Parking Wienies in Portland

I live across from a "Community School", a sort of gifted and talented pre-school for faculty and students at PSU. It costs $1,000.mo/child for tuition and $700/mo for students at PSU. Some parents have up to three kids enrolled.

Every night, for the last three nights, I have watched the "Meter Maid" come by at 5:00 PM and give out $20 parking tickets to the parents running in to get their children. The zone sign says "15 Minuter Parking" for the four spaces in front of the school (pickup zone?). The front door to get your kid is 14 feet away, the meter to get you 25 cent ticket (for the maximum 15 minutes) is half a block away.

Many people pay...but take 20 minutes to get their kid. They get a ticket. Some do not pay, run in and get their kid. They get a ticket. At 4:45 the Meter Maid is waiting.

The metered parking expires at 7:00 PM (free after 7:00 PM). I've seen the Meter Maid outside a high rise condo, a block away, writing tickets at 6:55 PM. Now they want to add 50¢/hr in fees to park and extend the metered time to 9:00 PM.

Some folks have 20 to 30 parking stickers on their drivers windows (to confuse the idiot Meter Maid? The maid has a scanner device, like a UPS reader, that reads the sticker to see if it is valid or expired.

Granted she is just "doing her job", but one has to ask if the city is really in that much of a bind financially, that Meter Maids have to circle parking spaces like a hungry hawk over a meadow of field mice!

Sacrifice

The "War of Terror", the "Economic Depression/Recession" and all other social issues...where is the sacrifice? From the dawn of history, sacrifice for the common good has been essential for civilization, nations, businesses, and families to suffer through hard times.

Yet, during these current pressing times, where is the sacrifice? Sure, people are losing their homes, jobs, income, and retirement investments. But not by choice, not by self-sacrifice so that others may survive. Major company’s layoff thousands daily. How many would be laid off if all employees took a 25% pay cut, so that all may continue to work? Where are the people voluntarily offering to pay more in taxes so that projects, social services, and tax funded employees can weather the storm?

The military and their families make sacrifices, but others at home, safe in their little worlds of plenty do not.

Citizens claim to be "Christians, Muslims, Jews, or other tenants of major or minor religions each holy day, but in practice, few follow their faith to serve others. Worldwide in the last 100 years people have become so self-centered, in their own little issues that helping others before self are merely a means to get on talk shows or reality television.

Sacrifice could be the solution for all of humanity to overcome war, poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and all the ills of civilization. "The rights of the many do indeed outweigh the rights of a few." From a numbers view I would say it requires more than a tithe of 10% or 15%. I would estimate as much as 50% of an individual’s time/money/assets/help for the good of the group society, or mankind. OK, now that your jaw has fallen into your lap, think about what everyone would get from such an arrangement. If 50% of your efforts and time go to help others, then 50% of their time/efforts go to help you, help your community, your nation, your world. It seems like a win-win situation, a no brainer.

Will it be done...probably not. Should it be done, of course, the survival of mankind demands it.

The End is on the horizon...sacrifice for others are the only solution!

What Does Diversity Do for Me?

Diversity and demographics play a large part of any one's "quality of life". I recently realized that the NW is different from other places I've lived mainly for two basic reasons.

One, the average population is young, mostly 20's something liberals with no attachments, religious dogma, or ethnic identity.

Two, diversity, unlike Michigan and other places in the East, is urban wide. There are no "ethnic" neighborhoods for the most part. All racial, ethnic, and income groups live together, not only in the same neighborhood, but often the same building.

One's ability to mix or ignore such cultural lines by choice is impossible. Liberals think this is wonderful, others like myself, find it annoying.

In addition, the "groups" are further sub-divided into ex-convicts, drug addicts, alcoholics, the generally insane, and folks in various levels of recovery, along with the indigent, elderly with health issues, and runaway youth.

Liberals think this is cool, I think it is absurd! If one wants to associate with all segments of society, I think is should be by choice, not government mandate. Yet one more reason the vast majority of the population lives east of the Mississippi River.

What does diversity do for me? Nothing.

2012 And The End Of The World

Here is a reprint of another view!

