Friday, September 29, 2006
the state taketh
The state owes me $2500. You would think that it would be easy and honorable for them return what they have taken from me. But no, I have had to work with my CPA for a over a year to try and resolve this issue. And then last month the state said that I OWE them $1000 and began garnishing my wages this month. So frustrating! This week, I began to draft a letter to my representatives in the state government and the state secretary of the treasury. To my surprise, the account department at my job received a letter saying that they stopped the garnishment. No explanation. I haven't even heard from my CPA as to why this change. Is it a good thing? You would think so, but as much grief as I've gone through, I just feel suspicious...
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
getting out of debt!
The self proclaimed King and Queen of debt have a blog about how they are paying off their debt. Not only have I bookmarked this site but I've also tagged it to myweb.yahoo for everyone to find. Wereindebt.com talks about their personal battle with their debt and includes several excellent links to debt reduction sites and blogs. This is what I've been looking for, information to reduce my outstanding balances in the quickest time possible. If you're coming out of a back breaking divorce or your spending has gotten out of control, this may be the link for you!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Who will be first, Carolina or California?
Early Monday morning, both sides of the border between North and South Carolina felt the earth move. A couple of weeks ago, Florida felt the same earth temors. So I’m going to start buying up water front property in the Carolinas now! Well, of course it’s not water front … not just yet! But if I can get a couple weight watchers convention scheduled with a Richard Simmon’s “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” reunion in both states, I figure that I’m three or four jumping jacks away from having the Carolinas break off into the Atlantic. Take that California, you skinny bunch of tofu eatin’ nuts! Who's shakin' it now?
Earthquakes in the USA - Past 7 days
Recent Earthquakes - Last 8-30 Days
Earthquakes in the USA - Past 7 days
Recent Earthquakes - Last 8-30 Days
saving on life insurance
Going through my divorce, I agreed to maintain the current amount of life insurance (term) BUT I was able to make my youngest the beneficiary. Of course, I wanted to have something for my two oldest but my premiums with my current companies wouldn't allow it. So I went through Accuquote and was able to find triple the payout at half the cost! You should look into this if you need to save some money while looking out for your family.
hit or miss
I can't believe how lucky I was today in my writing opportunities. If I hadn't been sick, I would have missed two chances that totaled $45. Part of the problem is the popularity of the program. With over 3000 members now, it doesn't take much to fulfill a posting quote. After that, all that remains are opportunities for high effort with a reward of low pay. How motivating is making $2 for an hour's work? Still, two dollars is two dollars. For motivation, the bigger picture of building two bucks upon two bucks until a hundred can be made. And with a hundred ... well, that's almost a month's worth of grocery, or a couple of week's worth of gas. Still, it is frustrating to know that I may be missing out because of other factors. It is a matter of working smarter, not harder.
Chamonix-Valley
I spent my high school years nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. During my sophomore year, we had an exchange student from France. While he enjoyed our skiing and rock climbing adventures the Presidential mountain range, he would continually regale us with tales of majestic mountains of Chamonix Valley, France. I had forgotten all about his stories until I came across the mention of Chamonix on the Internet. Thanks to the Wide World Web, I was able to visit this site and see how truly majestic it is. I even used Google Earth to zoom around the mountain range and the town. Since it is part of the Alps, you can easily see how it is the extreme skiing capital of the world! Extreme? How about death defying! And yet very enticing to try:
Anyway, it has a beauty that I need to visit while I still can. Next year maybe? We’ll see…
Anyway, it has a beauty that I need to visit while I still can. Next year maybe? We’ll see…
Monday, September 25, 2006
enjoy yourself!
It's wonderful to have a government so concerned with your money and what you do with it. Here's my part to be a rebel. Are you a responsible adult? Is the money that you earned with your blood, sweat and tears yours? Well, here's a gaming site looking for adults who don't need to be told how to live their lives:
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Praying Mantis Porno
The female praying mantis is known to eat the male during mating. This explains why there are very few praying mantis porno movies --- that money shot is a killer! Imagine having to direct the love scenes. In the heat of the moment, she whips around and tears the head off of her lover. "Cut! Cut! You know what I mean! Stop filming! Look, Love, I need less anger, more passion. Think you can do that? Very good. Now, I need another actor. Alright, you guys, quit cowering in the corner. This is your big chance for stardom (especially if you survive.) You! You with the T-shirt that says 'REAL MENTIS PRAY' Get over there and show what a real man...tis is made of! What? ha ha Yes, I know I definitely will when she rips your head off. Never mind that! Just get your huge bulging ... eyes over to her and let's make a porno!!"
