a kind of social place. Were neighbors run into each other and chat. And if you are not a bar fly, club grouper, or belong to organizations this may be your biggest social venue. Did I mention the hot chicks that come into the store? Everyone at Aldi is just kind of moving along in an efficient manner hoping that no one will see them and think they are a cheapskate.
The only way I am going to get close is the store brand generic goods. Which ours is of very high quality. Take advantage of buy one get one frees and and two for ones. In many instances I have still found that a place like Aldi is less expensive per item. Many of the the individual items are 20 to 50 cents a peice difference.
The last time I was at Walmart the difference in canned goods and staples was not that much. Walmart has seemed to eliminate a lot of their great value line. I still have to drive a car to get there.
Shopping at Aldi or Save A Lot means getting into a car and driving across town. Taking your own boxes and bags. And driving back. Taking an hour or two. Plus gas. Plus worrying about getting into an automobile accident.
At my store lets just talk about paper towels. You get a pretty big roll for $1.30. At Aldi a smaller roll for 99 cents. Plastic garbage bags, sandwich bags, and storage bags are about the same in price. Our house brand detergent is $2.99 theirs is $1.99. Spaghetti is $1.29 vs 99 cents. Again that 20 to 50 cent difference holds true.
Meat wise our beef is much better. I have not noticed much difference in prices on chicken and pork. The beef sirloin I bought at Aldi fell apart like it was a bunch of Steak Ums glues together when cooking. I haven't had any issues with the chicken of pork. Just a limited selection. Things like smoked sausage and Italian sausage are consistently less expensive at Aldi. Unless there is a sale at our store. Likewise for cold cuts.
Frozen convenience foods are less costly too. But check the portions as they may be smaller. Condiments like salad dressing, mustard, ketchup are less too on the house brand. Dry seasonings like minced onion, salt, pepper, oregano, season salt etc are too.
Produce is of a limited selection but less expensive most of the time. They have a few teasers like potatoes for $1.79 for a five pound bag or sometimes ten pound bag. But I cannot use a ten pound bag before it goes rotten.
If the cost per item is usually 20 to fifty cents difference lets average that out to 30 cents. So on fifty items you will save $15 per trip and 100 items $30. That can add up to $795 a year based on a weekly trip of fifty items.
It just depends upon what is important to you. Selection, service and convenience. Or just best prices. For those who do not have an automobile your local grocer is you only choice anyway. Our store has a pharmacy, bakery, deli, produce department and a staffed meat department for custom assistance. The deli has business that would make most restaurants jealous. It is also a kind of social place. Were neighbors run into each other and chat. And if you are not a bar fly, club grouper, or belong to organizations this may be your biggest social venue. Did I mention the hot chicks that come into the store? Everyone at Aldi is just kind of moving along in an efficient manner hoping that no one will see them and think they are a cheapskate.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Chicken Gizzards
Last week I had the luxury of being off Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Getting bored with my usual food fare I thought I would try something different. I bought some chicken gizzards. I have not had them or chicken livers for a long time. Still relatively inexpensive at my store at $1.59 a pound. Since it is an organ meat it has a lot of iron.
Albeit fried chicken gizzards are not the most healthy food you can eat, but they are good. Last week I just simply fried the gizzards in a hot iron skillet. Breaded them in a large freezer bag with flour, salt and pepper. They turned out great. Not eating all of them at one time I found myself continually running the the fridge snacking on them to they were. gone.
This week I am going to try something different. I am boiling them first. So they will be completely cooked before hitting the frying pan. Kind of the same way I do pork ribs. This is something that I picked up on the internet. Do not rinse them but stick them in the fridge to cool to room temperature before breading.
To bread your gizzards I am going to use a large freezer bag, flour, Panko bread crumbs, season salt, and pepper. Then you take your iron skillet out and bring the oil to about 350-375 degrees. Carefully place them into the hot oil. As if you just dump them they will flair up and burn you. Cook for only about 3-5 minutes. Maybe less. Till done.
This makes a good munching food while you are hanging out. As I usually eat a few hot ones and put the rest in the fridge for snacks.
Albeit fried chicken gizzards are not the most healthy food you can eat, but they are good. Last week I just simply fried the gizzards in a hot iron skillet. Breaded them in a large freezer bag with flour, salt and pepper. They turned out great. Not eating all of them at one time I found myself continually running the the fridge snacking on them to they were. gone.
This week I am going to try something different. I am boiling them first. So they will be completely cooked before hitting the frying pan. Kind of the same way I do pork ribs. This is something that I picked up on the internet. Do not rinse them but stick them in the fridge to cool to room temperature before breading.
To bread your gizzards I am going to use a large freezer bag, flour, Panko bread crumbs, season salt, and pepper. Then you take your iron skillet out and bring the oil to about 350-375 degrees. Carefully place them into the hot oil. As if you just dump them they will flair up and burn you. Cook for only about 3-5 minutes. Maybe less. Till done.
This makes a good munching food while you are hanging out. As I usually eat a few hot ones and put the rest in the fridge for snacks.
Chicken Gizzards
Last week I had the luxury of being off Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Getting bored with my usual food fare I thought I would try something different. I bought some chicken gizzards. I have not had them or chicken livers for a long time. Still relatively inexpensive at my store at $1.59 a pound. Since it is an organ meat it has a lot of iron.
Albeit fried chicken gizzards are not the most healthy food you can eat, but they are good. Last week I just simply fried the gizzards in a hot iron skillet. Breaded them in a large freezer bag with flour, salt and pepper. They turned out great. Not eating all of them at one time I found myself continually running the the fridge snacking on them to they were. gone.
This week I am going to try something different. I am boiling them first. So they will be completely cooked before hitting the frying pan. Kind of the same way I do pork ribs. This is something that I picked up on the internet. Do not rinse them but stick them in the fridge to cool to room temperature before breading.
To bread your gizzards I am going to use a large freezer bag, flour, Panko bread crumbs, season salt, and pepper. Then you take your iron skillet out and bring the oil to about 350-375 degrees. Carefully place them into the hot oil. As if you just dump them they will flair up and burn you. Cook for only about 3-5 minutes. Maybe less. Till done.
This makes a good munching food while you are hanging out. As I usually eat a few hot ones and put the rest in the fridge for snacks.
Albeit fried chicken gizzards are not the most healthy food you can eat, but they are good. Last week I just simply fried the gizzards in a hot iron skillet. Breaded them in a large freezer bag with flour, salt and pepper. They turned out great. Not eating all of them at one time I found myself continually running the the fridge snacking on them to they were. gone.
This week I am going to try something different. I am boiling them first. So they will be completely cooked before hitting the frying pan. Kind of the same way I do pork ribs. This is something that I picked up on the internet. Do not rinse them but stick them in the fridge to cool to room temperature before breading.
To bread your gizzards I am going to use a large freezer bag, flour, Panko bread crumbs, season salt, and pepper. Then you take your iron skillet out and bring the oil to about 350-375 degrees. Carefully place them into the hot oil. As if you just dump them they will flair up and burn you. Cook for only about 3-5 minutes. Maybe less. Till done.
This makes a good munching food while you are hanging out. As I usually eat a few hot ones and put the rest in the fridge for snacks.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Trains, Railroads And Model Railroads
Few things are on the for front of our minds. Who really thinks much about trains and railroads anymore? As we speak there are trains running. Mostly carrying bulk products. Heavy loads such as coal, automobiles, oil, agricultural products.
Now there is a lot of speak of starting rail as public transportation. I think it is a good idea as Europe and the rest of the world still use trains for public transportation. But you have to realize that the United States already had one of the best rail systems in the late 1800s. The rail system was the main transportation throughout the United States. Every city and small town have a rail line. The food you ate, the clothes you wore, the products that were available at the hardware store, the factory you worked at, the US Mail, and everything else rode on the rails.
The railroads provided perhaps millions of people jobs. As there were not just the obvious trains going past. The infrastructure was immense. The amount of skilled workers involved in the running of the trains is almost breathtaking. Electricity was in use far before the appliances and light bulbs we know now. First the telegraph which was used a great deal by the railroads. The New York Central Railroad was the leader having their own generating stations and having an electronic signaling system in the late 1870s. As train wrecks were rampant in this time. The major thing was not knowing where the next or last train was.
During World War 1 the government took over the operation of the railroads. They are came up with some of the most hot rod steam locomotives that would run the rails till the diesel locomotives would take over. During this period the government dictated that all railroads would cooperate and ship each others freight in the most efficient manner meaning they would share their cars among themselves. So it did not matter which railroad the car belonged to, if was here and now that would be the next one used. This added to the faster opperation of rail service. It remains today as you see different railroad company names on most freight trains. Except for some unit trains which are an entire train hauling one product.
Now lets more to passenger trains. By the 1920s and 1930s American passenger trains had air conditioning, heat, dining cars, club cars and a great deal of luxury. Not all by far. But many of the top line trains. As this was the way the wealthy traveled too. The best trains could run at 80 to 100 miles per hour. Especially the western trains in the flat areas in the deserts and Great Plains. As they had no inclines or turns to deal with. The very rich could have their own private cars. Which could tag along with a passenger train or have their own locomotion.
I do not know of any President before FDR flew in an airplane. He flew in 1932 to Chicago to accept the nomination for President at the Democrat delegation there. He took his entire family. It was a long trip with bad weather. And as I understand it never flew again until 1943 or 1944 to get to Northern Africa. Always preferring a train in the US and a Navy cruiser for international travel.
