Free Republic

Finally, a Hearing....that will fix everything!

Minneapolis used to be the gem of the mid-west up to mid-70’s. My family used to take special weekend trips there from Fargo as mini-vacations. Safe with lots of things to do.

It has gone downhill fast since then. Sections got ghettoized and neglected. The Somali invasion was catastrophic. Homeless population and needle junkies got totally out of hand. Many of the old locals moved out to surrounding towns to escape.

Very sad to see such a once proud magnificent city hit the garbage bin so badly. Doubt it will ever crawl back out.

When I went into the Corporate world after working mostly independantly, I coulod not believe the huge amount of time wasted on putting together yearly personal plans, mid-year reviews and year end reviews. Meanwhile as these sucked up huge amounts of time the real work just piled up and would not go away.

At the end of the year it was always a good review but the company is tight on capital right now so raises are minimal with no bonuses. As the CEO flies in on the G6, helicopters into the campus in his $2000 suit and $500 shoes to tell everyone the poor story. Gack.

Deming was right. These time wasters need to die and die quickly.

Good golly, if they brought back the original, I would fight to be first in line to buy one.

Had a long string of 240, 260 and 280Z’s . Not any left anymore. They all rusted away I think.

Thank you for posting. Love these photos. Plus new background and desktop images.

Where these people are at there is no where to move a boat to safety. The entire island area was affected. Most of these boats could not have made the voyage over to Florida. I feel very sorry for them.

The idiots in Florida, not so much. If you knowingly want to leave your expensive property to the whims of mother nature...play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

“I work for a major bank. Lemme tell ya, its not just tech. The banks are all stuffed full of H1B Indians and its regular finance jobs in Audit, Risk Management, Accounting, Regulatory Reporting, etc etc - not the kinds of jobs you need a masters in computer science to do. These jobs should be filled by Americans.

What is the scale you ask? I work in a team of 8 people. SIX of those Eight are H1B Indians. That gives you an idea of the scale I’m talking about.”

Just pink slipped from another major bank... I my work team of 6 analysts 4 H1B Indians or Pakis. After decent wait time to avoid age discrimination suit...my spot will be filled with another low cost worker.

“No fan of dinosaur media in general of Commie Newz Netwerk
specifically......but...it sucks to be pink slipped in your fifies”.

Speaking from experience.”

That part of the article struck me too. Many older workers....very very hard when older than 50 to get new work. Try over 60 as in my case. There are no jobs out there. Final financial plans blown out of the water with no real recovery available.

I have found the cheapest alternative.
Quit shaving a few years ago. Use a scissors or old shears to trim up once in a while. Do not miss the razors and soaps at all.

She will be in for a very eye opening experience shortly. Student debt never goes away. The Student Loan Industry will end up crushing her. It will go into default. Then turned over to a debt collector that can add on up to a 50% fee to dun you for a minimum of 20% earnings payment. If you cannot afford this they will then turn you over to another collector without warning and they will add on another 50% of the new amount. In short order your debt doubles and possibly triples (there is no limit on how many times it can be turned over to another brother collector). Garnishment follows with 15% of income taken. Then another 25% of debt is added. Garnishment costs are the interest charges PLUS 25% per year handling fee. The 25% fee is not tax deductible. If you want to get out of garnishment they will then add on 16% of the outstanding amount and you will still be wanted to pay 15% of your income.

I was paying off my rather small 12,000 loan for getting a new computer science degree in 94 to compete in the job market. Making $350/mo payments to get the loan paid off in 5 years...then the bad economy hit with a vengeance. Lost management position, no one hiring, no income after Unemployment ran out. 3 kids to feed and house to pay on. Nothing left to pay on the loan. Then the buzz saw hit. Debt went up exponentially to $54,000 and I could do nothing. Finally found well paying job. Garnishment immediately. Had been paying over $760 per month for 8 years and then taking 315 from my SS payments ($1075/mo total for 2 years). Still owe $20,000 with these usurious rates. Now at 67 was put into forced retirement. No chance of getting a job now. Was planning on using 3 years to pay off loan and put a bit away. Now will end up with a balance that is going increase every year until I die even with a $315 monthly garnishment from SS payment.

Student loans can be never ending if your run into a very rough patch. In my case I have paid off the original note and interest many many times over. The hyenas in the Industry that will give no mercy and jumped so fast have made this a debt that will go with me to my grave. Obama’s great recession has put many many others into this same position.

I never would nor wanted “forgiveness”. Not looking for sympathy. Know there are going to be a bunch coming back with “made your own bed now live in it” replies, have at it if it makes one feel better or superior.

However this rather dark side of the Student loan industry to not be known or discussed anywhere. A reset from the predatory practices that are allowed would alleviate many problems with the repayment of outstanding student loans.

Sorry for the length of this rant but just had to get it off my chest.

still have my Marantz 1030 amplifier............bought in 1976....

I have held on to my Marantz 2325 of the same vintage. Love the sound put out by the old style amps. This monster will thump out huge sound from any speaker you can strap to it. Still use it daily.

Most accidents happen unexpectedly.
Most accidents are 100% avoidable, if one knows how to drive and think properly.

I too am a firm believer that accidents are avoidable. I have driving at times over 100,000 miles per year for work and now (knock on wood) have not been involved in an accident for 47 years. Hyper defensive driving is the key.

The average driver out there is oblivious to the outside world. The trick is to spot their stupid behavior and avoid it well before they attempt to kill you. They are all out there to kill you just have to spot them when they get triggered into action.

I just saw this jokers commercial last night for the first time. What a joke. Stresses being in the “middle” how he saved Social Security and Medicare. How middle is good. UGH!

If they are anywhere close, 190 proof Everclear is sold in North Dakota.

White Castle. Will go out of my way for a sack of their sliders.

Don’t you know it.

Back in the day would just give out a real good extended ass whooping.

Now 40 plus years later, would just kill ‘em as quickly as possible. Don’t have the patience or stamina anymore. Remove the threat, move on.

Go Ahead and not pay on the student loans.

First they will be turned over to a debt collector. Debt collector tacks on upwards to 20% for recovery fees. Debt collector then will put a federal wage garnishment on their income to the tune of 15%. The IRS will garnish any and all tax return monies. Even Social Security will garnish 10% of payments.

Even if they are not employed the cock keeps ticking. The interest on these loans just keeps on cranking.

No one escape paying on the loans.

Thanksgiving rule: Eat till you puke.....then eat some more

Repeat as necessary.

I ask this same question of people that inform me that they do not worry about water because they have an irrigation well or house well....

How you going to get the water out when the lights go out? Usually get the blank deer in the head lights stare.

My well is set up with both an electric pump and a hand pump(with a big jug of water to prime it).

A person after my own heart.

First thing I thought of. They do put an expiration date on the can but it is a lie. Spam will live forever.