 Nerine Shatner Friendly House
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Hollywood
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For the past eleven years, William Shatner has spearheaded the HCHS
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William
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Post subject:
 Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 12:10 AM
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Member
Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 9897
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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I may step on a few toes for posting this and it is NOT meant for everyone blanketly.
When talking to customers, I can usually tell when it is someone who has actually worked to earn their money and some snot nosed kid who is living the high life while sitting on "Daddy's money."
Perhaps part of the problem is that some folks worked very hard to provide for their families and some family members got too comfortable with what Mommy and Daddy provided, to the point they never really made a life for themselves. Now they have money, but no moral compass to guide them. They are often arrogant jerks when addressing other people.
Plus, we no longer have that self-sufficient, pioneer spirit that Americans used to have in abundance. The things we now depend on require special skills to keep running. Not everyone knows how to repair a computer, or write software for it. Heck, the way cars are made now-a-days, you practically have to have an expert mechanic change the spark plugs or even check the fluids in the engine.
Not sure where I am going with this, but I need to get back to work. I am pulling a 30 hour work week into 3 days so I can take some time this week to complete another project.
Later folks |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 02:07 AM
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Member
Joined: Sep 18, 2005
Posts: 1898
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Status: Offline
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| Keep working SMB. Based on the latest computations, the Paulson/Bernanke Follies (now priced at $700 BILLION) will put every man, woman and child in the United States on the hook for more than $2,000, pushing the U.S. government's debt limit to $11.3 TRILLION dollars. |
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"Not bad .... for a human"
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 03:14 AM
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Joined: May 21, 2003
Posts: 5764
Location: Apple Valley, CA.
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Well I don't know who's toes you may be stepping on Sue, but I say AMEN to what you wrote...there is a lot of life/truth in what you said.  |
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Wisdom is knowing how little we know - Socrates
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 03:32 AM
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Joined: Aug 30, 2005
Posts: 9990
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| SMB wrote: |
Plus, we no longer have that self-sufficient, pioneer spirit that Americans used to have in abundance. |
Why do you think this is SMB? |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 03:34 AM
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Member
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 5199
Location: standing here shaking my head in disbelief....
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| SMB wrote: | I may step on a few toes for posting this and it is NOT meant for everyone blanketly.
When talking to customers, I can usually tell when it is someone who has actually worked to earn their money and some snot nosed kid who is living the high life while sitting on "Daddy's money."
Perhaps part of the problem is that some folks worked very hard to provide for their families and some family members got too comfortable with what Mommy and Daddy provided, to the point they never really made a life for themselves. Now they have money, but no moral compass to guide them. They are often arrogant jerks when addressing other people.
Plus, we no longer have that self-sufficient, pioneer spirit that Americans used to have in abundance. The things we now depend on require special skills to keep running. Not everyone knows how to repair a computer, or write software for it. Heck, the way cars are made now-a-days, you practically have to have an expert mechanic change the spark plugs or even check the fluids in the engine.
Not sure where I am going with this, but I need to get back to work. I am pulling a 30 hour work week into 3 days so I can take some time this week to complete another project.
Later folks |
My toes are fine.....  I think what you said is very true, and wise. |
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When you try to make others look small, you only show how truly tiny your own spirit is.
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 03:39 AM
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Member
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 5199
Location: standing here shaking my head in disbelief....
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| britstarfan wrote: | | Cat wrote: | Sitting in a hotel room watching the financial analysts over the last few days, I've only seen one who seemed to grasp the whole picture.
I understand we need some freedom for the businesses to operate, but if we intend to bail them out, then we need to hold them to some sort of standards to prevent financial meltdown. Surely someone in government should have seem this coming, and stepped in before things went this far south. So, I think the government has to accept some of the blame.
And you have the CEO's, etc., who deliberately engaged in risky business practices in order to make more money. These people knew exactly what they were doing. Strap the stock holders, employees, customers, etc., onto the bus, make a run for the cliff, and bail out using your golden parachute just as the bus goes over the edge. These bozo's need to be held accountable, and there needs to be some jail time.
And a lot of people deserve to accept part of the blame. If you are just starting out, and you have driven your credit cards up as far as you can paying for an elaborate wedding, expensive honeymoon, new cars and clothing, and you really think you DESERVE a new house when you don't have a penny to put down, and the only loan you can qualify for is interest only or some risky arm with balloon payments..... guess what, you are going to fall on your ass, and my ass doesn't care to bail your ass out. Maybe if you fall on your face, you'll learn to pick yourself up and be smarter next time. You want a house ~ use your brains. Save up enough for a good down payment, buy a house YOU CAN AFFORD (guess what, you may not get your dream house right away, or ever, get over it), and use the old stand by ~ a 30 year fixed.