Passenger service extended to every city, small town, and rural area of the United States. When people had to go a long or reasonably long distance then had to take a train. There was also a lot of local trains in the early 1900s (read light rail). When I lived in the Evansville, Indiana area there were the remains of an electrified rail system that ran about twenty five miles east of Evansville and went the same amount west. Los Angeles, California had a very good rail system. It was purchased by General Motors Corporation and completely dismantled. Chicago and New York City still have and use their rail systems started in the 1880s. The passenger rail reflects a time when every working individual could not afford a private car.
Model railroads are an attempt of individuals to create a duplication of a real or realistic railroad. Most of us just make an oval track that can just run around for hours. But the best make a working railroad that is actually performing a task that is tantamount to what a real railroad does. I however am not that skilled, ambitious, wealthy enough or motivated to do much with my model railroad. So I will just fire it up every few weeks or months to delve into the little fantasy of my own train going to where I want it to go.
Now there is a lot of speak of starting rail as public transportation. I think it is a good idea as Europe and the rest of the world still use trains for public transportation. But you have to realize that the United States already had one of the best rail systems in the late 1800s. The rail system was the main transportation throughout the United States. Every city and small town have a rail line. The food you ate, the clothes you wore, the products that were available at the hardware store, the factory you worked at, the US Mail, and everything else rode on the rails.
The railroads provided perhaps millions of people jobs. As there were not just the obvious trains going past. The infrastructure was immense. The amount of skilled workers involved in the running of the trains is almost breathtaking. Electricity was in use far before the appliances and light bulbs we know now. First the telegraph which was used a great deal by the railroads. The New York Central Railroad was the leader having their own generating stations and having an electronic signaling system in the late 1870s. As train wrecks were rampant in this time. The major thing was not knowing where the next or last train was.
During World War 1 the government took over the operation of the railroads. They are came up with some of the most hot rod steam locomotives that would run the rails till the diesel locomotives would take over. During this period the government dictated that all railroads would cooperate and ship each others freight in the most efficient manner meaning they would share their cars among themselves. So it did not matter which railroad the car belonged to, if was here and now that would be the next one used. This added to the faster opperation of rail service. It remains today as you see different railroad company names on most freight trains. Except for some unit trains which are an entire train hauling one product.
Now lets more to passenger trains. By the 1920s and 1930s American passenger trains had air conditioning, heat, dining cars, club cars and a great deal of luxury. Not all by far. But many of the top line trains. As this was the way the wealthy traveled too. The best trains could run at 80 to 100 miles per hour. Especially the western trains in the flat areas in the deserts and Great Plains. As they had no inclines or turns to deal with. The very rich could have their own private cars. Which could tag along with a passenger train or have their own locomotion.
I do not know of any President before FDR flew in an airplane. He flew in 1932 to Chicago to accept the nomination for President at the Democrat delegation there. He took his entire family. It was a long trip with bad weather. And as I understand it never flew again until 1943 or 1944 to get to Northern Africa. Always preferring a train in the US and a Navy cruiser for international travel.
Passenger service extended to every city, small town, and rural area of the United States. When people had to go a long or reasonably long distance then had to take a train. There was also a lot of local trains in the early 1900s (read light rail). When I lived in the Evansville, Indiana area there were the remains of an electrified rail system that ran about twenty five miles east of Evansville and went the same amount west. Los Angeles, California had a very good rail system. It was purchased by General Motors Corporation and completely dismantled. Chicago and New York City still have and use their rail systems started in the 1880s. The passenger rail reflects a time when every working individual could not afford a private car.
Model railroads are an attempt of individuals to create a duplication of a real or realistic railroad. Most of us just make an oval track that can just run around for hours. But the best make a working railroad that is actually performing a task that is tantamount to what a real railroad does. I however am not that skilled, ambitious, wealthy enough or motivated to do much with my model railroad. So I will just fire it up every few weeks or months to delve into the little fantasy of my own train going to where I want it to go.
Trains, Railroads And Model Railroads
Few things are on the for front of our minds. Who really thinks much about trains and railroads anymore? As we speak there are trains running. Mostly carrying bulk products. Heavy loads such as coal, automobiles, oil, agricultural products.
Now there is a lot of speak of starting rail as public transportation. I think it is a good idea as Europe and the rest of the world still use trains for public transportation. But you have to realize that the United States already had one of the best rail systems in the late 1800s. The rail system was the main transportation throughout the United States. Every city and small town have a rail line. The food you ate, the clothes you wore, the products that were available at the hardware store, the factory you worked at, the US Mail, and everything else rode on the rails.
The railroads provided perhaps millions of people jobs. As there were not just the obvious trains going past. The infrastructure was immense. The amount of skilled workers involved in the running of the trains is almost breathtaking. Electricity was in use far before the appliances and light bulbs we know now. First the telegraph which was used a great deal by the railroads. The New York Central Railroad was the leader having their own generating stations and having an electronic signaling system in the late 1870s. As train wrecks were rampant in this time. The major thing was not knowing where the next or last train was.
During World War 1 the government took over the operation of the railroads. They are came up with some of the most hot rod steam locomotives that would run the rails till the diesel locomotives would take over. During this period the government dictated that all railroads would cooperate and ship each others freight in the most efficient manner meaning they would share their cars among themselves. So it did not matter which railroad the car belonged to, if was here and now that would be the next one used. This added to the faster opperation of rail service. It remains today as you see different railroad company names on most freight trains. Except for some unit trains which are an entire train hauling one product.
Now lets more to passenger trains. By the 1920s and 1930s American passenger trains had air conditioning, heat, dining cars, club cars and a great deal of luxury. Not all by far. But many of the top line trains. As this was the way the wealthy traveled too. The best trains could run at 80 to 100 miles per hour. Especially the western trains in the flat areas in the deserts and Great Plains. As they had no inclines or turns to deal with. The very rich could have their own private cars. Which could tag along with a passenger train or have their own locomotion.
I do not know of any President before FDR flew in an airplane. He flew in 1932 to Chicago to accept the nomination for President at the Democrat delegation there. He took his entire family. It was a long trip with bad weather. And as I understand it never flew again until 1943 or 1944 to get to Northern Africa. Always preferring a train in the US and a Navy cruiser for international travel.
Passenger service extended to every city, small town, and rural area of the United States. When people had to go a long or reasonably long distance then had to take a train. There was also a lot of local trains in the early 1900s (read light rail). When I lived in the Evansville, Indiana area there were the remains of an electrified rail system that ran about twenty five miles east of Evansville and went the same amount west. Los Angeles, California had a very good rail system. It was purchased by General Motors Corporation and completely dismantled. Chicago and New York City still have and use their rail systems started in the 1880s. The passenger rail reflects a time when every working individual could not afford a private car.
Model railroads are an attempt of individuals to create a duplication of a real or realistic railroad. Most of us just make an oval track that can just run around for hours. But the best make a working railroad that is actually performing a task that is tantamount to what a real railroad does. I however am not that skilled, ambitious, wealthy enough or motivated to do much with my model railroad. So I will just fire it up every few weeks or months to delve into the little fantasy of my own train going to where I want it to go.
Now there is a lot of speak of starting rail as public transportation. I think it is a good idea as Europe and the rest of the world still use trains for public transportation. But you have to realize that the United States already had one of the best rail systems in the late 1800s. The rail system was the main transportation throughout the United States. Every city and small town have a rail line. The food you ate, the clothes you wore, the products that were available at the hardware store, the factory you worked at, the US Mail, and everything else rode on the rails.
The railroads provided perhaps millions of people jobs. As there were not just the obvious trains going past. The infrastructure was immense. The amount of skilled workers involved in the running of the trains is almost breathtaking. Electricity was in use far before the appliances and light bulbs we know now. First the telegraph which was used a great deal by the railroads. The New York Central Railroad was the leader having their own generating stations and having an electronic signaling system in the late 1870s. As train wrecks were rampant in this time. The major thing was not knowing where the next or last train was.
During World War 1 the government took over the operation of the railroads. They are came up with some of the most hot rod steam locomotives that would run the rails till the diesel locomotives would take over. During this period the government dictated that all railroads would cooperate and ship each others freight in the most efficient manner meaning they would share their cars among themselves. So it did not matter which railroad the car belonged to, if was here and now that would be the next one used. This added to the faster opperation of rail service. It remains today as you see different railroad company names on most freight trains. Except for some unit trains which are an entire train hauling one product.
Now lets more to passenger trains. By the 1920s and 1930s American passenger trains had air conditioning, heat, dining cars, club cars and a great deal of luxury. Not all by far. But many of the top line trains. As this was the way the wealthy traveled too. The best trains could run at 80 to 100 miles per hour. Especially the western trains in the flat areas in the deserts and Great Plains. As they had no inclines or turns to deal with. The very rich could have their own private cars. Which could tag along with a passenger train or have their own locomotion.
I do not know of any President before FDR flew in an airplane. He flew in 1932 to Chicago to accept the nomination for President at the Democrat delegation there. He took his entire family. It was a long trip with bad weather. And as I understand it never flew again until 1943 or 1944 to get to Northern Africa. Always preferring a train in the US and a Navy cruiser for international travel.
Passenger service extended to every city, small town, and rural area of the United States. When people had to go a long or reasonably long distance then had to take a train. There was also a lot of local trains in the early 1900s (read light rail). When I lived in the Evansville, Indiana area there were the remains of an electrified rail system that ran about twenty five miles east of Evansville and went the same amount west. Los Angeles, California had a very good rail system. It was purchased by General Motors Corporation and completely dismantled. Chicago and New York City still have and use their rail systems started in the 1880s. The passenger rail reflects a time when every working individual could not afford a private car.
