Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
more fairness - more ponzi
I'm feeling a little tetchy.
I live in Maryland, where the estimate is that we will be having to spend some 11 million dollars as a result of the upcoming inauguration.
It appears now that our governor is asking that we not use the major road - the beltway - during that time.
Right.
Fairness at work. We pay for others. Fine, but who pays for me? That's where it always seems to break down.
Kind of like a pyramid scheme, you know? Which is pretty much the same thing as a Ponzi Scheme, which we keep hearing about on account of the arrest of Bernard Madoff, who is alleged to have caused a "loss" of some 50 BILLION dollars to his "investors".
Chump change, compared to the numbers contemplated by the various bailouts being tossed about by "Our Government".
When you stop to think about it, this is a Ponzi Scheme taken to new heights, in that we are not even "investing" money we have at this point. We're being set up to lose money we've borrowed. Who we're borrowing from is a little less certain, as is who will be paying it back. It's all magic. It's all about grabbing what you can, when you can. Sort of like Ireland, which used E.U. subsidies to build its infrastructure (leading to its "Celtic Tiger" booming economy) but which is a recent hold-out on ratifying an E.U. Constitution finalizing the formal relationship. It has also announced that it is opting out of a proposed 200 Billion euro European Union "Recovery Plan."
That's the problem with Ponzi schemes. The minute the have-nots become overnight haves, they stop wanting to give to have-nots. They "opt out." I am not being given that opportunity. Neither, however, have I been handed subsidies. What's wrong with this picture?
Interesting article in the Wall Street Journal Op-Ed pages, by the way: "Atlas Shrugged": From Fact to Fiction in 52 Years.
Our lotto mentality has come home to roost. Nothing will change until we start working again. Hard work. For a long time. No more get-rich-quick schemes or overnight fixes.
Meanwhile, I think I'll take the beginning of next week off. And to preserve any semblance of a positive outlook, I think I'll also keep the television switched off. I've had about all the hope I can stand.
I live in Maryland, where the estimate is that we will be having to spend some 11 million dollars as a result of the upcoming inauguration.
It appears now that our governor is asking that we not use the major road - the beltway - during that time.
Right.
Fairness at work. We pay for others. Fine, but who pays for me? That's where it always seems to break down.
Kind of like a pyramid scheme, you know? Which is pretty much the same thing as a Ponzi Scheme, which we keep hearing about on account of the arrest of Bernard Madoff, who is alleged to have caused a "loss" of some 50 BILLION dollars to his "investors".
Chump change, compared to the numbers contemplated by the various bailouts being tossed about by "Our Government".
When you stop to think about it, this is a Ponzi Scheme taken to new heights, in that we are not even "investing" money we have at this point. We're being set up to lose money we've borrowed. Who we're borrowing from is a little less certain, as is who will be paying it back. It's all magic. It's all about grabbing what you can, when you can. Sort of like Ireland, which used E.U. subsidies to build its infrastructure (leading to its "Celtic Tiger" booming economy) but which is a recent hold-out on ratifying an E.U. Constitution finalizing the formal relationship. It has also announced that it is opting out of a proposed 200 Billion euro European Union "Recovery Plan."
That's the problem with Ponzi schemes. The minute the have-nots become overnight haves, they stop wanting to give to have-nots. They "opt out." I am not being given that opportunity. Neither, however, have I been handed subsidies. What's wrong with this picture?
Interesting article in the Wall Street Journal Op-Ed pages, by the way: "Atlas Shrugged": From Fact to Fiction in 52 Years.
Our lotto mentality has come home to roost. Nothing will change until we start working again. Hard work. For a long time. No more get-rich-quick schemes or overnight fixes.
Meanwhile, I think I'll take the beginning of next week off. And to preserve any semblance of a positive outlook, I think I'll also keep the television switched off. I've had about all the hope I can stand.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I love Lush; I hate Lush. . . .
I love Lush.
Specifically, their bath bombs.
More specifically still, the Avo bath bomb.* (although I hate avocado, which is apparently an ingredient. [?!!] Don't let it put you off, though, there is nothing resembling avocado in the aroma or texture, although it does turn the water green. Still, it is not an advocado green. . . .)
They've gone even further "green" and done away with the little plastic bags they used to use to bag the bombs. That's fine. Yellow paper bags are fine. But not this.
Look at the fine print. The bag asks to be re-used. ("Is there life after Lush?") Talk about a guilt trip.
Don't throw it out?
Put it in my sock drawer?!
How long before I have drawers of Lush bags instead of socks?!!!
Don't throw it out?
Put it in my sock drawer?!
How long before I have drawers of Lush bags instead of socks?!!!
I hate Lush.
______________
*Man! Checking out their website for the above links I found several other bath bombs that were not in the store, but sound heavenly. . . . The geo-phyzz, the bon-bomb and fizzy O'therapy.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
simple essentials
Setting limitations forces you to choose the essential. So in everything you do, learn to set limitations.
Choose the essential to create great impact with minimal resources. (i.e.: maximize your time and energy.)
Finally: all that simplifying isn’t meant to leave your life empty, it’s meant to leave space in your life for what you really want to do.
**********************
from Leo Babauta's The Power of Less, by way of the unclutterer dot com
**********************
My problem? I always feel this incredible urge to make sure I've "covered all the bases". It's a failing.
Choose the essential to create great impact with minimal resources. (i.e.: maximize your time and energy.)
Finally: all that simplifying isn’t meant to leave your life empty, it’s meant to leave space in your life for what you really want to do.
**********************
from Leo Babauta's The Power of Less, by way of the unclutterer dot com
**********************
My problem? I always feel this incredible urge to make sure I've "covered all the bases". It's a failing.
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