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Sunday, August 20, 2006
live as a god
To float above life's adventures,
to be untouched by daily dramas,
to be unscathed by my worries,
to see the grander scheme.
To know that I die an achiever,
and my children full of pride,
my friends bettered for my living,
strangers' fortunes because I was.
How else can I justify my existence,
how else can anyone benefit from my breath,
how else can my life continue,
if not for a greater path?
to be untouched by daily dramas,
to be unscathed by my worries,
to see the grander scheme.
To know that I die an achiever,
and my children full of pride,
my friends bettered for my living,
strangers' fortunes because I was.
How else can I justify my existence,
how else can anyone benefit from my breath,
how else can my life continue,
if not for a greater path?
Friday, August 18, 2006
What the Devil?
"Prince of Darkness Is Misunderstood", Says UCLA Professor Dust off your bible for this one!
NPR : A Magician's Quest for the Perfect Card Cheat
I've always loved doing magic and watching it. Here is a cool story that I heard on NPR this morning: NPR : A Magician's Quest for the Perfect Card Cheat
Artificial muscles may enable more lifelike color displays
Available in 8 years! Wonder where I'll be by then?
Thursday, August 17, 2006
US first nation to witness climate change exodus study
US first nation to witness climate change exodus study What got my attention was a comment made on the site of this article. You go, Dave!
"On 17-Aug-2006 by Dave
1. It was the flood that caused the exodus, not the hurricane. The hurricane was not that much different than others, it is just that it hit populated areas.
2. Global warming is real, otherwise we would still be in an ice age. However, Greenland used to be green, and England used to be known for its wine. The earth has natural "super" seasons.
3. Everyone seems to discount Solar activity/weather.
4. Many don't realize that water vapor is as much or more of a Greenhouse "gas" than CO2.
5. Leftist anti-capitalists are for the most part the one's behind the whole global warming alarm. Scientists do not know all there is to know about Global Warming either, even though some act as if they do.
7. In 1976 Newsweek article?, scientists were telling us to tar the artic snow to absorb the sun to stem "global cooling," which was the alarm back then.
8. All societies problems can be traced to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is responsible for all the evil in the world. (Joke, of course.)"
"On 17-Aug-2006 by Dave
1. It was the flood that caused the exodus, not the hurricane. The hurricane was not that much different than others, it is just that it hit populated areas.
2. Global warming is real, otherwise we would still be in an ice age. However, Greenland used to be green, and England used to be known for its wine. The earth has natural "super" seasons.
3. Everyone seems to discount Solar activity/weather.
4. Many don't realize that water vapor is as much or more of a Greenhouse "gas" than CO2.
5. Leftist anti-capitalists are for the most part the one's behind the whole global warming alarm. Scientists do not know all there is to know about Global Warming either, even though some act as if they do.
7. In 1976 Newsweek article?, scientists were telling us to tar the artic snow to absorb the sun to stem "global cooling," which was the alarm back then.
8. All societies problems can be traced to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is responsible for all the evil in the world. (Joke, of course.)"
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
politics be damned
We live in a great nation and in great states. Where else can you fight to get back money that your government has taken from you because there is hope that you will get your money back. As of March of this year, I overpaid the Federal government over $20,000. I overpaid the North Carolina government by $2,500.00. Yesterday, I get a letter from our wonderful state revenue department informing me that my wages would be garnished $300. Today, I receive a letter from the IRS saying that I owed but $5,000. Coincidence? This is the result after six months of filling paperwork and getting the run-around at these revenue departments?????
I am learning that government bureaucracy and incompetency has nothing to do with political parties. Those traits are shared by both parties. It is frustrating to have your hard earned dollars taken, not earned as business are required to do, not asked for as moral charities do, but taken as a common thug would do so. Yes, thank god, we live in a country were our freedoms are protected … so long as we give up our freedoms to have this protection.
