At 12:00 noon on Tuesday of this week, January 20th, there was finally the change the majority of the country was waiting for and the whole world was watching. The man who had become one of the, if not the most, unpopular Presidents in all of the United States' history stepped down from his role as President. President George W. Bush stepped down and in stepped a very momentous and historically significant man, Barack Obama.
The inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama was the second most-watched inauguration ever, apparently behind only Ronald Reagan. It was really a moving day for so many people and there were many eyes not left dry. Many were really emotional at the idea and even just the prospect that a black man had been elected Presuident of the United States. President Obama even mentioned in his first speech after being sworn in how remarkable it was that a man whose father, just 60 years ago, might not have been able to just get served in a local diner (based solely on race) was now the President of this nation. Other people on Tuesday were just excited to see the "regime change", seeing that the Bush Administration was on the way out. The whole day was televised and all of the millions of people that were crowded into the nation's capitol were noticeably excited and hopeful that this would be the start of change we've been waiting for and that our hope would survive tough economic turmoils.
Now, it's only been a few days of President Obama at the helm and he has already been taking quick action to show that he would make good on his promises to the country. The actions to close Guantanamo Bay Prison have begun. This was a big issue for many during the election. Also, other CIA secret prisons in other countries are being shut down. There hasn't been too much time to take a whole lot of actions, but I am very hopeful, as are so many others, that we are fighting through very tough times that may get tougher, but heading in the right direction!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Seattle's Viaduct Replacement
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Through downtown Seattle, Highway 99 cuts through the downtown corridor via the "viaduct", an elevated two-level "bridge" through downtown and running along the waterfront heading to the south. This structure was damaged in the 2001 Nisqually quake and a replacement or repair option has been in discussions for years. Options have ranged from replacement to solely surface streets replacing it to a tunnel option. Well, the decision has been made this week and the tunnel option has been selected.
There has been some protesting of the tunnel idea. One disagreement with the tunnel option is that it is solely a car option. Tim Eyman, however, Seattle's answer to the state initiatives no one needs, has another problem. This is that it has been mentioned that there may be an increase in the price of car tabs. He has pushed through two initiatives for $30 car tabs and though I'm not sure how he ever expected road projects to be completed without funding from the cars and car drivers that use the roads, that has never seemed to be an issue for him. I wonder if he'd rather the project be scrapped? The viaduct is an essential route connecting many commuters and would cause more and greater crippling traffic if it were eliminated.
I think that most Seattlites have wised up and tired of Eyman's "brilliant" legislation ideas, but unfortunately he is not among that majority...
Through downtown Seattle, Highway 99 cuts through the downtown corridor via the "viaduct", an elevated two-level "bridge" through downtown and running along the waterfront heading to the south. This structure was damaged in the 2001 Nisqually quake and a replacement or repair option has been in discussions for years. Options have ranged from replacement to solely surface streets replacing it to a tunnel option. Well, the decision has been made this week and the tunnel option has been selected.
There has been some protesting of the tunnel idea. One disagreement with the tunnel option is that it is solely a car option. Tim Eyman, however, Seattle's answer to the state initiatives no one needs, has another problem. This is that it has been mentioned that there may be an increase in the price of car tabs. He has pushed through two initiatives for $30 car tabs and though I'm not sure how he ever expected road projects to be completed without funding from the cars and car drivers that use the roads, that has never seemed to be an issue for him. I wonder if he'd rather the project be scrapped? The viaduct is an essential route connecting many commuters and would cause more and greater crippling traffic if it were eliminated.
I think that most Seattlites have wised up and tired of Eyman's "brilliant" legislation ideas, but unfortunately he is not among that majority...