Whatever you are planning for your future, whether it's a new house, starting a family or even going on a diet - don't bother. In four years the world will end and your plans will be ruined. This is the belief of thousands of people across the planet, preparing for the end of the world and death of mankind. So grab your diary and put this date in it - December 21st 2012.

The concept is gaining momentum as many religious texts, historical documents and even NASA have 'predicted' that there will be major changes to the Earth in the year 2012. And with the help of celebrity believers including the always-reliable Mel Gibson joining in, 2012 has become the talking point at dinner parties everywhere.

So, where has this cultural phenomenon come from and why do so many people believe? The widespread panic that accompanied the end of the millennium and the whole Y2K debacle seems to have shape shifted into another end of the world scare. Why should we believe this one when Y2K believers became figures of fun to all those who had mocked them. Well, there are many reasons to listen as 2012 theorists can source 'facts' and 'knowledge' to support their claims.

The most referenced prediction comes from the Mayan Calendar as believers point to the completion of the B'ak'tun cycle as the signal that a new world order will be upon us. So the Mayans have apparently predicted that the end of the world will occur in 2012 and that the length of the lunar moon is 329.53020 days. They were only thirty seconds out with their lunar moon guess so basically it's all over for us earthlings. Misinterpretation can make a big difference when translating ancient texts.

If you aren't convinced yet then take a trip to Yellowstone National Park where the world's biggest volcano lays dormant. Beneath this US tourist attraction, a volcano with a pattern of erupting every 650,000 years is expected to celebrate its special day with us. So when is the volcano's anniversary, that's right - 2012. It is understandable that the volcano is set to erupt in the near future but it would seem unrealistic that it would even wipe out a small section of the American population so are the believers clutching at straws with this one?

Moving on. So the Earth has two magnetic poles, north and south, that help protect the Earth's surface from the devastating effects of the sun. Well, hold on to your hat, because the protection is about to be rescinded, the poles are shifting and we are all set for the worst case of sunburn in history. So, stock up on some factor 50 sunblock and grab the biggest hat you can find because it is about to get extremely hot.

Scientists have also announced that sunspot activity will reach a massive peak in 2012, resulting in severe solar storms and atmospheric changes. With this predicted sunspot expected to be up to 50 per cent stronger than previous ones, NASA has even began making preparations for the problems that await. But will these events make as big an impact on live as we know it as is suggested?

Cynics will say that all of these theories are based upon false translations and misinterpretations that manipulate people's faith and need to believe. However ridiculous the claims may seem to non-believers, it is certainly going to be an interesting day when the clock strikes midnight and the 21st December 2012 is upon us.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/philosophy-articles/2012-and-the-end-of-the-world-508492.html

Article Tags: Armageddon, 2012, Doomsday, End Of The World, Apocalypse, Holocaust, Mayan Calendar, Y2k

Time Left

OK, I guess I know where I'll be when "The End" comes. Here. I went on-line to see what was involved with moving to another building or another state for subsidized senior housing. Uh huh. Here there is a 2-3 year waiting list for almost all buildings. Most states I have lived, or want to live in, have no local housing office or are "in the hood". I am not interested in diversity, so much is left out. Oh well, just cause I have a housing unit here, doesn't mean I have to physically "be" here 100% of the time. Adventures await.

The HDTV debacle...if your clueless about this issue after 12 months of ads and announcements, you should not own a TV.

The Economy and Bailout. I wonder if most folks realize it will 18 months to two years before any effect takes place. Do you realized this will last 5-10 years? Like the "War on Terror", which would last a generation, most folks think the Bailout is a quick fix. Actually since the real Bailout needs to be $10 Trillion dollars, it is no fix. The will to fix this does not exist. It will not be fixed.
December 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM will fix this.

There Will Be Blood

Last night in our building there was an "incident". So and so fell and hit his head last night on a table and was confused. Uh huh. Each apartment has two emergency cords to summon help....nope, not used. Five police officers, ambulance, and the fire rescue all said it was serious.

So after letting the "old farts" by the fireplace, blather on and on about it for an hour, I decided to go look for myself. Bad idea.

