Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Peppermint Jim
Rather than retype and slightly retool a post I just made regarding the fate of a fourth generation family-owned mint farm near my house, I'm going to redirect you here, to another blog to which I contribute. Peppermint Jim reminded me a lot of Dellis, so you know I pretty much fell in love immediately. I'm sure you will too.
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Keeper
For the slightly squeamish or uncouth [or perhaps this is uncouth of me], look away now. For everyone left, I just made a post about my decision to stop using tampons here. If you're wondering what the hell else I'm going to do now that tampons are out of my life, or have ever questioned your use of them, I would suggest reading it. You'll definitely learn something, and might even change the way you think about the subject.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Increasing Oil Production
I find it incredibly funny that Saudia Arabia is going to increase their production of oil from about 9 million barrels of crude per day to 9.7 million. They're also going to invest in some kind of new technology that will allow them to output 12.5 million barrels daily by the end of the year.
They're saying it's to combat the sharp and quick increase in gas prices around the world [read: the United States]. Oil is going for twice what it was a year ago, and people are finally beginning to consider alternative sources of energy as well as more efficient means of transportation. Amtrack is turning record profits as people start choosing to take trains rather than drive. People are also using public tranportation as well as biking places they need to go.
So basically, the oil minister of Saudi Arabia, along with the rest of OPEC no doubt, is saying to himself "Oh shit, you mean people are SERIOUS about driving smaller cars and riding their bikes to work and using less gas?? I never thought this day would come! EVERYBODY PANIC."
While high gas prices will affect many people and families in difficult ways, I think it's the best thing in the long run that ever could have happened to this country.
They're saying it's to combat the sharp and quick increase in gas prices around the world [read: the United States]. Oil is going for twice what it was a year ago, and people are finally beginning to consider alternative sources of energy as well as more efficient means of transportation. Amtrack is turning record profits as people start choosing to take trains rather than drive. People are also using public tranportation as well as biking places they need to go.
So basically, the oil minister of Saudi Arabia, along with the rest of OPEC no doubt, is saying to himself "Oh shit, you mean people are SERIOUS about driving smaller cars and riding their bikes to work and using less gas?? I never thought this day would come! EVERYBODY PANIC."
While high gas prices will affect many people and families in difficult ways, I think it's the best thing in the long run that ever could have happened to this country.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Dumb Journalism
I have a big problem with the main story I awoke to find featured on CNN's homepage today. Read it first: The high price of going 'organic'
Obviously, given the food rant I posted just yesterday, you can tell that I am a proponent of organic food, natural ingredients, and sustainable food systems. So maybe I should preface this by saying that I might be biased. But I believe that I have a good reason for that bias.
The subtitle to the article is The push for 'green' products may have peaked - due in part to the fact that they're so much more expensive than mass-market alternatives. I read the news and my eyes are open, so I am well-aware of the economic state most of our country is in right now. Foreclosure rates are at an all-time high, people are losing their jobs, and our dear President Bush came up with the very clever Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 which will be worth about $600 to everyone who receives it. So how does this relate to food, you might ask?
The article states that many people are "getting turned off by the organic hype for three reasons: price, skepticism, and confusion."
The benefits of organic food, and I do mean truly organic food that is produced sustainably, are many. But maybe I should start from the beginning.
What does sustainable agriculture mean?
Obviously, given the food rant I posted just yesterday, you can tell that I am a proponent of organic food, natural ingredients, and sustainable food systems. So maybe I should preface this by saying that I might be biased. But I believe that I have a good reason for that bias.
The subtitle to the article is The push for 'green' products may have peaked - due in part to the fact that they're so much more expensive than mass-market alternatives. I read the news and my eyes are open, so I am well-aware of the economic state most of our country is in right now. Foreclosure rates are at an all-time high, people are losing their jobs, and our dear President Bush came up with the very clever Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 which will be worth about $600 to everyone who receives it. So how does this relate to food, you might ask?
The article states that many people are "getting turned off by the organic hype for three reasons: price, skepticism, and confusion."
The benefits of organic food, and I do mean truly organic food that is produced sustainably, are many. But maybe I should start from the beginning.
What does sustainable agriculture mean?
Monday, August 07, 2006
Dunegrass and Blues
Scene:
Northern Michigan. Music festival. Late, after 1 a.m., following the last band. People collect their things— blankets, coolers, sunglasses, friends— and start to head home or to the campground for the night. The field is lit only by chinese lanterns in every color, and the stage lights.
Girl 1: Hang on guys, let me pick up these water bottles to recycle.
Girl 2 smiles, looks at Guy 1. They begin to pick up bottles as well.