When the heck did people get so greedy? People want everything, and they want it nananaNOW!
And regarding the state of this country. What is it that makes any country good, or even great? The people. And I think we have lost our way, but it doesn't have to stay that way. We use to care about our neighbors, we use to take care of our families, and we use to give back to the community. If we go back to caring as much about others as ourselves, things will work out. And if people think this country is in bad shape, they need to travel more. Hey, just take a quick trip over the southern border. You think things are tough here? Nah, doesn't even compare. And I think we need to go back to the old adage that if we don't like the way things are, then we should get off our backsides and change things. JMO> |
Some interesting points there Cat, so is it, that we as a society have got used to having easy credit?.Have people used credit to live beyond their means,for far too long and run up personal debts with little thought of repaying them, and now it's time to pay up,theres no money in the pot..Have we been greedy and taken everything on offer, with out thought to the future?.Is it our fault,are we too greedy?
Have the banks /credit card companies/ morgage companies, got to take some of the blame, for letting people who could not afford to repay, take out such huge loans and debts.Have they made it too easy, to get credit,have they encouraged people to get into debt, and have sat back and just waited for them to either pay up,or forclose,and really not care about,anyone,as long as they get their money,back..?
The banks and morgage companies, are now making it harder for people to get a morgage/Loan.New rules that limit how much you can borrow, and you have to pay more of a deposit,etc etc.So if you are looking to buy your first home there are more hoops to jump through. |
This is JMO, but I think that we have gotten too greedy as a rule. If most of us look back at what our parents and grandparents had, and got by with, there is a huge difference in what people seem to feel they need today. And there also seems to be a sense of entitlement.
And I think there is/was some actual criminal activity on the part of the banks/loan institutions.
It should be more difficult to obtain a loan. Again, going back to our parents, etc., you had to have a down payment, and the ability to pay back both interest and principal before you could qualify.
So, what are the chances that people have actually learned from this experience? |
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When you try to make others look small, you only show how truly tiny your own spirit is.
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 04:55 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 9897
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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| Gornman wrote: | | SMB wrote: |
Plus, we no longer have that self-sufficient, pioneer spirit that Americans used to have in abundance. |
Why do you think this is SMB? |
It just seems like this nation is suffering from a 'nationwide' depression of sorts. This is going to sound very strange, but I think folks have become too dependent on money. Let me explain.
Rather than take the TIME to grow a vegetable garden, it is easier to SPEND the money to purchase veggies from the grocery store. Rather than take the time to COOK a real meal, it has become easier just to go to a restaurant and let someone else cook. This costs money.
There was a time when you could go into a place of business and the clerk (who was usually also the owner or a relative of the owner) knew everything there was to know about every product in the store or place of business. Plus, the person behind the counter took great pride in his/her work.
Now-a-days, a person goes into a store and is met by some half-witted kid who doesn't know the difference between a pie plate and a cake pan (just an example), AND do these kids know how to count change back? NO! If they didn't have a computerized cash register that did the calculating for them, they wouldn't be able to count to ten without looking at their fingers.
Ok, yes, I know there are some good and hard working folks out there, so my statement is not meant to point at everyone.
Plus, I think the worse thing that could have happened to this country is the use of Plastic. People are up to their eyeballs in debt. They are trying to live some imaginary plush lifestyle, and are made to feel like a failure if they are not living that sort of lifestyle.
Folks might surprised at how little money they really need to meet their needs plus have some left over for some fun stuff. Believe me, my trip to California this past spring was due to some careful planning and saving. I got razzed a bit for not having a regular credit card (I do have a bank card that be either credit or debit, but I have very rarely used it as credit), but I would not have enjoyed the trip as much if I knew that I was doing it on borrowed money (so to speak).
I don't even want to get into what the use of credit cards has done to the holidays! I bet there are people still paying off debt accumulated for Christimas of 1992. (just pulled that year out of my head.)
I had better stop before I really get cranking it out.  |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 07:40 AM
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Joined: Aug 30, 2005
Posts: 9990
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SMB, you point out the results of what's happening. I was looking for why.