I am learning that government bureaucracy and incompetency has nothing to do with political parties. Those traits are shared by both parties. It is frustrating to have your hard earned dollars taken, not earned as business are required to do, not asked for as moral charities do, but taken as a common thug would do so. Yes, thank god, we live in a country were our freedoms are protected … so long as we give up our freedoms to have this protection.
We have 12 planets now?
I've been wondering what happens on game shows when they ask, "How many planets are in our solar system?" This kind of controversy I can handle! The IAU draft definition of 'planet' and 'plutons'
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
follow your trail!
Our sales people are a curious lot. They see something that they like and they want us to immediately engineer it for sale. So there it is a lot of times in my work that I have to do research for those new product designs. It doesn’t help that my company is changing its business model from manufacturing in-house to to buy/sell arrangement --- they buy packaged systems and repackage them. Or that they are scrambling for sales in any way possible. Currently I am writing an engineering specification for 3.5 and 5 inch LCD monitors. So for the past month, I’ve had to investigate what is available and all the supporting information that I could find on them. Many times I’ve needed a way to mark sites into a congruent trail of links. Have you ever had to explain (read “hold the hand of”) things to the technically-challenged (read “my bosses and the sales staff”)?
Well, hurray!! I’ve found that tool to do just that: Trailfire. Think of it as a web ring on steroids! Very simple to use: I’ve added a plugin on my browser (works with Firefox and IE) and then I simply browse and mark my trail. Then, whenever someone comes across my trailfire markers, they can follow my links. This add-in has a lot of potential. I can’t wait until I’ve spent a month use it!
Well, hurray!! I’ve found that tool to do just that: Trailfire. Think of it as a web ring on steroids! Very simple to use: I’ve added a plugin on my browser (works with Firefox and IE) and then I simply browse and mark my trail. Then, whenever someone comes across my trailfire markers, they can follow my links. This add-in has a lot of potential. I can’t wait until I’ve spent a month use it!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
I have heard some ridiculous things the past few days but the best was a report that I read today. Apparently the pipelines from the oil fields in Alaska had to be shut down due to extreme corrosion in the pipes. The reason for this corrosion? For the past fourteen years, BP Oil deemed that it wasn’t important to run a cleansing machine through the pipelines. Did any one at BP wonder why these pipelines are referred to as the lifeline of America? I guarantee that it’s not because it sounds good! All the billions of dollars that they have earned. Now I hear that the gas may go to $4.00 a gallon because they wanted to save a few more dollars.
I’m hoping that this is just pessimistic people talking about the price hike. To pay the bills, I have to drive almost 700 miles a week. Without a pay raise and an increase in the mileage allowance, I think I’m going to have to sleep at my desk.
I’m hoping that this is just pessimistic people talking about the price hike. To pay the bills, I have to drive almost 700 miles a week. Without a pay raise and an increase in the mileage allowance, I think I’m going to have to sleep at my desk.
car inspection anxiety
Today I took an opportunity to get the annual car inspection done. For the past couple of years, my car was relatively new so my only worry was getting done before the sticker expired. This is unlike my previous car, which I put over 400,000 miles on. Naturally more and more items would fail each inspection with the ever increasing miles. I would then have to run around getting them fixed before time ran out. Each required inspection become more or more dreadful with each year. When I bought my new car, the worries disappeared. Even though the State passed more rigid inspection standards when I bought my new car, the past five visits have been no big deal.
