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September 22, 2016 at 1:39 AM in reply to: OT: Battle Ground Zero: Murrieta: Invasion of America #801412September 22, 2016 at 1:36 AM in reply to: Looks like another Housing Bubble is about to burst #801411
CA renter
Participant[quote=spdrun]Better the economy not blossom. More crap imported from China just means more worldwide environmental degradation. Growth is truly a cancer.
I like what the Swedes are planning … pay people to fix existing stuff versus buying new stuff in order to reduce the waste stream…
http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/20/europe/sweden-money-for-repairs-trnd/
Re: Singapore, it’s an island smaller than NYC (as a whole, not just Manhattan). Much easier to run things centrally in a tiny country than in the US.[/quote]
What the Swedes are doing is a good idea. I’ve often thought that we should replace our “Energy Star” rating system with a system that takes the total life cycle of a product into account. From mining raw materials, production, shipping, distribution, end-of-life disposal, etc. — the ecological damage from all of these stages should be calculated and given a rating so that the more durable and most easily/cheaply repaired items get the higher ratings. We could offer some kind of a tax incentive, or (even better, IMHO) people could decide for themselves which goods would provide better value for their money.
Here’s a summary of what they’re considering in the EU:
“In this debate, BEUC sees an important need to ensure that the useful lifetime of
consumer products is prolonged through
design for durability, possibility to repair,
upgrade, disassemble and recycle products. Reliable and durable products provide value
for money to consumers and prevent overuse of resources and waste.Enhancing the reliability of products will not only provide economic benefits to consumers but also to companies and to the overall economy. For instance, greater reliability will reduce product returns due to failure which currently costs retailers and brands a lot of money.”
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These types of measures can’t come soon enough.
ParticipantThank you, flyer. 🙂
ParticipantThank you for your thoughts and insights, flyer. You are right about our needing to set them free, but it’s so difficult, as you well know.
I think that sending your kids out into the world is also another way to mark time and our own mortality. As long as they’re with us, we can still feel young-ish. When they leave, images of growing old and infirm start creeping in. It’s a major landmark on this very short timeline we call life.
ParticipantFor some reason, I’ve been thinking a lot about you and your kids lately. When your first son went off to college, your sadness was palpable, and when you said that he didn’t really visit much, it was pretty depressing. 🙁
Maybe it’s because we are also getting to the point where we have to start dealing with our eldest preparing for college. We still have a few years, but she’ll be getting her driver’s license this next year, and one can’t help but wonder where the time goes.
I know this sounds bad, but I long for the days when families would often stay together in multi-generational households. Having your kids leave is like ripping out a piece of your heart.
Now, this most recent post of yours has made me even sadder. I still think at least one of your kids should stay home and go to college locally. Where is the middle one going to school? Have you suggested this to them (I think you did with your eldest)?
ParticipantPSA for wine drinkers…
Stater Brothers has a sale, 40% off if you buy 6 or more bottles (30% off if you buy at least 4 bottles).
Enjoy! 🙂
Participant[quote=Rich Toscano][quote=CA renter]Did they really include that pic in an MLS photo? Crazy stuff![/quote]
Hi CAR! Haven’t seen you around much, welcome back.
You know, I’m giving the site owner the benefit of the doubt that these are legit listing photos, but who knows. Then again, the pic does have a “casa.it” watermark on it – that looks to be an Italian property site.[/quote]
Thanks, Rich! Yes, I’ve been working on some stuff in the non-virtual world over the past year+…coincidentally, with another Pigg. 🙂
It’s been extremely time consuming, but we’re finishing up now, so I hope to spend some more time here again.
ParticipantThank you, flyer, harvey, and Brian! Those are great sites and ideas. We’re looking for a table that can extend to accommodate 10+ people, and would prefer to have one that extends from the ends so that we can avoid the cracks in the top when it’s not extended, so that makes it more difficult to find. Kid gunk is gross! 😉
Participant[quote=ucodegen][quote=Hobie]
I would like a way to vote for a temp ban on members when posts turn personal or foul language. 3 strikes idea.[/quote]
Censorship… just put them on ignore. Then they just ‘talk to the hand’ or ‘spit into the wind’ or ‘yell into the canyon that has no echo’…. kind of lonely for them.Censorship creates its own set of problems.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” – Evelyn Beatrice Hall.
link for the nit-pickers on the above quote:
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/06/01/defend-say/%5B/quote%5DThank you for your thoughts on censorship and up/down-voting. I’m definitely lazier when I interact with content via up/down-voting than with actual responses.
I don’t use the ignore function because, every once in awhile, even the trolls can make insightful points. IMHO, if my arguments can’t hold up to some trolling (and it immediately becomes obvious when they’re unable to make a valid point), then I need to re-assess.
Living in an echo chamber stifles intellectual growth. While some posters can really drag down the discourse, we’re always free to ignore their individual posts.
Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful posts, ucodegen.