Model railroads are an attempt of individuals to create a duplication of a real or realistic railroad. Most of us just make an oval track that can just run around for hours. But the best make a working railroad that is actually performing a task that is tantamount to what a real railroad does. I however am not that skilled, ambitious, wealthy enough or motivated to do much with my model railroad. So I will just fire it up every few weeks or months to delve into the little fantasy of my own train going to where I want it to go.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Watcha Gonna Do They Are Watchin' You
Everywhere you go now is under surveillance. But this can be tricky. Back in 1999 one of my stepdaughters friends took my checkbook. They went right out and cashed a check for $750. This worked so well They went to the next closest branch and done it again. And then to the next branch.
So now I am about $2350 down in my checking account. I went to the bank and someone I knew there said yes someone cashed a check here. Then the bank went into a denial stage and said it did not happen. So I called the police and I was instructed to go to the court house and get a court order for the video tapes.
The tapes however were magically erased in transit from Columbus, Ohio by some kind of freak magnet storm. The judge received a blank tape from Bank One. So for all practically purposes I was just out $2350.
As I paid all my bills at the first of the month I considered the check book dormant for the rest of the month. Since it took me over ten days to discover the theft I was out. So even with a camera and the check clearly not in my hand writing I was out.
So the surveillance isn't necessarily for your benefit. In another instance at work I was injured by a chemical spill from the haphazard manner that another employee done something. Again the tape evaporated. And I was accused of horseplay in the episode. They did however pay for the medical costs and time off for recovery. What did that say?
I live in Florida. Almost every stop light now has a an array of cameras. Florida however is probably the worst state I have lived in for stop light runners. Riding a bike you never know if you are going to get hit by taking off at a green light or plowed over from the rear from something intending to run the red light. The red light cameras are under a debate in Florida. Must have caught a few rich folks. Our course those probably vanished too.
When I go up the interstate highway that they now have a lot of cameras and white box looking things that I have to assume are radar for speed checks. Next time you are on the interstate highway see if you notice these devises. Every exit and interchange has cameras too.
I watch a lot of the travel shows on PBS. It appears that all of Great Britain is under surveillance. Even in the little hick towns. It does not seem so apparent on the continent. But they probably have some super small hot rod German cameras.
So just about everywhere you go, drive, work, shop, have resuire, walk, enter or do is monitored. This must be a super large industry. After all someone has to install, maintain, design and monitor these cameras or they would not be effective. Is someone watching all these cameras all the time? Probably not. It is recorded and then checked it an event arises. I have even heard that your cell phone and cable television can monitor you. So you think there is any private place left on Earth? Maybe somewhere. But not hardly anywhere.
Lesson here is Watcha Gonna Do They Are Watchin' You. So you better work hard and behave. Unless you have a special ticket to get the tapes lost.
Check out an older post called Work Hard And Behave.
So now I am about $2350 down in my checking account. I went to the bank and someone I knew there said yes someone cashed a check here. Then the bank went into a denial stage and said it did not happen. So I called the police and I was instructed to go to the court house and get a court order for the video tapes.
The tapes however were magically erased in transit from Columbus, Ohio by some kind of freak magnet storm. The judge received a blank tape from Bank One. So for all practically purposes I was just out $2350.
As I paid all my bills at the first of the month I considered the check book dormant for the rest of the month. Since it took me over ten days to discover the theft I was out. So even with a camera and the check clearly not in my hand writing I was out.
So the surveillance isn't necessarily for your benefit. In another instance at work I was injured by a chemical spill from the haphazard manner that another employee done something. Again the tape evaporated. And I was accused of horseplay in the episode. They did however pay for the medical costs and time off for recovery. What did that say?
I live in Florida. Almost every stop light now has a an array of cameras. Florida however is probably the worst state I have lived in for stop light runners. Riding a bike you never know if you are going to get hit by taking off at a green light or plowed over from the rear from something intending to run the red light. The red light cameras are under a debate in Florida. Must have caught a few rich folks. Our course those probably vanished too.
When I go up the interstate highway that they now have a lot of cameras and white box looking things that I have to assume are radar for speed checks. Next time you are on the interstate highway see if you notice these devises. Every exit and interchange has cameras too.
I watch a lot of the travel shows on PBS. It appears that all of Great Britain is under surveillance. Even in the little hick towns. It does not seem so apparent on the continent. But they probably have some super small hot rod German cameras.
So just about everywhere you go, drive, work, shop, have resuire, walk, enter or do is monitored. This must be a super large industry. After all someone has to install, maintain, design and monitor these cameras or they would not be effective. Is someone watching all these cameras all the time? Probably not. It is recorded and then checked it an event arises. I have even heard that your cell phone and cable television can monitor you. So you think there is any private place left on Earth? Maybe somewhere. But not hardly anywhere.
Lesson here is Watcha Gonna Do They Are Watchin' You. So you better work hard and behave. Unless you have a special ticket to get the tapes lost.
Check out an older post called Work Hard And Behave.
Watcha Gonna Do They Are Watchin' You
Everywhere you go now is under surveillance. But this can be tricky. Back in 1999 one of my stepdaughters friends took my checkbook. They went right out and cashed a check for $750. This worked so well They went to the next closest branch and done it again. And then to the next branch.
So now I am about $2350 down in my checking account. I went to the bank and someone I knew there said yes someone cashed a check here. Then the bank went into a denial stage and said it did not happen. So I called the police and I was instructed to go to the court house and get a court order for the video tapes.
The tapes however were magically erased in transit from Columbus, Ohio by some kind of freak magnet storm. The judge received a blank tape from Bank One. So for all practically purposes I was just out $2350.
As I paid all my bills at the first of the month I considered the check book dormant for the rest of the month. Since it took me over ten days to discover the theft I was out. So even with a camera and the check clearly not in my hand writing I was out.
So the surveillance isn't necessarily for your benefit. In another instance at work I was injured by a chemical spill from the haphazard manner that another employee done something. Again the tape evaporated. And I was accused of horseplay in the episode. They did however pay for the medical costs and time off for recovery. What did that say?
I live in Florida. Almost every stop light now has a an array of cameras. Florida however is probably the worst state I have lived in for stop light runners. Riding a bike you never know if you are going to get hit by taking off at a green light or plowed over from the rear from something intending to run the red light. The red light cameras are under a debate in Florida. Must have caught a few rich folks. Our course those probably vanished too.
When I go up the interstate highway that they now have a lot of cameras and white box looking things that I have to assume are radar for speed checks. Next time you are on the interstate highway see if you notice these devises. Every exit and interchange has cameras too.
I watch a lot of the travel shows on PBS. It appears that all of Great Britain is under surveillance. Even in the little hick towns. It does not seem so apparent on the continent. But they probably have some super small hot rod German cameras.
So just about everywhere you go, drive, work, shop, have resuire, walk, enter or do is monitored. This must be a super large industry. After all someone has to install, maintain, design and monitor these cameras or they would not be effective. Is someone watching all these cameras all the time? Probably not. It is recorded and then checked it an event arises. I have even heard that your cell phone and cable television can monitor you. So you think there is any private place left on Earth? Maybe somewhere. But not hardly anywhere.
Lesson here is Watcha Gonna Do They Are Watchin' You. So you better work hard and behave. Unless you have a special ticket to get the tapes lost.
Check out an older post called Work Hard And Behave.
So now I am about $2350 down in my checking account. I went to the bank and someone I knew there said yes someone cashed a check here. Then the bank went into a denial stage and said it did not happen. So I called the police and I was instructed to go to the court house and get a court order for the video tapes.
The tapes however were magically erased in transit from Columbus, Ohio by some kind of freak magnet storm. The judge received a blank tape from Bank One. So for all practically purposes I was just out $2350.
As I paid all my bills at the first of the month I considered the check book dormant for the rest of the month. Since it took me over ten days to discover the theft I was out. So even with a camera and the check clearly not in my hand writing I was out.
So the surveillance isn't necessarily for your benefit. In another instance at work I was injured by a chemical spill from the haphazard manner that another employee done something. Again the tape evaporated. And I was accused of horseplay in the episode. They did however pay for the medical costs and time off for recovery. What did that say?
I live in Florida. Almost every stop light now has a an array of cameras. Florida however is probably the worst state I have lived in for stop light runners. Riding a bike you never know if you are going to get hit by taking off at a green light or plowed over from the rear from something intending to run the red light. The red light cameras are under a debate in Florida. Must have caught a few rich folks. Our course those probably vanished too.
When I go up the interstate highway that they now have a lot of cameras and white box looking things that I have to assume are radar for speed checks. Next time you are on the interstate highway see if you notice these devises. Every exit and interchange has cameras too.
I watch a lot of the travel shows on PBS. It appears that all of Great Britain is under surveillance. Even in the little hick towns. It does not seem so apparent on the continent. But they probably have some super small hot rod German cameras.
So just about everywhere you go, drive, work, shop, have resuire, walk, enter or do is monitored. This must be a super large industry. After all someone has to install, maintain, design and monitor these cameras or they would not be effective. Is someone watching all these cameras all the time? Probably not. It is recorded and then checked it an event arises. I have even heard that your cell phone and cable television can monitor you. So you think there is any private place left on Earth? Maybe somewhere. But not hardly anywhere.
Lesson here is Watcha Gonna Do They Are Watchin' You. So you better work hard and behave. Unless you have a special ticket to get the tapes lost.
Check out an older post called Work Hard And Behave.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Living On Under $30,000 A Year
It is a hard cold fact now that a lot of people have to live on less than $30,000 a year. We for example will just use $30,000 as a round number. That is $2500 a month gross. A good round net number is 75%. Making a yearly net about $22,500 yearly or $1875 monthly.