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
The Governor Gregoire Mystery Revealed
After a day or two of pondering about the whereabouts of Governor Christine Gregoire of Washington state, the "mystery" is over. At least as of yesterday, Governor Gregoire's location was unknown and her staff would not comment on where she was. There was a buzz around Seattle about the possibility of her being called into a position in President Elect Obama's cabinet, especially after Bill Richardson's stepping down from his upcoming position as Secretary of Commerce. The buzz began to turn, in just a day, to who would fill her role, be it the Lieutenant Governor, and/or how soon a reelection would come up for the position. Dino Rossi could pose a much bigger threat to a "new" Gubernatorial candidate than to the incumbent Gregoire, for whom the election was already close.
Well, after all the speculation, worrying, and wondering, Governor Gregoire is visiting troops in Iraq. She was seen boarding a plane to Washington DC, which had fueled speculation, but from there she flew to Iraq. At least Washington's concerns about new gubernatorial prospects become a non-issue, while Obama's cabinet continues to have empty seats as Inauguration Day quickly approaches...
Well, after all the speculation, worrying, and wondering, Governor Gregoire is visiting troops in Iraq. She was seen boarding a plane to Washington DC, which had fueled speculation, but from there she flew to Iraq. At least Washington's concerns about new gubernatorial prospects become a non-issue, while Obama's cabinet continues to have empty seats as Inauguration Day quickly approaches...
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!
2008 has been a very "exciting" year, to say the least! From the economic downturn that has plagued millions of people throughout the world to a Presidential election in the US like the world has never seen, things have been all over the place. As we wrap up 2008 and head into 2009, here's hoping things are "fine"!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Big Three and the Big Bailout
It's no surprise to most people that the US economy is going through some trying times... The stock market has been a crazy roller coaster, seeing some of the largest 1-day rises and drops ever over the past few months. The mortgage crisis. Jobless claims are at something like a 26-year high. Businesses are closing. Gas prices had shot up over $4 earlier in the year, which was a HUGE blow to the Big Three automakers, GM, Chrysler, and Ford. Auto sales declined greatly, affecting much more than just the auto industry. The economy has gotten hit pretty much across the board, taking with it millions of older Americans' retirement dreams with it.
The Big Three automakers want a bailout. The leaders of each came to Washington to ask for a handout. Each flew in a private jet and that became a big sticking point. These companies wanted money, saying that they could not sustain themselves without a bailout. They said they were "too big to fail". The failure of any one would be devestating to an already ailing economy and the failure of all 3 would be far worse! Yet, while not able to survive, they all had the means to fly their private jets into Washington. GM told Congress they won't have they money to pay their bills by the end of the month, while Chrysler can survive until at least early next year. Ford is not as bad off.
So, a $14 billion bailout stalled in Congress. After the bank and mortgage bailout, can the government continue these? I am trying to save up the money for a plane ticket to Washington, where I will be requesting my own mortgage bailout. I am only going to be requesting $13 million, so a drop in the bucket like that should pass quickly.
The bailout has people split on what would be best. It is most definitely true that a failure of one, two, or all 3 Detroit automakers would be devestating, especially to what is already one of the poorest cities in the nation. The repercussions would be massive and would create another wave throughout the nation's economy. Joblessness is already at some of the highest levels seen in the past few decades. Could the economy even sustain such a blow at this time? It's tough to say...
On the opposite side of the coin is not bailing out Detroit. Can we really give more public funds to private corporations with little in return, but the promise of spending it? This isn't the first bailout for Detroit's automakers. Is it the last? Shouldn't we have very strict requirements that go with the money, instead of just handing it over? The automakers have not shown that they are even in touch with the people and what people want in a car. Foreign automakers, such as Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen, have developed much smaller and more efficient cars, while Detroit has been plugging along at the same pattern. Shouldn't we require that they develop more efficient cars and greener technologies? If they are just going to take the money and use it to continue to stay the course, how many more bailouts are the American people going to be asked to shoulder before enough is enough?
It's a tough issue to muddle through and it's tough to know what the right move is going to be. I'm torn in both directions. I think a bailout would be a positive in that it will save millions of jobs and not allow another collapse to our economy. I also think that perhaps we should let them fail. They're going to fail. It's just a matter of when. How long must we postpone this debacle, when foreign automakers could come in and pick up the pieces of a shattered domestic auto industry and create jobs that are geared towards the future?
