On Wisconsin to use part of settlement for budget
Posted on February 10 at 11:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
You know, my parents never had much money and no education beyond high school. But they taught me that you pay for shelter (mortgage or rent), utilities, health and home and car and life insurance, and food first, and then, and ONLY THEN, if ALL the bills are paid, do you spend money on discretionary items such as movies, cable, restaurants, etc. If something were to have happened to move them into true financial concern, the cable would have been canceled, and nothing not absolutely necessary would have been bought. The mortgage would have ALWAYS been paid first, then utilities, because my dad figured there would be some way to get some food if we were low, such as food banks, but it never happened because they were prudent with their money. My mom also balanced her checkbook to the penny EVERY month, and if it didn't balance the first time, she set it down and went back at it with fresh eyes until she figured out why. When I went to college, I lived at home and commuted to U-Rock and Whitewater because they couldn't afford for me to board away, but I finished college without a penny of student loans ever or any other debt, because they worked 3 jobs between them and I worked while I went to school, too. Somewhere along the way, we have lost the generational wisdom handed down to us and have moved into the "I deserve everything that everyone else has, even if they can afford it and I can't." If you can't put down 20% on a home, you had better keep renting. And if you can't save anything toward that down payment, you'd better do a complete review and overhaul of your budget and spending, and not expect the rest of us to bail you out when you screw up.
On To tattoo, or not to tattoo?
Posted on February 9 at 4:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
pberge - you must not have read my entire post - I SAID: 'gazettefan - agree regarding instinctive reaction...yes, people naturally come in all shapes, sizes, and skin tones - but it is the "not found in nature" part that can be unnerving to the observer.' I am specifically discussing changes people can and do make to themselves, not their genetics. Spikesmom - I will never be impressed by baggy pants, especially the ones that sit below the underwear or more extremely, halfway down the derriere, and my son will never leave the house wearing any pants loose enough to do that. (I am NOT saying this is the way your son wears them.) I have an intense distaste for that manner of wearing them, and I have been known on more than one occasion to tell said male to pull his pants up because nobody is impressed. They all seemed stunned that anyone would say anything. (They've never told me off, maybe because I am old enough to be their mother.) If they want to express their opinions visually, they need to expect others to express their opinions verbally.
On To tattoo, or not to tattoo?
Posted on February 9 at 11:17 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
spikesmom - Society shouldn't have to guess whether Spike is hiding his true persona or displaying it. Maybe he should wear different pants to go shopping so he doesn't fit the profile that security personnel are required to monitor.
On To tattoo, or not to tattoo?
Posted on February 9 at 11:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
frogger - good info. Haven't eaten there in many years; maybe I will have to go just ot see how well it is enforced. Belies the comment hayburnr made - besides, I have yet to read about any law which includes tatted and pierced individuals in a protected minority class. I think the Disney World, etc. group has similar restrictions on "personal expression." Somehow they manage to have plenty of employees who are willing to comply.
On To tattoo, or not to tattoo?
Posted on February 9 at 10:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Sigma - cigarettes might make a statement for some and are a hard habit to break for many. I have never been a smoker and never will be. My mom died of complications of a habit she steadfastly refused to give up, so if there's an article on smoking and I comment, you know which way that will go.
Irish_Mafia78 - I have NO idea what "modified to 0g" means - but I am not sure whether the implication of your "body art" or your screen name is more disturbing to me.
gazettefan - agree regarding instinctive reaction...yes, people naturally come in all shapes, sizes, and skin tones - but it is the "not found in nature" part that can be unnerving to the observer.
JimPI - love the tackle box visual!
BeenThereDoneThat - the one tattoo I would ever consider would be permanent eyeBROWS because mine are blonde and sparse. I might even lean toward thinking of that as a type of plastic surgery, sort of like the scar coverup Sigma mentions - to fix what didn't come out right in the first place or got damaged later. But I agree that the generalization of the type of people who get tattoos can go too far. For that matter, if I am made uneasy by the looks of someone waiting on me...well, then at least they are employed, aren't they? But Autoworker2 confirms the point I was trying to make when I discussed the policy I would invoke if I were an employer.
On To tattoo, or not to tattoo?
Posted on February 8 at 12:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Sigma, most overweight people are not trying to make a statement (although there is indeed that one woman who is trying to be the fattest person on earth - she has way more trouble than the fat on her body). People with obvious tattoos or piercings or extreme hair are trying to make a statement. In their opinion, they look great. Others are entitled to their opinions otherwise.
On To tattoo, or not to tattoo?
Posted on February 8 at 12:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
If I were an employer, I would make it part of the dress code - no visible piercings except one pair of modest earrings for females, none for males, no rings except engagement/wedding rings/sets, no visible tattoos, no not-found-naturally-on-earth hair colors. I find that those things unnerve and distract me when I am being waited upon, so I wouldn't want my customers to feel the same way. Yes, it might be judging a book by its cover to feel that way. But people who go overboard with these displays are trying to make a personal statement of some sort, and I don't believe it is my fault if I misinterpret someone's goth look as someone who might be a mugger, etc. Every generation has its version of "I wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley," and for me this look is included. I don't even care for the look of rings on all ten digits. Also, for young people yearning for a tattoo - have you ever seen one that's been on someone for 40 years on their now-aging skin? Just not a great look.
On Obama’s assault on the poor
Posted on February 7 at 10:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Taking it from another perspective, there are any number of people who are leaving the church because of its prohibition on birth control, and probably there are less-than-well-paid employees whom the church is disenfranchising because they cannot afford birth control out of pocket and they cannot afford more kids...and maybe they can't find any other work in this economy. I would like to see a poll taken of practicing Catholics to see how many are actually incensed by this.
On Obama’s assault on the poor
Posted on February 7 at 10:57 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Taking it from another perspective, there are any number of people who are leaving the church because of its prohibition on birth control, and probably there are less-than-well-paid employees whom the church is disenfranchising because they cannot afford birth control out of pocket and they cannot afford more kids...and maybe they can't find any other work in this economy. I would like to see a poll taken of practicing Catholics to see how many are actually incensed by this.
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On Dean, SSM discussing relationship
Posted on February 10 at 4:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Not sure I'm keen on SSM buying out Dean if SSM is Catholic-run organization. There may be services, including testing, that would not be offered if so. I would need to know where to go to learn more.