How you live life and how much you can save depends a lot on your living arrangements. If you are living rent or house payment free as with mommy and daddy you free up a lot of cash. If you are paying $800 rent every month this takes up $1118 gross a month. Then to the rent you must add utilities, phone, cable, internet and any over services involved with a household. Such as food. So if you are spending an average of $10 a day on food that is another $300 a month. Which is $375 gross. Add in the $200 for utilities $250 gross. You all of a sudden have used a big chunk of that income. This is now $1743 gross or$1307.25 net. Take that $1875 minus $1307.25 comes to $567.75 left. But you have a car. With a payment of $300 a month for 72 months. An automobile insurance payment of $100. Using net numbers that leaves you with $167.75 left for the month or about $42 a week left. Not much wiggle room there. That breaks down to less than $6 a day of uncommitted money. Now you do not feel as prosperous as you did at the beginning of this post.
So unless you are not paying rent or for a lot of food you are living to just exist and pay taxing to support people who are living about the same for doing nothing. You really feel good now don't you. And that is at $30,000 a year gross. Imagine at $20,000.
Unfortunately most people cannot get along without transportation. For the most part public transportation in the United States is poor at best. I really admire the folks I work with that rely on public transportation or family help with rides. For all that it is worth I cannot imagine having to rely on something or something (public transportation) to get the things I really need and get to work. As I usually ride a bicycle.
People on entitlements are allowed enough money to live on their own. A private living arrangement. Food and medical. But as a working poor person you may have to give up you privacy and medical coverage to just get by. I have seen many best friends become room mates and in the end an enemy. So you have a room mate. They take your food. Wear your clothes. Take your car. Play video games all night. That sure sounds like fun.
It is really hard for these young people. A good out may be joining the military. It is a bit better than prison. You have food and housing provided. You get to see the world. You have opportunities for advancement. And VA benefits for life. But they say now that over 70% of twenty year olds do not meet the physical or mental requirements. So that may be out.
Then there is the Thank God There Is People With Money route. You get a job at a retail establishment and work as best you can. This can be a department store at the mall, big box, electronics, automotive, home center etc. Although it is tough to get a full time job and even come close to making $30,000. If you do make that kind of money you would probably have to be in IT or management.
Without full time status you do not get vacation, health benefits, bonuses, retirement benefits and a sundry amount of other perks. Again you a penalized for working. Much better life to just live on entitlements. Hardly anything you would be selling would be made in the USA anyway. As you are not that healthy anyway. May as well stay at home and watch TV. At least in Europe they have a true usable socialized medical plan available for everyone, generally very good public transportation, shorter work weeks, and generally mandatory vacation and holidays.
Well that just isn't the American Dream. Home ownership. Having a private car. The medical system we have today. But having a crappy part time job does not get you these things. Time to wake up out of this dream and look at things pragmatically. Politically Correct is a bunch of garbage were is prevents the real truth from being said without being provocative.
So if you are not living at home or practically for free lodging. You have to make some adjustments. Cooking and eating at home. In lieu of eating out. Packing your lunch on most days. Shopping for clothes and household items at thrift stores. You can also find sporting goods, hobby items, books, music, movies and tons of other stuff at thrift stores. One lesson on thrift store clothes is that if you find that really cool shirt or pants with a little stain on it do not think that it is going to come out when you wash it at home. As they usually have washed everything in a heavy duty industrial washer which would get anything as clean as it can get.
Another thing is try to live close to you work. If you are going to have to spend $100 on gas every week. You might do just as well to work somewhere that you do not have to drive to. If I did not have aging parents to have to drive to I would really not even need a car to get by. And if I did not get so paranoid I should have milked my 25 year old truck a little longer. But I was at a point where it still looked good, ran good, is a four wheel drive that someone with resources could have made a cherry daily driver out of a classic truck. If I had the cash on hand I would have surely done that and kept it. And if it up and died I would have had to pay someone to haul off a 4000 pound hulk instead of getting $2000 for an old cool truck. I am lucky though having put much thought into working within walking or bicycle distance. Living where I can get everything I need within a three mile radius. Nothing fancy,but good enough.
You do not work all the time. But your time away from work involves maintaining your household. Family time if you have one. You need to seek out free recreational activities. I do not capitalize on things that are available to me within my apartment community. We have a pool, tennis court, basketball court, exercise room and clubhouse which I can use. It is very scenic. I see a lot of others taking part and capitalizing on these opportunities. I am just not that social at this juncture. At any rate there is something in your home or possessions that need attention. So you can address it and spend some off time in a positive fashion.
For some reason I have been in a hermit mode for over a year. No golf (at the cheap muny of course), not taking any pleasure bicycle rides, not connecting with people much at all. It is a phase of course and will most likely pass through it. But then again I may not. In reality I am a nerd and will probably always be a nerd. There is no one missing me or even wandering where I am. So find out who you are and who you want to be. You may not be made of gold or silver. But maybe steel. Take care of yourself and be nice to the others you deal with. No one likes a crab.
The fact of the matter is that we are living in times that differ from other generations. Considering what we have as individuals we are lucky. Much more than the lower classes ever had before. So we have to be thankful of that.
How you live life and how much you can save depends a lot on your living arrangements. If you are living rent or house payment free as with mommy and daddy you free up a lot of cash. If you are paying $800 rent every month this takes up $1118 gross a month. Then to the rent you must add utilities, phone, cable, internet and any over services involved with a household. Such as food. So if you are spending an average of $10 a day on food that is another $300 a month. Which is $375 gross. Add in the $200 for utilities $250 gross. You all of a sudden have used a big chunk of that income. This is now $1743 gross or$1307.25 net. Take that $1875 minus $1307.25 comes to $567.75 left. But you have a car. With a payment of $300 a month for 72 months. An automobile insurance payment of $100. Using net numbers that leaves you with $167.75 left for the month or about $42 a week left. Not much wiggle room there. That breaks down to less than $6 a day of uncommitted money. Now you do not feel as prosperous as you did at the beginning of this post.
So unless you are not paying rent or for a lot of food you are living to just exist and pay taxing to support people who are living about the same for doing nothing. You really feel good now don't you. And that is at $30,000 a year gross. Imagine at $20,000.
Unfortunately most people cannot get along without transportation. For the most part public transportation in the United States is poor at best. I really admire the folks I work with that rely on public transportation or family help with rides. For all that it is worth I cannot imagine having to rely on something or something (public transportation) to get the things I really need and get to work. As I usually ride a bicycle.
People on entitlements are allowed enough money to live on their own. A private living arrangement. Food and medical. But as a working poor person you may have to give up you privacy and medical coverage to just get by. I have seen many best friends become room mates and in the end an enemy. So you have a room mate. They take your food. Wear your clothes. Take your car. Play video games all night. That sure sounds like fun.
It is really hard for these young people. A good out may be joining the military. It is a bit better than prison. You have food and housing provided. You get to see the world. You have opportunities for advancement. And VA benefits for life. But they say now that over 70% of twenty year olds do not meet the physical or mental requirements. So that may be out.
Then there is the Thank God There Is People With Money route. You get a job at a retail establishment and work as best you can. This can be a department store at the mall, big box, electronics, automotive, home center etc. Although it is tough to get a full time job and even come close to making $30,000. If you do make that kind of money you would probably have to be in IT or management.
Without full time status you do not get vacation, health benefits, bonuses, retirement benefits and a sundry amount of other perks. Again you a penalized for working. Much better life to just live on entitlements. Hardly anything you would be selling would be made in the USA anyway. As you are not that healthy anyway. May as well stay at home and watch TV. At least in Europe they have a true usable socialized medical plan available for everyone, generally very good public transportation, shorter work weeks, and generally mandatory vacation and holidays.
Well that just isn't the American Dream. Home ownership. Having a private car. The medical system we have today. But having a crappy part time job does not get you these things. Time to wake up out of this dream and look at things pragmatically. Politically Correct is a bunch of garbage were is prevents the real truth from being said without being provocative.
So if you are not living at home or practically for free lodging. You have to make some adjustments. Cooking and eating at home. In lieu of eating out. Packing your lunch on most days. Shopping for clothes and household items at thrift stores. You can also find sporting goods, hobby items, books, music, movies and tons of other stuff at thrift stores. One lesson on thrift store clothes is that if you find that really cool shirt or pants with a little stain on it do not think that it is going to come out when you wash it at home. As they usually have washed everything in a heavy duty industrial washer which would get anything as clean as it can get.
Another thing is try to live close to you work. If you are going to have to spend $100 on gas every week. You might do just as well to work somewhere that you do not have to drive to. If I did not have aging parents to have to drive to I would really not even need a car to get by. And if I did not get so paranoid I should have milked my 25 year old truck a little longer. But I was at a point where it still looked good, ran good, is a four wheel drive that someone with resources could have made a cherry daily driver out of a classic truck. If I had the cash on hand I would have surely done that and kept it. And if it up and died I would have had to pay someone to haul off a 4000 pound hulk instead of getting $2000 for an old cool truck. I am lucky though having put much thought into working within walking or bicycle distance. Living where I can get everything I need within a three mile radius. Nothing fancy,but good enough.
You do not work all the time. But your time away from work involves maintaining your household. Family time if you have one. You need to seek out free recreational activities. I do not capitalize on things that are available to me within my apartment community. We have a pool, tennis court, basketball court, exercise room and clubhouse which I can use. It is very scenic. I see a lot of others taking part and capitalizing on these opportunities. I am just not that social at this juncture. At any rate there is something in your home or possessions that need attention. So you can address it and spend some off time in a positive fashion.