The Big Three automakers want a bailout. The leaders of each came to Washington to ask for a handout. Each flew in a private jet and that became a big sticking point. These companies wanted money, saying that they could not sustain themselves without a bailout. They said they were "too big to fail". The failure of any one would be devestating to an already ailing economy and the failure of all 3 would be far worse! Yet, while not able to survive, they all had the means to fly their private jets into Washington. GM told Congress they won't have they money to pay their bills by the end of the month, while Chrysler can survive until at least early next year. Ford is not as bad off.
So, a $14 billion bailout stalled in Congress. After the bank and mortgage bailout, can the government continue these? I am trying to save up the money for a plane ticket to Washington, where I will be requesting my own mortgage bailout. I am only going to be requesting $13 million, so a drop in the bucket like that should pass quickly.
The bailout has people split on what would be best. It is most definitely true that a failure of one, two, or all 3 Detroit automakers would be devestating, especially to what is already one of the poorest cities in the nation. The repercussions would be massive and would create another wave throughout the nation's economy. Joblessness is already at some of the highest levels seen in the past few decades. Could the economy even sustain such a blow at this time? It's tough to say...
On the opposite side of the coin is not bailing out Detroit. Can we really give more public funds to private corporations with little in return, but the promise of spending it? This isn't the first bailout for Detroit's automakers. Is it the last? Shouldn't we have very strict requirements that go with the money, instead of just handing it over? The automakers have not shown that they are even in touch with the people and what people want in a car. Foreign automakers, such as Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen, have developed much smaller and more efficient cars, while Detroit has been plugging along at the same pattern. Shouldn't we require that they develop more efficient cars and greener technologies? If they are just going to take the money and use it to continue to stay the course, how many more bailouts are the American people going to be asked to shoulder before enough is enough?
It's a tough issue to muddle through and it's tough to know what the right move is going to be. I'm torn in both directions. I think a bailout would be a positive in that it will save millions of jobs and not allow another collapse to our economy. I also think that perhaps we should let them fail. They're going to fail. It's just a matter of when. How long must we postpone this debacle, when foreign automakers could come in and pick up the pieces of a shattered domestic auto industry and create jobs that are geared towards the future?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Living on the Cheap
Ok, here's a quick break from the political scene for a change...
If there's one thing I've learned, having earned single-digit hourly wages for 90% of my earning career, it's how to really live on the cheap. I've gained a pretty good insight on how to make things seem pretty luxurious on the budget that most would look at as pretty stifling. I learned long ago how to make ends meet and then some while only pulling in pennies.
I'd like to think I live pretty comfortably, based on how others live. I'd like to think I even have the options of many luxuries at the same time. In my current situation, I'm able to cut costs like crazy. My work pays for a bus pass for me for free! I also bike to work. That eliminates ALL travel costs, aside from plane travel. It also covers a lot of working out, cutting gym costs.
The next biggest cost, outside of travel, are dining. Now I won't say I don't eat out at restaurants, but when I don't, it costs me typically less than dollars. I don't buy things that aren't on sale about 90% of the time. When I go to the grocery, I have things I want to buy, but then I put them up against prices. I always want cottage cheese, but only buy when it's on sale. I rarely have meat at the house because it's just kind of expensive. I always buy tomato soup because aside from being a super-cheap meal, it's also high in lycopene, which is a super-health "additive". It also turns dinner into a $0.59 meal if I have tomato soup for dinner! $2.59 allows a luxurious soup in a freshly baked sourdough bread bowl! Doctor it with a couple spices and it's delish! I found chicken drumsticks for $0.89/lb. and that equated to $4 for 14 big drumsticks! That made me dinner of oven-baked "fried" chicken and lunch and breakfast the next day for under $2! Now, that's a bargain! The night before, I'd thrown a big handful of potatoes in the oven for baked potatoes. That cost about $1. That has brought my food costs to about $5 for a few days of eating, not considering spices and such that I've already paid for. I typically paid $3.95 for a salad for lunch, which is dirt cheap, but paying a dollar more for 3-4 days of eating, breakfast-dinner is fantastic!! I stopped paying for the already cheap salad at work because I also realized that I can have lunch for the week for about the same as a salad! There's so many other ways to save like I'll buy frozen veggies when they're $1/lb. They have all the nutrients and are so easy to prepare. Food is so easy on a budget if you just focus...