Participant[quote=ucodegen][quote=Hobie]
I would like a way to vote for a temp ban on members when posts turn personal or foul language. 3 strikes idea.[/quote]
Censorship… just put them on ignore. Then they just ‘talk to the hand’ or ‘spit into the wind’ or ‘yell into the canyon that has no echo’…. kind of lonely for them.Censorship creates its own set of problems.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” – Evelyn Beatrice Hall.
link for the nit-pickers on the above quote:
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/06/01/defend-say/%5B/quote%5DThank you for your thoughts on censorship and up/down-voting. I’m definitely lazier when I interact with content with up/down-voting than with actual responses.
I don’t use the ignore function because, every once in awhile, even the trolls can make insightful points. IMHO, if my arguments can’t hold up to some trolling (and it immediately becomes obvious when they’re unable to make a valid point), then I need to re-assess.
Living in an echo chamber stifles intellectual growth. While some posters can really drag down the discourse, we’re always free to ignore their individual posts.
Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful posts, ucodegen.
Participant[quote=FlyerInHi]Looking at the pic again, I see the top is made of several boards. As a neat freak,
I’d worry that gooey food stuff will get in the gaps where you cannot clean.I would avoid wood if you have kids and will use the table for everyday everything.. You have to properly care for wood and you can’t spray degreaser like 409 on it. It will strip the finish.[/quote]
You are right, Brian. Wood with space in between gets really nasty if you have kids and are using it everyday.
We’re in the market for a new table now, so are trying to figure out what kind of tabletop would be best for heavy use and lots of cleaning. We also like the more traditional style — not too clunky or heavy.
If anyone has any advice on what to get, we’d greatly appreciate it.
ParticipantDid they really include that pic in an MLS photo? Crazy stuff!
Participant[quote=moneymaker]Is it still $2? Wow haven’t bought that in a while but do remember it being pretty good for $2. RIP http://vinepair.com/booze-news/two-buck-chuck-is-done/%5B/quote%5D
In case you didn’t read it all the way through, that “article” was an April Fools’ joke. We still have our “Two Buck Chuck,” (though I think it’s a bit more expensive these days) 🙂
ParticipantI concur with sdgrrl and mixalot, among others. BG might have strong opinions, as do many others here, but she’s made quite a few valuable contributions as well.
The nonsensical personal drama and name-calling that goes on here detracts dramatically from the overall discussions and debates. It’s a shame because there are quite a few really insightful posters who’ve been silenced by the ugly behavior of a small minority of posters.
February 23, 2016 at 6:22 AM in reply to: How will unfunded “pensions” affect the local economy? #794728Participant[quote=Parabolica]The problem with defined contributions plans as I see it is that the vast majority of working people lack the financial sophistication required to invest for their retirement. They are consigned to investment company sharks by their ignorance and the limited choices available to them in their company 401(k) choices.
Harvey, how does the average person taking your prescription save for their own retirement? Do they know about index funds? Do they get idea of changing the equity/bond ratio as they approach retirement? If they look for advisers can they avoid the sharks? I say that they cannot begin to match the returns and stability provided by professional managers of defined benefit programs. Do you see it differently?
The corporations were allowed to strip workers of defined benefit plans, moving liabilities off their books, and giving employees the ‘freedom’ to chart their own financial course. It is like handing someone a parachute and kicking them out of a plane for the first time so that they may have the ‘freedom’ of learning how to reach the ground without perishing. Those stripped of defined benefit plans are angry that their employees, government workers, have not been been rendered naked as well. Understandable, but not pretty.[/quote]
You’ve nailed it, Parabolica.
Apparently, Pri/Harvey hasn’t seen the stats on savings, either.
“There hasn’t been a significant increase in wages, people have student loans and other debt, and many are continuing to struggle financially,” said Charles Jeszeck, the GAO’s director of education, workforce and income security, which analyzed the Federal Reserve’s 2013 Survey of Consumer Finances to come up with its estimates. “We aren’t surprised that people have not saved a lot for retirement.”
“…Even among those who do have retirement savings, their nest eggs are small. The agency found the median amount of those savings is about $104,000 for households with members between 55 and 64 years old and $148,000 for households with members 65 to 74 years old. That’s equivalent to an inflation-protected annuity of $310 and $649 per month, respectively, according to the GAO.
“I don’t care what anyone says. That’s not enough income for retirement,” said Anthony Webb, senior research economist at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, who reviewed the GAO report.”http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/03/most-older-americans-fall-short-on-retirement-savings.html
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There isn't a "lifestyle adjustment" of any kind that will ever make this DC system solvent. The government WILL be bailing people out, one way or another. We might as well do it in a way that is transparent, honest, and humane. That means that we will need to strengthen and expand SSI. Just lift the contribution and benefit base (cap on income subject to SSI tax), and cap the benefits at around $100K or so and adjust this cap by CPI every year.
If it still needs more shoring up, increase the tax rate, or subsidize it with other federal money, until it's sustainable.
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