For some reason I have been in a hermit mode for over a year. No golf (at the cheap muny of course), not taking any pleasure bicycle rides, not connecting with people much at all. It is a phase of course and will most likely pass through it. But then again I may not. In reality I am a nerd and will probably always be a nerd. There is no one missing me or even wandering where I am. So find out who you are and who you want to be. You may not be made of gold or silver. But maybe steel. Take care of yourself and be nice to the others you deal with. No one likes a crab.
The fact of the matter is that we are living in times that differ from other generations. Considering what we have as individuals we are lucky. Much more than the lower classes ever had before. So we have to be thankful of that.
Living On Under $30,000 A Year
It is a hard cold fact now that a lot of people have to live on less than $30,000 a year. We for example will just use $30,000 as a round number. That is $2500 a month gross. A good round net number is 75%. Making a yearly net about $22,500 yearly or $1875 monthly.
How you live life and how much you can save depends a lot on your living arrangements. If you are living rent or house payment free as with mommy and daddy you free up a lot of cash. If you are paying $800 rent every month this takes up $1118 gross a month. Then to the rent you must add utilities, phone, cable, internet and any over services involved with a household. Such as food. So if you are spending an average of $10 a day on food that is another $300 a month. Which is $375 gross. Add in the $200 for utilities $250 gross. You all of a sudden have used a big chunk of that income. This is now $1743 gross or$1307.25 net. Take that $1875 minus $1307.25 comes to $567.75 left. But you have a car. With a payment of $300 a month for 72 months. An automobile insurance payment of $100. Using net numbers that leaves you with $167.75 left for the month or about $42 a week left. Not much wiggle room there. That breaks down to less than $6 a day of uncommitted money. Now you do not feel as prosperous as you did at the beginning of this post.
So unless you are not paying rent or for a lot of food you are living to just exist and pay taxing to support people who are living about the same for doing nothing. You really feel good now don't you. And that is at $30,000 a year gross. Imagine at $20,000.
Unfortunately most people cannot get along without transportation. For the most part public transportation in the United States is poor at best. I really admire the folks I work with that rely on public transportation or family help with rides. For all that it is worth I cannot imagine having to rely on something or something (public transportation) to get the things I really need and get to work. As I usually ride a bicycle.
People on entitlements are allowed enough money to live on their own. A private living arrangement. Food and medical. But as a working poor person you may have to give up you privacy and medical coverage to just get by. I have seen many best friends become room mates and in the end an enemy. So you have a room mate. They take your food. Wear your clothes. Take your car. Play video games all night. That sure sounds like fun.
It is really hard for these young people. A good out may be joining the military. It is a bit better than prison. You have food and housing provided. You get to see the world. You have opportunities for advancement. And VA benefits for life. But they say now that over 70% of twenty year olds do not meet the physical or mental requirements. So that may be out.
Then there is the Thank God There Is People With Money route. You get a job at a retail establishment and work as best you can. This can be a department store at the mall, big box, electronics, automotive, home center etc. Although it is tough to get a full time job and even come close to making $30,000. If you do make that kind of money you would probably have to be in IT or management.
Without full time status you do not get vacation, health benefits, bonuses, retirement benefits and a sundry amount of other perks. Again you a penalized for working. Much better life to just live on entitlements. Hardly anything you would be selling would be made in the USA anyway. As you are not that healthy anyway. May as well stay at home and watch TV. At least in Europe they have a true usable socialized medical plan available for everyone, generally very good public transportation, shorter work weeks, and generally mandatory vacation and holidays.
Well that just isn't the American Dream. Home ownership. Having a private car. The medical system we have today. But having a crappy part time job does not get you these things. Time to wake up out of this dream and look at things pragmatically. Politically Correct is a bunch of garbage were is prevents the real truth from being said without being provocative.
So if you are not living at home or practically for free lodging. You have to make some adjustments. Cooking and eating at home. In lieu of eating out. Packing your lunch on most days. Shopping for clothes and household items at thrift stores. You can also find sporting goods, hobby items, books, music, movies and tons of other stuff at thrift stores. One lesson on thrift store clothes is that if you find that really cool shirt or pants with a little stain on it do not think that it is going to come out when you wash it at home. As they usually have washed everything in a heavy duty industrial washer which would get anything as clean as it can get.
Another thing is try to live close to you work. If you are going to have to spend $100 on gas every week. You might do just as well to work somewhere that you do not have to drive to. If I did not have aging parents to have to drive to I would really not even need a car to get by. And if I did not get so paranoid I should have milked my 25 year old truck a little longer. But I was at a point where it still looked good, ran good, is a four wheel drive that someone with resources could have made a cherry daily driver out of a classic truck. If I had the cash on hand I would have surely done that and kept it. And if it up and died I would have had to pay someone to haul off a 4000 pound hulk instead of getting $2000 for an old cool truck. I am lucky though having put much thought into working within walking or bicycle distance. Living where I can get everything I need within a three mile radius. Nothing fancy,but good enough.
You do not work all the time. But your time away from work involves maintaining your household. Family time if you have one. You need to seek out free recreational activities. I do not capitalize on things that are available to me within my apartment community. We have a pool, tennis court, basketball court, exercise room and clubhouse which I can use. It is very scenic. I see a lot of others taking part and capitalizing on these opportunities. I am just not that social at this juncture. At any rate there is something in your home or possessions that need attention. So you can address it and spend some off time in a positive fashion.
For some reason I have been in a hermit mode for over a year. No golf (at the cheap muny of course), not taking any pleasure bicycle rides, not connecting with people much at all. It is a phase of course and will most likely pass through it. But then again I may not. In reality I am a nerd and will probably always be a nerd. There is no one missing me or even wandering where I am. So find out who you are and who you want to be. You may not be made of gold or silver. But maybe steel. Take care of yourself and be nice to the others you deal with. No one likes a crab.
The fact of the matter is that we are living in times that differ from other generations. Considering what we have as individuals we are lucky. Much more than the lower classes ever had before. So we have to be thankful of that.
How you live life and how much you can save depends a lot on your living arrangements. If you are living rent or house payment free as with mommy and daddy you free up a lot of cash. If you are paying $800 rent every month this takes up $1118 gross a month. Then to the rent you must add utilities, phone, cable, internet and any over services involved with a household. Such as food. So if you are spending an average of $10 a day on food that is another $300 a month. Which is $375 gross. Add in the $200 for utilities $250 gross. You all of a sudden have used a big chunk of that income. This is now $1743 gross or$1307.25 net. Take that $1875 minus $1307.25 comes to $567.75 left. But you have a car. With a payment of $300 a month for 72 months. An automobile insurance payment of $100. Using net numbers that leaves you with $167.75 left for the month or about $42 a week left. Not much wiggle room there. That breaks down to less than $6 a day of uncommitted money. Now you do not feel as prosperous as you did at the beginning of this post.
So unless you are not paying rent or for a lot of food you are living to just exist and pay taxing to support people who are living about the same for doing nothing. You really feel good now don't you. And that is at $30,000 a year gross. Imagine at $20,000.
Unfortunately most people cannot get along without transportation. For the most part public transportation in the United States is poor at best. I really admire the folks I work with that rely on public transportation or family help with rides. For all that it is worth I cannot imagine having to rely on something or something (public transportation) to get the things I really need and get to work. As I usually ride a bicycle.
People on entitlements are allowed enough money to live on their own. A private living arrangement. Food and medical. But as a working poor person you may have to give up you privacy and medical coverage to just get by. I have seen many best friends become room mates and in the end an enemy. So you have a room mate. They take your food. Wear your clothes. Take your car. Play video games all night. That sure sounds like fun.
It is really hard for these young people. A good out may be joining the military. It is a bit better than prison. You have food and housing provided. You get to see the world. You have opportunities for advancement. And VA benefits for life. But they say now that over 70% of twenty year olds do not meet the physical or mental requirements. So that may be out.
Then there is the Thank God There Is People With Money route. You get a job at a retail establishment and work as best you can. This can be a department store at the mall, big box, electronics, automotive, home center etc. Although it is tough to get a full time job and even come close to making $30,000. If you do make that kind of money you would probably have to be in IT or management.
Without full time status you do not get vacation, health benefits, bonuses, retirement benefits and a sundry amount of other perks. Again you a penalized for working. Much better life to just live on entitlements. Hardly anything you would be selling would be made in the USA anyway. As you are not that healthy anyway. May as well stay at home and watch TV. At least in Europe they have a true usable socialized medical plan available for everyone, generally very good public transportation, shorter work weeks, and generally mandatory vacation and holidays.
Well that just isn't the American Dream. Home ownership. Having a private car. The medical system we have today. But having a crappy part time job does not get you these things. Time to wake up out of this dream and look at things pragmatically. Politically Correct is a bunch of garbage were is prevents the real truth from being said without being provocative.
So if you are not living at home or practically for free lodging. You have to make some adjustments. Cooking and eating at home. In lieu of eating out. Packing your lunch on most days. Shopping for clothes and household items at thrift stores. You can also find sporting goods, hobby items, books, music, movies and tons of other stuff at thrift stores. One lesson on thrift store clothes is that if you find that really cool shirt or pants with a little stain on it do not think that it is going to come out when you wash it at home. As they usually have washed everything in a heavy duty industrial washer which would get anything as clean as it can get.
Another thing is try to live close to you work. If you are going to have to spend $100 on gas every week. You might do just as well to work somewhere that you do not have to drive to. If I did not have aging parents to have to drive to I would really not even need a car to get by. And if I did not get so paranoid I should have milked my 25 year old truck a little longer. But I was at a point where it still looked good, ran good, is a four wheel drive that someone with resources could have made a cherry daily driver out of a classic truck. If I had the cash on hand I would have surely done that and kept it. And if it up and died I would have had to pay someone to haul off a 4000 pound hulk instead of getting $2000 for an old cool truck. I am lucky though having put much thought into working within walking or bicycle distance. Living where I can get everything I need within a three mile radius. Nothing fancy,but good enough.