The elevator doors opened to a slaughter house of blood and gore. It was soaked into the carpet in pools, splashed on the ceiling, and all over the walls and railing leaked gore! Put it all in a bottle and I would say a full quart...minimum.

I've seen some blood when my son slit his wrists in a suicide attempt. That was all the blood I care to see. This third floor event was 20X worse. Fall, I doubt it. Knife attack or a claw hammer....more likely.

Will we ever know the truth? Are other residents in danger? Does the Landlord have a responsibility to tell us what really happened? Stay tuned for developments.

1-31-09

Blood all gone! The victim maintains he "fell" and required 28 stitches. The landlord is sending him a bill for over $2,000 for replacement of the carpet, paining, and hazmat cleanup! Uh huh.

More News From the NW

The latest from the Left Coast: two girls gunned down Saturday night and 7 others wounded. The gay Mayor, age 42, had an affair with a 17 year old, but waited till his 18th birthday to sodomize him. Uh huh. Seems many high school female teachers did stuff like that and are all in Prison. What would the outcry be if a straight 42 year old man had an affair with a 17 year old girl..yeah, prison! Oh well, it's the "Left Coast". Yet the official line is crime is down or low. I think it's worse than the suburbs of Detroit where I lived!

Portland, like Colorado Springs is a very poor and "Colored" city.....the average household income of $45,000 being about half of Rochester, Michigan or Ft Collins, Colorado, where I lived 13years.

Being a Conservative Republican, with a slight socialist bent, is pretty difficult to deal with here in "Liberal La-La Land". They have few rules/laws that seem to impact "the masses".......laws like public drinking, littering, loitering, speeding, running red lights, bike lanes that work, snow/leaf removal, noise, dogs crapping on the sidewalk, etc. The city is filthy with trash most places, and hundreds of homeless, street urchins, beggars , and annoying "binder people" wanting to sign you up to "Feed the Children".

Of course the city fathers ignore all this and proclaim Portland as a wonderful place to live, which strangely the 90+% of so called, Natives since 1800, claim is true. (How would they know? They have never lived anywhere else!)

I've come across dozens of polls, charts, and tables of "The Best Place to Retire or Live" and Portland or even Oregon is never on the list. Michigan and Colorado is though,in fact Ft Collins,CO was #2......Too bad the ex-wife lives there.

Eighteen months till Social Security......I'm outta here!

It is left-wing overload.

Got that 3 Day Kit Yet?

I remember my first "Survival Kit". I waited three days before New Years Eve that became 2000. I figured sure, why not, I can always use things for camping, eat the food, drink the water, etc.

Uh huh. I went to Walmart, Target, Cabala's, Dicks, and numerous stores, it took me hours and many trips. Why? Because everywhere was out..out of bottled water, camp stoves, batteries, etc. I eventually got the core of my "Kit". I've had it through 9/11, through my bout with homelessness, and still maintain a small pack for bugging out if needed.

My lesson, don't wait until the crisis hits, it will be too late. Don't count on family or friends to save you, and even more the useless Federal Government, aka, FEMA. Remember Katrina three years ago...it's still not fixed.

Take a weekend, get your kit now.

American Red Cross

Ready.Gov

Shelter in place during a disaster?

I hear a lot of people talking about wilderness survival in case of disaster. I was close to Houston during the Hurricane Rita evacuation. The hurricane didn't hit, but 2.5 million people evacuated from the area. This is just a fraction of the population. It was taking up to eight hours to drive 100 miles. I have never seen anything like it and hope I never will again.

I really don't believe that there's a whole lot of wilderness left. Not in the U. S. at least. Sheltering in place is probably the best, or only choice, at least at the beginning of a larger disaster, then start moving if you begin to run low on supplies. Then again, if you only keep a couple of days of supplies in your home, you'll be the one clogging up the freeways and praying the FEMA guys show up before somebody knocks you over the head for your last bottle of water. If that hurricane had hit Houston, I wouldn't have wanted to be near the coast, but being on those roads could have been a LOT worse.

