[UCGal]

[quote=Brutus][quote=zk][quote=Brutus]
Here’s what they can do about it:
Stop watching trash TV. Stop watching MOST TV.
Read a friggin’ book or two. Go to school.
Study.
Stop listening to rap “music.”
Stop believing that all Liberals want to do is help you.
Stop smoking pot.
Stop smoking crack.
Stop getting drunk.
Stop having babies you can’t afford.
Go to school.
Be a nerd.
Get a job, ANY job. Keep it until you can get the job you want.
Work harder.
Work better.
Think.
Read books of all types.
Read some more.
Stop watching TV.
Think.
Stop watching trash TV.
Stop blaming everyone else for your problems.
Stop waiting for the government to help you.
It ain’t 1955 anymore.
If you want to see how a poor person can get ahead, observe how a typical Asian immigrant handles America.
Do what they do.
It works.

We need to teach kids how to use capitalism to achieve their dreams. Schools should have classes in Stock Market Trading, Investing, how to handle Bank Accounts, how to accumulate capital for investing, why capitalism works and HOW it works, in short, schools should teach financial literacy.

Instead, they teach “diversity” and “social responsibility” and “gender issues” and socialist dogma of all kinds. No wonder Johnny can’t spell, read, or do basic math.

That’s what I propose.
Now you can tell me how wrong I am, how we should teach sex ed in school, teach sensitivity to “cultural issues” and “black history” and “environmental awareness” and the “tragedy of European Colonialism and American Imperialism.”[/quote]

I’m not going to tell you how wrong you are. I agree with most of that. The difference between you and me is that you think that millions of poor people are suddenly going to embrace these ideas and goals without any impetus other than what they already have, whereas I think that’s not realistic. I think that they need to be educated to study, stop doing crack, stop being gangbangers, to think, work, work hard, read, go to college, learn about money, not have babies they can’t afford, not blame others for their problems, to do what they can to break the cycle that they’re in. And I think that if you’re really concerned with the future of this country and not with opposing any government program besides the military, you’ll agree.

———————–

I don’t think teaching diversity is socialist dogma. I don’t think it has anything to do with socialism. I think you’re just using that buzzword without really even knowing what it means. That said, I agree that teaching diversity is bullshit. I think America worked better when it was a melting pot, and I think it should still be a melting pot.

I don’t think we should be teaching black history any more than we should be teaching Asian history or Hispanic history. Unless we include the part about how so many blacks got to where they are today. Which is stuck in a cycle of poverty and violence. I think we should teach that so that they know how there, which will help them understand how to get out of there.

Not sure what you mean by “gender issues,” but I’m pretty sure that’s not socialist dogma, either.

Neither is “environmental awareness” socialist dogma. I’m curious why you think we shouldn’t teach environmental awareness.[/quote]

We need to start being judgmental about “lifestyle choices,” such as gangsta life, out-of-wedlock babies, dropping out of high school, obesity, casual drug use, etc.
It’s NOT okay to dress and act like a thug. It’s not okay to have kids when you’re 17 and unmarried. It’s not okay to be fatter than hell. Tattoos usually aren’t cool if you want to get a good job.
When I see someone with a lot of tattoos or piercings, I immediately assume they are either 1. A rock star 2. An MMA fighter. 3. A loser.

Be judgmental. Be more open about it. It’s not “all good.”

And teaching “environmental awareness” to people who can barely read, write, or do basic math, is a waste of time. Teach the basics, first. Then the rest.[/quote]

Wow – I think Brutus is trying to be as judgmental as Brian.

As a fatty, I can take it. But, in defense of fat people, being fat doesn’t make me a drain on society. (Currently don’t have any health issues associated with my weight, thank goodness.)

The rules espoused are pretty mostly the same rules I impose on my kids. But they are minors. Teaching tolerance (as a parent, or in the classroom) is not mutually exclusive with teaching math/science/language arts.

And I’m not sure how well it would fly to tell folks (adults) no tv or rap music in a country that is supposed to be about personal liberties.

But… to each their own.

[UCGal]

Wonderful – a cult of high achieving, Asian kids who know self defense and can kick people’s butts. (Weren’t you training your daughter in martial arts?)

I’m never moving to Carmel Valley – I’m worried the highly trained FLU-cult kids could beat up AND out test score my kids.

The only hope is that I can send in a bunch of mutant rabbits (maybe zombie rabbits) to eat their yard. Nah – the FLU-cult kids would kick the zombie rabbit’s butts.

[UCGal]

[quote=treehugger]Trying to figure out if it is worth it. We are in process of researching a pool, but not sure how the solar helps off-set the cost if the pool/spa heater is gas? From what everyone we have talked with says the new pumps are so efficient they don’t use a lot of electricity. I had thought a pool was expensive, but apparently only if I heat it?
[/quote]

Maybe all my friends have older pump systems… It’s the pump costs that are the issue.