You do not work all the time. But your time away from work involves maintaining your household. Family time if you have one. You need to seek out free recreational activities. I do not capitalize on things that are available to me within my apartment community. We have a pool, tennis court, basketball court, exercise room and clubhouse which I can use. It is very scenic. I see a lot of others taking part and capitalizing on these opportunities. I am just not that social at this juncture. At any rate there is something in your home or possessions that need attention. So you can address it and spend some off time in a positive fashion.
For some reason I have been in a hermit mode for over a year. No golf (at the cheap muny of course), not taking any pleasure bicycle rides, not connecting with people much at all. It is a phase of course and will most likely pass through it. But then again I may not. In reality I am a nerd and will probably always be a nerd. There is no one missing me or even wandering where I am. So find out who you are and who you want to be. You may not be made of gold or silver. But maybe steel. Take care of yourself and be nice to the others you deal with. No one likes a crab.
The fact of the matter is that we are living in times that differ from other generations. Considering what we have as individuals we are lucky. Much more than the lower classes ever had before. So we have to be thankful of that.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Downtown
Today I went to pick up a pair of boots that needed repaired. Not many places to get shoes repaired anymore. As a lot of shoes cannot be repaired. So it is kind of a dying business. But when I went there today I took notice. A dying business on an already dead block. His was the only open business for two blocks on both sides of the street. Every building had a for sale or lease sign in the windows.
So I took notice and seen that there were a lot of buildings and streets in the same situation. We all know that the downtown areas of cities have been dying for decades. But this was unreal how many empty buildings there are. Many were law offices. Many empty. Many were skeletons of old family business that finally just died out. Several were valiant efforts to make that trendy place to be restaurant. Which may or may not have been that until the next hot spot came along. A skate board shop. Except for people walking to the courthouse a ghost town.
What could you do with all this real estate? Raise some of the buildings for free parking. Convert a lot of the others to apartments. On one street there are several restaurants and bars. A farmers market. They use this street as the place to go for a lot of civic events. Except for government offices and agencies the place is pretty much dead.
So I took notice and seen that there were a lot of buildings and streets in the same situation. We all know that the downtown areas of cities have been dying for decades. But this was unreal how many empty buildings there are. Many were law offices. Many empty. Many were skeletons of old family business that finally just died out. Several were valiant efforts to make that trendy place to be restaurant. Which may or may not have been that until the next hot spot came along. A skate board shop. Except for people walking to the courthouse a ghost town.
What could you do with all this real estate? Raise some of the buildings for free parking. Convert a lot of the others to apartments. On one street there are several restaurants and bars. A farmers market. They use this street as the place to go for a lot of civic events. Except for government offices and agencies the place is pretty much dead.
Downtown
Today I went to pick up a pair of boots that needed repaired. Not many places to get shoes repaired anymore. As a lot of shoes cannot be repaired. So it is kind of a dying business. But when I went there today I took notice. A dying business on an already dead block. His was the only open business for two blocks on both sides of the street. Every building had a for sale or lease sign in the windows.
So I took notice and seen that there were a lot of buildings and streets in the same situation. We all know that the downtown areas of cities have been dying for decades. But this was unreal how many empty buildings there are. Many were law offices. Many empty. Many were skeletons of old family business that finally just died out. Several were valiant efforts to make that trendy place to be restaurant. Which may or may not have been that until the next hot spot came along. A skate board shop. Except for people walking to the courthouse a ghost town.
What could you do with all this real estate? Raise some of the buildings for free parking. Convert a lot of the others to apartments. On one street there are several restaurants and bars. A farmers market. They use this street as the place to go for a lot of civic events. Except for government offices and agencies the place is pretty much dead.
So I took notice and seen that there were a lot of buildings and streets in the same situation. We all know that the downtown areas of cities have been dying for decades. But this was unreal how many empty buildings there are. Many were law offices. Many empty. Many were skeletons of old family business that finally just died out. Several were valiant efforts to make that trendy place to be restaurant. Which may or may not have been that until the next hot spot came along. A skate board shop. Except for people walking to the courthouse a ghost town.
What could you do with all this real estate? Raise some of the buildings for free parking. Convert a lot of the others to apartments. On one street there are several restaurants and bars. A farmers market. They use this street as the place to go for a lot of civic events. Except for government offices and agencies the place is pretty much dead.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Shrinking Middle Class And The Return To The Way It Was
First of all I would like to apologize for publishing a post that was not written. I had two drafts and naturally published the wrong one. The up side is that I got more readers of the blank post than the other one. i guess that says a lot for my content!
Now on to the post I had not written yet. I have eluded to the thought that the middle class is more of an illusion then fact. As the upper class still considers the middle class a lower class. Just a better lower class. Even the entertainers and sports personalities that have a lot of money are still lower class. That just happen to have a lot of money. And before these stars crash to the ground you can be sure that someone in the upper class are going to get a piece of the action before they fall. They will milk them for some cash or a lot of cash for investments and foundations. Keep them afloat as long as they are valuable and dump them when its over. For the little people they will suck them into the stock market and then pull the rug out from under it. There is a warm fuzzy feeling when you have $100,000 on paper. But stark reality when that turns to $50 when the water seeks its own level. By that time your have invested $5000 into something that turns out to be nothing.
The middle class was founded by people in the lower class that were skilled and able to behave themselves. These people were rewarded with higher paying jobs. Making them middle class. Although still being lower class. But it is nice to feel that you are above the lower class being middle class.
Living arrangements, education, race, religion, personal appearance, demeanor, associations, contribute to your gaining access to the middle class. It also dictates as to how you get around. Transportation. Car, bus, bicycle, motorcycle or walk. It is up to you isn't it? Well not really. Your credit rating, monthly income and personal preferences have a lot to do with that.
It used to be fashionable to be middle class. The lower class wanted to consider themselves middle class as well as people who were really rich. As a lot of rich people did not show off and did not want to be targeted as rich. Middle class people could shop at the mall. Have credit cards. Drive automobiles. Maybe even have a boat.
Now on to the post I had not written yet. I have eluded to the thought that the middle class is more of an illusion then fact. As the upper class still considers the middle class a lower class. Just a better lower class. Even the entertainers and sports personalities that have a lot of money are still lower class. That just happen to have a lot of money. And before these stars crash to the ground you can be sure that someone in the upper class are going to get a piece of the action before they fall. They will milk them for some cash or a lot of cash for investments and foundations. Keep them afloat as long as they are valuable and dump them when its over. For the little people they will suck them into the stock market and then pull the rug out from under it. There is a warm fuzzy feeling when you have $100,000 on paper. But stark reality when that turns to $50 when the water seeks its own level. By that time your have invested $5000 into something that turns out to be nothing.
The middle class was founded by people in the lower class that were skilled and able to behave themselves. These people were rewarded with higher paying jobs. Making them middle class. Although still being lower class. But it is nice to feel that you are above the lower class being middle class.
Living arrangements, education, race, religion, personal appearance, demeanor, associations, contribute to your gaining access to the middle class. It also dictates as to how you get around. Transportation. Car, bus, bicycle, motorcycle or walk. It is up to you isn't it? Well not really. Your credit rating, monthly income and personal preferences have a lot to do with that.
It used to be fashionable to be middle class. The lower class wanted to consider themselves middle class as well as people who were really rich. As a lot of rich people did not show off and did not want to be targeted as rich. Middle class people could shop at the mall. Have credit cards. Drive automobiles. Maybe even have a boat.
Shrinking Middle Class And The Return To The Way It Was
First of all I would like to apologize for publishing a post that was not written. I had two drafts and naturally published the wrong one. The up side is that I got more readers of the blank post than the other one. i guess that says a lot for my content!
Now on to the post I had not written yet. I have eluded to the thought that the middle class is more of an illusion then fact. As the upper class still considers the middle class a lower class. Just a better lower class. Even the entertainers and sports personalities that have a lot of money are still lower class. That just happen to have a lot of money. And before these stars crash to the ground you can be sure that someone in the upper class are going to get a piece of the action before they fall. They will milk them for some cash or a lot of cash for investments and foundations. Keep them afloat as long as they are valuable and dump them when its over. For the little people they will suck them into the stock market and then pull the rug out from under it. There is a warm fuzzy feeling when you have $100,000 on paper. But stark reality when that turns to $50 when the water seeks its own level. By that time your have invested $5000 into something that turns out to be nothing.
The middle class was founded by people in the lower class that were skilled and able to behave themselves. These people were rewarded with higher paying jobs. Making them middle class. Although still being lower class. But it is nice to feel that you are above the lower class being middle class.
Living arrangements, education, race, religion, personal appearance, demeanor, associations, contribute to your gaining access to the middle class. It also dictates as to how you get around. Transportation. Car, bus, bicycle, motorcycle or walk. It is up to you isn't it? Well not really. Your credit rating, monthly income and personal preferences have a lot to do with that.
It used to be fashionable to be middle class. The lower class wanted to consider themselves middle class as well as people who were really rich. As a lot of rich people did not show off and did not want to be targeted as rich. Middle class people could shop at the mall. Have credit cards. Drive automobiles. Maybe even have a boat.