Another thing, my location was about an hour and a half drive from Houston. I had a job running shipping for a local company. I had seven large trucks in the area and about ten gas driven vehicles. A portion of the products that we were shipping was bottled water, so we had to operate. I used fleet fuel at stations instead of storing my own fuel. There was still plenty of diesel at the end of the day but there wasn't a drop of gas to be had. One more day and the gas engine portion of the fleet would have been grounded. The only way we could operate anyway was knowledge of all the dirt roads to get to our delivery points and I still had to turn trucks around before they ran out of fuel. The fuel lines were running out into the highways. It took almost a week for all the stations to get their gas deliveries and be back to normal. (again, the hurricane didn't hit Houston)

Now you start thinking to yourself, what if it did. For one thing, all those fuel deliveries generally come from Houston, so don't count on being able to buy any. Especially if some of the refineries are damaged. The population of New Orleans when Katrina hit was approx 454,865, the population of Harris County was 3,886,207 in 2006 plus another 1,031,126 in Chambers, Fort Bend, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller Counties which are also part of the Houston Metro Area. So, at approx 5 million people in the Houston Metro Area that is about eight times the size as New Orleans. When Katrina hit New Orleans approximately 80 of the Houston Metro Area Evacuated instead of the 2.5 mil that did it would have been around 3,933,866 people evacuating and another 983,466 people stranded and dying in the city. That's twice the amount of people staying behind as were in New Orleans to begin with. And another million and a half on the road. (all my numbers were taken from Wikipedia)

No, don't plan on heading down the road if disaster strikes. You'll be lucky to get out of your driveway. Oh yeah, and all those people on the road are heading your direction. Lock your doors because the criminals left along with everybody else.

Written by: InfoJunky

www.untolerable.com - A current events, privacy, survival and self sufficiency discussion group.

Obamanation

I like Obama. I really do, and his daughters are cute, but I have reservations about the wife. Time will tell.

Prior to his election, I felt that Blacks in America were getting too much exposure in TV commercials, movies, news reports and even reporters. It appeared that they were equal in numbers to White, rather than the 13% of the population they represent.

This may seem racist, yet the majority minority....Hispanics, doesn't show up in every TV commercial, have their own Network (BET) or attempts to dominate everyday life from the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammy awards (They have their own Black Entertainment Awards for all this on top of the "general awards) Blacks influence on TV, Films, Music, etc. far exceeds their respective numbers in America.

I doubt that only I notice this, but yet do not see or hear Hispanics or Asians whine and complain about this emphasis on one minority.....a minority that is not even the largest minority.

Here in the NW, Asians out number Blacks, and Hispanics out number both. Yet in yesterday's Sunday paper, the editors of this "Left Coast City" moaned on the lack in diversity of the city's 74% white population. Huh?

Myself, I am still looking for "White People Land". I used to live there, unknown to me at the time. Several Cities that were 98% white, none of which whined about the lack of diversity or cheered their " whiteness".

After tomorrows inauguration, I am afraid the USA is in for a major "Blackout".

Help, I See Old People!

Well, I witnessed once again, altercations between "old people" today.

It seems you get crabby and short tempered when you get past 70 yrs old. The problem in general is fat people, old ladies, Chinese who speak no English, and old men who can't hit the urinal, wash their hands before they pee......... whatever!

It must have something to do with hormones, the full moon, and their diet. At the Senior Center, they stand in line or sit waiting for lunch to be served for an hour, then don't eat it! Today was "Swedish Meatballs" and pretty good, but no seconds for me...cause too man old farts wasted it!

I found my shovel, a nice Smith and Hawkins spade, for $69. I'll buy that and hand it to someone to smack me up the head, when I turn into an "old foggie".

Even with the sun out and temps in the lower 50 degrees, they whine and complain. And sick much? I think being a hypochondriac increases when you reach a certain age, cause these folks have so many medical issues, it's a wonder the CDC doesn't take them away to isolation.

Time for a nice quiet walk.

Disaster Survival Kits Can Save Lives

No one knows when disaster may strike, but getting prepared beforehand will help you survive. No matter whether it is natural disaster in a local area, like an earthquake or hurricane, or man made disaster, terrorist attack and fire, you require having disaster survival kits with proper emergency supplies. The disasters will force you vacate your neighborhood, place of work or school or will detain you to your house.

