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Nickel and Dimed Barbara Eisenreich

Barbara Eherenreich wrote a book "Nickel and Dimed to Death".  It was stories about surviving on minimum wage jobs.  Written in 2001, it might be considered an expose on life when you are paid $7.00@hour.  Just so you get where I'm coming from, I worked over thirty years in Miami Dade County in various positions related to job training, retraining, unemployment insurance, welfare, food stamps, and The Welfare to Work Program. My first job was washing dishes $1.25@hr, my last job was delivering advertising flyers and I was lucky to make $7.25@hr on a paper route for the Miami Herald. On October 1, 2025 the minimum wage in Florida was raised to $14.00@hr. Throughout my entire working career with the job training programs I have always felt that having a job that paid a wage through a job with an employer was better than sitting at home. And so this morning I read a story about Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel a major hedge fund. Ken moved his company/money from Illin...
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I Have No Problems With This Sentiment

From a column about Jane Austen's beliefs: Look with Mercy on the Sins we have this day committed, and in Mercy make us feel them deeply, that our Repentance may be sincere, & our resolutions stedfast of endeavouring against the commission of such in future. Teach us to understand the sinfulness of our own Hearts, and bring to our knowledge every fault of Temper and every evil Habit in which we have indulged to the discomfort of our fellow-creatures, and the danger of our own Souls.  Hey, it's Sunday. The language might be from another time and it certainly isn't AI. I'm reminded of Pascal's Wager.  Can't hurt, and it might help.
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I Don't Live On Boardwalk or Park Place

The board game of Monopoly is being lived out in real time these days or so it seems.  Affordable housing is being crowded out of my neighborhood.  Normal three bedroom homes with 2 or 2 1/2 bathrooms built after WWII are being knocked down to build for instance: home with a chef's kitchen, a lap pool and 6 bedrooms and 6 1/ 2 bathrooms.  Built in 2017, it last sold in 2021 for about $3.2 million dollars.  
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Crop Surpluses, Tariffs, Trade, and Taxes

 There has been a lot written about the effect of tariffs on farmers and their soybeans and corn crops.  These commodities had been bought by China.   According to the latest reports China has stopped buying from farmers in the United States. The latest reports are that farmers in Brazil and Argentina have moved into that market and are now exporting to China.  The earlier trade war with China cost farmers in the United States in terms of losing a market for their crops. Actually this is what I thought free markets and trading was all about.  Instead of trade now our taxes are being given to farmers while they figure out what with all those soybeans and corn crops. Who knows what the future will bring.  Maybe some kind of a deal will happen.  I know this seems crazy but who's to say that some trader will be able to figure out a way to sell our corn and soybeans to China, make a crap load of money and then figure out a way to avoid taxes on that wi...
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A Dog Is A Dog and Much More

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       This picture is of a fatter me and a puppy named Nini. She was the runt of the litter but always wanted to sit in your lap, get her belly rubbed and vibrated happily when I returned from the store or friends visited. I still have the WV t-shirt but Nini passed away on June 30, 2025.  Canine Menegitis/Encphelitis of unknown origin was the diagnosis.  The Vet called and said it was time to come and say good bye to our little girl.  Nini came to my house in 2021.  The Pandemic came and went, Caroline my older sister died, I had a bad case of shingles, got my Covid Shots and Nini and I became an "item" I guess.  She was small and I could carry her up and down the stairs.  She never really got properly socialized with other dogs, maybe she was scared of other dogs or thought she was my protector.  We did a lot of walking, and I pretty much cut back to an occasional beer, I lost about 50 lbs. in total.  I bought some steps so ...
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How Not to Do Things

 Most law-abiding citizens should get a free pass from the new administration.  They should be cause they live within the guide lines.  Who sets the guidelines has generally been a form of consensus based on the "rule of law", which has been, been part of our idea of what self government and democracy has always been about. Again most people understand this. I understand the ideas regarding the need for change within institutions. There are aspects of "bureaucracy that need reform. There are many reasons for a progressive tax system. Even the idea of a Department on Government Efficiency is a good idea. Unfortunately, the three branches of our democracy are running a muck.   There are certain ethical requirements regarding self government which don't seem to apply any more to those that are elected.  Self interest is one aspect of life but when you hold public office or work in government you should make efforts to serve the public in a manner that approach...
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Internet Dust Ups

 A high school classmate shared on FB, something from a 64 year old commercial pilot who had passed a exam to fly on of the latest jets in their fleet of aircraft.  I was also aware of an FAA rule about retirement at age 65 for commercial pilots.    In the U.S.,  there are no  FAA  age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121 . These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineers. I then went on a digression about the retirement of folks in professions like law or accounting.  From my own experience 30 years at a job or working for an employer is a very good time to start serious planning for the next chapter in your life.   And for my efforts at explaining my work history, working with folks who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.  I wa...
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