Now on to the post I had not written yet. I have eluded to the thought that the middle class is more of an illusion then fact. As the upper class still considers the middle class a lower class. Just a better lower class. Even the entertainers and sports personalities that have a lot of money are still lower class. That just happen to have a lot of money. And before these stars crash to the ground you can be sure that someone in the upper class are going to get a piece of the action before they fall. They will milk them for some cash or a lot of cash for investments and foundations. Keep them afloat as long as they are valuable and dump them when its over. For the little people they will suck them into the stock market and then pull the rug out from under it. There is a warm fuzzy feeling when you have $100,000 on paper. But stark reality when that turns to $50 when the water seeks its own level. By that time your have invested $5000 into something that turns out to be nothing.
The middle class was founded by people in the lower class that were skilled and able to behave themselves. These people were rewarded with higher paying jobs. Making them middle class. Although still being lower class. But it is nice to feel that you are above the lower class being middle class.
Living arrangements, education, race, religion, personal appearance, demeanor, associations, contribute to your gaining access to the middle class. It also dictates as to how you get around. Transportation. Car, bus, bicycle, motorcycle or walk. It is up to you isn't it? Well not really. Your credit rating, monthly income and personal preferences have a lot to do with that.
It used to be fashionable to be middle class. The lower class wanted to consider themselves middle class as well as people who were really rich. As a lot of rich people did not show off and did not want to be targeted as rich. Middle class people could shop at the mall. Have credit cards. Drive automobiles. Maybe even have a boat.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Is The Middle Class Just A Fantasy?
We all hear about the demise of the middle class. Everyone wants to be middle class. From someone who is poor to a billionaire. They all like to describe themselves as middle class. But was there really a middle class? Is there a middle class or is it just or just an upper lower class?
In the middle ages there were the church, royalty, nobles, knights, merchant, craftsman, farmers and serfs. Even with all these divisions in society there was an upper and lower class. the church was kind of separate with its own hierarchy. Royalty, nobles and knights were the upper class in society. Merchants and craftsman were in the middle but still not an upper class. Farmers and serfs on the bottom.
So where did this ideal of a middle class come from? I think that the idea of middle class comes from media. TV and movies. Kind of a make you feel good idea. If I am middle class I am not poor. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution the workers were in the lower class. Miners, factory workers, tradesman, merchants, doctors, nurses, farmers, field workers, construction workers were all lower class. The poor are included in the lower class.
After World War 2 a lot of folks got jobs in factories, mills, mines and as clerks in offices in large corporations. As they did before the War. A lot of people lived in houses before the war. Whether they owned them or rented. There were also a whole lot more family farms. They owned the land and made their living off that. People worked wage jobs. But if you wanted something you had to have the money to buy it.
With the widespread or at least greatly expanded availability of consumer credit lower class people could buy things. Most lower class credit dating back for a thousand years were through pawn shops. You could get cash by putting up something of value (collateral) with which the pawn broker could recoup his loss and make a profit from if you did not pay back the loan. That is how the lower class borrowed money.
During the early stages of the Industrial Revolution the products were directed to high end customers and governments. Workers (lower class) were paid by the hour or by how much they produced to make things for a grander scale then individuals. Steel for making buildings, railroads, bridges. People had jobs making steel for buildings, railroads and bridges. Later they started making products that the masses could use on the home front. Mainly food, household, clothing and other consumable products. The working men lived to between forty and fifty years old as a rule. The next generation carried on as the worker base. Gee. Just like the middle ages. As a lot of people moved off the family farm to the cities for work they needed to eat. They needed to buy and prepare food with the wages they received from the hourly wage. They needed a way to prepare the food they ate. The cities needed to come up with an efficient way to deal with waste (sewage and garbage) and provide safe drinking water. During the 1880s there was a great problem with providing safe water, sewage and garbage disposal. So the great cities developed systems that are mostly in place today. Most after almost one hundred and fifty years are in need of repair. A great job idea.
I heard something on NPR that the manufacturing sector is still a good place to go. No need to worry that all the everyday things you pick up are made elsewhere. Only the high end and government stuff is made here. We are not sweating the small stuff. So that is good, right? Why can't we just make a lot a things here? Well for one thing no one wants to work at a low paying job where you now make under $50,000 a year. Which is the new threshold of the division of lower and middle class. The new middle class income extends to $600.000 a year. I would think that is rich. Actually someone that makes $50,000 seems well off to me. But what do I know as I am lower class. Lower class all this time I was thinking I was middle class. Where in fact most of the middle class is really lower class and the upper middle class is really lower class in the eyes of the rich. So in the eyes of the rich someone that makes $600,000 is only a sharper lower class person, that soundly puts me into a class of bottom feeder.
Going to the 1920s the rich got the lower class involved in buying things. Through media and social contacts you just had to have a certain amount of things. As the factories were over running the amount of possible sales they needed to come up with a solution. Consumer credit. Every rich person in the world has a stove and refrigerator. So now lets make them available to the public by selling it to them on credit. If they qualify of course. After this the economy boomed. Now lets let them thinking they are buying into the company. Sell them stock. It will go up as the majority of people will get into the foray. Just like the good economy vs bad economy. The ability for the lower class to buy things makes the good economy. When the access to credit stops the economy gets bad for the lower class. Neither state of the economy has much impact on the upper class. As they never really change.
The Great Depression of the 1930s is proof that the lower class needs the upper class more than the upper class needs the lower class, at least a majority of the lower class. As there are way many more lower class people than are needed to keep up the upper class. During the 1930s there were a great deal of public works that provided work for the lower class. While making a tidy profit for themselves. That is just the way it works.
Then comes the outbreak of World War 2. Everybody got a job, whether they wanted it or not. We had to defend our way of life. Help our allies. Get rid of the enemy. This really brought the US out of the Depression. As bad as it was the US did not get hit too much at home. Just about every one else did. When the major fighting part of the War ended all these troops and sailors came home. Mostly to not have a job. One of the finest movies about this is The Best Years Of Our Life. Check it out any time you can. It shows the realities of men coming home after WW2. For example a lead man in a bombing squadron and a hero comes home only to be able to work as a person at a soda fountain. A high school quarterback star comes home with both his arms burned off in the Navy. A former infantry Sargent and a family man comes home. Able to get his old job back at a bank but haunted from the war time activities. The US won the war by being able to produce more then their enemies. Often with better equipment. When the war ended there were all these factories churning out all this war material. When it ended there was no longer a need for it.
Now we have the creation of the middle class. People got jobs making all sorts of consumer goods. All these people needed a place to live. So there was a lot of construction. Although television had been out since the 1930s the lower class now had access to it. All these great shows just to gain access to your living room and influence you to buy products. You were shown how to have all these nice things and were conditioned to the thought that you were not poor but middle class. Look at all the old TV shows you loved from the 1950s. The Leave It To Beaver mentality. Ward had this obscure job at the office wearing a suit and tie. A hot wife and the idealistic two healthy children. Living in the suburbs in a nice house. Hey, I am not poor, I am middle class. Although this lifestyle was not completely widespread, it was a good model or goal to aim for. Now Beaver's old house in the LA suburbs does not cost $20,000. It is more like $600,000. A pound of bacon isn't fifty nine cents, it is $7. We as a society are trying to cling on to the idea of some great middle class. When in reality the things that we felt were automatic are not.
When I look at the graph it says middle class is up to $600,000 a year. Lower class ends at $50,000. But as a whole we are still doing pretty good compared to a hundred years ago. At this juncture we have still not completely had things settle. But things never do settle do they?
What the country needs to do is start making products here. Maybe the $15 minimum wage is a little high or is it? The problem is that the people pushing it are targeting fast food workers. These workers are putting in about twenty hours a week. But many are also receiving Section 8 housing, food stamps, Medicade, free cell phones and other benefits. So if they get $15 an hour will they exceed the the money level to get the benefits. I am afraid that for the most part they will only cut down the hours they work as to not lose the benefits. So now you are just paying them twice as much to work half as much.
In an ideal situation the $15 minimum wage would put you at about $30,000 a year. Still in the lower class. But with an ability to if carefully to make a decent living. Not even tarnishing the upper class's wealth. The problem here is with the cheaters. Ultimately they ruin it for everyone. Because they do not want to give up what they are getting for free, but want more.
One thing is that the ones pushing the $15 minimum wage are forming a union to only milk those individuals included in the union. Not full time workers. Only fast food workers. Again the only way to make $15 an hour work is if it is across the board. And if you exceed the government benefits you must relinquish them. Then there is more tax revenue coming in to support the Federal budget. You would have to add about 15% to Social Security benefit recipients.That should make up the difference for them. Congress can come up with billions for other projects, why not this? Start making tools, clothes and shoes in the USA again. And train people how to do so. People can get a loan for a college degree in Butterfly Intimidation. Graduate with a degree and not get a job. Go figure. With a huge college loan debt. Teach them a trade in something the citizens want and need. Not some stupid stuff that you can ever use. College is overused and overrated. Unless you are going to be a doctor or some other specialist, a general degree will probably get you by just fine. As every job has it's idiosyncrasies.
Most of these general skills used to be taught in high school. In my opinion high schools, middle schools and elementary schools are nearly worthless due to their inability to create discipline. Discipline is part of learning. You did not get a trophy if you lost
The middle class was just a goal. A goal you set for yourself. I am going to bring myself up out of this lower class and become middle class. The bar is set so high now it is mostly unattainable. What we need now is to train people to have a work mentality. Not just I'll give up and stay at home plan. Why bother to try to be middle class when you can have a home, TV, A/C, food, phone, computer, clothes and most every other thing that a lower class person didn't have thirty years ago. You have arrived to as good as it gets. Good enough. Things are just things. So you do not have the best. But you have something.
In reality I have always been in the lower class. Thinking for a long time I was in the middle class. But was always in the lower class. Only thinking I was middle class. Middle class can buy things at the mall. Have a car. Live in a nicer house. By things that lower class do not have.