Having the right first-aid kits, survival kits, and emergency supplies ahead of time is just like having spare tire in a trunk of the car: You think not to have the flat tire, but it is good to know that the spare tire is there, ready for the use to keep you going. The emergency preparedness is necessary now.

What is the disaster survival kit?

Disaster survival kits are one type of kit that you and your family fill with necessities for the survival in an event of disaster and these include food, water, clothing, first aid supplies, bedding and tools and some emergency supplies.

Why prepare for a disaster?

The hope of something “disastrous” taking place will scare us all. However, reality is, there is the chance that all of us can be involved in a disaster and emergency. The services like water, gas, electric, and telephones can be cut off. In an event of large disaster, the emergency staff will be very busy helping people in need of the immediate medical and rescue attention, and will not assist you.

Events of 11th September, Hurricane Katrina, Mumbai terrorist attack in India as well as shocking Tsunami in Indonesia as well as surrounding regions have affected us emotionally, physically, and morally. Thus, preparation for all kinds of disasters should be the fact of life. So why leave it on fate and take a chance that you and your loved ones will suffer unnecessarily during and after the disaster?

The emergency preparedness experts have designed the disaster survival kits that have the most reliable disaster food, water, communication, and shelter, lighting, as well as sanitation supplies accessible so they are prepared when and where you require those.

Choose an easy method to keep the items stored and ready while you need it is to divide between two or more easy to carry containers, like camping backpack or duffel bag. Place canned foods in dry place where the temperature is very cool.

(Wed Jan 7th, 2009, by Martin Applebaum)

Things You Hear While Listening

Well, while not taking part in "gossip", I can't help but listen to it.

Yesterday I rode a different bus route, and the bus stopped at a high school and picked up 40 kids (no school buses here?). I was surrounded by teenage girls, yakking away about Billy liking Sally, and Carol was such a klutz...etc. I thought to myself, wait 40 years and things will be the same. Old fogies at the "Home" gossip like school girls!

Here, I listen to the elderly gossips whine about their medications, physical ailments, each others ailments, the status of so & so's mental health...many are nutters. They speak of how "Dave" smells so bad, never takes a shower or "Mary" is a loon and her room is haunted. There is "Horny Harry" age 82, "Gas Mask" Bob who has a special vent out his window cause his room's air is poison, which is why he wears a gas mask.

Then, there is a friend from the shelter, who got a job as a Metro Bus Drive at
$19/hr, but still collects bottles and cans for the 5 cent return, and thinks he is getting three "merit" raises in 2009. "Curly", the laziest janitor I have ever met, says he asked for a 7.5% raise this year and thinks he deserves it. Uh huh.

I hear people complain about not having enough food or money, yet they all have cell phones, cigarettes, and can buy dope and booze. Their "dealers" even deliver right to the "Home".

They brag about their prison time, run ins with the law, drug use, etc. Old hippies, still being hippies.

Now I am not from the upper class of society, but never in my life have I been exposed to these types of folks, Colorado Springs being the same. People I knew back in Michigan or Northern Colorado were professionals...teachers, engineers, government workers, grad students, real estate people, etc. They also gossiped and spoke of things that were of little interest to me, but dang....a whole different level. I can only imagine what a third world country must be like.

NW & Holiday Update

Is it over yet? The Holidays? OMG I hate them, the clinking glasses , the meaningless toasts, the hugging of strangers and the vague promises for the New Year. But this year and last, very mellow. Why? No relatives, no buying presents, no stress, no ex-wife! Ahhhhhhh!

We had 14" of snow...they have no clue how to cleanup snow here. All they do is whine about how much it will cost...cheap bastards, raise the taxes. They need to discover the wonder of Road Salt. Only two homeless people were found frozen to death. I'd expected dozens. Now the whine is about all the road gravel (almost pea gravel) they put on the streets instead of plowing! Yes, it will scratch your car and break your windshields! Unlike Road Salt that melts!

The Social Agency that helped me get my housing, gave out "Goodies Bags" for Christmas...greedy, annoying fellow tenants went through a bunch of them, taking out the $25 gift cards & what they wanted, and even taking more than one bag! They did the same at the Christmas Dinner...it is quite disgusting to watch.