I am sure Rdb disagrees with this and I would have spent a lot more
time arguing with him if it wasn't for you.
I think America is becoming far too socialist, much like Europe.
We left Europe over 200 yrs ago, why do some want to go back?
I know far too many people who want the government to be their nanny.
They think the entire reason for a federal government is to take care of them.
IMO government is supposed to build highways, provide for the national
defense, encourage and regulate fair trade....etc
On the other hand, these speculators on Wall street who care nothing
about anyone but their greed should be shot, and I will volunteer for
that job.
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 07:58 AM
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Joined: Mar 25, 2003
Posts: 7576
Location: 221B Baker Street London
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The last two major investment banks in the US have changed their status to become bank holding companies, allowing them to take deposits from investors. The changes should enable Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to raise more funds by opening commercial banks.
The move - part of a huge restructuring effort on Wall Street - will also give them access to Federal Reserve support. .Investment banks have proved particularly vulnerable to the economic malaise - with Lehman Brothers going bankrupt this week and Merrill Lynch being sold to the Bank of America.
Shares in Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley came under severe pressure amid the struggles of their fellow investment banks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7628578.stm |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 06:41 PM
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Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 8171
Location: CA
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| I should have put this article about LIMITS in here, instead of Political thread...so HERE |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 08:41 PM
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Member
Joined: Apr 14, 2004
Posts: 8413
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| Gornman wrote: | SMB, you point out the results of what's happening. I was looking for why.
I am sure Rdb disagrees with this and I would have spent a lot more
time arguing with him if it wasn't for you.
I think America is becoming far too socialist, much like Europe.
We left Europe over 200 yrs ago, why do some want to go back?
I know far too many people who want the government to be their nanny.
They think the entire reason for a federal government is to take care of them.
IMO government is supposed to build highways, provide for the national
defense, encourage and regulate fair trade....etc
On the other hand, these speculators on Wall street who care nothing
about anyone but their greed should be shot, and I will volunteer for
that job.
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In what ways, pray , is America becoming socialist? You should be so lucky!
As for not wanting to go back, anyone cast out of the garden constantly yearns to return! |
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Yes we can!
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 10:16 PM
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Member
Joined: Aug 30, 2005
Posts: 9990
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| greenchick wrote: |
In what ways, pray , is America becoming socialist? You should be so lucky!
As for not wanting to go back, anyone cast out of the garden constantly yearns to return! |
Don't look now GC, but you have cast yourself in the roll of
He was cast out!...
Capt. Tracey..."The Omega Glory"
/I'll get back to you on socialism |
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tj03a |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 22, 2008 - 10:54 PM
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Joined: Oct 25, 2002
Posts: 1252
Location: New York, Long Island
Status: Offline
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 23, 2008 - 12:13 AM
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Joined: Aug 30, 2005
Posts: 9990
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| tj03a wrote: | | Wasn't this pretty much how Argentina collapsed a few years back? Transferring bad private debt to the people of the country? |
Tj, are you crying for Argentina  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 23, 2008 - 01:49 AM
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Member
Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 9897
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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| Gornman wrote: | SMB, you point out the results of what's happening. I was looking for why.
I am sure Rdb disagrees with this and I would have spent a lot more
time arguing with him if it wasn't for you.
I think America is becoming far too socialist, much like Europe.
We left Europe over 200 yrs ago, why do some want to go back?
I know far too many people who want the government to be their nanny.
They think the entire reason for a federal government is to take care of them.
IMO government is supposed to build highways, provide for the national
defense, encourage and regulate fair trade....etc
On the other hand, these speculators on Wall street who care nothing
about anyone but their greed should be shot, and I will volunteer for
that job.
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See how you "white folks are"  You left Europe to get away from problems over there and came here to live with the Indians. BUT! Did you learn from the Indians and follow their ways? NO! Instead you just came and brought your problems with you.
See there!?! If you had listened to us when you first came you might be living the good life in wooded bliss instead concrete jungles with debt up to your eyeballs.
Please notice the laughing smilies. I just had to pour a little Native humor into this scenario.
Once only Indians roamed this land.
They fished in the morning
Played with their children in the afternoon.
Made love to their mates at night.
Life was good.
And then the white folks came and thought they could improve things.
(Sue puts on running shoes and heads for the door before the Lizard gives chase.)
Seriously, I will give a better answer later when I have rested from pulling some long weekend hours. |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
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