Going out? I am usually ready to hit up all the cheapest spots, but I've been shown, by my sister Lu and Dad, how easy it is to hit up happy hour specials that are often cheaper than all my dive bars and even cheaper than Than Brothers! You can hit up these spots with food and drinks for prices usually reflective of an entree or two!
There are so many other ways to save BIG time, spending less than everybody while living like the best of the best. There's places to get suits on the cheap (I love to dress up), shoes at a discount, and live like a King on a pauper's budget. You just need to pay attention to what's going out. While it's nice to see all of the savings, there's still nothing better than splurging once in a while and with all the savings you'll deserve it!
If there's one thing I've learned, having earned single-digit hourly wages for 90% of my earning career, it's how to really live on the cheap. I've gained a pretty good insight on how to make things seem pretty luxurious on the budget that most would look at as pretty stifling. I learned long ago how to make ends meet and then some while only pulling in pennies.
I'd like to think I live pretty comfortably, based on how others live. I'd like to think I even have the options of many luxuries at the same time. In my current situation, I'm able to cut costs like crazy. My work pays for a bus pass for me for free! I also bike to work. That eliminates ALL travel costs, aside from plane travel. It also covers a lot of working out, cutting gym costs.
The next biggest cost, outside of travel, are dining. Now I won't say I don't eat out at restaurants, but when I don't, it costs me typically less than dollars. I don't buy things that aren't on sale about 90% of the time. When I go to the grocery, I have things I want to buy, but then I put them up against prices. I always want cottage cheese, but only buy when it's on sale. I rarely have meat at the house because it's just kind of expensive. I always buy tomato soup because aside from being a super-cheap meal, it's also high in lycopene, which is a super-health "additive". It also turns dinner into a $0.59 meal if I have tomato soup for dinner! $2.59 allows a luxurious soup in a freshly baked sourdough bread bowl! Doctor it with a couple spices and it's delish! I found chicken drumsticks for $0.89/lb. and that equated to $4 for 14 big drumsticks! That made me dinner of oven-baked "fried" chicken and lunch and breakfast the next day for under $2! Now, that's a bargain! The night before, I'd thrown a big handful of potatoes in the oven for baked potatoes. That cost about $1. That has brought my food costs to about $5 for a few days of eating, not considering spices and such that I've already paid for. I typically paid $3.95 for a salad for lunch, which is dirt cheap, but paying a dollar more for 3-4 days of eating, breakfast-dinner is fantastic!! I stopped paying for the already cheap salad at work because I also realized that I can have lunch for the week for about the same as a salad! There's so many other ways to save like I'll buy frozen veggies when they're $1/lb. They have all the nutrients and are so easy to prepare. Food is so easy on a budget if you just focus...
Going out? I am usually ready to hit up all the cheapest spots, but I've been shown, by my sister Lu and Dad, how easy it is to hit up happy hour specials that are often cheaper than all my dive bars and even cheaper than Than Brothers! You can hit up these spots with food and drinks for prices usually reflective of an entree or two!
There are so many other ways to save BIG time, spending less than everybody while living like the best of the best. There's places to get suits on the cheap (I love to dress up), shoes at a discount, and live like a King on a pauper's budget. You just need to pay attention to what's going out. While it's nice to see all of the savings, there's still nothing better than splurging once in a while and with all the savings you'll deserve it!
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