This year is a little different. My car is closing in on the 130,000 mile mark. Things have started failing. Visions of the troubles with my previous car race through my mind. With the State’s strict standards and the way my life feels so out of control at times, my worries were beginning to get the best of me. But I faced my fears this morning. I stepped out the door to find a garage that did inspections. “This is no big deal,” I repeatedly told myself, “This is no big deal.” Yet, when I calmly started up my beautiful car, the race of my fears and dreads began. “Anxieties are mounting … their steeds … and they’re off! ‘Will-I-Find-A-Station’ jumps out in front, closely followed by ‘Will-I-Have-To-Wait-Long’. Trailing close is ‘What-Will-They-Find’, several nagging doubts and the ‘What-If’ family with ‘What-If-I-Can’t-Fix-It’, ‘What-If-I-Can’t-Find-A-Garage’, and ‘What-If-I-Don’t-Have-Enough-Money’ leading that pack. They round the turn as I see a sign “We do NC State Inspection”! ‘Can-They-Do-My-Car-Now’ jumps to the front as ‘Will-I-Find-A-Station’ falls, breaking its legs. ‘What-if-They-Mess-Up-My-Car’ is now neck and neck for first place as I walk into the station. It looks like ‘What-if-They-Mess-Up-My-Car’ has captured first place as a heavy-set, unsmiling mechanic takes my keys and grunts that he can do it. It’s now a horrific battle between ‘What-if-They-Mess-Up-My-Car’, ‘What-Will-They-Find’, and ‘What-If-I-Can’t-Fix-It’ with several unnamed doubts nagging in the rear. We’re waiting for the reassuring honk of the car horn but no one has heard it! Tensions are mounting …. and have joined the race! But wait! There is my car coming into sight. ‘What-Have-They-Found’ has come out of no where and taken the lead!! But the mechanic is smiling and those don’t look like dollars signs in his eyes. Only few lengths from the finish line and several worries have stumbled!! Wait! Wait! Wait! It looks like … yes … it is … [Sir, your car is ready. That will be $30.] … YES!!! All the worries have broken their legs and fallen inches short of the finish. They are being shot as we pay and a welcome calm has descended upon this nerve wracking event.”
Why do I sweat the small stuff like this? It wasn’t a big deal years ago. Is it simply case of conditioning --- of having more events slap me about than having events reward me? I’ve got to get a grip if I’m going to make it to 50!
This year is a little different. My car is closing in on the 130,000 mile mark. Things have started failing. Visions of the troubles with my previous car race through my mind. With the State’s strict standards and the way my life feels so out of control at times, my worries were beginning to get the best of me. But I faced my fears this morning. I stepped out the door to find a garage that did inspections. “This is no big deal,” I repeatedly told myself, “This is no big deal.” Yet, when I calmly started up my beautiful car, the race of my fears and dreads began. “Anxieties are mounting … their steeds … and they’re off! ‘Will-I-Find-A-Station’ jumps out in front, closely followed by ‘Will-I-Have-To-Wait-Long’. Trailing close is ‘What-Will-They-Find’, several nagging doubts and the ‘What-If’ family with ‘What-If-I-Can’t-Fix-It’, ‘What-If-I-Can’t-Find-A-Garage’, and ‘What-If-I-Don’t-Have-Enough-Money’ leading that pack. They round the turn as I see a sign “We do NC State Inspection”! ‘Can-They-Do-My-Car-Now’ jumps to the front as ‘Will-I-Find-A-Station’ falls, breaking its legs. ‘What-if-They-Mess-Up-My-Car’ is now neck and neck for first place as I walk into the station. It looks like ‘What-if-They-Mess-Up-My-Car’ has captured first place as a heavy-set, unsmiling mechanic takes my keys and grunts that he can do it. It’s now a horrific battle between ‘What-if-They-Mess-Up-My-Car’, ‘What-Will-They-Find’, and ‘What-If-I-Can’t-Fix-It’ with several unnamed doubts nagging in the rear. We’re waiting for the reassuring honk of the car horn but no one has heard it! Tensions are mounting …. and have joined the race! But wait! There is my car coming into sight. ‘What-Have-They-Found’ has come out of no where and taken the lead!! But the mechanic is smiling and those don’t look like dollars signs in his eyes. Only few lengths from the finish line and several worries have stumbled!! Wait! Wait! Wait! It looks like … yes … it is … [Sir, your car is ready. That will be $30.] … YES!!! All the worries have broken their legs and fallen inches short of the finish. They are being shot as we pay and a welcome calm has descended upon this nerve wracking event.”
Why do I sweat the small stuff like this? It wasn’t a big deal years ago. Is it simply case of conditioning --- of having more events slap me about than having events reward me? I’ve got to get a grip if I’m going to make it to 50!
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