I hate crowds, so I ate alone with the homeless at the YWCA, a few blocks from my house.. Good enough. Pressed turkey, they ran out of potatoes, but the pumpkin pie was OK, and I got a pair of new socks! Then my DVD player broke and I had to take all my movies back to the Library. At least the $10 TV and the rabbit ears work!

Today was dry and the sun was out, but 8 days of rain are in the forecast. Three days of snow and they start crying "Cabin Fever", but 10 days of rain and gloom is OK? Duh. Everyone must be on drugs.

New Years is a non-event for me, I doubt I'll even stay up. I've only been out on New Years three times in 60 years. More hated crowds! Bah Humbug to holidays!

2009....bring it on!

Damn Grinches Stole My Christmas Presents !

OK, the nice social agency that helped me get my nice warm studio apartment, brought over a shopping bag full of goodies, ranging from toiletries, clothes, food items, gift cards, etc.

Except the greedy "Grinchs" that live in the building, pawed through the bags and took what they wanted for themselves, then left the leftovers for others...like me!

I wouldn't have even known, except that my neighbor brought me my bag, and I went down to thank the agency folks. Then I watched several people take stuff out of their bags. So I went upstairs and looked at mine. Opppssss, no food, 50% of items on the list attached to the bag were missing, the sweatshirt was a woman's medium, etc.. Uh huh.

I fumed and flamed about this overnight, then went to the office and fained, embarrassment, asked what I could do about it. I was told to go to the main agency office and get another bag. So I went with what didn't fit or I didn't need, and the nice folks got me new stuff.

Then today...I'm still pissed off, OK...found out that not only did people (Grinchs) paw through bags taking what they liked...some took two or three bags!

How low can one go but to steal from someone else who is also unfortunate? Like the people who got no bags at all?

Snow, Bitter Cold and Why I am Warm

OMG, it's as cold as anywhere I have lived.......7,000ft elevation in Colorado Springs, SE Michigan, or Oswego, NY by Lake Ontario..

It's now 21F outside and will be for the next week, with lows of 15F. Thank God..literally, I am not "Urban Camping" this winter. Last winter it sure rained a lot, but it never snowed or was this cold!

Now I have a nice studio with heat, although the thermostat doesn't work....it's on or it's off.........so it was 60F in my unit when I woke up this AM at 7:30. Yet there are hundreds of people out there that are "Urban Camping" in this crap; some by choice, some by circumstance. There is no "day shelter" and the ones you can sleep at night in, such as the Salvation Army, kick you out at 7:00 AM and don't even open until 9:00PM. That makes for a long, cold day. The public librarys double as a day shelter!

It's only four blocks from "The Home" to the Senior Center, so it was a nice walk, with blue sky and sun. However, this far north, the sun won't melt the streets due to all the high-rise buildings, since most streets are in shade 24/7. Alas the many irresponsible building owners fail to shovel or salt most of the sidewalks. I guess a few "slip and fall liability suits" are in order!

Well the prediction is more snow on Wednesday and possible freezing rain on the weekend! Bah humbug. Updates to follow.

The Last Temptation

The Christmas Holiday Season is here. Black Friday has come and gone. Gloom and doom pervade every waking hour of the day and night, around the world. Ho-ho-ho!

Mall shootings are increasing every weekend it seems...yet another reason not to go to the mall and spend money you don't have. People must be reaching their credit limits by now, having spent it one food, late payments, and utilities. People laid off already or soon will be cash short.

Another stake in the heart of a ignorantly conceived economy, based on consumerism, credit, growth instead of sustainability, and waste.

But the ads on TV and in the Sunday paper are look so compelling, the discounts so deep, the perceived need so great. As bad as the economy is this year, it will be at least 10X worse next year. This Christmas is truly the Last Temptation!

Thanksgiving not Thankstaking !

It is the time of the year for free holiday meals throughout the city. Non-Profits, churches, and senior centers all have delicious and free holiday meals starting about one week before the holiday.

Last year, when I was "Urban Camping", I ate at about 6 different places, on 5 different days. It was great, and the main meal of the day for me and many others.