So why do we fight in this point in time? They have food and shelter. At one point in time like into the 1930s people were actually hungry.The fact is that the lower class has it better now than ever before. We have just about everything we need. Or want.
The fact that the lower class extends to $50,000 a year means the majority of people are in the lower class. It has always been that way. When we think about people having a "good job" at a factory, the railroad, retail management, machinist, engineer, banking, accounting and a number of other higher paying jobs. We still think middle class. But in reality lower class. Then the lower class goes down from there. To a point where the lowest earning class is on par with the people living on welfare, disability, social security and other entitlements. Laws and biases that mean people are treated differently.
This takes the wind out of your sail. But on the flip side you have more things then any other lower class ever did.
In the middle ages there were the church, royalty, nobles, knights, merchant, craftsman, farmers and serfs. Even with all these divisions in society there was an upper and lower class. the church was kind of separate with its own hierarchy. Royalty, nobles and knights were the upper class in society. Merchants and craftsman were in the middle but still not an upper class. Farmers and serfs on the bottom.
So where did this ideal of a middle class come from? I think that the idea of middle class comes from media. TV and movies. Kind of a make you feel good idea. If I am middle class I am not poor. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution the workers were in the lower class. Miners, factory workers, tradesman, merchants, doctors, nurses, farmers, field workers, construction workers were all lower class. The poor are included in the lower class.
After World War 2 a lot of folks got jobs in factories, mills, mines and as clerks in offices in large corporations. As they did before the War. A lot of people lived in houses before the war. Whether they owned them or rented. There were also a whole lot more family farms. They owned the land and made their living off that. People worked wage jobs. But if you wanted something you had to have the money to buy it.
With the widespread or at least greatly expanded availability of consumer credit lower class people could buy things. Most lower class credit dating back for a thousand years were through pawn shops. You could get cash by putting up something of value (collateral) with which the pawn broker could recoup his loss and make a profit from if you did not pay back the loan. That is how the lower class borrowed money.
During the early stages of the Industrial Revolution the products were directed to high end customers and governments. Workers (lower class) were paid by the hour or by how much they produced to make things for a grander scale then individuals. Steel for making buildings, railroads, bridges. People had jobs making steel for buildings, railroads and bridges. Later they started making products that the masses could use on the home front. Mainly food, household, clothing and other consumable products. The working men lived to between forty and fifty years old as a rule. The next generation carried on as the worker base. Gee. Just like the middle ages. As a lot of people moved off the family farm to the cities for work they needed to eat. They needed to buy and prepare food with the wages they received from the hourly wage. They needed a way to prepare the food they ate. The cities needed to come up with an efficient way to deal with waste (sewage and garbage) and provide safe drinking water. During the 1880s there was a great problem with providing safe water, sewage and garbage disposal. So the great cities developed systems that are mostly in place today. Most after almost one hundred and fifty years are in need of repair. A great job idea.
I heard something on NPR that the manufacturing sector is still a good place to go. No need to worry that all the everyday things you pick up are made elsewhere. Only the high end and government stuff is made here. We are not sweating the small stuff. So that is good, right? Why can't we just make a lot a things here? Well for one thing no one wants to work at a low paying job where you now make under $50,000 a year. Which is the new threshold of the division of lower and middle class. The new middle class income extends to $600.000 a year. I would think that is rich. Actually someone that makes $50,000 seems well off to me. But what do I know as I am lower class. Lower class all this time I was thinking I was middle class. Where in fact most of the middle class is really lower class and the upper middle class is really lower class in the eyes of the rich. So in the eyes of the rich someone that makes $600,000 is only a sharper lower class person, that soundly puts me into a class of bottom feeder.
Going to the 1920s the rich got the lower class involved in buying things. Through media and social contacts you just had to have a certain amount of things. As the factories were over running the amount of possible sales they needed to come up with a solution. Consumer credit. Every rich person in the world has a stove and refrigerator. So now lets make them available to the public by selling it to them on credit. If they qualify of course. After this the economy boomed. Now lets let them thinking they are buying into the company. Sell them stock. It will go up as the majority of people will get into the foray. Just like the good economy vs bad economy. The ability for the lower class to buy things makes the good economy. When the access to credit stops the economy gets bad for the lower class. Neither state of the economy has much impact on the upper class. As they never really change.
The Great Depression of the 1930s is proof that the lower class needs the upper class more than the upper class needs the lower class, at least a majority of the lower class. As there are way many more lower class people than are needed to keep up the upper class. During the 1930s there were a great deal of public works that provided work for the lower class. While making a tidy profit for themselves. That is just the way it works.
Then comes the outbreak of World War 2. Everybody got a job, whether they wanted it or not. We had to defend our way of life. Help our allies. Get rid of the enemy. This really brought the US out of the Depression. As bad as it was the US did not get hit too much at home. Just about every one else did. When the major fighting part of the War ended all these troops and sailors came home. Mostly to not have a job. One of the finest movies about this is The Best Years Of Our Life. Check it out any time you can. It shows the realities of men coming home after WW2. For example a lead man in a bombing squadron and a hero comes home only to be able to work as a person at a soda fountain. A high school quarterback star comes home with both his arms burned off in the Navy. A former infantry Sargent and a family man comes home. Able to get his old job back at a bank but haunted from the war time activities. The US won the war by being able to produce more then their enemies. Often with better equipment. When the war ended there were all these factories churning out all this war material. When it ended there was no longer a need for it.
Now we have the creation of the middle class. People got jobs making all sorts of consumer goods. All these people needed a place to live. So there was a lot of construction. Although television had been out since the 1930s the lower class now had access to it. All these great shows just to gain access to your living room and influence you to buy products. You were shown how to have all these nice things and were conditioned to the thought that you were not poor but middle class. Look at all the old TV shows you loved from the 1950s. The Leave It To Beaver mentality. Ward had this obscure job at the office wearing a suit and tie. A hot wife and the idealistic two healthy children. Living in the suburbs in a nice house. Hey, I am not poor, I am middle class. Although this lifestyle was not completely widespread, it was a good model or goal to aim for. Now Beaver's old house in the LA suburbs does not cost $20,000. It is more like $600,000. A pound of bacon isn't fifty nine cents, it is $7. We as a society are trying to cling on to the idea of some great middle class. When in reality the things that we felt were automatic are not.
When I look at the graph it says middle class is up to $600,000 a year. Lower class ends at $50,000. But as a whole we are still doing pretty good compared to a hundred years ago. At this juncture we have still not completely had things settle. But things never do settle do they?
What the country needs to do is start making products here. Maybe the $15 minimum wage is a little high or is it? The problem is that the people pushing it are targeting fast food workers. These workers are putting in about twenty hours a week. But many are also receiving Section 8 housing, food stamps, Medicade, free cell phones and other benefits. So if they get $15 an hour will they exceed the the money level to get the benefits. I am afraid that for the most part they will only cut down the hours they work as to not lose the benefits. So now you are just paying them twice as much to work half as much.
In an ideal situation the $15 minimum wage would put you at about $30,000 a year. Still in the lower class. But with an ability to if carefully to make a decent living. Not even tarnishing the upper class's wealth. The problem here is with the cheaters. Ultimately they ruin it for everyone. Because they do not want to give up what they are getting for free, but want more.
One thing is that the ones pushing the $15 minimum wage are forming a union to only milk those individuals included in the union. Not full time workers. Only fast food workers. Again the only way to make $15 an hour work is if it is across the board. And if you exceed the government benefits you must relinquish them. Then there is more tax revenue coming in to support the Federal budget. You would have to add about 15% to Social Security benefit recipients.That should make up the difference for them. Congress can come up with billions for other projects, why not this? Start making tools, clothes and shoes in the USA again. And train people how to do so. People can get a loan for a college degree in Butterfly Intimidation. Graduate with a degree and not get a job. Go figure. With a huge college loan debt. Teach them a trade in something the citizens want and need. Not some stupid stuff that you can ever use. College is overused and overrated. Unless you are going to be a doctor or some other specialist, a general degree will probably get you by just fine. As every job has it's idiosyncrasies.
Most of these general skills used to be taught in high school. In my opinion high schools, middle schools and elementary schools are nearly worthless due to their inability to create discipline. Discipline is part of learning. You did not get a trophy if you lost
The middle class was just a goal. A goal you set for yourself. I am going to bring myself up out of this lower class and become middle class. The bar is set so high now it is mostly unattainable. What we need now is to train people to have a work mentality. Not just I'll give up and stay at home plan. Why bother to try to be middle class when you can have a home, TV, A/C, food, phone, computer, clothes and most every other thing that a lower class person didn't have thirty years ago. You have arrived to as good as it gets. Good enough. Things are just things. So you do not have the best. But you have something.
In reality I have always been in the lower class. Thinking for a long time I was in the middle class. But was always in the lower class. Only thinking I was middle class. Middle class can buy things at the mall. Have a car. Live in a nicer house. By things that lower class do not have.
So why do we fight in this point in time? They have food and shelter. At one point in time like into the 1930s people were actually hungry.The fact is that the lower class has it better now than ever before. We have just about everything we need. Or want.
The fact that the lower class extends to $50,000 a year means the majority of people are in the lower class. It has always been that way. When we think about people having a "good job" at a factory, the railroad, retail management, machinist, engineer, banking, accounting and a number of other higher paying jobs. We still think middle class. But in reality lower class. Then the lower class goes down from there. To a point where the lowest earning class is on par with the people living on welfare, disability, social security and other entitlements. Laws and biases that mean people are treated differently.
This takes the wind out of your sail. But on the flip side you have more things then any other lower class ever did.
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