[UCGal]

That’s probably outside the scope of the property management company.

I would approach it as follows: –
Send a letter to the owner, offering to split costs of the common fence. Explain that it needs to be fixed because of liability issues (neighbors kids) could open him up for a lawsuit.

If that doesn’t work – unfortunately, changing out a fence w/out sign off from the person on the other side means you need to be careful to make sure it’s 100% on your side of the property line. If you take down “his” fence, he could get icky.
(assuming he, could be a she.)

We get along with our neighbors. We’ve always split the fence bills – and we provide the labor. (Neighbors are older.) It’s an easy enough DIY job.

[UCGal]

Do they understand that readership will dramatically drop – and then corresponding ad revenues will drop.

I remember when the NYTimes put their op-eds and some other content behind the “select” firewall. That was a disaster and they ended up backing down. Now they limit the number of articles/month you can read… but that’s not a biggy.

I don’t think the U-Ts content is worthy of a subscriber firewall. It’s a rag.

Looks like it’s old news. If you read more than 15 articles a month – you hit the paywall.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/tech/San-Diego-Union-Tribune-Online-Pay-Wall-Paid-Subscription–160031125.html

[UCGal]

We haven’t put in panels because it just doesn’t pencil out yet. Some of the factors in our decision:

– We barely break out of the lowest rates. We have no AC or Pooln no incandescent bulbs (LED or CFL), so that’s probably why. This will change if we ever buy in a plug in hybrid car.

– We are 15 years into a 30 year roof. When it comes time to replace the roof you have to take the panels off, then reinstall them after the new roof is put on. This is a biggy. If you have a tile roof – this is less of an issue… but we have the old school asphalt shingle.

So… In about 10 years we’ll look at getting a plug in car, after we get a new roof. And we’ll get panels at that point.

It’s fun talking to the sales folks. (They come door to door in our neighborhood). They make claims, and I show them our bill… and they grudgingly admit it doesn’t work for us.

[UCGal]

No. It’s being done by the Fed, not the treasury.

[UCGal]

I’m hearing gripes from friends who live back east that it doesn’t support public transport. That’s huge if you live/work in a big city like NYC, DC, or Philly. Google maps has that option and will route based on next subway/metro/SEPTA train. I used it heavily when we were in NYC 2 years ago…. and used it again last year to get around center city Philly by bus.

[UCGal]

Cool. Even closer… We got to dixieline and big 5 – which are right near the old kmart/sears.

[UCGal]

Some thread detours annoy me. This one – discussing grocery bills, food styles, recipes…. Really cool. Not at all annoying.

But then again – I’m always looking for a way to stretch the food budget and still eat tasty food.

I will be checking out Zion market next time I’m in Kearny Mesa.

[UCGal]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=UCGal]I might consider one next time I have to do colonoscopy prep.[/quote]

UCGal: That was probably a bit more information than we really needed, thanks very much.[/quote]
Hey- Flu started it!

[UCGal]

[quote=flu]You guys are so behind in times (pun intended).

Why do you use toilet paper anymore??Just get washlet with a dryer….

I think costco has a cheaper made-in-china non-Toto versus too for like $300….

Since I don’t have a colon anymore, I get tired of wiping my ass with sandpaper all the time ….:(

No more dealing with toilet paper anymore (well, except for the guest bathroom)[/quote]
I love the first line from the description, on Amazon:
To help you create the ambiance of a spa in your own private retreat

Bwa ha ha ha ha.

But I’m sincerely glad you found something that’s nice. I might consider one next time I have to do colonoscopy prep.

[UCGal]

[quote=flu]
who knows…If you do a no cost loan, no big deal if it does..[/quote]

Not everyone qualifies for a no cost loan.
If your balance is low, they will hardly talk to you.
Closing costs are what are keeping me in my 4.25 rate. It’s a 15 year loan that I refi’d into in 2009. We’re on track, with extra principal payments, to get it paid off in 2015.

No “no-cost” loans available to us and our timeline is so short the net few hundred (TOTAL) we’d save in interest based on our payoff schedule isn’t worth the hassle of applying.

[UCGal]

[quote=FormerSanDiegan]We mostly buy in the supermarket, but hit Costco for certain items that make sense in bulk … usually in matching pairs.

For example:

Wine & Cheese

Eggs & Bacon

Fiber Bars & toilet paper[/quote]
LOL. That made me chuckle.

[UCGal]

The increase is to compensate for adding 10 additional instructional days.

From the interviews I read – that’s the biggest issue – the teachers wanted compensation for the additional days.

[Author]

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