This year however, I am only eating at the local Senior Center, and cooking a few things for later at my own place.

You see, this year I have been blessed with paid housing, food stamps, and LEAP utility payments. I don't need 6 free holiday meals, and it seems wrong to eat so much, if not truely in need(just because it's free). Unfortunately, many street people think of it as some kind of scam they need to take part in. They push their way to the front of the lines, thinking "me, me!" Get four free coats and sell three, etc. Even when I was "Camping" I thought that was wrong. Now the tanking economy has created even more need, and fewer resources.

So this year, I'll give up my place for others in need. It's the least I can do.

Recession? What Resession?

I went to check out a new Safeway store in the Pearl District. The Pearl is home to $350,000+ high rise condos, and the Baby boomer "yuppies", and their "yuppie puppies".

http://www.explorethepearl.com/

Everything about it is new, upscale, and well, chic. My observation is that none of these folks think they're in an Recession or soon, a coming Depression. One couple, twenty something, was buying six-packs of wine (not Ripple), and had a $30+ floral centerpiece. Remember all those news stories about declining retail sales, and folks barely able to buy food for their baby....well if your buying $30 flowers, your off in a different world.

I live about 15 blocks south of there, and looking out my window, the average car is a BMW or Mercedes. The West Hills, about 4 blocks west, is covered with $Million homes. These folks, lord knows where they work and can afford such digs, have no conception of recession. Their world is peachy keen, bright, and kinda Rosy through those pink glasses. I have heard them talking, while on the Streetcar, and avoiding the "R" word, thinking if they ignore it , they won't be effected. Uh huh.

Then take a further extreme. Folks in the "Home" I live in get/subscribe to lots of upscale magazines like GQ, Details, Architectural Digest, Vogue, etc. Pick one up some time...filled with dozens of ads for $50,000 watches (How many do you need? I'll bet a $30 Timex is as accurate by 5%), diamond jewelry, Aston Martins, BMW, Lexus, Jaguars, private Jets, Mega Yachts etc. Things to entice the masses, while ignoring the fact that most who have such things, got their money the old fashioned way...inheritance!

Which brings me to the crux of the whole matter. Our economy is entirely based on consumerism....buying crap we want, but don't need. Buying on credit for instant gratification. How many shoe stores in a mall do we really need? Many sell the same brands and/or are owned by the same company. Automobiles...do we really need hundreds of various models at various prices that all have four wheels, and go from point "A" to point "B"on the same road?

The Pacific NW prides itself, (a legend in their own minds) on "Sustainability" and "Green" environmental and economic policies, which in reality are a marketing gimmick to sell things and continue growth.

True "Sustainability" maintains a constant level of economy and does not need to grow. It is self sustaining, environmentally friendly by nature, does not require addition limited resources, imported cheap labor, outsourcing, etc. It is a class leveling economy...a truer "Middle Class". Unfortunately, it is also much an illusion.

The Last Election of 2008

Election Day is finally here, thank God. Two years of hell, hours of negative commercials, and rants from folks like Rush Limbaugh. Tonight, the victor will take the spoils of all this home and put it on a shelf!

2008 is the first time I have voted since the fiasco of 2000, and it will also probably be my last vote, for many reasons. One being, who really knows what happens to that ballot once it leaves your hands? Can you say "Hanging Chads"?

I fail to appreciate "Representative Government".....that's not democracy, that's a Republic...like ancient Rome. I would be content on removing all "Professional Politicians" and vote via the Internet, on all major policies. (Yes the Internet is safe for voting. You do your taxes, banking, and pay bills on it don't you?)

From my viewpoint, of the poor and working poor, the future of the USA seems lost in a fog of hopelessness and greed. 2012 approaches and many feel the End is near, in many ways. War, famine, overpopulation, depression, pandemic disease, etc. are just some of the many, and perhaps simultaneous crisis to End our world as we know it.

How does this affect our jobs, lifestyle, retirement, families and businesses?

Well, for one thing, strategic planning for worse case scenarios, can't hurt. Not planning and going ahead with wide eyed optimism may be fatal...to the country, to the world, to your family, and yourself.

More in future posts.