Stage right, Man picking up empty beer cans scattered everywhere, placing into large garbage bag.
Girl 1 picks up cans, takes to Man.
Man: Oh thank you. I'm gonna use these for gas money.
Girl 1: That's a great idea, a really great idea. Picks up a few more cans, returns and places them in garbage bag. It's so expensive these days. But the concert was worth it, don't you think?
Man: Yeah. I haven't done a whole lot this summer so I fig'red what the hell, I really wanted to come down for this, so here I am. It's just been tough, ya know, finding work this summer. These cans sure will help.
Girl 1 notices he is wearing rubber gardening gloves. Smiles.
Girl 2, Guy 1, Guy 2: [together, not quite in unison] Hey! Let's go, it's getting late!
Girl 1: I'm coming! Hey sorry, I guess I've got to go.
Man: So are you in college?
Girl 1: Yes, I'm going to State.
Man: Whatcha studying?
Girl 1: I haven't decided yet... I just don't know.
Man: Well that's a really great thing. Work hard and get smart, ok?
Girl 1: I will.
Man: Well thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it. And thanks for... nice talking to you.
Girl 1 rejoins group, looks back to see Man stooped over picking up more cans.
Guy 2: So, have a nice talk?
End Scene.
Northern Michigan. Music festival. Late, after 1 a.m., following the last band. People collect their things— blankets, coolers, sunglasses, friends— and start to head home or to the campground for the night. The field is lit only by chinese lanterns in every color, and the stage lights.
Girl 1: Hang on guys, let me pick up these water bottles to recycle.
Girl 2 smiles, looks at Guy 1. They begin to pick up bottles as well.
Stage right, Man picking up empty beer cans scattered everywhere, placing into large garbage bag.
Girl 1 picks up cans, takes to Man.
Man: Oh thank you. I'm gonna use these for gas money.
Girl 1: That's a great idea, a really great idea. Picks up a few more cans, returns and places them in garbage bag. It's so expensive these days. But the concert was worth it, don't you think?
Man: Yeah. I haven't done a whole lot this summer so I fig'red what the hell, I really wanted to come down for this, so here I am. It's just been tough, ya know, finding work this summer. These cans sure will help.
Girl 1 notices he is wearing rubber gardening gloves. Smiles.
Girl 2, Guy 1, Guy 2: [together, not quite in unison] Hey! Let's go, it's getting late!
Girl 1: I'm coming! Hey sorry, I guess I've got to go.
Man: So are you in college?
Girl 1: Yes, I'm going to State.
Man: Whatcha studying?
Girl 1: I haven't decided yet... I just don't know.
Man: Well that's a really great thing. Work hard and get smart, ok?
Girl 1: I will.
Man: Well thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it. And thanks for... nice talking to you.
Girl 1 rejoins group, looks back to see Man stooped over picking up more cans.
Guy 2: So, have a nice talk?
End Scene.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Campaign Convictions
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican leaders are willing to allow the first minimum wage increase in a decade but only if it's coupled with a cut in future inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates, congressional aides said Friday.
"It's political blackmail to say the only way that minimum wage workers can get a raise is to give a tax giveaway to the wealthiest Americans," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts.
A person working 40 hours per week at minimum wage makes $10,700, which is below the poverty line for workers with families. Inflation has eroded the minimum wage's buying power to the lowest level in about 50 years. Yet lawmakers have won cost-of-living wage increases totaling about $35,000 for themselves over that time.
...[T]he Senate GOP aide professed confidence the bill could advance through the chamber next week [saying], "It's the one chance for Democrats who want to get a minimum wage increase."
It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. The GOP is known for their spin doctors, and for hating "liberals"... not that we don't hate them right back... but this development could go in a thousand different directions, with many repercussions for those involved.
If I ever posses a multi-million dollar estate, I hope someone taxes the shirt right off my back.
"It's political blackmail to say the only way that minimum wage workers can get a raise is to give a tax giveaway to the wealthiest Americans," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts.
A person working 40 hours per week at minimum wage makes $10,700, which is below the poverty line for workers with families. Inflation has eroded the minimum wage's buying power to the lowest level in about 50 years. Yet lawmakers have won cost-of-living wage increases totaling about $35,000 for themselves over that time.
...[T]he Senate GOP aide professed confidence the bill could advance through the chamber next week [saying], "It's the one chance for Democrats who want to get a minimum wage increase."
It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. The GOP is known for their spin doctors, and for hating "liberals"... not that we don't hate them right back... but this development could go in a thousand different directions, with many repercussions for those involved.
If I ever posses a multi-million dollar estate, I hope someone taxes the shirt right off my back.
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